Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 151: A Monkey in a Crown

With the imperial decree, Zhang Luan instantly became a fourth-rank court official.

No matter whether he was a genuine official or a salary earner, once he had an official status and a set of official uniforms specially prepared for him, Zhang Luan would put them on immediately to show off.

"Become an official now, let's see."

Zhang Luan started to show off at home.

Jin was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She said, "If I wear this back to Xingji and let the neighbors see it, I wonder what they will think..."

"Women are short-sighted. What's there to show off in front of those country bumpkins? If I have to show it to someone, it should be to Minister Li. Logically, I should go to his house in person to thank him."

Zhang Luan was still very proud.

Tang, who was helping to tidy up the official uniform, stroked the material of the uniform with her hands, and a strange look flashed in her eyes.

Perhaps he felt that after being married into the Zhang family for so long, he finally got to the point of becoming a prominent family, and it seemed as if all the hard work in the first half of his life was finally worth it.

In the next room, Zhang Yanling was looking out the window at his old father who was trying on clothes and showing off in the main room. He turned around and said to Zhang Yu, "Sister, why don't you go out and take a look? This is the honor you fought for Dad."

Zhang Yu sat on the bed, holding a red handkerchief in her hand, with an unhappy look on her face like a little girl, and pouted, "Isn't it just an official uniform? What's so good about it?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad has been pursuing this dream for half his life, isn't he just waiting for this day? You made his dream come true."

"Humph! He is selling his daughter for fame."

Zhang Yu still pouted, seeming to be depressed.

She had made too much sacrifice to bring wealth and glory to her family, but she had to enter the palace full of dangers and live a hard life with no end in sight. She even had to muster all her energy to compete for favors, and she would probably be exhausted all day long because of the cruel and treacherous palace struggles.

Thinking of this...

Zhang Yu felt a great sense of grievance.

Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Then... Sister, you don't like the prince? What is he like?"

"Hard to say."

Zhang Yu thought about it carefully and shook his head, "Before I knew he was the one who wrote to me, I didn't like him at all. I thought he was just a prince in name only. But after I knew the situation... I can't tell what I felt in my heart. I always felt that he..."

Obviously Zhang Yu is also an emotional person.

If you don't like it, you just don't like it. You can only blame... Zhu Youtang's external conditions are not good, and there is a certain gap between him and Sun Bojian or Tan Yun.

But Zhang Yanling was very clear that women set completely different standards when choosing a partner for dating or marriage.

Because women are surprisingly rational when it comes to matters of marriage, they will never be blinded by emotions. Especially since Zhang Yu was not born into a wealthy family and had suffered since childhood, she had plans for her future. In her opinion, entering the palace was indeed the best choice at the moment.

"Second brother, come out quickly. Your father wants to visit Minister Li at his residence. You come with him." Before Zhang Yu could give a more detailed evaluation, Zhang Luan's voice calling his son came from outside.

"His father, if you want to go, just go. Why bring Yanling with you?"

Kim has a different view on this.

Zhang Luan said, "Madam, there are some things you don't understand. Oftentimes, I need someone to be there to help me discuss things so that I don't make mistakes."

Zhang Yanling's voice floated from the room: "Dad, I don't feel well. Maybe I had an upset stomach from lunch. Can you go by yourself?"

"What did you eat, kid?"

Zhang Luan almost wanted to go into the room to find his son and take a closer look.

Zhang Yanling said loudly, "Aren't you just going to thank Minister Li? Let your uncle accompany you. I am a junior and have no right to enter your house. If I go, I will disturb you... Dad, you should go by yourself. I will stay at home and accompany my sister more."

"Okay, okay, you should rest at home... Madam, give some silver to Yanling. Children need money when they go out. Don't be stingy, give him some loose change, some copper coins... This child is very well behaved and never spends money recklessly."

After Zhang Luan finished speaking, he couldn't wait to put on his official uniform and show off to his relatives and friends.

Before leaving, Zhang Luan was still sighing: "Today is a happy day, why is there no one to congratulate? Or have they not heard the news? It's a gloomy day, I hope it doesn't snow..."

Zhang Yu asked curiously, "Yanling, why is Dad suddenly concerned about whether it will snow?"

"Haha." Zhang Yanling turned around and grinned, "Think about it, Dad's official uniform is not tailor-made. There are no other sizes except for a few standard sizes. The one he was given is too small... In order to wear it, Dad only wore a single layer of clothing inside. If it snows, won't he freeze to death on the road?"

"Pfft..."

Even though Zhang Yu tried his best to hold back, he still couldn't help laughing out loud, and then he quickly covered his mouth.

"Smile, sister, you smile."

Zhang Yanling clapped his hands, looking as innocent as a child.

Zhang Yu said, "Alright, alright. I know you care about me. There's nothing wrong with marrying into the palace. I won't have to worry about food and clothing, and I can have face. You said you wanted the prince to only favor me and not take any concubines anymore. Do you think I can do this?"

Zhang Yanling straightened his back and said, "Hey, you finally asked the right person... I will definitely help you with my sister's happiness plan. I will definitely help you with it!"

……

……

Zhang Luan put on a brand new official uniform and took the carriage given by Li Zisheng to Shen Lu's mansion.

Originally Shen Lu was receiving guests. When he heard that Zhang Luan was coming, he immediately put the guests aside and went out to greet him in person.

Seeing Zhang Luan jumping off the carriage wearing shabby official uniform, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

This scene always gave him the illusion that Zhang Luan’s head was too small to fit into the big hat.

"Laizhan, you are here wearing this? Are you going to see Minister Li?"

Shen Lu looked at Zhang Luan helplessly.

I figured it out in my mind that it was time to teach my brother-in-law a lesson about official etiquette.

Zhang Luan looked down at his official uniform and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. He immediately asked, "Is there anything wrong with this uniform?"

Shen Lu said: "You should stay at home honestly these few days and don't go anywhere... The court will come to your house to propose marriage at any time. These six rituals are a whole set of cumbersome procedures, and you can't neglect any step...

"Think about it, if the people sent by the court came to your house and you were not at home, would you let those ministers and officials wait outside?"

"What? You said the ministers will come to my house?"

Zhang Luan couldn't help swallowing when he heard this.

In terms of official positions, these people's status is higher than Li Zisheng's. They are big shots that Zhang Luan, a scholar, never dared to dream of meeting before.

Shen Lu sighed, "Let's talk about your outfit... When you go to see Minister Li, it's best to wear casual clothes, so that you can look more intimate... Minister Li is only the third rank Right Minister of Rites, and you are the fourth rank. If you go to visit him so rashly, aren't you deliberately embarrassing him?
"You often go in and out of Minister Li's residence, and you see so many people there. How many of them are wearing official uniforms?"

Zhang Luan slapped his thigh when he heard this and said, "Look at me, I have little experience in officialdom and often make mistakes due to lack of consideration... Then I will go back and change out of my official uniform."

"no need."

Shen Lu waved his hand and said, "Since you want to see Minister Li, let's go and see him as soon as possible... You are excited about your sudden promotion, and you come to thank your benefactor and inquire about the situation. Everyone can understand... We can be ministers in the same palace in the future, so you still have to be a little more careful about some things, otherwise you won't even know that you have offended someone..."

Zhang Luan asked, "Well... if I wear this and Minister Li sees me, it won't be bad, right?"

Shen Lu shook his head helplessly: "Once or twice is nothing, and Minister Li just thinks that he has just become an official and wants to show off. He might tease you a few times or even teach you some principles of being an official, which will help you get closer.

"It's just that... you'll be going to Minister Li's residence often in the future, so it won't be appropriate to wear this."

"Oh."

Zhang Luan was confused by what he heard.

You said it was inappropriate for me to dress like this, and then you said there should be nothing wrong with what I was wearing today. You people in the officialdom really have so many tricks up your sleeve.

"Then wait a minute. I'll go greet the guests first, and then we'll go to Minister Li's residence."

Shen Lu was about to take Zhang Luan to the small hall at home to wait for a while, and then he went back to the main hall to meet and see off the guests. Then he thought of something and asked, "How about... Lai Zhan, how about introducing my colleagues to you?"

Zhang Luan was overjoyed when he heard this: "That's exactly what I wanted."

(The third update is finished, I would like to ask for a monthly ticket, thank you!)
(End of this chapter)