Records of the King of Xin'an County

This New Year's Eve, the Wang family had a very difficult time.Even on the day of offering sacrifices to the kitchen stove, Wang Chang was a little absent-minded and his face was gloomy, like dark clouds.As for Xiao Yang, it was as if she had been ill for a long time, her complexion became paler and paler, and soon she was so thin that she was on the verge of falling.She usually stays in the inner hall, let Wang Luoniang, Wang Ziling, and Wang Zimu talk with her, and does not go out to visit relatives and friends.As for Wang Zixian and Wang Xiangniang, she seemed to be out of sight, every time she greeted them, she wished she could send them away earlier.

Because of the depression of the two masters, the Wang family hardly had any joy about the approaching New Year's Eve.The rewards given by Mrs. Yang are also much less than in previous years. The servants and maidservants dare not make mistakes on the surface, but in private they are spreading rumors everywhere.Some said that the warehouse in the mansion was completely empty, and some said that the lady planned to sell the village and sell the shop, and some even worried that they would be sold.After all, a useful servant can be sold for at least [-] yuan, and selling the redundant ones is enough for the Wang family to chew on for a period of time.

Under such panic, Xiao Yang had no choice but to cheer up and continue to spend money for appearance.At the very least, the home must be refurbished, so as not to cause doubts in the hearts of visiting guests.In addition, the children and servants in the family should not be allowed to wear old clothes. They should be dressed up.Of course, in the eyes of outsiders, the difference between what her biological children got and what Wang Zixian and Wang Xiangniang got should not be too far apart.After all, her reputation as a loving mother has been cultivated for a long time, and she must not allow any mistakes.

The constant gift-giving and New Year's preparations quickly exhausted the Wang family's savings. It didn't take long for Wang Zixian to receive the definite news--Xiao Yang's family had sent a steward to find a middle-aged man, and planned to sell a relatively poor place. the Grange.And that farm was one of the dowries of his aunt, the Yang family.

"Let Sun Rong send someone to come and buy it at a suitable price. Then tell the news that the master still wants to buy the shop in Shangzhou City, and the price is negotiable." He ordered Cao Silang unhurriedly, After writing the New Year's greeting letter, "By the way, let me send these two letters to Mr. and A Hui respectively." No matter how much money Wang Chang has spent outside, he is happy to hear it.After all, he never cared about the wealth of the Wang family—however, everything that belonged to his late mother, Dayang, should have belonged to him, and he would have to take it back sooner or later.

Cao Silang agreed, and came back after going out for a while, and replied happily: "Ah Lang, just now that one went out with a cart full of gifts. The little Yang came out to see them off in person, his hands were shaking, he almost Cry out loud!! In my opinion, she is definitely not worried about that guy failing again, unable to bear it for a while, she must be patronizing the carload of gifts!"

"Heh, the patriarch is really a wonderful person who knows the elegant meaning after listening to string songs." Wang Zixian raised the corners of his lips, "When there is an opportunity in the future, I must repay him." He also used his own connections, and no one could fault him.Even if Wang Chang was repeatedly disappointed and even finally despaired, he could not blame the patriarch, but could only blame those officials for not being accommodating.Who would have known that in order to get back his official position, he had nearly emptied his family's savings?

It wasn't until the day before New Year's Eve that Wang Chang completely gave up the idea of ​​going through the patriarch's door, and locked himself in the study alone without drinking or eating.After all, Xiao Yang was worried, so she sent Wang Ziling and Wang Zimu to persuade him, and sent someone to call Wang Zixian: "Da Lang has always had ideas, so please persuade you, grandpa. You can't make things difficult for yourself. As for the official position, you three brothers are so promising, there must be a way."

The prince offered a smile, and as she wished, he put on a cloak and went to the outer courtyard.When he arrived, Wang Ziling and Wang Zimu were already guarding outside the study.Xiao Yang was also wearing a fox fur, holding Wang Luoniang, wiping tears pitifully.

Under her signal, Wang Luoniang called out softly: "Grandfather is so self-sufficient, both my son and my mother are so distressed. No matter what happens, it is not more important than being grandpa. My son doesn't care about anything, I just want to let you Grandpa, come out quickly! Grandpa... Grandpa... come out..."

However, no matter how coquettish and crazy she was, there was still no movement in the study.Wang Luoniang, who looked extraordinarily delicate in her new clothes, hugged Xiao Yang, and frowned lightly, like a twisted candy: "Mother, Grandpa just ignore it."

Xiao Yang stroked her back to appease her, looked at Wang Ziling and Wang Zimu, and said with a choked voice: "Ah Lang, why is this so? Even the state government's meritorious officials, Chang Shi and Ming's government are unwilling to be accommodating. Could there be other connections in Chang'an? Alang might have forgotten that Erlang and Sanlang of our family have already worshiped Mr. Zhou as their disciples, and have become brothers with Yang Zhuantou of the Hongnong County Government Mansion. I heard that, on weekdays, Here, they are not only brothers and sisters, they are also called cousins—”

Before she finished speaking, Wang Zimu's expression changed greatly: "Aunt..." Seeing that he was in a panic, as if about to say something unpleasant, Xiao Yang gave him a look, implying that he should keep silent, and then softened Said: "If you can ask the government of Hongnong County for help, it's just a county lieutenant, and you will definitely be able to return to your post."

Hearing what she said, Wang Zimu was even more anxious, and said in a low voice: "Aniang, we owe a lot of favors to the Hongnong County Government, and it's too late to pay back, how can we bother Senior Brother Yang because of this matter? What's more, Duke Hongnong is now in the Ministry of Rites, although he is the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but he is not a member of the Ministry of Officials, how can he intervene in this matter?"

After hearing this, Xiao Yang couldn't hide the anger on her face: "But I asked you to ask, and you just shied away like this! You...you child, are really too cowardly! And too unfilial! Could it be, you Do you just have the heart to see your grandpa suffer so much?! If he broke his body, what should he do? Moreover, even if you never worshiped Mr. Zhou, Duke Hongnong is also a mother's family Brother! If you write a letter to ask him to do this little favor, he will help you if you don’t know what to do!!”

Wang Ziling next to him glanced at Wang Zixian, smiled and said: "What A Niang said is true. If you don't give it a try, how will you know if your cousin is willing to help? Didn't he just look at the favor of his relatives at the beginning? Promise to recommend me to Mr. Zhou? Later, after the two of us moved to another courtyard, he also ordered his servants to take care of us several times, obviously he was quite protective of us. Sanlang, if you dare not ask, let me ask That's it."

After hearing this, Xiao Yang's expression finally relaxed: "What a good boy, Erlang, I will leave this matter to you."

Immediately there was a rustling sound in the study, and the door squeaked, and it was Wang Chang who opened the door with a happy face: "Erlang, my son! I should have thought of this way earlier!" At this moment, the eyes in his eyes Only Wang Ziling, who still remembers the smiling Wang Zixian and the dejected Wang Zimu?

However, Wang Ziling didn't know why, and suddenly said: "I heard that the eldest brother wants to worship Guozijian Siye as his teacher. You can also try it and help my grandfather solve problems. Both Hongnong County Gong and Guozijian Siye are fourth-rank officials. If you need them to say a word, how dare those long-time meritorious officials in Shangzhou dare to embarrass them? Even if they are the governors, they must be given a little bit of face—what do you think, brother?” Of course, he would never say clearly that the minister of the Ministry of Rites is Zhengsi The high-ranking official of Shangshu Province who holds the real power in his hands; after all, the Guozijian Division is just an upright official from the fourth rank, with nothing but nobility and reputation.

Wang Chang was so excited that his face flushed, and then he looked at Wang Zixian: "Da Lang, is that really the case? Then—"

"Where did Erlang hear that his brother wanted to worship Si Ye as his teacher? Si Ye was only entrusted by others to take care of his brother, but he never accepted him as his apprentice." Prince Xian He replied, seeing that Wang Chang had shown disappointment, he smiled again, "I didn't have the opportunity to talk to Grandpa in detail before, and my son has indeed worshiped Mr. I have never been promoted, so I am afraid that I am far inferior to Hongnong County Duke in terms of personal connections. Even so, I will try my best and ask if you can help me."

After listening to what he said, Wang Chang's face changed repeatedly, and he said perfunctorily: "I haven't been promoted for decades... It is probably impossible to have any good connections. You should go and ask--ah, why didn't you even pick a teacher?" Okay? If all three of you brothers can become Mr. Zhou Jiyan's disciples, they will have more weight in front of Yang Zhuantou. Even if he comes forward, this matter will be done."

Wang Zixian lowered his eyes, and said softly: "It's the child's incompetence, which makes Grandpa worry about it."

Wang Chang waved his hand: "Anyway, this is also a serious official of the Imperial Academy. When you return to Chang'an, remember to bring some earthen rituals as a bundle of repairs, so that he can't let him think that our Langya Wang's son is rude. Since Erlang and Sanlang are both apprentices, Shu Xiu should also prepare more. Besides, the gift to the Hongnong County Government must not be neglected!"

After hearing his arrangement, Xiao Yang's smile froze immediately, and she finally said hello, and took Wang Luoniang back to the inner hall of the main courtyard.Wang Chang called Wang Ziling into the study, ignored Wang Zixian and Wang Zimu, and closed the door on his own.Wang Ziling stood in the study, and when he closed the door with his back turned, he gave the two brothers outside a slightly smug look.

"Brother..." Wang Zimu clenched his fists, "Am... am I really cowardly? Am I... am I really... unfilial?" Being accused by his mother Xiao Yang in public, his heart was full of emotions , both painful and shocking.However, there seems to be a voice deep in my heart saying: She is such a person, don't you know how she has treated her elder brother all these years?But you have always been unwilling to believe, unwilling to doubt, but now you believe it?Your mother is extremely selfish. If you go against her wishes even a little bit, it will be treason. Your father also only cares about himself and doesn't care about his family, let alone other things.

"Of course not." Wang Zixian replied in a low voice, leading him to his own yard, "Sanlang, you should have discovered that the thoughts and thoughts of our two brothers are completely different from those of our family. But you don't have to worry about it. Doubt if you are right, because there are many things they are really wrong, and there is no need to explain them."

"Brother...then what should we do? Is it possible that we have to watch them..." Wang Zimu's eyes were slightly red, and he stretched out his hand suddenly, grabbing his brother's sleeve.He grasped it extremely tightly, his whole body trembled slightly, and the blood on his face gradually faded, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

"Of course not. Foolish filial piety and connivance will actually harm them." Wang Zixian sighed softly, "We must always pay attention to not let them go too far. Saburo, if we step into official career in the future , the first thing is to restrain the family, do you understand?"

"I see."

"Then can you do it?"

Wang Zimu gritted his teeth, nodded and said, "I can do it—but please teach me, brother!"

"Don't worry, take your time." Wang Zixian comforted him, "At least, let's go through this New Year's Eve first. When we return to Beijing in the next year, the two of us will have a better life. Chang'an has you and me, as long as we If you pay attention, you can watch Erlang. As for Shangzhou, maybe you can only ask the patriarch to take care of Yier."

"Then... when we went to the patriarch's house to pay New Year's greetings, we begged the patriarch to come forward?"

"That's the only way." Wang Zixian raised the corners of his lips, "It's hard for the old man to help him all the time these days. We really should thank him for his kindness."

The author has something to say: Wang Zimu: Brother, I... am I really cowardly?

Wang Langjun: ^^, of course you are not cowardly, but you know what to do and what not to do.

Wang Zimu: Brother, am I... am I really unfilial?

Wang Langjun: ^^, filial piety is not foolish filial piety.Foolish filial piety is harming others and oneself.

Wang Zimu: Brother, what should we do?

Wang Langjun: Let's see if they plan to die.

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In this chapter, Zimu finally became Wang Langjun's man~~~ After returning to Shangzhou, Wang Langjun has gained a lot! The goals have been achieved, and it's time to go back to Chang'an to meet~