Chapter 322: Rumble (Part 2)

Mrs. Zhou smiled and said, "The one wearing the royal blue chaise longue is Wang Yuan, and the one wearing the honey-colored chaise longue is Wang Ze." Then she asked, "What do you think?"

The person that Mrs. Zhou introduced was Wang Yuan, the nineteenth son of the Wang family.

He is the real master, so it's no wonder that he is a little reserved.

Eleventh Lady said implicitly: "Both gentlemen are handsome men."

In other words, she was satisfied with his appearance. Mrs. Zhou smiled and casually talked about Wang Ze: "... He is a cousin. His father had asthma since he was a child. He couldn't carry anything with his shoulders or hands. He lived on the salary from the company and his mother's needlework. Fortunately, he has been sensible and stable since he was a child. Not only did he help with most of the family affairs, but he also liked to help the aunts and uncles. Therefore, everyone in the family likes him. This time, my sister-in-law must be worried about him when he came to Ciyuan. So she specially asked him to accompany her." Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

She saw that Wang Ze was neither humble nor arrogant, and had a straightforward character. She had never expected that his family was not so well off. It was rare for him to have such a magnanimous demeanor at his age.

"Young Master Sixteen looks like a suitable person," Shi Niang praised, "No wonder he was invited to accompany us.

"It's a pity that he was dragged down by his family." Mrs. Zhou sighed, "He didn't go to the clan school this year, but started to learn how to manage the household affairs with the housekeeper." She looked very sorry. Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

Seeing Wang Ze's skillful responses, she thought he had already gone out to work.

Mrs. Zhou thought that Eleventh Lady was surprised why the Wang family did not help Wang Ze continue his studies. She explained: "Although our Wang family has many sons and daughters, some of them have passed the imperial examinations and become high officials. But it is the first time that we have seen brothers like the Sixteenth Brother who have both passed the imperial examinations and become scholars at such a young age. How can we not hope that he can continue his studies and bring honor to our Wang family!" "The Sixteenth Brother is a scholar?" Eleventh Lady interrupted Mrs. Zhou in surprise.

Mrs. Zhou smiled bitterly and nodded: "He and his brother passed the imperial examination together last year!"

"Then..." Eleventh Lady knew she had spoken out of turn as soon as she opened her mouth.

Every family has its own problems.

If there were no special reasons, for a man like Wang Ze who passed the imperial examination at such a young age, and two brothers passed the examination at the same time, there would be no reason for the Wang family not to support his studies.

She said to the rescue: "Zhennan Marquis Mansion is really full of talented people!"

"He has to be able to read!" Mrs. Zhou said. "My eldest brother went to their house in person because Sixteen did not want to study. He promised in front of my brother that he would take out 40 taels of silver from his monthly allowance every year to support the two brothers' studies. But Sixteen refused to do so. He said that he was the eldest son and his father was ill, so he should take the responsibility of supporting his parents. He asked my eldest brother to help him find a job in the mansion."

As she spoke, Mrs. Zhou showed some helplessness.

"It's no wonder that this child has such thoughts. The annual payment from the middle school is not even enough for my brother to see a doctor and take medicine, let alone the daily food at home. There are two children who study, pen, ink, paper and inkstone, My husband's wedding expenses are a big expense, but not a penny less. In the early years, my sister-in-law pawned some of her dowry and my mother-in-law took care of it, so I could still live here.

But since his grandfather passed away six years ago, his uncle took over the family and saw that my brother was a hopeless case, so he gradually went out less and less. My sister-in-law was afraid of delaying the children's future, so she would sew all night long. Two years ago, her eyes were damaged from overwork, but she still has to keep it on.

Eleventh Lady was silent.

It turns out that there are always such stories...

The lady could not help talking about these family matters: "He did not say this without thinking. First, he is the eldest son, the one who supports the family. He has the title of scholar, and no one dares to look down on him. Second, his brother is only thirteen years old this year. Instead of the two of them living a life of hunger and thirst, it would be better for him to go out and work. This would save a lot of expenses, and he could also fully support his brother in his pursuit of the title."

I'm afraid there is a more important reason.

It is relatively easy to advance from a student to a scholar, but it takes more than three or five years to advance from a scholar to a Jinshi. The Wang family can support him for three or five years, but can they support him for ten or twenty years? Moreover, as the brothers grow older, they need to marry, have children, support their families, and take care of their parents. I am afraid that the 40 taels of silver is just a drop in the bucket and is far from enough. But if Mrs. Zhou's eldest brother is allowed to contribute a little more, what will the other relatives think? Will they also demand the same treatment? Will they offend other relatives?

Eleventh Lady nodded slightly: "Sixteenth Master is a very insightful person."

Mrs. Zhou was relieved to see that she understood.

After all, no one wants to have a reputation as a harsh clan member!

She thought of some things she heard when she returned to her parents' home a few days ago.

"It's a pity that his uncle is short-sighted." Mrs. Zhou said, frowning slightly, "When his grandfather was alive, he saw that Sixteen was smart, filial and sensible, so he wanted to marry his cousin to him. Later, the two families didn't visit each other much, and no one mentioned this matter. Last year, the two brothers both passed the imperial examinations, and his uncle brought up the matter again. At that time, one of my aunts was helping Sixteen to propose marriage, and the two families met and hired a matchmaker, waiting to exchange engagement letters. His uncle came to my house every day to say that, but my sister-in-law was still thinking about it. "The marriage was naturally disrupted because of the financial support from his maternal family." She said with disdain, "This year, at the beginning of spring, Shiliu accepted the job in the mansion. My sister-in-law cried for a few times, thinking that she would not continue to study, and she could not let her son down in marriage. She scraped together a few hundred taels of silver and asked a matchmaker to go to his uncle to ask for marriage. As a result, his uncle's tone changed completely, and he did not admit that it happened at all. He also said that his daughter had already been engaged. My sister-in-law was so angry that she lay at home for several days. She didn't even go to the wedding banquet of her nephew two days ago."

This reality...

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but ask, "What does Sixteenth Young Master's uncle do?"

"They live on the few acres of land passed down from their ancestors." Madam Zhou said indifferently, "They are one of the most wealthy families in Gu'an Prefecture. They think they are also a high-ranking official just because they have a partner who is the commander of the Wucheng Military Department."

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but laugh when she heard her contradictory words.

Mrs. Zhou also knew that she was just venting her anger. She laughed for a while. Then she asked the maid to bring a table of vegetarian dishes: "...It's been a while since I came to Ciyuan Temple to eat vegetarian food." The topic turned to Wang Ze again: "This incident has ruined such a good child like Sixteen. Their family is originally a branch of the family. Previously, there was a scholar who was famous and suitable for marriage. Now that they don't take the exam anymore, those with a little wealth may think that their family is too poor. If they talk about a poor family, Sixteen is at least a scholar. It's a pity."

Eleventh Lady nodded, thinking of Twelve Lady whom she had always missed... She was in a similar situation. Mr. Luo was now at home, and Sixth Lady was born a maid.

If she has a family background, they will dislike her because she is a concubine. If she has no family background, the Luo family will not agree to her for the sake of face.

In the flash of fire, she couldn't help but lean forward and leaned over slightly and said, "Sister Zhou, I wonder how old the Sixteenth Young Master is this year?"

Mrs. Zhou was slightly startled and said, "I am sixteen years old this year."

"What happened to the marriage between the Sixteenth Young Master and his cousin?"

Mrs. Zhou had already felt something was wrong and said, "Of course it didn't work! Otherwise, why would I say that I had implicated Sixteen?"

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said, "I have a younger sister, and Sister Zhou has also met her... She played with Fang Jie'er and the others in Liufangzhen during the Third Day of the Third Month. She is eleven years old this year, and it is time for her to get married. The Sixteenth Young Master comes from a noble family, is well-mannered, and is well-educated. I wonder if this fate is possible..."

Mrs. Zhou still doesn't understand.

Her mind raced.

That Twelve Lady is very pretty. Although the eldest master Luo is now idle at home and is a concubine's son, the second master of the Luo family is a councilor in Shandong, the third master is a scholar in Sichuan, the eleventh lady is the wife of the Marquis of Yongping, the tenth lady is married to the Duke of Maoguo, the eldest master Luo is a scholar-official, and has a nephew-in-law who is a top scholar...

Mrs. Zhou's eyes showed a hint of excitement. Before Eleventh Lady finished speaking, she smiled and said, "The Luo family is a family of scholars and officials for generations. Miss Twelve is outstanding in appearance and virtuous. If she is interested in our Sixteenth, it would be a blessing for our Sixteenth in her previous life."

Both of them understood what they meant and couldn't help but smile at each other.

Mrs. Zhou said, "I will go back to my parents' home in a few days."

Eleventh Lady also needs to discuss this matter with Luo Zhenxing.

She smiled and nodded: "I want to go say hello to my sister-in-law too."

"That matter about Nineteen..."

Eleventh Lady blushed: "Apart from talking to the Marquis about this matter, the Dowager Lady..." Madam Zhou also knew that Wang Ze was different from Wang Yuan, and Twelve Lady could not be compared with Zhen Jie'er.

She said cheerfully, "Then let's do it one by one!"

Eleventh Lady hurriedly smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Sister Zhou!"

"Why are you talking about whether it's tiring or not?" Mrs. Zhou said with a smile, "Just remember to make me a pair of matchmaker shoes yourself. I heard from our sister Fang that you made a pair of red parrot-shaped peach slippers for sister Zhen. They were very beautiful."

"As long as Sister Zhou likes it!"

Eleventh Lady and Madam Zhou were chatting and laughing as the vegetarian dishes arrived.

After they had their meal, they returned home.

The lady took Shiyi Niang's hand and asked, "How is it? Does Prince Wang like it?"

Eleventh Lady told the lady about the situation.

The lady nodded as she listened and said, "Then send someone to ask Mr. Han about the progress of Prince Wang's studies."

A thought flashed through Eleventh Lady's mind, and she thought of Ziwei beside Fifth Lady...it seemed that she was given to a Hanlin scholar as a concubine!

She pondered and said, "I'll go and ask when Master Hou comes back."

When the lady heard her mention her son, she said worriedly, "He's been gone for three or four days, and he didn't even send a message to his family..."

How can it be so fast!

Eleventh Lady smiled and changed the subject: "Guess what our Madam Zhou said at Ciyuan Temple today?"

Seeing her bright eyes sparkling and her rare playful expression, the old lady took a breath and said jokingly, "Hmm, it smells like alcohol... and you came back so late... Could it be that the two of you were together criticizing mother-in-law?"