Ordinary clear day

Chapter 166 Entering an Official
After Zhang Bao heard the news, he was secretly angry. He felt that Chen Liang was fooling himself, so he said to his wife and children in private: "If he doesn't want to help, just put it bluntly, why is he coaxing me like this? , and didn’t say that he’s going to be reincarnated soon, he lied to me, and at the same time gave the official position to a trusted person, what exactly does he mean?!”

Tong's face was also full of anger, Duanning pondered for a moment, and said: "This...could it be someone who did something wrong? It stands to reason that he doesn't have to lie to Ama."

Hearing what he said, Zhang Bao calmed down, thought for a while, and sighed: "Forget it, he and I are not close friends, and we don't have much contact with each other. No matter what happened to him this time, we still don't want to talk to him." Put your future on him and find another way."

Shu Ning thought of the news she had inquired from her parents and elder brother recently, and felt in her heart that something was wrong with Chen Liangben's situation.After leaving Beijing for two years, he touched the interests of some people in the south of the Yangtze River. His originally stable political camp has been loosened, and his reputation has also been damaged.The most important thing is that whether he is active or passive, he has already begun to fall into party struggles and lost his original position of being a pure minister. It is hard to say how long the emperor can trust him.If my father is too close to him, he will easily be regarded as a crony, and he will inevitably be affected when something happens, so why not take this opportunity to alienate him.

She spoke out her thoughts, but Zhang Bao still hesitated.In the eyes of others, he is already from Chen Liangben's side. If he is alienated at this time, he will be regarded as a villain who is stalking people, right?

Shu Ning hurriedly said: "Ama, how can you think like this? In fact, the reason you had a good relationship with Mr. Chen back then was because you were a subordinate of Mr. Yuheng, not his heir. Even though he helped us a little, we also I gave him a few ideas. Seriously speaking, I didn't owe him anything, and I didn't rely on his promotion to get rich. These two incidents were all caused by Mr. Chen. It's human nature to have a estrangement between us. As for other people's gossip, how have we ever relied on anyone? What can others say?"

Zhang Bao heard it and thought it made sense.Duan Ning was listening at the side, and then he interjected: "It's good for Ama not to form a clique. I think the adults on Mr. Chen's side are no different from forming a clique. I don't know what the emperor will think. .”

Zhang Bao was startled, and nodded decisively: "I see."

He put aside the idea of ​​relying on Chen Liang's recovery, and just reported the official document to the official department in a proper manner, and waited for the news at home.Of course, the brothers and the Yue family still have to do what needs to be done.However, when Chen Liangben sent someone to send a letter to apologize, he didn't comment, he just said that he knew it, and he didn't need to worry about it in the future, so he sent the person with an ordinary reward.

In fact, in this matter, Chen Liangben was somewhat wronged.He did send a note to the old subordinates of the Ministry of Officials, implying that they would give Zhang Bao the vacancy of the prefect of Jinan, so he was extremely surprised when he was appointed.I asked those old subordinates, and they actually said that they did it according to his orders, and the name on that piece of paper is the current one.After Chen Liang thought about it, he realized that something was wrong with the people around him.Thinking of all the things that happened recently, he couldn't help but secretly startled.

He hurriedly sent someone to send a letter to Zhang Bao to explain the truth, but Zhang Bao was obviously discouraged and no longer trusted him.Although he felt very sorry, Zhang Bao was not very important to him, and he had a complicated relationship with the prince and the Tong family, so he couldn't really trust him, so he didn't force it anymore.What's more, the most important thing for him right now is to calm down the backyard first, and then deal with the person who used to be his brother and brother, but now intends to replace him.

A few days later, the results of the inspection by the Ministry of Officials and the letter of appointment came down, and Duanning officially became an eighth-rank military secretary, full-time translation, drafting, copying and other clerical work.

Tong is a little worried, this official position is a bit low, not to mention compared with Zhenzhen's brothers, just a few levels behind her own nephews, even Cheng Ning, the second room's unseemly prodigal son The sixth-rank Lanling bodyguard.

Duanning comforted her and said: "Don't worry, Er Niang, I'm still young. Although the grade of this post is low, what I do is all important things, and I can often see the court officials. A child of the Eight Banners like me, I can't wait to see you." That’s how he got promoted.”

Zhang Bao also said with a smile: "This position looks like nothing, but it is the easiest to be promoted. If you do well, the people above will immediately see it. Not only do you know a lot of people, but you can also be familiar with various government affairs. You can learn things. Great opportunity. After a few years of seniority, you will have a limitless future when you reach the position of chief executive, and it is not impossible for you to be a great official in the frontier."

Hearing what they said, Mrs. Tong felt a little more relaxed. Thinking of the aristocrats he knew, some of his children started from small officials such as pen stickers. After all, those who are lucky to be promoted are a minority, so they no longer struggle. Here it is.

Duanning saw that her face turned better, so he said with a smile: "Actually, I originally wanted to go to the Ministry of Households or the Ministry of Industry to learn more things. In the future, being a parent like Ama can also benefit the common people. I was really disappointed when I was sent to the Ministry of War.”

Tong was a little dumbfounded: "Can you still choose this kind of thing? Anyway, it's seniority, it's not the same everywhere?" Zhang Bao heard it but said: "Nonsense, the Ministry of War and the army are the foundation of our family. Your daughter-in-law's family is also from the military, if you let others hear your words, I don't know what they will say. Don't mention it again."

Duanning obediently agreed, turned around and saw his younger sister looking at him and smiling, and pretended to be angry: "Girl, what are you laughing at?!" Shuning pursed her lips and said, "It's nothing, I think brother is going to the Ministry of War. In fact, it’s quite an advantage.” When Duanning asked why, she laughed and said, “My brother is very familiar with both Mongolian and Chinese characters, that’s one; my brother has learned government documents from Ama long ago, that’s the second; Thirdly, what is the biggest issue of the Ministry of War right now? Of course it is the Northwest. The names of the places, the names of the people, and the relationship there, my brother already knew it when he helped Brother Tongying sort out the information last year. Other pen-and-stickers of the Ministry of War need to be done first. If you memorize these by heart, my brother will be able to take office immediately, isn't it an advantage?"

Duan Ning scolded with a smile: "You girl, do you think it's enough to just memorize these things when you do pen sticking? What kind of advantage is this?" Then he bullied himself and pinched his sister's nose.Shu Ning hurriedly dodged, and the brother and sister started arguing again, but they didn't see their parents looking at each other thoughtfully, and there was some surprise in their eyes.

Duanning will start work soon, and Tong is busy arranging for him what to bring, as well as meeting gifts for future colleagues, and Zhang Bao also taught him a lot of experience.Shu Ning was fighting at the side, but remembered another thing: "Miss Zhenzhen seems to have never returned to Beijing. Didn't the emperor say that he would refer to marriage? Why hasn't there been any news for so long?"

Tong said with a smile: "Mrs. Wen received a letter two days ago, saying that Zhenzhen will return to Beijing in a few days, and I don't think it will be far away." Zhang Bao also twirled his beard and said, "I heard that the Ministry of Internal Affairs The clock factory is half built, and it will be completed in the spring of next year. Before General Wu Dan completes the errand and returns to Guangzhou, his daughter's wedding will be arranged. I guess it will be a few days. "

Shu Ning said "Oh", and glanced at her brother with a smile: "Fourth Master Duan became an official and is going to marry a wife again. What a double blessing." Ning blushed, and walked out after muttering something, which surprised her greatly.

Xian Ning ran in from the door, passed by her brother, gave him a strange look, then came in and asked, "Why is brother's face so red?" Zhang Bao and Tong couldn't help it, they both laughed.

Shuning suppressed a smile, knelt down and said to her younger brother, "I'm sorry because my brother is going to marry his sister-in-law." Xianning widened her eyes and asked, "Sister-in-law? Who is it? Is it Miss Zhenzhen?" Shuning Smiling and nodding, he said: "But my brother is too thin-skinned. Whenever I mention my sister-in-law, he will blush. What can I do on the wedding day? People will laugh at me. So brother Xian, remember to talk about your new sister-in-law in front of your brother more often. If so, let him get used to it as soon as possible."

Xian Ning nodded solemnly, but heard her parents laugh even louder, a little puzzled.At this time, he saw Duanning coming in with a few books in his hand, so he ran over and said, "Brother, don't blush on the day you marry your sister-in-law." The parents who couldn't do it, and the younger sister who was snickering at the side, knew who the culprit was. After a few words of "humph", they tapped her head lightly with the book in their hands: "Little girl, you actually made fun of brother?"

In the end, it was Tong who smoothed things over and stopped the children from fighting, and asked Xianning: "Brother Xian is practicing calligraphy in the aunt's house? Why are you here?"

Xian Ning said: "I heard from my aunt that she and Brother Xiaobao are going back to Fangshan, Er Niang, I also want to go back with them."

Mrs. Tong was silent, there were still many things at home, it was impossible for her to go back, not to mention the matter of Duanning's marriage in the future, but she was a little reluctant to let her youngest son go back with Mrs. Liu, although she could rest assured.She looked at her husband, Zhang Bao hugged Xian Ning, and asked: "Why does Brother Xian want to go back with Auntie and the others? Is it not good to have Ama Erniang, older brothers and sisters to accompany you at home?"

Xian Ning said: "It's good, but there's nothing interesting here. Master Fangshan Youcheng will accompany me to ride a horse and shoot arrows, and I can also play with Brother Xiaobao. It's much more interesting than here. Ah Ma, don't you come back?"

Zhang Bao pondered for a moment, then said: "It's snowing in winter, and it's inconvenient to ride a horse and shoot an arrow. Xiaobao is going back to study with her husband. How about Brother Xian staying with Ama more? You see, your sister-in-law I have something to do every day, and my brother has to go to the Yamen again, how boring is Ama alone."

Xianning tilted her head and thought for a while, then solemnly agreed.Zhang Bao happily patted his head.Shuning watched, feeling warm in her heart.

In the following days, Duan Ning went to the military department to work every day, and Zhang Bao taught his youngest son to read and write at home, and he was quite happy.Tong's helping Nala's with some housework, but it's not as good as taking power in the spring, but she doesn't care too much because she has other things to do, which is preparing for Duanning's marriage.

In the past two years, Fangshan's fields, fruit forests, lotus ponds and other industries have benefited a lot.Although there is not enough rain this year, they still have an income of 3000 taels. In addition, the teahouses in Guangzhou can earn about [-] taels a season. Their family has always been frugal and has accumulated a lot of money.Now that Zhang Bao has the title of title again, and Duanning has also entered the official position, even if Zhang Bao's official position after recovery is not ideal, there is no need to worry.

Tong took her daughter to check the account books carefully, and calculated that the family could probably use 5000 taels of silver for the wedding, but after listening to her daughter's suggestion, she decided to only use [-] taels for the time being, and keep the rest as a spare.

At the same time, when a son marries a wife, of course he can no longer stay in Huaiyuan, but has to live in another courtyard.There are not many empty yards in the Earl's Mansion right now, so she took a fancy to an old unoccupied courtyard closest to Huaiyuan.It used to be a warehouse for large objects such as tables, chairs, screens, etc. After the old lady passed away, Nalashi used the side room of the main courtyard to store sundries, and all the things in it were moved there, and the old courtyard was abandoned.Mrs. Tong liked that it was close to Huaiyuan, spacious, dry and ventilated, and only needed to be refurbished.

She made a request to Nala, saying that Sanfang was willing to bear the cost of the renovation, and the reason she used was that her son would marry a wife when he was old.Although Nala didn't know which lady Duanning would be engaged to, she had offended Sanfang several times because of her daughter, and Sanfang was still courteous and courteous to Elder Fang, and asked very kindly, "Last time The monthly expenses are high, do you need to add some money to the account room?"Although the rent on Baoding Manor has been paid, and the rents of several properties have also been collected, and they don’t need to pay for it for the time being, but the previous difficulties were all thanks to Sanfang’s help, so she needs to show her goodwill to Sanfang , mend the relationship.Therefore, she readily agreed to renovate the yard, and offered to pay for it from the public. After all, Duanning is also the young master of the Earl's Mansion.

Tong's heart is clear, of course she accepts it with a smile. With the money saved, she can also make more dowry gifts to add honor to her family.

In late October, the palace finally handed down a decree to marry the daughter of Guangzhou General Wu Dan to the late first-class Weiyuan Boharqi's grandson and Qingche captain Zhang Bao's son Duan Ning. .

Two days later, the Ministry of Officials issued an official document stating that Zhang Bao, the former prefect of Guangzhou, was humble, filial, devoted to his duties, performed well during his term of office, and had the merit of persuading farmers to settle down, and moved to Zhili to participate in politics.

(End of this chapter)