Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 40: Be polite to others
The next day was the day Zhang Luan was going to report to the Imperial College. Zhang Luan specially packed a very clean suit, took Zhang Yanling with him, and went to the Imperial College early in the morning.

The Imperial College of the Ming Dynasty was located in Chongjiaofang, adjacent to Beijuxianfang. It wouldn't take long to get there even if you walked there. When you arrived there, you could see shops selling pens, ink, paper and inkstones everywhere. Zhang Luan gave Zhang Yanling five cents and asked his son to wait in a teahouse on the side of the road, while he excitedly walked into the gate of the Imperial College.

Zhang Yanling looked around.

He had been in Ming Dynasty for some time, but had no intention of experiencing the local customs and habits. Just when he was absorbed in watching and was about to take a look around, he saw Zhang Luan walking out of the gate of the Imperial College. It had only been a cup of tea since he came out. At this moment, he was having a pleasant conversation with a scholar who was also around forty years old.

"Brother, my son is waiting over there. I'll be waiting to have a drink with you next time you come." Zhang Luan seemed reluctant to say goodbye to this man.

The man glanced at Zhang Yanling, smiled and bowed, "I will definitely prepare a bed for you when the time comes."

After saying this, the two said goodbye.

Zhang Luan arrived at the teahouse where Zhang Yanling was with a happy look on his face.

Zhang Yanling stood up to greet him: "Dad, who is that person? Your old schoolmate?"

Zhang Luan sat down, not caring that the tea in front of Zhang Yanling was cold, and poured it directly into his mouth. After drinking it, he said, "Where can I find such an old friend? This person is the son of an official, not from the capital. He came to the Imperial College from Daizhou, Taiyuan to study. He is the same age as me and has already started a family. He also lives in Beijuxianfang. I had a chance to meet him, and after talking to him, I felt like an old friend."

Zhang Yanling frowned: "Dad, you make friends really quickly."

"Well, what are you talking about? Do I need to explain to you in detail how my father interacts with people? His surname is Cui, and he has a son who is about the same age as you. He is a very straightforward person and has similar personalities to me." Zhang Luan said.

Zhang Yanling thought for a moment, frowned and asked, "Is his surname Cui Mingru?"

Zhang Luan's face changed drastically when he heard this: "You...what did you say?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Oh, I'm just guessing. If it's wrong, I'll just pretend I didn't hear it."

"He...his name is Cui Ru. You...Yanling, how did you know him? Could it be that the store owner...knows him?" Zhang Luan then looked at the Tea Doctor who was packing up the tea sets on the side.

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, this man's surname is Cui, he's forty years old, and he's a student at the Imperial College. He's also from Taiyuan. Who else could be like-minded with you except Cui Ru, the future consort of Princess Yongkang and the father of Cui Yuan, Marquis of Jingshan?

Who made it possible for me, your son, to not only understand history, but also know so much about the Zhang family's past and present affairs?

I can't tell you that according to the development of history, Cui Ru is actually my future father-in-law, and my wife is Cui Yuan's sister.

The reason for all this is that you became close friends with him in the Imperial College and arranged your marriage early on!

Zhang Luan asked, "Tell me clearly how you got this information?"

Zhang Yanling hesitated and said, "There was a man sitting here just now, and he said that."

"is it?"

Zhang Luan was skeptical.

But after thinking about it, there seems to be nothing worthy of doubt. After all, it is impossible for his son to know this new acquaintance "Brother Cui", otherwise he would be classified as someone who can tell fortunes.

But is this possible?
"That's fine."

Zhang Luan said with relief, "Come with me to find your uncle. I wonder if he still lives in the old place... The capital is not small. The person in charge of receiving you is not here in the Imperial College today. He has to come back every ten days. Brother Cui introduced all this to me. He is really a good person. There are many students from the Imperial College living nearby. He said he would introduce them to me one by one."

Zhang Yanling said, "That's great. I found a helper right after I arrived. It can save Dad a lot of effort."

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "It's because my father has good relationships with people. He is always helped wherever he goes. I just found out after asking around. The information I got before was all wrong. Even the advanced students in Ruxing Hall don't have dormitories to live in, not to mention the students in Guangye Hall, Chongzhi Hall, Chengxin Hall and other junior and intermediate classes. Even the doctors and teaching assistants are no exception. Both teachers and students have to live outside during normal times, so the houses around here are very expensive."

"hehe."

Zhang Yanling did not respond.

It would take another five or six years for the Ming Imperial College to build dormitories, until Lin Han became the chief academic officer of the college.

"…At the beginning of the Hongzhi reign, Lin Han was summoned to compile the "Records of Emperor Xianzong". He was appointed as a lecturer in the Imperial Lectures. Later, he was promoted to the position of Jijiu of the Imperial Academy, and then to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and he was still in charge of the supervision. He was in charge of the Imperial Academy for nearly ten years, and the annual food silver amounted to hundreds of dollars, which were all stored in the government to build offices in order. Teachers and scholars were exempted from renting houses, starting with Han…"

Instead of thinking about how to live in a dormitory and save rent, it is more reliable to think about how to become a father-in-law of the emperor.

…………

The Zhang family father and son went to look for Zhang Lin together.

But because Zhang Lin was just a traveling merchant and his residence changed frequently, even with his previous letters, we couldn't find him after asking around for a long time. We even asked fellow villagers who lived nearby, but were told that they didn't know of such a person.

"Could it be that your uncle is just bragging and that he has never been to the capital, or hasn't stayed there for long?"

Zhang Luan felt helpless.

After spending a lot of time searching, I still couldn't find the person. When I got back, I didn't know how to explain to my wife.

After all, my wife is still waiting to be recognized as a relative in the capital.

"Dad, let's go."

Zhang Yanling had long been impatient, holding his stomach and said, "I'm so hungry that I'm growling."

"Okay. Go home and eat."

Zhang Luan knows how to save money.

The father and son walked through the alleys of the capital city for four or five miles until Zhang Yanling felt his legs were no longer under his control, and only then did they reach home.

Before entering the yard, I saw a carriage parked there, and then the person in the carriage got out, it was Shen Lu.

"Ruxue? Why are you here? Didn't you say you had some official business today? Come in and sit down."

Zhang Luan hurried forward to invite him.

Shen Lu smiled and said, "Come and take a look when you have some free time to see if there is anything missing... We must always do our best to be a good host."

Zhang Luan said, "I feel embarrassed for being so enthusiastic... Let's go and have a cup of tea together."

The three of them entered the yard, and Shen Lu immediately had someone carry in another box.

"This is?"

Zhang Luan had seen it before, but deliberately didn't ask any questions until the thing entered the yard.

Shen Lu said, "They are all daily necessities. Please don't be shy. Most of them are old things."

"In that case, thank you for your kindness."

Zhang Luan fully demonstrated his shameless spirit and accepted everyone who came to him.

After the two entered the study, Shen Lu was about to discuss something with Zhang Luan, but when he saw the family tree hanging on the wall, he felt a little embarrassed. After all, it represented the ancestors of the Zhang family.

Zhang Luan took a quick glance and said quickly, "I haven't had time to clean up yet... Yanling, come and give me a hand."

Then the father and son took down the family tree together. Zhang Luan rolled it up, put it together with the tablets and other things, and stuffed it into the empty box.

In this way, Zhang Yanling would have a reason to listen to what they said.

"Laizhan, I went back to Yintai yesterday, and guess what? I met Minister Li, the one who has a say in the palace... He asked me where I had been these past two days, and I told him the truth. When he mentioned you, he said he might summon you later." Shen Lu said with a smile.

Zhang Luan was extremely surprised: "I've heard of Minister Li's name for a long time. Even he... knows me?"

In Zhang Luan's view, this was a very honorable thing, just like smoke coming out of his ancestral grave, which was worthy of praise.

Ah, I got up late, I'll send you the update quickly! Please support me in every possible way, thank you!



(End of this chapter)