The heavens set sail from the courtyard

After the return banquet, Wang Gang had to go back to Kaifeng Prefecture to work, and Li Shouhua also began to learn how to take care of the Wang family's housework and share Wang Kang's burden.

After Wang Gang returned to Kaifeng Mansion, he immediately greeted Shen Huizhao and then went to clean his office and rest room.

Near noon, Du Yangxi suddenly came over to me.

Wang Gang was drying the files. When he saw Du Yangxi in the sun, he asked, "Mr. Du, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Du Yangxi stood there with a conflicted look on his face and didn't say anything for a long time.

Wang Gang saw that Du Yangxi had something to ask him, so he put down the book.

"Mr. Du, are you not used to living in Kaifeng Prefecture?" Wang Gang pulled Du Yangxi to sit down and poured him a cup of tea.

Wang Gang's tea is not a good tea, it is just ordinary loose tea. He finds it troublesome to make tea in Dasong, so he usually drinks it casually.

Du Yangxi naturally did not dare to despise loose tea. With his financial resources, he could not even afford loose tea and usually drank plain water.

"Thank you, Lord Wang. I am living very comfortably in Kaifeng Prefecture. Your men have taken good care of me and Brother Sang." Du Yangxi took a sip of tea absentmindedly, not tasting the flavor at all.

Wang Gang smiled, holding the teacup, and suddenly asked: "Do you want to borrow money?"

"Huh! How do you know?" Du Yangxi asked in surprise.

Wang Gang smiled but said nothing. Although they had known each other for a short time, Wang Gang could see that Du Yangxi was an extremely noble person. To make him so embarrassed, he must have borrowed money from him.

"Lord Wang, can you lend me a hundred strings of cash? I will definitely pay you back when I pass the imperial examination." Du Yangxi gritted his teeth and finally spoke.

Wang Gang said: "One hundred strings of cash is not a small sum. Can I ask you what you want so much money for?"

Du Yangxi sighed and said, "I just received a letter from home. My mother in my hometown is seriously ill and needs money for treatment."

Wang Gang suddenly realized and did not suspect that Du Yangxi was lying to him.

According to reports from his subordinates, Du Yangxi was extremely frugal during his stay in Kaifeng Prefecture and was reluctant to use even lamp oil. If the house was not owned by Kaifeng Prefecture, he would have wanted to drill a hole in the wall to steal light.

He suddenly asked for a hundred strings of cash, which was obviously not what he needed. Wang Gang had investigated Du Yangxi and found that he had never married and only had an old mother who was in poor health.

This time when Du Yangxi went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, he emptied out all his family's savings. His mother had to make a living by doing laundry in her hometown, and her life was very difficult.

Du Yangxi was a noble person and did not make friends with the powerful. He had very few friends, all of whom were incorruptible scholars.

His mother was seriously ill, and after much thought, he decided that the only person he could borrow money from was Wang Gang.

Wang Gang knew that Du Yangxi must have hesitated for a long time before asking for money.

"Mr. Du, your paintings are actually very good. If you are willing, I can introduce you to a few people who understand painting. It should not be difficult to raise a hundred strings of cash." Wang Gang thought for a moment and said.

Du Yangxi bit her lip when she heard this, thinking that Wang Gang was unwilling to lend her money.

"Sir Wang, it's me, Meng Lang, I'm Du. Goodbye." Du Yangxi stood up and prepared to leave.

Wang Gang shook his head and chuckled, thinking that he was still young!

"Mr. Du doesn't want to save his mother anymore?"

Du Yangxi stopped and hesitated again.

"In fact, with Mr. Du's talent, it's easy for him to make money. Why can't you let go of your pride?" Wang Gang said:
"Is your mother's life more important than your face?"

"No." Du Yangxi shouted: "It's not because of my face that I refuse to sell the paintings to those rich businessmen."

Wang Gang calmly gestured to Du Yangxi to sit down.

Du Yangxi struggled for a while, but finally sat back, picked up his cup of tea, and drank it all. "My mother once taught me that scholars value integrity and should not bow down for a few pieces of silver. If she knew that the money I used to buy medicine was obtained by currying favor with the rich and powerful, she would rather die than drink a sip." Du Yangxi lamented.

Wang Gang was stunned. He didn't expect that Du Yangxi had such a strong-willed mother.

He had investigated before and found out that Du Yangxi's mother was not his biological mother, but only his adoptive mother.

It seems that this adoptive mother is no ordinary person!

"Mr. Du, I can lend you this money, but have you ever thought about it? Even if you can become the top scholar in the imperial examination in the future, according to convention, the government will at most accept you as a seventh-rank idle official, and your monthly salary will not exceed 20 strings of cash. It is not easy to live in the capital, and it will be difficult for you to live in Bianjing with your salary. How long will you have to wait to pay back the money?"

Du Yangxi's expression changed several times, and he didn't know how to answer Wang Gang for a while.

Because he knew that what Wang Gang said was true!

The capital city is prosperous and dazzling, but the cost of living is also frighteningly high. Many minor officials spend money like water to maintain their status, and their daily lives are worse than those of ordinary people.

Wang Gang poured another cup of tea for Du Yangxi and said, "Actually, I have a suggestion that can help you out!"

Du Yangxi raised his head expectantly and asked, "What suggestions?"

Wang Gang smiled and said, "My mother-in-law has five daughters. The eldest daughter married me, the second daughter married into the Fan family, the third daughter will marry into the Chai family, and the two daughters Yunying are still unmarried."

Du Yangxi immediately understood what Wang Gang meant.

"Do you want me to marry the daughter of the Li family?"

Wang Gang smiled and said: "To tell you the truth! My mother-in-law took a liking to you last time and wanted to marry her fourth daughter to you.

If Du and Li marry, my mother-in-law can naturally help with your mother's illness, and can even sponsor you to take the imperial examination."

Du Yangxi clenched his fists hidden under his robe, feeling humiliated.

Wang Gang continued, "Don't feel wronged. I actually didn't want to marry you. It's just that my mother-in-law chose you."

On the day of returning home, Mrs. Li asked Wang Gang to ask Du Yangxi if he had any intention of getting married. Wang Gang was actually not very willing to do so.

Du Yangxi has a complicated background and is an aloof and arrogant person, so he is not a good match. However, Wang Gang is only the eldest brother-in-law and it is not appropriate for him to interfere in the marriage of his younger sister-in-law.

On the contrary, Wang Gang felt that the person who was more suitable for Si Niang Li Haode to marry was Sang Yanrang, who had a clean family background and a simple personality. Although his literary talent was slightly inferior, he also had the potential to become a Jinshi.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Li only cares about appearance. She thinks Du Yangxi is handsome and insists on having him as her son-in-law. Wang Gang has no choice but to give Du Yangxi a suggestion.

“Although the Li family comes from a merchant family, they are also a decent family. My sister-in-law is a top choice in terms of both appearance and character, and she will never let Mr. Du down.

Although the Li family is not extremely wealthy, it is much better than your Du family. There is no guarantee of passing the imperial examination. Even if you fail, the Li family will not despise you!
You can consider this marriage!"

Du Yangxi hesitated for a long time and did not give a reply.

Wang Gang was not in a hurry and drank his tea leisurely. Anyway, the message had been delivered and he didn't need to worry about whether the task assigned by his mother-in-law was successful or not.

"Lord Wang, can you give me some time to think about it?" Du Yangxi said gritting his teeth.

"Of course it's no problem. I'm just worried that your mother's illness can't be cured." Wang Gang sighed: "How about this, I'll lend you a hundred strings of cash first. Saving people is the most important thing."

"Ah!" Du Yangxi was extremely surprised. He originally thought that Wang Gang would use money as a threat to force him to marry the girl from the Li family!

Wang Gang said: "I am just giving you a suggestion. The Li family does not insist on you becoming their son-in-law. As for the money, I will give you one year to repay it in installments. If you cannot repay it after one year, I will charge you interest as usual. How do you think?"

"Thank you, Lord Wang." Du Yangxi happily clasped his fists in thanks.

"No need to thank me, the money was lent to you by my mother-in-law, just pay her back when the time comes." Wang Gang said nonchalantly. (End of this chapter)