RNP Chapter 1247 Reappearance
Chapter 1247 Reappearance
Chapter 1247 Reappearance
After drinking all night, Zhang Yue returned to his bedroom.
But Shiqi Niang was reading a book by candlelight. When she saw Zhang Yue coming back, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she immediately ordered the maid to bring a bowl of sobering soup simmering on the small stove to Zhang Yue.
After giving the instructions, Shiqi Niang continued reading.
Zhang Yue didn't drink much, so he didn't need to drink the hangover soup, but he thought about it and drank it anyway, saying with a smile: "My wife is so considerate!"
Shiqi Niang raised her eyebrows when she heard this. Without putting the book down, she asked casually, "What did Huang Silang ask you for again?"
Zhang Yue said, "Huang Si has no idea how much he drinks. He gets drunk after just a few drinks. I saw him like this and left without saying anything."
Shiqi Niang said as she read a book: "The quality of a drinker reflects his character. This has nothing to do with how much he can drink."
Zhang Yue sighed when he heard this: "Talking to my wife is like guessing mysteries all day long."
Shiqi Niang said, "So the master is tired and wants to take a concubine, which is not a bad idea."
Zhang Yue laughed when he heard this. He knew what it meant to die after trying. Since the two got married, Zhang Yue knew that the economy determined the superstructure, unless he was capable of living a life of luxury.
But honestly, was there no utilitarian element in my decision to marry Shiqi Niang?
Otherwise, if he really married a girl from the Han family, not to mention how he would make ends meet when he first started as an official, how many years would it take him to reach where he is today in his official career?
Fifty? Or sixty?
From ancient times to the present, there are many people in the officialdom who think like this. Isn't Wang Kui one of them? Later generations also said that "the first sword you use when you get ashore is to kill the person you love first."
But then again, can such a marriage be happy?
Many people fail to see the risks involved and rush into it impetuously or wishfully, and seven out of ten cases end up unhappy.
Several sons-in-law of the Wu family are sons of prime ministers. You are a student at the Imperial College. If you don’t compare yourself with your wife, others will do so.
Zhang Yue had also been deeply troubled by this issue at first, and was undecided, but later he remembered that he had read a question and answer before traveling through time.
Can you be happy if you marry a rich man?
The answer is yes, but you have to understand whether you like rich people or rich people’s money.
Zhang Yue suddenly realized, that's why he chose the good-looking one...
Now we have been married for 20 years, and we are in perfect harmony. Of course, this is also because I have made great efforts in the later stage and have risen to the top.
When Zhang Yue thought of this, he couldn't help but look at Shiqi Niang, who was leaning on the soft couch reading a book under the light, looking lazy. She was still as beautiful as ever, and her grace was undiminished.
Shiqi Niang was tired of reading and glanced at Zhang Yue out of the corner of her eye, only to see him staring at her.
Shiqi Niang narrowed her eyes and asked, "Is the master drunk?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Looking at a beauty under the lamp makes me intoxicated."
"Have you seen enough?" Shiqi Niang turned around, looking as if she was ready to be picked.
After saying this, Zhang Yue sat down beside Shiqi Niang. Just as he was about to reach out his hand, Shiqi Niang bent the scroll and knocked him down. Zhang Yue pinched his forehead and sighed, "Marry a wife who is virtuous and take a concubine who is beautiful. The ancients were right."
Shiqi Niang laughed and said, "What kind of dirty words are those used by the rented yard? And you even said it was said by the ancients."
Zhang Yue immediately waved his hand to dismiss the serving maids, and held Shiqi Niang in his arms, his hands restlessly moving.
……
"Humph, you reek of alcohol!"
Shiqi Niang covered her white body with the bed sheet and said to Zhang Yue angrily.
Zhang Yue was lying on the bed, thinking that his physical strength was indeed not as good as it used to be. 'Back then I had to pee three feet high against the wind, but now I have to pee my shoes with the wind'. He felt it.
After years of living in luxury, my physical strength has really declined. Now I can only hold on for half... half an hour, which is really shameful.
Zhang Yue said to Shiqi Niang, "Brother's coming here today reminded me of many things that happened in the past."
Shiqi Niang's hair was all wet. She looked at Zhang Yue on the pillow and thought of many things.
For official families like the Wu family, the selection of sons-in-law is even more strict than the selection of daughters-in-law. Choosing a son-in-law from an official family and choosing a son-in-law from a poor family both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Shiqi Niang knew that she had high aspirations and high standards, and would never allow her future husband to be mediocre. So between selecting talent and family background, her parents chose a son-in-law for her from among the outstanding people of humble families.
Men take the imperial examination and become an official as a shortcut to success, but women also have a shortcut, which is to get married! To get married, you must know how to judge a person by his or her appearance.
When Zhang Yue was first chosen, his family's relatives inevitably became critical of his background, and a lot of criticism was inevitable.
Some people say that Zhang Yue is just inferior, others say that since it is a five-year agreement, it shows that Zhang Yue has self-awareness.
But Shiqi Niang never doubted her own judgment. Instead, she was afraid that her willful nature might offend the other party, and she was even more afraid that gossip would reach Zhang Yue's ears.
Fortunately, Wu Chong secretly reassured Shiqi Niang that if Zhang Yue failed to pass the imperial examination within five years, they could get married first and she could take the imperial examination later.
Shiqi Niang then realized that Wu Chong had already read all of Zhang Yue's essays and homework when he was in the Imperial College. When choosing a son-in-law, such an official family would have done an extremely detailed background check.
Of course, this must be kept secret from Zhang Yue first.
This secret was kept secret for twenty years.
In the past twenty years, she has risen from a concubine to the prime minister's wife. The relatives who used to sneer at her now have to admire Wu Chongzhi's vision and are now vying to ask her to introduce him to Zhang Yue. Relatives are snobbish? Shiqi Niang doesn't think so. Anyone who is not snobbish at this point is either a saint or a fool.
Zhang Yue said: "Madam, I heard that Senior Brother Guo has a daughter!"
After hearing this, Shiqi Niang understood what Zhang Yue meant. Great, no wonder... no wonder he was so attentive today.
In the past, Shiqi Niang would have been annoyed, but she knew how important Guo Lin was to Zhang Yue. Born in a wealthy family, she didn't care much about human relationships, because too many human relationships were mixed with interests. But Zhang Yue was different. He told her that he came from a humble background, and when people were poor and humble, they would remember the little kindness and favors from others for a lifetime.
Especially since Zhang Yue was a person who cherished old times. So it was rare that Shiqi Niang, who always looked down on others, was so considerate and warm to Zhang Yue's relatives and friends.
Because she knew that this was what Zhang Yue cared about most in his heart.
Shiqi Niang thought to herself that Guo Lin was Sima Guang's favorite disciple. Since he was not a Jinshi, he was just a lowly official now. However, after the Zizhi Tongjian was completed, the government would promote him as usual.
The New Party cannot always have the upper hand. If Sima Guang makes a comeback, he may be used because of his reputation. Is this move by the lord to win over the old party?
Besides, she could see that Guo Xuan was outstanding in both character and knowledge. If he was properly trained, he would be a great talent in the future. So the Guo family was a little "cold" at the moment, but it would never be in the future.
Shiqi Niang thought of so many things at once, and perhaps there were some things she hadn't thought of. Shiqi Niang said, "Brother Guo's character is beyond words, comparable to Yan Hui. But Erlang's marriage hasn't been arranged yet, but you're already interested in Sanlang."
Zhang Yue said, "I was thinking of Lord Fu Zheng. Apart from Feng Jing, his other two sons-in-law were both hermits. They were all his friends when he was poor."
"I have already sent someone to inquire about the woman of the Guo family. She is well-educated, not arrogant, and can manage the household."
Shiqi Niang smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Fu Zheng is choosing a son-in-law, not a daughter-in-law. But the official has made up his mind, so why are you asking me? Don't you even ask me if I have any other families in mind?"
Zhang Yue said: "You don't look down on ordinary families. If they are of equal status, I'm afraid you can't control them! So I make the decision for you."
Shiqi Niang knew that Zhang Yue was reminding her of the conflict between her and Zhang Zhi’s wife, Lu.
The relationship between sisters-in-law is the most complicated. It is not good to have a big disparity in strength, and it is even worse to have equal strength. Shiqi Niang has never seen a few sisters-in-law living together who can get along well. But if you meet someone who understands things, at least you can get along well on the surface.
Huang Lu's daughter was very satisfied after seeing it. If Zhang Yue said it, the family would be harmonious in the future.
Shiqi Niang said, "What do you mean by pacifying her or not? That depends on whether she loves our Sanlang or not. What does it have to do with me?"
Zhang Yue said at this time: "Those officials who are always seeking personal gain and gaining favors in the government, even though they hold high positions, often have useless descendants or go astray."
"But those who were ostracized and attacked for being honest and upright, although their official careers were not very successful, their descendants were often outstanding, and at least had good character. I have seen too many such cases."
"My dear, there are not many people I admire in my life, and my senior brother is one of them."
Seeing Zhang Yue's reluctance, Shiqi Niang said, "Let's talk about it after we match the horoscopes."
Zhang Yue was overjoyed when he heard this.
Shiqi Niang said, "It's important to keep your mouth shut. Sanlang must not be informed before the provincial exam. So, how is Sanlang's schoolwork going?"
Zhang Yue heard this and said, "I have made some progress studying literature with Guo Xuan recently, but my writing is still lacking in quality."
Shiqi Niang said unhappily, "How can you belittle Sanlang like this?"
Zhang Yue smiled bitterly when he heard this.
……
The spring examination in the fifth year of Yuanfeng.
Zhang Cheng and Guo Xuan both participated.
After the provincial examination results were announced, the Zhang family booked a tavern closest to the announcement site. Shiqi Niang and Guo Lin's family were waiting there.
As for Zhang Yue, he was busy with state affairs and had no time to spare.
Finally, when the results were announced, the scholars in front of the list scrambled to see it, and there were also merchants vying to catch a son-in-law under the list.
Zhang Cheng was fine, but Shiqi Niang was a little anxious. A dozen servants from the Zhang mansion had already squeezed in to look at the list.
Soon, a servant from Zhang's residence came to report, "Congratulations, Mr. Guo, you passed the high school entrance exam!"
As soon as these words came out, Guo Lin burst into tears of joy. Although he had never been proud of himself, his son helped him realize his dream. Guo Xuan calmly responded to the congratulations from the store owner and others.
Shiqi Niang asked, "Is my Sanlang on the list?"
The servant said, "Madam, I haven't finished reading it yet."
Another person said: "I haven't seen it yet!"
Seeing several servants saying so, Shiqi Niang couldn't help but said, "I'll go and see for myself."
Immediately, more than a dozen female servants surrounded Shiqi Niang and went to the list. Zhang Cheng first congratulated Guo Xuan heartlessly, but when he saw Shiqi Niang like this, he scratched his head in embarrassment.
Zhang Cheng looked at the ecstatic new nobles at the top of the list, the downtrodden and frustrated scholars, and finally his mother who looked disappointed.
A feeling of sadness suddenly surged into my heart, and then I burst into tears in front of everyone.
This was also the first time that he, a young man who had never known sorrow, felt extremely sad.
Thinking of his father and brother, Zhang Cheng felt that he was probably the most useless and incompetent person in the Zhang family.
Zhang Cheng returned home with a sad face, and fell asleep without eating.
In a dream.
He seemed to be in the world, floating in the fairyland. Suddenly, he saw a five-colored pen spinning in front of his eyes!