Chapter 56 Return to City Return to City
"Feng Zhang, the three of you come over here together." Lord Zhang had just returned from his inspection on the river. Seeing the three of them sitting shoulder to shoulder, he greeted them.
"News just arrived from Qingzhou Prefecture that the academy examination is imminent. Prefect Fang and the Fifth Prince have discussed letting you go back and take the exam first." Lord Zhang said with a smile, obviously knowing that they would be happy.
Upon hearing this, even Su Fengzhang showed a hint of joy on his face. It was not that he did not like river management, but the academy examination was also a major event in life. If he missed this time, he would not be able to take part in the provincial examination next year, and the wait would be another three years.
Lu Mingchuan was even more delighted, and said hurriedly, "Really? That's great."
"Master Zhang, I, that's not what I meant. I meant that the Fifth Prince and Master Fang are understanding of the students. I am deeply grateful and will give my all in this examination."
Master Zhang waved his hand and said calmly, "Come on, don't try this on me."
"Since that's what Lord Fang wants, then pack up your things and follow the officers back later to save you the hassle of traveling back and forth."
Of course they were willing to do so. After all, it was a day's journey from here to Qingzhou Prefecture, and they couldn't get there by just walking.
Lu Mingchuan could no longer suppress his urge to run away, but he managed to bow and say, "Thank you for your consideration, sir."
Lord Zhang smiled and sent them away without saying anything to Su Fengzhang alone.
The three of them didn't bring much with them, just a few pieces of clothing and some small things. They originally brought some food, but it was mostly eaten up after three months.
Su Fengzhang did have a small booklet, which recorded some small things. After thinking about it, he took out the booklet separately.
Before leaving, the three of them went to bid farewell to Lord Zhang again, but Lord Zhang had already left to inspect the river.
Su Fengzhang could only give the booklet to a supervisor he was on good terms with, and ask him to pass it on to Lord Zhang when the time came. After all, it wasn't particularly important information, so there was no need to worry.
Lu Mingchuan was originally in a hurry to leave, but he felt a little sour when he saw his action, "Brother Su, what are you secretly giving to Master Zhang?"
Wen Zhu was unhappy when she heard this: "Can you speak? What do you mean by sneaking around? It's obviously aboveboard."
Su Fengzhang glanced at him with a smile and said calmly, "It's just a booklet that records the situation of the civilians. Didn't Brother Lu see it when I wrote it before?"
Lu Mingchuan thought about it and remembered that Su Fengzhang usually liked to hang out with that group of laborers. After a tiring day, he would not rush to rest when he returned to the house, but would scribble on paper instead.
He had read it once and originally thought that this guy was doing academic research, but who knew that he was just writing about trivial things that were not worth paying attention to at all. Lu Mingchuan looked down on it in his heart and felt that although Su Fengzhang was the first in this provincial examination, he was short-sighted.
Now that he knew which booklet it was, he was puzzled again: "What is that thing for, Master Zhang?"
"It's useless to take it away anyway, so I might as well give it to Lord Zhang." Su Fengzhang said with a smile.
Lu Mingchuan didn't know if he believed it, but he changed the subject: "We still have time to prepare if we go back now. I just don't know if the Fifth Prince will let us come after the college entrance examination is over."
Wen Zhu also frowned: "Not really. Let's not talk about us. The laborers also need to rest. We can't let them work there all year round. If we wait any longer, it will be the autumn harvest. They must be busy with farming."
Lu Mingchuan looked at Su Fengzhang and asked, "Brother Su, what do you think?"
Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "It's useless to think too much. What we need to do now is to prepare well for the college entrance examination. This is what is in front of us. As for what will happen after the college entrance examination, we have no say in it."
Wen Zhu nodded in agreement: "Isn't it? Why think so much? The Fifth Prince asked us to continue, and you dare not come."
Lu Mingchuan was a little discouraged. Sitting in the carriage, he muttered, "I don't dare, but I have to make some preparations. Even if it's just asking my family to make some more dry food, it would be good. I've been starving these days."
Speaking of this, Wenzhu also felt her stomach shrink. "Yeah, when I get home later, I have to have a good meal. I want the roast chicken from the place on the east side, and the braised pork. It would be even better if I could have a plate of crystal pork elbow."
When he said that, Su Fengzhang also felt his mouth watering and couldn't help swallowing: "Braised spareribs are also good."
On the other side, Lord Zhang was busy until dark before returning to his straw hut. He didn't pay much attention when Su Fengzhang and the other two were around, but now that they left, things suddenly became more complicated.
He clearly didn't feel that there were so many things to do before the three of them came.
As expected, it is easy for people to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Su Fengzhang, in particular, is quite talented in arithmetic. Things that others may not be able to figure out in an hour, he can sort out clearly in the time of an incense stick.
Thinking of this, Lord Zhang was a little worried about Su Fengzhang, and he didn't know whether they would come after the college entrance examination.
In fact, in other places, these assigned students mostly do some clerical record-keeping and personnel statistics work. After all, they have no experience, so being able to read and write is still useful.
But this area is different. Lord Zhang is a man who knows how to use people. Seeing that Su Fengzhang is indeed talented, he is willing to entrust him with things. Gradually, not to mention being his right-hand man, his existence does make Lord Zhang less worried.
"Master Zhang, you're finally back." The supervisor saw Master Zhang and quickly took out the booklet. "Master Su asked me to give it to you before he left. I can't read, so I don't understand what it is."
"Left by Feng Zhang? Okay, put it here." Lord Zhang said.
He first washed up and cleaned off the mud and dust on his body, then sat down at the table and opened the booklet.
Lord Zhang was surprised after seeing this, because this booklet recorded the situation of the labor in this area clearly, even recording the people's personalities and minor shortcomings.
I don't know how much effort he put in to understand it so clearly. This booklet seems useless, but it is very helpful for the management of labor. Lord Zhang closed the booklet and smiled.
Su Fengzhang and the other two wandered into Qingzhou Prefecture. It was already dark. Lu Mingchuan jumped off the carriage and said, "Brother Su, Brother Wen, let's say goodbye now. We'll meet again when we're free."
Su Fengzhang and the other person also got off the carriage. This carriage was used by the government to deliver goods, so it was naturally impossible to take them home directly.
Wenzhu stretched lazily, his eyes fixed on the nearby shops. "Well, the city is still better. Even if you have money, you can't buy anything in the wilderness. You can't smell the hustle and bustle of people."
"Let's go. I guess my family has received the news." Since all the students have returned, those who live nearby will definitely get home first. Naturally, the news cannot be concealed.
"Wait a minute, I'll go buy two sesame cakes. I'm so greedy." Wenzhu said anxiously.
"Don't." Su Fengzhang grabbed him and said, "They must have cooked something delicious at home. If you eat too much now, you won't be able to eat your favorite crystal pork elbow later."
Wen Zhu agreed and pulled Su Fengzhang back home. After all, several months of hard labor had made their bodies much stronger. There was no other way around it; physical work was better for exercising than studying.
When they ran all the way to the door of their home, Wen Zhu was only slightly out of breath, and Su Fengzhang's face didn't even turn red.
"The young master is back, and Mr. Su is back too."
A surprised voice was heard. It turned out that it was the doorman who had been waiting at the door early in the morning. He called out when he saw them arrive home.
The next moment, Mr. Wen ran out of the house. He has always been a strict father, but when he saw Wen Zhu's dark and thin appearance, he almost shed tears of heartache.
"You've become darker and thinner. Have you suffered a lot?"
Wenzhu failed to understand the father's kindness and shouted with a smile: "Isn't it true? I work harder than a cow and eat worse than a pig. Dad, let's eat quickly. Is there any meat? I want to eat meat now, the fatter the better."
Mr. Wen's fatherly heart was immediately crushed. He realized that even if his son became darker and thinner, he was still a disorderly son, so he immediately turned his attention to the disciple next to him.
When he saw this, Mr. Wen laughed.
His son had become darker and thinner, but still looked like a country boy. However, Su Fengzhang looked a little darker, and instead looked more sophisticated, with a bit more heroic spirit between his brows.
"Okay, okay, this kid has been causing you trouble recently." Mr. Wen said gently, patting his shoulder.
"Dad, can you please think of something good for me? Why do I only cause trouble?" Wenzhu complained for herself.
Su Fengzhang couldn't help but laugh: "Sir, Wenzhu didn't cause any trouble this time. Instead, he helped a lot. Even Master Zhang, who manages our area, praised him highly."
After he said that, Wenzhu felt embarrassed and said with a smile: "Of course, I am mainly praising Fengzhang. Fengzhang is very capable. But Dad, can we talk about this while eating? I am starving."
"Are you the reincarnation of a starving ghost?" Mr. Wen cursed, but still asked someone to serve the meal quickly.
Before Su Fengzhang set off, he spent a lot of time and effort to persuade Second Uncle Su to go home first. After all, the Wen family could take care of things here. If Second Uncle Su stayed here with nothing to do, he would tend to think too much.
Furthermore, if the college entrance examination is successfully completed, Su Fengzhang can just go back with the Wen family so that they can take care of each other. Uncle Su can't always wait here.
So now the meal was served, and there were only the three of them at the table: the master, his apprentice, his father and his son. Although Mr. Wen had a rule not to talk while eating or sleeping, he was anxious to know whether they were doing well outside, so he did not stop his son from talking.
Wenzhu probably read a lot of storybooks on a daily basis, and she was so excited when she talked about it. The degree of her processing made Su Fengzhang, the person involved, begin to doubt whether it was the thing he had experienced.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
