Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 147: Planning to Join the Forces (asking for monthly tickets)

The Shanxi merchants waited until the sun set in the west. Someone came in hurriedly and said in the authentic Shanxi dialect: "Everyone, go home, go home."

The Shanxi merchants present looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.

At this moment, only big merchants were qualified to know the reasons behind it. The rest of the people left in groups of three or five, feeling somewhat puzzled and disappointed, and talking about it.

Chai Zongjin, the representative of the Chai family, entered the main hall and continued to discuss important matters with Lu Yuanqi and others, while Chai Meng, as a nephew, was no longer allowed to enter.

Chai Meng was unhappy. When he was about to leave the hospital, a man who looked like a housekeeper came and blocked his way.

"What?"

Chai Meng's face was full of vigilance, his eyes rolling around, looking around for a handy weapon for self-defense, with an expression that said "keep away from strangers".

The man threatened, "Master Chai, we all know that you are a student with a noble status, which is very different from us. From now on, you will walk on the Yangguan Avenue, while we, the common people, will walk on the single-plank bridge. It can be said that we have nothing to do with each other... Don't set foot here again in the future, so as not to be an eyesore to each other."

"What do you mean by that? Are you not welcome to come? Or are you telling me to leave? Humph, is this how you treat guests?"

After hearing this, Chai Meng became furious. The blood in his chest surged and even his eyes became bloodshot.

The man smiled and shook his head: "How you think is your business. Now I want you to leave... When you really become an official in the future, come back and you will definitely be my honored guest. But now... listen to my advice, shouldn't you focus on preparing for the exam? This won't delay your future."

Chai Meng angrily scolded: "You really look down on people! Do you think that I am destined to never be an official in this life?"

The man smiled and said, "I'll leave it at that... If you come again in the future, don't blame the doorman for being blind and driving you away... It's true that you are a member of the Chai family, but you don't do business at all. Don't you think it's an insult to your identity to enter such a filthy place?"

As he spoke, the man waved his hand, and several guards holding sticks immediately appeared behind Chai Meng and blocked the door.

The meaning is quite clear. This time we will send you off politely.

If you don't know what's good for you and insist on coming again next time, don't blame us for breaking your legs.

Are you a student?

I'm sorry, we don't have anything else but we have plenty of money. If we just find a few people to take the blame in the yamen, you will be the one who suffers in the end.

Chai Meng looked back, a look of disdain appeared on his face, and he spat, "Bah, this is not a good place, a bunch of mercenaries, I won't come even if you invite me! I will have nothing to do with you businessmen anymore!"

Having said that, he walked away.

I had the momentum, but I felt a little guilty when I left. After all, money is the courage of a hero. No matter how heroic you act, you will still have to bow down for a few pieces of silver in the end.

……

……

When Chai Meng returned to his residence, his younger sister Chai Shuang, who wore a quilted and cloth-like outfit, was packing clothes in the yard.

After the brother and sister arrived in the capital, although someone arranged for them to live in, they quickly fell into a dilemma after Chai Shuang lost the election for the Crown Princess.

Although the living place was not taken back by anyone, you still have to find food on your own.

"Little sister, come here, I heard some news."

Chai Meng called his sister aside.

Chai Shuang put down the basin in his hand and then put his hand back into his sleeves.

Chai Meng looked at her red, frozen hands and said with some concern, "You are destined to be a lady, how can such hard work fall on you? It's winter now, put on whatever clothes you can, keep warm first."

"Nothing." Chai Shuang shook his head and smiled, "I'm idle anyway, so I'll be more relaxed if I work. By the way, my brother said he wanted to find a teaching job, is that settled?"

Chai Meng said bitterly, "The people in the capital are all snobs. When they heard that I was from Shanxi, they immediately changed their expressions. But it's okay... guess what? Today, my third uncle and I went to the guild hall. When we left, a group of them went in to discuss something. I vaguely heard that the final winner of this Crown Princess selection is Zhang from Hejian Prefecture."

Chai Shuang showed a hint of disappointment on his face, and said unhappily, "It's all because of my uselessness that I didn't get selected."

Chai Meng said in a lenient tone, "How can you be blamed for this? If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for your lowly background and the fact that you are not well-received by others... The young master of the Zhang family, whose name seems to be Zhang Yanling, and I once met him at the gate of the Ministry of Rites. I even told him about you that day."

Chai Shuang widened his eyes, which were as bright as stars, and asked curiously, "What are your plans, brother?"

Obviously, in the girl's ears, Chai Meng seemed to have some evil intentions and wanted to kidnap Zhang Yanling or do something shameful.

"Little sister, why are you looking at me like that? I am an upright scholar!"

Chai Meng said seriously, "Do you think I will fight with others like I did when I was a child, or even do something that is against the law?"

Chai Shuang lowered his head and said timidly: "I...I didn't mean that."

Chai Meng took the initiative to reveal his thoughts: "I mean, the young master of the Zhang family is humorous and I had a great time talking to him... He has a lot of insights. If I have the chance, I will pay him a visit and rely on his family's connections to stay in the capital. Then you and I won't have to go back to Fenyang and live under the orders of those people in the family."

Chai Shuang said with embarrassment: "If I don't go back, will my family send someone to look for me?"

"Humph!"

Chai Meng snorted coldly, "When you were asked to come out to choose the Crown Princess, one after another shamelessly praised me and praised me highly. Now that you were not chosen, they threw me heavily to the ground... Who will treat me as a human being?

"It's not easy to get the chance to come to the capital, to leave the shackles of the family, and I must stay here forever! They can look for you if they want, but even if they find you, they can only take you back and marry you off to a wealthy family old enough to be my father, and let you marry into their family as a concubine or a good-looking man to be his second wife. I have seen through their character a long time ago."

"Then...what about my brother's studies? I heard there are two exams in three years."

Chai Shuang is very considerate of his brother's difficulties.

"Are you talking about the annual examinations and imperial examinations that one will face after becoming a scholar? It's very simple. I will find a chance to go back and take the exams. If I can pass the imperial examinations, I still hope to become a juren. But these are all later stories. For now, we have to find a way to make a living in the capital." Chai Meng said.

Chai Shuang nodded. She really wanted to stay in the capital with her brother, but she felt confused about the future.

"The young master of the Zhang family is very graceful in his speech and behavior, and has extraordinary knowledge. Many of his words are thought-provoking, and he seems to be quite generous and righteous. Now that the Zhang family is a new noble family, they must need someone to seek refuge and rely on. I have known him since childhood, and at least we have a friendship, which may be of use."

Chai Meng planned his grand plan in front of his sister, "If his sister becomes the Crown Princess, he will be the uncle of the emperor in the future. Any family in the uncle's family will be superior to others when they go out."

"what!?"

Chai Shuang tried to dissuade him: "Brother, you are already a student, how can you degenerate into someone else's doorman?"

"What do you mean by 'door'? I'm going to be his guest of honor... These wealthy families also need staff. Don't they need to find someone to plan before making any decision? I heard that his father was just a student from the countryside. Ordinary scholars, especially those Confucian scholars in the capital who are arrogant but incompetent, may not be willing to teach and help like me... Believe me, I have certain advantages in relying on the Zhang family..."

"Ah."

Chai Shuang was stunned by what his brother said.

It sounds like a foolproof plan, but it actually doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Why should they hire you as a teacher?
Also, do you think you can help others in any way that would allow them to entrust you with important tasks?
Isn't that too natural?

Or maybe you want to...

Selling a girl for fame?

(End of this chapter)