The Great Seminary

Chapter 53 Favorite 'City's Smoke and Fire

Zhang Jiujiang's father was named Zhang Bawang, a member of the Zhang family in Pingyang.

However, he is quick-witted and kind-hearted. He never smiles or talks, but he is also good at accounting. He makes a living from the sea and is a very successful fishmonger.

Not only did he support his own family, he also adopted his deceased brother's son Zhang Jiuqing and raised him to be a successful person through education.

Only in this way can your kindness be rewarded.

Zhang Jiujiang's mother was called Sun Suzi, and from her name one could tell that she came from a poor family.

She is a kind person, otherwise she would not let her husband raise the son of her deceased uncle and spend money to let Zhang Jiuqing go to school.

But no one is perfect.

Sun Suzi is kind but also mercenary, greedy, and has a domineering temper. When Zhang Jiuqing was young, she favored her own son.

After Zhang Jiuqing showed his talent for studying, she made a 180-degree turn and began to favor her adopted son.

But in fact, anyone who has experienced the situation can see that Sun Suzi did this just so that her adopted son would help her biological son more diligently after he came to power.

And it turned out that she was right.

But the problem is that Zhang Jiuqing, as an adopted son, is a two-faced person by nature and has been secretly hostile to Zhang Jiujiang since he was a child.

As Sun Suzi's biological son, Zhang Jiujiang was confused by the situation and did not understand his mother's good intentions. He was so shocked that he once thought that Sun Suzi was not his biological mother.

The mother and son still have some quarrels from time to time.

At this time, I heard my son calling from the inner room, saying that Zhang Gui is here to pay New Year's greetings.

Zhang Bade, who was thin but tall and always had a smile on his face, put down his wine glass and prepared to greet him.

But he was stopped by Sun Suzi, who looked very lucky.
“You are an old man now.

How can we welcome and receive a little monkey just for paying New Year's greetings?"

“Hey, Xiaogui is an old neighbor.

They have been friends for more than ten years since childhood and are also my son's closest brothers.

You don't understand these things about men.

Even if it's for Jiujiang's sake, I have to welcome him."

Zhang Bawang pushed his wife's hand away, but still planned to welcome her.

Unexpectedly, his wife became stronger and pulled him back, saying:
"I think you are not doing this for your son's reputation, but for Zhang Gui's mother.

You had an affair with that barbarian woman before, and we sold our old house to her for nothing."

Zhang Bawang's face flushed with anger, and he covered his wife's mouth, "Stop talking nonsense.

Do you want to have a bloody fight with your son on New Year's Day?

I won’t welcome it, that’s all.”

Sun Suzi then stopped talking.

After waiting for a while, the maid came in to invite the master and the mistress.

The male and female slowly walked to the main room.

As soon as they met, Zhang Gui knelt down on the ground without saying anything and kowtowed three times.

"Zhang Gui wishes New Year's greetings to Uncle Bawang and Aunt Suzi.

I wish you both good luck, longevity and happiness."

No matter how Zhang Bawang and Sun Suzi treated him, their son first went to Zhang Gui's house and kowtowed to his mother.

He had to reply like this to be reasonable.

And people have feelings when they meet.

When they really met, Sun Suzi softened her attitude when she saw the boy, whom she had seen growing up, kneeling on the ground and wishing everyone a happy new year.

He walked up to Zhang Gui, pulled him up, and stuffed a small silver ingot into his hand.

"Get up, get up, the ground is cold.

My dear boy, your uncle and aunt know your feelings.

Take a silver ingot as a New Year's gift and go play with Jiujiang."

Zhang Bawang originally wanted to talk to Zhang Gui, who was an eyewitness, about the incident on the Giant Snake Head Island.

Even if his wife was afraid of making trouble again, he would wave his hands and say:
"Good boy, go ahead.

Go play with your brothers."

Zhang Jiujiang's face turned red with anger when he saw his parents treating Zhang Gui so poorly.

Zhang Gui didn't care.

Holding the small silver ingot, he said with a smile: "Thank you uncle and aunt for the New Year's money.

My nephew is leaving now."

He turned around, pulled Zhang Jiujiang up and left.

Sun Suzi looked at his receding figure and sucked her teeth. "Just leave, why are you asking for leave?

Like a scholar.

In the future, Jiujiang should be allowed to hang out with him less.

Now my son is a student at Qingdou Academy and a disciple of Mr. Huaihe.

It is possible that I will be able to pass the examination to become a scholar next year, and a juren in two years.

You have to be more respectful.”

Zhang Bawang did not refute this time. He pondered for a moment and whispered:
"Can an official be a sworn brother to a shrimp paste vendor for the rest of his life?

Some changes will happen slowly and naturally.

Don't be impatient, otherwise it will backfire."

The male and female were whispering to each other here.

Over there, their son got angry with his friends.

"Dagui, why are you pulling me?

My parents just look down on me.

When Zhang Jiuqing's classmates and friends came to wish him a happy new year, he would smile and ask about his well-being.

When my brother comes to wish me a happy new year, I just say a few polite words and give him a small silver ingot.

It really pissed me off. "

As he was speaking, Zhang Jiujiang disregarded his decency and kicked up the rainwater accumulated on the stone road, attracting the attention of passers-by on the street.

It seems that he is really angry.
Zhang Gui, who was standing by, quickly pulled him away and whispered:
"You really don't know what's good for you, kid.

It is true that Zhang Jiuqing is two-faced towards you.

But your parents, especially your mother, are really wronged.

Why does she treat the successful Zhang Jiuqing well and treat me, who is in a miserable state, poorly? Isn't it all for you?

If you can't even see this, then don't bother studying at Qingdou Academy.

It's only right to carry heavy bags at the docks, do hard labor, and live a life without using your brain at all."

Zhang Jiujiang remained silent for a long time with a wooden face. He walked silently for two streets before speaking again.

"Dagui, I didn't understand what you said before because I had no experience, and now I don't understand it because I'm stupid.

In fact, when we first went to the Giant Snake Island, I was the manager and you were the servant, and I felt inexplicably itchy in my heart.

How can I put it?

"Stop talking, I understand.

Isn't it just, 'I feel secretly happy when I am better than my brother, but I sincerely hope that my brother is better than everyone else.

My brother is heartbroken because he is not doing well, and I am anxious when I drive my Land Rover.'

This is common with silver, it's normal."

Zhang Jiujiang was stunned. "You're talking nonsense again. What kind of tiger is Land Rover?"

"It's not important, what's important is that my brother understands your feelings.

One generation, two brothers.

As long as the friendship is genuine, everything else is trivial.

Don't think about this mess.

It would be more serious if we go out to drink, eat meat and chat.

Don’t you want to know how I had such intimate contact with him that night with San Shaoga?

It was quite tortuous and thrilling.”

Zhang Jiujiang's eyes widened when he heard this, and he quickened his pace and raised his voice as if his itch had been tickled.

"Then why don't you go quickly, kid.

Let's go somewhere nice this year.

Brother, I'll treat you to a meal as an apology."

Zhang Gui waved his hands, "It's not like you neglected me, there's no need to apologize.

Let’s not change places, let’s go to Lao Chen’s shop.

His braised lamb trotters make me hungry just thinking about it.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year.

It's just right for a small, fly-inspired restaurant, where one can 'leisurely watch the passing of time and slowly savor the bustling city life.'"

An old man happened to pass by and suddenly heard this. His eyes lit up and he looked at Zhang Gui and muttered to himself:
"He's quite mature at a young age, and his nonsense is quite interesting."

(End of this chapter)