Chapter 95 Competitive Job Selection (Part 2): "Old Zhang just said he saw Lang Ge'er and Lang Ge'er's carriage, they'll definitely be passing by later..."

"Old Zhang just came to say he saw Lang Ge'er and Lang Ge'er's carriage. They'll definitely be here soon."

“Mother, didn’t I just say that their visit to the palace to see the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess was of utmost importance? Lang’er was even on leave when the Crown Prince called him back from outside the city, which must be no small matter. Also, the Crown Princess met with Madam Shen before even meeting the Shi family after marrying into Yuqing Palace. You told me all of this.”

"I told you so, you just got back and you're already getting angry with this old woman. You haven't changed your temper even after getting married."

"Since Lang-ge'er and Shen-shi are both busy with important matters, they've already returned. Why do they have to come and pay their respects to me today? What difference does it make whether it's today or tomorrow?"

"Sui'er, go and stand guard at the door. If you see your uncle, tell him to go back and rest first. He doesn't need to come here to pay his respects today."

When Zhenxuan arrived home around noon and saw Shumulu with Tu Nan and Hui Zhong, along with Fangyi from the eldest branch of the family all alone, she did indeed get angry.

It has been five years since she got married, and this is the first time she has returned to her parents' home in five years. She has never seen any family treat her great-aunt so poorly.

Moreover, she returned with her husband, Nara Fu Guang, and daughter, Hai Lan. Her family's behavior was not only disrespectful to her, but also a blatant disregard for her husband, Fu Guang.

The Hesheli family had an old aunt who married into the Nara family a long time ago. The Nara family and the Hesheli family have been related by marriage for generations. How could they dare to be so unruly in just five years?

Zhenxuan was so angry that she turned around and was about to get back into the carriage and leave. It was only after much persuasion from Shumulu that she was finally persuaded to come back inside. Once inside Tongjia's main courtyard, the servants were very attentive and considerate, showing no intention of deliberately treating her coldly. Only then did she sit down and listen to Tongjia explain the whole story.

After hearing Tongjia's explanation, Zhenxuan's anger completely dissipated. She realized that she had no right to compare face with the Crown Prince.

Knowing that Lang Ge'er and Shen Shi were not at home but had gone to Yuqing Palace, Zhen Xuan straightened her back even more, and Fu Guang's expression also softened completely. He said that they were all family and there was no need to be polite. It didn't matter whether they met today or tomorrow.

How can they all be the same? Just now, when Zhenxuan got angry and pretended to leave, Fu Guang just stood by without saying anything or trying to persuade her.

Shumulu glanced at Urgun, realizing that this son-in-law was not someone to be trifled with. His current posture showed he was a shrewd and pragmatic man.

Zhenxuan's marriage was arranged early, when Shuai Yanbao was still alive. As the eldest daughter of the Minister's family, Zhenxuan's husband's family background could not be too low.

Fu Guang, who was not yet thirty years old, had already been appointed as a senior official in the Ministry of War in Shengjing, responsible for assisting the Vice Minister of War in managing the border defense affairs of Shengjing and coordinating with the capital.

The official rank of the fifth grade is not high, but it has real power. Due to the special location and significance of Shengjing, compared with the Ministry of War in the capital, he may have more real power and more people he can command.

Originally, it was a marriage between people of equal social standing, but who knew that the Hesheli family would lose one pillar of support after another. During the years of mourning, the Nara family rarely sent gifts or letters to the capital except for the New Year. At that time, everyone in the family was uncertain, fearing that the Nara family would break off the engagement and abandon Zhenxuan.

It was Zhenxuan who dared to write a letter herself and give it to Fu Guang. To this day, Tongjia still doesn't know what was written in the letter. Not long after the letter was sent, the Nara family came to the capital with a reply and took the initiative to propose that they should get married as soon as possible.

Once the Nara family made the offer, the Hesheli family had no reason to disagree, and in less than three months, they married Zhenxuan off. Fuxuan, who was still young at the time, was extremely unhappy about this, feeling that the Nara family was too hasty and careless, and that simplifying everything was unfair to Zhenxuan.

Zhenxuan thought that as long as the marriage was still a formal marriage, she would do anything to marry into the family. Fuxuan, on the other hand, wanted to take this opportunity to hold a grand wedding so that the whole capital could see that the Hesheli family was still the same Hesheli family as before.

At that time, the family had just finished observing mourning for Shuaiyan, and the eldest son's wife, Niohuru, and Yulang and his children still had to continue observing mourning for Erhe. The second son's family had just moved back from outside, so the so-called grand celebration was simply unrealistic.

Fu Xuan was, after all, just a younger sister-in-law, and no matter how much she complained, Zhen Xuan still got married. Early on the morning of her wedding day, Zhen Xuan, with a stern face, pulled her younger sister aside and admonished her, saying that true worth is only when you have something of your own, and that thinking about how things are at home is all meaningless.

Think carefully about what he means. Once you understand, ask your second brother to find you a reliable family to marry into as soon as possible. Don't be unrealistic and waste your life by being too picky.

Zhenxuan wasn't as good-looking as Fuxuan. If Fuxuan was a stunning beauty with striking features and a sweet demeanor, then Zhenxuan was more of a cool, heroic type with clear eyes and a stern expression. When she put on a serious face, she looked even more frightening.

Fu Xuan felt that her sister was unhappy because she kept contradicting the family during the time she was waiting to get married. Although she felt wronged, she also felt that her sister was about to get married and shouldn't argue with her. So even though she didn't take what her sister said to heart at all, she still accepted it all and nodded repeatedly, agreeing to everything.

Zhenxuan knew exactly what kind of person her younger sister was, and she knew that her sister was just trying to appease her, but there was nothing she could do about it.

After she married into Shengjing, she arranged for Fuxuan to marry into two families in Shengjing, but Fuxuan rejected both of them, saying that she wanted to take care of her family and did not want to leave the capital. From then on, Zhenxuan never inquired about her sister's marriage again.

Until last year, when a letter came from home saying that Fuxuan's marriage had been arranged, I saw that my mother had written down the whole story clearly, which obviously meant that she wanted to hear my opinion or even wanted me to come home and support me and Fuxuan.

Zhenxuan only replied with a letter, which contained only a few sentences: first, that she had family matters to attend to and could not go to the capital; and second, that Tongjia should listen to Yulang and Shen.

Their choice of Decheng over Ulanaratu Lin for Fuxuan showed that their intentions were righteous and that they had no intention of selling Fuxuan for a future and a helpful relative in the capital. In Zhenxuan's eyes, Fuxuan's confused and wasted years of time ending up like this was already a blessing from the Bodhisattva and the protection of the ancestors.

Until Fu Guang was about to return to the capital to report on his duties, the business between the Shen family and the Shen family in Shengjing had grown so much that people were already trying to find connections to him, hoping that he could act as a go-between to the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family and ask if he could supply goods to the Shen family's shops next year.

Zhenxuan didn't give a definitive answer to anyone who asked, only saying she would write to the capital to inquire when she had time. Privately, after carefully investigating Shen Wanqing's business, she decided the next day to take her daughter and husband back to her parents' home for a visit.

“Mother, you clearly understand the principles, so why do you still do everything wrong? Fuxuan is the same. She can talk a good game, but when it comes to actually doing something, she can’t do anything right.”

Zhenxuan gave birth to her only daughter five years after getting married. Hailan, who was only three years old, was exhausted from the journey from Shengjing to the capital. Tongjia's kang was heated, and the child became drowsy after sitting on it for a short while.

Seeing that his daughter was sleepy, Fu Guang carried her to the guest room in the front yard to rest. At this moment, only the mother and daughter were there, and Zhenxuan had no intention of being polite at all.

“You’re right, why did you have to drag me into this? You’ve always been just like your father, never forgiving when you’re right.”

When you were little, you always said I favored Fuxuan. Look at you now, you've just come back and instead of being affectionate with your mother, you start lecturing people like a teacher. You're only doing this because I don't want to argue with you.

Zhenxuan looked at Tongjia, who was holding her hand and muttering to herself, and felt a sense of helplessness. It was always like this. When she talked to her about things, Tongjia would talk about feelings, as if all the wrongdoings were because she was too aggressive and powerful, and as for right and wrong, they didn't matter at all.

In recent years, Zhenxuan has rarely felt this way at her in-laws' house—like punching cotton, unable to explain herself. For a moment, she just felt suffocated and her chest tight.

Fortunately, before Tongjia could say anything more, a lively commotion came from outside, and Sui'er, who had just gone out, returned shortly afterward.

“Madam, the master and mistress have already arrived at the main courtyard. I only met them on the way and couldn’t stop them.”

“How can we not come to pay our respects when our eldest aunt comes home? Sui’er, you shouldn’t have stopped us at all.”

Sui'er was Zhenxuan's maid who accompanied her to Shengjing. After five years away from the capital, she returned with Zhenxuan this time. Before seeing Zhenxuan, Yulang felt a strange sense of estrangement after so many years. It wasn't until he met Sui'er outside the main courtyard that the longing he had suppressed through the estrangement resurfaced.

"It's just talk. I'm naturally even happier that you came to see me today."

"Where's Hailan? Old Wu said her aunt brought her back too, but we can't find her."

"Her father took her to sleep, and she won't wake up until tonight. Tomorrow, I'll have Sui'er take her to your yard to play."

"Uncle is in the capital at this time to report on his duties, right? When he returns after this report, shouldn't he be promoted?"

"It's not that easy. The six ministries in Shengjing are different from those in the capital. There are many old princes and aristocratic families in Shengjing. Right now, the vice minister of the Ministry of War in Shengjing is from the Niohuru family. He has a very close relationship with the imperial concubine in the palace. If he doesn't move his position, your uncle can only wait."

In the decades since the dynasty entered the pass, the imperial examination system has gradually regained its influence, and truly talented scholars naturally prefer to stay in the capital rather than Shengjing.

Even if they couldn't stay in the capital, they would first try to find a way to go south, or to Shandong, Shanxi, or Sichuan. There were too many Manchu families and Mongolian princes in Shengjing, which were never the choice for these scholars.

Few scholars served as officials in the Six Ministries of Shengjing; these positions naturally mostly circulated among the sons and nephews of aristocratic families.

Fu Guangneng has already done his best to maintain his position as a senior official in the Ministry of War over the past few years. If he wants to advance further, he either needs to make a great contribution or he needs a major opportunity. In Zhenxuan's opinion, this opportunity is very likely to lie with her nephew.

"There's no rush. He's busy with his work report when he comes back. The most important thing for me when I come back, besides seeing my mother, is to find your wife."

The Nara family is large, and Fu Guang is the second son of the second wife. However, because his elder brother is fifteen years older than him and is born taciturn, Zhenxuan manages many affairs and businesses of the second wife's family.

She also does business, and Fu Guang's family has ginseng stocks. It's better to do business with Shen Wanqing than with others. Especially since Shen Wanqing now has the powerful backing of the Crown Princess. Even if the business doesn't make money, she can still gain favor. Wouldn't it be easier for her to ask her nephew for help in the future?

If you're asking for a favor, you should have the proper attitude. Zhenxuan had already inquired about the Shen family's main branch before leaving Shengjing.

The eldest branch of the Shen family has always stayed in their hometown. In the past two years, they have made a profit by supplying goods to Shen Wanqing's shop and by using caravans to deliver goods. They have made a lot of money from both sides, but they are unwilling to lower their prices. Right now, the two sides are deadlocked because of whether the goods and caravans will lower their prices for next year. This is exactly what Zhenxuan wanted.

"We're all relatives, and there's no reason to insist on doing business with only one company. If you need a lot of goods, you can get them from both companies, or if your uncle can't get a lower price, you can take a look at my goods."

I brought back quite a lot of things this time. Take a look at their condition when you have time tomorrow. If you think they're acceptable, we can discuss the price. Besides, we don't have a caravan, and our goods aren't just supplied to this one place. If this goes through, we can use your uncle's caravan in the future.

We're all relatives. Making money is important, but relatives should interact like this, giving and receiving. Over time, our bond will grow stronger.

Shen Wanqing rarely encountered someone who could talk even more than herself, and at this moment she was completely stunned by Zhenxuan's words.

She did think the price offered by the eldest branch of the Shen family was too high, and she had considered finding another source of goods if her uncle refused to lower the price. But Zhenxuan's blatant attempt to steal her business was truly unexpected and surprisingly delightful.

“What are you saying, Aunt? Even if we don’t do business, does that mean we’re not related by marriage or family? Whenever you come back, you’ll always be our aunt.”

"Hey~ You don't need to say such polite things to me, I wouldn't believe you anyway. Anyway, I'll give you a definite answer first: if the Shen family is willing to lower the price, then I'll give you the same price they offer next year."

I won't let him lose out. If he gives up half of his goods, my family will use his caravan to transport goods out of the country starting next year. If he's not willing to share, then as long as the goods I have are good enough, you can't look for anything else elsewhere.”

What could Shen Wanqing say after Zhenxuan had already said such things? She could only pull Yulang over to shield him and let him deal with his aunt.

Finally, they talked from dusk till night. The whole family stayed in the main courtyard to have dinner with Zhenxuan and Fu Guang. Yulang was so drunk by Fu Guang that he had to support Shen Wanqing to walk straight. The two sides agreed to wait a couple of days to see the goods that Zhenxuan brought, and then sit down to discuss how to supply the goods.

Zhenxuan didn't expect Shen Wanqing to agree so easily after being coaxed. It was good enough that she was willing to talk today.

Having achieved her goal, she was also sensible and didn't let Yu Lang and Shen Wanqing stay and talk to her that night. After dinner, she urged the two of them to go back and rest, saying that they could talk about anything else tomorrow.

“Your aunt is an interesting person. She seems easy to get along with. Why were you so afraid of her when you were little?”

Zhenxuan is indeed a capable and shrewd person, but she is not annoying or disliked. She knows exactly what she wants and doesn't treat others like fools; she just lays things out clearly and explicitly.

If it works out, that would be best. If not, Shen Wanqing could guess that after today, Shen Wanqing would pretend that she had just come back to visit her parents and would find another way to befriend her.

"What's so good about it? I don't see it."

Yu Lang couldn't really pinpoint what was wrong with Zhen Xuan. From a young age, she was the type to submit to whoever was more capable, and anyone less capable than her had to listen to her. Yu Lang was much younger than her and had been controlled by this aunt since childhood. Even after Zhen Xuan got married, she never grew up to be anyone stronger than her.

“My eldest aunt is different from my youngest aunt. My youngest aunt is just silly and carefree. She might argue with you today and be nice to you tomorrow, and she doesn’t care whether others hold a grudge against her or not.”

“My aunt remembers everything. You may have forgotten, but she still does. If you don’t believe me, go ask her now. She definitely remembers the time when I was six years old, when I put water in her inkstone and hid her book under her bed for three days before finding it…”

Originally, when drunk, Grandpa Yu was filled with indignation and resentment about the psychological trauma he suffered as a child.

As he was talking, he realized something was wrong, especially when he looked up at Shen Wanqing, who was peeling and eating grapes while looking at him with a half-smile. He couldn't continue speaking.

"People say that even dogs dislike seven- or eight-year-olds, but our Lord Yu is more promising than others. He's already this amazing at six years old?"

Zhenxuan was eight years older than Yulang, and Shen Wanqing could imagine how annoyed this thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl was with her nephew Yulang, who was always causing trouble. If anyone dared to hide her book under the bed and not find it for three days, Shen Wanqing would beat that person so badly that even their own mother wouldn't recognize them.

"Ouch, my head hurts. Ouch, I drank too much tonight, my head hurts, my head hurts~"

Yu Xiaogou felt guilty and buried his head in Shen Wanqing's arms. He mumbled something unintelligible. Shen Wanqing tried to push him away, but he found an opening and wrapped his arms around her waist, refusing to let go. They ended up rolling together inexplicably, whimpering and grumbling.

The Crown Prince kept his word and did not summon Yu Lang to the palace again, even though Yu Lang still had fourteen days of leave left. Yu Lang also stopped worrying about palace affairs once he left the palace. Apart from occasionally going out to eat and drink with friends and colleagues, he spent most of his time at home with Shen Wanqing.

At the end of the year, Shen Wanqing was very busy. When she was at home, he served as her page and attendant, laying out paper and grinding ink for her. When she went out, he followed her and served as her attendant.

At first, Fang Liang and the others weren't used to it. The old man was rarely home, and now he was always following them around, which was both annoying and troublesome. But he was an old man, and no one could find fault with him going out with his wife, so they had to gradually get used to it.

Fourteen days sounds like a long time, but it's actually only half a month, and it's over in the blink of an eye. With two days left before entering the palace, Yu Lang made time to take Shen Wanqing back to the Shen family. After they've rested enough, it's time to get back to work; the tasks assigned by the Crown Prince also need to be carried out.

"Stay at your parents' home for a couple more days this time. You can go back after I go to the palace to take up my post."

"I can only relax for two more days. Once it gets to the twelfth lunar month, my mother will be busy and the house will be busy. I'll be able to relax when I stay at my parents' house."

"Alright, alright, I was just saying. Grandma is capable and does more work. Our family is all supported by Jiyun, otherwise my life would have been in chaos long ago."

"Of course, among the people under you, who has the makings of a steward? You have Fang Liang lying there, but you don't even know how to use him."

Knowing that Yu Lang was flattering her, Shen Wanqing still found it quite amusing. It's good that men are willing to say such nice things to coax people; what's truly worrisome are those who can't express themselves properly, saying things like "I just don't know how to talk" when they argue, even though their intentions are good.

They can't even say nice things, something as simple as the lips touching the lips. Instead, they insist on saying things that are sarcastic and unpleasant, and then expect people to believe that they are just being mean but not malicious. Shen Wanqing thinks this is simply absurd.

"Have you figured out how to tell my dad later?"

"If you've thought it through, just tell my mother-in-law about my aunt. Speak nicely. If your eldest cousin's wife is unhappy, send someone to my study to find me. Don't actually get into a fight with her."

The goods Zhenxuan brought to the capital were truly excellent; even the ginseng and deer antler makers in the shop nodded in approval. Shen Wanqing had already spoken with Zhenxuan, saying that as long as her goods for next year could maintain this quality, she could take the goods from her.

In this situation, the Shen family's eldest branch is the one who should be worried. On one hand, Shen Wanqing wants to set up her own caravan, and on the other hand, Zhenxuan wants to get involved. If this matter is not handled well, the Shen family's eldest branch may really develop a rift with Shen Wanqing.

Shen Wanqing knew that this matter had to be discussed slowly, but unexpectedly, Yu Lang entered Shen Hongshi's study and told his father-in-law about the task given to him by the Crown Prince and the ideas he and Shen Wanqing had come up with. Shen Hongshi immediately ordered his page to call Shen Wenyuan, the second son of the eldest son's family.

“Let Jiyun worry about business matters. If you want to run a caravan, you can’t use outsiders. I’ll write to your uncle today. Our Shen family will provide the caravan members. Once these people join your caravan, you will be in charge of who they should contact, what they should pay attention to, and how they should be used.”