Ping An Biography

When I woke up in the morning, the sky was already bright but there was no sunrise, and the small courtyard was still shrouded in moist mist, as hazy as smoke and rain.After living in the capital for a period of time, Zhang Ning opened the window to look at the small courtyard. He suddenly felt that the place was small and not level and atmospheric. Outside were densely packed houses and winding alleys, and the view was not wide.But living here will not feel closed at all: the interior is the financial and taxation center of the entire empire, the economy is highly developed, and the water and land transportation is developed, and the relationship with the capital is very close; The starting point is Nanzhili, which has a certain connection with the world.In addition, the greening is very good and the climate and environment have not been damaged. In short, the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions of the Ming Dynasty were an excellent place.

People in the family have good living and rest habits, go to bed early and get up early, because there are really not many entertainment activities at night.After Zhang Ning finished washing, the women had already put breakfast on the table in the main room, and the whole family sat together to start a new day.

Uncle and the others were still preparing things for the shop, so Zhang Ning waited in the main room for dinner.Zhang Xiaomei came in with a basket of steamed buns and put them on the table. When she saw him, she wiped her hands on the apron, walked over and said softly: "The things my brother sent are so beautiful, light and thin. I washed them last night." Hang it in front of the window and blow it overnight, and it's already worn inside."

After hearing this, Zhang Ning subconsciously glanced at her chest from the corner of her eye. The protruding clothes looked very soft, and her face was still quite indifferent.Unexpectedly, sister-in-law Luo Yue'e just came in at this moment, and when she heard Zhang Xiaomei's words, she asked with a smile, "What did Erlang give my little sister to make her so happy?"

"A handkerchief." The siblings actually spoke in unison, quite in agreement.After speaking, both of them felt a little surprised, and they couldn't help but looked at each other. The little girl still had a pure smile in her eyes.Zhang Ning said in his heart: The relationship with my sister is so good that I don't even have to worry about the relationship between men and women.

In order to prevent the sister-in-law from being suspicious, Zhang Ning rarely joked: "If the eldest brother has nothing to say, I will give the sister-in-law a piece too?"

"Really!" Luo Yue'e scolded with a smile, "You have really made progress in becoming an official. If you dare to take your sister-in-law to shame, don't let your elder brother find out."

"I've heard it, hum." Zhang Shicai said standing at the door.

This kind of joke is nothing. In the Ming Dynasty, there was still a saying that brothers and sisters-in-law were like mothers. If something happened, it would definitely be a nasty thing that would be cast aside by the whole society; Some jokes are too much, and the sister-in-law and sister-in-law can also talk nonsense, but the brother and sister-in-law will be more serious.That's why Zhang Ning dared to talk to Luo Yue'e in the same way.

"It's Chinese New Year's Eve today, will Yun Brocade Shop still be open?" Zhang Ning stopped laughing at the right time and asked Zhang Shicai.

Zhang Shicai said: "Why don't you want to open it? During the Chinese New Year, the business is ten times as much as usual. It's not an exaggeration at all. I have to go to the shop during the day, and come back to eat the New Year's Eve dinner at night. After dinner, let's go to the imperial city to see it together." fireworks."

"Great!" Zhang Xiaomei was so happy that she almost jumped up, "I'm going with my brother."

Zhang Ning said: "It just so happens that I have to go out after breakfast, and my mother and the others have worked hard at home."

The little girl couldn't help asking: "What is brother going out for?"

Zhang Ning casually said a lie: "Gathering with some classmates."

Uncle Zhang Jiujin said with a straight face: "Little sister Zhang, why do you have so many things? Erlang is an official, so of course he has to go out more often to maintain relationships. He doesn't usually know each other well. Who will buy your account if he asks someone to do something temporarily?"

Zhang Shicai said: "Speaking of relationships, the semicolon shopkeeper of Hongyun Bank and I had a drink at the same table a while ago. When it comes to business, there are only two things that make the most money. One is to open a bank and the other is to engage in the salt industry. Relationship." After finishing speaking, he glanced at Zhang Ning, "He mentioned that he wanted us to take a stake."

Zhang Jiujin frowned and said: "Our family has invested in the bank, how many shares will we get?"

"Father, you have been in business for so many years and you know that you don't have to use money to invest in shares!" Zhang Shicai cast his gaze again, "But they said that Erlang has to discuss this matter in person. That's what I mentioned the other day. .”

Zhang Ning pondered for a moment and said: "The situation is not very stable and clear now, and I have just entered the officialdom, so I can't rush into everything if the time is not ripe, wait until later, brother forgive me."

"Okay, we are not short of food, drink and clothing, and we are not in a hurry to get rich." Zhang Shicai laughed.

After breakfast, Zhang Ning was about to go out. The younger sister brought a set of satin clothes and said, "I made new clothes for you to wear on the first day of the new year. My brother is going to meet friends today, so I will wear them. The silk fabric Oh."

"Little sister is a close relative, you can also make beautiful satin clothes." Zhang Ning said.Since it was stitched by his sister stitch by stitch, he happily changed into new clothes.

When he was dressed, he looked down and looked like a little rich man. He was wearing a blue colored silk cloak with open sleeves, and the hat that matched it was a risk... Zhang Ning didn't like this kind of clothes very much, and he didn't know Is there a difference between the aesthetics and the people of the Ming Dynasty, unless it is sportswear that usually wears clothes that don't like blue, green, and red, and prefer black, white, and gray.In his previous life, he usually wore suits and casual clothes, and the color from head to toe did not exceed three colors. He had never worn such a fancy colorful robe now.

Just as she was about to give a good compliment against her will, the little girl frowned and said, "It seems that my brother is wearing a strange dress...it's not as good-looking as the coarse green robe you usually wear."

"Forget it, it's not good to dress too plainly on some occasions." Zhang Ning said casually, "That's all I'm going to do."

The little girl stretched her brows and smiled again, her eyes were like a moon bay: "Go, I'll watch the fireworks with my brother at night."

After leaving the house, Zhang Ning walked straight to Jiangning County. Of course, he didn't go to meet some classmates, but he was going to meet some classmates on the New Year's Eve.The person he wanted to meet was Fang Ling, a j|woman from Fuleyuan.

When I come back, the most necessary person to meet is her.First of all, Fang Ling is her own savior. If it weren't for her relationship with "Peach Blossom Fairy", Zhang Ning would be belching on the road, and he would say goodbye to Ming Dynasty completely, and nothing would happen again.He can't completely distinguish between grievances and grievances, but he must know in his heart that he saved your life.Secondly, what he wants to do most now is to get back the handwritten poem from Peach Blossom Fairy, and get back the handle to clear away his involvement with the "chaotic party", so as to avoid disaster from happening; she?The most direct way is through Fang Ling, because she is almost sure to be able to contact Peach Blossom Fairy, otherwise how could it be done so quickly last time?

In fact, Zhang Ning copied two poems, and Fang Ling's "if life is just like the first time I saw it" may also be a hidden danger. It is hard to guarantee that the court will pull out Peach Blossom Fairy after she is seized.But Zhang Ning didn't plan to go back to Fang Ling's place. Don't worry too much about this little risk. If it's really that unlucky, it's a big deal if someone saves his life and returns it. That's the fate.

How about some gift for the reunion?Zhang Ning was thinking about his property, the remaining silver was less than 90 taels, and he had to set aside the necessary expenses for seeing his boss Wu Yong and the sacrifices in his hometown. The funds he can do now are at most 20 taels, which is not enough to spend... Fortunately, it is not all dependent Official salary, otherwise the salary of two or three taels a month is enough, I am afraid it is true that it is enough to eat.

But no matter what, seeing that Fang Ling's gift should not be too vulgar, buying a small thing on the street stall is obviously not a good thing.Sometimes money can really express a lot of things, courtesy is light but love is just a sentence, since you love a little bit of money, you are reluctant to spend it?

After disembarking at the Wuding Bridge Wharf, Zhang Ning wandered around the Qinhuai River, pondering as he walked.But it was a coincidence that I happened to see a signboard "Hongyun". Isn't this the bank that my brother mentioned at breakfast?But now what Zhang Ning sees is a jewelry store. I dare to believe that this capitalist is not specializing in opening a bank, but investing in something to make money.

Zhang Ning stepped forward to see the situation first.There are not many people in the shop, and most of the customers wandering around are well-dressed. Those who really want to buy jewelry should mostly be from a wealthy family. Ordinary people will buy one or two pieces when they get married.

The gold and silver items placed outside are placed in a nailed iron cage, like a pet cage.The things are packed in exquisite boxes, and the boxes are opened for people to watch.Zhang Ning casually asked the price of a necklace, which cost as much as 80 taels, which was still an ordinary item displayed outside.

The person behind the cabinet explained: "This necklace is made of red gold, and red gold costs two dollars and four wastes. Although it is exquisitely made, it is not worth ten taels with labor costs. The real expensive part is the pendant, which is made from Western Gems, the rare treasures brought back by Master Zheng's fleet from thousands of miles away..."

Zhang Ning nodded to express his understanding, just like a modern diamond ring, the real expensive thing is the diamond, not the platinum or gold ring itself.

Gold is valuable, gems and jade are likely priceless.He thought rings, necklaces and other accessories would be too monotonous and unattractive without gems; however, those with gems might be less than a few tens of taels, which is already beyond the budget.

The man said again: "What kind of customers do you like? This shop accepts orders. There are more than a dozen well-informed jewelry craftsmen in the semi-colon. Master, there are even people who have made objects for the imperial use..."

Zhang Ning didn't change his face, but he thought in his heart: I can't even afford your ready-made ordinary colors, so why do you need custom-made craftsmen who are well-known in the north and south?

He looked around, and suddenly found a pearl chain that looked like a bracelet or anklet in a corner. He immediately felt like a treasure, because the pearls on the chain were of different sizes and very asymmetrical!Rao Zhang Ning has no research on jewelry, and he also knows that jewelry should be well-proportioned. Pearls of the same size are difficult to assemble, and it is easy to put together large and small pearls. The estimated value of such things will also drop. After all, the value of a commodity depends on the labor that went into making it.

When he asked, sure enough, the man quoted a barely acceptable price: "25 taels."

"20 taels." Zhang Ning made a counter-offer out of intention. It's hard to find such a cheap and shiny thing in this place.

"Are you sure you want to buy this?" the man asked.

Zhang Ning said bluntly: "I'll buy it for 20 taels! I know that the pearls on your chain are big and small, so I'm afraid it's not easy to buy."