This scholar is a bit cruel

Chapter 102: Bai Mansion job search, meeting an "old friend"

The next day, the sky cleared.

When Luo Zijun got up, two carriages had already stopped outside the gate.

My brother-in-law and sister have already started moving things.

Xiaohuan was also packing up.

When he was about to help, Luo Jiaorong immediately shouted, "Don't move! You are a scholar, how can you do rough work? Go cool down!"

As he said that, he picked up a big box and walked out the door with his belly sticking out.

Li Zhengshan also said, "Zijun, you go and rest. There aren't many things, and there's everything there. We can just take some clothes and other necessities."

At this time, Xiao Huan shouted in the room: "Master, do you still want these books?"

Luo Zijun asked: "What book?"

"Yuzu..."

"Yes! Don't move, I'll take care of it!"

Luo Zijun hurried into the house.

Li Zhengshan said from behind: "What jade feet?"

Luo Zijun turned around and explained: "Yuzhu is a kind of bamboo. There are many books about it. Scholars often use it to describe people in their articles, thus praising people's character as being like Yuzhu, upright and noble."

Li Zhengshan didn't understand, so he didn't ask any more questions and continued to move things.

Luo Zijun came into the room and slapped Xiaohuan on the buttocks as a punishment.

This little girl did it on purpose.

The little maid covered her buttocks and laughed: "This servant really didn't mean it. This servant thought the master and the mistress were outside."

Luo Zijun pinched her face again and then put the book away.

Xiao Huan suddenly looked at him with some concern and said, "Sir, I heard that there are many beautiful maids in the Duke's Mansion."

Luo Zijun was packing up other books and deliberately said, "It's okay. If there's someone prettier than you, I'll let my sister give you the indenture and give you your freedom."

The room immediately fell silent.

Luo Zijun put away the book, realized something was wrong, and turned around to look.

The little maid stood there, pouting her lips, her eyes filled with sparkling tears.

Luo Zijun hurried over to hug her and said, "Silly girl, the master is joking with you. Even if there are many beautiful maids there, the master only likes you and will never let you go."

Xiao Huan said with tears in her eyes: "Sir, is it true?"

Luo Zijun helped her wipe away her tears and said, "Of course it's true. When has the young master ever lied to you? And our little Huan's feet are so cute, the young master can't bear to part with them."

Xiao Huan burst into laughter immediately, wiping her tears, and suddenly said shyly: "Master also promised me that when he moved into the new house, he would... let me serve him."

"Aren't you always serving?"

Luo Zijun pretended not to understand and quickly said, "Okay, stop crying. I'll go out and help my sister and brother-in-law move things."

Having said that, he immediately left the room.

Xiaohuan immediately pouted her lips and her eyes became dim.

After a while, she whispered to herself: "Hmph, when the time comes, it won't be up to you, sir. At worst, I can just play by myself..."

There wasn't much that needed to be moved from the house.

One carriage was already full.

The other carriage was only half full, with just enough room for people to sit.

Luo Jiaorong didn't find the box under the bed. After asking, she saw that it had been taken away by her younger brother, so she didn't say anything more.

The family of four locked the door and got on the second carriage.

At the driver's shout, the two carriages started moving slowly.

Luo Jiaorong pushed aside the curtains and looked towards her own house. There was some reluctance in her eyes, but it soon turned into determination.

As long as the family is safe and together, anywhere is home.

"Zijun, my sister doesn't want to sell this house for the time being."

Luo Jiaorong suddenly sighed.

Luo Zijun said: "If you don't want to sell it, then don't sell it. We don't need the money, so let's just leave it here for now."

Li Zhengshan also said: "I have lived here for so many years, and I am really reluctant to sell it so soon."

Luo Jiaorong asked: "Zijun, how much money do you have? Is it enough?"

Luo Zijun was afraid that they would worry about money, so she had prepared the money long ago. Upon hearing this, she took out five silver notes from her pocket and handed them over, saying, "Sister, these five hundred taels are what I earned from selling books. You can use them first and don't have to worry about money. If you can't bear to part with the house, you don't have to sell it."

He now has a total of 1350 taels of silver on him, which can be said to be a huge sum of money.

"Five... five hundred taels..."

Luo Jiaorong and Li Zhengshan were both shocked when they heard this.

Luo Jiaorong hurriedly took it with trembling hands, opened her eyes wide, examined it carefully several times, and said, "This... is this true?"

From childhood to adulthood, she has never seen a banknote.

Li Zhengshan also hurried over to check it out, grinning and saying, "It should be real. I've seen this banknote in someone else's house."

Luo Jiaorong's voice trembled with excitement: "Five hundred taels, a full five hundred taels, Zijun, your brother-in-law and I have never touched so much money in our lives..."

Li Zhengshan laughed and said, "That's right. The most I've ever touched is twenty taels of silver."

Luo Jiaorong suddenly stopped smiling and asked quickly, "Zijun, what books did you sell to make so much money? Didn't you only make thirty taels of silver the last time you sold books?"

Although she was holding five hundred taels of silver in her hand, she still found it unbelievable, as if she was dreaming.

Luo Zijun said: "The previous books sold very well, so the price of the books I wrote later was much higher. They were all short stories, and I wrote more of them, so they sold for a lot of money."

Luo Jiaorong grabbed his hand and said seriously, "Did you really earn it from selling books?"

Luo Zijun spread her hands: "Sister, what else can your brother sell besides selling books to make money?"

Luo Jiaorong glanced at his handsome face, tried to hold back, but couldn't help saying, "Zijun, this wasn't given to you by some woman, was it?"

She secretly wondered in her heart, could it be that some woman saw that her brother was handsome, so she deliberately paid a high price to buy his book to please him? Otherwise, how could the book be sold for 500 taels in one go?

You know, for a family like theirs, these five hundred taels are a huge sum of money that they cannot earn in a lifetime.

Luo Zijun was speechless: "In my heart, is your brother such a coward?"

Although most of his money was indeed given by Miss Liu, it was all earned by his own ability and was not given for free.

Luo Jiaorong laughed dryly and said, "That's good."

Then he said half-jokingly and half-seriously: "Actually, even if it is, there is nothing shameful about it. It is not shameful to make money by relying on your face. However, if the other party is a young rich girl, it would be the best. If it is an old one..."

Li Zhengshan couldn't listen any longer and quickly scolded, "Alright, stop talking nonsense. Is Zijun that kind of person? It's a good thing that Zijun can make money. You keep doubting me. Are you crazy?"

Luo Jiaorong glared and said, "Hey, Li Zhengshan, you've become a guard of a big family now, so you've grown wings, right? How dare you scold me?"

Li Zhengshan ignored her.

When Luo Jiaorong was about to scold him, Luo Zijun snatched the banknote from her hand and said, "If you don't want it, I'll take it myself."

Unexpectedly, Luo Jiaorong immediately became anxious and snatched it away again: "Yes! When did sister say no? If I leave it to you, I don't know how you will waste it. Sister will save it for you, because you will buy a house and get married in the future."

Having said this, he happily put it away.

Then she praised him hurriedly, "Zijun, you are really promising. Your brother-in-law and I have worked so hard for so many years, but we couldn't even save 50 taels of silver. You have earned 500 taels in one go... I believe that you will definitely be able to pass the imperial examination and become a high-ranking official in the future."

Li Zhengshan also laughed and said, "Zijun's books are selling so well, she must be very talented. Not to mention passing the imperial examination, it's not impossible for her to even pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar."

Luo Jiaorong's eyes suddenly turned red: "If our Zijun can really pass the exam and become the top scholar, even if I die at that time, I will be able to jump out of the coffin happily."

Luo Zijun: “…”

Li Zhengshan immediately glared and said, "What nonsense are you talking about! You just keep saying unlucky things. If you can't speak, just stop talking!"

Luo Jiaorong glared at him with tears in her eyes and said, "You are the only one who can talk!"

Luo Zijun looked at the happy, warm and harmonious family, and a warm current suddenly surged through his heart. He felt that there was no greater happiness in life than this.

At the same time, the goal in his heart became more determined.

Study hard and practice martial arts well.

Don’t let your sister down, don’t let your brother-in-law down.

No matter what happened in the future, he would never let anyone hurt them.

The carriage was inspected as it entered the inner city.

Li Zhengshan took out the document given to him by the Suguo Mansion and handed it to the guard at the city gate. The other party's attitude immediately became better. He casually checked the number of people and let them pass.

"People from the outer city, or people from other places, cannot enter the inner city at will."

"You need to have a guarantor from someone you know in the inner city, or a clerk from some noble mansion. Of course, there is no restriction for scholars. As long as you are a scholar, you can enter at any time."

Li Zhengshan explained as the carriage continued to move.

At this time, Luo Jiaorong had already opened the curtains and was looking at the inner city street scene outside with curiosity and excitement.

Luo Zijun also looked out the window.

This should be his first time in the inner city.

The streets in the inner city are obviously wider and more lively.

The houses are lined up one after another, and they are built quite neatly and beautifully.

The people walking on the road were dressed more luxuriously, and some young men and women would travel with seven or eight servants.

There were also several luxuriously decorated sedan chairs traveling through the streets.

Luo Jiaorong said excitedly: "Zhengshan, Zijun, Xiaohuan, we are also people of the inner city from now on. It will be very proud if we tell others about it."

Li Zhengshan asked: "Can face be eaten?"

Luo Jiaorong retorted: "Yes!"

Li Zhengshan ignored her, thought for a moment, and could not help but admonish her: "Madam, the Suguo Mansion is not some other place. If you go there, you must not shout or yell at will. Try not to talk if you can, do more work and talk less, and do not talk about the nobles in the mansion at will. If someone reports you, you will be kicked out at the least, and even punished at the worst."

Luo Jiaorong rolled her eyes and said, "Do you think I'm a fool? I would definitely keep quiet in a place like that. Even if you ask me to yell, I wouldn't dare. Even if I haven't lived there, haven't I heard about it? Even wealthy families can beat servants to death or sink them into wells at will, not to mention that they are from the Duke's Mansion. I don't want to die there for no reason. I have to watch Zijun get married and take the imperial examination in the future." Li Zhengshan smiled bitterly and said, "It's not that serious. I didn't sign a slave contract. As long as it's not too extreme, they won't beat us to death."

Luo Jiaorong looked at him and said with some concern: "Zhengshan, you are the one who should be careful. You are a guard, and you should often go out with the master and the ladies in the future. If you encounter danger, don't rush forward alone foolishly, and save your own life first. If you are gone, Zijun and I will have nothing to rely on, and we will definitely be kicked out."

Luo Zijun couldn't help but said, "Okay, sister, if you don't know how to talk, just stop talking. Don't say anything unlucky today."

Luo Jiaorong snorted, ignored them, and continued to enjoy the lively scenery outside the window.

Xiaohuan was laughing secretly on the side.

Soon, the carriage turned into the street in the west of the city.

After driving for a while, we finally entered a quiet and spacious street.

"What a big pair of lions!"

Luo Jiaorong's eyes suddenly lit up and she said, "It should be there."

But the carriage did not stop and turned into the alley next to it.

After entering the alley.

The carriage began to slow down, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Luo Zijun looked out the window and saw only a long, seemingly endless wall.

At the same time, some branches stick out from the wall, like people longing for freedom.

The carriage drove in the alley for a long time and finally stopped.

At the same time, voices were heard outside.

Li Zhengshan was the first to jump off the carriage and said, "Thank you, Manager Zhang, for waiting here in person."

Luo Zijun also helped her sister get off the carriage.

Xiaohuan followed behind.

The steward named Zhang was a plump man with a fair face and no beard. He was smiling and looked quite kind.

"You're welcome, Zhengshan. Hei Niu is my son-in-law, and since you are his brother, you are not an outsider. He went out for something today, and he specifically told me not to forget to wait for you here, otherwise you won't be able to enter."

Li Zhengshan quickly thanked him again and introduced his family.

"This is my wife, this is my younger brother Luo Zijun, and this is his maid, who usually does the reading and ink-making."

Luo Jiaorong and her brother, as well as Xiaohuan, hurried forward to greet them.

Manager Zhang smiled and said, "You're welcome, you're welcome. We're all family from now on."

Then he looked at the young man in front of him and praised: "What a handsome young man, his appearance and temperament are not comparable to ordinary people. Zhengshan, I heard you praise your brother yesterday, and I thought you were a little boastful. After seeing you today, I found that you are still modest."

Li Zhengshan smiled and said, "Manager Zhang, you are too kind."

Manager Zhang smiled and quickly ordered the servants behind him, "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you help move the things?"

The servants hurriedly lowered their heads and walked towards the carriage to help move the things down.

Li Zhengshan was about to help, but Manager Zhang said with a smile, "Zhengshan, you don't have to do anything, they will help you move it. You are a guard, and your duty is to protect the safety of the mansion. Just let the servants do these chores."

Then he looked at Luo Zijun and said, "Zijun, I heard from your brother-in-law that you are a scholar and studying in West Lake Academy?"

Luo Zijun quickly bowed and said, "That's right."

Manager Zhang smiled and nodded, saying, "It just so happens that the master's school is in need of a teacher. Although you are young, you can give it a try. If you can teach there, it will be very helpful for your future career."

Then he whispered, "Those who take classes inside are all young nobles. Sometimes, young nobles from other palaces come over. If you have a good relationship with them, it will be easier for you to enter the official career in the future. If you can get to know their parents, you won't have to worry about it in the future."

Luo Zijun bowed and said, "Thank you Uncle Zhang for your advice."

He changed the address of "Manager Zhang" to "Uncle Zhang". When Manager Zhang heard this, his smile became even brighter and he said, "Let's go to the courtyard where you live first. After lunch, I will personally take you to the school in the master's mansion to try it out. If you can stay, your brother-in-law and I will be proud."

Several people followed him and entered the mansion through the back door.

The servants followed at the end, carrying their luggage and parcels.

As soon as you enter the door is the back garden.

At this time, the garden is full of colorful flowers, which compete with each other for beauty and bloom exceptionally brilliantly.

Not far away is a lake.

The lake water is clear, and a thin layer of mist floats on the surface, making it hazy.

A warm breath floated over.

Manager Zhang introduced with a smile: "There is a hot spring under this lake. The lake water is hot all year round, and the flowers in this garden are also in full bloom all year round. It's the same in the mansion over there, but the garden and lake there are much larger."

Although Luo Jiaorong tried her best to maintain a quiet and virtuous image, the scenery here was so beautiful and the place was so large that she couldn't help but secretly turning her neck and looking around. She was amazed at every place she saw.

It was as if Granny Liu was entering the Grand View Garden for the first time.

Luo Zijun and Xiaohuan couldn't help but look around.

Xiao Huan whispered, "Sir, the back garden of this mansion is larger than the entire mansion I stayed in before."

Luo Zijun nodded and thought to himself: The ancients were really extravagant.

Not far away, there are many houses of different styles, as well as some tall attics.

There were actually some small animals running around in the garden.

Manager Zhang led them forward, out of the garden, and onto a stone bridge.

There is a pond under the stone bridge.

After walking for about another quarter of an hour, they finally arrived at the courtyard where they would live in the future.

Although it is called a small courtyard, the houses and the front and back yards inside are actually much larger than the house they lived in before.

Luo Jiaorong was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth.

The servants then carried all the things into the house.

Manager Zhang talked to them for a while and said with a smile, "You just arrived and you probably need to pack up your things, so I won't bother you. After lunch, I will come back and take Zijun to the mansion of the master across the street to ask about teaching in the school."

Li Zhengshan quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Manager Zhang smiled and left with his servants.

Not long after they left, a very exaggerated laugh suddenly came from the room.

"Hahahahaha..."

Luo Zijun: “…”

The room was assigned quickly.

Luo Jiaorong and his wife slept in the room on the left, and Luo Zijun and Xiaohuan slept in the room on the right.

Each room also has a small outer room for the maids to sleep.

The house is fully stocked with daily necessities.

Luo Jiaorong grinned, walked from the front yard to the back yard, and from the back yard to the front yard, then went to every room, and even took a look in the kitchen and woodshed, she was so excited that she couldn't calm down.

At noon, the maids brought a sumptuous lunch.

Luo Jiaorong was even happier: "Zhengshan, we don't have to spend money on meals anymore, so we can save money for Zijun to get married."

Li Zhengshan said, "The little money you have worked so hard to save for several years is not even enough for Zijun to make by just writing a book."

Luo Zijun also advised: "Sister, you and your brother-in-law can use the money I gave you as you like. As for the money to marry a wife in the future, I will earn more. Besides, your brother is so talented and handsome. Maybe he won't have to pay for his wife in the future."

Luo Jiaorong immediately glared and asked, "Why, are you thinking about marrying into someone else's family and becoming a servant again?"

Li Zhengshan said with a smile: "If I marry into a family like the one we live in now, what's wrong with that?"

Luo Jiaorong immediately glared at him and said, "You're dreaming! This is the Duke's Mansion. Even if the noble lady wants to marry into the family, she will choose a noble man of equal status. How can she be interested in us? Li Zhengshan, you and I opposed this boy's marriage to the family before. Why are you saying this today? Could it be that you are also tempted to marry into the family?"

Li Zhengshan: “…”

Luo Zijun and Xiaohuan couldn't help laughing.

Not long after the meal, Manager Zhang arrived.

"Zijun, hurry up. It's probably not time for the master to rest yet. I'll take you over there. I heard that there are several scholars and even some famous scholars who have gone there to compete for the spot in the past few days."

"Let's go and try it first. If it doesn't work, it's okay."

Li Zhengshan and Luo Jiaorong hurriedly expressed their gratitude.

Manager Zhang waved his hand and left with Luo Zijun.

Traveling quickly.

He left the house from the back door and walked towards the mansion opposite.

The mansion opposite is the real Duke's Mansion. The eldest master of the Bai family is the real helmsman of the Bai family who has inherited the title. Although he only holds a third-rank idle position now, his influence in Daliang should not be underestimated.

There is a guard at the back door.

However, Manager Zhang was obviously already familiar with this mansion. The guard exchanged a few words with him, simply checked Luo Zijun's scholar nameplate, and then let the two of them in.

The back garden and lake here are indeed much larger than those in Suguo Mansion.

The lake was shrouded in mist, and in the dim light, you could see an attic standing in the middle of the lake.

But there is no bridge across the lake.

There were several small boats moored in the lake, and it was obvious that one needed to take a small boat to get to the attic in the center of the lake.

There are many lotus flowers planted in the innermost area of ​​the lake.

The lotus flowers come in white, red, pink and other colors, all brilliantly colorful. Against the backdrop of green waves, green leaves and mist, they look like delicate beauties dancing gracefully in the breeze, so charming.

Just as Luo Zijun was watching in fascination, a familiar voice suddenly came from the flowers beside him.

"Hey, Wang Dafu... Bah! Luo Zijun?"

When Luo Zijun heard the voice, he immediately thought something was wrong and turned to look.

Among the colorful flowers, a pretty girl in a pink dress stood up from a bunch of flowers, holding a few flowers in her hands, blinking her big eyes and looking at him in surprise.

The pretty girl thought she had seen it wrong, so she raised her little fist to rub her eyes, then looked at him again, her little mouth slightly open, as if she was a little bit unbelievable.

"Luo Zijun! It's really you!"

(End of this chapter)