[Red House] Ban'er's Road to Imperial Examination

After seeing off the guests in the evening, the palace returned to quietness again. The two young ladies of the Wang family did not go back immediately, but planned to stay at their mother's house for a few days. to the parents.

Wang Ziteng had dinner with his wife. Although they were old couples, they had a special warmth, which was so charming that even the maids couldn't help but blush because of it.

The next morning, the two daughters and two sons-in-law accompanied their parents, and there was another kind of warmth. At night, when the lights were on, Wang Ziteng took time to discuss what happened on the birthday with Zou Cheng.

"What the hell happened yesterday? You actually wanted to drink alcohol to find out what he said?"

Wang Ziteng sat on the teacher's chair in the study, his face was no longer serious outside, and he relaxed a lot.

Zou Cheng didn't answer his words immediately, but asked with a smile: "Yesterday, I saw that my master was not in a good mood. It's my wife's birthday, and the family is happy. It should be a happy thing, so why is my master worried?"

Hearing that Wang Ziteng put away the relaxed expression on his face, and frowned, after a while, he sighed and said: "Sir, I am not an outsider, since you asked, I will not hide it from you, yesterday You have also seen the younger generation who came here. My two sons-in-law are just middle-class people. They have managed to get to where they are today by relying on the family power behind them and my support. If you want to count on them to help me, I'm afraid It will take many years to wait. My niece and son-in-law, the dignified heir of the family, has become a big housekeeper, entangled in general affairs all day long. This is a matter that a man should take care of? My nephew is also useless Yes, doing some ridiculous things all day long, all pointing at me to wipe his ass behind his back, finally producing a Baoyu with outstanding aptitude, but he has been completely spoiled by the women in the family, indulging in the gentleness of the country In the future, I’m afraid that I’m just a veteran of rouge powder, and it’s useless. Thinking about my father’s generation, although it is not as heroic as my grandfather’s generation, it still has a lot of talents. Although there are some fights, but with mutual support, It must not be underestimated, why is it that I am the only one who supports it when it comes to my generation?"

This question made Zou Cheng a little speechless. It took him a while to open his mouth, and he tried to comfort him: "As the saying goes, every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite, and my master has such difficulties. Like me, isn't it the same?" Do you have such concerns? Otherwise, with my temperament, I would have resigned from my employer long ago, retired to the mountains and forests, and gone to be free and easy. Why would I stay here all day to plot and plot, in order to leave a way for those unworthy descendants? "

After hearing this, Wang Ziteng was reluctant to be comforted, probably because he felt that he was not the only one who was so unlucky when he saw other people having such worries, and he felt a lot better in his heart, but the two of them fell into silence again, sighing each other.

It took a long time for the two of them to calm down, and Wang Ziteng repeated the previous question again, "Tell me, how is your talk with Wang Yue? Is he worthy of my support? It can be regarded as my junior, and it is much stronger than outsiders."

Zou Cheng shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I didn't talk much about him, but I went to Jia Yucun."

"How did this topic get brought up on him?" Wang Ziteng knew his staff very well, and knew that he was not a random person. Since he was willing to abandon the topic he planned earlier and bring the matter to Jia Yucun, And using the method of pouring wine, it seems that this time the matter is not trivial.

Zou Cheng told the whole story about what he had talked with Wang Yue yesterday, and when the matter was finished, Wang Ziteng's anger was like boiling water, which might overflow at any time, and he said coldly: "Then Jia Yucun actually treats me like a fool." Playing with it is really hateful!"

Zou Cheng hurriedly bowed his head and pleaded guilty: "This is all the fault of my subordinates. If I had been more careful at the time and could have investigated the matter clearly, I would not have been deceived by him."

How could Wang Ziteng get angry at his trusted staff because of Jia Yucun's affairs? He quickly said, "What does this have to do with Mr. Zou? It's because Jia Yucun is too cunning, and Mr. Zou treats small things like a gentleman. The belly of a person, naturally, can't think of his private means."

Although Wang Ziteng didn't blame him for this, Zou Cheng still felt very guilty. He should have checked this kind of matter carefully, but if he was more careful, he would never be deceived by Jia Yucun's means.

Now it seems that this matter is very small, but if the boss has something to do, this kind of trivial matter will become the straw that weighs down the weight. At that time, he will have no face to see the boss!

Furthermore, he and his master are like grasshoppers on the same rope, and if something happens to his master, he will not be able to escape.

However, Zou Cheng is not a person who indulges in self-pity and self-pity. When he realized that he had done something wrong, he immediately made up for it, "The subordinates have already sent people to Jinling, and the master has a lot of contacts there, and he wants to find out about this matter." It's not difficult, and I have already sent people to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to investigate. Although the verdict of this case is absurd, since Jia Yucun has already made such a verdict, it must be recorded in the file. These cases must be sent to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for record , you can find out the clues by checking with the Ministry of Punishment."

"I'm afraid Jinling will have to wait for a few more days, but the Ministry of Punishment has already got a result?"

Zou Cheng nodded, and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve. Even though he had already read the paper and was familiar with the content on it, he would have been angry if he wanted to be angry, but the person who took out the paper again At that time, his face was still a little ugly, but he still suppressed his anger in front of Wang Ziteng, and he didn't show it particularly obviously.

But what kind of person is Wang Ziteng? He already has a deep understanding of Zou Cheng, and he is also a person who is good at observing words and expressions. When recording the judgment paper, he only glanced at it briefly, and he already had some calculations in his mind.

After thinking about it carefully for a while, Wang Ziteng had already made a decision, and he said decisively: "This time, I would like to trouble Mr. Zou to go to Jinling in person to see what is hidden about Jiayu Village. You don’t have to be merciful if you live in it, just take him down. You can’t keep this person. Cooperating with this kind of person is tantamount to seeking skin from a tiger. I would rather not have help now than have this kind of help that will come back at any time. As for the files in the Jinling Mansion, I remember that there was another member of the tribe who worked in the Jinling Mansion. After Mr. Zou went, he went to him and asked him to revise the files in the yamen, and he would be sentenced as slavery and murder. You can use other methods if you can’t use lures, and I will be in charge of the capital here, and this matter must be resolved before anyone finds out.”

Zou Cheng naturally knew what other methods Wang Ziteng mentioned. Although he was just a scholar, he already had countless human blood on his hands, so he would not show mercy to the methods Wang Ziteng said.

On the contrary, he had some doubts about how Wang Ziteng would deal with him in the capital, but it was better not to know some things, so even though he had many guesses in his mind, he just kept silent and just nodded.

The two of them had made up their minds, and it took only two days for Zou Cheng to set off with his people, so Wang Ziteng had the leisure to ask him what he thought of Wang Yue.

"It's just the first contact, and most of the people you talk about are other people, so how can you have any impression?"

Wang Ziteng knew that he didn't want to say more, but he still couldn't help asking: "Since we have talked, I still have some impressions, but it's just a general chat, and it's not a serious question, sir. Afraid of making a mistake?"

Now that Wang Ziteng has reached this point, Zou Cheng has no choice but to talk about it: "Although he has not had much contact with him, his subordinates still have some thoughts about him. Needless to say, he is smart. There are not many exams for scholars, but they are not pedantic, but rather smooth, which is rare."

"Sleek? Sleek at a young age?"

Zou Cheng explained with a smile: "Actually, it's more slippery than round on the outside. It looks a little cunning on the outside, but it's very principled on the inside. I guess he did it on purpose this time."

"On purpose? Why did Mr. Zou say that?"

"His dislike for Jia Yucun was too obvious, and the rhetoric behind it was really ingenious. I didn't notice it at first, but after I calmed down and thought about it carefully, I discovered his flaws. Since his acting almost fooled me , it would be easy for him to hide his dislike of Jia Yucun from me, but he showed it so clearly, probably to attract my interest."

"Could it be that he deliberately did this to lure me to deal with Jia Yucun? Could there be something disgusting hidden?"

Zou Cheng thought for a while, and then said: "I don't think so, I think he probably didn't want to owe his boss any favors by doing this."

"Don't want to owe me a favor?"

"Yes!" Zou Cheng nodded with certainty: "Probably because his parents taught by example, he is not willing to owe favors, I guess he learned about Jia Yucun from his classmates or other people, and he Guessing that the dude is your nephew, and knowing that Jia Yucun has evil intentions, he naturally wants to remind him. It just so happens that he also wants to find a backer for himself. This is the reward for the master's protection of him, but he is too young. If you say it directly, you are afraid that we will not believe it, so you have to make a detour."

"Remuneration?" Wang Ziteng thought for a while, couldn't help but smiled, and said: "After all, I'm still young, and I'm too bookish, probably because I think everything can be traded fairly, but I don't want to owe it to him My favor makes me feel more at ease."

Although he said so, Wang Ziteng is still very happy. No matter whether Wang Yue's actions are a little naive or not, at least it means that he is a person who will repay his kindness, unlike Jia Yucun, who is ungrateful. rest assured.

"Congratulations to the boss for finally finding a strong general!"

"It's still early!" Wang Ziteng waved his hands, but couldn't help showing a smile on the corner of his mouth, maybe this time he can really find a helper for him.

The author has something to say: It is said that after a long period of cloudiness and heavy fog, it will clear up. There was heavy fog this morning, and the sun came out at noon. I took out the quilt and clothes to dry, and slept in a warm quilt to dry at night! !