Chang Zhi and his party returned to Chuanzhou. Qian's father and Qian Jiang sat in the carriage somewhat stiffly. The carriage belonged to Chang Zhi.
Chang Zhi smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. I'm not a man-eating monster."
Father Qian thought that he was scarier than a monster. Monsters were bent on harming people, but the adults in front of him could not guess. He was really afraid that if he said something wrong, it would bring disaster to the family. He replied in a very light tone, "You are joking, my father and I just couldn't recover for a while."
Changzhi believed what he said and took out an ice box from the cupboard, on which were washed seasonal fruits. "The weather is a bit dry, let's eat some fruits."
Qian Jiang had secretly sized up the adult, his eyes falling on the jade pendant around the adult's waist. Well, it couldn't be bought without a few hundred taels. It felt like this was how an adult should wear it.
Father Qian reached out and took the smallest one. He didn't even dare to bring up the topic. Combining what his son and the adults said, it was obvious that the adults came to Chuanzhou not just to be the examiner.
The Qian family has taken root in Chuanzhou and knows the situation in Chuanzhou very well. If they really want to thoroughly investigate the ministers in Chuanzhou who don't have a deep background, it won't work. Qian's father secretly thinks that the Zhouhou Mansion has a deep background and can indeed suppress all kinds of monsters.
Seeing his father chewing fruit, Qian Jiang twitched his lips, thought for a moment and said carefully: "Sir, An San has seen you."
Chang Zhi said in a very casual tone, "It's not me who is terrified."
The Qian family's father and son looked at each other. The implication of these words was that they admitted that they had a purpose for coming to Chuanzhou. They also knew a little about why the An family was so panicked, so the adults had already found out!
Father Qian swallowed his saliva and said cryptically: "Sir, the people of Sichuan Province are tough and courageous, you should be mentally prepared."
Qian Jiang was amused. What his father said was not subtle at all!
Chang Zhi also smiled, "I understand."
He was not just bold, he was extremely bold. After investigating from top to bottom, he admired his own self-control.
Father Qian opened his mouth and finally closed it. Who is Lord Zhou? He is the fourth son of Marquis Zhou. He has been in the Hanlin Academy for many years and often walks around the palace. It is better for him not to guide Lord Zhou.
In the capital city, at the Women's College, Zhulan was looking through the admission list. In just a few days, more than three hundred people had been enrolled. Since people knew that married women could also enroll, the number of women enrolling had increased, accounting for one fifth of the total, which was a very high proportion.
Zhulan understood immediately that all the money a daughter-in-law earns after marriage will belong to her husband's family. Some people think that giving a daughter-in-law as a gift is more cost-effective than giving a daughter.
Jiang Ling frowned and said, "Dean, the number of students enrolled today has decreased a lot."
Zhulan was not disappointed, "It's normal."
In the past few days, some people sent their children here on impulse, some had considered it a long time ago, and the last few were rational. In fact, this number of people was beyond her expectations.
Jiang Ling said: "Many teachers from the Chen family have come, and the college has enough teachers, but the college has received many self-recommendation letters. Would the dean like to give them some opportunities?"
Zhulan, "Of course I'll give you a chance. Find someone to reply to the letter, and then choose a date to apply."
Now she is not afraid of having too many teachers, but too few. The extra teachers will be needed sooner or later, and she doesn't want to feel that she has no one at her disposal when she needs them.
Jiang Ling made a note, "There are not enough dormitories in the academy."
Zhulan frowned, and thought that a building would be better because it would take up less space. "I'll make a note of that."
She was going to talk to Rongchuan. The enrollment of girls has been booming these days, and the boys' college has become bustling with people. It is said that more than 800 students have been enrolled.
These more than 800 people are the result of tests, otherwise there would be more. Zhulan knew that the boys' college had plans to expand.
After finishing the business, Zhulan said with concern, "You have worked hard in recent days, so I will give you a day off tomorrow."
Jiang Ling really wanted to rest. She hadn't seen her fiancé for a few days. Now her fiancé was focusing on his studies. She missed him when she didn't see him for a few days. "Thank you, Dean."
Zhu Lan smiled and said, "You and Shao Ting need to rest separately."
These two girls were both capable assistants. She wanted to promote them, so they had more responsibilities on their shoulders and their wages increased to one and a half taels of silver per month.
Jiang Ling's eyebrows curved, "Yeah."
The female official came in with the information, and Jiang Ling went out. The female official was only in charge of logistics, and Zhulan never worried about logistics matters.
In the palace, the emperor looked at the petition sent back by Changzhi and handed it to the crown prince, "I knew he wanted to make a big fuss."
The prince was also stunned after a quick glance, and then took out the evidence he had found, "What does father mean?"
The emperor snorted, "I want to see how he turns the world upside down."
The prince asked, "Should we tell Marquis Zhou?"
The emperor picked up a pen and prepared to write a secret decree, "Don't tell him, he will be surprised."
The prince thought to himself, it was more like shock than surprise, but he also wanted to see Marquis Zhou's reaction when he received the news.
At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren sneezed several times and almost dropped the salt tax account book in his hand. Seeing everyone looking at him, he cleared his throat and said, "This quarter's salt tax should be deposited as soon as possible."
After saying that, he put the account book down and then sneezed again!
Qiu Yan asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell, sir?"
Zhou Shuren confirmed that he was not sick, "It's okay."
After the meeting of the Ministry of Revenue was over, Zhou Shuren returned to his room. Not long after he sat down, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works came over and said, "My Lord."
Zhou Shuren still liked the old Lord Fang, but unfortunately people tend to move up the ladder, and Lord Fang is no longer the Minister of Works. "Sit down."
The Right Assistant Minister had a smile on his face the whole time. "His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has come to the Ministry of Works to take people to measure the land."
Zhou Shuren, “… .”
The Right Assistant Minister paused and continued, "The Boys' and Girls' Academy has been very busy these days. Some of my clansmen have also sent their children to school. I have personally visited and found that it is indeed as His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin said, there is not enough space."
Zhou Shuren looked at the Right Assistant Minister, who could not utter a word. In the past, the Ministry of Revenue annoyed the Ministry of War the most, but later the Ministry of Works unknowingly became the most unwelcome existence in the Ministry of Revenue. Not to mention that the Ministry of Revenue felt sorry for the money, he felt sad too. Sometimes, he felt aches in his heart when he just spent money but saw no results.
Thinking of the silver, he looked at Marquis Zhou again. He and the Left Assistant Minister always settled the outcome of a game of chess. The loser would go to the Ministry of Revenue. In recent years, their chess skills had become increasingly outstanding.
Zhou Shuren, "So you came here to say hello in advance?"
Tell him that the academy is going to be expanded and the emperor has instructed King Qin, so let him prepare the silver!
The right assistant minister laughed dryly, "The King of Qin said he told you, and I thought about it, Your Highness is busy, so I came here with a thick skin."
After saying this, he was speechless. It was clearly the King of Qin who hinted at him to come, and also hinted to him that the expansion of the academy would cover a large area and would cost a lot of money, but he couldn't say it because he couldn't afford to offend the King of Qin.
Zhou Shuren's joy at entering the capital due to the salt tax disappeared, "Oh, this quarter's military pay should also be paid."
The Right Assistant Minister lowered his head to the ground, refusing to look at Marquis Zhou's expression. In fact, it was not easy for Marquis Zhou. All departments asked Marquis Zhou for money. On the other hand, his own minister privately scolded Marquis Zhou for being stingy, but after the experiment failed, he prayed that Marquis Zhou would continue to serve as the Minister of Revenue!