Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 306 Young Master is Awesome!
The winter solstice was approaching, and Lao Zhang wrote a letter to Xia Lin, asking him to burn some paper money for the master and mistress at home when he was free, as he really couldn't get away.

After receiving the letter, Xia Lin didn't waste any words. He just replied "OK" and set off for Luoyang.

When Lao Zhang received Xia Lin's reply, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Today, the Imperial City is holding a winter solstice ceremony. This is a big festival. Winter begins today and the days start to get longer. Every year, the Imperial City holds some sacrificial activities to pray for good weather and good harvests next year.

The Hanlin Academy is now an office jointly managed by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel. It is basically a state of joint management but no one is in charge. The people inside are basically those who spend the whole day studying some art of pleasing others.

After a period of time, Lao Zhang finally realized that the so-called Hanlin Academy was a den of filth and dirt in the capital, where nobles, second-generation descendants of civil and military officials, or some important people were hidden to prevent them from going out and causing trouble.

But Lao Zhang didn't care, because no matter where he was or who he was with, at least he was an official, and he could have some say when he went out.

Although I am not even a dog in front of those powerful officials, at least I am an official!
Old Zhang was chosen to show off his skills this year, after all, this was the first time that the newly established Hanlin Academy hosted and arranged such an event.

"Zhang Hanlin, I haven't heard of any new paintings recently? Everyone is waiting to appreciate them."

Lao Zhang's fame was becoming more and more famous. He became famous for his paintings. Even the imperial concubines in the palace loved his peony paintings and said that only this talented man from Luoyang could fully capture the charm of peony flowers.

Now Lao Zhang's painting skills have absorbed the details of watercolor, gouache and oil painting, combined with the color matching and artistic conception of traditional Chinese painting. This is a unique ability in the world. Not to mention Lao Zhang's calligraphy, even Yu Shinan praised it and felt inferior to him. So since he came, many things in the Hanlin Academy have to be handled by him.

After all, among a group of idiots, he is the more normal one, and he is famous and well-known, so naturally he is considered a capable person who deserves more work.

"I have been busy these days and I don't have the energy to write poetry or paint." Old Zhang shook his head and put on the bamboo box he was carrying. "I have to go to the sacrificial site today to fiddle with things."

The dude next to him leaned aside, holding a woolen hand warmer, and shook his head, sighing, "Zhang Hanlin has worked hard."

"It's my duty. I'll do more work so that everyone can relax a little and treat me to a meal when they have time."

"Hahahaha, easy to talk about."

A person of Lao Zhang's rank was not eligible to ride in a horse-drawn carriage in the capital. He had to ride in an ox-drawn carriage, and it was the kind that would stop when you waved, and it cost three or five cents per person to sit in a full ox-drawn carriage.

As soon as he got in the car, he lowered his head and began to organize the things in his basket. The capital city is a good place, but the hard part is that it is too lonely. When he was in Hongdu Prefecture, there were students around him. In their spare time, groups of young people would sit there and chat about everything, from etiquette to dynasties, from business to the future. They were aimless but felt that there were always endless things to talk about.

But when you get here, your superiors are cold to you and there are spies around you. You can't say anything and you dare not say anything. You can only focus on your own work.

Old Zhang was tired of this kind of life, but he swore to Xia Lin when he left Luoyang that he would become the superior man.

But it is not so easy to be a superior person. Looking through the magnificent history books, those who can rise from being a superior person like him are rare. It’s not that there are none, but they are really few. After all, the first watershed in life is amniotic fluid.

So he has to calm down. If he hangs around here, he might be in real trouble.

People got on the ox cart one after another. Most of them were silent. Judging from their appearance, they were all students from poor families. Judging from their attire, they should be going to study somewhere. Old Zhang did not say much, but sat there quietly holding the box, waiting to arrive at the destination.

"Have you heard that the art troupe from Fuliang will be performing in Beijing in a few days, and it seems that tickets are hard to get."

"I have heard of it, but I don't know what it is about."

"Dream of the Red Chamber. I heard it's being performed for two months straight. But a set of tickets costs three taels of silver, which is a bit expensive."

"Yeah, I really want to see it, but I'm short of money."

At this time, a third person interrupted and said, "Three taels of silver for a little song? This is more vicious than the robbers in the mountains, but no one cares about it."

The young man who spoke first said with a smile, "Brother Gu, you don't know that those who have never been there say that these three taels of silver are expensive, but those who have been there once still want more. My brother heard the song Legend of the White Snake when he was playing in Fuliang, and he still sings a few lines at home when he has nothing to do. He said that the troupes in Fuliang are divided into three levels, and only the first level can go on stage to perform Dream of the Red Chamber. It is said that Dream of the Red Chamber is extremely difficult and not something that ordinary people can do."

"Is there such a thing? I still don't quite believe it." At this time, Lao Zhang smiled and said, "Fuliang has a total of 16 plays, and three of them are long plays, namely Red Mansion, West Chamber and White Snake. Red Mansion is the first part, West Chamber is the middle part, and White Snake is the last part. Red Mansion is very good to watch, and it can even be described as shocking. This time the troupe came here at the invitation of the Hanlin Academy to create some momentum for Your Majesty. We have the opportunity to watch it. Otherwise, you can't even buy tickets when you go to Fuliang. As soon as the tickets are released, they will be snapped up by talented people from all over Jiangnan."

"I see. Thank you for clearing up my confusion, brother."

Lao Zhang waved his hand and said, "Just watch it with confidence. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."

It was Lao Zhang's idea to have the drama troupe from Fuliang come here to perform Dream of the Red Chamber. The Hanlin Academy has more funds than can be used up, and if there is a surplus this year, there won't be that much money next year, so they have to spend all the money in a rush by the end of the year.

Corruption is definitely not an option. Not to mention that the money is not worth the fight for by the playboys in the Hanlin Academy, there are so many spies and informants. Who can know which Hanlin scholar around is the heir of whose family? If the news is exposed, they will be in big trouble.

At this moment, Old Zhang, who has no power or backing, naturally becomes their spender. Only the money he spends will not be used to make trouble.

He couldn't and dared not put the money and grain into his pocket, so Lao Zhang was now just a beast of burden.

Otherwise, why did Xia Lin refuse to come to the capital? Old Zhang now understood everything. He was staying in the county town. He was the biggest person in the world. Even the dogs on the roadside had to goose-step before they could leave. If he went to the capital, even a fifth-rank official like him would have to salute the dogs on the roadside. After all, no one knew whether the yellow dog that just passed by was a fourth-rank imperial guard.

In fact, after Lao Zhang came to the capital, he discovered one thing, that is, Fuliang's aesthetics is subtly changing the lives of people around him.

There are about six styles of clothes that girls wear on the street now, four of which are from Fuliang, and three of which are designed by Lao Zhang. There are also four styles of casual clothes for men, all of which are designed by Lao Zhang and Xia Lin.

Abandoning the previous cumbersome and ugly model, after continuous modifications based on the original version, it finally presented the casual wear that most men wear now.

There is nothing much to say about women's clothing, they are just for good looks, but it is different for men. The starting point of their design is de-feminization and convenience. The original mixture of skirts and pants has changed to almost all pants now. The clothes are buttoned clothes that Xia Lin created by referring to the advantages of a series of clothing such as Tang suits, Zhongshan suits and Western suits, and they mainly embody a comfort, convenience, beauty and elegance.

After finishing the draft, Lao Zhang curiously asked Xia Lin whether there would be a market for such an unorthodox thing.

Xia Lin's answer is still very profound even today. He said: "People are always used to making choices based on their buttocks. Most people don't think about whether it is unorthodox or not. As long as they don't show their buttocks, they are decent. They will choose the fashion trend themselves, provided they are given a weather vane."

This is what they did when they first went to Fuliang. After all these years, what Xia Lin said actually came true. This thing began to take root in this land.

In summer, everyone loves long gowns because they are cool and flowing, but in this season they wear this kind of thick cloth buttoned skirt, which is decent, capable, good-looking and warm. Young people like it, and so do older people. After all, men don't care what they wear at all as long as they don't deliberately guide them. As long as they feel okay, it's OK.

However, these styles have long been available, and now all the garment shops in Beijing can make this kind of clothes, so it is very difficult to make a fortune from them.

After getting off the ox cart, Lao Zhang tidied his clothes and came to the place where the sacrificial ceremony was to be held. Now the place was empty and there were not many people. The surrounding arrangements were almost complete. Lao Zhang took out a ruler and squatted there to measure the area of ​​the place. It was time to arrange the positioning of the stage lights.

When he was concentrating on his work, a group of people in blue skirts suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked up and found that it was his little apprentice. She was holding four or five buns in her hands. "You haven't eaten yet?"

Lao Zhang took the bun, sat on the ground and started eating. After two bites, he asked, "Are you going back to Changsha for the New Year?"

"No, it's boring to go back. Beijing is more fun." She sat next to Lao Zhang and said, "Master, I met a beautiful widow recently. Do you want to meet her?"

"No." Lao Zhang shook his head: "Don't be like Xia Lin, urging me whenever you see me."

"I'm worried about you. The weather is getting colder and colder. You don't even have anyone to warm your bed. How pitiful."

"Don't bother me." Lao Zhang waved his hand impatiently: "By the way, last time you said that the sisters you met in Beijing said that this year is particularly cold, right?"

"Yeah, what's the matter? Are you going to warm their beds?"

Old Zhang shook his head and dug out a few design drawings from his alley. "Xia Lin brought them along with the letter. Let's make some money during this cold winter."

(End of this chapter)