Xu Mo's words silenced the siblings.
They hoped Zheng Ruqian's business would flourish, but they were also afraid he would encounter danger.
They also hoped that their third brother could eat meat and that life on the frontier wouldn't be so harsh.
Actually, this is a choice: if you deliver the goods, you choose Fang Heng; if you don't deliver, you choose Zheng Ruqian. Both are equally important, making it a very difficult decision.
After a long silence, Changyan said softly, "We don't need to choose, Second Brother has already made his choice."
This letter must have been sent some time ago. Judging from the contents of the envelope, Zheng Ruqian has already arrived in Anshui County and is expanding his workshop to send meat to the frontier.
"Besides, there's no need to worry too much." Chang Yan slowly analyzed, "Sending meat to the military camp is a good thing in itself. The imperial family also wants to provide good food and drink for the frontier soldiers. It's just that the national treasury is empty and they are short of funds. If Second Brother can really get this line going, the rewards will far outweigh the drawbacks."
This is similar to the principle that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.
On the other hand, water can capsize a boat, but it can also carry it.
Zheng Ruqian's audacity must have stemmed from the realization that this matter, if taken seriously, would benefit the country, the people, and himself.
"The second child has grown up." Xu Mo sighed. "Four years have passed."
They gradually transformed from a group of lonely children into individuals with their own money, their own thoughts, and ultimately, their own future.
No matter how far they go or how big their steps are, they have never forgotten their original intentions and remain the kind-hearted people they always were.
Xu Mo stood up, took out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and wielded the brush with silky smoothness and swiftness.
"I will tell the second son that we support him, but also ask him to take care of himself and protect the lives and safety of those around him."
"The imperial examination is over, and I feel quite good about it. Please rest assured that if there is good news in April, I will send it to you."
"Younger brother and sister..."
When writing about his family, Xu Mo paused slightly, but still managed to tell the story of the Jiang family. He also told Zheng Ruqian not to worry or get upset, as it wouldn't affect his sister's life. He added that she still wanted to open a noodle-making workshop to earn more money.
Finally, just as I was about to put pen to paper.
Jiang Sheng suddenly spoke up, "Tell Second Brother that mutton is delicious. See if Anshui County can raise sheep."
So you haven't given up after all.
Xu Mo couldn't help but chuckle. He picked up his pen, added the sentence, blew the ink dry, put it in an envelope, sealed it with wax, and handed it to a familiar merchant.
Speaking of which, the Dayu Dynasty also had a special postal service called the post station, which was usually used to transport documents or transmit good news. Urgent deliveries over 800 li were common.
However, this post station only serves the imperial family, occasionally helping out aristocratic families, but it doesn't concern itself with anything else.
Ordinary people who wanted to write a letter mostly relied on people returning home to carry it for them. A few well-informed people would ask traveling merchants for help, and would also give them some money as a reward.
Of course, not every envelope sent out will arrive safely; loss and damage are common occurrences.
During the Jin Dynasty, there was a man named Yin Hongqiao who received over a hundred letters upon leaving his post and returning home. These letters were all from people far from home, expressing their longing for their homeland. However, after he turned away, Yin Hongqiao threw them into the water, muttering, "Those who sink will sink, and those who float will float. I, Yin Hongqiao, am not a messenger!"
Since then, people have often used "misplaced letter" to describe a letter that has been lost or not delivered, which shows that sending letters was a big problem.
Fortunately, Zheng Ruqian was quite capable. Over the years, he had not only helped carry many letters but also made many business friends who traveled between the north and south. If he were to deliver two letters, he would be almost certain of success.
Moreover, the time could vary depending on the merchants' travel speed; for example, a letter sent from the frontier took less than twenty days.
The letter from Fengjing to Anshui County took more than twenty days to reach Zheng Ruqian.
In the courtyard adorned with flowers.
The young man, dressed in plain silk, opened the envelope. At first, his expression was quite gentle, but gradually his brows furrowed, and by the end, his face was filled with disbelief.
"Master, what happened?" Zhang Qiquan leaned in from behind. "The sausages we sent to the frontier were stolen by the Tartars?"
Zheng Ruqian hadn't closed his mouth yet.
Liu Cui, standing to the side, stamped her feet in frustration, "Pah, pah, pah, what nonsense are you talking about? Xiao Song is such a clever kid, and he has people from the military camp to help him. He won't run into the Tartars."
Zhang Qiquan quickly and cooperatively spat twice on the ground, and only then did Liu Cui's face show a smile.
Zheng Ruqian snapped out of his reverie, put the letter in his pocket, and, unsure how to explain it to Uncle Zhang and his wife, simply said, "It's nothing, just a letter from Fengjing. My elder brother has finished the imperial examination."
Zhang Qiquan and Liu Cui exchanged a glance, their faces showing undisguised shock and joy.
It's unbelievable that the little boy with the broken leg has actually made it this far.
From a student to a scholar, from a scholar to a graduate, from a graduate to a scholar who passed the provincial examination, and from a graduate to a tribute student.
"After the provincial examination, the next one should be the palace examination." Zhang Qiquan couldn't contain his joy. "If he passes the palace examination, he can become an official. Xu Mo has finally reaped the rewards of his hard work."
"Now we're just waiting for the results to be released." Zheng Ruqian was also happy. "My brother said it was a sure thing, and it really is a sure thing."
A student who has won first place twice is unlikely to fail to win first place a third time.
Putting aside Xu Mo's talent, his hard work alone is enough to earn him the status of a tribute student.
Moreover, he is both talented and hardworking.
"Where are the others?" Liu Cui asked immediately. "Where's Xiao Jiang Sheng? Where's Sister Zhang?"
Zheng Ruqian pursed his lips, omitting the story of the Jiang family, and said selectively, "My aunt and Jiang Sheng created a family-name pastry shop together, which sold extremely well in Fengjing and brought in a lot of profits. Now they have opened a new workshop selling plain noodles."
Liu Cui's eyes reddened slightly. "That's good. I'm relieved that Sister Zhang is doing well."
Although the two women have different circumstances and lives, their meeting still made them care about each other, and thousands of kilometers could not stop them.
"Aunt Zhang also asked me to send my regards to you," Zheng Ruqian said with a smile. "Auntie, if you have anything to say, you can write it down in a letter and I'll give it to you when I return to Fengjing."
"Okay, sure," Liu Cui readily agreed, and pulled Zhang Qiquan along to get ready to go.
Zheng Ruqian took out the envelope from his pocket, and after folding it, he discovered that there was another complete envelope tucked in the back, addressed to Wang Fufeng.
He sighed and summoned a farmhand to deliver it to the Prince's residence.
After some calculations, Zheng Ruqian arrived in northern Xinjiang in late February and set off for Anshui County at the end of February. He spent a few days in Rehe and traveled day and night the rest of the time, finally arriving back in Anshui County in mid-March.
After expanding the workshop, arranging long-term workers, and visiting old friends, it was already April, when spring was in full bloom, and many new business opportunities needed to be arranged.
The boy unfolded his hand-drawn map, walked back and forth between Fengjing and Anshui County twice, and finally pointed to the Sichuan region in the south, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Now, we're just waiting for Wang Xiaosong to return from the frontier.
As if sensing his master's concern, Wang Da Zui Ba sneezed twice, then covered his mouth in worry.
Although there were soldiers in the camp waiting to meet them, they were still afraid. They were afraid of encountering the elusive Tartars and losing both their wealth and their lives.
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