"Brother Zhu, when you were not here, the uncle ordered the steward to pay 200 taels of silver to the account in the name of elders for him to use first. The steward told me, and I asked the steward to ask him why he paid so much money, and he said yes Exam preparation. I think 200 taels of silver is not a small amount, so I will wait for Brother Zhu to come back, and Brother Zhu will decide to pay."
"Although the family has spent a lot of money recently to build the Zhurong Commercial Bank, the money in the account is still enough."
When Zhu Pingan changed his clothes and had supper, Li Shu sat aside and picked a shrimp for Zhu Pingan, and said in a low voice.
"Of course not! Why do you need two hundred taels of silver to prepare for the exam! As far back as I can remember, my uncle used the excuse of preparing for the exam to ask for money from my grandparents, father and uncle every now and then. , I always go out with some friends and friends to eat and drink, snowy moon and romantic flowers!"
"Grandfather and grandmother always spoiled my uncle, which made my uncle develop his bad habits. The bottomless indulgence of my grandfather and grandmother made my uncle make mistakes again and again, but I can't just watch him make mistakes again and again."
After Zhu Pingan heard this, he refused with the attitude of being responsible for his uncle. He couldn't understand his uncle's temperament very well. What's the preparation for the exam? There are exceptions.
"Is this okay? Your uncle came all the way from his hometown. Will he blame us for not thinking about family affection and spreading bad things about you? Why forget your roots, why don't you recognize poor relatives when you are developed?"
Li Shu squinted her eyes, held her chin, and said softly, like a lazy Persian cat.
"This is responsible to my uncle. Even if my uncle doesn't understand, it's okay to pass some rumors back. My reputation in my hometown is much better than my uncle's. My old family trusts me more than my uncle."
Zhu Ping'an gently held Li Shu's jade hand, and said with a smile.
This is really not Zhu Ping'an's exaggeration. In the eyes of the old family, Zhu Ping'an's reputation absolutely crushes his uncle Zhu Shouren.
The image of the uncle Zhu Shouren has long been notorious in the village. Whether he brought a prostitute back from a study tour, or was gambled outside and was blocked by the gambling house to beg for money, the uncle has long become a negative example for the villagers in educating their children.
It's not that Zhu Ping'an is boasting. He is definitely the child of the neighbor's family that the villagers talked about when educating their children.
With one positive and one negative, Zhu Pingan became invincible in the village public opinion circle. When the uncle went back to spread the word, if he said good things about himself, it would be fine. If he said bad things about himself, the villagers would only think that the uncle spread rumors and caused trouble, and they would be jealous of his talents.
Before the supper was finished, the uncle ordered someone to call Zhu Pingan, saying that it was something important.
Zhu Ping'an returned to the front yard, the uncle, Hu Wei, and Xia Qiang had already put on the clothes that Li Shu had prepared.
The cotton-padded clothes are all high-quality silk and satin, and there is also a cape and cloak, the styles are also popular in Suzhou.
The uncle put it on and admired it in front of the mirror over and over again, and slowly paced in front of the mirror with his hands behind his back, and he looked like a human again.
When Zhu Ping'an entered the door, the uncle was still admiring himself in the mirror.
Seeing Zhu Ping'an enter the door, the uncle quickly waved, "Nephew, come here, uncle has something important to tell you."
"Uncle, tell me." Zhu Pingan stepped forward and said.
"That's right, nephew, uncle, I've been a little tight recently, and it will be time for the imperial examination again in a while, nephew, please lend me three hundred taels of silver so that I can study hard for the exam." The uncle said with a normal face, as if Asking Zhu Pingan to borrow three hundred taels of silver is like borrowing a pen, simple and casual.
"How much does uncle want to borrow?"
Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth. Just now, the steward had to pay two hundred taels of silver from the account of the mansion, but now it took only one meal, and it has risen to three hundred taels. The usury has to bow down when he sees you what.
"Not much, not much, three hundred taels." Uncle Zhu Shouren said casually with his hands behind his back.
"Why?" Zhu Pingan asked speechlessly, three hundred taels, not much? ! How much silver is that? !
"Because you have."
Uncle Zhu Shouren replied with a natural expression, as if saying that 1+1 equals 2 is just as natural.
Fuck!
Your reason and logic are so **** impeccable!
Even though Zhu Ping'an knew his uncle's personality, he was still defeated by his brazenness at this moment.
"Uncle, do you know what my annual salary is?" Zhu Pingan asked with a slight smile.
Uncle Zhu Shouren shook his head.
"Uncle, let me tell you. As a fourth-rank Cong, my monthly salary is twenty shi, which is equivalent to about six taels of silver. Three hundred taels of silver requires me to save for four or five years without eating or drinking. Now I am an official In less than a year, how come three hundred taels of silver?"
Zhu Pingan said speechlessly.
"Hehe, nephew, you can't fool me. Although your monthly salary is only twenty shi on the surface. But in the dark, the filial piety of the officials below, the worship of the gentry and merchants, and various other incomes, you That’s the amount at least for one month. How can it take four or five years, one or two months is enough.”
Uncle Zhu Shouren laughed after hearing this, stretched out two fingers, and said clearly.
Zhu Ping'an was completely speechless, "Uncle, I don't know what other people are like, but I am an official, and I only have one income. Apart from salary, I have no other income."
"What? You only have a salary?! Oh, my virtuous nephew, you are really too young to be an official. Why are you studying so hard?! You are such a prodigal, how much less money do you have to collect? One month is less than one hundred taels, two months is two hundred taels, half a year is six hundred taels, and one year is more than one thousand taels. No, no, during the Chinese New Year, the etiquette is three times more important. At least 1,500 taels of silver. This is Suzhou, the richest city in the world. It is a first-class rich place, and this gift must be at least 30 to 50 percent heavier. You are really a reckless nephew. How much money have you missed? what."
The uncle Zhu Shouren said with a distressed face, pointing at Zhu Ping'an, full of hatred for iron but not steel.
Before Zhu Ping'an could speak, Uncle Zhu Shouren did his part and said, "So, I should have come to help you a long time ago. I'm still late. But don't worry, nephew, I'm here. Everything is different, with me here, let me help you, and I guarantee that you will never worry about money again."
Damn it!
what do you mean? ! You want to accept gifts and bribes for me? ! Zhu Pingan almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.
"No, uncle. I, Zhu Pingan, am an official. I am not seeking money. I will never accept gifts or bribes. This is my bottom line. Don't mention it again, uncle. Please also remember, uncle, don't use it in my name." , accept a penny, or my nephew will be merciless, and the national law is ruthless." Zhu Pingan warned the uncle with a serious face.
"Ahem, ahem, I'm just testing my nephew's integrity. Well, yes, my nephew has passed my test. If my nephew accepted just now, uncle, I have to give a good lecture to my nephew."
Uncle Zhu Shouren coughed, made a 180-degree turn, blushed and said out of breath.