Zhou Shuren motioned for Jiang Ming to sit down. "I came back suddenly. No one was home and there was no good tea. This is just some tea I just bought. Don't despise it if it's not good."
He was used to drinking tea, in modern times he seldom drank tea, he preferred sweet fruit juice because of the sweet taste and slightly bitter tea flavor, which he had had enough of during the years of growing up alone.
But when he came to ancient times, he was not alone, he had a wife and a soul mate. He was no longer alone and began to enjoy the taste of tea. Now he has a son and a complete family. He also slowly learned to taste tea and taste a new life from tea leaves.
Jiang Ming paused holding the teacup. Did no one come to remind him that he shouldn't come? He pulled the corner of his mouth. He was older than Zhou Shuren, but in just a few years, he was still standing still. Zhou Shuren went from an old scholar to the position of Jinzhou prefect.
The prefect of Jinzhou, according to the unspoken rule in the court, the prefect of Jinzhou must go to Beijing. This position is a stepping stone, just like the second son of the former prefect of Jinzhou, Anping Marquis, who is now a third-rank official.
Moreover, Zhou Shuren is the emperor's confidant, a trusted minister. Even the fourth-rank prince was polite to him. When he learned that Zhou Shuren had dinner with several princes yesterday, yes, and the arrogant Lord Yao, his heart was burning with excitement. When he learned that he had met Lord Anping today, he couldn't help but go down.
Jiang Ming took a sip of the tea. It was indeed not a good tea, but it had a certain flavor. He said meaningfully, "The expensiveness of tea is not in the price, but in where you can drink it. I think in the minds of most people, this tea is good tea."
He was envious. He thought his abilities were no worse than Zhou Shuren's, but he had never been appreciated after coming to the capital. He had to live his life according to the routine, which was not what he wanted. He was fed up with being ignored and looked indifferent. He regretted returning to the capital for many days.
Zhou Shuren looked at Jiang Ming indifferently, so the capital city is really a place that can change people. Jiang Ming has more beauties in his backyard, and he is also seeking the feeling of being admired. This will make Jiang Ming feel that he is the sky, rather than an existence that is ignored by others.
Zhou Shuren pressed his brows. To be frank, he still couldn't keep his heart. "But I don't think the tea here is good."
In order to protect his wife and son, he took every step carefully and really didn't think the tea in Zhou's house was that good.
Jiang Ming felt a lot more relaxed. He didn't come here to talk about anything. He knew in his heart that Zhou Shuren had a bottom line, so as long as he didn't cross it, it would be fine. Just staying a little longer would be enough. There were many people in Beijing who wanted to make friends with Zhou Shuren, but he didn't need too many. He just needed to borrow his strength. Didn't Zhou Shuren do that before
Jiang Ming poured himself another cup of tea. Didn’t Zhou Shuren also borrow his help in the beginning
Zhou Shuren looked at Jiang Ming with amusement. He did not say anything. He thought quietly in his heart that the Jiang family had long been in decline. Jiang Ming was the only official in the entire Jiang family. All the family members were clinging to Jiang Ming and became a burden. Jiang Ming had grown ambitious, but he did not notice that without anyone in the court and without a powerful family, Jiang Ming could stay in his position safely because he had been relying on his help.
Otherwise, an official without a powerful family and network of connections, especially one of Jiang Ming’s age, would have been removed from office long ago.
Zhou Shuren felt regretful. He really liked Jiang Muchen. This kid was good. He had to withdraw him from the list of candidates for his grandson-in-law. Unless Zhou Shuren took a look at Jiang Ming and told him not to cross his bottom line, he would show no mercy to these relatives if he crossed it.
In Jinzhou Prefecture, Zhulan received news from Tao that the master had been found. Zhulan asked someone to tell Dong Yiyi and inform Dong Yiyi that they would go to Wang's house together tomorrow.
In the third room, Dong Yiyi was delighted when she heard the news, and said to her sister, "I really have to thank my mother-in-law."
Dong was about to say something, but finally sighed, "Sister."
Dong Yiyi held her sister's hand and said, "I know what you are going to say. My dowry has indeed filled a lot of holes in the past few years, but I had a lot of dowry back then. Don't worry, I have enough money to support you, sir."
Mrs. Dong didn't believe it. Hiring a master was not cheap. The Zhou family hired several masters because they had a strong financial foundation. She had a mother-in-law who was good at making money. She didn't know how much money was circulating in the family, but she could count the family assets. The farm, shops, fields, and houses were all money.
What's more, there is a father-in-law in the family who is trusted by the emperor. The rewards received by the family, the gifts given by officials, and the gifts given by merchants are all wealth accumulated.
As for the eldest sister, it was true that she took away most of the family fortune back then, and the elder sister did accumulate some wealth, but the expenses in the capital were huge, and she was very aware of the burden of the Jiang family.
Dong Yiyi felt a little embarrassed when her sister looked at her. She had never said that her husband spent a lot of money on socializing. "Don't you believe me?"
Dong smiled and said, "Yes."
Dong Yiyi stood up and didn't want to stay with her sister anymore. She felt uncomfortable and jealous. "I'm going to go back and rest first. Don't get too tired."
Dong: "Yeah."
Dong Yiyi went out and stood in the yard. It was snowing again. She looked back at the house and was so envious. Her sister didn't have to be the head of the household. She had a good mother-in-law to support her and all she had to do was live a good life in her own little family. She also saw the account book sent by the Yang family, which showed her sister's dowry income and her brother-in-law's own property income. She also heard her sister's plan to continue selling next year. She became more and more jealous the longer she stayed.
In Beijing, Zhou Shuren counted the time. It was already half an hour, an hour. He couldn't bear it anymore and had to sit down. He finally didn't have to work hard. He would never sit if he could lie down. He had been sitting for the whole morning. "I'm old and my legs and feet are not good. I can't sit down anymore."
Jiang Ming thought it was almost done, so he stood up and said, "You take a rest first, I'll go back first. By the way, I'm sorry to bother you at Dong's house."
Zhou Shuren was thinking that Mrs. Dong could not stay in the Zhou residence anymore, so he smiled and said, "Then I won't see you off."
In the past, he was weak and there was no such thing as seniority between a scholar and a co-magistrate. But now, not only was he the elder, his official position was also higher than Jiang Ming's, so it was impossible for him to send him off.
Jiang Ming looked at Zhou Shuren silently. He knew in his heart that after today, Zhou Shuren and he would distance themselves from each other. However, the distance was not complete. The Zhou family could not let Chang Lian divorce his wife. Besides, he had taken care of Chang Lian, and there was also the matter of Mr. Meng.
Zhou Shuren didn't see Jiang Ming off. He was also moving around in the yard and looked up at the sky. There was a lot of snow this winter, but the snow wasn't heavy. It was just a drizzle and quite poetic.
At the Yao residence, Yao Zheyu was called back with a cold face. He was very happy that Lord Zhou had tricked his father yesterday and really didn't want to come back.
It was a pity that when I entered the main hall, I didn't see my father, but his concubine. This concubine gave birth to a son and a daughter, and is now managing the marquis's mansion.