"The Zheng family is a big family in Changle, how can they not know each other?" The young man who led Xu Yuanzuo was very excited, because this group of northerners was very generous, not only invited him to a big meal, but also gave him a full amount of grass money. People are in good spirits when they are happy, and when they are in good spirits, they talk a lot, but it is only half an hour away, and he makes it very clear that the Zheng family is in Changle.

"Not only do they have a lot of fields, but they also have two earth mines and a copper mine. The soil dug out of the earth mine happened to be used to make porcelain in his own kiln. The porcelain was sold to the lord of the sea, and the silver flowed like water into the house. The young man exclaimed.

Xu Yuanzuo listened to Luo Zhenquan's translation, and secretly said in his heart: Teacher Zheng is pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger! The family is so rich that they even pretend to be poor, and they don't even bring a handmaid! I don't believe that if you are an official outside, the family will not care about you.

Luo Zhenquan asked, "What about copper?" ”

"Copper is money, and of course it's all sold to Japan." Youth Road.

Without waiting for Luo Zhenquan to translate this passage, Xu Yuanzuo even understood it. It turns out that Mr. Zheng's family not only does legal business, but also does illegal business! At present, Japan is still under economic sanctions from the Ming Dynasty, and the maximum punishment for the Tongwa can be the death penalty - Yan Shifan died for this crime.

Xu Yuanzuo pretended to be stern: "What nonsense! It is a serious crime in the imperial court, how could the Zheng family do such a thing! ”

"Hey, who doesn't know." The young man buried his head, fooled the past, and secretly said in his heart: Beike just didn't know anything, and there were people who talked about the Japanese when they suppressed the Japanese in the past, let alone now.

Luo Zhenquan was afraid that Xu Yuanzuo would be really angry, so he explained: "The folk customs are like this, who knows if it's true or not." I'm afraid that even if Zheng Daling's house is clean, there is such a legend outside. ”

Xu Yuanzuo was not really angry, but still had some expectations. In contrast, he prefers people with slightly higher moral flexibility. If Zheng Yue is willing to act for him in the bureaucracy, open up new trade channels. That's the best thing to do! As for the Da Ming Decree, for Xu Yuanzuo, it is just a red line on the bright side, reminding himself to cover it up a little when he is lawless. If you talk about respecting the law, it's really hard for him.

The young man was trained by the gold master, and he didn't say much later, only when he walked through a few shops, he said: This is the Zheng family; This is still the Zheng family.

Xu Yuanzuo's scalp was a little numb when he listened. Originally, I thought that Mr. Zheng was a well-off family. Therefore, the gifts brought are not very expensive, for fear that the enthusiasm will be too much to add trouble to people. Now it seems that it is not only a big family, but a powerful family! Teacher Zheng is a jinshi in the first year of Longqing, and he was only awarded the Qipin County Order at the beginning, so he has such assets at home!

The Zheng family is in Chengguan Township, Changle County, close to the county seat. Xu Yuanzuo with dozens of people has long attracted the attention of the locals. When everyone came to ask, they all said, "We are disciples of Jinshi Zheng Gong, and we have come to meet you." "A few mouths are pushing fast. I ran ahead early to report the news. Generally speaking, it is a happy event for a distinguished guest to visit the family, and the good news must have good money.

Xu Yuanzuo saw a memorial arch from a distance, and he didn't have to think about it to know that it was Zheng Yue's Jinshi archway. In the city and countryside of the Ming Dynasty, there is basically no memorial arch of chastity, and all of them are mainly meritorious memorial arches, official titles, and meritorious memorial arches. Although Changle County has produced a lot of jinshi, it is not expected to be so dense.

Sure enough, the crowd turned into the country road. Approaching the archway, you can see the word "Zheng" very obviously. The clan power in southern Fujian is probably the first in the country -- the soaking pig cage is a specialty of Fujian Province, and later became the symbol of the entire clan society. Zheng Yuezhong Jinshi is not just his family's business. It is also the brilliance of the entire Zheng family.

When Xu Yuanzuo arrived at the archway, there were already people waiting there. asked Xu Yuanzuo if he had an official status, apparently to decide on the reception specifications. Xu Yuanzuo has never been so discriminated against in the north, from Jiangnan to Beijing, and only then did he deeply sigh at the bureaucratic social attributes of the Ming Dynasty.

After learning that Xu Yuanzuo and his party had no official status. The Zheng clan was not very enthusiastic and dispersed one after another. Vaguely, someone seemed to say: "Such a big formation, but there is not even an official body." ”

Xu Yuanzuo listened to Luo Zhenquan's malicious relay, so he had to shake his head and wave his hand: "Ignore them, the bird's nest knows the ambition of the bird!" ”

Luo Zhenquan doesn't care. Anyway, he hasn't been despised for the past two years. If it had been earlier, he would have to prevent others from releasing cold arrows when he went ashore!

Everyone walked through the archway, and found that there were many walled walls in the village, which was really worthy of the anti-Japanese old base. But now the wall is still there, but the gate is open, and no one is standing on the wall to watch, it seems that the sea is really peaceful.

Xu Yuanzuo and others entered the village and found Zheng Yue's house along the stone road. As soon as he saw Teacher Zheng's door, Xu Yuanzuo suspected that the young man who led the way had confused the difference between the "Zheng family" and the "Zheng family".

This house doesn't look like a powerful family living in it.

"You're not taking the wrong path, are you?" Xu Yuanzuo asked Luo Zhenquan to ask the party that led the way.

The young man said, "Although the Zheng family is rich, they are very frugal. He smiled as he spoke, indicating that he must have taken the wrong path.

Xu Yuanzuo hesitated a little, and finally decided to knock on it first.

Qi Miao stepped forward and knocked on the door, holding the big red name card with both hands.

The vermilion-painted door creaked open.

A middle-aged woman wearing coarse cloth clothes and a homespun cloth wrapped around her head stood at the door, looking at Xu Yuanzuo Qimiao with a surprised face. Qi Miao saluted and handed the name card to the woman: "My father-in-law is a disciple of Master Zheng in the house, and I have come to visit the prince and respect my relatives, please report it." ”

The woman apparently didn't understand, and was stunned to take the post.

Xu Yuanzuo hurriedly motioned to Luo Zhenquan to go up and say. However, Luo Zhenquan's Hokkien language was also quite problematic to her, and she said after a long time: "Please come in and sit." ”

Xu Yuanzuo only looked at the wall and knew that there were not too many people inside. While ordering people to carry gifts in, he also asked people to go to the village to borrow some tables, chairs and benches. When he entered the gate, he realized that he still overestimated the Zheng family's "frugality". From the outside, it was a three-entry house, and when I looked inside, I realized that there was a wall in the middle, and it was just a courtyard that I entered. Behind the wall is someone else's house.

On both sides of the main house are wings, of which the west wing has been converted into a kitchen, which obviously cannot be borrowed.

Xu Yuanzuo felt a little painful. When I arrived at the teacher's house, I didn't stay overnight, which was obviously unreasonable. But to live here, the standard of living has been smashed!

Luo Zhenquan walked up to Xu Yuanzuo and whispered, "This is your wife." ”

Xu Yuanzuo was stunned for a moment and looked at this middle-aged woman. Her appearance is older than Zheng Yue! Of course. The ability of women in Fujian and Guangdong is also known in the world. Not only do they have to be female celebrities at home, but they also have to work in the fields, which is even more male than men. Most of it is the intense physical labor accumulated over time, which makes this master look like Zheng Yue's mother.

The master carefully invited Xu Yuanzuo to sit down, not at all like Jinshi's wife.

"You don't kowtow?" Luo Zhenquan asked Xu Yuanzuo.

Xu Yuanzuo didn't mind kowtowing. Doing what the locals do and kowtowing to is not too humiliating. Even among members of the same generation, they often kneel and kowtow to each other to express their identification as friends. Kowtowing to one's wife is the same as kowtowing to one's mother, and only when you avoid it will be gossiped about.

Xu Yuanzuo asked in a low voice, "We really didn't go to the wrong person, right?" ”

"I've never seen such a shabby Jinshidi." Luo Zhenquan said: "But look behind you." ”

Xu Yuanzuo turned around and looked up, not only was there "Jinshidi" hanging in the main gate, but also "Lianjie Emperor List" on both sides, as well as "Xianggong Yakui". These three plaques unmistakably tell the background of the family's fame. Yakui is the sixth place in the township examination, that is, the sixth place in the three-year unified examination in the entire Fujian Province, which is definitely a good result. Lian Jie's list means that after he became a lifter, he went to Chunfu High School the following year and ordered Jinshi.

Jin Shidi. Of course, it's the home of this Jinshi.

It is indeed in line with Zheng Yue's life experience.

Xu Yuanzuo asked softly again: "Are you sure this is my wife?" ”

Luo Zhenquan nodded solemnly: "There is another person in the inner room, it is your master, and he has to kowtow." In this house, the two of them live with a child. I heard that the child is ten years old and has not yet left school. ”

After asking about his identity, Xu Yuanzuo couldn't be reserved anymore, so he stepped forward and asked his wife to sit on the throne and pay respects. said: "My wife is above, dare to ask for a visit to the princess." ”

Mrs. Zheng looked at Luo Zhenquan worriedly. I wonder what this stocky young man is talking about. Luo Zhenquan translated, and Mrs. Zheng hurriedly got up and led Xu Yuanzuo into the main house, and there was no knocking on the door, and it was really the behavior of a small family. Xu Yuanzuo used to think that Zheng Yue's self-proclaimed "small family" was modest, but now he knows that it is a real small family.

After Xu Yuanzuo entered. The room was dim, the smell was cloudy, and there was a shelf bed, on which lay an old man with a white beard and white hair.

Compared with Zheng Yue's age, the old father and wife in the family. It's too old.

Xu Yuanzuo didn't say anything, and when his wife woke up the princess, he paid a big salute again, and Cheng Zhongyuan presented the gift list.

And then it's embarrassing.

Taigong's eyes are almost half-blind, and his wife can't read a single big character.

Xu Yuanzuo originally wanted to use the power of the Zheng Yue family, but now he realized how much he took it for granted. However, there are more doubts among them, not to mention Jinshi, even if Zheng Yue is just a lifter, the local officials have to be flattered, and I don't know how many people want to surrender to him. But whenever there are some things in the township, as long as Zheng Yue sends a piece of it to the yamen, the county order has to deal with it seriously.

The situation in front of me is simply worse than that of all beings!

Xu Yuanzuo retreated, changed his tone, and thought about finding the crux of the problem. In the end, there are really people in the world who want to eat, and Jinshi who die poor!

My wife is a very virtuous housewife, so she is going to boil water for Xu Yuanzuo to make tea. Where does Xu Yuanzuo dare to work as his wife, and how will he be a person when it is spread out in the future? immediately ordered Cha Cha to work, and he chatted with his wife with the help of Luo Zhenquan. The master is not good at words, and she didn't say that she was ugly for a long time, and Xu Yuanzuo was a little overwhelmed with patience.

At this moment, Zheng Yue's son heard that someone was coming from the family and ran back in advance.

"Brother Xiaoshi." When Xu Yuanzuo saw the young man coming in, he called his mother, and he also got up to say hello.

Zheng Xiaogongzi looked at Xu Yuanzuo curiously, suddenly knelt down, and said in an official voice with a strong southern Fujian accent: "Under Zheng Cunen, I have seen Brother Shi." ”

Xu Yuanzuo had no choice but to kneel down and kowtow to him, introduce himself, and then get up and said, "Brother Shi, please take a seat." ”

Zheng Cunen said: "I don't know that the world brother came from afar, and I didn't prepare for it, and it was rude." ”

Xu Yuanzuo and the others came all the way after lunch, and it was almost time for dinner to sit down for a while. He said: "Don't dare, it's the students who came suddenly, please don't be surprised by the princess, the master and the brother." ”

"How dare you."

Xu Yuanzuo looked at Zheng Cunen's youthful appearance, and said secretly in his heart: Although Mr. Zheng's family is poor, his tutor looks very good - at least better than him. He asked, "Where did my brother study?" ”

"Literacy in ethnography." Zheng Cunen looked at Xu Yuanzuo's clothes enviously: "Is the world brother a child?" ”

Of course, Xu Yuanzuo is a student. It's just that if it weren't for the professor in the school who led the rice for him, he would have been demoted a long time ago.

"Why don't you go to Jiangnan to study?" Xu Yuanzuo asked.

Zheng Cunen was a little embarrassed and said, "My father is out of the house, and someone must take care of the family." And the ethnography is also very good, and Mr. is quite attentive. My father is also enlightened in genealogy, so it can be seen that you don't have to travel far to study. ”

Xu Yuanzuo did not correct the child's childish opinion, and said, "Indeed. The Zheng family is also a Changle family, I don't know if there are any people in the forest who have learned in addition to their teacher? "This is asking the details of the Zheng family. treats the relatives who are Jinshi so slowly, unless their family is full of Jinshi, and there are as many people as dogs.

"There is a cousin who is also a Jinshi, and there are two cousins and a cousin who are lifters." Zheng Cunen thought for a while, and then said: "There are also six members of the clan. ”

- Well, it's a lot, but it's not scary.

Xu Yuanzuo looked around and said slowly: "Since you are a well-dressed family, why do you treat my family so slowly?" ”

Zheng Cunen's whole face wrinkled, and he said, "I don't know where to start." ”

Xu Yuanzuo said forcefully: "From the beginning." ”

Zheng Cunen straightened out his thoughts and said, "Many people say that the clan treats my family slowly......"

Xu Yuanzuo nodded slightly, his brain spun rapidly, thinking about how to help the teacher avenge this!

"Actually, the clan is already very careful." Zheng Cunen said.

Xu Yuanzuo couldn't help but take another look at the surrounding environment.

Zheng Cunen followed and looked around: "This house was given to my family by the clan." ”

Xu Yuanzuo couldn't help but make a guttural sound.

Zheng Cunen continued: "I still remember that before my father was lifted, the family had always lived in the ancestral hall. I heard that earlier, I also lived in the mountain temple. ”

Xu Yuanzuo choked: It seems that Mr. Zheng said that he was a small family, and he was already bragging very vainly!

Zheng Cunen didn't have the concept of vanity, and said honestly: "After my father was promoted, the clan pooled money for him, sent him to Beijing for the test, and then divided these tiled houses for us to live in. This really can't be considered a slow wait. ”

"Uh...... After the teacher won the lift, didn't anyone vote? Xu Yuanzuo asked.

Zheng Cunen was at a loss: "Surrender? ”

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*(To be continued.) )

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