"Is this appropriate?" Cheng Zheng asked.
"What's appropriate or inappropriate?" Cheng Jing said coldly, "We have been forced to this point."
Cheng Zheng was silent.
Cheng Jing had his eyes on his eldest daughter the most. In addition, his son-in-law was very capable, so he could expect to rise to prominence in the near future. Seeing that his eldest daughter did not seem to agree, he thought about it and decided to tell her about the past grievances with the second wife, so that she would not think that he was repaying kindness with grievances and was ungrateful: "Zheng'er, do you know why your fourth uncle was unable to become an official?"
Cheng Zheng looked at her father in astonishment.
This is also what she has always been puzzled about.
Are the Cheng family's miscellaneous affairs so important
There is actually a person who has passed the imperial examination twice and is unable to enter the officialdom!
Whenever people asked about it, my father and uncle always said that it was because my fourth uncle couldn't stand the hard work of paperwork and didn't want to become a government official.
If that's the case, why bother to take the imperial examination? Wouldn't it be better to become a juren
Because of this incident, my fourth uncle almost became a laughing stock of the Jiangnan family.
I feel that my fourth uncle gave up a good career path and mixed up with those merchants who traded goods from north to south. He was blinded by greed, forgot his roots, and had poor character... My fourth uncle certainly didn't think of this when he took the imperial examination!
However, if my fourth uncle had not passed the imperial examination, I'm afraid he wouldn't have felt good about it.
Who would take seriously a commoner whose family has no achievements
It's really neither left nor right.
Only now did she realize how embarrassing Cheng Chi's situation was.
"Why doesn't Fourth Uncle enter the government?" Cheng Zheng couldn't help but mutter.
Cheng Jing's face became even more stern, and he whispered, "At that time, your grandfather was in his prime, but he was bedridden and had not many days left. But Cheng Xu never discussed the future with your grandfather. After much difficulty, Cheng Xu was invited over, but Cheng Xu refused to discuss it with your grandfather. One moment, he said that his father's illness would soon get better, and asked your grandfather not to worry about it; the next moment, he said that his career was difficult now, and the emperor was unpredictable, and it was like living with a tiger; the next moment, he said that he had long since stopped dealing with the people in the court, and originally thought that his father would retire in a few years, and hand over the family tree to your grandfather, and let your grandfather take on the responsibility of bringing glory to the family... We just don’t talk about how to arrange things in the future. Your second uncle and I were confused, but your second uncle told your grandfather that once your grandfather passed away, your second uncle and I would have to return to our hometown to observe mourning. Observing mourning is a small matter, but being reinstated is a big matter. If we were arranged to be county magistrates in remote areas or stay at home idle, the world would be completely different in a few years. I’m afraid that your second uncle and I would be forgotten by everyone, and at that time we would really have to act according to Cheng Xu’s wishes…”
Cheng Zheng couldn't hide her surprise!
My father even called the second branch's ancestor by his name, which shows how angry he was!
She straightened her clothes solemnly.
Cheng Jing paused and continued, "Your grandfather and second uncle made an appointment with Cheng Xu to talk. Because your second uncle and I have already achieved fame and honor and are adults, your grandfather arranged for your second uncle and I to listen quietly behind the screen.
“Cheng Xu and your grandfather are going in circles.
"Your grandfather was already terminally ill at the time, and it was difficult for him to speak and eat. If his affairs after his death had not been arranged, he would have passed away long ago." At this point, Cheng Jing's eyes gleamed with tears, "How could he have the energy to interact with Cheng Xu? I had no choice but to ask Cheng Xu directly what arrangements he had. Cheng Xu then said that the Cheng family was small, and he wanted your fourth uncle to manage the general affairs when he grew up.
“We all felt relieved at the time.
"Your fourth uncle was less than seven years old at that time. He was at the age of playing. He climbed up the roof to remove tiles and went to the river to catch fish. He never sat down to read a page of a book all day. Your grandfather was afraid that no one would be able to discipline your fourth uncle after he passed away, so he left a message for me and your second uncle to take care of your fourth uncle. During my lifetime, we are not allowed to divide the family. If your fourth uncle is willing to study and become an official when he grows up, that would be great. If he just wants to be a carefree old man, let him take care of the general affairs of the eldest house. If he is unwilling to take care of the general affairs of the eldest house, let me and your second uncle keep an eye on him and don't let him commit crimes and ruin the reputation of our ancestors.
"Cheng Xu proposed that your fourth uncle should take care of the affairs of Jiuru Lane when he grows up. This is simply a way out for your fourth uncle. Your second uncle and I both thought that Cheng Xu saw that the eldest son had three sons and was afraid that the third son would have another scholar to suppress the second son. Thinking of your fourth uncle's naughty behavior, we both thought that this arrangement was not bad.
"Your grandfather is more thoughtful than us. Hearing this, he not only did not feel happy, but frowned and asked what Cheng Xu meant. He also said that Fourth Uncle might not be suitable.
"Cheng Xu smiled and said nothing more, then stood up and was about to leave.
“Your grandfather and your second uncle didn’t keep him either.
"As he was almost at the door, he suddenly turned around and told your grandfather that neither he nor your great-grandfather or grandfather were cut out for business, and that the family had been struggling to survive for so many years thanks to the legacy left by the ancestors. For the sake of the ancestors' reputation, he even arranged for his only son to take care of the household affairs, but he died at a young age, and he left behind only orphans and widows to take care of... He had done everything he could. Since the people in the eldest house were determined to become officials and were unwilling to arrange for someone to take over the household affairs, then the household affairs would continue to be handled by the second house. Not only would it have nothing to do with the eldest house in the future, he would also move the second house to the capital.
"And then he said: I almost forgot that the first and second branches had already separated!"
Cheng Zheng was stunned and couldn't help but said, "Isn't he confused? It's just a household affair. Many families hire their own stewards to take care of it. As long as there are people in the family who are officials, the business will be good. Besides, there is no perfect thing in the world. You can't be a prime minister and have a lot of gold and silver. You have to be on the top everywhere. How can others live? The world has always been worried about inequality rather than scarcity. It's easier for people in the officialdom to do business than others, so how can they compete with the people for profit? This is not the demeanor that should be passed down from generation to generation in poetry and etiquette!"
Cheng Jing is the eldest son and grandson, so he naturally knows about the Seven Star Hall.
But this is the secret of the Cheng family. No matter how much he likes Cheng Zheng, he cannot tell Cheng Zheng the secret of the Cheng family.
He could only answer vaguely, "Cheng Xu's worry is not without reason. When Ze Gong of the third house was managing the family business, the court was changing. Many people had no tomorrow after today, and they had no sense of propriety and integrity. The reputation of Zhi Gong and Lie Gong could no longer protect them. The Cheng family had been rich in Nanjing for a hundred years. When those officials, refugees and bandits had no money and no food, the first thing they thought of was the Cheng family. In order to protect the family business, Ze Gong had to keep spending a lot of money to hire people to guard the house, open the warehouse to release grain, entertain guests and give gifts. By the time Cheng Xu took over, the family had already become an empty shell. It was not until your fourth uncle took charge of the general affairs in recent years that the family gradually recovered its vitality."
Cheng Zheng's lips twitched slightly, but she didn't say anything.
She grew up in Hanbi Mountain House. How could she not know what life was like at home
Even though it was the famous Haining Gu family, when she married into the family, she was secretly surprised at how poor the family was. It was not until she started to interact with other aristocratic families in Jiangnan that she realized that it was not the Gu family that was too poor but the Cheng family that was too rich... Fourth uncle eventually took charge of the household affairs. In the final analysis, it was because grandfather, father, and second uncle were reluctant to spend money and the wealth... But as a junior, there were some things she could not say.
Cheng Jing was thinking about the past and didn't pay much attention to Cheng Zheng's expression.
"But grandpa was so heartbroken about your fourth uncle that he refused to give in. Until the Hanlin Academy promoted two lecturers, but your second uncle, whose qualifications and knowledge were obvious to all, was not selected, your grandfather asked someone to inquire about it, and then he learned that your second uncle was originally on the list, because Cheng Xu said that your second uncle was his nephew and was very young, so he needed to hone his skills for a few more years and would have plenty of opportunities in the future. He also jokingly told the president of the Hanlin Academy that your second uncle gave up this time, and the Hanlin Academy should remember this favor when selecting a lecturer next time.
"Everyone praised Cheng Xu for his fairness. Even the emperor specially asked him to praise him and rewarded your second uncle with a set of writing brushes, inkstones and paper.
“Your grandfather then realized how serious the situation was.
"I have no choice but to agree to let your fourth uncle take care of the chores when he grows up.
"But your grandfather also secretly told me and your second uncle to protect your fourth uncle. Once we can stand firmly on our own feet, we will leave the household affairs to others, no matter who is in charge, but we must not let your fourth uncle get into trouble."
But they didn't expect that household chores could be so dangerous.
If it weren't for Qin Zining, Cheng Chi would have died long ago when he first debuted.
The decision was made by the father. The mother had no way of blaming him, so she blamed herself.
From then on, he no longer had a good face towards the two brothers.
I feel like they are sacrificing their brother's life for their own future.
When he and his second brother saw Cheng Chi, they felt guilty and did not dare to face him.
He didn't even have anyone to talk to.
Thinking of this, Cheng Jing's eyes dimmed.
Jiashan is his only son, and he doesn't want him to take over all those messy chores.
The family line to my second uncle has been cut short, and there’s not even anyone to inherit his line.
From now on... I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to give up Qixingtang.
Cheng Jing sighed and said, "Speaking of which, I feel sorry for your mother this time. Your second uncle and I have wanted to separate the clan for a long time, but unfortunately we have never found an excuse. It just so happened that your brother's incident happened, and Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng were caught by your mother again. This may be God's will! If we separate, neither I nor your fourth uncle will have to be held hostage by Cheng Xu. If there is an opportunity to be recommended like last time, your fourth uncle can also take the opportunity to get away, leave the family affairs behind, and go to be an official in a good way."
Cheng Zheng nodded slightly.
The news that Song Jingran recommended his fourth uncle to be an official in the Ministry of Works but his father refused his request on the grounds of family avoidance had already spread throughout the capital.
While everyone was sighing at the prosperity of the Cheng family, many people also said in a sarcastic tone that their father was afraid that his fourth uncle would block his brother's path after entering the government... For this reason, Gu Xu once asked her what was going on.
The thought flashed through his mind, and Cheng Zheng took a deep breath.
Let’s just split up!
As long as the Cheng family is strong enough and does things properly, people will think it is natural when they talk about it later.
At least Fourth Uncle can get out of those businesses.
Is that why grandma kept silent
She nodded slightly.
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Hey guys, here's yesterday's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Today’s update will still be at the old time.
※(To be continued)