After Bao learned the news, he was secretly angry, feeling that Chen Liang was fooling his children and said: "If he is not willing to help, he will say it directly, why is he coaxing me like this?" I didn't say that I had to be short, nor did I say that I was going to be on the wheel soon, what did he mean by lying to me and giving his official position to someone close to him?! ”

Shi also looked angry, Duan Ning pondered for a moment, and said, "This ...... Could it be that someone did it? It stands to reason that he didn't need to lie to Amma. ”

When Zhang Bao heard him say this, he also calmed down, thought about it, and sighed: "That's it, I am not a close friend with him, and I usually don't have much contact. No matter what happens to him this time, let's not put the future on him and find another way. ”

Shu Ning thought of the news she had heard from her parents and brother recently, and she faintly felt that something was wrong with Chen Liangben's situation. After leaving Beijing for two years, he touched the interests of some people in Jiangnan, and his originally stable political camp was loosened, and his reputation was somewhat damaged. The most important thing is that whether he is active or passive, he has already begun to fall into party strife and has lost his original position of pure minister, and it is difficult to say how long the emperor can favor him. If his father is too close to him, he is easily regarded as a friend, and he will inevitably be affected when something happens, so it is better to take this opportunity to be estranged.

She said her thoughts, but Zhang Bao still hesitated. In the eyes of others, he is already from Chen Liangben's side, and if he is estranged at this time, he will be regarded as a villain who tends to be inflammatory, right?

Shuning hurriedly said, "How can Ama think like this? In fact, you became good friends with Lord Chen back then because you were a subordinate of Yuheng people. It's not that he's a descendant. Although he did us a little favor, we also came up with a few ideas for him, and in all seriousness, we did not owe him any favors, nor did we rely on his promotion to make a fortune. These two things are the fault of Lord Chen, and it is human nature that we have a gap in our hearts. As for other people's gossip. Who have we ever attached ourselves to? What can others say? ”

Zhang Bao listened. I think it makes sense. Duan Ning listened from the sidelines. At this time, he interjected: "It's good that Ama doesn't form a party, I think a few adults on Lord Chen's side are no different from forming a party, I don't know what the emperor will think." ”

Zhang Bao was taken aback and nodded decisively: "I know." ”

He threw away the idea of relying on Chen Liangben to recover, and only reported the official document to the officials in a proper manner, and waited for news at home. Of course. Brothers and the Yue family, what should be done still has to be done. However, when Chen Liangben sent a letter to apologize, he was noncommittal, and only said that he knew, and he didn't have to bother in the future, so he sent the person with an ordinary reward.

In fact, in this matter, Chen Liangben was a little wronged. He did send a note to the former subordinates of the Ministry of Officials, suggesting that they would give Zhang Bao the lack of Jinan prefect's land. So make an appointment. He was also astonished. I asked those old subordinates, and they actually said that they did what he ordered, and the name on the paper was the current one. Chen Liang thought about it. I knew that there was something wrong with the people around me. Thinking of what has happened recently, he can't help but be secretly frightened.

He hurriedly sent someone to deliver a letter to Zhang Bao to explain the truth, but apparently Zhang Bao had become discouraged and no longer trusted him. Although he felt very sorry, Zhang Bao was not very important to him, and he had an intricate relationship with the prince and his family, so he couldn't really trust it, so he didn't force it anymore. What's more, the most important thing for him at the moment is to calm the backyard first, and then deal with the people who used to be brothers and sisters to him, but now they intend to replace them.

After a few more days, the results of the inspection of the officials and the letter of appointment came down, and Duanning officially became an eight-grade military department pen paste, full-time translation, drafting, copying and other paperwork.

The clan is a little worried, this official position is a little low, not to mention compared with Zhenzhen's brothers, just compared with a few nephews of his own, it is several levels worse, and even the unseemly prodigal son Cheng Ning in the second room is a six-grade Lanling guard.

Duan Ning comforted her and said, "Don't worry, E-niang, I'm still young." Although the grade of this sticker is low, what I do is important, and I can often see the hall officials, and the children of the Eight Banners like me are all promoted in this way. ”

Zhang Bao also smiled: "This position looks like nothing, but it is the easiest to promote, and if you do it well, you can see it immediately." Not only do I know a lot of people, but I can also get familiar with various government affairs, which is a good opportunity to learn things. If you stay up for a few years, and when you reach the position of the principal, your future will be limitless, and it is not impossible for you to be a feudal official. ”

Hearing them say this, the mood was also relaxed, thinking of the few nobles he knew, and some of the children started from petty officials such as pen stickers, and there were only a few who were blessed to be promoted exceptionally, so they were no longer entangled in this.

Duan Ning saw that her face had improved, so she said with a smile: "Actually, I originally wanted to go to the household department or the Ministry of Industry, to learn more things, and in the future, I can be a parent like Amma, and I can also benefit the people, but I didn't want to be sent to the military department, and I was really disappointed." ”

Shi was a little crying and laughing: "Can you still pick this kind of thing?" Horizontal and vertical is to boil qualifications, where is not the same? Zhang Bao listened to it and said: "Nonsense, the military department and the army are the foundation of our family, and your daughter-in-law's family is also from the army, you want others to hear this, and I don't know what you will say." Don't mention it again. ”

Duan Ning obediently responded, turned his head and saw his sister looking at him and laughing, so he pretended to be angry and said, "Girl, what are you laughing at?!" Shuning pursed her lips and said, "It's nothing, I think my brother went to the military department, but it was actually quite advantageous." Duan Ning asked what the reason was, and she smiled and said, "My brother is very familiar with Manchu, Mongolian and Chinese characters, this is one of them; The elder brother has long learned government affairs documents from Amma, which is the second; Third, what is the biggest thing in the military department right now? Of course, it's the Northwest. The names of places, people, and relationships there, my brother knew it for a long time when he helped Brother Tongying sort out the information last year. Other military departments have to memorize these first, and my brother will be able to take office immediately, isn't it taking advantage? ”

Duan Ning scolded with a smile: "You girl, do you think it's good to make a pen paste and just memorize these?" What kind of advantage is this? Then he deceived himself and pinched his sister's nose. Shuning hurriedly dodged the corpse technique, and the brother and sister made trouble again, but they didn't see their parents

There was some surprise in his eyes.

Duan Ning will soon start to go on a bad trip. He was busy packing things for him to bring and gifts for his future colleagues, and Zhang Bao also taught him a lot of experience. Shuning was beside her, but she remembered another thing: "Sister Zhenzhen doesn't seem to have returned to Beijing, didn't the emperor say that he would get married?" Why hasn't there been news for so long? ”

Shi smiled: "Mrs. Wen came with a letter two days ago, saying that Zhenzhen will return to Beijing in a few days, and I don't think it will be far away." Zhang Bao also twisted his beard and said: "I heard that the watch workshop of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been half built, and it will probably be completed next spring." Before General Wu Dan finished this errand and returned to Guangzhou. I will definitely get my daughter's marriage done. I guess it's going to be a few days. ”

Shuning let out an "oh". smiled and glanced at his brother: "Duan Fourth Master has become an official." It's going to marry a daughter-in-law again, it's really a double happiness. She was ready to deal with another round of aggression from her brother, but she didn't expect Duan Ning's face to turn red, and she walked out without muttering something, which surprised her.

Hyuneong ran in from outside the door and gave his brother a strange look as he passed by. Then he came in and asked, "Why is my brother's face so red?" Zhang Baohe couldn't help it and laughed.

Shuning forced a smile, squatted down and said to her younger brother, "Because my brother is going to marry my sister-in-law, I'm embarrassed." Xianning's eyes widened and asked, "Sister-in-law?" Who is it? Isn't it Sister Zhenzhen? Shuning smiled and nodded: "But my brother's skin is too thin, and he blushes as soon as I say my sister-in-law, so what can I do on the day of marriage?" It's going to be laughed at. So Brother Xian remembered to say more about the new sister-in-law in front of his brother, so that he could get used to it as soon as possible. ”

Xianning nodded solemnly. But I heard my parents laugh even louder. Some scratch your head. At this time, he saw Duan Ning walking in with a few books in his hand, so he ran over and said, "Brother, don't blush the day you marry your sister-in-law." Duan Ning was stunned. After brushing his face and turning red again, he looked up at his parents who were so happy that he couldn't do it, and his sister who was snickering on the side, and he knew who the culprit was. ”

In the end, it was the clan that stopped the children from fighting, and asked Xianning: "Didn't Brother Xian'er practice calligraphy in his aunt's house?" What's wrong with it? ”

Xian Ning said: "I heard my aunt say that she and Brother Xiaobao are going back to Fangshan, Eniang, I also want to go back with them." ”

The family was silent, there were still many things at home, it was impossible for her to go back, not to mention that there was still the matter of Duan Ning marrying her next, but let the youngest son go back with Xiao Liu, although she could rest assured, she was a little reluctant. She looked at her husband, Zhang Bao picked up Xianning and asked, "Why does Brother Xian'er want to go back with his aunt?" Isn't it good to have Ama Eniang, brother and sister with you at home? ”

Xianning said: "It's good, but there's nothing fun here." Master Fangshan Youcheng accompanied me to ride horses and shoot arrows, and I could also play with Brother Xiaobao, which was much more interesting than here. Amma, won't you go back? ”

Zhang Bao pondered for a moment, and then said: "It snows in winter, and it is not convenient to ride a horse and shoot arrows, Xiaobao is to study with Mr., so he wants to go back." How about Brother Xian'er stay and spend more time with Amma? You see, your sister has something to do every day, and your brother is going to the yamen again, so Ama is so bored alone. ”

Xianning tilted his head and thought about it, and solemnly agreed. Zhang Bao happily touched his head. Shuning looked at it, and her heart was warm.

In the following days, Duan Ning went to the military department every day on an errand, and Zhang Bao taught his youngest son to read and write at home, and he had a good time. The clan helped Nala with some household chores, but it was far less beautiful than when she was in power in the spring, but she didn't care much about it, because she had other things to do, that is, to prepare for Duan Ning's marriage.

In the past two years, Fangshan's fields and fruit forests and lotus ponds have benefited a lot. Although the rain is not enough this year, there are still two or three thousand taels of income, and the tea houses in Guangzhou can earn about 1,000 taels every quarter, and their family has always been thrifty and has accumulated a lot of money. Now that Zhang Bao has a knighthood again, and Duan Ning has also entered the office, even if Zhang Bao's official position after his recovery is not ideal, there is no need to worry.

Shi took his daughter to carefully check the account books and calculated that his family could probably use 5,000 taels of silver for happy events, but after listening to his daughter's suggestion, he decided to use only 3,000 for the time being, and keep the rest for backup.

At the same time, when the son marries a wife, of course, he can no longer stay in Huaiyuan, but has to live in another courtyard. At present, there are not many empty courtyards in the Earl's Palace, and she has taken a fancy to an old courtyard that is uninhabited closest to Huaiyuan. After the old lady passed away, Nala used the side compartment of the main courtyard to store sundries, and all the things in it were moved, and the old courtyard was abandoned. He liked that it was close to the Huaiyuan, the place was spacious, dry and ventilated, and it only needed to be renovated.

She made a request to the Nala clan that Sanfang was willing to bear the cost of the renovation on the grounds that her son wanted to marry when he was old. Although the Nala clan didn't know which lady Duanning would engage with, a few days ago, for the sake of his daughter, he had offended Sanfang several times, and Sanfang was still humble and polite to the big house, and asked very kindly, "I spent a lot last month, do you need to add some silver to the account." Although the rent on Baoding Village has been paid, and the rent of several properties has also been collected, they don't need to pay for the time being, but the previous difficulties have been successfully overcome thanks to the help of the three rooms, and she needs to show favor to the three rooms and mend the relationship. Therefore, she readily agreed to renovate the yard, and offered to pay for it from the public school, after all, Duan Ning is also the young master of the Earl's Court.

The family knew in her heart, of course, she smiled, and with the money saved, she could also do more dowry gifts to add glory to her face.

In late October, the palace finally handed down a decree to marry the daughter of Wu Dan, the general of Guangzhou, to the grandson of the late first-class Weiyuan Boharqi, the son of Zhang Bao, the commander of the light car, and the pen paste Duanning.

Two days later, the ministry issued an official document, the former governor of Guangzhou, Zhang Bao, humble and filial piety, loyal to his duties, outstanding performance during his tenure, and the merit of persuading the peasants to calm down, moved to the direct subordinate to participate in politics.