Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 275 To be successful in life, you must have fun

Deng Chang'en was also very wealthy, so he invited everyone from the Taichang Temple to a dinner, ostensibly to celebrate Zhang Luan's entry into the Taichang Temple and to welcome him back.

When a group of people entered the tavern, Zhang Luan realized that the entire building was booked by Deng Changen.

The food and wine came, with a rich spread of fish and meat, and many delicacies from land and sea. Even though the Zhang family's living conditions were very good now, Zhang Luan felt that Deng Chang'en's behavior was extraordinary.

Zhang Luan even wondered, am I really so famous now that even Deng Changen wants to win me over? Or does he think that I have fallen out with Li Zisheng and wants to take advantage of the opportunity to divide and win me over so that I can work for him?

At the dinner table, colleagues came over to toast Zhang Luan.

Although Zhang Luan ranked after Deng Chang'en in the Taichang Temple, according to the rules, the Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple was in charge of all matters within the yamen, and as the second-in-command he still had certain real power. In addition, most of the people in the Taichang Temple were officials who passed on official duties and received salaries, and they always spared no effort in currying favor with their superiors.

Zhang Luan clearly felt that this was very different from the working atmosphere when he was in the Honglu Temple.

Because the Honglu Temple does have work to do, but the Taichang Temple does not have any tasks throughout the year except eating and drinking, and most of the tasks are done by the Ministry of Rites.

Zhang Luan couldn't hold his liquor well to begin with, and soon he was drunk.

Deng Changen took his hand and said, "Brother Laizhan, you have to give more guidance to the Taichang Temple in the future. You are the father-in-law of the prince, and your status in the future will be far higher than that of the rest of us. Everything depends on you."

"Oh."

Zhang Luan realized at this moment that I am not just the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple. My daughter will be the queen in the future, and I will also be the future father-in-law of the emperor.

You have the opportunity to curry favor with me now, so naturally you should flatter me as much as you can. Otherwise, it is hard to say whether I will even look at you in the eye in the future.

"Everyone, I haven't figured out the route to this job at the Taichang Temple yet, so I'll need your guidance in the future. Let's help each other!"

Zhang Luan was drunk and talking nonsense, "By the way, we shouldn't be responsible for the affairs of the Imperial Observatory, right? Don't come to me for anything like celestial phenomena or celestial changes."

Deng Changen asked curiously, "Why are we looking for you? Are you an expert at this? Do you want to show us your skills?"

"No, no."

Zhang Luan said quickly, "I know nothing about astrology. I came to the Taichang Temple because of an order from above... um, um... where will I be working in the future?"

Deng Chang'en said, "What are you talking about doing at this time... Drink, drink!"

"Oh, yes, let's drink first. This wine is good." Zhang Luan said drunkenly.

Someone nearby laughed and said, "We at the Taichang Temple may not be good at other things, but our wine must be the best. Who can blame us for being so close to the Imperial Wine House?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Deng Changen shouted, "The Imperial Wine Room is the Imperial Wine Room, what does it have to do with the Taichang Temple? Come and see me, I want to drink with you... Don't listen to these people's nonsense... This is the good wine I bought..."

"Oh."

Zhang Luan pretended not to hear anything because he couldn't figure out what was fishy about it.

Ai Yu was drinking happily. He hurried upstairs, walked to Deng Changen, and whispered something in his ear.

"what?"

Deng Changen was drunk at this time and yelled, "Speak louder, I can't hear you."

Ai Yu looked around and finally raised his voice: "Someone is coming from above."

"nonsense."

Deng Changen said disdainfully, "Who is above us? The Minister of Rites?"

Ai Yu introduced: "The Ministry of Personnel came to inform us that Mr. Zhang's official position has been reassigned and he is no longer the Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Rites."

"what!?"

Deng Chang'en stood there in a daze for a moment.

I have held a grand reception here and even introduced all my colleagues to Zhang Luan. But now you tell me that Zhang Luan is no longer the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple?
Zhang Luan was a little absent-minded. He was stunned for a long time before asking, "Have I been dismissed from office?"

Even he, a rookie in the officialdom, realized that if he did not become the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, it would mean that the emperor did not want him to be an official anymore. After all, the position in front of him was just a temporary official position. Wouldn't transferring me here make the emperor feel better?

Ai Yu looked at Zhang Luan with a look of doubt and shook his head, saying, "He was not dismissed from office. He was said to have been transferred to the Hanlin Academy to be a historian... From now on, I should no longer call you Mr. Zhang, but Zhang Hanlin."

"Ok?"

The guests present looked at each other in bewilderment.

In fact, many people here don’t know what the Hanlin Academy is for, because they obtained their official positions through magic or bought them with money. They don’t know much about official affairs, and they only know that the Hanlin Academy is not a place that ordinary people can enter.

Deng Chang'en frowned and asked, "Hanlin Editor? I remember that only the top scholar in each session can be awarded this position. Let's see him..."

Then Deng Chang'en realized that Zhang Luan seemed to have been "promoted".

But it also seems like exile.

After all, the position of the Imperial History Bureau Compiler in the Hanlin Academy is only a sixth-rank official position, which is still far from the fourth-rank Beijing official. However, any scholar would flock to the Hanlin Academy. After all, even if you want to be a humble scholar in the Hanlin Academy, there are still a lot of people vying for it, and you even have to take an exam. You can't get in if you are too old, and you have to have popularity and background...

Zhang Luan was so surprised that he stood up and said loudly, "Did I get into the Hanlin Academy? Haha, I really got into the Hanlin Academy..."

Ai Yu was very surprised: "Zhang Hanlin, you already knew about this?"

"No, no, no, it's just... I've wanted to enter the Imperial Academy for a long time... In fact, I've thought about it since I took the Tongsheng exam, but I never had the chance. I never thought that one day my dream would come true."

Even though Zhang Luan was drunk, he knew that he could not expose his relationship with Li Zisheng, so he just made up an excuse.

Ai Yu said: "I usually dream a lot, even daydreams are not uncommon, but... this kind of dream can come true? Lai Zhan, your dream is really... different from others!"

Ai Yu wanted to say, why don’t you dream of going to heaven?
Or dream of becoming a Minister of Personnel?
That way your dream will come true, and it will make us think you’re even more awesome, right?
Deng Changen said with emotion: "Laizhan, you see, the banquet to welcome you today hasn't even ended yet, but you've been transferred to another place. You've failed us all!"

Zhang Luan smiled and waved his hand: "It's okay, it's okay, today's banquet, just consider it as my treat."

"That's not what I meant."

Deng Chang'en said, "Your entry into the Imperial Academy is something worth celebrating, but after all, you are just a historian, and your official rank is not high... How about this, I can help you find a way to ask the court to let you continue to stay in the Imperial Academy as a junior official? After all, you are still a senior official of the fourth rank."

Zhang Luan said hurriedly, "No, no, being a historian is my life's wish, and I will die with no regrets! I will pay for the meal."

Zhang Luan was transferred to the Hanlin Academy, so this banquet was of no significance to him.

In addition, he was drunk, so he insisted on leaving.

When Zhang Luan left, he was so happy that he wanted to tell everyone he met that he had become an Imperial Academy. He felt so proud and happy that he was even happier than his daughter becoming a Crown Princess. It seemed as if this was the ultimate pursuit of his life.

"Isn't Hanlin Xiuzhu just a small official of the sixth rank? My Taichang Temple Secretary is also a sixth rank official, one level higher than him."

"Isn't it? I don't know why he is so happy there... He is a 4th rank official who has been promoted to 6th rank, but he is so beautiful? Is he crazy?"

The people in the Taichang Temple were a little confused about Zhang Luan's behavior, and some even thought that he became mentally ill due to being exiled.

Ai Yu sent him to the door of the restaurant, watched Zhang Luan get on the carriage, then turned back to the crowd of people who were talking, shook his head and sighed: "What do you know? For scholars, the Hanlin Academy is the highest academic palace. He spent his whole life taking the imperial examinations, but he didn't even pass the exam to become a juren, but he directly became a Hanlin official. How can he not be excited?"

As they were talking, Deng Changen returned from the toilet.

Deng Chang'en's face looked very bad at this time... He thought he could recruit Zhang Luan to work for him, and then he could pull Zhang Luan together to deal with Li Zisheng, and even use Zhang Luan as a springboard to get closer to the prince... Who knew that the plan was forced to abort just at the beginning.

"Master Deng?"

Ai Yu looked at Deng Changen.

Deng Chang'en said with a dark face, "Didn't he say he would treat us to this meal? Send someone to his house to ask for the money tomorrow."

Ai Yu was speechless after hearing this.

You, the host, are such a stingy person. You say you treat Zhang Luan as your own, but on the other hand you even want to ask him for the money for the dinner?
Just like that, do you still want to establish a good relationship with the prince in the future?
"Then... Deng Taichang, will we still have contact with Zhang Luan in the future? Will he keep his job as the Junior Minister of the Taichang Temple?"

Someone seemed to have thought of something and asked. Deng Chang'en suddenly realized that although it was a demotion, it was very likely that he still retained a part-time job. After all, it was unreasonable to demote a fourth-rank official to a sixth-rank official. But if it was "Hanlin Editor and Junior Secretary of the Taichang Temple", it would sound more reasonable.

"Master Deng, please don't look at me."

Ai Yu said helplessly, "I don't know much about this either. I only know that he entered the Hanlin Academy."

"Then ask clearly. If he still retains his position in the Taichang Temple, then he is still one of us, and we don't need him to treat us to this meal."

Ai Yu was completely speechless this time.

Are you changing your stance according to the situation and also requiring preconditions and changes?

Well, that's just the way you, Deng, are.

……

……

In fact, Zhang Luan was not too drunk. He used this as an excuse to leave.

After returning home, Zhang Luan was so excited that he started dancing in his own yard, with his hands raised high and shaking, his body swaying non-stop, as if he was the greatest in the world and not afraid of being embarrassed at all. The maids and servants who had just been invited back to the mansion were frightened by this and hurried in to inform their wife.

Upon hearing this, Jin hurriedly brought Tang out to clean up the mess.

"Master, what's wrong with you?"

Jin looked at her husband who was spinning around and didn't know what to say for a moment.

After her daughter became the Crown Princess, her husband no longer seemed normal. Not only did he not come home every day, but he sometimes became mentally ill and crazy. It was really speechless.

"Hahahaha...you don't understand, you don't understand."

Zhang Luan didn't want to explain to his ignorant wife at all.

Zhang Heling came out from the back holding a duck leg in his mouth and asked tentatively, "Dad is so happy, must he have been promoted?"

Jin was puzzled and asked, "Didn't he get transferred to the Imperial Household Department as a junior official? He was so unhappy a few days ago, but now he's been changed back? Yanling, do you know what happened to your father?"

Zhang Yanling, who rushed over after hearing the news, said with a smile: "Brother is right, Dad should have been promoted, but this kind of promotion should be very different from the usual promotion... Dad can enter the Hanlin Academy, right?"

"The one who understands me is my son."

Zhang Luan smiled smugly, then glared at Zhang Heling, "Not you, idiot."

Zhang Heling shrugged disdainfully: "I didn't say it was me... Old Second understands you, so I understand you. I don't want to get involved."

Jin was relieved when she heard this, and asked hurriedly, "What rank is that? Will my imperial decree be upgraded? It was fourth rank before, but now it's third rank, right?"

Zhang Luan scolded, "You have long hair but little knowledge. You think you can only get promoted if you get promoted to a higher rank? I entered the Hanlin Academy, a great place that only Jinshi can go to... I became a historian and editor right after I got there. Do you know what that means? From now on, when people see me, they have to call me Zhang Hanlin, or Zhang Xiuzhuan."

"What rank?"

Jin could only look to her second son for answers.

"From the sixth grade."

Zhang Yanling answered affirmatively.

After hearing this, Jin almost wanted to hit someone. After all, official rank was related to her status as a lady of honor. To be demoted to the sixth rank would mean that her status would decline instead of rise. How could she tolerate that?

"You were previously a junior official at the Ministry of Rites, also a fourth-rank official, but you were there as if you had lost your parents. Now that you've been demoted to a sixth-rank official, you're dancing around with joy. You old man, I'm afraid your brain has been eaten by a dog!"

Jin cursed.

Zhang Luan jumped up on the spot when he heard it: "What are you talking about, you bitch? Enjoy life to the fullest. Do you believe that I can divorce you with a piece of paper?"

Before Jin started to roar in anger, Zhang Yanling went up to persuade them to make peace: "Dad, Mom, let's calm down. Dad, you went out drunk and came back without explaining things to Mom... Mom, don't worry, I'll be watching over here, you go in first. Dad has definitely been promoted. Officials in the Hanlin Academy are very different from those outside. When you become a Hanlin wife, even the ladies of state will be in a separate line when entering the palace, and you will be very respected."

"is it?"

When Jin heard this, her expression improved slightly.

So being the wife of a Hanlin scholar is such a status and honor? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I thought that only the official rank determined the imperial edict and whether one was respected or not.

……

……

Zhang Luan was helped by the Zhang brothers into the main hall. After he sat down, the maid handed him some sobering soup.

Then Zhang Luan drank two sips and spit it directly into the basin in front of him, shaking his head and saying, "It's really hard to drink."

The maid holding the basin said, "Master, this basin of water is for washing your face."

"Then change the pot."

Zhang Luan almost wanted to lose his temper, but facing a timid little maid, he couldn't bear it. "It's okay if you don't change it. I don't need it here. You can rest early."

After the maid took the basin out, Zhang Heling finally finished eating his duck leg, threw the bone on the table, and said teasingly, "Dad, there's something wrong with your eyes. Are you thinking something bad?"

"roll!"

Zhang Luan cursed, "Get out! Your father wants to talk to your second brother. Don't embarrass yourself here."

Zhang Heling said, "Who cares! We've only eaten a few bites of the roast duck in the room. Second brother, if you don't want to eat it, your duck leg will belong to me."

Zhang Yanling advised: "Can't you be more considerate of your sister? She is also greedy for the duck legs."

"You're just a little girl, eating so much greasy food, aren't you afraid of getting fat? Who can you blame when you can't get married when you grow up?" As Zhang Heling said this, he ran away, as if he was rushing back to the inner room to grab some duck legs to eat.

After his eldest son's back disappeared, Zhang Luan said, "Your mother is ignorant. She thought I was demoted when I became a Hanlin official. She never thought that I am actually nothing. This fourth-rank Honglu Temple Minister was picked up for nothing. Now that I can enter the Hanlin Academy, I will die without regrets as a father."

"Dad, entering the Hanlin Academy is just the first step on your road to becoming an official. Don't you want to set a more ambitious goal?" Zhang Yanling asked.

"What kind of grand method is this?"

Zhang Luan looked at his son eagerly.

Zhang Yanling said, "If things go according to normal course, in half a year, the Crown Prince...will take charge of the court, and you will most likely be assigned to the Five Military Commandery. If things go well, in a year or two, you will be granted a title, and the court affairs will no longer have anything to do with you."

Zhang Luan shook his head: "It doesn't matter now."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "But if you can gain experience in the Imperial Academy for a few years, and be promoted to a tutor or lecturer in the future, and if you are trusted by the Crown Prince, you can be promoted to a bachelor or something, and maybe even enter the cabinet."

"Don't talk nonsense."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "That is something that I, your father, would never dare to think about."

Zhang Yanling said, "Well, if you can't gain a foothold in the Hanlin Academy, and the Crown Prince grants you an official position, would you like to serve as a military officer in the Five Military Commandery and be ranked in the Western Class when you enter the court, or would you like to be the Minister of the Honglu Temple again, or even the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and be ranked in the Eastern Class?"

"Is it even necessary to ask?"

Zhang Luan couldn't help swallowing his saliva and said, "When I come out to be the Minister of the Honglu Temple, no one will say that I don't deserve the title, right?"

"Dad finally got it."

Zhang Yanling smiled.

"What do you mean by open-minded? I have always been open-minded. Although I don't know much about the affairs of the court, I still know roughly which way to go. I don't dare to think about entering the cabinet as you said. It's too difficult for me to enter the cabinet if I'm not even a Jinshi."

Zhang Luan sat there and couldn't help laughing out loud, "Now that I'm an Imperial Academy editor, when I see my fellow countrymen in the future, I can hold my head up and straighten my back. That feeling... I can't describe how wonderful it is... Hahahahaha..."

(End of this chapter)