These days, Zhuang Huchen has been running to the Forbidden City every now and then, but he is not enthusiastic about taking care of the government of the Qing Dynasty, but has other plans.

That day, it was still before dawn, Zhuang Huchen came to the outside of the Forbidden City in his official uniform and entered the palace with all the officials. Coming to the square outside the Qianqing Gate, the officials began to wait for the emperor to go to court, but Zhuang Huchen went straight to the bulletin board in the northwest corner. There were still black holes around, Zhuang Huchen looked hard, and the handwriting on the bulletin board was blurred, so he turned around and walked towards the lounge on the east side.

Entering the lounge, Zhuang Huchen took out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone from the court clothes and put it on the table, and at this time he was just in time to catch up with the messenger to deliver water: "Lord Zhuang, you are early, you are here to copy the list today?" ”

"yes, are there any new posts coming out?" Zhuang Huchen asked with concern.

"Yes, I just posted it last afternoon."

As soon as he heard this, Zhuang Huchen's face showed joy, and he said in his heart: It's not in vain today. He opened the inkstone: "Yes, thank you, you can put some water in this inkstone for me." ”

The errand left, Zhuang Huchen closed his eyes and slept for a while, and when he woke up, it was already dawn, he quickly got up and ran to the bulletin board again.

The newly announced list of official appointments and dismissals was posted on the bulletin board, and this time it was all clear, Zhuang Huchen read it and muttered in his mouth: "Guolinha, General Chahar; Wei Rulin, appointed as the prefect of Chengdu; Exempted: Liang Chunhe, political envoy of Shanxi; Wu Yuzhou, Guangdong according to the inspection of the ......"

The emperor has not yet come, and on the square, all the officials are discussing political affairs in groups and groups, and there are still people moving.

Zhuang Huchen wrote down all the contents on the bulletin board, and hurried across the square to return to the lounge.

In the lounge, several officials were drinking water and chatting, Zhuang Huchen nodded to them, and then spread out the rice paper on the table, and according to the memory just now, he transcribed the list of officials appointed and dismissed on the bulletin board.

Approaching noon, Zhuang Huchen's sedan chair stopped at the door of Rong Bao Zhai, and Zhuang Huchen, who was wearing an official uniform, got down from the sedan chair and greeted the people in the other sedan chair: "Lord Chen, you go slowly." ”

Lord Chen poked his head out of the sedan chair: "Lord Zhuang, see you later." ”

Dezi looked very fresh, he greeted him, and bowed respectfully: "Lord Zhuang, you are back." ”

Zhuang Huchen didn't stop at his feet: "Call Zhuang the shopkeeper." ”

Dezi followed behind Zhuang Huchen's buttocks: "You are an official now, wearing this official uniform, I call you Zhuang Shopkeeper, how inappropriate!" ”

Zhuang Huchen stopped: "Back to Rong Bao Zhai, I am the shopkeeper, I like to hear this title, to be honest, I don't take myself as an official." With that, he went straight to the backyard.

Dezi stood in the front hall and pondered: "Why isn't it an official, it's a serious seven grade, is that a joke?" ”

Zhuang Huchen changed into civilian clothes, came in again with a paper roll in his hand, and leaned over again: "Shopkeeper, have you seen the emperor today?" ”

Zhuang Huchen said "um" and sat down.

Dezi made tea: "How far is the emperor from you?" ”

"It's still far away."

"You didn't get closer?" Dezi was full of interest, and Zhuang Huchen was impatient: "Come on, don't talk nonsense, what should you do?" ”

Dezi unhappily picked up the basin and went to the door to pry water, Zhuang Huchen sat on the chair, unfolded the paper roll in his hand and pondered it seriously. This scroll of paper is the latest list of official appointments and dismissals of the Great Qing Dynasty that he copied on the bulletin board in the Forbidden City.

Dezi put down the basin and walked over: "Shopkeeper, a master who printed books came to you just now." ”

Zhuang Huchen raised his head: "What about people?" ”

"I asked him to go directly to No. 2 Jingyuan Hutong, didn't you say that Rong Bao Zhai was set up there?"

Zhuang Huchen stood up: "Yes, if you want to make a high-quality product, you can't point to the printing workshop, you have to come by yourself." Dezi, you keep an eye on the shop, I'll go over. Zhuang Huchen took the roll of paper and left.

These days, Zhang Youlin is more restrained, he didn't poke out any Lou Zi, and the things in the shop are also in order, Zhang Li's is rarely relaxed, and his face is much more ruddy. She was chatting with Mama Li in the living room, when Zhang Youlin walked in: "Mom, I have to discuss something with you." ”

Zhang Li looked at him with a smile: "Say, son, as long as it's not a bad thing, my mother will agree." ”

Zhang Youlin sat down: "I told you and the shopkeeper Zhuang that I want to be an apprentice in Rong Bao Zhai." ”

The smile on Zhang Li's face immediately disappeared: "Apprentice? People like us, where can we let our children go to apprenticeship in the shop? Aren't you fooling around? Youlin, obedient, you give me an honest reading, and I will ...... in the future"

"Mom, I'll tell you the truth, you kicked it out for a while...... Hey, I just wanted to mix a bowl of rice to eat, because I didn't want Sister Qiuyue to feed me, later, I found that there was really a lot to learn in the shop, usually I didn't take pen, ink, paper and inkstone seriously, and so on in the shop for a while before I found out that the knowledge of this line is quite deep. ”

Zhang Li hesitated: "But...... You don't have to be an apprentice to learn this. When do you want to learn, just ask the shopkeeper of the village. ”

"Mom, that's it, I'm going to help out in the shop after studying, it's always okay, right?" Zhang Youlin took a step back, Zhang Li weighed it in her heart, she knew that her son had thought about what he wanted to do, and he couldn't stop it, so he had to sigh: "Alas, if you really want to go, just go, just don't delay your study." ”

"Okay, there's one more thing, I want to apply for the new school."

"Is there any difference between the new school and the private school?" Zhang Li asked. Speaking of the difference between the teaching of the new-style school and the private school, Zhang Youlin said more: "The things taught in the new-style school are much more interesting than those taught by the private school. I heard that the new-style school teaches the history of various countries, mathematical enlightenment, translation of official documents, as well as astronomical calculations, public law of all countries, geography and ......"

Zhang Li nodded: "That's a good thing, no wonder Jilin also discussed with me that he wanted to apply for the new-style school, son, you go, Mom agrees." She happily agreed.

The Prime Minister's National Affairs Yamen, referred to as the "Prime Minister's Yamen", was a special central agency of the Qing Dynasty to handle foreign affairs and foreign affairs, and was established on January 20, 1861 with the approval of Emperor Xianfeng. The Prime Minister's Yamen is located in the courtyard of No. 49 Dongtangzi Hutong in the capital, which was originally the residence of Sai Shang'a, a scholar of the Wenhua Palace and the chief minister of military aircraft, after reconstruction, the eastern half became the site of the Jingshi Tongwen Museum, that is, the site of the new-style school that Zhang Youlin longed for, and the western half was opened up as a place for ministers and envoys of various ministries to conduct diplomatic activities, and it was also the office of officials.

That afternoon, when Prime Minister Yamen Zhangjing Wang Yuxuan was immersed in writing an official letter to the French minister, the official walked in gently and presented him with a beautifully decorated booklet: "My lord, this is sent by the people of Rong Bao Zhai of Liulichang. ”

Wang Yuxuan raised his head, looking very surprised: "I didn't order anything with Rong Baozhai......" He took the booklet, glanced at it, and threw it aside casually, and continued to write the official document.

It was getting late, the official came in to take charge of the lamp, Wang Yuxuan put down the brush, grabbed his numb hand, stood up, stretched his waist, cleaned up his things, and went home. The booklet sent by Zhuang Huchen lay quietly on Wang Yuxuan's desk, half covered by other documents.

A few days later, Yang Xianji came to Wang Yuxuan for a business matter, and he sat opposite Wang Yuxuan: "Lord Wang, this case involves foreigners, and our criminal department is not good at being arbitrary, so I specially came to discuss with you." ”

Wang Yuxuan's hand subconsciously knocked lightly on the table, with a difficult face: "This involves foreigners, it's not easy to do!" Lord Yang, let me think about it. After that, Wang Yuxuan filled a bag of cigarettes, lit them with flint, took a deep breath, and ignored Yang Xianji.

Yang Xianji was bored waiting, so he picked up the booklet on Wang Yuxuan's desk that was half covered by documents and flipped through it.

Yang Xianji watched it with relish, and Wang Yuxuan was a little curious: "Lord Yang, what are you looking at?" Yang Xianji didn't look up, and waved the booklet in his hand: "The gentleman on your case." ”

"Gentleman? Where did I come from? Wang Yuxuan was inexplicable, Yang Xianji just looked down at the gentleman in his hand, and did not answer. Wang Yuxuan stood up and walked over, and Yang Xianji handed him the gentleman. The cover of the gentleman is red on a yellow background, beautifully printed, and a line of small characters is engraved in the lower right corner: Rong Bao Zhai system.

"Where did this come from?" Wang Yuxuan pondered, and for a moment, he patted his head, "Oh, I remember, the people from Rong Bao Zhai sent it the day before yesterday." ”

"Can you lend me two days?"

"Okay," Wang Yuxuan returned the gentleman to Yang Xianji, "Is there anything new on this?" ”

"The gentry can have anything new, but the list of officials on this is up-to-date." Yang Xianji turned to one of the pages, "Look, Zhao Weigang, Lord Zhao has been dismissed; Zhou Wuyan, replaced by Lord Zhou. This is all outside the Qianqing Gate, and it was only announced five or six days ago. ”

Wang Yuxuan leaned in: "Hey, it's really the latest." ”

At this time, a pen paste walked in: "Lord Wang......" pen paste looked at Yang Xianji, and stopped talking. Yang Xianji hurriedly stood up: "Lord Wang, you are busy, otherwise, you think about this case first, I will go back, and come back another day, this gentleman ......"

"Take a look, don't forget, bring it to me next time."

"Definitely!"

After sending Yang Xianji away, Wang Yuxuan sat back in the chair and said to himself: "An outdated gentleman, when I arrive at Rong Bao Zhai, I can change my old appearance to a new one......"

Yang Xianji is busy with official business these days, and if he pretends to have too many things in his head, he will inevitably lose everything, and the gentleman he borrowed from Wang Yuxuan doesn't know where to put it, there is no yamen, no family, and he has to return it to others tomorrow, he thought about it, and hurried to Qiuyue's residence.

Entering the small courtyard, Yang Xianji didn't say anything and began to rummage through the cabinets, looking anxious. Qiu Yue was puzzled: "Lord Yang, what are you looking for?" ”

"See my gentleman? I can't remember if I brought it back. ”

Qiu Yue shook her head: "I didn't see it, you put it in the yamen, right?" Did someone take it wrong? ”

"It's better to take it wrong, I'm afraid that if I take it and don't return it, how can I explain it to Lord Wang!" Yang Xianji was worried.

"Don't worry." Qiu Yue also helped to find it, and the two chatted while looking for it.

"If you want to use it as a treasure, that is, those of us who are officials, it is really useless for others to ask for it."

"Why do the officials treat it as a treasure?"

"The usefulness of this gentleman is wonderful, take me as an example, the time to transfer to the capital is not long, except for the old and old, other people, up and down are not very familiar, not familiar with it, it is not easy to do things, in this officialdom, you don't know who has a relationship with whom, which sentence is not right, it will offend people."

"So, can the gentleman tell you what to say?" Qiu Yue thought it was ridiculous.

"Although the gentleman can't tell me what to say, but from the gentleman from Rong Bao Zhai, who is a fellow countryman, who has been a superior to whom, who has not been in this position for a long time before being transferred, and also, a certain position, who is the latest appointee...... In short, there are all kinds of detailed materials about the current officials, and you think, this official, not only thinks that the official will continue to do it, but also has to find ways to find opportunities for promotion, how convenient it is to have such a gentleman in his hand. ”

Qiu Yue stopped rummaging: "You definitely didn't bring it back, I'm afraid you lost it in the yamen." ”

"Alas!" Yang Xianji hung his head and sighed, Qiu Yue covered his mouth and laughed: "Adults are stumped for this?" You just said that Rong Bao Zhai came out, and then Rong Bao Zhai to buy a copy, don't you get it? Yang Xianji's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he slapped his thigh: "Qiuyue, why didn't I think of it?" ”

Rong Bao Zhai people come and go, it seems to be much more prosperous than before, a prominent position in the door also erected a sign, on which neat official writing reads: The store is grandly launched - the latest gentleman.

Several officials entered the shop and went straight to the counter selling gentlemen, and Zhang Youlin respectfully handed a copy to each official.

Yang Xianji paced into the door, and saw the sign at a glance, he didn't rush over, he walked around the shop first, and then walked over when Zhang Youlin finished socializing.

"Lord Yang, do you also buy a gentleman?" Zhang Youlin was very affectionate when he saw Yang Xianji.

"Youlin, you're still a buddy? Listen to Qiuyue, you're already home. ”

"I told my mother that I was an apprentice while studying, and I would be early in the morning, and I would have three years to become a teacher."

At this time, several more officials in official uniforms walked in, and Yang Xianji nodded and greeted them: "Yo, how many of you are here?" ”

One of them, Lord Xu, asked, "Lord Yang, you are also well-informed, are you here to buy a gentleman?" ”

Yang Xianji casually echoed: "It's really a good thing, it's a big deal." ”

Lord Wei was a little disapproving: "This thing is not a new thing, it was also in other shops before, and the gentlemen of Rong Bao Zhai were different as soon as they came out, first of all, the selling price was different, okay, the price was ridiculously high, several times more expensive than the gentlemen in other shops......"

"If it's too expensive, you can not buy it, or go to another shop to buy a cheap one." Lord Xu half-jokingly.

Yang Xianji said seriously: "It's more expensive, but this thing works, you see, this is the latest news, to compare it like this, I don't think any shop in Liuli Factory can compare with Rong Bao Zhai, people are really well-informed." ”

Zhang Youlin handed Yang Xianji a copy, Yang Xianji immediately flipped through it, and raised his head happily after reading two pages: "Hey! Changed again? ”

"You're up to date! Rest assured, our Rong Bao Zhai's gentlemen will be replaced at any time, always the latest. ”

Zhang Youlin looked at Yang Xianji and had an idea: "For example, if Lord Yang receives a letter of appointment for promotion this afternoon, you see, tomorrow morning, a new gentleman will come out, what is Lord Yang's new official position, which official has taken over Lord Yang's vacancy, and who has succeeded this official's original position, it is clearly written on it......

Yang Xianji had learned Zhang Youlin's kung fu that time, although Zhang Youlin forced him to be speechless, but Yang Xianji still liked Qiuyue's smart and honest brother in his heart, he looked at Zhang Youlin with a smile: "Hey, Youlin, you are becoming more and more like a businessman, is this idea what you want?" ”

"It's the idea of our shopkeeper."

Yang Xianji nodded: "Yes, I'll have another copy." Zhang Youlin took out another book and handed it to Yang Xianji, Yang Xianji and the officials nodded, paid the silver, and left satisfied.

Zhuang Huchen came back from the Forbidden City, he took off his official uniform in the north house in the backyard of Rong Bao Zhai, changed into civilian clothes and went to the front hall.

Several officials were still lingering in front of the counter selling gentlemen, and Zhuang Huchen walked up to them: "Ladies and gentlemen, are you still satisfied?" ”

Lord Xu nodded again and again: "Satisfied, satisfied!" The gentlemen in these other shops are unreliable, I'm afraid it's all hearsay, you're a serious thing. Another adult also chimed in: "Lord Zhuang copied it by hand outside the Qianqing Gate, can it be fake?" ”

Zhuang Huchen smiled: "It's good if you are satisfied, if you are satisfied!" ”

"Lord Zhuang, in the future, we will often patronize your Rong Bao Zhai." Lord Xu is set almost. Zhuang Huchen couldn't ask for it: "Welcome to come often, I, a gentleman, will update at any time and promise not to delay your envoys." ”

Several officials were leaving, Zhuang Huchen and Zhang Youlin sent them to the gate, and Zhuang Huchen clenched his fists: "What else do you need, I will let the guys send it to the house at any time." ”

Lord Xu pointed at Zhuang Huchen enviously: "Look at you, how convenient, I changed my official uniform when I got to the shop." ”

"Otherwise, you can go to the backyard ......"

"That's good, I don't need to be one today, I don't have any clothes to change." Lord Xu and the officials got into their respective sedan chairs.

Seeing a few sedan chairs go away, Zhuang Huchen asked Zhang Youlin: "Youlin, did you hear the words of that adult?" What are your thoughts? ”

"Master, we have to set up a place for these officials to rest and drink tea."

"Why?"

Zhang Youlin smiled slightly: "Master, you are afraid that you have already planned in your heart, this is a deliberate test for me, then I will say, these officials have finished their official business from the yamen, and they want to visit the glass factory by the way, but it is not very convenient to wear official uniforms, and it is not worth it to come back after going home and changing into civilian clothes, Rong Bao Zhai provides them with a place where they can change into civilian clothes and rest and drink tea, and there will be more and more officials from the three or six yamen in the future." ”

Zhuang Huchen remained silent: "Let's take the time to accompany them, and provide them with a place to rest and drink tea with silver, and there is no charge, isn't this a loss of money to make money?" ”

"This is popularity, this kind of opportunity to gather popularity is not available to every store, and with popularity, are you afraid that there will be no business? Besides, who are these people? The bones of the Great Qing Kingdom! Zhang Youlin flickered with a pair of aura eyes and talked eloquently.

Zhuang Huchen smiled with satisfaction, and he touched Zhang Youlin's head lovingly: "Youlin, you kid is a good man!" ”

The east house in the backyard of Rong Bao Zhai was quickly vacated and decorated. The walls were freshly pasted with clean white wallpaper, a row of hooks for hanging clothes were installed, screens were placed in the corners, tables, chairs and benches were neatly stacked against the walls, and the windows were replaced with new Korean paper.

Rong Bao Zhai has more customers coming and going than before, there are not enough people in the shop, Zhuang Huchen has recruited two new apprentices - Zhang Xier and Song Xuan, and business is booming.

The two officials got off the sedan chair at the door, and Dezi hurriedly greeted them: "Lord Zhao, Lord Li, are the two of you here?" Inside please. "Dezi sent them straight to the backyard.

Lord Zhao and Lord Li took off their official uniforms in the east room, changed into the civilian clothes they carried with them, walked out with a smile, and entered the front hall of Rong Bao Zhai. Zhuang Huchen just sent away a group of guests, turned around and didn't have time to say hello, Lord Zhao greeted him and arched his hand: "Zhuang shopkeeper, you think about it thoughtfully, there is a place to change clothes, after the court, it is much more convenient to visit the glass factory." ”

Zhuang Huchen returned the salute with a smile: "Don't worry, you two walk slowly." ”

Lord Zhao and Lord Li did not stay in Rong Bao Zhai, and went out of the shop directly. Dezi was a little disappointed: "Bai is changing clothes here?" Dare to go to other shops to buy things. ”

Zhuang Huchen smiled: "Dezi, why don't you understand it so much, they left the court clothes here with us, don't they have to come back!" ”

Dezi suddenly realized: "Oh, the shopkeeper, that's what happened......"

When recruiting students in the coming year, Zhang Youlin and Zhang Jilin were both admitted to the Jingshi Tongwen Museum. As the beginning of a new type of education in China, the Jingshi Tongwen Museum was a far-reaching school founded by the Qing Dynasty in the Westernization Movement to learn and disseminate Western science, approved by the Xianfeng Emperor in early 1861 and established at the same time as the Prime Minister Yamen. At the beginning of its opening, Tongwenguan was only a pure language school, but later gradually developed into a multidisciplinary comprehensive institution of higher learning, which cultivated many diplomatic talents for the imperial court, and was merged into the Jingshi University Hall in 1902, which became the predecessor of Peking University together with the Jingshi University Hall.

That afternoon, in a classroom at the Tongwen Hall at No. 49 Dongtangzi Hutong, a foreign teacher was teaching students, and he preached in somewhat stiff Chinese: "Wireless telegraphy was successfully studied by the Italian Marconi in the summer of the previous year, and its principle is electromagnetic induction, the thicker the current, the farther the induction." ”

The students were of all ages, but they were all listening intently, Zhang Youlin holding his cheek raiser with his left hand and taking notes with his right hand at any time.

The foreign instructors looked at everyone: "Can anyone tell me how long is the straight-line distance from France to England?" ”

Zhang Jilin raised his hand and replied: "The narrowest part of the Strait of Dover is only more than 30 kilometers, and our Huali is 60 or 70 miles. ”

The foreign teacher nodded approvingly: "Yes, there are only more than 30 kilometers from France to the United Kingdom, and these more than 30 kilometers can be tele......graphed without wires." At this time, the bell rang for the end of class, and the foreign teacher put away the handouts: "That's all for today's class, end of class!" ”

The students stood up and waited for the foreign instructors to leave the classrooms.

Zhang Youlin and Zhang Jilin walked around the campus, it was the season of spring flowers, peach, goose yellow, light purple, and tender green...... The colorful flowers decorate the campus beautifully, Zhang Jilin admired it to the fullest, dizzying, but Zhang Youlin seemed to be indifferent, silently thinking about his thoughts. Zhang Jilin stabbed him: "Youlin, what do you want?" ”

Zhang Youlin looked into the distance faintly: "Uncle Huo has no news for a few days, and I don't know what happened to him......

It was another day of the last dynasty, and after entering the Forbidden City, Zhuang Huchen went straight to the bulletin board as usual. Zhuang Huchen looked at it and muttered in his mouth: "Liu Buyun, appointed as the left general of Daizhou; He Shiwen, deputy chief soldier of Baoding; Erqingni, appointed as the superintendent of imperial supplies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ......" At this point, Zhuang Huchen suddenly stopped. "Imperial Supervision?" As he pondered, an official paced over, looking at the list of official appointments and dismissals happily, humming Peking opera in his mouth: "I was watching the mountain scenery from the city tower, and suddenly I heard that people were in chaos......

The person who came was none other than Erqingni. After the mediation of Bei Ziye, Erqingni was finally transferred back to the capital, and he also got a sweet difference: the supervision of imperial supplies by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is one of the highest officials in charge of the Yamen of the Internal Affairs Office, and he is equal to the head of the Internal Affairs Office.

Zhuang Huchen wrote down the list of official appointments and dismissals on the bulletin board, returned to the lounge, and transcribed it on rice paper. Erqingni also paced into the lounge, and when he passed by Zhuang Huchen's side, he glanced casually: "List of official appointments and dismissals, why are you copying this?" ”

Zhuang Huchen raised his head: "Out of the gentleman." ”

"What gentleman?" Erqingny didn't react for a moment.

"You've just arrived in the capital, right?"

"The capital has arrived a long time ago, but it hasn't taken office yet, no, the position of the emperor's reward, the holy decree only arrived yesterday."

Erqingni's face was happy, and Zhuang Huchen pointed to the bulletin board outside: "Then there are you up there?" ”

"Yes!"

Zhuang Huchen came to the spirit: "Then who are you?" ”

"The third on the list - Erqingni, appointed as the superintendent of imperial supplies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!" Erqingni shook his head, and the smugness was mentioned, Zhuang Huchen heard it, immediately stood up, nodded and said: "Yo, look, Lord E, I really don't know Mount Tai, you take care of it, take care of it!" ”

"Can you have my name on this gentleman?" Erqingni didn't seem convinced.

"If this gentleman doesn't have your name, can it still be called a gentleman......" Zhuang Huchen was about to say something, and at this time someone outside the lounge shouted: "Lord E, Lord E......"

"Hey!" Erqingni agreed to go out, and Zhuang Huchen caught up: "Lord E, when the gentleman prints it, I will send it to the house for you, you remember, my name is Zhuang Huchen, and I am the treasurer of Rong Bao Zhai......

"Then I'll just wait!" Erqingni left this sentence, turned around and disappeared at the door.

After class that day, Zhang Youlin still came directly to Rong Bao Zhai. There were no customers in the shop, so he sat down to read. After a while, Prime Minister Yamen Zhangjing, and later one of the famous Six Gentlemen of Wuxu, Yang Rui, walked in, Zhang Youlin put down the book, and greeted him: "Lord Yang, do you have time to come out and go around today?" ”

"Oh, Mr. Zhang." Yang Rui pondered for a moment, "I don't know if I should call you Mr. Zhang, or Shopkeeper Zhang?" ”

"You are a frequent visitor to Rong Bao Zhai, you should know, our shopkeeper is Mr. Zhuang, me, Rong Bao Zhai's buddy."

"I know this, I'm talking about your identity, Rong Bao Zhai's buddy, Rong Bao Zhai's young owner, and a student of Jingshi Tongwen Hall, so it's not wrong for me to say that you are the shopkeeper, because Rong Bao Zhai's affairs, you can also call the shots." Yang Rui looked around in the shop, and Zhang Youlin followed behind him: "Lord Yang, if you need anything, you can give an order." ”

Yang Rui stood still: "Do you have a good Tao Yan in this shop?" ”

"Are you doing it yourself, or are you giving it away?"

"Give it away, it's okay if it's expensive."

"Wait a minute." Zhang Youlin poured tea for Yang Rui, "I'll bring it to you later." ”

After a while, Zhang Youlin came in from the back door holding two inkstones: "Lord Yang, take a look, how about these two?" He put the inkstone on the table, Yang Rui looked at this, and then looked at that, didn't see why, and simply said bluntly: "Mr. Zhang, a few days ago, Mr. Wei wrote a pair for me, I don't care, I heard that Mr. Kang likes to collect famous inkstones, especially for Tao inkstones, I want to buy a Tao inkstone as a return gift, but I don't understand much, you tell me?" ”

"Lord Yang, you are polite, then I will be ugly." Zhang Youlin pondered for a while, "This Tao Yan is one of the four famous inkstones, which is located in the Tao River area in the south of Gansu Province, so it is called Tao Yan." Tao inkstone is fine and warm. Zhang Youlin pointed to one of them, "Especially this green Tao, there is a saying, called 'green as blue, moist as jade, and ink does not reduce the end of the river under the rock'." ”

Yang Rui picked up the green tao and looked at it carefully, Zhang Youlin pointed to the strip-like texture on the inkstone: "Look, this doesn't look like a ripple in the green water?" ”

"Like, kind of interesting." Yang Rui nodded.

"It's called 'Green Ripple Stone.'" Zhang Youlin pointed to another, "The texture of this inkstone is only small black dots, like black sesame seeds embedded in stones, which are called 'ink dots'." ”

"Which of these two is better?"

"If you want to say which one is better, you have to look at the stone fat, according to the experts, Duan Yan is expensive and eyed, Tao Yan is expensive and fat, this is it." Zhang Youlin pointed to a small piece of fish scales on the "Green Ripple Stone", "This is called 'fish scales'." He pointed to a small piece of pine bark on the "ink dots", "This is called 'pine bark'." ”

Yang Rui looked left and right, and then asked again: "The color of these two stone fats is different, the 'fish scale fat' is red, and the 'loose skin fat' is yellow, I don't have a big deal to look at, what I want to ask is, if you look at it from the perspective of appreciation, which one is better?" Zhang Youlin pointed to the "ink dots": "Of course it's the 'ink dots', there is such a saying in the line: 'How expensive is Tao Yan, yellow fat with green waves'." ”

"Then the 'Green Ripple Stone' will be sent to Mr. Kang, and I will also have this 'ink dot'."

Zhang Youlin hesitated a little, he said tentatively: "These two Tao Yan are precious, they are the most valuable treasures in my shop, or ......" Yang Rui intercepted Zhang Youlin's words: "It doesn't matter if it's expensive, as long as it's the top grade in Tao Yan." ”

Zhang Youlin thought for a while: "Lord Yang, you just said, 'Green Ripple Stone' to Mr. Kang, Mr. Kang is now a leader in the implementation of the reform, this 'Green Ripple Stone' to Mr. Kang is also a sword gift to the hero, make the best use of it, but this 'ink dot' is more valuable, if you give it away, who do you plan to give it to?" ”

"My master." Yang Rui's eyes lit up. "Your master?" Zhang Youlin thought for a moment, and then suddenly realized: "Oh, it's Lord Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang!" ”

Yang Rui nodded: "Exactly." ”

Zhang Youlin said repeatedly: "It's worth it, it's worth it, Lord Zhang is one of my most admired predecessors, if it weren't for his active foreign affairs, I wouldn't be able to go to the new-style school, 'Mo Mo Dot' can be in the hands of Lord Zhang, it can be regarded as the glory of Rong Bao Zhai." In this way, I will sell these two pieces of Tao Yan at a 50% discount to express my admiration for Master Zhang and Mr. Kang. ”

Yang Rui hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no, no, this is not suitable......"

"Zhang Xi'er, wrap Lord Yang's Tao Yan and settle the bill with a 50% discount!" Zhang Youlin commanded. This is the lowest discount he has given to the valuables purchased by the guests since his apprenticeship in Rong Bao Zhai, and Zhang Youlin's heart is surging with a kind of agitated emotion......

After the new gentleman was printed, Zhuang Huchen took it and went straight to Erqingni Mansion, but he was blocked by someone at the gate first.

Zhuang Huchen knocked on the vermilion door and smiled humbly: "Excuse me, is Lord E at home?" ”

"Your Excellency has gone out and hasn't come back yet." With an expressionless face, Zhuang Huchen then asked, "When will the adult come back?" ”

The employing person looked Zhuang Huchen up and down: "The matter of the adult, where is this accurate." ”

Zhuang Huchen's eyes rolled, and he took out a few pieces of broken silver from his pocket and handed them to the employee: "I am the shopkeeper of Rong Bao Zhai, called Zhuang Huchen, I'm sorry for you, I'll come back next time." The servant took the broken silver, weighed it in his hand, and his stiff face relaxed: "The morning after tomorrow, keep an eye on ten o'clock." ”

"Please let me know first." As he spoke, Zhuang Huchen handed over a few more pieces of silver, and the employee almost smiled: "You can come the day after tomorrow." ”

Erqingni was flirting with the new maid in a room deep in the house at this time, and the maid was holding a string of beads in her hand and couldn't put it down, and Erqingni asked her, "Do you like it?" ”

"I like it!" The maid replied happily.

"If you like it, I'll give it to you!" As he spoke, Erqingni put the beads around the maid's neck, and pulled her to her, wanting to undress.

The maid hurriedly dodged: "My lord, what are you anxious about?" Erqingni caught up: "I've been waiting for a long time......"

The servant sent Zhuang Huchen away, walked through several courtyards to the door, cleared his throat first, and then shouted: "My lord, someone is looking for you." ”

Erqingni's attention was all on the maid, and when he didn't hear it, the maid reminded him: "Someone is calling you outside." ”

Erqingni was very displeased, he raised his head, and saw through the crack in the window that it was a user, so he was angry: "If you have something to say, what are you shouting?" ”

The servant leaned towards the window: "Rong Bao Zhai's shopkeeper is looking for you, and he said that his name is Zhuang Huchen." ”

Erqingni thought for a while: "Zhuang Huchen? Why haven't I heard of it? Missing! ”

"I know you don't have time now, you've already sent it away, aren't you going to see the emperor tomorrow? I'll ask him to come back the next morning. Speaking flatteringly, Erqingni was still full of unhappiness: "Let's talk about it!" ”

San Lang returned to the capital after completing the last official business for Erqingni in Shanxi, which was already after Erqingni took office. San Lang was worried about the lawsuit last time, so he went to the glass factory when he got the time.

It was already evening, San Lang was standing at the door of Rong Bao Zhai, looking up to identify the plaque hanging on the eaves, Dezi followed Zhuang Huchen out of the shop, he was very surprised to see San Lang: "Yo, isn't this San Lang, why are you here?" ”

"Dezi, I'm here for you!" San Lang looked very affectionate, and then said, "Our family has been transferred to the capital, no, I also followed." Dude, last time, brother, I got you in trouble, this time ......"

Dezi hurriedly waved his hand: "Yes, don't mention this time, San Lang, let me tell you this, this time you are just interceding with my father, and I don't dare to care about your business, I almost smashed my job last time." Dezi pointed at Zhuang Huchen, "If it weren't for the kindness of our Zhuang shopkeeper, I would have covered it up a long time ago." ”

Zhuang Huchen was quite interested in San Lang's mention of "our family has been transferred to the capital", and he asked with interest: "Is it Lord Erqing Ni?" ”

San Lang nodded: "You also know?" ”

"Recognize! Dezi, please let this brother in and sit for a while, I won't accompany you, you talk. Zhuang Huchen is gone. Dezi didn't mean to invite San Lang in, he saw Zhuang Huchen walking away, and asked ignorantly, "What's the matter with you?" ”

"Brother, where do I dare to ask you to help again, last time your brother was implicated for me, I have been reluctant to go, this time it's okay, I can live in the capital in the future, let's make friends, and we can take care of each other, so, when you are free one night, I invite you to drink, even if I compensate you."

Dezi muttered in his heart, he looked at San Lang: "It's just drinking, nothing else?" ”

"It's really okay, let's have a good drink." Saburo was very sincere, and Dezi had to reluctantly agree.

Zhuang Huchen came to Erqini Mansion again as promised, and this time he greeted him with a smile and brought him into the living room. Erqingni has obviously forgotten Zhuang Huchen: "You are ......"

"Don't you remember me?"

Erqingni thought about it, but didn't remember: "Look at my memory, I've seen too many people these days, I can't remember it!" ”

"Inside the palace, outside the Qianqing Gate, Zhang Bang announced your new ...... of the Imperial Supplies Supervision of the Internal Affairs Bureau" Zhuang Huchen reminded, Erqingni patted his head: "Oh, I remembered, you sit, you sit, don't stand." ”

Zhuang Huchen sat down, took out the gentleman from the blue cloth bag he was carrying, turned to one of the pages, and handed it to Erqingni: "Please take a look, your name, official rank, place of origin, and date of birth are all here, and if there is anything inconsiderate, as long as you bring it up, you can change it at any time." Erqingni took the gentleman and read the paragraph about himself carefully, very excited: "Lord Zhuang, you are really good, I thought you would say that day like this." ”

"How can you!"

Someone brought the tea, Zhuang Huchen took a sip of the tea bowl: "Since your predecessor was transferred, this seat has been vacant for several days, and Lord E's has just taken office, so he's busy, right?" Erqingni nodded frequently: "I'm busy, I'm busy, from morning to night, things are forcing you, I can't finish it!" ”

Another employee came in and reported: "My lord, the shopkeeper of Shunxingju asks to see me." Erqingni waved his hand: "No, I didn't see that I was busy!" ”

The employer retreated, and Zhuang Huchen hurriedly got to the point: "My lord, outside of my court, I am mainly the shopkeeper of Rong Bao Zhai in Liuli Factory, and this gentleman is from my shop." ”

Erqingni's eyes rolled slightly, and he asked knowingly, "Is it?" He lowered his head and fiddled with his nails, obviously not wanting to talk about Zhuang Huchen's shop.

Seeing that he couldn't go on, Zhuang Huchen quickly changed the topic: "My lord, is the emperor writing on the right day this year?" Speaking of writing a book, Erqingni was interested again: "What is the day? I'm afraid it's late this year! ”

"Why?"

"I didn't prepare in advance, you see, this son has been vacant for so long, I just took office, what things to buy, and I can't take care of it."

"My lord, this can't be delayed, this is the rule set by Kangxi, and if you delay, it will be a big trouble!" Zhuang Huchen looked at heart.

Erqingni asked rhetorically, "What do you mean?" Lord Zhuang, I just took office, and I don't understand the way here, and some people don't tell me because they want to do it, just waiting to see my jokes. ”

"That is, if you don't make a mistake, won't this man sit still? Don't forget, there are a lot of people who want to fill your shortage. Zhuang Huchen's words were to the point, and Erqingni stretched out his head: "Lord Zhuang, you have to tell me the origin of the emperor's book, I have a score in my heart." ”

"Oh, the origin of this matter is actually quite simple, when Kangxi was in the past, there was a poet named Cha Shenxing, who learned from Su Dongpo and Lu Fangweng, he was one of the most influential people after Wang Shizhen and Zhu Yizun in the Kangxi Dynasty, and later became a minister of the inner court."

"Cha Shen Xing......" Erqingni thought for a while, "I seem to have heard of this person, what's the matter, the emperor likes him?" ”

"Yes, Kangxi Ye especially admires his poems, and his favorite are these two sentences: 'The eaves of the eaves are dreaming of life, and the ministers are a fisherman.' Kangxi also wrote a big 'Fu' word reward to him, since then it has become a rule, every year on Jiapingshuo Day, that is, the first day of December, the emperor writes a blessing, and rewards it to the princes and ministers in Beijing and the chamberlain. ”

"Hey, just these two lines of poetry, how many people are also stained!" Erqingni was very envious, and Zhuang Huchen continued: "When it comes to Yongzhengye, in addition to rewarding the word 'Fu' to the princes and ministers in Beijing, it is also widely rewarded, and it is also rewarded to the governors, generals, governors and other officials of the provinces, so as to show the blessing of the common people and the world is the public." ”

While chatting, a little boy of seven or eight years old came running with a notebook: "Amma, what do you pronounce this word?" This is Erqingni's youngest son, Erqingni took the notebook and looked at it: "This reads '揸'." Zhuang Huchen explained to the child: "'Stroke' is the meaning of opening the fingers, and there is a kind of brush called the brush, the pen tube is short, thick and fat, when writing, it should be grasped close to the head of the pen, so it is called the pen." ”

"Lord Zhuang, when it comes to brushing, I think of it, the emperor's book 'Fu' has to use a brush, right?" This time, Erqingni finally got into the trap, Zhuang Huchen suppressed the joy in his heart, and replied quietly: "Of course, where can such a big character be done without a pen?" Let me tell you this, the emperor not only has to use different styles of pens, but also has a habit of writing a word for a pen, so the palace has to enter a batch of good pen, ink, paper and inkstone for this matter every year, which is booked half a year in advance. ”

"Yo, thanks to your reminder, I really have to prepare in advance, otherwise I will have to be blind." Erqingni thought for a moment, "Lord Zhuang, how do you know so clearly?" ”

"Didn't I just tell you? In addition to the court, I mainly worked as a shopkeeper in Rong Bao Zhai in Liuli Factory. ”

"I know about Liulichang, but this Rong Bao Zhai ......," Erqingni shook his head, "I haven't heard of it." ”

"Rong Bao Zhai is a paper shop in the south of the house, which has not been open for a few years, and specializes in the four treasures of the study."

"No wonder Lord Zhuang - oh, no, Shopkeeper Zhuang, knows so clearly, dare you do this." At this moment, Erqingni's vigilance was raised again, and he was not as close to Zhuang Huchen as he was just now. Zhuang Huchen didn't pay attention to it, and still said as if he was an old friend: "I'll let the guy send you a set of good study utensils, so that you can take a look at Rong Bao Zhai's things, if you do it well, you don't have to bother shopping in the harem, just say hello to me." ”

"Yo, you have to think about this matter, after all, it's an errand for the emperor, and I can't afford to make a mistake." Erqingni immediately retracted.

"Your Excellency, don't worry, I, Zhuang Huchen, understand the rules, and we will follow the rules." Zhuang Huchen's words were meaningful, and Erqingni's men subconsciously knocked on the table: "It's good to know the rules!" ”