"Brother Zhu wants to introduce us to your nephew?!" Hu Wei and Xia Qiang couldn't help but be overjoyed when they heard this.
Did they deliberately make friends with Zhu Shouren because of his charisma? Was it because Zhu Shouren's talent impressed them? Was it because Zhu Shouren had some unknown talent
No, none of them! Personality charm, talent, and ability have nothing to do with Zhu Shouren.
The reason why they deliberately made friends with Zhu Shouren was entirely because of Zhu Ping'an, and Zhu Shouren happened to be Zhu Ping'an's uncle! Zhu Shouren often said that he was not only Zhu Ping'an's uncle, but also Zhu Ping'an's guide to elementary school. They wanted to get to know Zhu Ping'an through Zhu Shouren, and establish a relationship with Zhu Ping'an, a talented official. With this relationship with Zhu Ping'an, they would have great benefits in the future, whether in the imperial examination or in business.
"Of course. Others may not know your talents, but as a good friend who spends every day with you, I know them very well. You two are brilliant and talented. If my nephew gets your help, it will be like Uncle Liu getting the help of Crouching Dragon and Phoenix. He will surely be like a fish in water and a tiger with wings in the future. It will be difficult for him not to make great achievements and rise to the top. As Ping An's uncle, I have the obligation and responsibility to introduce you two to him."
Zhu Shouren nodded vigorously, praised the two again, and firmly expressed his intention to introduce them to Zhu Ping'an.
Of course, Zhu Shouren didn't think so in his heart. What Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick? In his eyes, the two were just two money bags. In fact, before returning from the county, Zhu Shouren invited Hu Wei and Xia Qiang to Xiahe Village because he had two plans. He made up his mind in the county to go to Yingtian to find Zhu Ping'an to ask for an official position. If he could get silver this time when he returned home, it would be the best. Then he would go to Yingtian to find Zhu Ping'an alone. When Hu Wei and Xia Qiang came, he would take them around the village to see the Zhuangyuanfang and Zhuangyuan Pavilion, and see the rural scenery, just as a thank you for their care in the county; if he couldn't get money this time when he returned home, he would invite the two to go with him, and treat them as ATMs for the travel expenses, food and accommodation, and they would pay for the expenses along the way.
Now the result also showed that he could not get money at home. As soon as he asked for money, he was beaten up by his father, his two brothers also opposed it, and his wife Wu almost scratched herself into pieces... ...
Therefore, at this moment Zhu Shouren made a second-hand preparation and invited Hu Wei and Xia Qiang to go to Yingtian to find Zhu Ping'an together, and let the two of them be his money bags and cover his travel, food and accommodation expenses along the way.
"Thank you, Brother Zhu. Thank you, Brother Zhu. You are too kind." Hu Wei and Xia Qiang were so happy to hear Zhu Shouren's expression again that they couldn't close their mouths. They thanked Zhu Shouren again and again, and then they said with a flattering look: "Speaking of talent and knowledge, how can we compare with Brother Zhu? Brother Zhu is a top scholar in elementary school. We have long regretted that Brother Zhu has lived in seclusion in the countryside. It's a pity that Brother Zhu is talented and knowledgeable but has no place to use his talents. Brother Zhu "The talent of Zhu is far superior to that of your servants. If Brother Zhu comes out to help you, your nephew will be like King Wen of Zhou's Grandfather Jiang Ziya and our Emperor Taizu's Prime Minister Liu Bowen. The merits he has made will definitely be ten or a hundred times what he has made now. Even being a noble or a prime minister will be as easy as taking something out of a bag. Those servants, at most, have some brute force and can just not cause trouble for you. How can they help you achieve great achievements? How can they help you be a noble or a prime minister? Only Brother Zhu can do this."
"Ahem, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it... I still know my own limitations. How can I compare to Taigong and Prime Minister Liu Bowen? At most, I can only look up to them..." Zhu Shouren pretended to be modest and waved his hands repeatedly, but his face was full of joy. He was very pleased with the compliments from Hu Wei and Xia Qiang.
What a self-aware person, what a person who can only look up to others, Zhu Shouren's self-awareness is unmatched... ...
"So, Brother Zhu should have gone to help your nephew a long time ago. Those servants were all promoted to officials by your nephew. In terms of closeness, talent and ability, Brother Zhu is more qualified than them. When Brother Zhu goes, he will surely be crowned with a black hat and become an official. Brother Zhu has accumulated more than 40 years of experience. Once he makes use of it, his future achievements may be even higher than those of your nephew. In the future, it will be a good story for your Zhu family, with an uncle and a nephew both holding high positions in the court." Hu Wei and Xia Qiang felt quite sorry for Zhu Shouren.
"I am not going here to seek an official position, but to help my nephew. As the ancients said, brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons fight in battle. My second brother is not very promising, he just farms, and Dachuan is the same. Unfortunately, my nephew has no one to help him. As his uncle, I have the obligation and responsibility to lend him a helping hand."
Zhu Shouren stroked his beard and spoke slowly with his hands behind his back, looking as if he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and could not shirk it.
"Brother Zhu is indeed a kind and benevolent elder." Hu Wei and Xia Qiang complimented him.
"Hey, who told me I'm his uncle? Originally, I really didn't want to go, for fear of being misunderstood. However, my nephew is still young, lacks experience in doing things, and is prone to mistakes. Some time ago, he even got involved in the muddy water of Yang Jisheng, that madman who didn't know his own limits, impeaching Yan Song. Isn't this like an old man drinking arsenic to hate his life? Who is Yan Ge Lao? He is a big shot who is second to none and has a lot of connections. It's not enough to try every means to please him, how can I impeach him and offend him... ... Fortunately, Lord Yan Ge Lao was magnanimous and just exiled my nephew to Jingnan. He did a lot of wrong things while serving in Jingnan. It is said that he even beat up a father-in-law's godson. What do you think this is? How can you offend the emperor's close attendants? It's not enough to serve him... ... So, as an uncle, I couldn’t sit still any longer. I had to take the risk of being misunderstood and go to help my nephew find the direction and route, and lend him a hand... "
Zhu Shouren said this with a righteous look on his face, as if he was willing to endure humiliation for the sake of Zhu Ping'an.
"Brother Zhu's love for his nephew is really admirable!" Hu Wei and Xia Qiang complimented.
"No, no..." Zhu Shouren waved his hands modestly and sighed.
"Why is Brother Zhu sighing?" asked Hu Wei and Xia Qiang.
"Alas, every family has its own problems. As you can see, my family doesn't understand me and almost broke up with me. Some time ago, I helped a poor woman in Jingnan and spent all my savings. I'm afraid my family won't give me a penny now. This journey is long..."
Zhu Shouren sighed and spoke slowly.
"It's not that difficult, don't worry, brother Zhu, we are here. We will cover the expenses for the trip, so you don't have to worry about it."
Hu Wei and Xia Qiang looked at each other and said in unison.
“This... is so embarrassing..." Zhu Shouren said in a pretentious tone, the curve of his mouth almost unable to be maintained.
"Brother Zhu, please don't think so. Brother Zhu helped us introduce your nephew, and we are worried about how to thank Brother Zhu. The travel expenses are not worth mentioning. Brother Zhu must give us this opportunity to express our gratitude..."
Hu Wei and Xia Qiang said firmly.
"Oh, you see, I really can't win the argument with you. This won't happen again, this won't happen again..." Zhu Shouren said helplessly after refusing three times.