There were only ten copper coins, but they were quite heavy and felt heavy in the palm of my hand.
The uncle looked at the ten copper coins in his hand, then at Zhu Ping'an's warm and generous face. For a moment, his mouth was open and twitching slightly. He opened his mouth for a long time but couldn't utter a word.
"A gift of goose feathers from a thousand miles away is more valuable than a token of love. This is also a token of my love, so please don't refuse it. I wish you success in the imperial examination and a triumphant return." After Zhu Ping'an stuffed ten copper coins into his uncle's hand, he curled the corners of his mouth and said casually.
After hearing what Zhu Ping'an said, the uncle opened his mouth even wider.
After several seconds, Uncle Zhu Shouren finally came to his senses. He looked at the ten-cent copper coin in his hand with a look of disgust on his face. What can ten cents do? It's not even enough for a pot of tea at a restaurant! You are the top scholar of the Ming Dynasty, a sixth-rank Hanlin, and you have the nerve to take out ten cents. Uncle Zhu Shouren was disgusted.
"Uncle, do you think it's too little?" Zhu Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the entire expression of his uncle Zhu Shouren.
"No." Uncle laughed dryly.
Everyone knows that Zhu Ping'an encountered pirates and shipwrecks on the sea a few days ago. Zhu Ping'an was really grateful to God for being able to save his life. It is normal for valuables to be robbed or lost in the sea. Everyone can understand that Zhu Ping'an cannot come up with money, and we can't ask for too much.
However, Uncle Zhu Shouren is not someone who gives up easily.
"Zhi'er, your wife is rich, why don't you ask for her? When your uncle comes back from the imperial examination, he will not give you a penny less." Uncle Zhu Shouren stood there and looked at Zhu Ping'an, nodded in the direction of Li Shu, and reminded Zhu Ping'an softly.
At this moment, Li Shu was surrounded by her fourth aunt and her third aunt, who were asking her about what had happened to Dahai.
Your wife is rich, why don't you ask for some money... ... You don't have money, it doesn't matter, your wife is rich, why don't you ask your wife for some money and then give it to me. The uncle stood on Zhu Ping'an's side and put forward a feasible suggestion.
What a great guy, uncle!
With his actual actions, my uncle once again refreshed his bottom line and once again proved that he is much thicker than ordinary people.
Zhu Pingan looked at his uncle quietly. Although he knew what kind of person his uncle was, he was still surprised by his uncle's shamelessness. Yesterday, his uncle and outsiders tried to seize his family's land but failed. The conspiracy was exposed in front of everyone and he was chased and punished by the old man. But today, not only could his uncle stand in front of him without blushing or breathing heavily, and did not say a word about what happened yesterday, but he could also "force a loan" calmly. When the "forced loan" did not achieve the goal, the uncle said openly, "Your wife is rich, why don't you ask for it!"
This is such a shameless person. If the uncle applies this shameless spirit to other places, he will definitely achieve something. After all, shamelessness is also an element of success.
"Yes, Zhu'er, you can ask your wife for some money."
As soon as the uncle finished speaking, Old Mrs. Zhu, who was watching closely on the side, heard the uncle's proposal, slapped her thigh, and immediately reminded Zhu Ping'an.
The wife of the piglet gave away four bird's nests at once, so she must be very rich, and she had heard that the rich man Li in Shanghe Village had a lot of money. If the wife of the piglet slipped a little through her fingers, it would be enough for the eldest son to go to Yingtian for the exam.
Well
Grandma, why are you joining in the fun? Well, grandma has always favored uncle, and this time is no exception, so it's normal.
"What's wrong with my husband?" Li Shu walked over and asked. Her voice was very gentle and sweet, which made people feel very comfortable.
Zhu Ping'an briefly explained it to Li Shu in a low voice.
Oh~~ Li Shu nodded, pursed her rosy lips and said "oh", her dark eyes glanced at her uncle and grandmother, then handed the red envelope in her hand to Zhu Ping'an, smiling like a flower: "Uncle's exam is a big deal, of course I have to support him. This is the gift my grandmother just gave me. Shu'er feels it is very heavy, it must be the good things my grandmother gave me, it must be worth a lot of money. Husband, please give it to my uncle on my behalf."
After hearing what Li Shu said, Mrs. Zhu turned her head away somewhat unnaturally, her face slightly red.
"Uncle, just focus on preparing for the exam. We are all family, so don't mention anything about paying back the money." Zhu Ping'an stuffed the red envelope into his uncle Zhu Shouren's hands again, and curled the corners of his lips generously.
The red envelope fell into his hand, and it was exactly the same weight as the ten cents he received the first time.
Another ten cents!
The uncle opened his mouth wide again. He knew what was inside as soon as he touched it. It was true that people of the same family stick together. If Zhu'er gave ten cents, Zhu'er's wife would also give ten cents!
"Oh, by the way, uncle, my father mentioned this morning that he gave you three strings of coins as travel expenses the day before yesterday. Copper coins are too heavy to carry on the road, so don't forget to change them into silver and take them with you."
Seeing that his uncle was about to speak, Zhu Pingan spoke first. Just now, he heard the conversation between his uncle and grandfather, and he knew that his uncle had not told his grandfather about the money his father gave him. The three strings of money his father gave to his uncle without his mother's knowledge were his father's private savings that he had worked hard to save for a year. His uncle didn't even mention it. Zhu Pingan felt that it was necessary to let his grandfather and grandmother know about what his father did, so that his grandfather and grandmother would not think that his father ignored the relationship between brothers.
"Brother, didn't you say yesterday that you were penniless?" Aunt Xiao Si asked politely, raising her voice.
Grandpa and grandmother also turned their eyes to my uncle, examining, exploring and questioning him.
"Ahem, if it wasn't for Zhu'er's reminder, I would have almost forgotten about these three strings of money." The uncle coughed, his face not red and his breath not panting, as if he had just remembered it.
After this incident, my uncle never mentioned borrowing money again.
However, although the issue of borrowing money was no longer mentioned, my uncle had other ideas.
"Now that Zhu'er is the top scholar and works in the Hanlin Academy, he must have many acquaintances in the officialdom of Nanzhili. Why don't you write a few visiting cards in your name and I will go and visit them on your behalf." The uncle stroked his beard and said to Zhu Ping'an.
After hearing this, Mr. Zhu turned his attention to Zhu Ping'an, thinking that if Zhu Ping'an, as the top scholar, could help his eldest son find some connections, the exam would probably be easier.
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, uncle. I'm also new to the official career and have no old acquaintance with Nanzhili." Zhu Ping'an glanced at his uncle, speechless. His uncle was still thinking about using connections to get in through the back door. You didn't study hard to prepare for the imperial examination, but instead thought about these crooked ways.
"Alas..." The uncle sighed hard as he looked at Zhu Ping'an, then shook his head, looking as if he was disappointed with Zhu Ping'an and putting himself in Zhu Ping's shoes. "Zi'er is now entering the official career, and the human relations and worldly wisdom are the most important. Zhi'er, you are still young and still lacking in this field. Zhi'er, do you know that your memorial has caused trouble? You have offended Prime Minister Yan, and if no one helps you, this time it will be more dangerous than good. You can write a few visiting cards, and I will take the time to visit a few adults on your behalf, so that someone can help you talk to Prime Minister Yan and make a big thing small."
"Don't worry about it, uncle. The imperial examination is a big deal. You should just concentrate on preparing for the exam. If your exam is delayed because of Zhuer's matter, Zhuer will not be able to bear it." Zhu Ping'an shook his head.
Uh, uncle is a little confused.
Seeing the disappointed look in Grandpa Zhu's eyes, Zhu Ping'an felt a little reluctant. Grandpa Zhu wanted his uncle to succeed in the imperial examination so much. For the sake of his grandfather, Zhu Ping'an thought for a moment and said to his uncle Zhu Shouren, "Oh, uncle, there are more than ten books of notes and insights written down after reading the Four Books and Five Classics at my home. You can take them with you when you leave. You can read them when you are free on the road. I will give you some of my opinions. Maybe they can help you pass the time on the road."
Hearing this, the uncle shook his head with disinterest, "I brought Zhuzi's annotations with me, but I'm afraid I don't have much time on the road. I'll study Zhuer's notes and insights after I come back from the imperial examination."
Well, it's like throwing a pearl into the dark and playing the lute to a cow.
If it weren't for his grandfather, Zhu Ping'an would not have lent the notes and insights to his uncle. However, his uncle disdained these things that Zhu Ping'an thought were worth a fortune.
A forced melon is not sweet, so forget it. (To be continued.)