Chapter 38 Chapter 38
Chapter 38
On November 12, the accounts for fifteen years were finally settled.
Su Yinyin, Li Ruiyuan, Chu Shan, and Zhang Gongzi completed the final accounts together in the teahouse.
Fifteen years, just on a piece of paper.
Chu Shan couldn't laugh anymore and she had cried enough.
"Go find him and get my money back."
In a small house at the junction of South City and West City, there are only two rooms in the house, one for the mother and son of the Wei family.
In order to let her son study, Wei's mother took the initiative to live in a small room, where there was no space for the clothes and other things he brought.
It was snowing heavily outside, and the charcoal fire in the house was not as good as in previous years, so she had to leave the best for her son, leaving some smoke in Wei's mother's house.
But Wei's mother had a smile on her face. She had just returned from visiting her relatives from her mother's side and was extremely happy.
"Son, this is the contemporary literature that the Jiang family got from the Imperial College. Take a look at it."
Wei Shusheng felt like he had found a treasure and looked through it carefully.
The imperial examination will be held in April next year, and he must pass it. Even if he fails, his ranking must be improved so that he can be appointed as an official.
Only by granting him an official position can the Wei family completely turn things around.
He hasn't even left his house in recent times.
It is both a way to concentrate on preparing for the exam and a way to avoid trouble.
Wei Shusheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Mom, has anyone come to visit us recently?"
"You mean Chu Shan? How could she possibly find where we live?" Wei's mother said jokingly, "The capital is so big, she might get lost."
"Besides, ask her to settle the accounts first. She can't even read. How can she calculate it clearly?"
Wei Shusheng felt relieved.
The Chu family did help him a lot, but for the sake of his career, he still owed them something.
A real man should not be too concerned with trivial matters.
His mother's maiden name was Jiang, and he was his cousin, a fifth-rank official in the capital.
There are many Jiang family members, but none of them passed the imperial examination at his age.
He and the Jiang family are a perfect complement.
"That's true. It's almost the twelfth lunar month. She has probably already returned to Binzhou." Wei Shusheng added, "Does my cousin know about this?"
Mother Wei shook her head: "Don't worry, they know you were engaged before, and they said they don't mind it."
"As for Chu Shan's visit to the capital, I will naturally not tell them. It doesn't matter if they know. Your cousin will help to deal with it."
Wei Shusheng was completely relieved.
Nothing can stop his career.
In next year's examination, it would be best if I could pass the exam and become a Jinshi, but if I fail, I will be sent away as an official.
Where will Chu Shan find him then?
Speaking of which, my cousin is the best. He arranged an accommodation for them and their mother, which is right near the Jiang family and the location is so good.
Even the latest contemporary articles are not spared.
Bian Jing is indeed different.
If he becomes a citizen of Bian Jing in the future, wouldn't he be more proud? Who would want to go back to Binzhou?
"Open the door!"
"Mr. Wei, open the door!"
The gate of the courtyard where I was staying was slammed loudly, and the voice of the person shouting was a little sharp, which made people feel startled.
Who's knocking at the door?
The servant Guo Zhan displayed the power of a palace eunuch and slammed the door loudly.
Su Yinyin, who was standing at the door, listened and felt that Guo Zhan's voice was a little strange?
He was fine when talking normally, but now he was knocking on the door so loudly. Why did his voice sound like a eunuch in a TV drama?
Su Yinyin quickly shook her head. She couldn't think like that. Brother Guo Zhan was always so nice to her, how could she think like that?
On the contrary, Li Yunjing and Li Shusheng who followed over frowned.
After all, he was well-informed and subconsciously glanced at Yuan Rui. If Guo Zhan was really the little eunuch, what about this person?
Li Ruiyuan looked up at Li Shusheng but did not answer.
Others followed and shouted at the door.
Xu Xiaomei, Master Zhang, and Chu Shan all shouted at Wei to open the door.
Most of the people living around here are low-ranking officials from Bian Jing. They are somewhat respectable, and some of them even open their doors to visit.
It's so cold, what are you doing?
The Jiang family also has someone coming out, who is calling the future son-in-law?
"Who are you? How can you be so rude to the family of a Juren?!" Wei's mother cursed as soon as she opened the door, obviously talking to Chu Shan.
Li Yunjing sneered: "Who is not a juren?"
Master Zhang nodded slightly: "It's just a juren, there are many of them in the capital."
Okay, okay, you two are so good at pretending.
Su Yinyin whispered to Li Ruiyuan: "You should also take the imperial examination and my brother should also take one."
Given their talents, passing the imperial examination will definitely not be a problem!
Li Ruiyuan's mouth curled up. It was a good thing that the baby trusted him, but he would not be able to pass the exam.
Su Yinyin raised her hand: "Yes, they are everywhere, why show them off?"
If others said these words, they might be hated, but when such a cute little baby spoke, everyone couldn't help laughing.
What he said is true. Although the people living around here are all minor officials, there is always a juren in their family.
"Even if you are a scholar, you should pay back your debts. It's only natural!"
It is only natural to pay back debts.
That's absolutely correct.
This scholar owes money.
That shouldn't be the case. Once an official is in office, even the poorest scholar won't owe money.
Mr. Wei looked outside with a grim expression and winked at his mother, asking them to come in and talk.
If this word gets out, his reputation will be ruined.
It is very unfavorable for selecting officials.
The servants from the Jiang family frowned as they listened, and quickly ran into the yard to tell their master and queen mother.
Su Yinyin and the others entered the house where the Wei family mother and son lived. Chu Shan frowned: "Such a small place."
Her family runs an escort agency, so their house is extremely spacious, and she is quite uncomfortable with such a small house.
She thought Bian Jing was so great, and she lives in this house?
Chu Shan was too lazy to say anything more and took out the sorted accounts: "You two know the right and wrong."
"No need to talk about anything else, just pay back the money first."
Fifteen years of accounts is already a thick book.
From the tuition for studying to the four treasures of the study, food, clothing, housing and transportation.
Everything is recorded in this account.
Young Master Zhang knew it best. Every year at this time, Miss Chu Shan would pick the best charcoal and send it over. She would also ask someone to check the windows and roof to ensure that the house was warm and comfortable.
In addition, there were clothes for the four seasons and eight festivals, festival gifts for visiting relatives, and medicine for Wei's mother.
Master Zhang was certain that without the help of Miss Chu Shan, the person in front of him would never be able to pass the imperial examination.
He could even see many details from the account books.
In the first one or two years, Miss Chu Shan also had some omissions, but she was working hard and making progress bit by bit.
Finally, a detailed account book was formed.
This is not an account book at all, it is the efforts made by Miss Chu Shan over the years.
Wei Shusheng, who is addicted to such efforts, has no idea how difficult it is to do so.
Mr. Zhang felt extremely heavy when looking at the account book.
"How is this possible!" Wei's mother said directly, "How can there be so many accounts? You couldn't have made them up."
Wei Shusheng flipped through the pages randomly, trying to find loopholes and things he hadn't used. After flipping through dozens of pages, he pointed at the tuition and said, "It's your family that must go to such an expensive private school. If I were to find a teacher myself, I wouldn't go."
Is this human language?
Su Yinyin was shocked.
Her brother also studied, so she naturally knew the difference between private schools.
Take the current Jinshi scholar for example, the price is much higher than that of the previous Xiucai scholar.
But he was really talented, so even though the Jinshi scholar had some personality issues, my brother was willing to continue studying.
When you study, what you learn is the ability to read.
"What are you talking about? Without such a good teacher, can you pass the imperial examination?" Su Yinyin said bluntly, "Forget about the imperial examination, can you pass the examination to become a scholar?!"
"Why not? My son is a genius!" Mother Wei showed no sign of weakness.
He is a genius, and even Wei Shusheng himself doesn't dare to say so, but when he says it now, it is quite impressive.
Chu Shan has never been good at arguing with them, and it was the same at this moment. However, Su Yinyin directly pulled Master Zhang and asked, "So what was his ranking in Binzhou? How was his essay?"
"Master Zhang ranked 27th in the second class of the Beijing City Urban Examination!"
That is the twenty-seventh one.
And it was in Bianjing, where talented people emerged in large numbers.
Wei Shusheng's face turned red and he didn't dare to respond.
He was ranked over 100th among the top three in the Binzhou provincial examination, which was no match for him.
Su Yinyin didn't expect that Li Yunjing wouldn't even have to show up to kill the opponent instantly?
Master Zhang nodded and said, "It's not that I'm so great. If I hadn't hired a teacher to keep me warm and well-fed, and to be generous with my writing, I would never have achieved my current fame."
Both of them are newly promoted to Juren, but their temperaments are completely different.
What Mr. Zhang means is, I rank higher than you, and I’m more talented than you, all because of my family, what about you?
Saying that you study on your own ability is definitely exaggerating.
Chu Shan also spoke up: "If you don't pay me back, I will sue you in the Bianjing government office, and you won't even be able to take the imperial examination."
Not allowed to take the imperial examination?
This threat is simple and effective, and it can indeed make the Wei mother and son worried.
"After all, it's your family that is willing to spend the money. It has nothing to do with my family. If you want us to pay you back, show us the IOU."
Mother Wei sneered with her hands on her hips.
Asking them to pay back the money is impossible.
It doesn't matter if the money is little.
But they knew very well that the Chu family had spent a lot of money over the years.
"Sue me if you can!"
This is also the most difficult part.
There was indeed no written receipt or IOU.
It’s all thanks to the relationship between the two families, so the Chu family has made sacrifices over the years.
If the case is really brought to the government, it would be a case of citizens suing officials.
Besides, who knows how long it will drag on, and who knows whether the Jiang family will take action.
Master Zhang said calmly, "If you really want to bring the case to the government, the Jiang family will be the first to cut ties with you."
"If the Censorate doesn't investigate the Jiang family, then there's no need for the Censorate to exist."
"With such an ungrateful reputation, don't even think about a career in politics anymore."
"Miss Chu Shan, the Imperial Censorate should have just finished its court session. Why don't we go over there and ask them? I heard that several of the lords spoke out for justice. A few days ago, they reported a family in Dongchang Prefecture for their bad habit of guarding the chastity archway and not allowing their daughter-in-law to remarry."
"I'm sure they will report this to the Emperor and Empress if they know about it." Young Master Zhang bowed and pointed towards the Imperial Palace. "The Emperor and Empress are kind and righteous, and they will definitely not sit idly by."
Xu Xiaomei nodded.
It was Li Shusheng who told him about the affairs of Dongchang Prefecture.
That was the family she was originally going to marry into.
Some time ago, the censor made a severe report, saying that this family was clinging to old customs. Not only did they allow girls to get married for good fortune, they also did not allow them to remarry, let alone return to their parents' home. This was really against human nature and like a rotten insect.
The emperor and empress also felt that it was inappropriate, and ordered the family to correct the situation immediately, thus saving several widowed women in the family who were being bullied.
If the emperor and empress knew about this, they would also criticize the Wei mother and son for being unkind and unjust.
Li Yunjing added: "Well, by then, let alone being an official, I'm afraid you'll even be stripped of your official position."
Not only can he not be an official, but he will also be stripped of his official position and have to report to the Censorate, which directly holds the lifeblood of the Wei family mother and son in his hands.
Su Yinyin quickly handed over the account: "Confirm that it is correct, pay quickly, otherwise we will go to the Censorate now."
Li Ruiyuan and the others pretended to leave, and Wei Shusheng was so anxious that he had to jump out from behind his mother and said, "Don't go! Don't go!"
After saying that, Wei Shusheng gritted his teeth and said, "It's not that I don't want to pay, you have to give me time."
"I don't have so much money at home."
Su Yinyin silently complained: "You didn't even look at the final amount, how do you know you can't take it out."
"It seems you know how much you two have been fed."
Wei Shusheng's cheeks flushed red. He could no longer pretend to be ignorant, but he still took a look at the last page of the account book.
Two thousand four hundred and twenty-one taels.
So much?!
Wei Shusheng continued to look through the account books. Every entry was clear and it had indeed happened.
Fifteen years, so much money, and so many things to do.
"But I don't have any money now. Chu Shan, can you wait a little longer? I will be assigned an official position after I pass the imperial examination, whether I pass or not." Wei Shusheng really had no money, and kept begging for mercy, "I will definitely have it after I become an official."
According to the plan, Chu Shan didn't speak first, and naturally others wouldn't allow it.
When Wei Shusheng continued to beg for mercy, Chu Shan said, "Then sign first and admit that you owe the money."
Let’s make this matter clear first.
So as to avoid the other party regretting it.
We have to sign it before the Jiang family arrives.
Su Yinyin listened to the sound outside and handed the pen over directly.
Guo Zhan next to him smiled and said, "Hurry up and sign it. Do you think these people are easy to mess with? They are two scholars from the capital. It's like a piece of cake for them to mess with you."
Su Yinyin touched her arm.
What’s going on? Guo Zhan is not usually like this.
After several people coaxed and threatened him, Wei Shusheng finally put pen to paper and admitted that he owed the Chu family so much money.
When Su Yinyin put away the account book, there was another knock on the door.
The one who came in was the mistress of the Jiang family. She was thin and had an unhappy look in her eyes. When she saw Mr. Wei, she was even more unhappy: "Could it be that your relatives from Binzhou are here?"
"Come here to take advantage of others?"
Saying this as soon as he entered the door was obviously an attempt to suppress the arrogance of a group of people.
But no one present paid any attention to her, and her means of suppression were completely useless because Wei Shusheng had already signed and admitted that he owed money.
Mrs. Jiang pointed at the Wei mother and son and was almost cursing at them.
Even if they ate and took away the Chu family's property, so what? There is no evidence.
Now, you have handed the evidence to them.
What threats and difficulties are there to be afraid of?
They were just two juren, could they really file a complaint with the government, with the Censorate? !
After being scolded, Wei Shusheng finally realized what a stupid thing he had done. He obviously wanted to steal the account book.
Li Ruiyuan is here, and the servants behind him are no pushovers and won't give him any chance at all.
Seeing the chaos, Chu Shan finally spoke up: "I will come over tomorrow and ask you for money."
Two thousand four hundred and twenty-one taels.
Not a cent less.
"How much?!" Mrs. Jiang was shocked. "How much?!"
Even though her family was a Beijing official, she still felt that this was a lot of money.
Mr. Wei actually signed such a huge IOU?! Is he stupid?
It is completely useless to say this now.
Mrs. Jiang's lips were trembling as she was already considering her marriage with Mr. Wei.
There is no such thing as a poor juren, and one has a bright future that is visible to the naked eye, so she thinks this marriage is a good one.
But this is the first time I have seen someone owe so much debt before getting married.
Su Yinyin and the others got what they wanted and left immediately, and finally reiterated that they would get it tomorrow.
What do you mean you will give it to me after the test? What are you thinking? It’s your fault for delaying it for four months.
After leaving the hospital, Chu Shan asked the question in her mind: "He definitely can't take it out, why does he want it now?"
This idea was proposed by Su Yinyin and the others. Chu Shan didn't understand it. She thought about beating a few more times and asking for as much as she could, and even prepared to collect the debt for a long time.
Su Yinyin was still secretly looking at Guo Zhan, with many doubts in her mind.
Mr. Zhang explained, "He can't afford it, but his future Yue family may be able to."
"Scholar Wei's future in-laws knew that he was engaged, but they still wrote to inquire about it. They will have to bear the consequences."
In modern terms, it means knowing three and treating three as three.
Knowing that he has a fiancée, he still took the initiative to introduce his daughter to her.
His family isn't a good place either.
Therefore, Master Zhang and his men’s plan included revenge on the Jiang family.
Li Yunjing secretly gave Master Zhang a thumbs up and whispered to his future wife, "You said he was a gentleman, but he is not a gentleman at all. He is very petty."
Xu Xiaomei glared at him and said, "Don't talk about people like that."
How could Master Zhang not hear it? He coughed and said, "Since they have chosen to join a community of interests, they should not think of avoiding it."
So that's how it is.
Chu Shan felt much more refreshed.
She kept these things in her heart and could never find a solution. She always thought that she would feel better if she beat up the guy named Wei.
Now the two companies are working together to raise money, which seems to be a good thing.
Li Ruiyuan looked at them and said, "Does the Jiang family have other businesses?"
I don’t know.
They didn't check.
Li Ruiyuan added: "With the Jiang family's fifth-rank official position, if they can collect more than 2,000 taels overnight, they can really make a report."
He has recently followed his father, the emperor, and his mother to review memorials, and is well aware of the salaries of officials at all levels.
Even for officials with a wealthy family, it is not easy to raise so much money overnight.
What's more, the Jiang family saw that Wei's mother didn't seem to be well-educated, so how much wealth would her family have?
Everyone gasped.
Although Yuan Rui is young, the questions he raises even exceed everyone's understanding.
Start investigating corruption directly? !
If this matter is confirmed, both the Jiang family and Mr. Wei, who is engaged to the Jiang family, can be exiled together.
After the beginning of spring, the exiled prisoners would set off.
Maybe they can catch up with the first wave?
Forget about the exam, just think about the days after exile.
Su Yinyin was just marveling at Guo Zhan's ability, but now she was shocked by Li Ruiyuan again.
Which of them is the one who traveled through time? !
It doesn't matter who it is.
The important thing is, can the Jiang family come up with so much money?
If it can be taken out, will it help settle the matter for Wei?
That night, Mr. Wei stayed in the study of the master of the Jiang family for a long time, and the two sons of the Jiang family were also there.
Lord Jiang didn't want to scold Mr. Wei directly, so he only scolded his two sons.
If you can pass the imperial examination, does he still need to find a son-in-law who is good at studying?
He does things the same way as usual and dares to sign any account book.
How can you be an official in the future if you are so timid?
If someone scares you and you immediately beg for mercy, you will be a coward in the future.
The first part is still scolding the son, but the second part is making a veiled complaint.
The two sons of the Jiang family looked at Mr. Wei with hatred on their faces.
A fool from the country causing so much trouble.
If they had said it earlier, they would have driven Chu Shan out of the capital long ago, and she wouldn't have had the chance to complain to someone.
If you can't even handle those trivial things in your hometown, what's the point of becoming a juren?
After Wei Shusheng left, Lord Jiang did not say whether he would give him money or not. The two children of the Jiang family said, "Dad, why bother to spend money to settle the matter? He is not the only candidate."
"Yes, more than two thousand silver coins, it's too much."
"If you can pass the exam, will I still look for him?"
"If I can be sent out to be an official, is two thousand taels too much?"
Even if you want to make money, there is a threshold.
Nowadays, the Ministry of Personnel is very strict. You cannot donate money to become an official, nor can you give gifts.
You can only take the exam seriously.
His family didn't have much financial resources, so he had to look for young men in the clan who were good at studying.
Wei's mother's surname is Jiang and she is a family member. Mr. Wei has no father, so even if he becomes successful, he can only rely on him.
It's a good choice no matter how you look at it.
So when they knew he was getting married, the Jiang couple didn't take it to heart, knowing that he would make the right choice.
Who would have thought that the tail was not cleaned up and found its way to the capital.
What I didn’t expect was that the idiot actually signed the account book without any bargaining.
Now it is Mr. Jiang's turn to make a choice.
By giving away two thousand four hundred and twenty-one taels, Mr. Wei's future would be purchased.
But will such an ungrateful person really remember this favor?
If they don't give it, then the marriage will definitely be rejected, otherwise it will affect the official's reputation. In recent years, unlike usual, official reputation is very important.
Give or not give.
Lord Jiang knew that his sons were not able to give him any advice, so he told them to leave immediately and went to find his wife himself.
On the next morning, Mr. Wei, who had not slept all night, was called to the Jiang family again.
What was waiting for him this time was another IOU.
The amount on the IOU is ten thousand taels.
Ten thousand taels?!
Mr. Wei's hands trembled and he refused subconsciously.
What does this mean? !
Let him sign, and the Jiang family will give him 10,000 taels of silver? !
Mr. Wei was even a little tempted, as he had never seen so much money before.
Madam Jiang sneered: "What are you dreaming about? Do you think we are the soft-hearted Chu family who let you eat and drink for free for fifteen years and still don't owe you the IOU?"
Lord Jiang pretended to be a good person and said, "Stop talking. It's not easy for the child either. We are all family, so don't talk about it."
"What? You're going to help him pay off his debts, so why don't you allow me to tell you?" Mrs. Jiang said her purpose, "If you sign this IOU, the Jiang family will lend you the money, let you get rid of the Chu family, and I'll marry my daughter to you."
"If you don't want to sign, then we can part ways. You can continue to take your exams, and I will continue to look for a good family for my daughter, a family that has not been engaged before."
"Even if it's a promissory note, it should be two thousand four hundred and twenty-one taels." Mr. Wei was fidgeting, "How could it be ten thousand taels?!"
Mr. Jiang didn't say anything, but Mrs. Jiang said coldly: "What else? With so much money, don't you want interest?"
"Besides, if you can betray the Chu family, why can't you betray the Jiang family? I'm just afraid that you will treat my daughter badly, and I'm also afraid that you won't repay the Jiang family's kindness. Why not write it down in black and white, so that both of us have a guarantee."
"My family will give you contemporary essays, and we will find you a teacher and good books after the New Year. Before the imperial examination, my family will take care of your food, drink, and toilet. You can't let us work in vain."
To put it bluntly, the Jiang family was also afraid that this person would be ungrateful again, so they wrote the IOU in advance and could not rely solely on the other party's conscience.
Mr. Wei's lips were trembling and he had no idea what to say.
But he couldn't make an excuse. After all, everyone knew what he had done before. In the end, he could only say, "Ten thousand taels, how can I pay it back? This is definitely not possible."
"Three years as a poor county magistrate, one hundred thousand silver coins."
"You will be an official in the future, and you will be posted abroad. This is not difficult for you."
Isn’t it difficult?
Although Mr. Wei had heard this saying before, he never felt it was real.
Lord Jiang nodded slightly and said, "I heard about it when I was sent out more than ten years ago."
really?
Mr. Wei was breathing rapidly.
Lord Jiang also said: "Don't worry, you will be my son-in-law in the future, which means you are half my son. How can I cheat you?"
"Written this way, it will provide a safeguard for both parties."
"Two thousand taels of silver, father-in-law, I have already prepared it."
Mrs. Jiang opened the box and found a lot of silver inside.
"Sign it. It will solve the current problem." Mrs. Jiang continued, "You can earn money in the future."
"Yes, after signing, you can prepare for the imperial examination with peace of mind." Lord Jiang stroked his beard and said with a smile.
Two thousand four hundred and twenty-one taels of silver.
As long as he signed the IOU for ten thousand taels, he could get the money and return it to the crazy woman Chu Shan.
You will no longer have to worry about the imperial examination and you can get closer to the Jiang family.
Mr. Wei suddenly remembered that Lord Jiang had said he wanted to bargain.
"Ten thousand taels is too much, father-in-law and mother-in-law, how about an IOU for five thousand taels?"
"Eight thousand taels, no less." Mrs. Jiang placed a brand new IOU and writing materials in front of Wei Shusheng.
"Sign it. Just sign it."
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