A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 47 Versailles Literature

Song Xuan looked at this litter of puppies. There were bright yellow ones carefully selected by their ancestors, some with black backs and yellow bellies, and some with black bodies and white feet.

He thought it might be the offspring of a hound and the big yellow dog.

People in the Song Dynasty had the habit of raising cats and dogs. Dogs were used to guard at night, and cats were used to catch mice.

Otherwise, the family’s finances and the hard-earned food would all be stolen by thieves or rats, and it would be difficult to recover them.

Most people keep cats and dogs because they are useful, but of course there is also a habit of some rich people keeping pets at home.

Song Xuan also saw cat food and dog food vendors in the commercial street, and even a pet shop called Cat and Dog Shop.

It's probably for pet grooming.

After a while, Tao Hong came back with salt and gave it to the original owner of the house.

This can be considered as a betrothal gift, and this litter of puppies belongs to Song Xuan.

Song Xuan did not rashly go forward to touch the dog, but said happily:
"I'll ask my brothers to adopt one each. It'll always be a companion."

"Master, there's one more."

"Go back and ask Zhang Fangping to reserve a guest room for him."

Song Xuan waved his hand nonchalantly.

The house was handed over smoothly. After all, it is not easy for the owner to rent out the house, and it is even more difficult to sell it.

Song Xuan took people to clean the house, repair what needed to be repaired, hired people to move all the original things in the house in, and bought any missing items.

As soon as the money was spent, a lot of idle people came to help, or even to check it out.

Estimate whether Song Xuan can become a long-term customer in the future.

Or find out a little more and sell the information to others.

After all, buying this house can be considered a generous act.

After everything was cleaned up, Song Xuan continued with the old team-building program.

This time, Zhang Fangping, Zhang Kang, Miss Lei, and her two maids were invited to live in the house.

In such hot weather, there is no other choice but to barbecue at home.

Song Xuan, wearing an old man's shirt, was barbecuing by the fire himself, taking a sip of cold beer from time to time, feeling refreshed from the inside out.

When he was young, he went to Tokyo to see the world.

I've played with fire a lot in the wild and am very skilled at it.

Zhang Fangping had a smile on his face. He performed quite well when he was tested by Song Shou, the Song Tongpan.

He felt that it would be no problem for him to be admitted to Yingtianfu Academy.

So Zhang Fangping looked at Song Xuan who was grilling meat.

That's it.

Brother Twelve had just been robbed and had just bought a house, so it was time to celebrate.

After today.

I'll urge him to review his homework more tomorrow.

Zhang Fangping was already accustomed to the glass cups on the table.

He would take it out every time he drank beer, and he didn't care at all, even looked down on it.

Miss Lei hasn't attended the team-building party hosted by Song Xuan for a long time.

She sat next to Song Xuan and busily fanned herself.

Although she attended many banquets in Songcheng, they were always hosted by her father and brothers, who either talked about business, women, or the romantic life in Tokyo.

These women inevitably compete with each other.

Then talk about what kind of husband you will marry in the future.

Everyone has the same choice, that is, not to marry unless he is a Jinshi.

Miss Lei thought that there were only more than a hundred Jinshi in the Song Dynasty in two or three years. How could they all end up in this small Song City?

Why would those Jinshi scholars give up the daughters of high-ranking officials in Tokyo City and come all the way to choose an unknown girl like you?

Miss Lei initially refuted this group of unmarried women, but was later taught a lesson by her mother.

Women have no right to decide on their own in marriage, and there is nothing wrong with them imagining the image of their future husband before getting married.

But Miss Lei always thought that they were all unrealistic. For example, among the students from Yingtianfu College who went to Bian Jing to take the exam this year, not many made the list.

It is also difficult for them to marry someone who is about to become a Jinshi in advance.

Miss Lei has also come into contact with fourth brother's classmates.

Or a fool.

Or his eyes are higher than his forehead, and he thinks all the women in the world like him.

There are not many normal people.

But later Miss Lei thought about it and thought that maybe it was because of Fourth Brother.

The friends he made were all pretty good. Unlike Brother Twelve, who was not only excellent but also behaved like a human being.

Then look at the friends around him.

Or they are partners who have shared joys and sorrows since childhood.

Or they are officials who have passed the imperial examination.
Or he was praised by the magistrate as a rare genius in reading.

What does it mean that birds of a feather flock together?
This is!
Fourth brother even wants to introduce his friends to twelfth brother. He is really like a toad licking someone's feet. He doesn't bite anyone, but he is disgusting.

Miss Lei was somewhat dissatisfied with her fourth brother. It took him three years to get into Yingtianfu Academy, but now he couldn't even pass the examination.

Compared with the five-level examination in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the current Song Dynasty examination is a three-level examination.

From the prefectural examination to the provincial examination and then to the palace examination, the procedure saves a lot of time.

Although the imperial examination was open to common people, internal competition was rampant.

Even if you pass the palace examination, there is a certain chance that you will be dismissed and unable to obtain the title of Jinshi.

Especially in the Northern Song Dynasty, the positions in the court were fixed, and after three dynasties, there was already a phenomenon of redundant officials.

It is normal for three people to enter the interview and one or two people to be eliminated.

Not to mention that the students of the previous dynasty were dismissed by Zhao Guangyi for being quick shooters in the palace examination.

During the reign of Emperor Renzong, a failed candidate named Zhang Yuan was dismissed from the palace examination and decided to rebel against the Song Dynasty and join the Xia Dynasty.

In the Battle of Haoshuichuan, he assisted Li Yuanhao in defeating the Song army and wrote a poem.

After the news was passed back, not only the emperor but also all the civil and military officials in the court were stunned.

You actually defected to the barbarians to fight against the Song Dynasty. You really don't want to honor your ancestors!

But now that it has happened, we can only find a way to salvage it.

This led to Song Renzong making a decision that went against his ancestors: as long as you pass the palace examination, I will admit you.

It is better to be supported by a small official than to serve in an enemy country.

However, there is no such rule in the current Song Dynasty.

It was the first time for Zhang Kang, the magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture, to participate in such a unique activity.

He naturally recognized Song Xuan's barbecue skills.

This kid doesn't have the lives of dozens of sheep on his hands, so it's impossible for him to be so skilled in cutting, skewering and roasting the meat so deliciously.

If Zhang Kang hadn't known that Song Xuan ran a cold soup shop in Lema Town, he should have been given the nickname of "butcher ghost".

Compared to Miss Lei and the maid who were eating the skewers politely, Zhang Kang was eating left and right, and occasionally picked up a cold beer and drank it.

Song Xuan was fine, he just felt very relieved when he was cutting the mutton and pork with a knife.

Just like he used to watch massage and hair cutting videos to help him sleep.

"Twelfth brother, your craftsmanship is truly outstanding." Zhang Kang put down the glass cup in his hand again:
"Look at this glass cup. I don't believe your Song family is a small family anymore."

Straight bastard.

What kind of family would take out a glass cup to hold wine?

Even though Zhang Kang was very generous, he never used this kind of cup.

Even the emperor in Bianjing City might not be willing to use it.

Of course, Song Renzong himself was also very frugal and did not attach much importance to these external things.

Zhang Kang thought that the poisonous scorpion was taking the risk of robbing Song Xuan.

This thing, if you sell it casually, will be sold at a high price.

In Song Xuan's opinion, these glass cups were defective products. They were not as crystal clear as those in later generations and contained many impurities.

But just pour some beer and drink it, so that no one can show it to others if they raise fish.

"Hahaha." Song Xuan wiped the sweat off his head with a towel.

"Zhang Tuiguan, if you like, feel free to take it and use it for your daily drinking water. My brother can wash one less cup and rest more."

"belch."

Zhang Kang burped and patted his fat belly:

"Listen, everyone. Is what Song Twelve said a human being speaking?"

"It sounds so wrong to me."

"Hahaha."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Song Xuan is such a heroic person.

Zhang Kang also discovered that he had really met someone who was more generous than himself.

I hope Mr. Yan values ​​him very much.

Song Xuan fanned himself, took the initiative to pick up a glass of cold beer, and then spoke:
"Zhang Tuiguan came to Songcheng a few years earlier than me. Are you familiar with this street?"

(End of this chapter)