Chapter 72 Time flies, the provincial examination is just around the corner…
During the meal, Zhang Ting and her visiting sisters toasted each other and exchanged New Year's greetings.
Young people are just so energetic and mischievous.
Zhang Shu, being the eldest, casually set aside his social obligations, smiled, picked up his chopsticks, and served roasted lamb chops to Zong Suyi and the young maid who had come to visit.
Just then, a maid came to report: Several strange women outside said that their family was well-off and came to wish their master a Happy New Year. They left several large baskets of vegetables and fruits and then ran away.
A sudden silence fell over the round table. Xun Han asked what was the reason. Zou Yueru proudly told her that it was due to Zhang Ting's achievements last year. She said that Zhang Ting had cleverly outmaneuvered unscrupulous merchants last year, restoring order to Lutian County; and during the sweltering summer, he had given away cooling tea free of charge, relieving the urgent needs of many people. He truly deserved to be called a virtuous man of our time. In return, the suffering people often brought her vegetables and fruits they had grown themselves, and she had encountered them several times when she visited Zhang's residence.
Xun Han and Wu Pingliu exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes. They casually looked away, but a deep respect welled up within them. Their junior sister was exceptionally intelligent and had already achieved great things before even entering officialdom. They, as her senior sisters, were ashamed to admit that they had fallen behind her.
They lowered their eyes and secretly vowed: as fellow students of their teacher, they would never slack off in their junior sister's contributions to the nation's affairs and the people's livelihood!
Seeing her three apprentices deep in thought, secretly competing with each other, Zhang Shu chuckled and crossed her legs, thinking gleefully: "Tsk, even geniuses need to be dealt with by other geniuses!"
......
As evening fell, the glass lanterns under the eaves emitted a dim yellow glow, giving the snow a warm hue. In the center of the snow stood two slender figures, one tall and straight, the other with a slightly hunched back.
A biting wind swept past, carrying snowflakes, and the piercing chill seeped into the gaps in his clothes. Zhang Shu coughed briefly twice, and then a cloak was draped over his shoulders.
She did not refuse her young apprentice's filial piety. She turned her head slightly, her breath creating a white mist, and said, "Magistrate Song should leave Tongzhou Prefecture today."
After returning from the prefectural city, Zhang Shu wrote to Lu You. Lu You had cultivated connections in the capital over the years; all she needed to do was spread rumors about the misdeeds of Magistrate Song. That corrupt official Song hadn't even warmed his position as Vice Minister of Personnel, and with various factions eyeing him covetously, he would undoubtedly be eager to purge his own ranks. Let them fight like dogs.
Seeing that he had been abandoned by the main branch, Magistrate Song went on a vicious rampage, even going so far as to file a lawsuit with the emperor to tear off the main branch's wings. However, before the letter could even leave Tongzhou Prefecture, his residence was sealed off by government troops, and he was taken to prison.
A few days ago, the verdict came down, dismissing Magistrate Song from his post, confiscating his family property, and sentencing him to exile for three thousand miles.
Zhang Ting replied, "That's right. But the season is bad, so she probably didn't make it to her destination."
The head of the family was also determined to kill her, and the verdict was delayed for a month or two. In the dead of winter, with her still wearing heavy shackles, it was impossible for her to survive until she reached the place of exile.
"The wicked will be punished by the wicked." Zhang Shu opened his cloudy eyes, gazed at the distant north, and sighed. The world was dark and bleak; good people reaped evil consequences. Could his unjustly killed friend ever be exonerated?
......
Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Under the blazing sun, the crape myrtle flowers in the courtyard bloomed in clusters, their vibrant colors as if dyed by the sunset. A breeze blew, and the branches and leaves trembled, casting scattered shadows.
With the provincial examination just around the corner, Zhang Ting will soon be heading to Tongzhou Prefecture.
Zhang Shu called his young apprentice to him and gave him a few simple instructions: "The provincial examination is just a small test for you. It's been very hot lately, and I'm getting old and my body can't handle it, so I won't go with you. You should take Xiaoyi with you; he can take care of you."
She sat by the ice basin, enjoying the cool breeze, shaking her legs, and squinting her eyes contentedly. The thought that in a couple of days there would be no one in the house to control her filled her with immense joy.
Zhang Ting immediately knew what she was up to. He twitched his lips to the other side and said speechlessly, "Teacher, you can stay in Green Field to rest. Before you leave, I will take care of everything at home. You are old, so if you need to go out, I will send a maid to accompany you."
How could she openly ask for a drink when she was being watched?
Zhang Shu turned his head to the other side, waved his hand in disappointment, and muttered, "Go away, go away, you unfilial disciple! You're going to be the death of this old woman!"
"Teacher, please take a good rest." Zhang Ting bowed to her, turned to leave, and was about to cross the threshold when she heard an old woman complain, "Some people, taking advantage of my old age and incompetence, are always making me angry..."
Zhang Ting stopped in her tracks, frowned, and looked back: "Teacher, I'm doing this for your health."
Zhang Shu frowned and muttered to himself: This little nag is going to start nagging again.
She pretended to look out the window, chirped twice to tease the sparrows, and waved her away, saying, "Go, go, go back inside and pack your things."
Zhang Ting shook her head helplessly, her dark hair swaying in the air as she slowly returned to her study. Passing by a pomegranate tree, she glanced at it casually before looking away.
Previously, Zhang Ting had jointly run Keyinglou with Xu You, which had generated considerable profits. After deducting the purchases and expenses over the past three years, there was still about 60,000 taels left in the accounts. However, Zhang Ting had secretly kept 30,000 taels in addition to the accounts, which he quietly converted into a box of gold bars and buried under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, just in case.
She didn't tell anyone about this money, not even Zong Suyi.
Furthermore, Manager Wang from the capital wrote that the Gao family is raising their profit share again. Previously it was only 30%, then it increased to 40%, and recently they've gone so far as to demand 70%! This is outrageous! The letter ended by probing when she would return to the capital to take charge.
Gong Ya, who was terrified at Keyinglou, also sent a message through someone. She said that the boss had been unusually irritable lately, often beating and scolding the staff and managers. Everyone missed the boss and asked when Zhang Ting would return.
Zhang Ting burned the letters one by one. The three-year period had ended, and Ke Ying Lou had changed hands. Even if she returned to the capital, she would never go there again.
She wrote to each of them explaining the situation. She had been back in Lvtian for over two years, and it was thanks to these two that she had kept an eye on Ke Ying Lou's activities and prevented anyone from stealing her share of the profits. However, Gao Xiang was becoming increasingly greedy, Xu Shan preferred official positions to money, and Zhang Ting was not optimistic about Ke Ying Lou's future development, promising them that they could come to her if they encountered any difficulties in the future.
As for Xu You, she rarely contacted me after returning to Lvtian County. A few days ago, I sent her some gifts and a letter, but for some reason, she didn't reply, so we've completely cut off all contact.
Zhang Ting thought this was for the best, so that he wouldn't be accused of having an ambiguous relationship with merchants if he became an official in the future. In any case, he had already made money.
She had just sat down when Zong Suyi came in with a list, checking with her the items she needed to take to the prefectural city. His lips were pale and dry, peeling, and his face looked very haggard. As the provincial examination drew closer, he grew increasingly anxious, occasionally suffering from insomnia at night. Anyone who didn't know him would think he was the one going to take the exam.
Zhang Ting patted her thigh and gently called him over. Zong Suyi smiled and pounced into her arms, hugging her neck and snuggling close. He pouted and said pitifully, "Auntie is finally letting you rest." In the past two years, Auntie had been very strict with his wife, and she often stayed in Auntie's courtyard to rest. The two of them hadn't been close for a long time.
"You've had a hard time these past few days, my lord." She gently pinched Zong Suyi's face with both hands, tenderly pinching his recently thinned cheeks, and then picked up a teacup to feed him.
It was sweltering outside, but the study was cool and comfortable, so the two of them sat close together without feeling hot.
Zong Suyi had been busy taking inventory outside and was extremely thirsty. He gulped down the tea from her hand, some of it spilling out and running down his chin, leaving a few wet streaks. When the teacup was removed, a soft tea leaf was still between his moist lips.
Zong Suyi smiled, the tea leaves swaying with his lips. He lightly touched his lips with his long, slender, white fingers and said in a serious tone, "Since my wife feels that I have worked hard, why don't you reward me properly?"
His vivid reaction softened Zhang Ting's brows, and the tenderness in her eyes flowed like a gentle stream. She put down her teacup and said, "Your wife obeys." After speaking, she pulled him closer to her, pressing him tightly against her, and kissed away the wetness on his chin inch by inch, covering it with her own marks.
Zong Suyi frowned and said with dissatisfaction, "That's not what I meant..." At this moment, his soft lips were captured by someone, and the rest of his words were firmly blocked in his throat. Broken moans escaped from his lips and teeth. Her hot breath sprayed on his face, as if it could burn him, and his eyelashes trembled uncontrollably.
The fresh, clean scent of Zhang Ting wafted to his nose, and Zong Suyi closed his eyes in relief. He quietly released his grip on her clothes, then tightly embraced her again, letting out a sigh of contentment. He had been abstinent for too long, and his legs twitched restlessly as he pressed himself closer to her, their bodies almost touching. Her tongue pried open his teeth, hooking and entwining with his, occasionally playfully biting his lips. He breathed softly, enjoying his wife's tender caresses, a tingling sensation running down his spine. The air in the room seemed to be boiling; her warmth and caresses made him feel as if he were immersed in molten lava, melting him into a pool of water at her mercy.
Finally, Zhang Ting cupped his face and parted them, a long, clear silver thread running between their lips. His eyes were hazy and watery, his cheeks flushed like peach blossoms in spring. Zong Suyi reluctantly clutched her collar, letting out a short, seductive moan. His eyes held a captivating allure as he stared intently at her, his gaze unwavering, as if issuing a silent invitation. He suddenly licked his slightly swollen, red lips, his gaze fixed on her face. He squirmed restlessly, swallowing the excess saliva in his mouth, as if he were swallowing her whole.
An ambiguous atmosphere hung in the air. Zhang Ting was slightly out of breath, her pupils contracting, but fortunately, she still retained her rationality and hadn't completely lost herself in his good looks. She awkwardly turned her face away, swallowed, and reached out to pull up his disheveled collar, covering his fair and delicate skin.
She was about to set off soon, and not to mention that she still had a book of poetry and prose to read, there were also many important matters at home that had not yet been dealt with. At this time, she should not indulge in the pleasures of men any longer.
Zhang Tingping calmed his turbulent emotions, picked him up and placed him on the table, then picked up the list that had just fallen to the ground and examined it carefully. It contained writing brushes, ink, paper, documents proving household registration and guarantor status, clothing, and so on. He would buy dry food in the prefectural city.
She held the list between two fingers, thinking that she should go to the examination hall in advance to check it out, so as not to misjudge the distance and miss the time.
Zong Suyi was still feeling hot and bothered. He sat at the table, his brows furrowed in discomfort, swollen and painful. Feeling neglected, he felt a surge of bitterness in his heart. He pouted his red, moist lips, hooked his arm around her belt, and demanded an explanation from her.
"My lady, why don't you want me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
