Kaifeng City, Zhou Mansion.

Zhou Chonghe, the right attendant of the Ministry of Works, sat upright in front of the desk, his eyes slightly closed, listening to the chief housekeeper report on the situation of relatives and friends from all walks of life coming to congratulate.

Today is Zhou Chongji's 60th birthday, and the family is tied with ribbons, set up a gift shed, and put up lanterns, ready to celebrate.

A few months ago, Zhou Chong and Gang Guanglu Shaoqing were promoted to the right attendant of the Ministry of Industry, who was not only promoted to an official, but also had a birthday, which was indeed a double happiness.

"The head of the family, the eldest aunt and the eldest lady have arrived." The porter suddenly came to report.

Zhou Chongji nodded and said, "I know, order someone to bring them to me." ”

Zhang Xuequn, the eldest aunt of the Zhou family, was born in a scholarly family, and his grandfather served as the assassin of a state. At that time, when the baby was married, Zhou Chongji was just a small master book, and the two families were married, and the Zhou family was high.

Now, the Zhang family has been in the family for more than ten years, and there has not been an official. Although the Zhang family is still rich, in an official-based society, if there is no current official support in the family, it can be regarded as a decline.

In the past, the Zhang family didn't look down on the Zhou family very much. Now, the feng shui is turning, and the Zhou family, which has become taller, has begun to look down on the Zhang family.

The change in the fortunes of the Zhou family began when the young lady of the Zhou family married Li Yunxiao.

The so-called thirty years in Hedong and thirty years in Hexi, the Zhou family can already raise their eyebrows and say: "I said the old Zhang family, now, what qualifications do you have to look down on our old Zhou family?" ”

With a lot of effort, the second housekeeper brought the gift list from his eldest aunt Zhang Xuequn, Zhou Chongji took it and only glanced at it, then threw it on the desk, and said lightly: "Call him over, it's still a little free for the time being." ”

After a while, the eldest aunt Zhang Xuequn was led into the outer study, as soon as they met, they bowed and respectfully said: "The son-in-law visited his father-in-law, and wished his father-in-law happiness as the East China Sea and longevity than Nanshan." ”

"That's it, sit down." Zhou Chongji waved his hand and lightly instructed Zhang Xuequn, "They are all their own people, so there is no need to be so polite." ”

Zhang Xuequn also knows that the Zhou family has trembled now, and it is no longer the small family in the past.

"What books have you been reading lately?" After Zhang Xuequn sat down, Zhou Chong asked questions.

Zhang Xuequn hurriedly got up, bowed down and said, "Father-in-law, I am reading "Mencius". ”

Zhou Chongji frowned, and said coldly: "Since ascending the throne today, more and more attention has been paid to miscellaneous subjects, and the Jinshi department has gradually declined, why are you still reading "Mencius"? ”

This is a bit of a slap in the face, and he clearly accuses Zhang Xuequn of reading the wrong book and touching the wrong door of his career.

In these years, everything is still inferior, and only the official standard era with high reading is the standard. If there is no official in the family, the social status will always be dwarf.

Zhang Xuequn's old face turned red, and he said: "Don't hide it from your father-in-law, my son-in-law has read four books and five classics, and if I go to study miscellaneous subjects for more than ten years, I am afraid it will be difficult to enter the department." ”

Zhou Chong and Su sneered: "What is the reason that there is time to take a beautiful concubine, but there is no time to take the right path?" ”

As soon as Zhang Xuequn heard this, he immediately understood, and Zhou Chongji finally couldn't help but have a seizure.

"It's all son-in-law, don't they, please forgive your father-in-law." Zhang Xuequn, whose family background had slipped down, had to swallow his anger and apologize.

Zhou Chongji sneered: "I advise you, it's better to read miscellaneous subjects." There are no five scriptures, and they are getting more and more unproductive. ”

I have to say that Zhou Chongji's vision is very accurate, and he has already figured out that in the future, the imperial examination will be more and more inclined to miscellaneous subjects.

"Yes." Zhang Xuequn was not angry, but he didn't dare to show it in the slightest. After all, the family he relied on had accelerated down the downhill slope.

Just as Zhang Xuequn was thinking about saying goodbye and leaving, the porter came to report, "The head of the family, the fifth aunt and the fifth lady have arrived." "The fifth aunt of the Zhou family is Li Yunxiao, the current governor of the Nine Gates.

"Hurry up, please ......" Zhou Chonghe suddenly stood up and said loudly, "Open the middle door, please." ”

"You come with me." After Zhou Chong and the order went down, he brought Zhang Xuequn on board.

Zhang Xuequn only felt bitter in his heart, in the past, when he came to Zhou's house, not to mention the high and far-reaching, at least he enjoyed certain privileges.

Now it's good, Zhang Xuequn has become a background board to pave the way for Li Yunxiao, and she is naturally very uncomfortable.

However, no matter how uncomfortable it is, you must endure it. After all, Li Yunxiao is the upstart of the new dynasty, and Li Zhongyi's confidant and important minister today dare not offend him by borrowing his eighty courage from Zhang Xuequn.

Li Yunxiao led the Zhou family, and as soon as he walked to the front of the three gates, he met Zhou Chong and Zhang Xuequn. He couldn't help but sigh slightly, today is Zhou Chongji's 60th birthday, he should sit in the middle hall and accept the worship of his daughter and son-in-law, how did he welcome the three doors?

"Father-in-law is above, please be worshiped by my son-in-law." Li Yunxiao didn't have time to think about it, and hurriedly slammed it to the ground.

"Daddy, please bow to your daughter." Zhou is an understanding person, and she knows the importance of Li Yunxiao to the entire Zhou family now.

However, Zhou somewhat complained about his father. Zhou Chong and Li Yunxiao's special courtesy, of course, are important, but if they go too far, it is likely to backfire.

Fortunately, Li Yunxiao did not express dissatisfaction, and was very respectful to Zhou Chonghe.

"No need to be polite, no need to be so polite...... Zhou Chong and how dare he accept Li Yunxiao's big gift, and waved his hand again and again.

Li Yunxiao insisted on finishing the courtesy, and then got up and stood up straight and looked at Zhang Xuequn.

"Fifth brother-in-law, has you always been good?" Zhang Xuequn greeted Li Yunxiao with a dry smile.

Li Yunxiao arched her hands and said, "It's okay, it's okay, I can eat three bowls of rice per meal." ”

Zhou Chongji looked at Zhou's family, looked up and down carefully, and then smiled: "The complexion looks good, it seems that Xiaosong takes good care of it." ”

Today is Zhou Chongji's 60th birthday, and Zhou can't say anything, so he has to say with a smiling face: "I wish my father, longevity is better than Nanshan." ”

"Okay, good, good, it's all your own family, don't be so polite, your mother is still waiting for you." Zhou Chongji was finally not completely carried away by happiness, knowing that the ladies were going to get together.

So, Li Yunxiao and Zhang Xuequn followed Zhou Chongji to the outer study. Zhou was led into the three doors and went straight to the upper room where the ladies were gathered.

The Zhou family has a total of three sons and five daughters, and Zhou's mother-in-law, Wu, is the eldest lady of the main family and has one son and two daughters. Among them, the lady married by Zhang Xuequn is the eldest sister of Zhou's relatives.

"The fifth lady is here."

In the upper room, the women were chatting in a pile, and suddenly heard the Tongyu, and the women suddenly became excited, supported Wu with their hands and feet, and sat up straight.

"My daughter meets her mother." With tears in his eyes, Zhou respectfully met his mother-in-law Wu.

Wu Shi was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, and said continuously: "Quick, get up quickly, sit down and talk to the old man." ”

Zhou is an old woman, and before she got married, she was particularly favored, except for the moon in the sky, what do you want.

"Fifth sister, quick, sit down with me."

"Fifth sister, the position is ready for you."

"Fifth sister, I'm close to my mother here......"

The sisters of the Zhou family, one is more enthusiastic than the other, one is closer than the other, and everyone says good things in a different way.

Zhou knew in his heart that her man was the current Admiral of Jiumen, who was in charge of law and order in the capital. I don't know when the sisters will come to the door.

Here, the Zhou family has enjoyed the favor of the sisters, and the siblings are really affectionate. Over there, Zhou Chong and his sons and sons-in-law surrounded Li Yunxiao, like the stars holding the moon.

Li Yunxiao felt the affection of the Zhou family, and felt a little unbearable, they were all a family, why bother?

However, Zhou Chongji couldn't put on his father-in-law's shelf, and he held Li Yunxiao's hand and refused to let go.

Zhang Xuequn saw Li Yunxiao's favored style, he felt very uncomfortable, but he was helpless.

After all, Li Yunxiao is now extremely powerful, and he is one of the emperor's henchmen, even if Zhang Xuequn is reluctant, he must use his hot face to stick to Li Yunxiao's cold ass.

"The left waiter of the Ministry of Works, the prince has arrived."

Listening to the voice of the porter, Zhou Chongji couldn't help but smile slightly, his relationship with Wang Xiaotian, the left waiter of the Ministry of Works, was very ordinary, why didn't Wang Xiaotian say hello, and suddenly came to the door.

After Zhou Chong went out and greeted Wang Xiaotian, he heard Wang Xiaotian laugh and said: "Congratulations to Zhou Gong, congratulations to Zhou Gong, Jiazi's joy, joy!" ”

Stretching out his hand not to hit the smiling face, Wang Xiaotian was a colleague with a slightly higher status, and Zhou Chongji had to politely lead Wang Xiaotian into the West Flower Hall.

The tea hasn't come up yet, and I heard the porter's rumor, "The Ministry of Industry is still in the book, and Sun Gong has arrived." ”

Sun Zhijiang, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, is an old minister of the Three Dynasties, with very deep qualifications, and he has not seen Zhou Chong and look at him differently on weekdays. Unexpectedly, today I actually came to congratulate my birthday in person, and this face is really not small.

Come on, Zhou Chongji and Wang Xiaotian greeted them side by side, and politely welcomed Sun Zhijiang into the main hall.

After all, Sun Zhijiang is the official of the Ministry of Industry, and Zhou Chong and Wang Xiaotian's top bosses, that treatment is naturally extraordinary.

After everyone sat down, they accompanied Sun Zhijiang to drink tea and chat.

After a while, Sun Zhijiang looked around, and suddenly said, "Why don't you see your family?" ”

Zhou Chong was a little flustered, and said in his heart, which one is this trouble.

Fortunately, Wang Xiaotian reacted in time, he smiled and said: "Today is the day of Zhou Gong's big day, why don't you see the next generation of children and nephews?" ”

Zhou Chongji is not a stupid person, he understands as soon as he hears it, and he dares to be reluctant, Sun Zhijiang came at Li Yunxiao.

There is no way, since the top boss has spoken, Zhou Chong and he have to give face no matter what, so he beckoned his subordinates and invited his son and son-in-law over.

When his son and son-in-law arrived, Zhou Chongji introduced: "This is the grandson of the Ministry of Industry, meet you quickly." ”

Li Yunxiao blended in the crowd and saluted Sun Zhijiang according to Zhou Chongji's hints.

Under normal circumstances, only if they have a deep friendship with each other, they will let their nephews come out to greet each other, showing the so-called good family.

But the problem is that Li Yunxiao knows that the relationship between Zhou Chong and Sun Zhijiang is actually very ordinary.

Sure enough, after everyone saw the ceremony, Sun Zhijiang smiled at Li Yunxiao and said, "Xiaosong, don't come to harm?" ”

Oh, it turns out that everyone understands that Sun Zhijiang is coming for Li Yunxiao.