I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 569 Extra 2: Prequel: Su Tang’s Love (Part )
Afternoon, Yangzhou City.

In Mingde Zhai, a large courtyard, there is a room filled with many books.

Su Liang thought seriously about Tang Ze's test of him: within seven days, without violating morality and laws, make the He family and the Wang family give up their marriage proposal.

He gradually understood Tang Ze's thoughts.

First of all, Tang Ze must be dissatisfied with the sons of these two families.

Secondly, Tang Ze has only this one precious daughter, so he naturally wants to find a virtuous son-in-law who can protect his daughter, so he is testing Su Liang's ability.

The He family is officials, and the Wang family is businessmen.

Head-to-head.

It is obvious that Su Liang does not have this ability at the moment.

Su Liang thought about it and called Xiao Shitou, a skinny boy who had been running errands in Mingde Zhai.

"Young man, have you succeeded in proposing marriage? Can we have the wedding banquet this year?" Little Stone asked curiously.

Su Liang smiled and rubbed his head.

"It's almost done! I'm going to give you a task. Go ask Uncle Yu for help. Investigate the father and son He Youde and He Jiusi from the He family in the west of the city, and the father and son Wang Dang and Wang Chen from the Wang family in the south of the city. Focus on their personalities, the opinions of the people around them, and the good or bad things they have done in the past two years. Two nights from now, we'll go find Uncle Yu. Remember, don't get caught while investigating!"

"No problem." Little Stone nodded.

Uncle Yu is an old beggar in Yangzhou City. He is a full-time beggar and sells information as a side job.

Most people treat beggars as non-human beings and do not avoid them when doing anything. However, beggars often roam the streets and know a lot of gossip.

immediately.

Su Liang took out a string of copper coins from a wooden box beside him.

"Give this money to Uncle Yu as a reward for his hard work."

"Young sir, there's no need for that. Uncle Yu will definitely not accept it. If it weren't for you, his son might be in jail now!"

Su Liang shook his head.

"One thing is one thing. Uncle Yu will need money to find out information. I can't ask him for help and ask him to pay for it out of his own pocket and ask him to accept it."

"Okay!" Little Stone took the copper coin and ran out quickly.

At this moment, Mr. Mingde's voice came from not far away.

"Liang'er, Liang'er..."

Su Liang quickly ran to Mr. Mingde's bed, took his hand, and said, "Sir, what's the matter?"

Mr. Mingde, who is over 70 years old, has white hair and beard and tears are streaming down his face.

"Liang'er, I... my illness cannot be cured. Don't spend money on medicine anymore. You are a good student and will definitely pass the imperial examination. Use your money elsewhere!"

Su Liang smiled and said, "Sir, what are you talking about? Without you, I might have starved to death. Don't worry, you will get better in a few days."

Mr. Mingde's face was full of tears.

"I...I only did a small kindness back then, but in return you took care of me at my sickbed and took care of me like your own son until the end of my life. I...I am so lucky!"

"What do you mean by burying you? I still want you to watch me pass the imperial examination and then enjoy a peaceful life with me!"

There were tears and smiles on Su Liang's face.

He knew in his heart that Mr. Mingde's time had come and he would most likely not survive until this winter.

……

That evening, Su Liang was reading.

Little Stone ran over with a smile on his face, holding a bamboo tube in his hand.

Su Liang couldn't help but be overjoyed.

The bamboo tube is the message tube that Su Liang and Tang Wanmei use to communicate.

Su Liang originally thought that Tang Wanmei was under house arrest by Tang Ze and it was impossible for her to send any more letters.

I didn't expect it to come out.

He took the bamboo tube, took out the letter inside, and was about to open it when he suddenly found Little Stone sticking his little head out to look at it, looking even more excited than Su Liang.

"Go, check if there's any water in the water tank in the backyard. If there isn't, go fill it up! If it's full, go to bed."

Little Stone curled his lips and walked away quickly.

Su Liang closed the door and quickly opened the letter.

After reading the content, I was very happy.

Tang Wanmei told Su Liang that Tang Ze just wanted to test Su Liang. Even if Su Liang couldn't do it, as long as he showed his attitude, there would be no problem.

She also said that no matter what, she only had Su Liang in her heart, and she would slowly convince her father.

After reading the letter, Su Liang felt as if he had been injected with chicken blood.

"I can definitely find a way to make the He and Wang families break off the engagement!" Su Liang clenched his fists and said with great certainty.

……

At this moment, inside the Tang residence.

Tang Ze sat in the study room, picked up Su Liang's reading notes and started flipping through them.

As soon as he finished reading the first two pages, his eyes lit up, then he straightened his chest, sat up straight, and began to read carefully.

About half an hour later, Tang Ze had read most of it.

He stood up and murmured, "This boy's poems and essays are top-notch, and his policy essays are even top-notch. His writing is as sharp as a knife, and he has some of the style of Fan Wenzheng and Ouyang Yongshu. No, he is even sharper than these two scholars!"

"This kid, the articles he showed on weekdays are not all his real strength. He has great talent, great talent. Could it be that I really found a treasure?"

Tang Ze stroked his beard lightly.

He failed the imperial examinations many times, but he had always been educating young people and was very familiar with the current national conditions and the writing style of the imperial examinations.

He can naturally tell what kind of article is a truly good article.

Ninety percent of the scholars in Yangzhou City could not write articles like Su Liang.

……

Two days later, at night.

After Su Liang obtained intelligence from Uncle Yu's residence, he returned to Mingde Zhai, a slum.

At this moment, he is 50% confident.

The He family is easier to deal with.

He Jiusi was very lustful and was a frequent visitor to brothels.

During this period, he suddenly fell in love with a married woman named Liu Sanniang. The two of them rented a small courtyard and often had an affair.

Liu Sanniang's husband is a dull carpenter. Even if he knew about this, he might not dare to catch them in adultery.

But Liu Sanniang also has a powerful mother-in-law named Sun Jiupo.

Sun Jiupo was a shrew and had a bad reputation among the people in the neighborhood.

Su Liang thought about it.

He Youde, a doctor of Yangzhou Provincial Academy and Imperial College, was very concerned about his reputation. If he were told about this, he would definitely spend money to settle it for his son, and it would probably be impossible to make him cancel the engagement.

But if you tell Sun Jiupo and ask her to catch the adulterer, she, who always loves money, will definitely be happy to do it.

With her ability, she will definitely make a big deal out of this matter.

Su Liang has handed this matter over to Uncle Yu.

The day He Jiusi and Liu Sanniang were caught having an affair was the day the He family lost all face.

By then, He Youde naturally would not have the face to propose marriage to the Tang family again.

As for Wang Chen of the Wang family, he is an honest man inside and out, and he believes in "parents' orders and matchmaker's words" when getting married.

Although he is the son of a businessman, he only studies hard, has no courage to do bad things, and has no blemish on his moral character.

My only hobby is reading storybooks, especially those about talented men and beautiful women.

Su Liang hasn't figured out how to deal with him yet.

……

Two days later, it was almost dusk.

Little Stone ran quickly to Su Liang.

"Young sir, that...that adulterous couple went...to that small courtyard. Someone has already informed Grandma Sun Jiu!"

"Okay, let's go take a look."

He Jiusi and Liu Sanniang had an affair, often in the afternoon.

Compared to going out at night, it is obviously more convenient during the day. The pleasure of lovemaking between the two of them only takes a cup of tea.

About a quarter of an hour later.

When Su Liang and Xiao Shitou came to the alley where the small courtyard was located in the east of the city, they just happened to see Sun Jiupo holding a wooden stick and rushing to the front of the courtyard with three middle-aged men.

This scene immediately attracted many people from the surrounding area to come and watch.

A man climbed up the short wall and quickly opened the door from the inside, then Sun Jiupo rushed in with a long stick.

Su Liang and others were guarding the door. This kind of thing of catching an adulterer was always something the common people liked to watch.

And the government rarely intervenes in such matters unless someone dies.

Soon, Sun Jiupo's roar was heard from inside.

"You slut, you're having an affair with a bastard in broad daylight. I...I'm going to kill this man first, and then I'm going to kill you!"

Followed by.

Su Liang and others saw a naked man running away with a cloth shirt in his hands covering his face.

The man covered his face with his clothes and ran outside frantically, his body exposed to the onlookers.

At this time, Sun Jiupo also chased out.

He was also holding He Jiusi's other clothes and boots in his hand.

"Everyone must testify for me. This man is He Jiusi, the son of He Youde, a doctor of the He family in the west of the city. I'm going to his house to seek justice!"

After saying that, Sun Jiupo took the two men and ran towards He's house.

The other man took the beaten Liu Sanniang back home.

The onlookers followed, and Su Liang and Little Stone followed. About half an hour later, Grandma Sun Jiu arrived in front of the He Mansion.

She saw two guards standing in front of He's house, and she would definitely suffer if she forced her way in.

She immediately threw the clothes and boots in her hands to the ground, sat down on the ground, and began to cry.

"I am such a miserable old woman! My son finally found a wife, but she was bullied by others!"

"The He family relied on someone in their family to be an official, but He Jiusi actually bullied a married woman and defiled my daughter-in-law. I caught him in the act. I won't live any longer. I won't live any longer..."

……

Sun Jiupo’s crying scenes are truly unique.

And put all the blame on He Jiusi.

The guard at the door quickly understood the whole story based on He Jiusi's embarrassed appearance when he returned home and the clothes and boots on the ground.

One of them immediately went back to report.

A quarter of an hour ago, He Youde had returned home from the provincial school.

The He family's front hall.

When He Youde heard the guard's report and combined it with the scene of He Jiusi entering the house and not coming out just now, he immediately understood.

He still had some idea of ​​what kind of person his son was.

He proposed to the Tang family because he hoped that He Jiusi would settle down after getting married.

Unexpectedly, I was caught cheating.

Immediately, He Youde strode outside.

……

After a while, when He Youde walked out of the door, Sun Jiupo was cursing vigorously.

"Is there still justice in this world? Just because you are an official, can you bully the common people for no reason?"

He Youde looked at He Jiusi's clothes and boots on the ground in front of him with an unpleasant look on his face.

This time, the He family is going to lose face!
He walked up to Sun Jiupo.

"Sun Jiupo, don't make a scene here! These clothes and boots do not belong to my son. You are framing him without even looking at the place!" He Youde glared at her. Of course he could not admit it.

Hearing this, Sun Jiupo immediately became angry.

"Doctor He, Mr. He, I was not the only one who saw him. More than ten people standing here saw him run out with his butt naked. How could it be false? If we report this to the prefect, I will be right!"

"I saw it, it's He Jiusi!" Xiao Shitou shouted behind the crowd, then quickly lowered his head.

He Youde's face was gloomy and he didn't know what to do.

While he was thinking, Sun Jiupo started scolding him again.

"I curse the men in your He family. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up..."

Suddenly.

Several men watching, including Su Liang, gasped.

The “no one can stand up” here naturally does not refer to the legs.

But impotence.

At this moment, He Youde wished he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into. He absolutely could not say such vulgar words.

He Youde knew that if he continued to be tough, Sun Jiupo might say something even more unpleasant.

He thought about it and bowed slightly towards Sun Jiupo.

"Grandma Jiu, this... this is a misfortune for our family. I apologize to you on behalf of my son. I... I am willing to compensate you. How about we go into the yard and talk? There are so many neighbors watching here. I won't harm you!"

Suddenly, Grandma Sun Jiu patted her butt and stood up.

After she knew that her daughter-in-law had cheated on her, her purpose became to ask for compensation, and now, it was exactly what she wanted.

……

the next morning.

With the help of many beggars in Yangzhou City, the news that He Jiusi bullied a married woman spread.

In this case, the government will inevitably intervene.

If He Youde pays the full compensation, the matter will most likely be settled privately.

However, the He family's reputation has been damaged, and they no longer have the face to ask for marriage from the Tang family.

soon.

Tang Ze and Tang Wanmei also knew about this, and they both believed that this incident must have been triggered by Su Liang.

Tang Ze was very happy, after all, he avoided his daughter from falling into a big pit.

……

Next.

Su Liang had been thinking about how to solve the problem of Wang's family's marriage proposal.

Unfortunately, after racking his brains for three days, he still had no clue.

Finally, Su Liang decided to go directly to Wang Chen to explain the situation and tell him a story about a talented man and a beautiful woman.

Having lived two lives, Su Liang's eloquence is much better than his literary talent.

……

This afternoon, in a teahouse.

Su Liang asked Wang Chen out in the name of "making friends through literature".

When Wang Chen saw Su Liang, he was stunned.

"You... you are not the one we met at Tang's house... you... are actually Su Jingming? I have read your articles, they are so beautifully written!" Wang Chen said excitedly.

He knew Su Liang's name, but had never seen him.

Su Liang looked at him, suddenly stood up and bowed to Wang Chen.

"My Lord, please accept my greeting!"

"You...why are you bowing to me?" Wang Chen stood up quickly.

Su Liang looked at Wang Chen seriously and said, "Master Wang, do you believe that love at first sight exists in this world?"

"what?"

Wang Chen was stunned and looked at Su Liang with a strange look.

Su Liang knew that the other party had misunderstood him, so he quickly said, "Master Wang, please listen to my story first!"

"In early August last year, more than ten acres of lotus flowers were in full bloom in Qianhe Garden in the east of the city. I saw a beautiful woman on the Rainbow Bridge. She moved my heart like a lotus flower."

……

"Since that rescue, our relationship has grown like a young lotus just beginning to sprout. After that, we often met, watched the lotus, appreciated the flowers, talked about poetry, and went boating on the lake in the suburbs..."

"At the beginning of this year, on the night of the Lantern Festival, I used the line from Zhuo Wenjun's "Song of the White-haired Girl": I wish to win the heart of one person and stay together until we are old. I confessed my true feelings to her and told her that the day I pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi, that would be the day I marry her..."

"But this was opposed by her father, who thought that my family background was not good, so he arranged a matchmaking for her and found another good husband..."

……

Su Liang spoke with deep affection.

The content is much more vivid than those stories about talented men and beautiful women.

Wang Chen cried like a tearful man.

She cried for the beautiful love that Su Liang talked about, and felt sad for being blocked by the worldly family background and wealth.

Finally, Su Liang said, "The woman I'm talking about is Tang Wanmei from the Tang family. I beg you to help me, young master!"

Su Liang bowed again.

Wang Chen wiped his tears and said, "I understand. You two love each other, and I really shouldn't disturb you. When I go back, I will tell my father to stop going to the Tang family to propose marriage."

"Thank you!" Su Liang said gratefully.

At this moment, Su Liang breathed a sigh of relief, finally solving the problem satisfactorily.

……

Three days later.

In a private room of a restaurant in the west of Yangzhou City, Tang Ze and Su Liang sat opposite each other.

"Boy, you do have some skills. I can promise you to date Mei'er, but it is limited to eating, chatting and shopping. You must not have other ideas."

"Wait until you pass the imperial examination, then come and ask for marriage. During this period, if Mei'er has someone else she likes, as long as she wants to marry, I will still marry her off without hesitation!"

"I understand, I understand." Su Liang smiled. As long as Tang Ze didn't force it, no one could take Tang Wanmei away.

……

Dinner is over.

Tang Ze returned home and told Tang Wanmei what he had talked about with Su Liang.

Tang Wanmei curled her lips and said, "Dad, what if he fails the next exam? Will your daughter just keep waiting?"

"Can't pass the exam? Even if you can't pass the exam, you have no choice but to marry him, otherwise you will become an old girl. Dad said this to put pressure on him so that he can study better and learn. This kid has the potential to be an official!"

"Daddy, you're so nice!" Tang Wanmei put her arm around Tang Ze with a smile on her face.

"Girls can't be kept at home when they grow up!" Tang Ze shook his head helplessly.

……

half year later.

Mr. Mingde, the founder of Mingde Zhai, passed away. Su Liang buried him with great ceremony and chose to continue running Mingde Zhai.

Three years later, it was the first year of the Qingli period.

Su Liang qualified for the title of Jieyuan, and at the end of the year, he went to Bianjing alone to take part in the provincial and palace examinations. Mingde Zhai's children were taken care of by Tang Ze.

Early March of the second year of the Qingli period.

Su Liang was named on the list of successful candidates in the imperial examination, and ranked twelfth on the list. In the same month, he was appointed magistrate of Changqing County, and thus entered the officialdom.

At the end of April, Su Liang returned to Yangzhou City and fulfilled his promise. He married Tang Wanmei, the daughter of Tang Ze, as his wife in his official capacity, which became a good story at the time.

(End of this chapter)