Prime Minister

Chapter 240 Wu Chong
During the banquet, we chatted a few words, the restaurant in my hometown has made a lot of profits these years, Zhang Shi sold the shop before leaving home, as for the trouble of selling the house, he had to give it to a distant relative with [-] pennies .

Yang asked at the side, "It must have sold for a lot of money."

But Zhang Shi sighed and said, "Where do you sell for how much?"

Zhang Yue said: "Brother, it's not that the shop at home is making a lot of money every day, why did it spend all this money?"

Zhang Shi said: "If you are not in charge of the family, you don't know how much firewood, rice, oil and salt are. There are so many expenses in the family, let alone how much money Xi'er spends on studying?"

Zhang Yue couldn't help asking: "Didn't Xi'er study ethnology?"

Zhang Shi said: "Although ethnology does not require money, it does have pens, ink, paper and inkstones, clothes for the four seasons, and the filial piety of the husband during the festivals. In the past two years, my husband said that Xier's knowledge has improved a lot. I have invited the gentlemen outside to teach and go out. Studying and making friends, how much money is spent.”

Zhang Yue looked at Yu's hesitant to speak, and asked Zhangqiu in his heart: "Bo Yi, how are the two gentlemen, Biao Min?"

Zhangqiu said: "The two gentlemen are in good health, but Mr. Boyi is sick, and he has been teaching very little recently. Mr. Biao Min was tired of the lawsuit before, so he presided over the ethnology for Mr. Boyi."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "That's good."

Zhang Shi added: "Mr. Boyi is the third elder brother, Mr. Xi'er. When I was sick this time, I asked someone to buy a lot of heat wax medicine, all of which are the best medicinal materials."

Zhang Yue couldn't help being relieved when he heard the words: "Thank you brother for taking care of my husband."

Zhang Shi laughed and said, "What is this?"

During the period, Zhang Shi went out to change clothes.

The crowd fell silent for a while.

Zhang Yue looked at Yu Shi and asked, "Sister-in-law, tell me the truth."

Yu looked around and said, "We are all a family, and I'm not afraid of your jokes..."

After speaking, Yu wept, and Yang said, "If there is anything difficult, just say it."

Yu said to Zhangqiu, "Go to your aunt's house first."

"Okay, mother." Zhang Qiu stood up.

Mrs. Zhang got up and said with a smile, "I'll take Xi'er for a walk in the mansion."

Immediately, Mrs. Zhang took Zhangqiu and the servant girl to wander around the mansion.

Zhang Yue asked: "How much money is left from selling the family's money to Beijing?"

Yu wiped away tears and said: "The restaurant at home made a lot of money before, and life at home is getting better day by day. The more Xi'er spends on studying, he can pay for it."

"But after Third Uncle went to Beijing, your brother refused to let me take care of the money on the pretext that the shop needed money to turn around. He took care of the family's money and expenses all by himself. In the end, before going to Beijing, the shop was taken into the hands of others."

"In the end, it was sold to Shangjing, and the money was enough. Until now, I haven't paid back a penny of the money I borrowed from my family."

Zhang Yue was speechless after hearing the words.

The shop at home still has his capital of [-] guan, and it was also defeated by his brother. It is really a mouthful of old blood.

Upon hearing this, Yang said angrily: "I have to talk to him well... how can there be such a head of the family, the wife and children can't support them."

Mrs. Yu hurriedly said: "Don't talk about aunt, anyway, the family is now in this field. We went to Beijing this time to reunite with Uncle Dun and Third Uncle, and secondly, it is difficult for the family to support themselves."

Zhang Yue asked: "Did brother go to gamble again? How did the family spend so much money?"

Mrs. Yu shook her head and said, "Third uncle, your brother didn't gamble this time, it's all because of his temper. After making some money in the family shop, relatives and friends come to eat and drink for free, and it's more or less affordable. But you My brother is also responsive to the requests of relatives, neighbors and friends who come to borrow money."

"Not many at the beginning, but then there were people coming to the door every day. Your brother often said that if you borrowed this person, you should not borrow that person. The palms and backs of your hands are full of flesh. Don't offend him. He also said that our family owed others when we were in trouble. There are so many favors that can’t be repaid without repayment. Those who don’t borrow money are still in front of the door, and the fence door has been kicked down several times. Although they don’t borrow much, they can’t stand the tens or hundreds of dollars every day. Later, the family’s business slowed down in the winter, and they couldn’t turn around, so your brother came to ask someone to pay back the money, and it would be nice if one of the three could pay it back.”

"There are people who say that so many diners in your shop send you money every day, so you owe me this? Your brother said that they are all acquaintances for many years, so it's not good to turn your face like that, so let's forget it. Finally took it The shop has been mortgaged by others, even if it is so, people can't help but come to borrow money. Your brother can't save face."

Zhang Yue never expected that his family was bankrupted by borrowing money.

He said with emotion: "The poor play ten steel hooks on the cross streets, but they can't hook the flesh and blood of their relatives. The rich dance with knives, guns and sticks in the deep mountains and old forests, and they can't break up the unjust friends."

Yang scolded: "Why are you poor in the busy city and rich in the deep mountains? Don't help your brother talk. The family has gotten to this point. All the faults are due to him. I have no face, and I don't have an inch in my heart."

After a pause, Mrs. Yang continued: "It doesn't matter if you have come to Bianjing. If you are not familiar with the place, it will prevent your husband from using money indiscriminately to find a duty. After two or three years, you can live a good life." gone."

Yu said: "Auntie is right."

At this moment Zhang Shifang came back from changing clothes, but he saw that everyone at the table turned their heads away and no one spoke.

Zhang Shi said, "Why don't you speak?"

"I'm full." Yang replied.

The elder brother's family settled down immediately.But Zhang Yue still lives in Taixue.

Zhang Yue went with them, but saw that the place Yang arranged for them was very good, close to the busy city and quiet in the middle of the noise.

The only fly in the ointment is that it is too far away from Taixue.

The next day Zhang Yue invited them to the place arranged for him by Wu Mansion.

It is much closer to Taixue here.

Zhang Shi was very satisfied after reading it repeatedly, and these servants knew that they would probably work for Zhang Yue in the future, so they were very positive.

Zhang Yue can see that Zhang Shi likes this place more.

Zhang Yue asked where Zhang Shi wanted to live.
Zhang Shi said: "Although the Wu family is related by in-laws in the future, they are not married after all. There is no reason to live in a house with a different surname instead of living in a place with their own surname."

Zhang Yue said: "But I live in Taixue too far away, so I can't go back and visit often."

Zhang Shi smiled and said: "If you don't want to visit me, I can come to visit you. Yes, I heard that you still have a shop in Bianjing. I can take care of it for you."

Zhang Yue said vigilantly: "Brother, you lost a shop, you don't want to pay for my shop as well, right?"

Zhang Shi smiled and said: "No, no, I have been doing business abroad for so many years, and I am better than you in terms of business management and human relations..."

Zhang Yue said: "Brother, you should go to Bianjing to rest more. As for how to make a living in the future, you can make up your mind."

Zhang Shi said: "Yes, on the way I came here, I heard that the nobles in Beijing often do things to resolve disputes. Your uncle and aunt's family has this business, what if I take it over?"

Zhang Yue hehe from the bottom of his heart.

The Song Dynasty strictly prohibited officials from lending money, so officials asked their relatives to lend money.

At that time, there were many places where people were in urgent need of money, such as farming and mulberry, weddings and funerals, sickness and tax payment, etc.

Therefore, the interest rate is extremely high, and the profit from lending is very rich, which makes the powerful people compete to intervene.

Yang himself has such a view.The family property is taken care of by official servants.But Mrs. Yang has her own money, and some other money that is collected from the lower levels but is not needed for a while.

Yang used the money to lend without telling Zhang Yu, so Zhang Shi was someone he could trust.

But just as Yang thought so, he suddenly fell ill and was quite seriously ill.

Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue both went to visit, and were helpless for a while.

At this time, Wu Chong returned to Beijing.

Wu Chong stepped out from the Chongzheng Hall.Wu Chong was a Jinshi at the age of 17. After more than 40 years of official career, he is now an official of the first rank before he is [-] years old.

For key officials such as the Beijing West Transit Envoy to go to Beijing to report their duties, the officials will be interviewed immediately, and there is no need to wait for the door to be arranged.

Wu Chong has met the officials many times, and he is very proficient in the imperial prelude.The officials first asked him about the health of Wen Yanbo, who stayed behind in Xijing, and then asked about the people in the west of Beijing. There was nothing inappropriate about Wu Chong's performances.

Now Wu Chong walked out of the Chongzheng Hall with a calm face and ups and downs in his heart.

Although he has been an official for many years, under the praise of the officials, Wu Chong's mood is still a little fluctuating. At this moment, he can only feel that the king is so kind.

Now that he walked out of the Chongzheng Hall, Wu Chong thought of going to the real ruler of Huaidong, and he couldn't help but feel anticipation. No one knows whether he will make further progress in his official career.

After leaving the Donghua Gate, Wu Chong saw that the servant Jia Ding had been waiting here for a long time.

After getting into the carriage, Wu Chong listened and talked about the big and small matters of his family during his departure from Beijing.

After leaving Liangmen, Wu Chong saw his own mansion from a distance, and a smile appeared on Wu Chong's face.

From the street entrance to at least the front gate of the Wu Mansion, there are screens on both sides of the road, both to prevent dust and to prevent passers-by from prying eyes.

His wife, Mrs. Li, and the whole family were waiting on the steps above the gate of the mansion.

Wu Chong got out of the carriage, Li Shi, Wu Anshi, and eldest daughter-in-law Fan Shi greeted them one by one.Wu Chong said a few words lightly.

At the end was the youngest daughter Shiqi Niang. Wu Chong looked at her and asked, "Have you still read poetry and books recently?"

Seventeen Niang leaned back and said, "Yes."

Wu Chong thought for a while and said: "You should also read more about women's commandments, women should. It's fine at home. When you get married in the future, you must be humble and self-restraining. This is the way to care for your husband and teach your children."

"Daughter remembers."

Wu Chong nodded before entering the mansion.

In the evening at the family banquet in the Wu Mansion, Wu Chong talked about his special feelings with his family.

The transfer mission to Huaidong has been issued, and Wu Chong just returned to Beijing, but he is about to go to Huaidong to take up his post, and he will only be in Beijing for a few days.

But how to arrange these few days is also a difficult thing.

All kinds of human feelings should be divided according to their closeness and distance.

Mrs. Li said to Wu Chong: "This Zhang Sanlang's elder brother arrived in Beijing more than ten days ago. I decided to ask him to come to the mansion when the master returns to Beijing."

Wu Chong said: "Exactly, an elder brother is like a father, and he still has to say something in the end."

Li said with a smile: "Although Zhang Sanlang is the third in the solution, the officials are still afraid that he will run away?"

Wu Chong said: "Although the Zhang family is humble, the marriage is cumbersome but the most important thing. The etiquette must be done one by one. Only in this way can we show our respect to them."

Mrs. Li said with a smile: "I think the master regards Zhang Sanlang as the son-in-law of Chenglong Kuai, but don't forget that he is not a Jinshi yet."

Wu Chong said: "It's not the Jinshi that needs to be more respectful. If you have done everything, you don't have to do it when you get rich."

(End of this chapter)