Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 151 Phoenix Warm Jade
After lunch, the three of them came to the Zhu's money shop next door. The Zhu's money shop is an extremely important property of the Zhu family, and it is also one of the top ten money shops in the Song Dynasty. There are more than [-] branches in various places in the Song Dynasty. There are stores in Guangzhou, south to Guangzhou, and there is also a branch in Fuzhou, where Mingren and Mingli are going.

Of course, Pingjiang Prefecture has the most branches, and each of the five counties in Pingjiang Prefecture has a branch, but the main branch of Zhu's Money Shop is in the capital.

The most profitable business of the money shop is lending, but for businessmen, the money shop is also very convenient for depositing money, especially for withdrawing money from other places.

For example, Mingren and Mingli wanted 1 taels of silver to go to Fuzhou. They could not ship the silver to Fuzhou, but deposited the silver at the money shop in Changzhou County. As long as you show the password and voucher at the money shop in Fuzhou, you can withdraw money directly at the money shop in Fuzhou.

The money shop also has another function, keeping valuables for customers.

Fan Ning walked into the store and smiled at the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper An, long time no see!"

The shopkeeper of the money shop was a fat middle-aged man. When he saw Fan Ning, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "So it's a small official. Congratulations to the small official for winning the first place in the boy's test!"

Now Fan Ning is already a celebrity in Pingjiang Mansion, the streets and alleys are talking about him everywhere, his appearance, his family, his experience, etc. Various stories about him have also begun to spread in various schools, becoming a school boy An inspirational role model for scholars.

As for the rich and powerful families of Pingjiang Mansion who want to marry their daughters to him, there are countless, but Fan Ning has not encountered this trouble yet.

Fan Ning took out a deposit slip, handed it to the shopkeeper and said with a smile, "I plan to take away the stone I stored here last time."

"No problem, that stone is quite heavy, do you want the shop to prepare an ox cart for the little official?"

"Thank you so much then!"

Not long after, two men carried a piece of topaz the size of a water tank into the ox cart, and the three of them also got into the ox cart. Fan Ning said to the driver, "Go to Pan Yufang!"

"Understood, my little official, please sit down!"

The coachman flicked his long whip, and the ox cart started slowly and drove towards the east of Changzhou County.

"A-Ning, this piece of topaz is actually so big?" Ming Ren and Ming Li stared at the topaz that was the size of a water tank in front of them, their eyes widened.

"This piece of topaz was given to me by Mr. Zhou. It is very rare. Generally, topaz is about the size of a goose egg. My piece of topaz is already too big. This piece of topaz is even more unique."

Fan Ning gently stroked the topaz and said: "The locals call this topaz the Phoenix Egg. I think this name is good. From now on, it will be called Phoenix Nuanyu, which will be more attractive."

"Then what are you going to do with this piece of jade?"

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "I'll know soon!"

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Pingjiang Mansion has been a place where jade craftsmen gather since ancient times. The most brilliant jade carvers of the Song Dynasty gathered here. Among them, Pan Yulang is an outstanding jade carver. Pan Yulang's real name is Pan Xiu, and Yulang is everyone's nickname for him.

Pan Yulang is nearly [-] years old, and he sealed the knife three years ago. Currently, his Yufang is run by his eldest son, and several apprentices have taken over his banner and continue to carve with precision.

Hearing that it was No. 1 of Jieshi Tongzi Division who came to visit his father, Pan Yulang's son did not neglect, and hurriedly went to the inner hall to inform his father.

Not long after, an old man with white hair and a childlike face came out of the inner house, and asked with a smile: "This old man is Pan Yulang, what's the matter with the little official?"

Fan Ning bowed and saluted, "The junior has a piece of carving work, I would like to ask the senior to help!"

Pan Yulang showed a look of embarrassment on his face, and said for a while: "I have sealed the sword for three years, and my hands are not used to it. I'm afraid I won't be able to serve a small official."

"Is it not allowed under special circumstances?" Fanning continued to ask.

"That depends on the special circumstances, and the old man needs to be familiar with it, and it will take a long time."

Fan Ning took out half of the jade that Zhou Lin gave him, and handed it to Pan Yulang. Pan Yulang took the jade and laughed, "Since it was entrusted by Duke Zhou, I will serve the little official again even if I risk my life. What do the officials want me to carve?"

Fan Ning was overjoyed, and quickly asked Mingren and Mingli to bring Tian Huangshi in.

At this time, Pan Yulang's son whispered: "Why don't you let the child act instead of the father!"

Pan Yulang shook his head, "The only thing left in my life is Duke Zhou's unrequited kindness. If I don't settle this matter, how can I spend the rest of my life with peace of mind?"

"Then let the child assist the father to fulfill his last wish!"

Pan Yulang nodded, "Yes!"

Ming Ren and Ming Li had already carefully moved Tian Huangshi, which weighed thirty catties, in and placed it on the table.

Pan Yulang looked around and asked in surprise, "Is this Shoushan Huangshi?"

Fan Ning nodded with a smile, "Exactly, I call it Phoenix Nuanyu!"

"The name Phoenix Nuanyu is good. The locals call it Phoenix Egg Stone. It is very suitable for carving. I wonder what the little official wants to carve?"

Fan Ning took out a scroll and unfolded it slowly. On the painting was an incense burner surrounded by nine dragons. This was designed by Fan Ning himself, and he asked Lu Wensheng, a famous painter in Wu County, to draw it.

"Can this incense burner be carved?"

Pan Yulang was taken aback, and said for a while, "I can carve a censer, but Kowloon is a forbidden thing, so it's very risky for a small official!"

"It's okay, I originally planned to dedicate it to today's emperor."

When Pan Yulang heard that it was going to be dedicated to the emperor, he didn't dare to be careless. He looked around the water tank-like Tianhuang stone for a quarter of an hour, considering every detail, and finally nodded.

"Give me three months, and try to finish it for you before the New Year, but the labor cost is a bit expensive, and it will cost three hundred pennies!"

Fan Ning was overjoyed, and it happened to be completed before entering Beijing.

"Then we'll agree!"

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Fan Ning hurried back to the county school in the afternoon. Tonight, Gao Fei, the county magistrate, will host a banquet for the scholars who have passed the exam. Children, it shows that the county monarch attaches great importance to persuading students.

For many candidates from poor families, this is also an important moment for them. In addition to the heavy rewards in the county, there are also rewards from various townships. The sum of all kinds of rewards is at least hundreds of acres of land.

Not only will labor be exempted, but taxes will also be halved. This is a key step for Juren to move from poor children to country gentry.

The other is marriage. Although juren is not considered a real official name in the official sense, it is only a qualification to participate in the provincial examination.

But in the folk, Juren has a high social status, and is very attractive to many wealthy but low-status businessmen.

Merchants need to marry Juren to improve their social status, and Ju people also need the wealth of merchants to improve their economic status. The needs of the two sides are very complementary and hit it off.

It's just that juren is a relatively scarce resource, they can be sold for a price, and seek to maximize their benefits through marriage.

Although Changzhou County failed in the boy's test this year, it only won one spot.

But in the adult examination, Changzhou still maintained a strong position and took away half of the places. Wu County was not bad this year, with eight Juren and two Gongjushi admitted.

The celebration banquet was arranged in Juxianlou. Apart from a few county officials, Xuezheng, and Jiaoyu, there were more than a hundred gentry from all walks of life in Wu County.

Ten Juren sat at the main table, Fan Ning sat next to the county magistrate Gao Fei, Su Liang sat next to Fan Ning, and on the other side of Su Liang was the magistrate Yang Han.

The status of the two tribute judges is obviously higher than that of Juren, not because Fan Ning took the No. 1 exam, but because the boy exam first represents the county government, and their glory is directly the glory of the government.

Gao Fei was addressing everyone with a wine glass.

"... Ten years of hard work, today's harvest has been sharpened. I wish all the people here can get better results in the provincial examination next year. Come, let us bless them and make this toast!"

Everyone raised their glasses one after another and drank the wine in their glasses.

The next thing was Xuezheng talking, at this moment, Su Liang whispered to Fan Ning: "I heard that Zhao Xuezheng is about to be promoted to Fu Xuezheng."

"Really?" Fanning asked in surprise.

"I only found out today that the school administration has been vacant for a whole year, and everyone is fighting for this position. Originally, Guo Yun, the school administration of Changzhou County, was the most vocal, but this time Changzhou County Boys' Examination failed miserably, and our Wu County has occupied a lot. With a huge advantage, Dong Zhifu is inclined to promote Zhao Xuezheng."

Looking at Zhao Xuezheng who spoke enthusiastically, Fan Ning couldn't help laughing, no wonder Zhao Xuezheng looks much younger, it's not easy!After 20 years in the position of county school administrator, he is finally about to be promoted.

(End of this chapter)