In Prince Ning's Mansion, in a certain wing room, Steward Wang looked at the stack of ledgers in front of him, and a look of sadness appeared on his fat face.
As a housekeeper who specializes in managing the foreign business of the palace, he has the habit of thoroughly checking the accounts every month.
In this way, he can understand the monthly income of the palace. Compared with previous years, whether it has increased or decreased, and what is the reason. If the income is too small, it will be difficult for him to explain to the higher authorities.
And this is what he is worrying about.
It was almost the end of the year, and he added up all the profits from the Wangfu's business outside of China, but it was only half of last year's. After two months, it would be only 70% of previous years at most. This would be considered his negligence.
If the prince blames him, I'm afraid he won't be able to keep his position as housekeeper.
Fortunately, the Ruyilu and spirits workshops have already started operation, and the shops in the city will be able to officially open their doors tomorrow. These two businesses are his greatest hope.
But in the end how much profit can be obtained, he is actually not sure in his heart.
just in case…
Steward Wang was feeling uneasy, and when he was feeling bored, the door of the room was suddenly pushed open, and a bully boy about ten years old ran in.
The bear's small face is still a little immature, but it is almost like Wang Steward, especially the round body shape, and the round face is even more similar. He ran to Wang Steward and stretched out his hand. hand, said: "Daddy, give me a few pennies, I want to buy candied haws to eat."
Steward Wang was feeling distressed, when he suddenly saw the round face of the bear boy, he felt an inexplicable anger in his heart, and cursed: "Eat, eat, eat, you know how to eat, let's see how you look after eating!"
Xiongzi was still thinking that he would go out later and try the "Sugar Snowball" that Liu's Candied Haws had launched a few days ago. Hearing from a few friends that the candied snowball was even more delicious than candied haws, he couldn't wait to run in Asking the old man for money, he was reprimanded for no reason, and he froze there for a moment.
"Have you memorized all the homework that the master taught you?" Seeing the bear boy standing there stupidly, Steward Wang was even more angry, and asked with a straight face.
I am not a material for studying, I was admitted as a scholar, and then suffered repeated setbacks, and got a job in the palace. Over the past ten years, I have come to my current position step by step. Although those people are not as nourished as he is, but reading After all, it is the right way, thinking that I will hand over my unfulfilled dreams to my son. Who would have thought that this brat has no interest in reading, but he can't forget to eat at any time... He is really his own son.
"Recite, recite it." The bear child still has some eyesight, knowing that the current father can't be messed with, he stammered.
"Recite it once and I'll listen."
I don't know what happened to my father today, and suddenly wanted to test his homework, the bear child was very happy, fortunately, he had memorized those twists and turns yesterday, even if he recited it, although he stumbled, but fortunately Nothing went wrong either.
Hearing that the bear had finished reciting it, Steward Wang's expression finally improved.
However, I was a little puzzled in my heart. When the school took his homework in the past, the brat could never recite it completely. What happened this time? Bewitched
I thought that if he couldn't recite it, I would reprimand him a few words, telling him to study hard, don't just think about playing and eating all day long... I didn't expect that the bear boy performed supernormally, and the words of admonition he had prepared suddenly disappeared. played a role.
The good plan was interrupted, and Wang Steward's face became serious again. He pulled a piece of white paper, picked up a pen and wrote a few lines on it, handed it to the bear boy, and said: "Learning is endless, Don't be proud and complacent, go and memorize these few sentences, and I will check them at night."
When they were on the mountain a few days ago, the female teacher asked the group of children to recite these words. Butler Wang's ears were almost calloused that day, so he wrote down those few sentences unintentionally.
At this time, I just use these few sentences to dismiss the bear boy, at least before he recites it, I won't bother myself.
"Go, go..." Shopkeeper Wang waved his hand and said impatiently.
The bear kid walked out of the room with the paper in a daze, his ten-year-old head still couldn't fully figure out why he had recited it clearly, and what he got was not a reward, but a punishment for continuing to recite it...
The brat, who was tricked by his father, sat under the eaves of the wing with a dull expression, looking up at the sky, showing a loveless expression.
After a long time, the bear boy sighed leisurely, and held up the paper in his hand. Having attended private schools for several years, he was able to read quite a few words, and soon there were voices under the eaves.
"The rules for disciples, the teachings of saints, the first is filial piety, and the second is faithfulness.
Love everyone, be kind and benevolent, if you have spare energy, study literature... oh..."
The voice was clear and lively like a child's, but the occasional sighs were a bit out of tune with the atmosphere at this time.
…
At the same time, a majestic middle-aged man came out of King Ning's study, rubbed the center of his brows, and the cold autumn wind blew by, which made him sober up a lot.
"Master Zhifu, shall I take you home?" An old man in butler uniform came over and said respectfully.
The middle-aged man waved his hand and said: "No need, I still know the official Lu of the palace, just walk back by yourself."
Hearing the words, the old man no longer persisted, and turned around and retreated after watching the figure of the middle-aged man disappear.
But at this time, the middle-aged man walking in the palace showed some sadness on his face.
As the magistrate of Qing'an Prefecture, he is in charge of the affairs of the government. In two months, he will return to Beijing to report on his duties. At that time, the imperial court will evaluate his performance, including the population, land reclamation, and taxation of Qing'an Prefecture within this year. , food, public security, education and other aspects of the situation, and according to the rise and fall of punishment and reward.
He wasn't worried about land reclamation and taxation, but this education alone really worried him.
The students of Qing'an Mansion did not perform well in this year's scientific examination, and the number of Jinshi they got was far less than in previous years. As a result, his achievements in education will be greatly reduced.
The merits of being educated cannot be achieved in a day. Although the progress in other aspects can completely cover up the lack of education, but in terms of face, it is still a bit embarrassing.
After all, Qing'an Prefecture is the largest city in Jingguo besides Kyoto, and the number of students is also second only to Kyoto. In previous years, the number of students who passed the imperial examination was enough to rival Kyoto, but this time, they were far behind. opened.
Thinking about this matter in my heart, when passing by a certain wing room, I suddenly heard a intermittent child's voice.
"The rules for disciples, the teachings of saints, the first is filial piety, and the second is faithfulness.
Alas..., I love everyone, but be kind, and if I have spare energy, I will study literature..., sugar snowball, sugar snowball, sugar snowball, alas..."