Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 323 Comparison (asking for monthly ticket)
After attending the imperial banquet in the palace, Jin followed the group of ladies of honor out of the palace.

In Kunning Palace, she was somewhat treated with courtesy, that is, she was allowed to sit at the head table, but no one at the table looked up to her... After all, those sitting at the same table were wives of princes, nobles, and ministers, and each of them had a very strong background.

In comparison, she, the mother of the Crown Princess, seemed a little down and out.

It is also related to the fact that the prince is not in power now.

Originally, Queen Wang said that she would summon Jin alone after the banquet, but unfortunately she was too happy at noon and drank a few too many cups, and had forgotten everything, so Jin had to leave in a bad mood.

After leaving the palace, Jin returned home in a sedan chair. As soon as she entered the house, she asked her maid to get her the peach wood branches that had been prepared long ago. She then took the branches and hit herself hard with them.

Zhang Luan came out to check after hearing the noise. Seeing this scene, he asked curiously, "Madam, what are you doing? Are you going to the palace or the cemetery?"

"Bah bah bah."

Jin rolled her eyes at her husband and yelled, "Why are you talking so harshly? What do you mean by going to the cemetery? Am I going to pay my respects to my daughter? Oh, bah, bah, bah, bad things don't work, but good things do..."

Zhang Luan replied: "I don't know who is speaking harshly. What on earth are you trying to do?"

Jin looked quite unhappy: "When I went to the palace, everyone else called their friends, but no one greeted me. I didn't recognize any of them. It was so hard to see our daughter coming, but she only had eyes for her husband. When she left, she didn't even look me in the eye."

"Have you seen your daughter?"

Zhang Luan couldn't help but get excited when he heard this, "How is she now?"

"She's so happy... Humph, I just said that girl has no conscience. She's been in the palace for so long, but she doesn't even think of sending something good to her mother.

"Today her husband took her to give a gift to the Queen, a very large mirror... I think that thing is great. If it is placed in the house, who wouldn't be envious?"

After saying this, Jin swallowed her saliva, obviously very angry.

Zhang Luan was embarrassed after hearing this: "Hey, they really sent it? How was the effect? ​​I'm asking, is there anyone who wants the glass mirror? Does the queen like it?"

Jin glared at him, "What does it have to do with you?"

Zhang Luan yelled, "You foolish old woman, I gave that mirror to the prince, and asked him to give it to the queen to create momentum!

"Why do you think the prince and our daughter are going to give gifts today? This is to help us explore the way... Now let me ask you, after taking out the mirror, will anyone like it?"

"What? Was that mirror a gift from our family?"

Jin's focus was always different from her husband's. She suddenly became unhappy and said, "Such a good thing, but I didn't even get one."

Zhang Luan got the point from Jin's words and asked, "So many people like it?"

Jin glared at her husband: "Why didn't you tell me if there was anything wrong?"

Zhang Luan said angrily: "I'm asking you a question... hurry up and speak!"

Jin said reluctantly, "Everyone can't help turning their heads to look at the mirror. Do you like it? When the Queen summons someone, she allows people to look at the mirror freely.

"I see, the queen is just showing off that thing. I thought it was a unique item made by a skilled craftsman, but it turns out it was a gift from our family... then it's nothing.

"Have someone send one to my room later. I want to have what others don't have first."

"Silly old woman."

Zhang Luan cursed, "You entered the palace, and you're still trying to compare yourself with others? Don't you think about what qualifications you have to compare yourself with others? Your husband is just a fourth-rank official. The princes and nobles are all nobles from generations past. How can we compare with them?"

Jin stood there, but did not argue with her husband, as if she was sulking.

She is someone who cannot afford to suffer any loss.

But in the end, we still have to abide by the ethical norm of this era that the wife is the head of the husband, and we cannot talk back to our husband openly, especially when what the husband says is right.

"This thing was made by Yanling. If you like it, ask him to give it to his mother as a token of his filial piety."

Zhang Luan finally said helplessly.

When Jin heard this, she smiled with satisfaction, but rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "That's about right. Master, I think that thing is pretty good... Are we going to sell it for money?"

Zhang Luan said: "It's hard to explain to you... that thing can be exchanged for money, but because it is a tribute for the time being, it cannot be sold, it can only be sold together.

"Isn't it a coincidence? I'm helping the palace sell tributes. Li Zisheng found this job for me. I can't sell it here no matter what I do. But if I sell a glass mirror with it, it will probably be easier to sell. When the time comes, I can exchange the money for silver and send it directly to the palace. I won't deduct it for myself."

Jin was displeased when she heard this: "What? Free? Then why did we go to so much trouble to get it?"

Zhang Luan said, "This is to accumulate merit for the Crown Prince, and also to show off my reputation. Otherwise, who would know who I am? Don't think that just because I am the father of the Crown Princess, I will definitely be successful in the future. Aren't Concubine Wan's brothers just like that?"

"Humph!"

Jin snorted coldly and said, "It would be great if our family could be like the Wan family... Until now, no one has come to curry favor with us. It's so frustrating."

"Tsk, you have long hair but short knowledge."

Zhang Luan said with great joy, "Don't compare me with those losers in the Wan family. I have great ambitions. Now I am a Hanlin official, and I want to be a minister in the future.

"Do you think I would hide in the Five Military Commandery or the Imperial Guards and wait for death? I am a little poor now, but I have great ambitions. In this matter, I still have to listen to Yanling."

Seeing her husband was about to go back to the house, Jin said hurriedly, "Master, please remember to ask Yanling to bring me a mirror."

"I know, I know. Women just like to compare themselves with others. It's a waste of energy."

……

……

That afternoon, Pang Qing invited Zhang Luan to a tavern for a drink.

Pang Qing has always been very low-key in front of Li Zisheng, but to the outside world, he is the steward of the Li Mansion. He will do things for money, has a very high credibility, and is quite famous in the capital.

This time Pang Qing only hosted Zhang Luan for a banquet.

At the table, Pang Qing poured wine for Zhang Luan. He thought that as long as Zhang Luan was drunk, he would be able to talk about anything, because he could see that Zhang Luan was the type who couldn't help but want to find someone to talk to after drinking.

"Come on, Mr. Zhang, have a drink."

Pang Qing picked up the wine pot, filled it with wine, sat down and asked, "Did you find a solution to the matter of selling tribute that the Taoist asked you to do earlier?"

"Not yet, but don't worry, Minister Li. I have almost found a way."

Zhang Luan said confidently.

Pang Qing asked in surprise: "Did you find a buyer? That's... two thousand taels of silver a piece."

Zhang Luan said, "I plan to sell it for three thousand taels a piece."

"..."

Pang Qing was speechless for a moment.

He wondered who was so blind as to spend a huge amount of money on something so flashy and useless?

Could it be that he has too much money and is feeling anxious?
Zhang Luan looked at Pang Qing and asked, "Butler Pang, why do you look like that? Don't you believe me?"

"Hey... Mr. Zhang, I want to remind you that you should try not to sell tribute to the public, especially merchants. Don't make promises to them casually and exchange tribute for favors."

Pang Qing kindly reminded.

Zhang Luan said: "No, I plan to sell it to those dignitaries. On the basis of selling tributes, I will also sell some other things, such as a glass mirror.

"As my son Yanling said, buy one get one free, no cheating. Don't worry, I won't take a penny, I will send as much as I sell to the palace."

…………

Li Zisheng has been leaving home early and returning late in recent days.

He returned home long after nightfall that day. He had intended to go straight into the inner courtyard to rest, but he was bumped into by Pang Qing who just came out of the courtyard.

"Bingkun, what are you doing?"

Li Zisheng frowned.

You are so good, Pang Bingkun, do you think you can come and go in my backyard as you please?

You want to cheat on me while I'm not at home?
As an aide, do you still follow the rules?

Pang Qing said anxiously, "Master, can you please talk to me for a moment? It's urgent."

Li Zisheng waved his hands and shouted, "Let's talk about it tomorrow... I'm exhausted after a long day, I'm almost falling apart, do you think I'm made of iron?

"Don't hang around my house anymore. I get upset when I see you."

Pang Qing said quickly: "Don't worry, this is about Zhang Laizhan, you must listen to it!"

"Ok?"

If it was anything else, Li Zisheng might have gone straight in, but when he heard that the target was Zhang Luan, he couldn't help but stop and turned around to ask, "If you have something to say, just say it. There's no need to change the topic to another place... Just go ahead."

Pang Qing immediately told him about inviting Zhang Luan to talk today and about giving Zhang Luan some advice: "...I thought that Zhang Hanlin was worried because he couldn't sell the tribute, but when I asked him, he said with certainty that the things would definitely be sold, and not only would they be sold out, but he would also increase the price."

"Hahaha……"

Li Zisheng felt as if he had heard a huge joke. The corners of his mouth curled up as he said mockingly, "It's not his fault that he has no idea what's going on. Does he think there are rich people everywhere in the capital? He bought a yellow coral and brought it back? He has nothing to do? Hahaha..."

Pang Qing, however, showed no smile at all, and advised, "Master Dao, please don't be so quick to laugh. When I first heard him say that, I also thought he was having wild ideas.

"But then he told me that he wanted to sell yellow coral and mirrors together with it. The mirrors were made of colored glass. He happened to have one in his hand and said he was going to take it home to please his wife. I took a look at it and was immediately shocked by its beauty."

Li Zisheng's smile was awkward, and he asked, "Mirror, what mirror? A telescope?"

"It's a glass mirror, similar to a bronze mirror. The people reflected in it are vivid and lifelike, almost like the real thing." Pang Qing said, "Hey, guess what, after I came back, my wife asked me to come over..."

"Madam? Which madam?"

Li Zisheng interrupted Pang Qing.

Pang Qing said in surprise: "Of course it's your wife."

Li Zisheng was furious when he heard this and shouted, "Pang Bingkun, you not only came to my inner house to hang out, but also went to see my wife? I am inviting a wolf into the house, I was wrong about you!"

Pang Qing was anxious and angry, and could only roll his eyes helplessly: "Master, listen to me... Madam Nai asked her personal maid to bring me into the inner house, saying that I would go to the palace to attend the Queen's birthday banquet today. Who knew that before the banquet, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess went to celebrate the birthday together and gave Queen Wang a large glass mirror, which caused a huge sensation among the ladies at that time."

"What!?"

Li Zisheng was bewildered.

How could this be related to the imperial palace, and the Kunning Palace where the empress lived?
Pang Qing said, "Madam said that she knew I had some connections in the capital, and asked if I could get one back. It is said that the ladies of the court liked it very much, but no one knew its origin. It was what happened just now..."

Li Zisheng frowned and asked, "You mean, you went to see Zhang Laizhan today, and he said he wanted to sell tribute and give away a glass mirror. When you came back, my wife asked you to go over and ask if you had any way to get the mirror?"

"exactly."

Pang Qing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I didn't dare to agree to it casually at that time. I just said that I had heard of this thing. The lady was very happy and even rewarded her with a silver ingot. You see..."

After Pang Qing finished speaking, he took out a silver ingot from his arms and showed it to Li Zisheng.

Li Zisheng was dumbfounded after reading it, and said in a daze: "If I hadn't met you today and had gone to see the lady first, and she had asked me for a mirror, wouldn't I have to spend a lot of money to buy some yellow coral from Zhang Laizhan, so that he would give me a glass mirror?"

Pang Qing didn't expect Li Zisheng's ideas to be so advanced. After thinking about it, he suddenly felt that it made sense.

"Master Dao, after hearing what you said, it really is possible."

Pang Qing nodded heavily.

Li Zisheng was originally in a hurry to go into the inner courtyard to rest, but suddenly he felt that the Moon Gate in front of him turned into the Gate of Hell.

"Laizhan is really capable of doing this."

Li Zisheng was a little dejected. "The business didn't come to me, but it still involved me. I said I would give him money, but in the end..."

"Master Dao, now that you know what happened, do you think I should report it to you in time?"

Pang Qing's words seemed to be shouting out injustice.

Look at you, the master, you have no patience at all. If I didn't really have something important to report, would I stop you from talking here? And even enter your inner courtyard?

You think I admire your taste?
Don’t you even look at what your wife and concubines look like!

Li Zisheng did not rush into the inner courtyard. He found a step in the front yard and sat down, then asked Pang Qing to sit next to him.

The master and servant totally disregarded their image. Even though a servant passed by not far away, it did not affect the two of them as they sat there talking.

"Bingkun, what you said really reminded me of this... A few days ago, when I entered the palace, I saw His Majesty holding a mirror and looking at it. He said that the Empress Dowager gave it to him. Could it be a glass mirror?"

Li Zisheng said thoughtfully.

Pang Qing replied: "It's very likely. Look, Zhang Hanlin actually started planning early on."

"Fuck off!"

Li Zisheng cursed, "No matter how great Zhang Laizhan is, it's impossible for him to start planning the sale of tribute so many days in advance? At that time, even I didn't know that Your Majesty had such an idea..."

Having said this, Li Zisheng suddenly fell silent.

Pang Qing teased, "Master Dao, look, you've thought of this too, haven't you?"

Li Zisheng was shocked and said, "If it were anyone else, it would be impossible, but if it was Lai Zhan... this bastard is good at calculating. Who knows if he had predicted this would happen and dug a trap to wait for me?"

Pang Qing said helplessly: "Master Dao, you are the same. You still said that you want him to contact the person in charge of the army. I am afraid that he has already calculated you to death."

"Then... Bingkun, how about you go to Laizhan tomorrow and ask for two glass mirrors?"

Li Zisheng suddenly changed his expression and made a request.

"I...will not go."

Pang Qing refused directly.

Li Zisheng stared at him intently and shouted, "I told you to ask for it, but I didn't say you would definitely get it... You know my wives, if one wants it, the others will want it too. If my inner house is in turmoil, it's all because of you, kid."

Pang Qingbao said, "Master Dao, you can't be unreasonable. Even if there is unrest in your inner house, it is because of the glass mirror. What does it have to do with me?"

"Yes, it's all Zhang Laizhan's fault."

Li Zisheng sat there angrily, then stood up and said, "Well, I won't go into the inner house today. I've been annoyed all day, and if I'm entangled by these women again, I won't be able to sleep well."

"What are you..."

"Just find a place to spend the night. Zhang Laizhan, oh Zhang Laizhan, you've caused so much unrest in my house just for a tribute... You're truly a god."

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(End of this chapter)