Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 220 Doctors cannot heal themselves

Time flies, and soon it is the spring of the 18th year of the Wanli reign. At this time, more than two years have passed since Zhang Yunxiu opened the library and recruited minor officials.

Let’s not talk about the disciples in the library over the past three years.

The recruitment of minor officials alone has helped to prop up the status of Songjiang Prefecture. Compared with before, the office efficiency has improved dramatically.

Things that used to take three days to accomplish can now be done in just three or four hours.

Seeing this change, those officials who had been pessimistic at first became speechless and dared not say anything anymore.

Early in the morning, a cold drizzle fell from the sky.

The air was so cold that the dogs on the street huddled their necks and snorted, and the pedestrians pulled their cotton-padded robes up high and ran quickly.

In the residence of Grand Secretary Zhang on Dengshikou Street, Zhang Yunxiu walked out of the room slowly.

Following behind him was Xu Ruoxi with blushing cheeks.

A gust of cold wind blew past, ruffling Zhang Yunxiu's beard. There was nothing he could do, beards were in fashion at the moment, as the old saying goes, a beard without hair on the mouth means you can't do anything.

Based on this consideration, he had no choice but to grow a beard.

"It's getting colder and colder. It's almost February, and the wind is still like a knife scraping at your bones."

Xu Ruoxi chuckled, stepped forward to tidy up her husband's beard, and replied, "Yes, in previous years, although it was cold at this time of year, it wasn't as cold as this. The weather is really getting weirder and weirder."

Zhang Yunxiu looked at his wife, and while she was sorting his clothes, he stretched out his icy hand and touched her neck like a child playing a trick.

Suddenly, Xu Ruoxi in front of him shuddered and jumped back.

She looked up at her husband with a face full of resentment and angrily said, "You are the father of several children, and yet you are still so dishonest!"

Zhang Yunxiu scratched his head, laughed and said a few words, then ran away.

When they arrived at the dining hall, Zheng Xier and Luluo were already waiting there with Zhang Xuan, Zhang Chongrui and Zhang Chongjie.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu coming in, Zhang Xuan clapped her hands and shouted, then strode to her father, hugged his legs, and said coquettishly, "Daddy, hold me, Xuan'er wants to ride the big horse, let me ride it quickly."

"Xuan'er!" Zheng Xier glared at her daughter fiercely.

Zhang Xuan looked terrified and let go of her father pitifully. Zhang Yunxiu smiled and took the opportunity to pick her up and put her on his shoulders.

Zheng Xier looked at the father and daughter who were not in tune with each other and opened her mouth to scold them, but when she thought of Zhang Yunxiu's tyranny, she could only sigh and said, "Just spoil her. When the time comes, you will know how powerful it is when you raise her to be a devil."

"I'm happy to." Zhang Yunxiu didn't care at all. He turned his head to look at Zhang Xuan on his shoulder and said, "Your mother said that you are a devil. You must be good in the future and never let your mother find any excuse."

"Oh."

As Zhang Xuan spoke, she stretched out her cold, chubby little hand and put it around her father's neck.

hiss.
Zhang Yunxiu's teeth chattered in fear.

Xu Ruoxi, who was standing behind him, happened to see this scene and immediately covered her belly with her hands, laughing voluptuously. Then, the family sat down, and Zhang Yunxiu sat in the main seat with Zhang Xuan sitting on his lap.

Xu Ruoxi sat on the right, next to Zhang Chongrui who was a little over four years old.

Zheng Xier sits on the left, and Luluo sits opposite.

After sitting down in order, Luluo stood up and said hello. The maids set the dishes like a magic trick and then left. "Daddy, I want to eat buns."

"it is good."

"And that one."

"it is good."

During the dinner, Zhang Xuan acted very aggressively and ordered Zhang Yunxiu around as if no one was around.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded in agreement, serving her tirelessly, just like a servant serving his master. The others all looked at the funny couple.

The two men turned a blind eye and went about their business.

After a long while, Zheng Xier smiled and looked at Xu Ruoxi, whose face was red. She pointed at Zhang Yunxiu and joked, "Sister, look, does your husband look like a daughter slave now?"

"He's not like her at all, he's exactly like her!" Xu Ruoxi snorted angrily, grabbed the steamed bun from the plate and took a big bite.

I turned my head to look at Zhang Chongrui, only to find that he was staring at his father and sister with envy on his face.

Xu Ruoxi looked distressed. She gently rubbed her son's head and asked softly, "Rui'er, tell me what you want to eat."

"Thank you, mother. Rui'er doesn't want to." Zhang Chongrui shook his head. At the age of four, he acted like a little adult.

"Sister, Ruier is really sensible." Zheng Xier praised with a smile.

"Sister Xier, Ruier is taught by the young lady herself. Not only is he sensible, but he has also begun to learn." Luoluo on the opposite side smiled and looked at Zhang Yunxiu intentionally or unintentionally while speaking.

"Thank you for your praise, auntie. Rui'er was just doing what mother asked." Zhang Chongrui smiled warmly, his young face full of desire.

"Eat well and don't talk!" Zhang Yunxiu's face suddenly darkened and he reminded with a serious face.

After breakfast.

It happened to be a day off today, so Zhang Yunxiu coaxed Zhang Xuan for a while, then went to the study alone and sat down, ready to handle the library's business.

Xu Ruoxi followed closely behind with a murderous look on her face, and as soon as they met, she slammed the table and asked, "Is Rui'er your biological son? He is so sensible, have you ever held him?"

He is obviously the eldest son, but now he is not even as good as the eldest daughter of a concubine.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled awkwardly, stood up and pulled Xu Ruoxi, who was still angry, to sit on the side. Looking at his wife with puffy cheeks, Zhang Yunxiu joked, "You look pretty good when you're angry like this."

"You are such a snob!" Xu Ruoxi burst out laughing and glared at her husband in a charming way. "I am talking to you about serious matters. Rui'er is already four years old. As a father, you should pay more attention to him."

"Four years old, it's too early to start enlightenment." Zhang Yunxiu shook his head.

"It's not early. Other children start learning at the age of four."

"Then you decide for yourself."

Zhang Yunxiu sighed and stood up to leave, but Xu Ruoxi grabbed him and threatened him fiercely, "You are Rui'er's father. If you don't make a decision on such an important matter, what's your point?"

Women are gentle by nature, but they become strong when they become mothers.

Xu Ruoxi was a gentle girl from the south of the Yangtze River, but when she mentioned her son, she instantly turned into a tigress. She looked like she would tear Zhang Yunxiu to pieces if he dared to say no.

Zhang Yunxiu felt secretly bitter.

He can talk about how to educate others, but he has no idea how to educate children.

Especially Zhang Chongrui, as his successor, he really hadn't figured out how to treat him.

If he were to be raised to be a bad boy who indulges in sensual pleasures, he would be committing a great sin.

As for Zhang Xuan, the danger is not great.

At most, she is just a parasite and a playboy. The worst that can happen is that I have to support her for the rest of her life.

After thinking it over, Zhang Yunxiu knew that he couldn't evade the question, so he could only bite the bullet and answer: "Boys should be raised in poverty. If a boy is too spoiled, he will most likely become a playboy in the future."

"Girls should be raised in wealth, so they won't be easily deceived by bad men's sweet words."

"Didn't I get deceived by you as well?" Xu Ruoxi asked without thinking.

"I'm not a bad man."

(End of this chapter)