Chapter 373: Same Person, Different Fate

"Zhongyan!" The next day, Hu Erlang came to Su's house.

"Brother Buyi, how did you find this place?" Su Zhongyan was surprised. "I was thinking of looking for you later. My home is not in Changshoufang."

"Mr. Hu, have some tea!" Hu Zi brought the tea. There were no servants here. The children served the teacher and made fire and cooked for themselves.

"I went to Changshoufang and they said the Su family had moved to Guangdefang, right next to Jingzhao Prefecture. Luckily I hired a carriage from Duting Post, otherwise I would have had to ask around!"

Hu Erlang looked around the mansion and said enviously, "Beijing officials are different. Look at this mansion, it's really magnificent!"

Su Zhongyan laughed, "That's nothing. My father is only a fourth-rank official. If you have seen the mansions of first- and second-rank nobles, ours is really a humble abode."

The Su Mansion was deserted. The garden and vegetable garden were all empty and overgrown with weeds. Only before moving in did someone tidy up the house a little.

If it weren't for these kids moving in, this place would be desolate and completely deserted.

"This is Chang'an City, Zhong Yan. It's not easy to have such a big house! I wonder if I can have such a big house in Chang'an in the future."

Hu Erlang likes this place very much. It is spacious and quiet.

"In the future, when you take the imperial examinations and become an official in the court, your mansion will definitely be bigger than this!" Su Zhongyan said.

Taking two sips of tea, he thought about the children's return journey. "Buyi, when will the caravan leave? When the time comes, the children will return to Lingnan with you. I plan to stay and take the re-examination."

"?" Hu Erlang looked up, "Zhong Yan, I can't go back to Lingnan for the time being!"

"Why? Did you encounter any trouble when you reported to Mr. Fu yesterday?" Su Zhongyan asked with concern.

"No, I want to stay in Chang'an to study!" said Hu Erlang.

"Really? That's great!" Su Zhongyan said happily, "Which university are you planning to apply to? Let's review our lessons together!"

"Uh..." Hu Erlang stammered, "I'm going to school tomorrow!"

"Really? Oh, that's great. Did Mr. Fu help you with this?" Su Zhongyan was envious.

"Well, the emperor specially granted me the Imperial Academy!" Hu Erlang felt that he shouldn't show off, but if he kept it secret, it would only make him feel awkward.

"The emperor's special gift? Imperial College?" Su Zhongyan exclaimed, "Oh my God, Bu Yi, you, you..."

Su Zhongyan was even more excited than Hu Erlang, rubbing his hands in circles. "Guozi Academy! No doubt, take me around someday to see the collection of books inside!"

Hu Erlang smiled and said, "Okay!"

"Haha, the one who is close to the water gets the moon first. Don't doubt it. If you have any good books in the future, please share them with me!" Su Zhongyan tried to make friends.

Many of the books in the Imperial College were donated by prominent families, and some are unique copies that are inaccessible to ordinary people.

After a while, Su Zhongyan finally remembered something and asked doubtfully, "Buyi, why did the emperor grant you this special gift? Did you also meet the emperor?"

Hu Erlang nodded, "I will see the emperor before you! Mr. Fu was the Supervisor of the Imperial Household, and now he has been promoted to the position of Supervisor of the Imperial Household, in charge of the Inter-trade Trade Office, Supervisor of the Territorial Seas, and in charge of the various shipping offices at the ports of Guangzhou and Quanzhou."

Su Zhongyan's eyes widened, "You mean, you mean..."

Hu Erlang nodded. Some words can only be implied but not expressed in words.

"Bu Yi! That's great! I was sorry that we had to part ways. Now you want to stay in Chang'an! Why don't you live in my house?" Su Zhongyan invited warmly.

"Great!" Hu Erlang liked the environment here and also liked to discuss and communicate with Su Zhongyan.

When the brothers Su Shiyan and Su Chenyan, who were passing by the window, heard this, they became jealous to the point of going crazy!

I had known that I had to rely on the boss Fu, but I didn't expect that his background was so strong that he was actually the special envoy of the emperor.

But on weekdays, Mr. Fu hardly looked at them straight in the eye. He always had a cold, polite and distant attitude, which made people afraid to approach him.

Hu Erlang didn't know how he got so lucky. Not only did he make a fortune, but he also got a place in the Imperial Academy for free without having to take an exam.

He has taken advantage of all the conveniences of scholars and businessmen!

Why don't I have this fate? Alas, what different fates for the same person!

The two brothers were already depressed, and now they are even more depressed!

"Oh, by the way, Zhongyan, Manager Liu will stay. I plan to open a shop in Chang'an to sell Lingnan specialties." Hu Erlang said his plan.

"Ah?" Su Zhongyan was surprised. "What about the children? Ah Hei might not be able to handle it alone!"

Manager Liu is very capable. With him around, we can safely leave the child to the caravan.

But he also stayed. Su Zhongyan was not very reassured about the other people in the caravan. If the child was lost or had an accident, there would be no one to take charge of the situation.

The accountant, Mr. Mo, stayed in Guangzhou Port.

"Sir!" Hu Zi, A He, A Niu and a group of children were crowded outside the door.

"What's the matter? Come in!" Su Zhongyan has a good temper and is easy-going with children.

"Sir, we, we also want to stay in Chang'an!" the children said courageously.

"You guys also want to stay in Chang'an?" Su Zhongyan looked at the children, "But you, you guys, it's not that easy to get into the schools in Chang'an!"

"Sir, if you can get into the official school, then take it. There are many private schools here. If you can't get in, studying in a private school is not bad either!" Hu Zi said.

There are many great scholars and celebrities here, and the good private houses also have famous scholars, so you can learn knowledge and skills here.

"But you are so young and have been away from home for too long. Your father and mother..." Su Zhongyan was conflicted.

If he were in his place, he would also want to stay and return to Huanggou Village, where he would have no husband except his sister.

Besides, it is not easy to go to Chang'an, and I would not be willing to just go back after a quick visit.

"Zhong Yan, I don't plan to go back now!" Ah Hei came in.

Meeting the emperor last night had aroused his ambitions. Although he was a little older, he still believed that "if I hear the truth in the morning, I am willing to die in the evening!"

It’s not too late to learn now. Learn as much as you can. Go back in two years and surprise Grandpa! Ah Hei has also become a refined student!

"What should we do in Wu County? Grandpa and the others will think that I have kidnapped you!" Su Zhongyan was embarrassed and amused.

"No!" Ah Hei said firmly, "Maybe they would prefer us to stay for two more years!"

"Those who don't want to stay can stay and ask Lord Su to renew their stay permit. Those who are willing to go back can return with the caravan. How about that?" Hu Erlang suggested.

"Very good! Everyone, please think it over and sign up if you are willing to stay!" Su Zhongyan said to the children.

As a result, all the children did not want to leave and asked Su Bucheng to re-register.

The children all applied for mathematics, which was their strong point, and they tried their best to stay in Chang'an.

Mathematics in Chang'an also included abacus classes, and of course other courses.

However, the subject that children are most likely to be admitted to now is mathematics. They have no chance at all in law or calligraphy.

You are not old enough to study music, your foundation in calligraphy is not strong enough, and you have only held a pen this year. How good can your writing be?

Su Bucheng used his connections to find two teachers to give the children extra lessons.

The Su Mansion became a private school that was not a private school. It became lively and vibrant, no longer deserted.

With the help of Fu Zhong, Hu Erlang opened a shop in the East Market and the West Market, both of which were managed by Manager Liu.