Chapter 150 Young Master Shen Returns Home
County government office.
Two yamen runners stood on both sides of the gate, guarding the door diligently.
Just then, a patched-up boy appeared at the gate. His whole body was covered in patches, and he wore straw sandals. He walked arrogantly into the government office with his straw sandal feet on the steps.
The two yamen runners stretched out their arms in unison and immediately stopped him.
"How dare you! This is a sacred place for government officials; how can you trespass here without permission!"
"You are the ones who are so bold! How dare you stop this young master from going home!" Shen Zheng shouted angrily, "Open your dog eyes and see clearly, who am I?!"
The two yamen runners were so busy looking at the patched clothes and straw sandals that they didn't notice the face at all.
The two looked up in disbelief, staring at him. The county magistrate's son, once so noble and precious, had fallen into such a sorry state. He used to be so fair-skinned, but in such a short time since he last returned, he had become so dark-skinned and seemed to have lost weight. His hair was also messy and obviously not combed properly, and his clothes were tattered and ragged... This was hardly the son of a county magistrate. It was perfectly normal that they didn't recognize him.
"Master, please forgive me! I was blind and didn't recognize the great man! I will report this to you immediately!"
A yamen runner rushed in quickly.
Shen Zheng dusted off the corner of his clothes and swaggered in.
Magistrate Shen had just finished hearing a case and was writing a memorial in his study, which was to be sent to the Prefect of Huzhou.
"Sir, the young master is back!"
The bailiff stood at the door of the study and reported loudly.
Magistrate Shen paused, carefully calculating. It seemed the boy had been in Dahe Village for thirteen or fourteen days. According to the agreement, it was indeed time to bring him back.
He was so busy that he completely forgot about it.
He then sighed, realizing that Zheng'er's unruly nature was related to his being too busy.
When she was busy, she neglected her son, but when she remembered him, she would scold and punish him severely. As a result, Zheng'er became more and more unruly and disobedient.
He put down his brush, pushed open the study door, and went out.
Just then, I saw Shen Zheng coming in from the front hall.
Upon seeing his son, Magistrate Shen froze. Was this boy, dressed in patched clothes and as black as charcoal, really his own son?
He stared intently at Shen Zheng, who walked over somewhat uncomfortably.
He coughed and said, "Dad, you're not like those two bastards at the door, you don't even recognize your own son anymore?"
"How dare you speak like that!" Magistrate Shen said sternly. "They are yamen runners, not servants of the Shen family. Watch your words."
Shen Zheng's expression froze.
He hadn't been home for almost half a month, and when he returned, his father's first words to him were a scolding.
I didn't ask if he was doing well in Dahe Village, if anyone bullied him, or why he suddenly came back...
There were more than 400 coins in Shen Zheng's pocket. This was his salary. It was the first time he had earned a penny since he was a child, and he wanted to come back and ask his father to help keep it for him.
He also brought an egg, which he threw away, but he was definitely going to show it off.
But as soon as his father opened his mouth he lost his temper and all his thoughts were gone.
He snorted and turned to leave.
"stop!"
Magistrate Shen called him to a stop.
"Where did you go again after just getting back? Where's Afu? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Shen Zheng stopped and said in a low voice, "Didn't you tell me to stay in Dahe Village? I'm going back now, I won't be in your way anymore."
Magistrate Shen frowned and said unhappily, "What kind of temper are you throwing now? How have you been in Dahe Village these past ten days? Have you helped the Zhao family with the autumn harvest? Have you made any progress in your studies?"
"I'm exhausted from harvesting every day. How can I have time to read?" Shen Zheng thought for a moment and turned back to say, "Dad, I came back this time to ask you for a favor."
Magistrate Shen stood with his hands behind his back: "Speak."
"Let's build a school in Dahe Village. The children there all want to learn to read and write, but there's no school. They have to study outdoors in front of an ancestral hall, and they can't study if it rains," Shen Zheng said. "There are about forty or fifty students now, and many others are planning to send their children here. We estimate there will be over a hundred students. We need to build a bigger school..."
Hearing him say this, Magistrate Shen was greatly comforted.
His son used to only think about eating, drinking, and having fun. Despite being quick-witted and intelligent, he was unwilling to spend time studying writing articles and poems, or anything related to reading and writing. After class, the boy never bothered with anything.
This was the first time this kid mentioned this to him.
This shows that Zheng'er was indeed influenced by Cheng Zhao in Dahe Village, which is a great thing.
But Zheng'er is destined to be disappointed.
“Ping’an Town has thirty-six villages. As the local official, I can’t favor one over the other. If a school is built in one village, then every village must build one. Do you know how much that costs?” Magistrate Shen patted his son’s not-so-broad shoulder. “Your willingness to do this shows you’re starting to grow up. But whatever you do, you must be realistic and consider all aspects carefully. It’s like writing an article; once you’ve decided on the theme, you must…”
"Alright, Dad, I know!" Shen Zheng interrupted him impatiently, "It's okay if we can't build a school. Then give me some money. I want to buy some pens, inkstones, and paper for the children in Dahe Village. Is that okay?"
The two sets of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones that Cheng Zhao presented as prizes were too old; the brushes were even worn out and unusable.
Moreover, only two people can get the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, while the other thirty or forty people can only watch longingly.
He bought forty or fifty sets and gave them to those poor boys. Surely, those children would look at him with admiration, and his status in their hearts would surpass that of Cheng Zhao.
"Father, you're not going to refuse my second request again, are you?" Shen Zheng stretched out his hand. "The cheapest set of writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone is two taels of silver. Fifty sets would only be one hundred taels of silver. Give it to me quickly."
Magistrate Shen felt a pang of regret. Although he was an official, his salary was really low. He was honest and incorruptible, and kept a clean conscience.
The family's food, clothing, and daily necessities were far beyond what his salary could provide. His elderly mother had set up two shops and a manor when he was studying hard. After they came to Ping'an Town, these properties were handed over to the clansmen to manage. The money earned was delivered by a special person every year, and the annual income was only a little over two hundred taels of silver.
This kid asked for half a year's earnings from the Shen family right away.
Well, it's rare for this child to make a serious request. As his father, what else can he do but agree?
Magistrate Shen turned and went into his study, where he took out a hundred-tael silver note and handed it to him.
Shen Zheng took the silver notes and left, rushing quickly towards the city gate.
Cheng Wanwan and Old Lady Zhao had bought everything, and Cheng Zhao had also negotiated the book copying job. They were sitting on the ox cart chatting and waiting. When they looked up, they saw Shen Zheng carrying two large cloth bags in each hand.
Grandma Zhao immediately jumped out of the car and went over to help lift the cloth bag: "Young Master Chen, what is this? Why is it so heavy?"
"These are brushes, inkstones, paper, and inkstones." Shen Zheng opened the cloth bag while sitting on the ox cart. "There are fifty sets in total, just right for the children studying in the school."
Cheng Wanwan frowned: "Weren't you going back to get a change of clothes?"
Shen Zheng slapped his thigh.
He not only wanted a change of clothes, but also planned to have the county government's cook prepare eight-treasure duck, lion's head meatballs, poached chicken, assorted meats, and other delicacies for him to eat his fill.
And the copper coins in his pocket were originally intended to be given to his father for safekeeping.
In the end I forgot everything!
Is it too late for him to jump out of the car and go back?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com