The Great Seminary

Chapter 59 Salted Fish Wants to Turn Back

The patriarch of the Pingyang Zhang family who was in charge of the inner affairs office was named Zhang Liuqi.

She is the only heroine in the family who married a son-in-law to inherit the family business and climbed to a high position step by step through her abilities and means.

She was very impetuous in the first half of her life, but now she is second only to the emperor and has the bearing of a great figure.

Just looking at those sharp eyes that seemed to be able to cut open people's heads and see what their subordinates were thinking was enough to make people feel scared.

Therefore, although Zhang Qitong dared to talk nonsense in private, he was as honest as a quail when he met his direct superior.

I couldn't help but shrink my neck.

His demeanor was quite similar to that of the young waiter Zhang Bachu, and he bowed deeply:
"The boss is fine.

Zhang Qitong sends his greetings to you."

The hall is elegantly decorated.

Zhang Liuqi sat on a sandalwood rocking chair, subconsciously tapping the large Longping desk in front of her with her hands.

Liu Wuchang sat down in the ebony armchair with a happy expression on his face, his back against the embroidered backrest, and kept chattering, "Family Elder Liudou, your Pingyang Zhang family has produced another talent.

I just saw that Zhang Gui is truly a young talent, and he will surely become a great man in the future..."

"Zhang Qitong, why don't you say hello to the guests when you meet them?

Even if the guests are not well-mannered, we, the Zhang family of Pingyang, cannot lose our manners."

Zhang Qitong pinched his nose and bowed to the rat demon, "Hello, Master Liu."

"Okay, okay." Liu Wuchang nodded with a dry laugh.

Zhang Liuqi stared at his thin, dry face expressionlessly. "Master Liu, please tell Zhang Qitong about Zhang Gui's fate yourself."

"Good." Liu Wuchang was invigorated and said loudly, "This child has the fate of 'dragons fighting in the wild, their blood dark yellow'.

It’s really incredible.

However, this fate is somewhat taboo, and I am afraid that the court will not be pleased, hehe, so I need to cover it up a little."

Zhang Qitong's eyes widened when he heard this, and he thought to himself, "What a rat demon, waiting for us here."

"This Zhang Gui is 'a dragon soaring in the wild, its blood dark yellow', and the next one will probably be 'a phoenix dancing in the sky, covering the whole world'.

Liu Wuchang, ah Liu Wuchang.

In ten days, you have decided the fate of eighty-seven people in our Pingyang Zhang family.

There were more than a dozen high-ranking officials and more than twenty generals in charge of seals, and the remaining lowest-ranking officials were all well-known counties.

Now there are rebels again!
You really have an idea.”

Zhang Liuqi was finally provoked to the point of anger, and gnashed his teeth and said, "If there are any traitors, you will also be punished.

It won’t be over until the 16th day of the first lunar month.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Wuchang immediately wilted and stopped talking.

Zhang Liuqi turned his gaze to Zhang Qitong and instructed:

“Regardless of whether Master Liu’s horoscope is accurate or not, one can still tell whether one has entered the Dao or not.

You go down and make arrangements to have Zhang Gui's child included in the family tree, and add a 'generation character' to his name to change it to Zhang Jiugui.

In extraordinary times, we cannot waste talents.

There are many young men in the clan who are eager to rise to the top, but few are capable and willing to work hard, especially those who have achieved success in cultivation.

One by one, hey, anyway, take advantage of the opportunity of the New Year's "selection of tribute" to get Zhang Gui the status of a military scholar.

Then let him serve the court as soon as possible. I think he will not refuse given his background and knowledge.

Let’s also fill in that difficult box.”…

The system of tribute-taking was a new rule established more than 50 years ago when the Ming-Song Empire was in decline and the imperial court ran out of money.

The essence is to pay tribute money and grain in exchange for the status of a scholar called "Gongsheng".

Among them, the prerequisite for being selected as a scholar is the status of a "Tongsheng";

The prerequisite for selecting a military scholar is to have the skills to "enter the Tao".

Because the value of a Tongsheng is extremely low, anyone with a little connection in the county can make it happen.

Therefore, Wen Gongsheng generally suffers from discrimination.

The requirement for Wu Gongsheng to "enter the Tao" is of extremely high value.

Most of the martial arts scholars who passed the normal imperial examinations did not have the ability to enter the Tao.

In addition, there is an old saying that goes, "There is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts."

I make a living by my fighting skills. You look down on me. Let's go to the ring and fight to see who has the bigger fist.

Therefore, the military tribute students were superior to others, which became a form of reverse discrimination.

In the end, even the sons of wealthy and powerful people were no longer interested in taking the military examinations.

It is really a waste to spend more money to "pay tribute" to be decent.

Zhang Qitong had already guessed that Zhang Gui was going to make a comeback, but he hadn't expected it to be this way. His body stiffened, and he quickly replied, "Yes. I'll do it as soon as the government office is closed on the tenth day of the first lunar month."

"Yes." Zhang Liuqi nodded with a gloomy face, "And in the afternoon, you will personally lead Master Liu to continue to read people's fortunes according to the list I drew up.

Take care of his food and drink."

Food and drink are provided, which means that if the number of people is not enough, you cannot eat.

Zhang Qitong's expression suddenly became awkward, but he could only agree:

"Yes.

Master Liu, you have also heard the instructions of our elder.

Let’s get going now.”

Wait until Zhang Qitong and Liu Wuchang left.

A dark smile appeared on Zhang Liu's lips as he murmured:

“Tai Da, Tai Da, even your father doesn’t dare to look down on me.

But you took advantage of me because I was a woman and forced me to clean up the mess you had made.

Then I'll just let it rot and see whose reputation it hurts.

He's really a jerk who doesn't know how to be afraid until he sees strength, and won't give up until he hits a wall." ...

Time flies, and it is the eleventh day of the first lunar month in a blink of an eye.

Early in the morning.

Yang Duojie set up a stall.

Because Zhang Gui went to Mushroom Valley again yesterday, he teleported to the "Shangshishijing" on the Giant Snake Head Island and made big promises to more than a hundred civil and military officials and tens of thousands of citizens of the True Dragon Kingdom.

And began to advocate the benefits of steam engines to Old Song, who was good at regulating yin and yang.

It took me a long time to finish the work.

This kind of chicken soup feast should not be repeated every day, especially since I have an appointment with my friends.

Zhang Gui stayed at home to eat noodles and wait for others.

It was Si time, which was around nine in the morning.

The weather is sunny and sunny.

Perfect for drinking and chatting.

Zhang Gui finished eating the noodles with shrimp paste and tofu and rinsed his mouth.

He scooped a large piece of coarse salt with the tip of his finger, put it in his mouth, and scrubbed it vigorously.

He walked into the kitchen while brushing and smacking his lips.

There should always be residual fire left on the stove used to cook sauce.

Zhang Gui stood in front of the stove and sucked.

A line of fire as thick as his little finger was thrown into his mouth.

He gargled with the fire like gargling his mouth.

The flame ignited the coarse salt in Zhang Gui's mouth, causing it to explode suddenly and then be swallowed into his stomach.

After smacking his lips again, Zhang Gui felt that all the foreign objects were gone and smiled with satisfaction.

After leaving the kitchen, he walked slowly to the well.

After washing his face and hands with soap nuts, he went out to the street and walked towards Zhang Jiujiang's house.

The two happened to meet on the way.

Next to the little friend was a plain-looking old man in his fifties.

"Dagui, come quickly and meet Master Qitong. I have something great to tell you."

Zhang Jiujiang excitedly waved first.

Zhang Gui trotted over and bowed to the old man as per etiquette, "How are you, Master?"

"Okay, okay." Zhang Qitong's eyes narrowed with laughter, "He is well-educated, well-mannered, and proficient in both civil and military affairs.

He is indeed a rising star of the Zhang family in Pingyang.

Come on, let’s go to the ancestral hall first.

I have been ordered by the elder of the Neisifang family to have your name included in the family tree, and to add the generation name Zhang Jiugui.

Then I will take you to Longmenbo to select a military scholar.

Tomorrow, go to the county government office and ask for an official position. Then you will be of great use to the clan.

I'm afraid that in the future, I, the clan leader, will have to ask for your care."

(End of this chapter)