Chapter 226

Under Ning Ning's urging, the three went to the main room together, where Zhao'er was sitting cross-legged on the kang to read the accounts.

The habit of the Kang was brought by Xue Tingxiang, even if he moved from Dinghai to Guangzhou, there is no winter in Guangzhou, it is still the same. However, this kang is more used as a leisure place for the family, but it is rarely used for rest.

Not only Yaoniang sat on the kang, but also her and Xue Tingxiang's second son Xue Yaotai.

Compared with his younger sister Ning Ning, Brother Tai has an older brother and a younger sister, so he is considered as a father who does not love his mother. But this kid is also considered clever, knowing that his father and elder brother love his sister, he would go to Zhao'er every day. Zhao'er feels that twins are born, but they are treated differently, and it is inevitable that they will hurt him more.

No, Ning Ning always followed up with her eldest brother and cousin, while he followed Zhao'er.

Zhao'er seldom goes out now, unless there is something happening outside that no one below can solve. But this kind of situation is rare. She spends most of her time with her children and her husband, taking care of Xue's family affairs.

In her spare time, it is inevitable that accounts from various places will be sent to her, and she will do the accounting and so on.

Tai Geer is not very interested in studying, but is quite interested in accounting. Now he can make calculations, and he has followed Zhaoer's 80% in arithmetic.

At this time, Zhao'er lowered his head to look at the account, and moved the abacus from time to time. He also took an old account and put a small abacus in his hand.

This is what Zhao'er brought him to play with.

Once Zhao'er also hoped that both sons could study, because all things are inferior, but reading is high. Unfortunately, Tai Geer is interested in this. If the children want to learn, she will teach them.

Ning Ning is a coquettish person, she called people before they even entered the door.

"mother--"

"Why are you here?" Zhao'er looked up at her, then at her son and nephew, and the two teenagers smiled wryly at her.

"What's the matter? You bullied the two brothers again."

Ning Ning wrinkled her little nose and said, "No one else, I just want to go back to my hometown with my eldest brother."

"Why did you think of going back to your hometown with your eldest brother?"

Knowing that mother is not as easy to deal with as father, Ning Ning rolled her eyes and said: "I haven't been back to my hometown in Shanxi yet, but I heard that it's fun there, so I want to go and see it."

"When did your father tell you that Shanxi is fun?" Zhao'er would not be fooled by the little girl.

Ning Ning put her small hands behind her back and tugged at her sleeves. She thought she was doing it covertly, but she didn't know that it fell into the eyes of her two brothers behind.

"Father really said that, if you don't believe me, ask your mother."

"You just rely on your father to help you out, right? How dare you lie to your mother?" Zhao'er pretended to be serious.

Ning Ning hurried over, pulled her mother's sleeve and shook it: "Ning Ning didn't lie to mother, father really said it, it was when Ning Ning was young, father said there was a mountain behind his hometown, and mother planted vegetables on it He also said that when Dad was studying and the family was poor, it was mother who grew vegetables for Dad to study.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao'er couldn't help flashing memories, she reached out and rubbed Ning Ning's little head, and said with a smile: "That's not allowed, your elder brother is going to take the exam this time, with you as a clever little boy With ghosts around, your elder brother is not in the mood to try."

"I don't..."

The word "Well" was still in the mouth, and Zhao'er refused: "If I don't know, I won't."

Well, in today's Xue family, for the sons, they are strict fathers and loving mothers; for daughters, it is the opposite, they are strict mothers and loving fathers.

Zhao'er is usually the one who puts on a bad face, and Ning Ning is not afraid of anything, but she is afraid that her mother will be angry.

"Woooo...I just want to go back..."

He didn't dare to say this in front of Zhao'er, but covered his face and went to the elder brother's side. The crying sound was fake, and Tai brother sat on the kang to watch the younger sister and mother play tricks.

However, in general, the height of the devil is one foot, and the height of the Tao is one foot, so crying is for nothing.

Sure enough, the little girl cried for a while, and when she saw no one to comfort her, she was really sad. She whimpered and ran out of the room, knowing without thinking that she was definitely looking for her father.

Ningning always has a way to find her father.

This is because the entire Xue family dotes on her, naturally including Hu San, Xue Tingxiang's confidant and head of guards.

Let's put it this way, Zhao'er doesn't necessarily know where Xue Tingxiang is, but Hu San must know, if he can take Hu San down, he will be able to find his father.

At this time, Xue Tingxiang was working in the governor's yamen in front. The governor's yamen was similar to the county yamen, both working in the front and the back yamen in the back.

Ning Ning went to look for Hu San first, Hu San was guarding outside the study, saw her coming and hurried over to ask her why she came.

"Uncle Hu, I want to find my father."

"Your Excellency is discussing matters, why don't you take Sanshu Hu to play?"

Seeing Ning Ning nodded, Hu San nodded to the guards outside the door, and carried Ning Ning out on his shoulders.

In the study, Xue Tingxiang was sitting behind the desk, and there were two rows of chairs on the left and right under it, with several people sitting on each.

Being able to sit here at this moment is considered Xue Tingxiang's confidant.

"I received a letter from Beijing this morning, and the imperial decree calling me back to Beijing is coming soon."

For this remark, the few people sitting below were not surprised. As early as last year when Xue Tingxiang took the position of governor, he said that there would be such a day sooner or later, at least three years, and at the shortest one year.

Unexpectedly, just after a year, the person in Beijing could not sit still.

Most of them have stayed in the coastal area for a long time, and these people have a very weak concept of monarch and minister. They followed Xue Tingxiang and fought with bare hands. For the court, for that person, how many grievances and difficulties Master Xue has suffered and faced.

When the Shibosi made a lot of money, he was a loyal minister and a pillar of the court. When the imperial court has money, it starts to worry about what merits will overwhelm the master.

At Xue Tingxiang's age, the promotion of that person is indeed indispensable for being able to sit in this position. But in these years, every time Mr. Xue encountered any crisis, that person had never supported him openly, and he always followed the trend of the times and followed the trend.

Especially in recent years, there are those flatterers who can't do without fanning the flames in their ears, and that person often rewards them and beats them secretly at the same time.

Of course, the other party is the emperor, and the world belongs to others. No matter what you do, the officials below should not complain.

It's just somewhat chilling.

"My lord, can you find a way not to return to Beijing?"

The speaker was He Wei, the former commander of Dinghaiwei, and the current deputy commander of the Southeast Ocean Navy. Now the chief soldier of the Southeast Ocean Navy is Gou Datong, the former chief soldier of the Zhejiang Navy. At this time, he is also ranked second, and Xue Tingxiang single-handedly promoted him.

"Actually, it doesn't matter if I go back to Beijing. After all, there are too few people in Beijing. No matter how great the external contribution is, it can't stand up to a word in someone's ear. As your Majesty is, after I return to Beijing this time, I shouldn't treat me badly. With me in Beijing to take care of you, your work below will be easier."

That being said, who would want the Emperor Tiangao to stay far away and run back to pretend to be his grandson. It's just the trend of the times, and it's just a last resort.

"You and Zongbing Gou will take care of the naval division. I can rest assured. There is Xie San in Dinghai, Badou in Guangzhou, and Datian in Changle. The only one in Shanghai is the one in Shanghai. You should pay more attention to it and don't rely on him. If you have a bit of love with me, you will be more patient."

The so-called one in Shanghai refers to Shunxi, who was the father-in-law of Shunxi who was originally scheduled to be promoted by the shipping company in Shanghai.

Now that Emperor Jiacheng has centralized power and has full wings, those courtiers who dared to fight against the emperor in the early years have all quieted down. It was also hit hard, because the coastal area was very involved, and many people were implicated and had their wings chopped off.

One ebbs and another ebbs and flows, the majesty of the emperor is naturally better day by day.

People's attitudes are always changing with the passage of time.

A few years ago, Emperor Jiacheng's imperial power was divided and emptied out by those court elders, so that what he wanted to do had to be calculated. In the past few years, Haiyan River was clear, the national treasury was abundant, and there was no one to hinder him. Emperor Jiacheng became more and more complacent.

And the supervisor of ceremonies has also risen with the tide.

Now Emperor Jiacheng used those eunuchs more and more smoothly, like arranging Shunxi to go to the Shanghai Shipping Department, which seemed to be the action of the Superintendent of Rites, but if there was no grant from Emperor Jiacheng, no one would believe it.

To put it bluntly, the Shanghai Shipping Department has a superior geographical location, and has now replaced Dinghai as the largest import and export port in Toyo.

This kind of place is naturally in your own hands.

The reason for the chilling heart also accounts for a part here.

"My lord, if His Majesty really intends to call you back, I'm afraid I won't be able to sit in this seat for too long." Xie San, who was almost middle-aged, touched the finger wrench in his hand.

The air froze.

If this comes true, it is the worst case scenario.

Mao Badou, who had a small mustache and was still fat, and even fatter than before, exploded and said, "If you can't sit, you can't sit. Whoever wants to sit in this crappy seat, anyway, no matter how much money you earn. , and it won’t be ours, they can play however they want.”

The reason is such a reason, who is willing?

The most chilling thing in the world is to plant a tree with so much hard work, but someone picks peaches.

"Ting Xiang didn't even say that, what are you talking about?" Li Datian said. After these few years of precipitation, he is now more stable, and he is much richer than before. Because he is over thirty and has a beard, he looks more majestic.

"Can I feel sorry for him?"

These two people can't be together, and they will bicker when they are together.

"Okay, don't think about the worst in everything, just take one step at a time." Xue Tingxiang sighed.

It can only be the.

"By the way, I asked you to pay more attention to the affairs of the New World, and you continue to pay attention. With Dachang's current situation, the grain production is getting smaller every year, and you need to find grain roads from outside."

"I said you don't care about these things. If you are not in your position, you will not seek your own affairs. Maybe you will return to Beijing this time, so I will leave you in some idle place to enjoy the cool air." It was Mao Badou who liked to throw cold water on others.

Xue Tingxiang looked at him helplessly and shook his head.

Afterwards, several people discussed some other matters, and then dispersed.

Only Xue Tingxiang was left alone, sitting in the study for a long time, thinking, and then slowly exhaled.

He came to the window and looked at the gloomy sky outside, the mountain rain was about to come and the wind filled the building.

*

Xue Tingxiang's news was not wrong, and it only took two days before the imperial decree arrived in Guangzhou.

It was an old acquaintance, Father-in-law Anshun, who announced the decree.

"Lord Xue probably doesn't know that His Majesty has been talking about you for a long time, saying that Sir Xue is the pillar of the country, the minister of the shoulders, but because of errands for the court, he stayed in the coastal area for nearly ten years. Your Majesty is ashamed for mentioning you again and again. They all said it was a bad treatment. No, His Majesty has hesitated again and again, and still plans to call you back to Beijing to let you spend some time at leisure."

"Your Majesty panicked, I am ashamed to worry about His Majesty so much."

Anshun smiled and waved his hands: "You are right, you are right. Who knows that Mr. Xue has devoted himself to the court and is a loyal minister. Every time His Majesty mentions loyal ministers in the court, he will use you as an example. My family here congratulates Xue My lord, this trip back to Beijing will definitely lead to a higher promotion."

"Thank you, Eunuch An, for your auspicious words."

...

Anshun stayed in Guangzhou for two days, then left in a hurry, saying that he was going back to Beijing to revive the order.

As for Xue Tingxiang, the imperial decree did not specify his official position this time, so it was said that he would not know until he returned to Beijing. Coupled with Anshun's words, Xue Tingxiang simply mentioned the matter of going back to his hometown to worship his ancestors.

Anshun also fully agreed, saying that he would report to Emperor Jiacheng when he returned. Emperor Jiacheng's original intention was to feel sorry for Xue Tingxiang who had worked so hard for many years, so it was not extra to go back to his hometown to worship his ancestors.

In this way, from the two little ones returning home, now the whole family plans to return home.

Xue Tingxiang was also a decisive person. He got the imperial edict and asked his subordinates to prepare. Anshun left Guangzhou, and then he took his family on the road to Shanxi.

Fortunately, the sea transportation is smooth now. First, take a boat from Guangzhou to Suzhou, then change boats from Suzhou and go all the way north through the canal. After that, abandon the boat and change cars. It has been more than two months since we entered Shanxi. thing.

Naturally, this situation could not keep up with the county examination, so Xue Tingxiang could only tell his son guiltily that he would wait for the next year.

Originally, Xue Yaohong planned to try his hand this time, not because of his fame, whether he will end up this year or next year, in fact, it is not a hindrance.

...

It's March in Yangchun, but here in Xiaxian County, it's just a cold spring, warm and cold.

However, the farmers have already started to get busy. From time to time on the country roads, farmers can be seen carrying hoes, pulling cattle, and going to the fields for spring plowing.

The convoy snaked hundreds of meters long, such a scene had never been seen in a rural place like Xia County, and all the passers-by who saw it stopped in their tracks, and couldn't help guessing which family it was.

In a place like Xia County, who else could have such a large force? ! So people rushed to Yuqing Village to report the news.

Not long after, people from Yuqing village came, and after asking the guards in front of the convoy if Master Xue had returned, they returned to the village at a galloping speed.

Master Xue is back, Master Xue has brought his family back to his hometown!

The news spread throughout Yuqing Village in an instant.

Today's Yuqing Village is not like it used to be. The village has expanded too much, and it looks like a town.

All this is due to Xue's family history, and all these years, even though Xue Tingxiang and Zhao'er were outside, they still did not forget to send all kinds of books to their hometown.

Two batches are sent each year.

Not only do you send books, but you also have money to give, and you can do your best.

Now Yuqing Village has the entire Xia County, the largest library in the entire Pingyang Prefecture, and the largest academy in Pingyang Prefecture - Yuqing Academy.

In the past ten years, there have been too many changes in Yuqing Village, too many to enumerate.

And after hearing about the greatest glory of the Xue clan, Xue Tingxiang, Master Xue, Admiral Xue, Governor Xue, brought his family back to the hometown, and the entire Yuqing Village was mobilized.

Even the old patriarch, who had seldom appeared in front of people in recent years, was helped to the entrance of the village.

...

When you get closer, you can see the flag of fame standing at the entrance of the village from a distance.

There are three seats in total.

The first one was erected by Xue Tingxiang himself when he won the first place in Jieyuan in the Bingwu National Examination in the sixth year of Jiacheng. The second seat was erected by Xue Tingxiang himself by the old patriarch when he won the first prize in the palace examination in Yiyou year. The last one was erected by the current patriarch when Officer Xue Tingxiang paid homage to the admiral and governor.

The five-foot flagpoles are one bucket, three buckets, and four buckets respectively, and a big flag with red border and yellow ground is hung on it, waving in the wind.

The highest honor for an official in this life is nothing more than this.

But Xue Tingxiang took ten years to complete.

...

"Father, are you coming soon? Hey, what's that?" A young girl's childish voice came from a carriage.

A gentle female voice answered her: "That's your father's fame and fame."

"It's so tall, so big, and so majestic." The little girl used three good words to express her amazement.

Zhao'er glanced sideways at the man, and saw that his face was tense.

She sighed inwardly, and took his hand.