Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 38: Living in the capital is not easy
The Zhang family arrived in Beijing safely.

With the help of Shen Lu, the family found a small courtyard house in Beijuxianfang, near the Imperial College in the northeast corner of the capital. It had a private entrance and courtyard, four rooms and a kitchen. Although it was not as big as the Zhang family's house in Xingji, it was definitely not crowded.

This kind of courtyard is both familiar and strange to Zhang Yanling. He is familiar because he has often seen it in books or movies in his previous life. The architectural layout is similar. The basic structure is the main house, the back house and the east and west wing rooms, surrounded by high walls to form a quadrangle. As far as he knows, quadrangle courtyards were indeed used for families to live in during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and later gradually developed into large courtyards.

It feels strange because it’s my first time living here.

After entering the house, Jin looked around and visited almost every room. After walking around, she was a little dissatisfied with the layout of the courtyard. In front of Shen Lu, she said to her husband: "We just arrived and have not yet established a firm foothold. We can just rent a courtyard for the transition period. Why is it so luxurious?"

Apparently, Jin felt very distressed after hearing that the rent here was as high as four cents of silver per month.

After all, the annual housing expenses alone would cost nearly five taels of silver.

How much assets can withstand the turmoil?

Zhang Luan seemed very generous. He waved his hand and said, "We should save money and spend money. Our family has come to the capital, so we can't live in a shabby house. Otherwise, people will think of me... Besides, almost all the houses in the capital are like this, and we haven't chosen a bigger one yet."

Shen Lu smiled and comforted: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, there is nothing wrong with this house, the price is fair, and the owner and I have a certain relationship, so he would never raise the price casually, you can live here without worry... If there is anything missing at home, I will have someone send it to you later, so don't be polite with me!"

Jin pulled her husband aside and whispered, "No wonder people say it's hard to live in the capital. If we continue to spend like this, our money won't last long... Why don't we just find someone to rent with? We women can live in one room, and Heling and Yanling can live in another."

The implication is that you have to free up two rooms to live with others.

Zhang Luan frowned when he heard this: "Although the Imperial College has dormitories, I heard that they are only available to students of Ratexing Hall. I am a newcomer and I guess I can only be assigned to the elementary or intermediate class. I am not eligible for a dormitory, so I usually have to go back home to live.

"If there are only two rooms in the house, where should I, the head of the family, live? Moreover, as a student of the Imperial Academy, how can I live without a place to study and write? Finally, we have to live in the capital for at least three years this time, not just one or two days... Women, please don't meddle in my business."

While the couple was arguing, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling were sitting by the ancient well in the middle of the yard playing around. Neither of them took the initiative to pack up their belongings. Instead, Zhang Yu and Tang were busy in the room.

"elder brother."

The younger sister Zhang Yi came over and stared at her two lazy brothers with wide eyes.

Zhang Heling smiled and waved, "Come and sit down. Mom and the others can just do their work. Let's take a breath first... Why isn't it time to eat yet?"

"I just know how to eat!"

Jin had just finished talking to Zhang Luan at this time. When she heard what Zhang Heling said, she immediately flew into a rage. She walked over, grabbed her eldest son by the ear, and dragged him into the room, "Go in and make your own bed. If you can't make it up, there will be no place for you to sleep tonight."

Zhang Luan smiled and said from behind, "Yes, yes, hurry up and clean up, don't be sneaky, and help your brother clean up as well. Tomorrow I will find a carpenter and a mason to tidy up the yard and make some furniture... Yanling, come out and help your father see the guests off."

The two brothers of the Zhang family received completely different treatments.

Zhang Yanling felt that he had taken advantage of his young age. After all, he was only eleven years old, had a thin body, and did not look like he had much strength.

In addition, he is now the think tank of the family, and his old father seems to want him to perform well in front of others. As for work... just leave it to Zhang Heling, who has little knowledge.

……

…That night the family lit a fire and started cooking.

The Jin family had always been superstitious, and before starting the stove, they performed a simple sacrifice, praying to the Kitchen God and the Earth God to bless the Zhang family so that they could successfully take root in the capital.

Before this, Zhang Heling had already moved firewood, rice, oil, salt and other items into the kitchen.

It is convenient to buy anything in the capital, and Jin had prepared in advance. When she set out from Xingji, she had already prepared the ingredients for the first meal after arriving in Beijing. After all, the carriage also brought back a lot of radishes and cabbages that had been stored in the family cellar.

Zhang Luan called Zhang Yanling to the temporary study, which was actually just a room with a desk and a few stools, and asked Zhang Yanling to help hang up the Zhang family's genealogy.

"Bye first."

After Zhang Luan hung it up, he said to his youngest son.

Zhang Yanling looked carefully and found that the family tree only listed the names of two generations. He went up to burn incense before saying to Zhang Luan, "Dad, shouldn't our Zhang family's family tree be managed by my second uncle's family?"

Zhang Luan said unhappily, "Who said he should be the boss of the Zhang family? We have separated and lived separately... I'm telling you, from now on, our lineage will be on its own and have nothing to do with them! If your father becomes an official in the future, I will be the one to make the decisions about the family affairs, understand?"

Zhang Yanling nodded: "In that case, Dad, you will soon achieve your goal."

Zhang Luan frowned, "What nonsense are you talking about? Come here, take a good look at the family tree and write down the contents. If we want to carry forward our branch in the future, it will depend on you and your brother. In the next two days, in addition to going to Beiyong, your father will also go to find your uncle... I heard that he was doing business in Beijing before. I don't know if he is still in Beijing or has left early. I have to go and find out."

"Which uncle?"

Zhang Yanling asked.

Zhang Luan's face changed, and he shouted, "How many aunts do you have? But... you are right not to remember. The last time your uncle came to our house was several years ago. His name is Zhang Lin. He is very smart. He used to do some small business in Xingji. When your grandfather was alive, he often came to Xingji and visited our family frequently. But in recent years, he has not been seen often. No wonder you are unfamiliar with him!"

After hearing this, Zhang Yanling understood.

The Zhang family did have many relatives by marriage, but later on, after Empress Zhang became successful, her entire family rose to prominence, and their favors were even greater than those of the Wan family, the foreign relatives of the Chenghua dynasty.

His uncle later became the deputy commander of the Jinyiwei, and he also had an uncle, Jin Lu, who served as a captain of the Jinyiwei. Jin Lu's son, Jin Qi, later became the commander of the Jinyiwei.

"… (February of the second year of the Zhengde reign) the eunuch Li Rong issued an imperial decree to check and restore the ranks of eleven imperial relatives including Zhang Yue. Lu, Yue, and Zhang Chen were all commanders of the Jinyiwei; Jin Qi, Zhang Lin, and Gao Yan were all assistant commanders; Zhu Chen and Zhang Jiao were all senior centurions; Jin Yi, Ren Ying, Liang Lu, and Li Qu were all centurions. These were all promoted during the reign of the previous emperor. When the emperor first ascended the throne, they were demoted according to the imperial decree, but were restored now."

When Zhengde ascended the throne, a number of officials who were relatives of the emperor's wife and received salaries were dismissed, but they were soon restored. Zhang Lin was among them.

Zhang Yanling was somewhat interested in his uncle who was in business. For him, it was necessary to study how to make money in this era and appropriately enrich the Zhang family's assets.

Being a relative by marriage is good, but as far as he knows, when Hongzhi first ascended the throne, not much was given to the Zhang family, especially since he and Zhang Heling were still young and had not yet started a family, and the emperor's brother-in-law would not give too much.

Moreover, the best relatives by marriage are not judged by what they get from the emperor, but by what they can bring to the emperor.

It is easy to make money with the help of the emperor's fame and power, but it is best not to monopolize certain traditional industries, as that will be criticized. In history, many people have impeached the two brothers for bullying the market... The best way to accumulate wealth is to open up new industries, then make them bigger and stronger, and create greater glory.

(End of this chapter)