Chapter 35 The Lantern Festival of the Sixteenth Year of Chongzhen

On the second day, Zhang Xuan got up a little late, I don't know if it was because of yesterday's competition, or the battle after finally hitting the bed.

As soon as Zhang Xuan thought of the upcoming change in Xiangyang, he was a little hesitant in his heart.

Do you want to get involved.

Zhang Xuan has always been a person who cherishes his life, if he keeps Luo Rucai and retreats, it will definitely be of great benefit, after all, with the big tree of Cao Ying, it is much easier than working hard by himself.

But when he thought of the stubborn Luo Rucai, Zhang Xuan only sighed lightly, the so-called good words are difficult to persuade the damn ghost. He said that he didn't know much, people were bent on following Li Zicheng, what could he do.

But thinking of what Luo Yujiao did to him, he became more and more ashamed.

Take advantage of the few days to deal with the things at hand, and prepare to have a Lantern Festival with Luo Yujiao.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhang Xuan pulled Luo Yujiao and the two to change their clothes, Zhang Xuan was dressed in a green shirt, as if he was a scholar. And Luo Yujiao also changed into plain clothes and coiled her hair, so that people could see that she was a little lady who had just gotten married.

Zhang Yuanhai followed behind him with a few people.

Thinking that in Runing City, Zhang Xuan's safety can still be guaranteed.

However, the withering of Runing City still shocked Zhang Xuan, he actually expected it, but what he expected was still different from what he saw with his own eyes.

Except for the government office, there are some stalls on the street before the palace, and the rest of the entire Runing City is also empty, and there doesn't seem to be a festive atmosphere.

Zhang Xuan often goes in and out of the government, many people know him, he can't do a private visit if he wants to, no, just after going out shopping with Luo Yujiao, he saw Wang Du leading his daughter out.

Nan Nan has a good memory, she recognized Luo Yujiao at a glance, and said loudly: "Sister Luo, Daddy, that is Sister Luo who gave me good things to eat." ”

Wang Du saw Zhang Xuan at a glance, and immediately bowed and said, "Meet the general." ”

Zhang Xuan said: "No courtesy." You're out shopping, too. ”

"Xiaguan was moved to Cai County after the New Year, and after the Lantern Festival, he was going to take office, and he was reluctant to give up my daughter, so he took her out for a walk." Wang Du said respectfully.

Zhang Xuan sighed slightly and said, "Governor Zhang is preparing to admit some scholars for the second time, I heard that you are also participating, how about the people selected this time?" Are there any outstanding people? ”

Zhang Xuan said while looking at Luo Yujiao, but saw Luo Yujiao holding Nannan, wandering around the stalls, looking at some small objects. In Zhang Xuan's view, there are no good things at all, they are all carved from wood, and the craftsmanship cannot be compared with later generations. In short, it's extremely rough.

Wang Du said: "Come on

I'm ashamed, if I had taken it for the second time, I wouldn't have been able to pass the exam. ”

In this exam, Zhang Xuan's situation is very different, Zhang Xuan uprooted Liu Hongqi with the momentum of thunder, and then also incorporated Shen Wandeng, with the death and surrender of the two, there is no longer the force that dares to stand up to Zhang Xuan in Runing, and some low-level scholars have also seen the opportunity, so there are not a few people who participate. After all, Zhang Xuan's requirements are not high.

However, the icing on the cake is not as good as sending charcoal in the snow. Zhang Xuan's feelings about them were the opposite of the first time, but he showed his side, indicating that he existed, and did nothing else.

Because Zhang Xuan was short of clerks during the first exam, he was very embarrassed, and now Zhang Xuan's basic officials have been matched. And Zhang Xuan also looked down on these literati who looked down on Zhang Xuan before. Naturally, it is much colder.

However, the difficulty of the second exam has also increased greatly, Wang Du is right, if he takes the second exam, he will definitely not be able to take the exam, let alone be the first place.

"Eight strands are just a stepping stone." Zhang Xuan said: "You can throw it away after using it." Don't be presumptuous, I think you're actually good. ”

Wang Du's role in the decision-making to attack Liu Hongqi will not be forgotten by Zhang Xuan.

"What are you two doing?" Luo Yujiao frowned and said, "What business are you talking about?" Come and see this lantern. ”

Zhang Xuan said: "Okay, okay, hurriedly walked over." But Wang Du was very restrained, following Zhang Xuan, as if he was a follower.

Zhang Xuan took the lantern in his hand, in his opinion, it was just mediocre, but it was pasted together with bamboo sticks and paper, and the person who sold the lantern was a middle-aged man, with patches on his clothes, and his face was thin, and it seemed to be a capital "bitter" word.

"Dude, what do you call it?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Don't dare to call me a brother, the villain's surname is Wang, and he is called Wang Lantern, and he sells lanterns here every year, and everyone knows me." This person said respectfully, he may not know Zhang Xuan's identity, but from Zhang Xuan's clothes, as well as the appearance of Zhang Yuanhai, Zheng Lian, and Wang Du behind him, it can be seen that Zhang Xuan is definitely not an ordinary person.

"How's business?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"In the past two months, with Lord Zhang's relief, everyone is still getting by. Moreover, there are many people in the Runing Army who have been connected with the locals, and they have been helped by relatives, and they also have a little money or two, and I can still sell some of my small lanterns. Wang Huadeng said.

"How is it compared to previous years?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"This is the best year in the past few years, I don't dare to set up a stall here for several years, usually in the alley next to it." Wang Huadeng said.

"Why?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"What kind of place is this, this is the palace, there is the government office, in the past it was the county government, and the officials were noble

People are all on this street, so they don't dare. Wang Huadeng said.

"Then why dare now?" Zhang Xuan asked with a smile.

"Of course, General Zhang's military discipline is good, just a few days after I came, there were officers and soldiers every day because of military discipline violations. Later, I didn't dare to take things indiscriminately. General Zhang is a good official, it would be good to stay in Runing all the time. Wang Huadeng said.

Although Zhang Xuan heard some joy between his eyebrows, it was only vaguely, but Luo Yujiao listened with joy, "Smack." Then he put a piece of broken silver on the table and said, "I want all the lanterns you have here." He turned his head and said, "Zheng Lian." ”

"Yes." Zheng Lian said immediately.

"Send these lanterns back to the house." Luo Yujiao said.

"Yes." Zheng Lian said.

Luo Yujiao concocted the same method, every time she went to a small stall, she asked the stall that Xuan had just asked, and everyone who praised Zhang Xuan made a big purchase.

However, there are still too few stalls here. After a while, Luo Yujiao walked around. Buy a lot of lanterns.

Luo Yujiao simply stopped shopping, and took Nannan back to the palace to install all the lanterns in the palace. On the way back, he said happily: "Zhang Lang, you see that your reputation among the people is very good." ”

Zhang Xuan laughed and said: "No, you don't want to think about it, who dares to say bad things about me at the door of the yamen." And you are so obvious, you are not a fool, you know that you have something to do with the Yamen. And selling things so neatly, can they not say a few more flattering words? ”

Luo Yujiao's smile immediately froze, and it took a while before she came back to her senses and said, "In other words, I was deceived." Then she touched the money bag, weighed it, and said, "I actually spent five taels of silver." ”

"No, I'm going to pay it back." Luo Yujiao said.

Zhang Xuan grabbed Luo Yujiao's shoulders and said, "Your dignified lady is still five taels of silver, those people are ordinary people, give them some silver to live a little more comfortable." But five taels of silver, when I was a child, a little girl only sold for five taels of silver. These lanterns are just some paper and bamboo, and they are definitely not worth 85 taels. ”

I don't count when I spend money, and I feel distressed after I spend it, which seems to be a common problem for women.

"And those people didn't completely lie to you." Zhang Xuan said: "What do you think, they guessed that you are a person in the yamen of the Jiedu envoy, and they dare to make a sum of money from you, what does this mean, this shows that they believe that even if they make a sum of money from you, you will not do anything to them, doesn't this show my Zhang Xuan's reputation?" They don't overwhelm people, so some of what they say is true. ”

"Really?" Luo Yujiao said.

"Of course, this has nothing to do with saying that you are wronged behind your back." Zhang Xuan said with a slight smile.

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