Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 107 Praising the Mistress to Death
Zhang Shuo never expected Zhang Dai to do this. He was still immersed in his resentment towards his son. After hearing this, he was stunned for a while before he reacted.

"Nonsense! The family fortune has been scattered by my son, what does it have to do with your young apprentice? He has his own strength, and when he is exhausted, he has a father. To sell one's son to beg for forgiveness is inhuman!"

Zhang Shuo slammed his hand on the table and stood up, pointing at Zhang Jun and demanding, "Since you claim that what happened before was unavoidable and that you have a plan to make amends, now that all your relatives and disciples are gathered here, you should explain your plan in detail. If your family agrees and understands, it shows your outstanding wisdom. If you have no plan, your old father will still make amends for you."

Although he harbored deep resentment towards his son, he could not bear to see Zhang Jun suffer such rejection from his clan. He had originally planned to deal with the family matters gradually later, but since Zhang Dai had already made such a statement today, he also had to take a stand.

Since it was his own son who had made enemies among the clan, he, as the father, naturally had to take responsibility; otherwise, the entire clan would completely lose its cohesion.

"me……"

Zhang Jun didn't think he had done anything wrong. In his view, those houses, fields, and family property were all obtained by the clansmen under the protection of his and his father's power. Now, they were voluntarily giving them up in exchange for a higher official position, so as to provide protection for the family again. Wasn't that a matter of course?

Once he establishes himself in the court, regaining the land and property he previously relinquished will be a piece of cake! The resentment the clansmen currently harbor towards him stems from their short-sightedness and inability to see things clearly. And his father's constant questioning of him is far too harsh!

Seeing that Zhang Jun remained silent for a long time, Zhang Shuo's eyes turned cold and sharp again. He had even offered to cover for his son, and the current questioning was just to make Zhang Jun show an attitude of seeking forgiveness from the clansmen. Of course, it was also to re-emphasize his authority as the head of the family in front of the clansmen.

“Grandfather, do not think that the younger generation cannot handle things! I not only have a father, but also sons. Although my brothers and I are weak now, there will always be a time when we can uphold the family’s honor! It is only right and proper for sons to pay their father’s debts. Grandfather, you have toiled for the family and the country for half your life. Now that you have been able to retire peacefully, if your descendants continue to disturb you with family matters, how can you face the world!”

Zhang Dai, however, adopted a stance of protecting his father from his grandfather's questioning. He walked to Zhang Ji's side, grabbed Zhang Yi who was watching the show with wide eyes, and demanded, "Do you have the ambition to pay off your father's debts and make amends?"

"Me? Oh? Yes, I do, brother, I really do!"

Fearing another beating, Zhang Qi hurriedly raised his hand and shouted.

With his son's strong support, Zhang Jun's expression improved slightly. He stood up from his seat, bowed his head, and said, "When I was planning this, I did not consult my father, nor did I inform my family and disciples. I truly..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai immediately glared at him. "How can you admit your mistake? You have to stick to your stubbornness so I can play the 'good cop'!"

"My grandfather was once the prime minister of the country, and I am also a high-ranking official in the court. As long as our titles and emoluments are passed down, why should our family worry about hunger and cold? If our descendants are worthy, we will not have to worry about not having a place to rise in society; if our descendants are unworthy, even fertile fields and beautiful houses will only be resources for wine and women!"

Zhang Dai then loudly proclaimed, “Today I am offering three thousand strings of cash to my clan not because I am so arrogant as to think I can mock my relatives’ ability to manage their families and businesses, but because I hope to use this to encourage learning and promote artistic pursuits!”

This success in the imperial examination has made me deeply aware of the profoundness of my family's scholarship. I intend to rely on this to gain fame, and even the Prime Minister of the Southern Province would find it difficult to stop me! Mastering one classic is better than owning a hundred acres of land! Learning one skill is better than owning a thousand-foot house!

"The clan school is currently operating in a perfunctory manner, with its students merely filling positions and going through the motions. They don't even covet purple robes and crimson garments, so why would they covet a mere house and land? I am now allocating funds to the clan school, and this winter we will hold an arts and crafts examination. The student who achieves the top score will be rewarded with a thousand strings of cash! The remaining money and silk will also be distributed among those who excel in their studies."

"Is what Liu Lang said true? Can the top scholar in the clan school really receive a thousand strings of cash?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than one of his cousins ​​in the hall couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Although the Zhang family was a powerful and wealthy clan, they couldn't just casually take out thousands of strings of cash for their children to squander, especially after the significant loss of their homestead and land assets, which made their lives even more difficult.

The thousands of strings of cash are enough to buy more land and build a business. If the young man is allowed to squander it, he can be a handsome young man for several months in a single spending spree!
Therefore, not only the young boys still in the clan school, but also other adult members of the Zhang clan became concerned.

"No wonder Zongzhi was able to pass the imperial examination in Jingzhao Prefecture. His insight alone surpasses that of many seasoned veterans! What a wonderful saying, 'Mastering one classic is worth more than a hundred acres of land.' If all the children of my clan were so studious and devoted to the arts, how could we worry about our family's traditions being lost or our family business failing to prosper!"

Zhang Shuo's elder brother, Zhang Guang, had previously admired Zhang Dai, and after hearing these words, he couldn't help but clap his hands in praise.

Zhang Shuo, at this moment, was also filled with pride and satisfaction, but at the same time, he couldn't help but glare resentfully at his son: "You clearly have such a good son, if you had just kept a little shrewdness in not passing it down, you wouldn't be in such a predicament. Just these words alone are enough to teach you for a lifetime!" Zhang Jun looked at his son with a hint of excitement in his eyes. Yes, that's exactly what I think! Maybe not before, but now it is.

He never dreamed that he could speak so righteously and forcefully about something he was clearly in the wrong, leaving no room for rebuttal!
Zhang Dai said this not to exonerate his father, but to officially intervene in the management of family affairs, especially the discipline of the younger generation!

He wanted to unite all the outstanding young people in the clan to his side, not only to be the first among the younger generation in the family, but also to improve the success rate of the younger generation of the Zhang family, so that they would be able to live in Taiwan and be prominent figures in other places.

In this medieval era, clan power was the most reliable force a person could rely on. He had given up on leaving the Zhang family, even tolerating a wicked father like Zhang Jun; of course, he wanted to seize the Zhang family's potential and future for himself!

Previously, even if he had gained Zhang Shuo's appreciation, no one would have paid him any attention if he wanted to interfere with the Zhang family's clan school education. But now, with the title of Chief Examiner of the Capital Prefecture, he naturally possesses the power to command respect.

For a moment, the clansmen in the hall stopped rushing to hold Zhang Jun accountable and began discussing the clan school examination.

While the Zhang family may have some of the bad habits common among powerful families, as a newly established family, it is not like the five prominent families that, beneath their glamorous exteriors, are filthy and foul-smelling inside. The clan members also have a positive side that values ​​learning.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhang Dai's status at home rose sharply after he passed the imperial examination in Jingzhao Prefecture, and his respect for official rank reflected their admiration for poetry, literature and art.

While poetry, literature, and art may not strictly belong to the realm of practical learning, this mindset is undoubtedly much more proactive than that of the "amniotic fluid warriors" of the Five Clans family, at least they are willing to strive for excellence within a certain standard of evaluation.

Seeing that the topic had been easily guided, Zhang Jun breathed a sigh of relief. Then, while the clansmen were discussing and expressing their opinions, he looked at Zhang Dai and said, "Since you understand your mission so well and are willing to take on this responsibility, you must do your best to do it well and not let down the clansmen's expectations."

Zhang Dai chuckled inwardly as he heard him start acting all high and mighty again. "You don't think this is the end of it, do you? I'm here to seize power, not to clean up your mess! You made this mess yourself, and now you and your husband have to crawl over and suck it all up!"
After he returned to his seat, he said with a sigh, "Father is in the prime of his life, and wife is in her prime. On the other hand, my father has been suffering from old age and illness, and my grandmother's hair has turned gray. But now it is much more difficult to maintain the family affairs than in previous years. Father and wife should also do their best to assist our parents in managing the family affairs."

These are words I, as a junior, should not speak, but if I wait until my parents are no longer able to help, it will be too late. Today, while I am unwittingly favored, I speak to my father and mother, requesting that you share the household chores with my grandfather and grandmother. Passing on the torch and ensuring continuity is the way to manage a household!

When Zhang and his wife heard this, they were both stunned. So you two are the family that are connected by blood, and you've already instigated your parents to seize power?
As for Zhang Jun, he had long considered himself the successor to his father's political legacy and was even prepared to completely replace him in terms of power and position. Zheng, on the other hand, stared in astonishment. She didn't believe this young man had any good intentions and was determined not to speak until she understood his true intentions.

Zhang Dai continued, “From a nation to a family, all need clear rules and priorities. The superior should not concern themselves with trivial matters, and the wise should not remain aloof.”

With a family of over a hundred members and even more servants, all income and expenses must be properly managed to keep the household in order. Especially now that wealth has dwindled, it is even more necessary to live within one's means.

Madam is from a distinguished family, known to all within the household for her virtue and competence. Having been married into the family for many years, she is a capable and devoted wife and mother, personally handling all household affairs—a duty she is always fulfilling. Though these tasks may seem small, they demonstrate her exceptional domestic skills. If not entrusted with these matters, to whom should they be? I have ventured to offer this advice, but I do not know what Grandmother's plan is.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's expression turned serious. She had always valued the authority of the head of the household, but her in-laws were too domineering, leaving her with no courage or room to argue.

But now that Zhang Dai had brought up the matter himself, she could not back down, no matter what his intentions were. So she quickly stood up and said, "Sixth Brother's praise makes me ashamed. Some of my family members may not know and may think that my son and I are just boasting to argue over something."

However, seeing how tired my aunt is from managing the household chores, I feel truly sorry for her. Today, I dare to tell my aunt that while I haven't dared to interfere in important family matters, I would never refuse to do anything, no matter how trivial or minor.

Having said all that, even though Madam Yuan was worried about her daughter-in-law, she couldn't embarrass her in public. So she could only nod slightly and say, "Your heart is admirable. Come to the inner hall another day, and I will discuss family matters with you in detail."

Seeing that his grandmother was willing to hand over the reins, Zhang Dai smiled with relief and said to his family, "There's no need to dwell on the past. Now that a virtuous woman is in charge of the household, even if our assets have dwindled, we're sure we can still manage things smoothly and manage our finances well! Any minor disagreements in the household will surely be resolved quickly."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng's expression stiffened slightly, but she maintained her smile and nodded slightly in agreement with Zhang Dai's words. However, when she turned her gaze to her husband, her eyes became resentful.

(End of this chapter)