Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 103 Rivals (Fourth update, please subscribe)
Zhang Luan brought his son to visit the Shen Mansion early in the morning, leaving Shen Lu speechless.

A few years ago, he had planned to have some quiet time and sleep in, but he was disturbed by the Zhang family father and son for no reason, so he had no choice but to go out and meet the guests.

"Please forgive me, Ruxue. Just think of me as coming to see my sister... I haven't seen her for many years." Zhang Luan said as he handed over the prepared gift, which was the Huangshan tea given by Manager Qin.

“Good tea.”

Shen Lu sniffed the tea and felt his mind refreshed. A smile appeared on his face and his bad mood after waking up was completely relieved.

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "Well, I was also thinking about the prince's selection of a concubine. I tossed and turned last night and couldn't sleep, so I brought Yanling here to have a look early this morning. Don't look at his young age, he knows a lot. You don't have to hide from him if you have something to say, just tell him directly."

"Laizhan, actually you don't have to come in person. Today's selection in Shuntian Prefecture is just a formality. Judging from the number of candidates who have reported so far, at most they will examine their family backgrounds. You don't even need to show your face and can wait until the second round of selection."

Seeing Zhang Luan looking nervous, Shen Lu couldn't help but smile and say something to comfort him.

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "Didn't I hear that some eunuchs would come out and look at the candidates' appearance, behavior, and also test their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"

Shen Lu frowned: "Where did you hear this nonsense?"

"Isn't it always like this?"

Zhang Luan looked surprised and turned his head to look at his son.

It seems to be asking, if you knew, why didn’t you correct me in advance?
Zhang Yanling was also speechless.

In fact, he had no idea how the Crown Princess would be chosen this time. It seemed that there was a set procedure for choosing a Crown Princess in the Ming Dynasty, but in fact it was different each time. Just like this time when the emperor was choosing a concubine for Zhu Youtang, he didn't care at all. Would the process be as grand and formal as when he chose a concubine for Emperor Chenghua at the end of the Tianshun period?

Zhang Yanling also wanted to ask, as a father, when have you ever asked me about the specific process of selecting the Crown Princess in the past few days?
Ever since you knew you had a chance to become the father-in-law of the emperor, you excitedly ran to your friends to ask about the selection process. It would be strange if you were not misled!

Shen Lu said: "What you are talking about is probably the situation during the last selection. We also went through two times. The first time, there were very few candidates. Every family was afraid that their daughters would not be selected and would be sent to the palace as maids. That place has always been a place for criminals. Who would be willing to push their daughters into the fire pit?"

Zhang Luan asked hurriedly, "Does that mean we don't have to send my daughter to Shuntian Prefecture today?"

"Of course not."

Shen Lu said as a matter of course, "Minister Li has assigned someone to monitor your affairs. Even if you don't report it now, someone will help you report your daughter's name.

"Just wait until after the New Year. On the first day of the New Year, the Ministry of Rites will hold a re-election. At that time, candidates from all over the capital will gather there."

Zhang Luan was very surprised: "Is the time so tight? They said the re-election will be held after the New Year, but it's actually the day after tomorrow."

Shen Lu said helplessly: "This matter is very urgent. If the journey is far, we may not be able to make it in time. If you are in Hejian Prefecture, you may not be able to make it to the capital after hearing the news. Now the most worrying thing is whether our niece has a hidden disease... or has behaved inappropriately."

"Don't worry about this, Ruxue. This situation will never happen."

Zhang Luan vowed, "My daughter will definitely grow up to be a graceful and impeccable lady. That's why I don't want her to be buried in an ordinary family. When she was born, the sound of a phoenix was heard outside the house. Her mother said that this girl was born with a dragon and a phoenix, and she will be extremely precious in the future."

Shen Lu smiled and said, "That's good, that's good... If you say so, it will be helpful to my niece during the election. I'll help you spread the word, and maybe it will increase your chances of winning."

This is the publicity spree!
Zhang Yanling couldn't help but secretly guess that my uncle is quite capable. This kind of marketing technique of creating suspense and playing with people's hearts is very popular in many industries in later generations.

Otherwise, Shen Lu was able to take advantage of the opportunity to rise to a high position, and his ability was absolutely beyond doubt.

……

……

When the father and son came out of the Shen Mansion, Zhang Luan was still a little uneasy.

Zhang Yanling was a little surprised and asked, "Dad, isn't it already confirmed? My sister didn't have to show up today to pass the primary election? What are you still worried about?"

Zhang Luan said seriously, "I have always believed that your sister is outstanding in talent and beauty. This is her greatest advantage and reliance. But now she doesn't need to show up in public to pass the test. In other words, she can't achieve the effect of getting the upper hand... This makes things less stable."

"hehe."

Zhang Yanling thought, after all, it has to be you.

People call you Zhang Laizhan, isn't it because you always act cautiously?

The father and son were walking home and saw a carriage parked in front of their house from afar.

"Huh? Who would come to visit at this time?" Zhang Yanling looked at the carriage carefully and asked in surprise, "Our family hasn't even started yet, so why is it so busy in front of our house?"

"Don't worry so much, kid!"

Zhang Luan walked straight over and saw a man getting off the carriage in front of him. After seeing Zhang Luan, he came over and looked very excited: "Lai Zhan, nice to see you again."

When Zhang Yanling saw the man's face clearly, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. Wasn't this man the father-in-law who almost became his sister, Sun Bojian's father, Sun You? "Brother Sun? Why are you in the capital?"

When Zhang Luan saw Sun You, his face suddenly looked a little unhappy.

As former in-laws, Zhang Luan never wanted to see this person again after the two sides severed their relationship, probably because he felt that he owed him.

Sun You said, "I came to the capital specially this time... I heard that His Majesty is selecting a concubine for the Eastern Palace, and this matter has been delayed for several years. My daughter is of the right age, so it is just right to send her to the capital to participate in the selection."

"Your daughter?"

Zhang Luan was stunned for a moment before realizing that his former son-in-law, Sun Bojian, had an older sister, Sun Chengying, who was born in the same year and was just the right age for marriage.

When Sun You saw Zhang Luan’s reaction, he felt a little uncomfortable - your daughter can choose, so why can’t my daughter?

Just when the former in-laws were feeling extremely awkward about meeting each other, Zhang Yanling came over and asked with a smile: "Uncle Sun, how come you came to the capital at this time? And you happened to encounter the prince's selection of concubines? Logically speaking, even if you got the news and set off for the capital immediately, it would take a few days to arrive, right?"

Zhang Luan was also confused and immediately took over the conversation, "That's right, could it be that Brother Sun heard about it in advance?"

Sun You sighed, "I heard that you, Brother Zhang, are in the capital, and you are getting help from the Imperial Hospital, and you are opening a clinic to grow medicines and treat illnesses. I was thinking, since our two families are old friends, and there is not much business to do at home recently, I want to do some medicine business... My daughter is usually in charge of the family's livelihood, so I asked her to come along.

"I haven't even arrived in the capital yet, and I heard about the Crown Prince's selection of concubines. It's a good opportunity, isn't it?"

Zhang Luan was not happy when he heard this, but his face remained calm. He shook his head and sighed: "If you think so, it's really a coincidence!"

But I was thinking in my heart, my daughter now has a new competitor, and she is from the same hometown. The other party almost becomes my daughter's sister-in-law. If they compete on the same field, and finally enter the "select three" stage together, and happen to stay in the East Palace, then things will be very bad.

Sun You smiled and said, "Well, I know that you, Brother Lai Zhan, have a wide network of contacts, so I came to you to inquire about the situation of this selection. I heard that the primary election in Shuntian Prefecture is today, but we are not prepared at all."

Zhang Luan became even more displeased after hearing this.

It's bad enough that you let your daughter come out to compete with my daughter, but you also want me to use my connections to help her?
Please, don’t you know that I’m going to be the father-in-law of the emperor?

You are clearly ruining the show!

Zhang Yanling saw Zhang Luan's face changing from gloomy to bright, so he smiled and interrupted, "Uncle Sun, you are really putting my father in a difficult position. My sister had a hard time getting her name in the selection of the Crown Princess.

"Shuntian Prefecture is currently compiling information on the ladies who have participated in the selection. This time, the matter is urgent and there are few applicants. If you go to Shuntian Prefecture now, you will definitely be able to catch up."

Sun You said, "I have sent someone to go."

Zhang Luan frowned: "Brother Sun, since you have already sent someone to the government to take the exam, why do you still want to come to visit me in person?"

Sun You sighed, "I have been grateful to you for treating my son's illness and selling grain. How can I not come to visit you when I come to Beijing this time? It took me a long time to find your address. If I can get your help in the future, Brother Lai Zhan, I will provide some convenience in the medicine business..."

"Brother Sun, why do you think I can help you?"

Zhang Luan was confused for a moment.

If your friend Sun wants to do business, just do it. But after arriving in the capital, you rashly come to visit me and always cause trouble for me. How can you still say that you are so loyal and righteous?
To put it bluntly, aren't you just asking me for help?
Sun You said, "Even though I just arrived in Beijing, I have heard from the people in the market that you are now well-known in the capital. Especially since you are the one who helps people in Beijing to cure smallpox with medicine, not only in the capital, but also in all parts of Northern Zhili, your good name is spreading."

"is it?"

Zhang Luan has been closing his eyes and ears lately. Ever since he knew he could not enter the Imperial Medical Bureau, he even stopped planting medicine for people. Naturally, he had no idea what other people think of him.

Now it is equivalent to seeing one's own fame from a third party.

Sun You sighed, "Others also say that you are broad-minded and have a broad mind, comparable to the living Hua Tuo, and even unique in the ages. They say that if you don't go to the Imperial Hospital, who will..."

"hehe."

Zhang Luan felt proud after being complimented by Sun You, and the corners of his mouth and eyebrows were raised.

Zhang Yanling was afraid that this fellow would get carried away, so he quickly nudged his old father with his elbow and said with a smile: "Uncle Sun is really good at praising people, but unfortunately rumors in the market are not reliable, most of them are boastful, and you only heard the good things, not the bad ones."

This is a reminder to Zhang Luan, can you really trust the words of the person who asks you for help?

He really became Xu Gong, the handsome man praised by everyone in the story "Zou Ji's Advice to the King of Qi".

"Yes, Brother Sun, don't believe those rumors... Let's go inside and talk."

Originally, Zhang Luan had no plan to invite Sun You into his yard, but seeing Sun You coming so far, he felt it would be embarrassing not to invite him in to sit down, so he took the initiative to invite him.

The fourth update is here! I am going all out to write this, so I will leave the subscription and monthly tickets to you all! Thank you so much!
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(End of this chapter)