Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 87 Regret and Rejoice

Zhang Luan followed Pang Qing out that night, and Shen Lu also went with them.

With Shen Lu around, Zhang Luan could at least relax a little. Pang Qing, as a man from Li Zisheng's government, was usually unruly in front of others, but he was quite polite in front of Zhang Luan.

After the group left, the yard returned to peace.

Jin quickly called her two sons into the main hall to help clean up.

"Your father is the same. He just has guests coming to visit, why does he light so many candles? As if candles are free. These will last a long time."

Jin looked at the candles that were burning rapidly with wax tears, feeling so distressed that she kept muttering to herself.

Zhang Yanling smiled and consoled, "Mother, the visitor is Li Zisheng, the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Public Administration. He is a popular figure around the emperor. This time, he was the one who helped dad get an official position behind the scenes. When such an important person comes, we must show great courtesy. A few candles are not worth mentioning."

"I heard that this Lord Li is quite capable. Can he really help our family?"

Originally, Jin knew little about the people in the court, but after hearing her son's explanation, she finally realized that the visitor was an important figure. However, she still lacked the most basic understanding of how powerful he was.

Zhang Yu was sweeping the floor with a broom. When he heard the conversation between mother and son, he couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen.

"This Lord Li of Li Zi Province is very powerful. Every time the emperor encounters a problem, he will ask him questions. Basically, only when he gives a positive answer can things be done. He has an extraordinary status in the court, second only to the emperor."

After Zhang Yanling finished his introduction, he continued, "Dad helped Lord Li a lot this time. Lord Li said he would help my sister to be selected as the Crown Princess, and also gave our family a big house. Right now, the staff of the Li Mansion is taking Dad to see it."

"Bullshit."

Jin cursed, but couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth.

Obviously, the old mother had more hope in her heart, hoping that what her son said was true.

Zhang Yu frowned slightly, a trace of worry appeared on her bright and pretty face, and asked, "If I give you the house, will that Lord Li still help me choose the Crown Princess?"

"Of course!"

Zhang Yanling nodded affirmatively, then smiled and said, "Dad has made great contributions this time, and Lord Li is very satisfied, so both things will happen..."

At this point, seeing Jin's sidelong glances, as if to see you bragging, she couldn't help but curl her lips, "Forget it if mother doesn't believe me. I was at the door just now, and I heard everything they said clearly. It is said that the house is in the north of the city, not far from where we live. There are many dignitaries around, and the street in front of the door is very wide. The conditions are more than ten times better than here."

"Just think about good things!"

Jin was delighted, but she scolded him, "Hurry up and clean up. Let's prepare the food first and eat when your father comes back... Humph, I will definitely ask you about it. If what I say doesn't match what you say, I will punish you."

Zhang Heling fanned the flames, hoping that the world would not be in chaos: "Yes, yes, yes, we should deal with him properly, otherwise he will keep talking nonsense all day and only cause trouble for our family."

He thought that if he followed his mother's words, even if he was not liked, he would not be scolded.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Jin and Zhang Yu glared at him with angry eyes, as if they were going to beat him up.

Zhang Heling's head shrank and he immediately remained silent, wondering in his heart, I was clearly helping my mother teach my brother a lesson, why are you so mean to me?

Hey, who did I offend?

……

……

Huizhou Trading House.

It was late at night and Manager Qin had just planned to go to bed when there was a knock on the door. After asking, she found out that it was the maid who came to tell her that Xu Gong wanted to see her outside for an urgent matter. She could only cheer herself up and dress neatly to come out to meet him.

"Boss, something big has happened." In the cold winter, Xu Gong was sweating profusely and said nervously.

Shopkeeper Qin's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "Could it be that something went wrong with the salt business? How much is the loss?"

Xu Gong saw that Manager Qin had misunderstood, so he tried to calm down and said hurriedly, "It's not this, but there was news that there was an earthquake in Mount Tai, just as that Minister Li of the Silver Office said, and the time was exactly the same, yesterday evening."

"Did it really come true?!"

Shopkeeper Qin was extremely shocked. "What a fairy! This is truly the most amazing thing in the world. Minister Li was able to accurately predict earthquakes twice. It seems that no one in the court will be able to shake his position for a while... Now the threshold for his house is even higher, and the situation is very unfavorable for our Huizhou merchants."

Xu Gong nodded and said, "Indeed, in the past two years, Shanxi merchants have been giving gifts to Minister Li. I heard that after a long period of communication, Minister Li's attitude has softened. Maybe the salt road trade will be monopolized by Shanxi merchants next year."

"No, we have to find a way."

Shopkeeper Qin frowned and gritted his teeth. "No matter how expensive the gift is, we must establish a relationship with Minister Li... Immediately mobilize all Huizhou merchants in Beijing and use all their connections. No matter what, we cannot let the Shanxi merchants get what they want."

"Boss, that's exactly the second thing I want to say."

Xu Gong's expression suddenly became serious.

"what happened?"

Shopkeeper Qin asked seriously.

Xu Gong replied, "Didn't the master ask me to find out who the official who went to Zhang's house was?"

"Checked it out?"

Shopkeeper Qin was very surprised.

At that time, Li Zisheng accurately predicted the Taishan earthquake, and Manager Qin had forgotten about it.

Xu Gong said nervously: "Our people have found out that the people who went to Zhang's house included not only Mr. Zhang's in-laws, the Tongzhengsi official Shen Lu, but also... that Minister Li."

"Who are you talking about?!"

Shopkeeper Qin obviously didn't expect this.

Xu Gong said with certainty: "It is the Minister of Public Administration, Li Zisheng."

Shopkeeper Qin's pretty face was tense: "At this critical moment today, Minister Li actually has the leisure to visit Zhang Jiansheng's house? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? You can't just listen to rumors!"

The implication is that few people have seen Li Zisheng, so don't believe everything you hear.

Xu Gong said helplessly, "It's clear from the investigation that it was Minister Li's official carriage. We don't recognize the others, but Mr. Pang Bingkun, the popular man in front of Minister Li, is a frequent guest in the homes of high-ranking officials in the capital. Even he has to wait on him carefully. How can he be wrong?"

Now Shopkeeper Qin could hardly stand.

She asked in frustration, "We just left Zhang's house, and within a few steps, that Lord Li came to visit Zhang Jiansheng's house in person? If we had walked a few steps later, would we have met him?"

Xu Gong was somewhat relieved: "It may not be a good thing to run into him! What if there is something hidden that cannot be known to outsiders? It is just right now. If Mr. Zhang is really close to Lord Li, then we have a way to establish a relationship with him. But I don't know... Is Lord Li here for some temporary matter, or is he here specially to visit... I don't know if this relationship is stable?"

Manager Qin said disapprovingly, "If the relationship between the two is not stable, how can they visit in person? Just send someone to pass on the invitation, or even for someone in the court to come to Li's house and send a visiting card to be granted an audience, wouldn't that be a supreme honor? What's more, Zhang Jiansheng is just a Confucian scholar."

Xu Gong nodded: "That makes sense. It seems that Mr. Zhang is extraordinary and highly valued by Mr. Li."

(End of this chapter)