Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 25 Hanging and Selling
After finishing the last day of planting medicine, the father and son prepared to go home, and they packed up their things at their temporary residence that night.

For Zhang Yanling, the most inconvenient thing here is that the living conditions are too simple. Although the surrounding people have provided some help, compared with the high bed and soft pillows at home, this place is more like a pigsty.

"Dad, when you get out, you should quickly fight with the government... We need to get a place in the township tribute as soon as possible, so that we can leave for the capital as soon as possible."

Zhang Yanling kept his mission in mind and gave Zhang Luan some guidance.

Zhang Luan asked doubtfully, "Shouldn't we get the silver first? Magistrate Song said that if we can successfully prevent the spread of the disease, he will give us a reward."

Zhang Yanling advised: "Let's try to have a long-term vision... Now even the inspectors know about your achievements. Once you report them, do you still worry that the court will not reward you? We should try our best to gain benefits other than money."

"Ugh!"

Zhang Luan sighed slightly, "To be honest, I believed your lies. My method of curing diseases is a secret that cannot be passed on, but it was easily told to a local inspector. It will be difficult for our family to use it to enrich our family wealth in the future."

Zhang Yanling couldn't help but roll his eyes when he heard this.

He really wanted to ask, which was more important, being a royal relative or making a fortune by curing illnesses?
"After we go back, let your mother help us get rid of the bad luck."

Zhang Luan patted his clothes and said, "I have done more in the past two years than in the past few days. As a father, I am exhausted and just want to live a peaceful life for a few days. Now that I have more money, it doesn't seem to be that important whether I go to the capital or not."

"We must have ambition."

Zhang Yanling clenched his fists.

Zhang Luan asked, "Do you think that if your father studies in the Imperial College for a few years, he will definitely have a chance to get an official position after he graduates? It is increasingly difficult to select officials from the Imperial College, and your father doesn't even have the status of a juren... At this age, only those who pass the jinshi exam can have a chance to get ahead, right?"

When Zhang Yanling heard this, he knew that his cheap father had great ambitions but was not capable enough, so he immediately comforted him: "Dad, just wait and see. You will still be successful even if you don't take the provincial examination or the imperial examination. If you don't believe me, we'll wait and see."

……

……

The next morning, the father and son packed up the things they had packed the night before and prepared to go home.

Li Weishao came with his men and asked the carriage to wait outside. As soon as he entered the door, he said, "Master Zhang, there is no need to go anywhere else. The county magistrate has prepared some wine at the county government office. Please come over for a chat."

Zhang Luan was a little surprised, but thinking about what had happened in the past few days, he felt quite pleased, so he nodded and said to Zhang Yanling before leaving: "Look, we don't have to walk now."

Zhang Yanling, however, looked disdainful and said to Li Weishao: "My father has been working hard for days and is not feeling well. He really shouldn't drink... Let's not go..."

Li Weishao said: "The county magistrate has already ordered that we treat it as a celebration banquet. If we don't go... I'm afraid it would be inappropriate..."

Zhang Luan looked at his son curiously, and wondered in his mind, didn't his son ask him yesterday to quickly find the government to implement the township tribute?

How come the county magistrate came to invite you personally today, but you declined on my behalf?

Are you playing tricks on me, kid?
Zhang Yanling said, "But my father and I have been in this small place for half a month. I am afraid that our bodies and clothes will smell bad. If we go there rashly, I am afraid it will be disrespectful in front of others. Why don't you let my father and I go home first, tidy up a little, and then go to the county government office for the banquet. What do you think?"

"Um……"

Zhang Luan thought about it and felt that his son's words made some sense, so he said, "It's still early, so even if we want to have a banquet, there's no need to rush. Speaking of which, I also want to go home to visit my family."

Seeing that the Zhang family father and son were very insistent, Li Weishao had no choice but to make a gesture of invitation: "Of course, I will send someone to take you back home in a carriage. Come on, why don't you quickly take Mr. Zhang's bag? You must serve him well along the way and don't neglect him."

……

……

Zhang's father and son set out on their journey home. In the carriage, Zhang Luan asked his son in a low voice: "What are you up to, little brat? Who is the boss at home? Why are you refusing social engagements on behalf of your father?"

Zhang Yanling lifted the curtain and looked around. Seeing that there was no one around, he whispered, "Haven't you figured it out yet? Our method of preventing and treating the epidemic is gradually showing results. If County Magistrate Song initially agreed to let us treat the disease, it was more of a gamble and political speculation. Now that he sees the positive feedback, he wants to gain benefits from us."

"Yeah...too."

One good thing about Zhang Luan is that he is willing to listen to advice.

After all, he was a scholar, and he fully listened to his son's opinions on the matter of vaccination, achieving unexpected results. Unknowingly, he had established a basis for equal consultation with his son.

Zhang Yanling continued, "At first we begged him, hoping for a chance to perform well. Now even the inspector has chosen to trust us and has come to plant the herbs himself. The people trust us even more, so we have the confidence to firmly grasp the initiative."

Zhang Luan said, "You are so young, yet you have such thoughts? You are indeed different from your elder brother... Your elder brother doesn't have so many tricks."

Zhang Yanling glared at his old father.

I thought to myself, what time has it already, and you are still comparing your unpromising and spendthrift eldest son with me, a time traveler who is full of knowledge and was born in an information explosion society?
Who do you look down on?
Zhang Luan sighed again: "You mean we should just hang it up and sell it?"

Zhang Yanling was slightly startled, then nodded. This logic... was quite clear.

Zhang Luan said, "What if Magistrate Song wants to take credit for our work? Now that we don't even have the secret recipe, does he still need us?"

"Don't we still have Censor Chen? Even if they really stole our credit... hehe."

Zhang Yanling smiled maliciously.

Zhang Luan frowned: "What are you laughing at?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Those who dare to show off their power over us now will pay a heavy price in the near future."

"Ah? You're still so young, but you're talking nonsense again?"

Zhang Luan frowned and almost treated his son as a freak.

Zhang Yanling couldn't explain to Zhang Luan...

We are going to become the emperor's relatives in a few months, and the emperor's father-in-law and uncle-in-law in less than a year, and be promoted to dukes and marquises. Yet we are still worried that a mere county magistrate will steal our credit?
Later, I will let them know what it means to use power to oppress others.

"Dad, our medical treatment is open to the public and has been spread long ago. No matter how confused the inspector is, it is impossible for him not to report the truth. Besides, there is no need for Censor Chen to undermine the court laws for the sake of a county magistrate he is not familiar with." Zhang Yanling put away his previous playful smile and said seriously.

"Yeah. That makes sense."

Zhang Luan realized it later.

Zhang Yanling said, "We will do as my father said and sell it. Besides getting the quota for the tribute, we will try to get more money for our family to go to the capital. The rest is to wait for Chen Yushi to report our case and wait for the court to commend us."

Zhang Luan was relieved when he heard this: "I will go to the banquet alone after returning home. I have been away from home for so long. You should comfort your mother."

"No, Dad, I want to go too. It's a good opportunity to see the world... and with me around, don't you think I can help you with some advice?"

Zhang Yanling showed his childish innocence again and said with a smile, "I am the chief think tank around my father."

Zhang Luan said with a dark face: "You are so capable! Don't talk nonsense when we get to the county government office later! Those big shots won't tolerate the bad habits of a child like you!"

(End of this chapter)