Prime Minister

Chapter 442 Xiaobie wins the newlyweds

After meeting Cai Xiang and going to the exchange office, Zhang Yuefang returned home.

In the Han and Tang Dynasties, there was a habit of celebrating La Ri. In the Song Dynasty, it was said that La Ba was the day when the ancestors attained enlightenment. Temples in Bianjing gave porridge with seven treasures and five flavors to believers. Therefore, unlike La Ri in Tang Dynasty, La Ba in Song Dynasty was more like In Buddhist festivals.

However, the custom of Laba porridge really originated from the donation of temples.

In addition to Buddhists, good people in Bianjing City will also cook rice, beans, dates and millet to give to the poor on the roadside.

This can also be regarded as my charity work.

Zhang Yue was riding a horse on the streets of Bianjing. Many beggars saw that he was well-dressed and were vying for a bowl of Laba porridge.

Tang Jiu wanted to send him away, but Zhang Yue asked Tang Jiu and his servants to take out all the money they had on them, and gave it all to help them.

Back home, Zhang Yue asked Tang Jiu and Jue to withdraw money from him tomorrow.

And he went back to the west courtyard to look for Seventeen Niang.

Zhang Yue asked Mrs. Chen first, and Mrs. Chen was pleasantly surprised when she saw Zhang Yue: "The master is back, and the lady is in the warm pavilion."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue walked towards his own house. When the main house in the west courtyard was built, the roof was very high, so it was very cold in winter.Therefore, after he married Shi Qi Niang, he built a small warm pavilion next to the main house.

Seventeen Niang's hands and feet are cold, and she is very afraid of the cold in winter, so whenever it is time to use charcoal for warmth, she moves into the warm pavilion early to rest.Zhang Yue knew that Seventeen Niang was pregnant now, but he still had to go to the east courtyard to greet Zhang Shi and Yu Shi every day.

At the beginning, Mrs. Yu was worried that the girl from the official family would bully others and despise her brothers and sisters-in-law, but now that Shi Qiniang is so knowledgeable and reasonable, she is good to everyone she meets.

Yang's family and Zhang Dun's wife Zhang's family also come and go from time to time.Seventeen Niang also entertained them according to the etiquette.

When they arrived in front of the main room, two acquainted female envoys were about to greet them. Zhang Yue smiled and signaled the two of them not to be too polite, and went straight to the door of the warm pavilion.

But Shi Qi Niang's familiar voice came from behind the door.

"...Now it's not like in the past, there are more people added to the mansion. In the past, there were only two people around the officials, but now there are four more people after being promoted. Now that I have a body, I need to hire another ten people from outside. Come alone."

"Added someone, a big family's Dingkou, in and out, inside and out, there must be no mistakes. You go and hire someone. If the family background is clean, you need to ask each of them clearly about their background. City clerk. Ask again after asking, if there is any discrepancy in the document. Ask a few more times, if there is a discrepancy between the preamble and the postscript, it will show its feet, and such a person should not be used. "

"You still need to talk like that, and remember not to ask those who can speak well. Officials are most afraid that some servants will not be able to control their mouths and spread the affairs of the mansion. To manage affairs, you must put people first. You go to Zhang Yazi. Take a look at it first, pick someone out and bring it here, and I'll read it again."

……

Hearing this, Zhang Yue pushed open the door, but heard that two charcoal basins were being raised in the warm pavilion, several female envoys were standing aside, and Seventeen Niang was holding her belly and talking.

When they saw Zhang Yue, they came back and saluted immediately before leaving, and closed the door behind them.

After not seeing each other for several months, Zhang Yue stepped forward and said, "My lady..."

Zhang Yue was about to hold his wife's hand and say something about his affection, but he saw her looking at him indifferently, as if this separation had created many barriers.

Zhang Yue looked at Shi Qiniang's expression and felt bad, how could he offend his wife.

Zhang Yue thought about it, but he didn't feel that what he did was wrong.

Seventeen Niang said: "You have been away from home for a few months, you should also look at the account books at home, and you should also be clear about the expenses of firewood, rice, oil and salt in the house."

After speaking, Shi Qi Niang got up to hold the account book, Zhang Yue dared to let the pregnant Shi Qi Niang carry heavy objects, and said quickly: "My lady, I will come."

Seventeen Niang cast a sidelong glance at Zhang Yue, and let him hold the ledger.

Zhang Yue is still trying to figure out what he did wrong.Why don't women say it themselves, but let us guess?What kind of way to control the husband is this?
Seventeen Niang said to Zhang Yue: "The number of female envoys in charge of the mansion will be increased to 30..."

so much?
Zhang Yueke never thought of using 30 people to serve his family's food and daily life.

"Half of them have to serve the East Courtyard. My nephew needs to be served by another book boy who grinds ink and writes. The other half serve the West Courtyard. I used to be in charge of the accounts, but now I don't have the spirit. Add a Mr. Accounting."

"I calculated that the servants in my family only need [-] guan a month for food, and nearly [-] guan a month. After the new year, I plan to promote a few shrewd and capable female envoys to the first class. Three pens a month, after counting it, it will cost about sixty pens a month, and the food and clothing expenses of our two families, not counting the exchange of favors, at least two hundred pens a month!"

Zhang Yue thought to himself, with so much money, how could his official salary be enough, and he was still the master of spending money lavishly, relying entirely on his wife to subsidize it.It's no wonder that all the low-level Beijing officials are crying for poverty, and their salaries are not low, but officials must have the dignity of officials, and if they want to support such a big family, which one doesn't borrow money to live.

No wonder prime ministers such as Li Hang, Wang Dan, Zhang Dexiang, etc., used to borrow money from everywhere when they were young officials.

Zhang Yue said: "Everything is done according to my wife's orders."

Shi Qiniang said again: "A few days ago, my sister-in-law told me that your intermediary prison seems to be doing well, so I want to ask my brother for a job in the intermediary office."

Zhang Yue thought of Wu Anshi and Ouyang Fa who had arranged errands for Zhang Shi in these years.Zhang Shi has been in charge of affairs, collecting accounts, or resisting pledges for a long time.

Zhang Yue thought that instead of this, it would be better to arrange to come to his own intercourse. Anyway, gathering talents and not avoiding relatives is also a glorious tradition of my Song Dynasty. This is not a problem at all, and there is no need to worry about being criticized in the officialdom.

What's more, I now need my brother's help.

Zhang Yue listened and said: "This is easy to handle, I will arrange it."

Seventeen Niang said: "Okay, I'll go back to her here."

Seeing that Shi Qiniang was about to get up, Zhang Yue hurriedly stopped him and said, "My lady has a message, why go there in person? Just send someone."

"It's better for me to discuss such things myself." Seventeen Niang said coldly.

Zhang Yue hurriedly said: "My lady, my lady, just tell me what you have to say, don't get angry, you have to be careful now..."

When Shi Qiniang heard this, she became angry and bitter, and her eyes turned red when she looked at Zhang Yue.

Zhang Yue hurriedly said: "My lady, why are you doing this?"

Seventeen Niang turned her face to the side and said softly: "It's all right!"

If a woman says it's okay, it's okay!
Zhang Yue said: "My lady!"

After a while, Seventeen Niang said: "You also know that I need to take care of myself? Then you can take care of yourself, what a Lintan Book Cliff! What a Zhang Sanlang shoots a tiger! At that time, you only cared about your own performance, did you have any thoughts?" Have you ever passed our mother and son?"

Having said that, Shi Qi Niang shook off Zhang Yue's hands and turned around.

Zhang Yue secretly thought, so it turns out that...that tongue-twister told his wife about it?

Zhang Yue knew that his wife never quarreled and got angry with him, but once she lost her temper, the matter would become serious, and now she is still pregnant with her own cub, so don't let her get angry.

Zhang Yue didn't know how to coax him, at this moment... at this moment... how should he resolve it?
Zhang Yue grabbed Shi Qiniang's hand again, and said, "My lady, is it mine?"

Seventeen Niang wanted to break free, but when she saw Zhang Yue apologized, her heart softened, her tears couldn't stop falling and she said: "Officer, there's no need to do this, I just didn't. I just hope that you will think more about me and you The child in my womb, don't be rash... Although I hope you will be crowned marquis and prime minister, I beg you to stay with our mother and child in peace. These days, thinking of you fighting against a wall makes me afraid..."

Seeing that Shi Qiniang's anger had subsided, Zhang Yue said repeatedly: "Don't worry, my lady, I will definitely not be so rash next time. I will find a good time... Ha, my lady is just joking! Don't blame, don't blame!"

"You! You have been an official for so long, and you are still so unstable." Seventeen Niang pointed Zhang Yue's shoulder, and at this moment, tears turned into laughter, and the rain was over.

Seeing that Seventeen Niang was coaxed to calm down, Zhang Yue said happily, "Outside you are an official, but at home you are just your husband and father."

Xiao Biesheng is a newlywed. Since they got married, it was the first time that the two had been separated for such a long time. After reuniting, after a small quarrel just now, their relationship became even closer.

Seeing that Shi Qiniang's anger had subsided, the husband and wife sat on the couch hand in hand and talked softly, talking about other things.Zhang Yue looked at Shi Qi Niang's belly, thinking that he was about to become a father, his heart was filled with joy.

The husband and wife were talking, when they heard the voice outside: "Master Zhang, Lord Guo Dalang is here!"

Zhang Yue knew that his elder brother and Guo Lin had arrived.

Seventeen Niang said to Zhang Yue: "Go and talk by yourself, don't worry about me."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "I'll accompany my wife later."

Zhang Yue went to the main room to meet Zhang Shi and Guo Lin.

When Zhang Yue met Guo Lin, he asked him how he was doing in the Ministry of Officials.
Guo Lin said with a smile: "Although the Ministry of Officials hasn't abolished the conferment yet, Bachelor Sima has told me that he is going to elect me to speak directly for the Imperial Academy!"

Zhang Yue was overjoyed when he heard the words, and the Imperial College spoke directly, and was responsible for teaching students the classics.

Generally, the imperial court selects officials with profound attainments in Confucian classics and high moral character.Serving as a direct lecturer in the Imperial College can gain a good reputation and be respected at the same time, but the disadvantage is poverty and very meager income.

But in Zhang Yue's view, this is suitable for Guo Lin.

In the officialdom, he was right and wrong, black and white. On the contrary, in a place with a strong academic atmosphere like Guozijian, Guo Lin could win respect with his knowledge and character.

The most important thing is that Guo Lin is in the Imperial College, and the two will have more opportunities to meet in the future. I really want to thank Sima Guang.

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Then I have to congratulate Senior Brother that the world will be full of peaches and plums in the future."

Guo Lin smiled and said: "Alright, Bachelor Sima told me that cultivating people is not as good as doing meritorious deeds. It is a life-long plan to establish it. I have thought about it. The hall can also help you."

Zhang Yue was very moved when he heard the words, the senior brother is always like this, he thinks of himself first in everything.

Zhang Yue said to his elder brother: "Brother, bring me some wine, today I want to have a good drink with my brother."

(End of this chapter)