Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 205 4.1 Turning into Spring Mud to Protect Flowers

Volume Four

4.1 Turn into spring mud to protect flowers

Having completely settled the issue of identity, Zhou Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief. After returning from the banquet at Duke Qi’s mansion, he completely relaxed. He simply took a bath and slept well. In the end, he didn’t even eat dinner, and he saw it when he opened his eyes again. The sunshine the next morning; what was even more surprising to him was that there were already guests at this time.

"Master, an old man who calls himself 'Fu Shi' has brought his sister and has been waiting for almost half an hour. The servant arranged for them to stay in the study outside." While helping to dress and wash, Qingwen did not forget to report the situation, " My servant remembers that he seems to be the disciple of Mr. Zheng in Rongguo Mansion?"

"Huh? What time is it now?" Zhou Yang really didn't expect that this person would be so impatient and couldn't wait for a moment.

"It's just past six o'clock." Qingwen said with a smile, "Do you need me to arrange some food?"

"Girl, why are you so polite all of a sudden?" Zhou Yang obviously didn't adapt to Qingwen's attitude. He took her into his arms and kissed her gently, then smiled, "I remember, if I get up so late on weekdays, you I'm afraid I didn't come here to lift the quilt a long time ago and make sarcastic comments."

"Master——" Qingwen blushed, and said nervously, "It's different now, the young master was officially awarded an official yesterday, and he was a fifth-rank master. The slaves heard that the county magistrates are only seventh rank, young master Now I am just like the prefect, I deserve it."

"The fifth and seventh grades are for external use. Otherwise, according to the rules, you can no longer call me 'young master', because I am the only official master in our family, and I am an appointed official, so I must call me 'master'." Zhou Yang smiled and caressed his maid's head, "Do you still think that when you see me again in the future, you will kneel down and salute at every turn, and if you make a mistake, you will be slapped?"

"I don't want to!" Qingwen exclaimed, then blushed at someone's weird smile, and gently got into her master's arms, "This slave only wants to serve the good young master, and will never leave her for the rest of her life. She will be the future mistress." After entering the door, I will also serve you, waiting for the day when the young master and the mistress will be kind and grant the slave's grace to give birth to a boy for the young master."

"Silly girl!" Zhou Yang put her down lovingly, "Let's go, let's have breakfast first. You have been with me from the beginning. Is it possible that we will become estranged in the future? Remember, don't do this again, I You have to keep a straight face outside, but if you keep it up when you go home, how can you have time to rest all year round?"

"Yes!" Qingwen nodded excitedly, "I'm going to prepare food now, but the two people in the outer study..."

"Just let them wait." Zhou Yang smiled and didn't take it too seriously, because these two can only be used and have no training value. "The emperor can't send hungry soldiers. Wait until we are full. work."

It took more than a stick of incense to have a warm breakfast. It was not until a girl who was hugged in her arms and fed from time to time stepped on cotton and left, Zhou Yang smiled and asked the servants to clean up, and then relaxed Go to the outer study.

"I've seen you!" Seeing him enter the door, Fu Shi, who was still anxious, hurriedly stood up and saluted, with an extremely respectful attitude. His sister Fu Qiufang also stood up together, "I heard that my lord has formally accepted the ceremony yesterday. I have resigned and came to congratulate you today."

"Brother Changwen is interested!" Zhou Yang nodded with a smile, walked to the main seat and sat down, and then asked the servants at the door to serve tea again.

"Qiu Fang has met your lord!" Fu Qiufang waited until he sat down before bowing and performing a standard Wanfu salute.

"You're welcome, Sister Fu." Zhou Yang waited until Fu Qiufang saluted before waving his hand for her to sit down. "They are all members of our family. Remember to come and visit often from now on."

"Qiu Fang, thank you, sir!" Fu Qiufang thanked her and sat down carefully at the bottom of the guest seat. She accepted Zhou Yang's invitation in full and did not care at all about the fact that the Zhou family did not have a hostess and theoretically could not conduct backyard diplomacy.

"Chang Wen is here today. I guess Second Uncle Zheng has already made arrangements?" Zhou Yang asked with a smile, "I just want to ask one more question. With the connections in Rongguo Mansion, the head of a mere sixth-grade foreigner Qianhu Book, it’s nothing if you think about it.”

"That's what your Excellency said." Fu Shi showed a satisfied look, "To be honest with you, my mentor originally mentioned that he could help operate this kind of position, but I have never dared to agree. Now that I have the opportunity to follow you, naturally I will not It's the same; yesterday I heard that your Excellency was officially appointed as an official, so I immediately went to see my mentor and listened to his teachings.

My mentor said that at the age of 19, my lord was able to release a fifth-rank real job outside. This kind of talent has not occurred in more than ten years, and the future must be bright; it is really a blessing for several generations to be able to follow my lord. I should go all out to repay your kindness. "

According to the military system of the Great Zhou Dynasty, every thousand households had the position of chief bookkeeper, whose main responsibilities were official document exchange, military discipline inspection, food and payment review, and even personnel inspection, etc. , but has no real jurisdiction, and actually has the nature of "supervising the army", so the situation in the army can be imagined.

This position has always been unpopular, not only among military generals, but also among civil servants, because it means giving up the status of "nobility" and making jokes with a group of Qiu Ba all day long. Therefore, after the Zhou Dynasty completely stabilized its rule, The position of "registrar" has gradually become a place for "second-class" scholars who are famous but not high-ranking. The most common position is to promote people, but more often it is vacant.

"The long article is overly praised." Zhou Yang smiled and waved his hand, and finally understood why some people like to use these flatterers, because they are really comfortable to use. Of course, if you continue to let them be praised like this, the results may not be good after a long time. , "I just did my duty and thanks to the grace of the court, I have the status I have today.

As the saying goes, "Everything is of inferior quality, only reading is good." If war breaks out, we military men will naturally be loyal to our country and your Majesty. But now is the golden age, and that is the stage for civil servants; long articles are just a temporary waste, and they will be necessary in the future. You have to ride the wind and rise, there is no need to be so presumptuous. "Thank you, sir!" "Fortunately, Fu Shi knew that he was not qualified to perform, so he quickly stood up and saluted.

Naturally, useless pleasantries followed. Seeing that half an hour had passed, Zhou Yang was too lazy to continue grinding his teeth, so he picked up the tea bowl according to the rules and watched Fu Shi take a sip.

"My lord, my brother has other business and needs to visit Uncle Jia at the Rongguo Mansion; Qiu Fang is a little confused and wants to ask your lord for advice." Just when Fu Shi got up to leave very tactfully, he didn't say a word the whole time, sitting upright as a lady in the background The bossy Fu Qiufang suddenly spoke. This was naturally expected by Zhou Yang, but it completely exceeded Fu Shi's plan.

"Sister, you..." Fu Shi wanted to ask in confusion.

"Brother will go on his own, and the younger sister will be back before noon." Fu Qiufang interrupted him with a smile.

Fu Shi, who was full of questions, went out to leave. Here, Zhou Yang smiled and looked at Fu Qiufang, who was still dignified and gentle. He had to admit that this girl was really proud, and her appearance and temperament were no less than Sanchun of the Jia family. He said that he was scheming enough to throw them off the street.

"Have you figured it out?" Zhou Yang stood up and stretched out his hand to signal, Fu Qiufang hesitated for a moment, then obediently raised his slender hand and let him hold it, and the two of them entered the outer study yard together, which was the original greenhouse garden, "There is no need to talk to me." Brother Changwen, do you want to discuss it?"

"Brother," Fu Qiufang's tone was obviously tired, "I hope you don't mind. Qiu Fang understands that what you need is an obedient bookkeeper. There is absolutely no problem with eldest brother's ability, so he will naturally not cause trouble to you."

"Brother Changwen is still capable." Zhou Yang smiled and did not mention the topic of "don't mind". During the chat just now, although Fu Shi had a respectful attitude throughout the whole process, he could feel that this Juren In fact, he was very unwilling to do so. He even revealed his ambition many times in words or expressions, "I believe he can understand what I mean."

What if he doesn't understand?hehe.

"Thank you for your understanding." Fu Qiufang is not stupid, so she naturally understands Zhou Yang's meaning, but she also knows that she can't do anything, "Uncle Jia helped manage the position of eldest brother this time. There are such great benefits, if you don't mind, Qiu Fang hopes that the eldest brother can get some credit as soon as possible.

My lord, Qiufang is now 21 years old, and her elder brother is five years older. If there is no chance, he will have an official status. I am afraid that he will only be able to improve slowly through his qualifications in the future. opportunity; however, you have already demonstrated your ability in Beijing, and Qiu Fang believes that you will definitely do it. "

"Interesting!" Zhou Yang stopped and gently raised Fu Qiufang's chin, "Of course I can do it. If your eldest brother had your mental ability, I believe he could do better. It's a pity that you are a daughter. Otherwise, even without my help, you can have a good future in the future."

"Sir, please have mercy!" Feeling the groping that had begun, Fu Qiufang's voice trembled, "Brother, he will understand the truth and become your right-hand man. Qiu Fang will do his best to help. Qiu Fang will make arrangements for Rongguo Mansion. , I think you also need support from the capital."

"I have prepared 1000 taels of silver notes and 50 taels of golden melon seeds for you. I believe you can handle the upcoming matters in Rongguo Mansion." He gently pushed her onto the flower stand, Zhou Yang's expression remained calm, " I don’t know if you have heard of a poem, ‘Falling red is not a heartless thing, it turns into spring mud to protect flowers’!”

After more than half an hour, watching Fu Qiufang who was staggering out of the gate and getting in the car to leave, Zhou Yang returned with a smile, but saw Qingwen pouted with dissatisfaction, standing at the second door and staring at someone, almost at the door Engraved on the forehead is "I'm unhappy".

"What's wrong?" Zhou Yang went up and touched his maid's head. Zhou Yang pulled her back and said, "If you have anything to say, just tell me. Is it possible that your young master can't even listen to a few opinions?"

"Master, I have seen this Miss Fu in Rongguo Mansion." Qingwen said dissatisfiedly, "I really can't stand her look. When I met the old lady of Jia Mansion, she had one face, but when I met the Sanchun sisters, she was another. She has one face, and after meeting Second Master Bao, there is a third face, how could such a woman enter the young master’s room?”

"Silly girl, you can see it, but I can't see it?" Zhou Yang lowered his head and gave her a slap on the head. The sweet love he had with Fu Qiufang just now made him almost believe it. "It's just a transaction. What will happen later?" If you want to see her again, it depends on the situation; you will inevitably see her in the future, but you will never see her living in the house permanently."

"Ah?" Qingwen was dumbfounded, "How could she...the most precious thing in her daughter's family be traded?"

"Fool." Zhou Yang couldn't help laughing, and stroked his maid's head to comfort him, "For some people, this is just a bargaining chip. The only difference is that this pair of chips is heavier, so you need to choose a valuable transaction. object."

"Really?" Qingwen looked up at her young master stupidly, only looking at her confused little face. It was obvious that she would never understand this method, "Master, if it is what you said, this and What's the difference between those, um, women like that?"

"Difference?" Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment, thinking of the various "green teas" or "goddesses" in modern society. "If there are any, one is just for money, and the other is not just for money, that's it, no more .”

(End of this chapter)