Zhao Yuanwai's mansion is in the northern district of Kyoto. Although Zhao Yuanwai's family wealth is more than ten thousand, there are some things that cannot be done with money.
No matter how much money he has, he cannot live in areas where only the real dignitaries can live, this is determined by his status.
Although businessmen are not regarded as untouchables, they are also looked down upon by the upper class.
Can't be an official, this alone restricts them in a certain way.
Therefore, when he heard that the county magistrate came to visit in person, Zhao Yuanwai, who was playing chess with a friend, immediately threw down the chess game and came out in a hurry.
Seeing a person approaching from a distance, Zhao Yuanwai hurried up to meet him, and said in fear and fear: "Master Liu is here, the humble house is full of splendor, Mr. Zhao is far away, and I hope you will forgive me!"
This is not the first time he has met this Lord Liu. As early as when the other party was just promoted to the capital, he had contact with many gentry and rich merchants. This is probably what every county magistrate will do after taking office. At that time, Zhao Yuanwai just clinked glasses with him, and didn't even have a chance to speak.
The county magistrate Liu came to the door in person today. The purpose is unknown, but it is impossible to come to him to play chess, which made him nervous immediately.
County Magistrate Liu smiled and said, "Hehe, if Zhao Yuanwai's mansion can be called a humble house, then I really don't know what words to use to describe my county government office..."
Member Zhao saw that he was smiling, he didn't look like he was looking for trouble, so he relaxed a little, and stretched out his hand and said, "Master Liu, please come inside."
"Come here, serve tea quickly, and bring out the good tea I have treasured!"
County Magistrate Liu was a tea lover, so after taking a sip of the tea, he praised the tea, Zhao Yuanwai absent-mindedly echoed a few words, and the two chatted without saying a word, from tea to homework, and then Talking about things in the business field, the effort of cupping tea passed unknowingly, I didn't know, I thought they were such close friends...
In the end, Yuanwai Zhao couldn't help it, looked at County Magistrate Liu cautiously, and asked, "I don't know if the magistrate came to the humble house, what's the matter?"
County magistrate Liu put down his teacup unhurriedly, and asked with a smile, "Does Yuanwai Zhao know about the imperial court planning to build an academy?"
"I've heard about it." Zhao Yuanwai nodded. This matter has caused quite a stir in the capital recently. He also knows that this matter seems to be related to the eldest princess, but he didn't pay too much attention to the specifics.
Then, he realized something, looked at County Magistrate Liu, and asked, "What does Lord Liu mean?"
"To be honest, the academy has encountered some difficulties in raising money." County magistrate Liu looked at Yuanwai Zhao with a smile and asked, "I wonder if Yuanwai is willing to donate generously and do his best for the poor students all over the world." Concentration?"
Zhao Yuanwai was stunned, a poor student, what does the poor student have to do with him, why should he give generously
It turned out that Mr. Liu came today to ask him to donate money. The Zhao family did have money, but the money was not blown by the wind, so why donate it.
A trace of dissatisfaction flashed deep in Zhao Yuanwai's eyes, but he didn't show it, but the smile on his face became brighter, and he said, "Of course I am willing, Zhao has always thought about doing his best for the country—Zhao Fu, go to the accountant to pay One hundred taels of silver!"
One hundred taels of silver is not much to him, and he will not pay much loss, and he can give this Master Liu an explanation.
He didn't shirk at all, it was not a wise choice to offend the county magistrate Liu for a little money, and it would be hard for the other party to speak again if he decided the amount so simply.
County magistrate Liu still had a smile on his face, and said: "I am on behalf of the underprivileged students in the world, thank you, Yuanwai Zhao."
Member Zhao nodded again and again: "It should, it should."
The housekeeper of the Zhao Mansion quickly took out one hundred taels, and naturally the yamen servants helped to accept it.
"I still have something to do, so I'm leaving first." County Magistrate Liu and Yuanwai Zhao said a few words before getting up to leave.
Member Zhao stood up: "Send off Master Liu."
Although a hundred taels of silver was lost in vain, it was worth sending this bodhisattva away.
"If it weren't for the fact that I really can't afford that much money, I would like to donate more." When the two walked towards the gate of the mansion, County Magistrate Liu shook his head and said: "Mr. Xu from the south of the city, three thousand taels The academy donated a book collection pavilion, the treasurer Zhang in the north of the city donated a school for 1,000 taels, I am afraid that they all have the opportunity to be listed on the court monument, which makes me very envious."
"Court stele..., may I ask my lord, what is a courtyard stele?" He hadn't heard him talk about it just now, so Yuanwai Zhao asked suspiciously.
County Magistrate Liu smiled and explained: "To build so many academies in various places requires a lot of money. The treasury can't afford that much money for a while, so we can only collect donations in various places. At that time, there will be a stele erected in front of the Book Collection Pavilion, and it will be written clearly who donated it, so that those students can remember who gave them books to read, and whose kindness they should be honored..."
"In front of the school donated by shopkeeper Zhang, there will also be such a monument. As for the courtyard monument, it is erected in front of the entire academy. You will see it before entering the door. It will be mentioned by His Majesty's royal pen. Anyone who has contributed to the academy , can be nominated on the school monument, the purpose is to let the students of the academy remember who gave them everything."
"It's a pity that the monument is only erected once. After this time, unless you have made an extremely significant contribution to the academy, it is impossible to be nominated..."
Zhao Yuanwai heard the words, paused in his footsteps, and stood there in a daze.
Master Liu didn't tell him this just now!
He, Zhao Ritian, has been in business for half his life, so it's okay to be looked down upon, but he doesn't want his descendants to be like this.
He didn't want his children and grandchildren to never be able to hold their heads up, never to be able to straighten their spines and be human.
So he spared no expense to hire the best gentleman for his son, buy the best paper and pens, and even hired four of the light-accompanying schoolboys, just because he wanted him to be successful in the future, gain fame and fame, and free the Zhao family from being a businessman. shadow of home...
What is he doing all this for, not for fame
Donate the school, donate the library, engrave your name on the tablet, and stand it in front of the college. Is that tablet inscribed by His Majesty
From now on, who else would dare to look down on Zhao Ritian
Who dares to refuse
If you have the ability, you can also engrave your name on the stele, and let His Majesty write it with his own pen
That's the academy. People who come out of there, I don't know how many people will become famous and soar to the sky. At that time, maybe those ministers who are in the imperial class will occasionally remember when they were young and studying. , the familiar name I saw on the courtyard tablet.
Zhao Ritian.
Even if one person remembers, it is enough for him and the Zhao family.
Not to mention how much those senior officials still remember the kindness of those years, besides the tombstone, being able to engrave his name on the tombstone is also something that he can brag about for a lifetime.
Just now County Magistrate Liu said that this opportunity is only once, after this village, there will be no such shop.
Damn Xu Yuanwai, I was in vain for being kind to him before, such a good thing, and I didn't bring myself, a trace of anger appeared on Zhao Yuanwai's face, but it disappeared quickly, and the smile on his face was unprecedentedly bright, three or two steps After catching up with County Magistrate Liu, seeing that he was about to step out of the house, he hurriedly said, "My lord, stay behind!"
County Magistrate Liu looked back at him, and said with a smile, "Oh, what's the matter with Mr. Zhao?"