Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 28 Doubts
At the banquet, Song Qing flattered Zhang Yin to the utmost, and Zhang Luan, who was sitting next to him, could clearly feel that he was being left out.

He thought that he could gain enough reputation for himself by treating illnesses this time, especially by taking on a major role in the Zhang family. However, when he arrived at the county government office, he found out that the magistrate would rather curry favor with Zhang Yin and turned a deaf ear to him, a man with the title of a student.

He could have shown off in front of his brothers, but in the end he ended up being embarrassed.

The banquet ended in a strange atmosphere. Zhang Luan and Zhang Yanling came out from the back hall. Song Qing asked them to wait first, as if there was something follow-up to be arranged.

"Dad, what did your second uncle say to you just now?" Zhang Yanling asked.

Before coming out, Song Qing left for a while because of something. Zhang Yin called Zhang Luan aside, with a stern face, as if he was scolding something, and his attitude was extremely bad.

As the saying goes, family disgrace should not be made public, and some things really need to be kept away from the younger generation. In addition, Zhang Luan was very concerned about his reputation, so he didn't say anything after he came back, as if nothing had happened. However, Zhang Yanling, who was hiding behind the scenes and planning big things, was eager to know the current situation.

Zhang Luan said helplessly, "He said that we must follow the rules of the Zhang family... After all, the Zhang family is not a branch family in the strict sense, and whoever is older will be in charge in the future. He also said that only by marrying your sister to the Jinyiwei commander will he get a place for me as a tribute student. He also said that after I graduate from the Imperial College, he will find a way to get me an official position."

Zhang Yanling asked with a smile: "Dad, don't you think Second Uncle is too self-righteous?"

"Eh!? What... do you mean by that?"

Zhang Luan looked at his son in confusion.

In the past, he would never listen to the words of a child, but now he felt that his youngest son was different from others, and vaguely regarded Zhang Yanling as his most reliable aide.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "During the banquet earlier, County Magistrate Song mentioned the issue of grain transport to Uncle Er a few times, but when it came to the key points, Uncle Er always changed the subject... I wonder if you noticed it, Dad?"

"Have it?"

Zhang Luan was at a loss. "Maybe, the price of grain has risen sharply recently, and the number of people trafficking in grain has increased day by day. County Magistrate Song may want to get a piece of the pie... What do you want to say?"

Zhang Yanling was a little speechless. What on earth was his cheap father thinking about all day? How could he forget what just happened in the blink of an eye? He immediately said:

"I don't know if Dad remembers that a month ago you mentioned to the Sun family that the imperial court would probably conduct a strict investigation into the grain tax, and all merchants involved in warehousing would be implicated. The Sun family was inspired and refused to do business with the Huizhou merchants. Afterwards, when the grain tax case broke out, the Sun family was safe and sound. For this, Uncle Sun even came to our temporary residence outside the Yagu Temple in person to express his gratitude.

"I think the news of this matter has spread out, and my father's name may have fallen into the ears of someone with ulterior motives. This place is an important grain storage area for the Grand Canal. The local county magistrate may be involved in the case, or at least he may have failed to supervise the case... Could it be that County Magistrate Song thought that your information came from your second uncle and wanted to ask him to mediate on your behalf in the court?"

Zhang Luan frowned slightly, thought about it, and then shook his head: "No way, County Magistrate Song is the dignified Xingji Baili Marquis, is it necessary to ask your second uncle? Your second uncle is not even a scholar, where does he get his connections?
"You are young and have only a limited understanding of officialdom. Don't pretend to know something you don't. My son, you still have a lot to learn. You need to study hard and be proficient in the ways of the world. Do you understand?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged, still looking indifferent.

……

……

The father and son waited for a while before the lawyer Li Weishao came out on behalf of the county government to see them off.

"I wonder if County Magistrate Song..."

Of course Zhang Luan wanted to meet Song Qing, mainly to fight for a place in the local tribute system for himself.

Li Weishao said with a smile, "Song the Magistrate wants to discuss something with your brother, so I'm sorry I can't come out to see him off. I'll ask you to call a carriage to take him home...Mr. Zhang has been busy for several days, and I think he must be tired. Rest well when you go back. Maybe in a few days, when Censor Chen reports your deeds, the court will reward you."

Zhang Luan said: "The county government had promised before..."

Li Weishao interrupted Zhang Luan with a smile: "The county magistrate is very grateful for Mr. Zhang's contribution, but now the plague has not been eradicated, and there are still many things to do in the local area. County Magistrate Song is very busy with this. Everything can be discussed after the dust settles... I hope Mr. Zhang will understand." "Alas!"

Zhang Luan now understood that the county government had no intention of honoring its previous promise.

When the father and son came out of the county government office and were about to get on the carriage, Zhang Luan kept complaining to himself: "Some people really have no conscience to just throw things away after using them."

……

……

The Zhang family father and son just went into the city to have a meal, and then were sent back home in the county government's carriage.

The father and son got off the carriage and walked into the yard. When the family saw them, they hurriedly gathered around, wanting to know whether Zhang Luan's admission to the Imperial College had been confirmed. Especially for Zhang Yu, for her, that was related to whether her future life would be happy or not. After all, her old father's plan was to arrange a marriage for her after arriving in the capital.

Zhang Luan swelled his face and pretended to be rich: "Song Zhixian was very polite to us, and treated us with good wine and good food, but he just...didn't mention the matter of entering Beiyong. I will talk about it later."

Jin was a little frustrated when she heard this, and asked hesitantly, "Then... is it... that the magistrate went back on his word?"

Zhang Luan scolded: "Women should not talk nonsense. The government has not promised anything. We need to fight for it. If a student wants to enter the Imperial College, he needs real ability. At worst, I can take the exam."

At this point, Zhang Luan's voice weakened, and he clearly lacked confidence.

Now that he is middle-aged, he has failed in all the previous examinations and has never taken the China Academy of Imperial Examinations. Now, he is asked to take the examination together with a group of energetic young people, but he lacks the courage.

In his own words, there is still a gap between a middle-aged man who manages the family business and worries about food and clothing all day long and a young man who is full of vigor and energy and devotes himself to his studies.

Zhang Yu called Zhang Yanling aside for questioning. To her, the only person with whom she could have an equal dialogue and who knew the inside story was her younger brother.

"Yanling, didn't you say that after curing the disease and saving lives this time, father would take our whole family to the capital?" Zhang Yu was a little anxious.

Zhang Yanling asked, "Sister, now that the sickly guy's marriage has been cancelled, are you in a hurry to get married?"

Zhang Yu rolled her eyes at her brother, her beautiful eyes looking around, complaining: "Love is not your business, aren't you worried? Now the Sun family's wedding has been postponed, but I can't go to the capital and can't do anything. Here... Alas! What do you know?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Sister, are you trying to find a better partner while riding a donkey?"

"Find a fight!"

Zhang Yu stretched out his hand to hit his brother, but Zhang Yanling dodged it easily.

Zhang Yanling hurriedly comforted her: "Don't worry, sister. I will definitely fulfill my words. Sister, you are so noble, you are an extremely noble golden phoenix. Don't be confused by this little problem in front of you."

Zhang Yu asked, "What's the point of just saying this?"

"We'll see. The mountain man has a plan of his own."

Zhang Yanling didn't know how to explain it in detail, so he could only use some unusual ways to give his sister a little confidence.

(End of this chapter)