Walking like a crab, domineering and overbearing!
This is exactly Chen Zhuangshi’s current state.
He led Yan Ci, Wang Xuecheng, and Yang Ji, walking on the streets of Xinmin County.
He walked in front, acting like a young playboy, holding a folding fan and waving it, occasionally glancing at the young girls and wives passing by.
The older girls all giggled at him, and Chen Zhuangshi became more and more proud, grinning from time to time.
Yang Ji was walking at the back, it was really unbearable to watch.
How depraved must he be to agree to go out on the streets with Chen Zhuangshi?
I feel so embarrassed!
Wang Xuecheng looked excited and admiring.
Everything that Chen Zhuangshi has is out of his reach.
He doesn't have as smart a brain as Chen Zhuangshi, nor as eloquent a talker, nor does he have great ambitions or aspirations.
Always think more and do less.
Chen Zhuangshi always does whatever he thinks of, he is a real man of action.
He wanted to buy a house, so he took everyone out to look at houses.
Wang Xuecheng's heart was filled with envy and admiration!
Chen Zhuangshi vindicated and brought honor to all the scholars.
It's really amazing.
Yan Ci looked pale, and it had been unknown how long he hadn't been out in the sun.
He had lost a lot of weight, as if he would fall down with a gust of wind.
If Chen Zhuangshi hadn't forced him to go out, he would have stayed in the dormitory and written novels as usual.
Chen Zhuangshi stopped and looked back at the three people.
"Brother Yan, cheer up. I'm treating you today, so please don't be polite to me. Brother Yang, can you please put aside that disgusted look on your face? You're going to buy a house too, so we're just traveling together."
Yang Ji held his forehead and sighed, he regretted it.
He shouldn't have agreed to buy a house with Chen Zhuangshi.
Chen Zhuangshi walked up to Yang Ji and put his arm around his shoulders. "I'm treating you today, so please give me some face, Brother Yang."
"Can you please put away the fan in your hand first? It's really too ugly." Yang Ji said bluntly.
Chen Zhuangshi was stunned. "Is it ugly? This fan cost me three taels of silver."
"It's too expensive, at most three hundred coins."
Yang Ji's words of three hundred coins made Chen Zhuangshi grimace in dismay, feeling extremely distressed.
After all, he was born in poverty and still cares about money.
He folded up his fan and said, "Damn it, I'm not going to pretend to be cultured anymore. It's all just a waste of money."
Yang Ji asked him, "Buy a house?"
“Buy it!”
Yang Ji pointed around and asked, "If you want to buy a house, why are you going to the market?"
Chen Zhuangshi chuckled and said, "I forgot!"
The four of them turned around and went to buy a house.
Both of them are wealthy and each bought a house in Phase 3 for their family to live in.
Afterwards, I moved to Phase 6 and planned to buy an apartment for rental.
Yang Ji chose a house with a total price of four hundred taels of silver.
Chen Zhuangshi wanted to be his neighbor, and under the pretext of making it easier to collect rent, he also bought a house worth four hundred taels.
After paying the money and registering your name and identity, the next step is to wait for the formalities to be completed.
Wang Xuecheng was envious. "Back then, we entered the academy together, and we all had nothing. Now, Brother Chen and Brother Yang have bought houses, but we are still single."
Chen Zhuangshi put his arm around his shoulders and said, "Brother Wang, why don't you act like a little girl? Why don't you buy a house here and rent it out? The rent will be enough for you to live a comfortable life."
Wang Xuecheng waved his hands repeatedly, "How can I afford to buy a house? Brother Chen, don't joke."
Chen Zhuangshi wanted to help Wang Xuecheng. "I know you've given most of your money to your family, so you don't have much left. I have some money here, I'll lend it to you. You can pay a down payment and use the rent to repay the loan every month."
Wang Xuecheng hesitated.
It is easy to borrow money but difficult to repay it.
However, if the house can be rented out successfully, repaying the money becomes very easy.
He looked at Yan Ci and asked, "Brother Yan, are you going to buy a house?"
"ah?"
Yan Ci's soul was wandering in the sky, and was finally awakened by Wang Xuecheng.
He was still confused, "What to buy?"
"Brother Yan, are you really going to give up the imperial examination? Next year is the imperial examination year, are you really not going to participate?" Chen Zhuangshi asked him.
Yan Ci sighed, "After studying for so many years, I naturally want to make a difference in the imperial examinations. However, I know my own limitations. With my level of skill, if I work hard for another ten or eight years, I might be able to pass. Next year, I'll give up, so as not to embarrass myself. If I don't pass the imperial examination, I have to find a way out. You all know that I love the legendary novels published by Wenqing Bookstore the most, and I am determined to write a legendary novel that will sell well throughout the country."
Chen Zhuangshi patted his shoulder and said, "In that case, Brother Yan should buy a house and settle down to ensure that you have enough food and clothing. You can't stay in the academy forever. The academy can't support you forever."
Yan Ci touched his head and said, "I'm short of money, how can I afford to buy a house and settle down?"
"I'll lend it to Brother Yan, please don't refuse."
Yan Ci looked hesitant.
"Well..." Wang Xuecheng looked at everyone and said hesitantly, "Brother Yan wants to write a book, why not ask Brother Yang for advice? Brother Yang has a lot of experience in this area."
Yes, how could I forget about Yang Ji.
Yang Ji was the most sought-after bookstore in Wenqing Bookstore back then.
According to unreliable information, "Love between Humans and Ghosts in Past and Present Lives" was written by Yang Ji.
Yang Ji also earned a considerable amount of money from this book and lived a worry-free life.
However, Yang Ji never admitted this statement.
Everyone's eyes fell on Yang Ji's face.
Chen Zhuangshi smiled broadly and called out affectionately, "Brother Yang!"
Yang Ji said expressionlessly, "If Brother Yan really wants to pursue the path of writing novels and stories, my suggestion is that he go to Wenqing Bookstore to train for a year or two. You will definitely gain something from it."
"Brother Yan has gone to Wenqing Bookstore. Can he continue to stay in the academy?" Wang Xuecheng was very worried and his considerations were very realistic.
Chen Zhuangshi asked Yang Ji, "Brother Yang, can you spare some time to guide Brother Yan?"
Yang Ji shook his head. "It's not that I don't want to, but I can't. Next year is the imperial examination year. After I finish my work today, I will go into seclusion and study hard. I really can't spare the time to guide Brother Yan."
Another thing is that everyone has a different style, so my opinions may not necessarily suit Brother Yan. However, Wenqing Bookstore is different. Wenqing Bookstore publishes at least three to five legendary novels every year. Brother Yan can try various styles and find the path that suits him best.
If you do well, the salary there will be very high. Moreover, Wenqing Bookstore has a high status in the eyes of scholars. Brother Yan, working there will not be a disgrace to the reputation of a Juren. If you go now, you can still seize the opportunity. In a few years, I am afraid that many Juren will apply for jobs at Wenqing Bookstore.
Chen Zhuangshi asked curiously, "Brother Yang, why did you make this inference?"
Yang Ji said: "It is difficult for a successful candidate to become an official. Unless someone in the court supports him, such as the Xinmin County Magistrate Gu, he is one of them.
However, the vast majority of successful candidates never had the opportunity to become officials. They could only work as clerks in government offices, never having the opportunity to rise to prominence. They did the most tiring work for the lowest salaries, and if they didn't know how to make a living, they couldn't even support their families.
In the past, there was no choice. Even if being a clerk was not their dream, many scholars would continue to work in the government office until they died. But now there is a choice. You can go to the government office, the academy, the bookstore, or even the business...
Right now, people aren't very clear-headed. They think leaving the government to make a living outside the government would damage their reputation. In a few years, someone with more clear-headed ideas will definitely leave and make a living on their own. By then, getting into Wenqing Bookstore won't be as easy as it is now.
If Brother Yan is determined to give up the imperial examination, I suggest you make plans early. You should buy a house here, even if you have to borrow money. It won't be a loss, and it will also give you peace of mind.
"Brother Yang, what you said makes sense."
Chen Zhuangshi looked at Yan Ci and said, "Brother Yan, have you made up your mind? I have some money on me and I can lend it to you right now."
Yan Ci hesitated and asked Wang Xuecheng, "Brother Wang, are you buying a house?"
Wang Xuecheng had already made up his mind. "Since Brother Chen supports me, I'll buy one. If ordinary people like me miss this opportunity, I'm afraid we'll never get such a good opportunity again."
Yan Ci was finally convinced. He nodded heavily and said, "Then buy it."
The two of them each chose a small apartment and borrowed some money from Chen Zhuangshi to pay the down payment.
"From now on, you and I will become house slaves. If we can't rent this house out, we'll be finished."
"It's definitely going to be rented out. Next year will be the year of the imperial examinations, and students from all over the country will come to the capital. The house in Xinmin County is the first choice. I'll go buy furniture tomorrow and hire someone to help look after the house and boil water and cook."
Yan Ci wiped his face and said, "I'll write a letter to my family when I get home today and ask them to arrange for someone to come and look after the house."
Wang Xuecheng also planned to call someone from home, but when he thought about the situation at home, he suddenly felt overwhelmed.
If his family knew that he had secretly bought a house, I wonder how much conflict would arise.
Wang Xuecheng has a bit of an ostrich mentality and doesn't think about this matter for the time being.
He and Yan Ci were busy with the formalities.
Chen Zhuangshi pulled Yang Ji to the side and asked quietly, "I wonder what arrangements Madam has made for Brother Yang?"
A few days ago, the two went to Xiaozhu to meet Madam Zhao.
Yang Ji was quite familiar with Madam Zhao, having met her several times many years ago.
It was actually the first time Chen Zhuang met her, and he was extremely nervous.
The two men went into the study one after another to talk, neither of them knowing what the other was talking about.
Chen Zhuangshi had been holding it in for a few days and finally spoke today.
Yang Ji asked Chen Zhuangshi, "What arrangements does Madam have for you?"
Chen Zhuangshi smiled secretly, "My wife gave me some money and asked me if I would like to be the editor-in-chief of the Shanhe Academy Newspaper."
Yang Ji asked him, "Did you agree?"
Chen Zhuangshi smiled broadly, "Of course I agree. How can I refuse such a good opportunity? I'm not as talented as Brother Yang in studying, and I'm still ten years away from becoming a Jinshi.
I'll first gain experience at the Shanhe Academy Newspaper, where I'll be able to unleash my passion. Brother Yang, please support me and contribute more. Let me ask you to write three articles.
Yang Ji said, "You can write the manuscript yourself."
Chen Zhuangshi said with a look of disgust, "Brother Yang, don't be so serious. You haven't told me yet what Madam has planned for you."
Yang Ji said lightly, "Madam's arrangements for me will not be finalized until after the imperial examination next year."
"So, Madam wants to support you in becoming an official?"
Chen Zhuangshi was indeed very perceptive. He guessed the truth without Yang Ji revealing a single word.
Yang Ji did not deny it, "About the same."
"With Brother Yang's talent, you will definitely have no problem passing the imperial examination next year. Once you pass the imperial examination, you should enter the Hanlin Academy. But Madam is arranging for you to become an official. Isn't that a bit inappropriate? Without going through the Hanlin Academy, your imperial examination will be fake."
Yang Ji glanced at Chen Zhuangshi and said, "So I'm still considering it."
Chen Zhuangshi was very curious, "Brother Yang, can you tell me where the Madam arranged for you to be an official?"
Yang Ji looked at his surroundings and pointed to the ground.
Chen Zhuangshi was a little confused. "Brother Yang, what do you mean by pointing to the ground?"
Yang Ji said nothing.
Chen Zhuangshi suddenly realized what was happening and asked excitedly in a low voice, "You mean, Madam arranged for you to be the magistrate of Xinmin County?"
Yang Ji nodded, "Don't make it public."
Chen Zhuangshi nodded repeatedly, "I understand, I understand. I'm very tight-lipped, and no one can pry it open. Brother Yang knows that. You don't have to worry about me telling anyone. Madam really values Brother Yang, and she actually plans to hand over the most important Xinmin County to you."
Yang Ji frowned slightly, "I haven't thought about it yet. I'll decide after the exam next year."
Chen Zhuangshi patted his shoulder and said, "This matter must be carefully considered and no decision should be made lightly. Where do you think Lord Gu will be transferred to after he leaves his post as the magistrate of Xinmin County?"
"I don't know!"
"Master Gu has set a precedent for a scholar to become an official. He has been re-elected for three terms and will continue to serve in the future. He is truly a role model for our generation."
Yang Ji said, "Don't forget that Lord Gu was able to serve as an official despite being a juren. That was because he had connections in the court, and it was inseparable from the support of Madam Zhao. Without Madam Zhao, he would have been stuck in the Ministry of Revenue, a minor official of the ninth rank."
"And he is the son-in-law of His Majesty's nephew. This identity alone is ten or a hundred times better than us." Chen Zhuangshi did not hide his envy.
Yang Ji smiled and said, "Princess Huyang is not easy to deal with. Brother Chen, you must have heard of her reputation."
"Hahaha... Of course I've heard of it. I know a kid who took the entrance exam to Shanhe Academy but failed repeatedly. Now he's the concubine of Princess Huyang, living a life of luxury every day."
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