Chapter 3336: Flowing Feast 2
Chapter 3297 Flowing Feast II
"Oh, I see there are a lot of people eating outside. How much does it cost?"
I don’t know, and even if I knew I couldn’t tell you.
Zhuang Jiran said, "Aunt, I'm going to go greet other guests first. Please sit down and the food will be here soon."
"Wait a minute," Zhuang Jiran was pulled back. "Who are your grandfather's disciples? I haven't even met them yet."
"I haven't seen it either. Every Chinese New Year and other festivals, I see their family members sending gifts to your house, but I have never seen them in person."
Zhuang Jiran, "Aunt, we went to my grandparents' house to pay New Year's greetings, not my house, so of course you haven't seen them."
He looked up and saw Bai Shan and Zhou Man walking out together with a smile, so he pointed at them and said, "Look, that's them."
Everyone at the table turned their heads to look, their mouths slightly opened, and after a long while they exclaimed in amazement, "It's really beautiful! It's worthy of being the reincarnation of Taibai Star and Wenqu Star."
Zhuang Jiran's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "Aunt, have you heard this story too?"
"Listen, I hear it every time I pass by the teahouse. Oh, I didn't expect our Luojiang County to be so powerful that there are actually two immortals who have descended to the earth."
Zhuang Jiran nodded in agreement.
Bai Shan and Zhou Man went out to greet the Taoist priests, and Yin Huo also came back with them.
After just two days, Zhou Mandu noticed that his complexion had become more rosy, and he became happy. "It seems that the mountains are indeed good for health. You took the boat and then the bus, and your face was a little pale. Now you look much better."
Yin Huo smiled and said, "I feel peaceful and sleep well in the mountains. I also practice boxing with the Taoist priests every day and eat in moderation. I also feel that I am in better spirits these past two days."
After listening to this, Zhou Man decided to pick up the health plan that she had unknowingly thrown away. She also had to work hard so that she could live longer.
The relatives of the Zhou, Bai and Zhuang families all knew that these four families had become rich, especially the relatives of the Zhuang family.
Because Mr. Zhuang's presence was very weak, no one knew that Mr. Zhuang was a high-ranking official in the capital unless Zhuang Dalang mentioned it. They still thought that Mr. Zhuang was still traveling around with his three disciples.
Everyone knows that Mr. Zhuang has a generous boss who specially invited him to teach more than ten years ago. He receives various gifts during festivals throughout the year, and his salary is particularly high.
I just didn't expect that he had been quietly serving as an official in the capital a few years ago. I heard that he held a high position.
The three-day banquet caused a sensation throughout Luojiang County. Many gentry heard the news and came to have a meal even without visiting cards. They were not there for the food, but to meet Mr. Zhuang, Bai Shan and others.
Of course, they didn't come here by themselves. They brought their own children and nephews, ranging from seven years old to twenty years old. They had only one purpose: Mr. Zhuang, do you think they have the qualifications to be trained?
I don't ask to be accepted as your disciple, but it's fine to keep him by my side as a servant.
Mrs. Zhuang was so moved watching from the side that she pinched Zhuang Dalang several times every day when she had the chance, urging him to send the child to his father-in-law as soon as possible.
Zhuang Dalang had no choice but to call his son and daughter-in-law to his side for questioning, actually mainly questioning his two sons.
"...Are you willing to let your child go to the capital with grandfather?"
Zhuang Ji'an was stunned for a moment, "Dad, are you talking about Chen'er and the others?"
Zhuang Dalang nodded.
Zhuang Ji'an lowered his head in thought. The child was still young and they were reluctant to let him go.
Zhuang Dalang said, "You've seen what's happened these past two days. Countless people have begged your grandfather to bring people to the capital. If you're willing, I'll go and discuss it with your grandfather. If not, forget it."
Zhuang Jiran looked around and became faintly excited, "Dad, I do. I want to go!"
Zhuang Dalang frowned and looked at him, "You?"
Zhuang Jiran's eyes lit up as he said, "Yes, me! Dad, let me go. I can still take care of Grandpa and the children."
Zhuang Dalang: "But aren't you planning to take the exam to enter the county government office next year?"
"That's the county yamen exam. Even if I pass, I'll just be a lowly clerk like my elder brother. I want to study a little longer and then go to the capital to take the Mingjing exam. If I pass, I can at least be a county lieutenant or county magistrate during the official selection process."
Both the county lieutenant and the county magistrate have ranks. Although they are the lowest-ranking county officials, they are also considered to be in the official career.
Zhuang Dalang was stunned for a moment before he said, "I never knew you had such an idea."
Zhuang Jiran said, "That's because I did well in the county school before, and my grandfather relied on the Bai family in the capital. I naturally didn't want to bring it up and cause trouble for him, but since you're willing to let us go and accompany him..."
He chuckled and said, "Since the children can go, then I can go even more. Besides, the children are still young, and I can't just push them all onto Grandfather. Although there are uncles and aunts to help, it's still better for my family to take care of them."
Zhuang Dalang frowned and thought for a long time before nodding, "I'll ask your grandfather."
Mr. Zhuang was stunned by the news. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. He asked uncertainly, "Are you saying that Ji Ran should go to the capital with me?"
Zhuang Dalang shifted his hips uneasily and said, "If it's inconvenient..."
"No, it's very convenient." Mr. Zhuang paused and said in a calm tone, "Ji Ran's age..."
Mr. Zhuang's eyes lit up slightly, and he felt a little excited. "He is still within the enrollment range of the Imperial College. He can go to the capital with me and enroll in the school. As for the three children, they can be sent to the school with the Zhou family's children. I can teach them on weekdays."
Zhuang Dalang was stunned. "Enrollment through patronage?"
Mr. Zhuang nodded, "I have a spot."
But Zhuang Dalang never liked his sons to follow him, and Mr. Zhuang originally planned to leave this position to the Zhou family's children.
Mr. Zhuang looked at him nervously, "What do you think, Dalang?"
Zhuang Dalang was silent for a moment before saying, "Father, let me make the decision."
Mr. Zhuang exhaled, nodded repeatedly and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, then go back and pack your things, and we'll leave together when we get to Beijing."
Zhuang Dalang left in silence. After he had walked a long way, he remembered that his eldest son had not made up his mind yet. He wondered whether the couple were willing to let the child accompany him to the capital.
Zhuang Ji'an hesitated, but his wife did not. As soon as she returned to her room, she hugged her husband's arm and said, "Let the child go. If you hadn't been busy, I would have let you go too."
Zhuang Ji'an: "The children are too young, I don't want them to leave home."
"So you don't care about your children's future? Look at the families who came to the banquet this time. The county magistrate was so respectful when he saw Grandpa. I heard that in the Zhou family, only Aunt Zhou was educated, and that was because she didn't want to pay tuition. The others only learned a few words from Grandpa later. But you two brothers started school at the age of five and studied for more than ten years before taking the exam."
"Looking back now, the eldest son of the Zhou family's main branch is now a sixth-rank official in the capital, and his younger brothers have also joined the government. What made them successful?" She said, "It's because they went to the capital, gained experience, and have connections. We didn't know about these connections before, but now that we know and have such opportunities, why should we let our children live a mediocre life like us?"
(End of this chapter)
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