Although it was night, the lights in the Ma County Command Mansion were still bright.

The two returned to the county office, and Chen Zhaoxue said goodbye to Zhang Fan and went back to the room to rest. Zhang Fan followed his subordinates to the hall, and Ma Xianling was waiting for him.

"The virtuous nephew is here." Ma Xianling said to Zhang Fan, "I heard that Zhaoxue's girl went to you, is there anything wrong?" ”

"It's nothing, I just want to remind my little nephew to tell her a story." Zhang Fan couldn't tell the reason why Zhao Xue went to him, so he had to make up a random word.

"Hehe, Zhaoxue, this little girl, that's it, she didn't cause any trouble to her nephew." Ma Xianling said with a smile, he also knew Zhaoxue's personality, and Zhang Fan's words could get by.

"Huh." Zhang Fan smiled and did not speak.

"I think you already know what I'm calling you here for tonight." Ma County ordered to get down to business.

"The little nephew heard about it, is it a letter from Master Zhang in the capital?" Zhang Fan said.

"Yes, Mr. Zhang's letter has arrived." "It's already early March, and he told you to go to Beijing next month. ”

"I heard that the Guozijian will not start to evaluate and accept tribute students from all over the country until September, why did you want me to go so early?" Zhang Fan asked with some confusion.

"I'm a little confused, too." Ma Xianling was also very puzzled about this matter, "But since Lord Zhang asked you to come over at this time, he must have his intentions." ”

In fact, it was the Guozijian, two people in the government school, three people in the state school, and one in the county. These tribute students will take an entrance exam. Moreover, the Guozijian of the Ming Dynasty was different from the previous dynasties, because of its historical reasons, there were two Guozijian (one in Beijing and one in Nanjing). Since Zhang Fan was recommended by Zhang Juzheng, he will naturally have some privileges, and he will not occupy the quota of the state and county.

"Maybe you want me to get acquainted with the environment first." Zhang Fan thought in his heart.

"So what's the plan for the virtuous nephew?" Ma Xianling asked.

"I'm going back and talking to my mother." Zhang Fan said.

Ma Xianling listened to Zhang Fan's words, thought for a while and said: "Although it is not far or close to the capital, it is estimated that it will take half a month. Mr. Zhang knows about the situation at your home, and the letter said that he wants you to go with Lingtang, and the place where you live has been prepared for you. Hehe, it seems that he is very optimistic about you. ”

"The little nephew is ashamed." Zhang Fan didn't expect Zhang Juzheng to be so "thoughtful".

"Don't be presumptuous, Master Zhang is still very discerning, I believe that he will not be untargeted, and I believe that you have this strength." Ma Xianling said: "It's just ......"

"Just?" Zhang Fan didn't know what Ma Xianling wanted to say.

Ma Xian Ling looked at Zhang Fan and said, "What should I do with Ru Xue, this girl?" ”

Zhang Fan listened to his words and was immediately embarrassed: "Do you see it?" ”

"Hahaha......" Ma Xian Ling listened to Zhang Fan's words, laughed, and said: "I'm afraid even Zhaoxue can see it, but you two don't know it yet." ”

When Zhang Fan heard Ma Xianling's words, he couldn't help but think of what Zhao Xue had said to him before.

"Forget it, it's not good for the old man to take care of your young people's affairs, it's just that the old man likes Ru Xue's girl very much, don't let her down." Ma Xianling said.

"The little nephew will definitely not live up to it." Zhang Fan just said this, but the firmness in his words really made Ma Xianling very satisfied.

"My virtuous brother will come to visit the sisters in a few days, and I will mention it to him." Ma Xianling said, "As for what you should do, think about it yourself." ”

Zhang Fan left the county office, returned home, and told his mother that he was going to the capital. The Zhao family was also very happy to hear about it, but Zhang Fan was always thinking about Ru Xue's affairs and seemed a little uneasy.

Seeing Zhang Fan's expression, Zhao didn't know what was going on with him, so he asked, "Fan'er, is there any trouble, can you tell your mother?" ”

"The child worries the mother." Zhang Fan said, he thought carefully in his heart, and finally made up his mind and asked, "Mother, what do you think of Ru Xue?" ”

When Zhao heard Zhang Fan's words, he didn't know why he asked himself this question, "Is it ......" Zhao thought in his heart, and asked Zhang Fan for confirmation: "Ru Xue, this girl is good." Obedient and gentle, if anyone can marry her in the future, it will be a blessing. After Zhao said this, he stared at Zhang Fan, waiting for his answer.

"Since ......," Zhang Fan made up his mind and said, "Since my mother likes Ru Xue so much, how about I marry her home?" After Zhang Fan said this, he also looked at his mother.

"This ......" Zhao didn't expect Zhang Fan to say so directly, she originally thought that she would have to wait for a long time at this moment, but where did she think that it would come so quickly, which caught her off guard.

"What, doesn't my mother agree?" Zhang Fan didn't wait for his mother's answer, he was very disappointed, "It seems that I can only take my time, but I don't know how long I have to wait." Zhang Fan was extremely disappointed in his heart, but he didn't give up, Ru Xue was a must-marry family for him.

"How do you disagree!" Zhao reacted, saw that Zhang Fan had misunderstood what he meant, and hurriedly said. can have a girl like Ru Xue to be his daughter-in-law, Zhao estimates that he will wake up laughing when he dreams, where would he disagree. If Zhang Fan missed this opportunity because he misunderstood his meaning, Zhao's intestines would probably be repentant. It's just that how did she know the determination in Zhang Fan's heart not to marry Ru Xue.

"It's just that why Fan'er is telling me about this at this time?" Zhao asked.

"Isn't it because we're moving to the capital soon?" Zhang Fan said, "If it weren't for the Ma County Order to remind me today, I would have almost forgotten about this matter." ”

"Lord County Commander, he ......" Zhao didn't know that Ma County Commander was also concerned about this matter, "It's just that we are going to move to the capital in April, isn't it a bit hasty?" Zhao considered that if he got married, all the relatives in the family would also be present, but he was afraid that this time would not be enough.

"This ......" Zhang Fan didn't take these into account, and couldn't help but feel a little worried.

"Alas, look at my memory!" Zhao seemed to have found a way, patted his forehead and said, "Decide on the family first, and then decide on the family." ”

Zhang Fan didn't know the marriage customs of ancient times, whether it was in the past life or in the present life, Zhao's statement, Zhang Fan found out that there was still this way.

"Ma Xianling told me that Uncle Chen will come to visit the Ru Xue sisters in two days, and told me to think about what to do for myself." Zhang Fan said.

"Silly boy, I told you to ask for a kiss at that time." Zhao said.

"Then I'm ......," Zhang Fan said with some hesitation.

"Don't worry about this, my mother will do it for you." Zhao saw Zhang Fan's doubts and said, "You are also a famous person now, how can you go in person, my mother will find a way for you." ”

A few days later, Chen Wenchuan came to Anhua to see his two daughters. After eating at noon, after Ru Xue and Zhao Xue went back to their rooms, Ma Xian Ling called him to his study.

"Big brother, is there anything you have to say about calling my little brother?" Chen Wenchuan asked.

Ma Xian Ling looked at Chen Wenchuan, and saw that he had just seen his daughter, and he was happy, and he had recently heard that he had not encountered any difficulties in his official duties, so he felt that it was an opportunity and said, "Brother Xian, what do you think of Zhang Fan?" ”

Chen Wenchuan didn't know why his eldest brother asked him this question, but he didn't think much about it and said, "Yes, I am very optimistic about this young man." He was promoted at a young age, and he was favored by Scholar Zhang, and he must have a bright future in the future. ”

Ma Xianling didn't get the answer he hoped for, and continued to ask: "I'm not asking about his future, I'm asking you, how is he." ”

Chen Wenchuan was even more puzzled: "People are not bad, they are not arrogant or impatient, and they are also very responsible." Big brother, just tell me what the hell is going on. ”

Ma Xian Ling felt that it was almost hot, so he said: "Then what do you think of marrying Ru Xue Xu to him?" ”

Chen Wenchuan was a little stunned when he heard his eldest brother's words at first glance, and after a while, he said: "Big brother, how can you have this idea, could it be that kid ...... Ru Xue to me?"

"Where did you think of it?" Ma Xianling was afraid that his brother-in-law would have some misunderstanding, so he hurriedly said, "It's just that I see that Ru Xue and Zhang Fan have been getting close these days, and I asked him personally that day, and he also admitted it, so I told you about it." ”

When Chen Wenchuan heard it, he breathed a sigh of relief, and then became nervous again, and asked, "What about Ru Xue?" What does this kid say? ”

"I didn't ask her, where is it for me to ask the girl's family about these things." Ma Xianling said, "You have to go to this matter." ”

"Big brother, I haven't agreed to Zhang Fan's kid ......," Chen Wenchuan said.

"I asked you just now, didn't you say he was very good?" Ma Xianling said.

"But how can this be confused, after all, we are talking about Ru Xue's lifelong event now." Chen Wenchuan hurriedly said. If he had known from the beginning that his eldest brother was asking him about this matter, he would not have answered so quickly, but would have thought twice.

"What's the difference between this, and ......," Ma Xian Ling said, "and Ru Xue and Fan'er have long been in love these days, if I think Fan'er is not worthy of Ru Xue, where will I say this to you!" ”

"It's just, it's just ......" Chen Wenchuan still couldn't make up his mind, although he also felt that Zhang Fan, a young man, was very good through several contacts in the past few months, but after all, this was related to his daughter's lifelong event, and he was still the weakest Ru Xue, where did he dare to be sloppy.

"In this case, you go and explore Ru Xue's tone first." Ma Xianling paid attention to his brother-in-law, "If she also agrees, how about you call Fan'er to take the school in person?" ”

Chen Wenchuan listened to his words, and he was still a little unsettled, after all, this matter came too suddenly. Thinking of the first few times she came to see her daughter, Ru Xue looked at Zhang Fan's eyes a little wrong, it seemed that she was negligent. After thinking about it, I couldn't think of a clue in my heart, so I had to ask my daughter first. "Alas, take one step at a time!" Chen Wenchuan sighed in his heart.

Chen Ruxue is in her room, although it is the official lunch break, but where can she sleep now. Naturally, her father was very happy to see her sisters, but as soon as her father left her sight, her mind was full of Zhang Fan's figure. Now she was sitting in front of the window in a daze, with a slight smile on the corner of her mouth from time to time, until the knock on the door came, and she came back to her senses.

"Daddy." Ru Xue opened the door and saw that it was her father, so she answered and said that her father welcomed her into her house.

"I see you sitting in front of the window, why haven't you rested?" Chen Wenchuan came to his daughter's room and sat down, and said, "Your body is weak when you are small, so you need to rest a lot." ”

"My daughter is much better now, thank you dad for your concern." Ru Xue was very happy that her father could care so much about herself, and said, "I don't know what happened to my father coming to my daughter at this time." ”

Chen Wenchuan looked at his daughter's face, but he couldn't say the words when the words came to his lips, and after a while, he said: "Ru Xue, you are really similar to your mother." ”

Chen Ruxue didn't know what her father was going to say, so she just waited quietly for her father's words.

"Although you and Zhaoxue are twin sisters and look alike, you are the most similar to your mother." Chen Wenchuan looked at the March sky outside the window, seemed to recall something, and said slowly, "I still remember that back then, the first time I met your mother was in Hangzhou.

"It was my year of being a talent in the exam, and I was invited by a few of my classmates to visit there. I remember that on the shore of the West Lake, I saw your mother for the first time, and she was just like you now, and it was at that moment that I made up my mind not to marry the woman in front of me. ”

Chen Ruxue never knew the story of her parents, and even her mother never told her. Although he didn't know why his father was saying this to him, he was deeply fascinated by what his father said.

"I don't know why, I forgot that I was a showman at that time, and I actually mustered up the courage to go up and talk." Chen Wenchuan seemed a little embarrassed when he said this.

Although Chen Ruxue had never seen her father's appearance, she didn't pay much attention to it, but wanted to wait for her father to continue.

"When I knew that your mother was also from Yangzhou, I was so happy." Chen Wenchuan continued, "Your mother is also like you, although she is silent, she is extremely stubborn, and once she decides something, she will definitely go on."

"My relationship with your mother is getting better and better, and at that time, my family began to urge me to go on a blind date. Speaking of which, our Chen family also has some family business in Yangzhou, but the people have never prospered, and when they come to me, there are only me and your grandfather, and I am the only son in the family. The family wanted me to go on a blind date, but I was willing to agree, so I had to tell you about your mother. When my father first saw your mother, he was very satisfied, and your mother was not a big family, but my father didn't care. However, your mother is also like you, her body is very weak, and after my father found out, where did he agree to let your mother marry me. He wanted me to marry a girl from another family, and then take your mother as a concubine, although your mother had also persuaded me, but where could I make your mother small. Because of this, your grandfather was so angry with me that he became seriously ill, but I kept thinking about your mother, and in the end, your grandfather agreed to our marriage. And your mother and I have just gotten married, and your grandfather has passed away.

"Your mother's health is not good, but she always feels sorry for my Chen family, and insists on doing business for my children, I didn't agree at all, but I couldn't resist your mother's temperament, so I agreed to her. After your mother gave birth to your sisters, her body became weaker and weaker, and she died when you were ten years old. Since then, I have never considered remarrying, and I regard you two sisters as the best gifts your mother has ever given me. Although I've been busy playing, I've never hated you and Zhaoxue, and I've never hated you for taking her life, I know that your mother loves you, and that's enough. I know that today, I have never regretted my decision to marry your mother. ”

Chen Zhaoxue listened to her father's story, and her tears had already fallen from tears.

Saying the words that have been hidden in his heart for so many years, Chen Wenchuan looked at his daughter's appearance and asked, "I heard your uncle tell me about you and Zhang Fan, tell me now, is he good to you?" Do you like him? ”

Chen Ruxue knew why his father would say this to him, he snorted and said: "Yes, Dad, Brother Fan is very good to me, and I, too, I like him." ”

Chen Wenchuan heard his daughter's words, was silent for a long time, and said, "I promise you something." ”

"Thank you, Dad." Chen Ruxue said.

"Don't thank me." Chen Wenchuan said. In fact, this conversation with his daughter not only made him say what was in his heart, but also made him see that his daughter had really grown up. Although he is not worried about his baby daughter, his daughter's family is always married. No matter who you are, you want to make your life happier. Chen Wenchuan has passed the age of not being confused, and he has seen a lot of joys and sorrows. He has also met a lot of people who come to him to say goodbye to his daughter, but he didn't agree, he didn't want his daughter to go on a blind date, he wanted them to find it themselves, at least he was like that. Now that my daughter has found it, it's just that he still can't let go, and now, "But I still have to ask Zhang Fan's kid." Chen Wenchuan said.

"Dad......" Chen Ruxue was afraid that her father would embarrass Zhang Fan, so she said with some worry.

"Don't worry, Dad won't embarrass him." Chen Wenchuan saw his daughter's worries and said, "However, I am going to hand over my daughter to him, so naturally I have to ask him for an understanding." ”