Fu Changfeng finally had a day off. After settling on the academy for his two children, he took his whole family for a stroll in the streets.
The capital city was frequented by merchants from all over the country, and the East and West markets were rich in all kinds of goods. Fu Changfeng held Xuanxuan in his arms, with his two sons following behind. They would linger for a while whenever they saw an unfamiliar toy, which finally made the three little ones happy.
"You've had a hard time these past few days. I just joined the Ministry of Revenue and there's been so much to do that I haven't had the energy to take care of the family. You've been the one taking care of everything." After returning home, the children went to rest, and Fu Changfeng finally had some free time to talk with Xichun.
“What’s the big deal? You’ve been working very hard outside. The Ministry of Revenue is a complicated place, no simpler than Shaoming County. There are also a lot of people involved. I’m already exhausted just thinking about sorting out these relationships. You’re still managing to handle things with ease. Don’t worry about things at home. Now we’re just waiting for Mr. Zhao to come over so it will be easier for the two of you to discuss things.”
"Well, Yu Ping will probably have to wait a while before he can come over. In recent years, he and I have both been unable to find the time to go home and take care of our parents. This time, we should let him stay for a longer period of time."
"I wonder how things are at home. You advised my elder brother to come to the capital before, but I don't know if he and the others will come." Fu Changjin has now passed the provincial examination and become a Juren, but according to him, he is probably still quite far from passing the imperial examination.
Since he had come to the capital, Fu Changfeng asked Zhao Yuping to take a letter home. He wanted his elder brother to come to the capital with him this time so that he could have a change of environment and things would be much better. There were also many scholars from other places who came to the capital to study. He had already inquired and found that many academies had former Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in charge. If they could have more exchanges, they might have a chance.
“I’m not home, and I don’t know if my older brother would be willing to come. He wants to take care of our parents.” Fu Changfeng guessed what his older brother meant, so he wasn’t sure what he was thinking.
"Why don't we just bring our parents to the capital? That way, our whole family will have more fun."
“My parents won’t come. They don’t want to travel so far. When they stayed in Shaoming County for several months, my father would always say he wanted to go home. My mother couldn’t stand it either. Besides, the environment here is very different from our hometown. I’m worried they won’t be used to it.”
There's no use in the two of them worrying; after all, the older brother is an adult, and it's his own decision to make whatever choice he makes.
The children all went to school, and Xichun stayed at home, which was a bit boring. So she would take Xuanxuan to school and chat with Master Hua to pass the time.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. One day, Xichun was at home studying how to knit a wool sweater when a servant came to report that there was a letter from Weinan County.
Xi Chun hurriedly took the letter back. The contents were written by Old Master Fu and Brother Fu, and there was another letter in Xiao Feng's handwriting, which should have been written by Wang Shi.
At the urging of his grandfather, Brother Fu has decided to come to the capital to study with Zhao Yuping. The two have already set off, but it will take them another half month to arrive.
Wang asked Xiaofeng to write words of concern for their well-being in the capital, and to inquire about their health. She also said that since they had just arrived in the capital, Xiaofeng should not join in the festivities. He should focus on his studies at the county school, and if he was fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination, he could come and join Xichun.
Fu Changfeng was pleased to learn that his elder brother was coming. Zhao Yuping had also passed the imperial examination and was coming with a friend. This friend was a smart man who wanted Fu Changfeng to see if he could be a staff member and replace him.
Zhao Yuping originally became a staff member on Fu Changfeng's advice because he was frustrated with his career. Now that he has passed the imperial examination, he has hope for advancement, so his family has high expectations for him.
"Yu Ping said when he went back that he was going to find me a useful advisor, and he'll bring him along this time. If he can be of good use, things will be much easier." Fu Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief. Although he could still do things without an advisor, it was always different to have someone to discuss things with. Otherwise, why would those big shots keep so many advisors around them? It was to prevent them from thinking of things they couldn't.
Being an official in the capital is much harder than being one in a county town; one wrong move and you could ruin your entire family.
"That would be great. I'll have someone tidy up the front yard so we can make room for them." Fortunately, there is a separate guest area in the front yard, which is separate from the back yard, so even if the three of them come, there will be enough room for them.
The children were excited to hear that someone was coming to visit. The two older children remembered their uncle, but Xuanxuan had never met him since birth and had been looking forward to his arrival.
On this day, the people Xichun sent to the city gate also received the three. Fu Changfeng was still at the Ministry of Revenue and could not get away, so Xichun took Azhao to entertain them.
When Fu Changfeng returned from his shift, the three of them were already resting in their room. They had been traveling a long way, and the servants had prepared hot water and hot meals for them, which they accepted without hesitation.
"Brother, it's been so many years. How is everything at home?" Fu Changfeng looked at his elder brother, whom he hadn't seen for many years. The two brothers were not at all awkward when they met and started chatting naturally.
"Everything is fine, everything is fine. Your parents are in good health. They even sent me to come and see you, saying that you shouldn't worry too much."
“Don’t worry about us. You’re the ones who are truly worried about us at home. It’s my eldest brother who has been taking care of us all these years, and I feel guilty about it.”
"We're all family, there's nothing to feel guilty about. Now that I'm in the capital, I'll have to rely on you."
"Brother, what are you saying?" After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Fu Changfeng finally found Zhao Yuping and Mr. Luo.
Mr. Luo was not from Weinan County, but from Guangming Prefecture. Fu Changfeng had met him during the previous examinations. Both of them were frustrated and unsuccessful. However, Mr. Luo had worked as a clerk in the Guangming Prefecture government office for a period of time. Although he was not very learned, he had his own insights into politics.
Zhao Yuping's trip back to his hometown also included an idea to investigate Mr. Luo. After hearing that Mr. Luo was now somewhat down on his luck and not being given important responsibilities, he recommended him to Fu Changfeng as an advisor.
Fu Changfeng and Mr. Luo chatted until late at night and found that Mr. Luo indeed had his own insights into politics, and that his ideas coincided with Fu Changfeng's. This made Fu Changfeng want to have a heart-to-heart talk with him, but unfortunately he had to work the next day, so he had to put the idea aside for the time being. However, Fu Changfeng had already invited Mr. Luo to stay at his home as an advisor.
During the time Brother Fu had been here, he gradually became familiar with the children again. Before Fu Changfeng found an academy for the two of them, Brother Fu's affection for the children was no less than that for Fu Changfeng.
Ultimately, after careful consideration, the two chose Lushan Academy in the capital. This academy was not very famous in the capital, but it was still considered average. Those who came to study there included local scholars and those who had passed the provincial examinations, as well as people from other places. As long as their studies were not bad, they would be accepted after passing the examination.
Moreover, Fu Changfeng had inquired and found that there were very few children of royal nobles here. For ordinary officials' families, it was a good place to study in peace. As for the Imperial Academy and the National Academy, those were places that required a better family background to enter. They were a mixed bag and it was impossible to study in peace.
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