Wang Shoutai did not go into the shop to sit down, but stood in front of the main gate of Shengmei Hao Cloth Shop. The four eye-catching silver boxes were placed on the doorstep covered with red firecracker debris, and a group of people were full of propaganda.
People kept coming over to ask about the happy event? Wang Shoutai just said lightly: "The Wang family from Huizhou came to apologize to Zhang Jieyuan. There was some misunderstanding earlier, but now we have reconciled."
Wang Shoutai's neither salty nor bland explanation made those people even more curious. What was the misunderstanding? How did they reconcile? Why did they move the silver box? Wang Shoutai didn't answer much, and these people asked the eight people who were standing aside.
A servant of the Wang family who came with a silver box inquired, and sure enough he got a detailed explanation. It turned out that someone from the Wang family suspected that Zhang Jieyuan and his ally Hanshe had cheated in the rural examination. Otherwise, how could the Hanshe have passed the 28th grade in high school?
People, it is rumored that the examiner ordered the twenty-eight constellations of the Han Society to be included in the list, but now it is known that it was a misunderstanding. Someone Wang decided to compensate Zhang Jieyuan ten thousand taels of silver and the famous garden "Buxie Garden" by the West Lake——
When explaining these things, Wang's servant naturally looked very sad and angry, and those who inquired naturally heard the implication: Mr. Wang was forced by Zhang Yuan's power to reconcile with ten thousand taels of silver and the famous garden of West Lake——
Zhang Yuan's victory in Kuei and the Han Society was something that people were jealous of. This is due to human nature. Now I heard that Zhang Yuan forced others to pay huge sums of money and famous gardens and even apologized like this. It is really arrogant and domineering.
, so those who heard about it made an uproar and gathered in front of Shengmei Haobuzhuang to point and vent their dissatisfaction. Wang Shoutai repeatedly asked the onlookers to disperse, not to affect the sincerity of Wang's apology, but how could those onlookers agree?
Listen, more and more people are gathering together. There are many shops on both sides of Wanxian Bridge, including grocery stores, mountain goods stores, bamboo goods stores, large satin stores, north and south spice stores, south fruit stores, sea vegetable stores, rice stores, grain stores, and cloth stores.
, paper shops, raw and cooked medicinal materials stores, etc., there are hundreds of them. There are already a lot of people coming and going, and now half of the street in Shengmei Haobuzhuang is even more crowded——
Suddenly I heard someone shouting: "Zhang Jieyuan is back, Zhang Jieyuan is back."
The crowd made a way, and several healthy servants escorted a Xiaoyao sedan to the front of Shengmei Hao Cloth Village. It was Zhang Yuan who got off the sedan. He didn't care about the crowd in front of the door and glanced at it.
There were four silver boxes in front of the steps, and he deliberately asked Wang Shoutai arrogantly: "Who are you? Isn't Wang Ruqian here?"
Wang Shoutai thought to himself: "Sure enough, he is a young man who has achieved his ambition and has a frivolous attitude. He ignores the onlookers. Very good. Very good. If you look at it like this, you really want to take my ten thousand taels of silver." He said humbly:
"I'm Wang Shoutai, Wang Ruqian is a brother from the lower clan. My clan brother is afraid of Zhang Jieyuan's sharpness and dare not come. So I'll come forward. I've brought the money and the land deed of the non-tie garden. Zhang Jieyuan, please take a look." He waved his hand. Four.
Wang's servant came up and opened the silver box——
The sun shone at noon, and the silver ingots in the silver box shone brightly. The onlookers burst into exclamation, envy, jealousy, disdain, greed... all kinds of complicated expressions, different for thousands of people -
Zhang Yuan nodded and said: "Since Wang Ruqian has acknowledged his mistake and apologized to me and my colleagues in Hanshe, I will not pursue the rumor-mongering case in Gongyuan anymore. Please rest assured."
Wang Shoutai crossed his hands and said: "Thank you Zhang Jieyuan for your magnanimity." He sneered in his heart: "You really think of yourself as the chief envoy, and you are on duty. It's ridiculous."
Zhang Yuan first asked Uncle Yao and Wu Ling to move the four silver boxes to the other side of the gate. Then he asked Wu Ling to take out a small wooden box, take out fifty ingots of silver from the silver box and put them in the small wooden box. These were twenty taels of silver ingots.
One ingot, fifty ingots is one thousand taels, Wang Shoutai was puzzled, wondering why Zhang Yuan was so pretentious?
Zhang Yuan also asked someone to put out a small book table, with pen, ink, paper and inkstone to wait on him. In front of the gate, in full view of everyone, he signed a contract with Wang Shoutai for the dian garden. The so-called dian for the garden is not tied to the garden, which means that the garden is still owned by Wang Ruqian.
, Zhang Yuan paid 700 taels of silver to sign a contract and obtained the right to use it for 70 years. During these 70 years, he did not need to pay any fees to the owner of the garden. After the expiration of the term, the garden was returned to the owner. Of course, according to the regulations, the owner of the garden can use 700 taels of silver at any time.
Two silver coins redeemed the right to use the garden, but Zhang Yuan requested that the contract state that no redemption was allowed within seventy years——
For Zhang Yuan, who has already adapted to the 70-year use rights, this is equivalent to buying the Buxie Garden with 700 taels of silver. It is said that Wang Ruqian spent tens of thousands of gold to build the Butie Garden. Isn't it a big profit? But Wang Ruqian,
How could Wang Shoutai guess the profound meaning and mystery behind Zhang Yuan's seventy-year history?
To the onlookers, the annual fee of ten taels of silver for Dianyuan was quite reasonable, and Zhang Yuan could not be considered as bullying others. The couple Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian in "Jin Ping Mei" lived in a two-story, four-room house in Chengdian, Yanggu County.
The term is one year, that is, twelve years, and twelve taels of silver are paid. Although the garden is large, in the eyes of ordinary people, twelve taels of silver a year is enough. The question is, who among the rich is willing to use the garden like this?
Pian out?
Regarding the condition that the owner of the garden would not be allowed to redeem before the expiration of the seventy-year period, Wang Shoutai hesitated for a moment, then agreed after thinking about it. After writing the contract, Wang Shoutai signed and signed it first, and then respectfully handed the brush to Zhang Yuan.
Shoutai attaches great importance to Zhang Yuan's signature calligraphy. This is the evidence——
Zhang Yuan said: "Wait a minute, how can we make a contract without a guarantor?" Looking up to the south of the street, he heard the official shouting. The crowded crowd seemed to have filled the street, but under the urging of the shouting,
, but soon six feet of empty space came out, and the strong elasticity of the human body was confirmed again——
Zaoli opened the way, stretched out his umbrella, and carried a large sedan chair, accompanied by minor officials and official officials, followed by dozens of scholars, led by Huang Zunsu and Zhang Dai.
The big sedan stopped in front of the gate of Shengmei Cloth Village. Zhang Yuan stepped forward and saluted the sedan, saying, "Thank you, sir."
Hangzhou Prefectural Magistrate Shi Weiping stepped down from the sedan chair, returned Zhang Yuan's half salute with a smile, looked at the silent walls of people on both sides, frowned and said, "Why are you gathering here if you don't each settle down in your own business?"
The crowd was silent, but they each stepped back half a foot to both sides. They could only hear the door panels of the shops on the street being squeezed together——
Tongpan is a sixth-grade official, in charge of the government's money, food, litigation, and great power. He is the government official most respected by the people. Although Wang Shoutai is very wise, he can only stand with his hands crossed at the door and dare not speak arbitrarily.
, Zhang Yuan is a civil servant, but he can resist the courtesy of local officials. Wang Shoutai is just a low-ranking official, so although he knows that the situation is not good, what else can he do except stand aside!
A rosewood official hat chair was placed in front of the gate. Judge Shi Tong lifted his robe and sat down. Zhang Yuan took out two pieces of paper from his arms and presented them to him, saying: "Sir, please look, this is our Hanshe."
My colleagues donated nine thousand taels of silver to the Baoshishan Sanatorium. Please sign for it with your seal. The nine thousand taels of silver are here." He pointed at the four silver boxes.
Before Eunuch Zhong left Hangzhou, he handed over the management of the Baoshishan Almshouse to the Hangzhou government. The Almshouse had an official character. Within the jurisdiction of Tongpan, it now received a huge donation of nine thousand taels of silver out of thin air.
Is there any reason for Shi Tongpan to be unhappy? Famines have been frequent in recent years, and the Hangzhou government has done a good job in preparing for famines and providing emergency relief. This is a political achievement. Shi Tongpan said happily: "Your colleagues are committed to the world and care about the sufferings of the people. It is really impressive.
admire."
Zhang Yuan said humbly: "The world is one and the family is one. Hanshe has always advocated loyalty to the emperor and loving the people. This opportunity to do some good deeds for the people of Hangzhou is exactly the wish of everyone in Hanshe."
Shi Tongpan was very happy and ordered the seal-holding official to come forward. He stamped the official seal on the two donation coupons with his own hands, signed his name and the year and month of the zodiac, and then handed one to Zhang Yuan and the other to Shi Tongpan.
Storage——
Zhang Dai at the bottom of the steps took the lead in applauding, and Huang Zunsu, the rest of the Han Society, applauded. The people watching saw that Zhang Yuan was not greedy for money and donated nine thousand taels from 10,000 taels. They also admired him.
Zhang Yuan showed Shi Tong the newly created dian garden deed and asked him to appoint a small official to be the guarantor. Shi Tong was so happy that he almost lowered his status to be the guarantor, but luckily he kept it.
He asked one of his subordinates, Dianshi named Wu, to be the guarantor. In a moment, both Zhang Yuan and Wu Dianshi signed and stamped the two copies of the document——
Zhang Yuan asked Wu Ling to take out fifteen ingots of silver from the small wooden box. The remaining thirty-five ingots, totaling seven hundred taels of silver, were given to Wang Shoutai as Dianyuan's silver. Zhang Yuan handed a paper coupon to Wang Shoutai and said loudly
: "The silver certificate has been cleared. Please ask Mr. Wang to vacate the garden within three days. I will hold a Hanshe gathering in the garden in the near future."
Zhang Dai and other members of the Han Society applauded vigorously again, wonderful, wonderful, the Han Society has a foothold in Hangzhou. The red leaves in Butie Garden are very famous, and late autumn is also the time to appreciate the red leaves——
Zhang Yuan then warned Wang Shoutai: "From this moment on, the garden has been deeded by me. You, the Wang family, can move away the related utensils in the garden, but you cannot deliberately damage the garden landscape, otherwise I will sue you."
"
Wang Shoutai's face turned red. Zhang Yuan used the money he sent to pay Yuanzi's debt. This was a slap in the face. Moreover, he originally wanted to use this to ruin Zhang Yuan's reputation and alienate Zhang Yuan, the head of the society.
The strategy of establishing a relationship with the Hanshe comrades has completely failed. That is to say, his ninth brother Wang Ruqian gave away the ten thousand taels of silver in vain, but it did not have any beneficial effect on the Wang family.
It was a scandal to spread the rumors about Mr. Wang and pay for the money instead. Oh, there was still some ten thousand taels of silver left. Seven hundred taels of silver were recovered, but such a big one went out without Xie Yuandian. It was a huge laughing stock!
Wang Shoutai wanted to cry but had no tears, so he couldn't help but dig in in an orderly manner——
Zhang Yuan said to Shi Tongjian: "My lord, please come inside and have a few drinks. The banquet has been prepared. This cloth shop is the property of Wan Sheng's brother-in-law's family. It opens today. It's really great that my lord can come here."
Shi Tongpan raised his head and looked at the plaque written by Zhang Yuan, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Congratulations, congratulations, then I won't bother you."
In the late Ming Dynasty, it was very common for scholars to engage in business. Some students even thought that the monthly and quarterly examinations were troublesome, so they took the initiative to ask for their status to be removed so that they could concentrate on doing business. This was mainly because it was too difficult to pass the imperial examinations, so it was better to waste their lives doing it.
It is better to leave the house and do something else earlier. This is actually a very wise choice. The business style of scholars is especially strong in Jiangnan. Even pure businessmen without official gentry background are not low in status, as long as they have money, so
Shi Tongpan was not surprised at all that Zhang Yuan's brother-in-law was in business. Zhang Yuan was a bachelor of Xie Yuan and the head of the Han Society. His future was limitless and could not be compared with ordinary people. Of course, he, Shi Tongpan, had to come here specially to do it.
He couldn't let go of the honor of Yibu Zhuang Daoxi, but now that it was the right time, there was no reason to refuse.
Zhang Yuan asked his eldest brother Zhang Dai to accompany Shi Tongpan with him. The other members of Hanshe and the officials brought by Shi Tongpan went to the Zuixianlou on the street to dine. Wu Lingzi went to settle the bill. The ten thousand taels of silver sent by Wang Shoutai was not
Is there still three hundred taels left? It can be used to treat guests to dinner and to pay for the garden gathering in the next few days——
At the banquet, Zhang Yuan truthfully told Shi Tongpuan the cause and effect of today's incident. Shi Tongpuan had heard early in the morning about last night's incident of the failed students making trouble in Gongyuan. The case was handled by the chief envoy Si Yamen and the prosecutor's envoy Si Yamen. Hangzhou
The government office did not hear anything, but when Zhang Yuan told him the whole story and the source of the donation, Shi Tongpan felt that he had been slightly taken advantage of by Zhang Yuan and was a little unhappy, but this matter had a profound impact on him.
It is obviously advantageous for him. Having money in his hands is easy to do. Zhang Yuan's ability to donate the money shows his integrity. Otherwise, Zhang Yuan would not have broken any laws even if he kept the money -
Judge Shi Tong smiled and said: "Jie Yuanlang is so wise that it is difficult for others to do so. Wang Ruqian is also a famous person, but it is really stupid to spread such rumors. Now he is spending huge sums of money to repair it - Zhang Jieyuan really doesn't pursue the case?"
"
Shi Tongpan didn't understand the mystery and thought that Wang Ruqian's gift of money was really to beg Zhang Yuan for mercy -
Zhang Yuan said with a smile: "Of course Wansheng is a person of faith. Since Wang Ruqian has acknowledged his mistake and apologized in a big way, I will not come forward to pursue the case again, but this case does not involve Wansheng alone. It also involves two principals.
Examiner. It is a state law and I am guilty of false accusation. I believe He Fangbo, Zhang Fenshou and Ye Yushi will handle the case impartially."
Shi Tong thought: "This Zhang Yuan, at such a young age, is not greedy for money and is very scheming. There should be a place for him in the future court -"
…
Wang Shoutai's face turned purple and his eyes were covered with red threads. He was so ashamed and angry that he strode towards Yongjinmen. Eight of Wang's servants followed behind. The group of trumpeters caught up and shouted: "Master Wang, don't run so fast."
,The wages haven’t been paid yet——”
How unbecoming was it to be chased for wages? Wang Shoutai stopped. He touched his waist and found that he didn't have any money. He asked the servants, but they didn't bring any money, so he said, "Follow me to the West Lake to pay you wages."
The first suona player looked at the small wooden box carried by the two Wang servants and muttered: "Isn't there some money in this box?"
The suona player just said that casually, but Wang Shoutai became furious. He shouted: "This is twenty-two pieces of silver. How can you poor people earn such a piece of silver in a year?"
A group of propagandists did not dare to reply, and their faces were quite angry. They followed Wang Shoutai to the West Lake. Wang Shoutai asked the beautiful woman Xu Ansheng for two coins and threw them on the shore. He shouted: "Get out of here!"
The group of trumpeters cursed and left, and the beautiful woman Xu Ansheng saw Wang Shoutai's angry look. She knew that things were not going well on this trip, so she would not bother to ask. Anyway, she would know later, so she just ordered to hold the boat.
Wang Ruqian is still at the island in the middle of the lake——
Xu's mansion boat merged with Wang Ruqian's painting boat. Wang Shoutai and several servants jumped over the boat. Wang Ruqian came out to welcome him and asked: "Fourth brother, what's wrong-" He could tell at a glance that Wang Shoutai's expression was wrong.
"Brother Ninth, I'm sorry for you!"
Wang Shoutai knelt on the ground with a thump, clenched his fist with his right hand and beat the cabin board hard——
Han Jing, the number one scholar in the Gengxu Division, came over and frowned: "Why is this!"
Wang Ruqian helped Wang Shoutai up and sat down. He knew something was wrong by looking at his clan brother's appearance. At this time, he had to pretend to be a celebrity, suppressing his anxiety and asking questions calmly. After hearing what Wang Shoutai said about what happened, Wang Zhuangqian sat on the chair.
There was no sound for a while——
A servant of the Wang family with a sinister face next to him said angrily: "Zhang Yuan is so hateful, why not find a bunch of Hangzhou ruffians to beat him to death, or find Jiangyang thieves to kill him and let him die a good death, look at him
return--"
Han Jing sneered and returned to the cabin.
With a "snap" sound, Wang Ruqian slapped the slave hard on the mouth and shouted: "Get out, if you dare to talk nonsense again, I won't spare you."
Han Jing was here, but this ungrateful domestic slave said that he wanted to behead and ransack the house. How could Wang Ruqian not be angry? He chased the slave away and entered the cabin with Wang Shoutai. He smiled at Han Jing and said: "The domestic slave is ignorant, Han
Brother, don’t be offended.”
Han Jing said with a straight face: "This is not a street fight. It would be simple if rogues could solve the problem. I have seen several Ming Dynasty officials and gentry killed by enemies hired by their enemies? If so, there is no need for any party struggle.
Let's let Jiangyang's thieves deal with it. Han is ignorant and only knows that the Tang Dynasty Jiedushi who supported the army dared to hire murderers, and they dared to rebel. Those were troubled times - "
Wang Ruqian broke into a cold sweat and said repeatedly: "Brother Han taught me a lesson, Brother Han taught me a lesson."
Han Jingdao: "Zhang Yuan is now a rising star of the Donglin Party. We must attack him, but we can only attack him in terms of reputation and official career. Taking his life does not seem to be what we do. That is the way of ordinary people in the market who want to die together regardless of the consequences. How can we do it?"
As for that?"
Wang Ruqian Weiwei.
Han Jing added: "Although sending money this time is self-defeating, you don't need to worry too much. Brother Ran Ming will stay away for a while. Let Wang Li handle the case first. This matter can't do anything to you and Mr. Dong. Zhang Fen will stick to this point."
There is still a lot of love." After a pause, he added: "Qian Qianyi left Beijing this time. When he passed through Wuxi, he went to Donglin Academy and met Zou Yuanbiao and Gao Panlong. This time, many of the candidates Qian Qianyi won were
People who often come to Donglin to listen to lectures, like Wei Dazhong and Qi Biaojia, are the direct disciples of Gao Panlong. They are gathered in Shanyin Society of Hanshe. Zou and Gao have traveled thousands of miles to go there. Isn't this to win over Zhang Yuan and Hanshe?
There are actually twenty-eight people in Hanshe's high school. Regardless of whether Qian Qianyi has a connection with them or not, we must catch him, impeach him, and have him dismissed from office——"
Wang Ruqian said: "The ink scrolls of the successful candidates have been posted. I asked someone to take a look. The craftsmanship of Hanshe's is quite satisfactory. It's hard to criticize."
Han Jing sneered and said: "If the writing skills are not as good as those of military generals, whose writings can convince people all over the world? There are people who criticize even the top students and Ou Su, not to mention the eight-legged essays of these people and the craftsmanship of these 120 high school students."
It’s really better than those who failed, not necessarily, not necessarily, there are a lot of loopholes that can be exploited——”
Wang Ruqian only wanted to target Zhang Yuan, and Han Jing was targeting Qian Qianyi, which seemed a little wrong. However, now Wang Ruqian could only listen to Han Jing and nodded: "Those who failed will be returned to the failed candidates in the near future. You can contact those stereotyped writers."
Those who are good at writing but fail are asked to have their test papers sharpened."
Han Jing nodded and smiled. What did Wang Ruqian's loss of ten thousand taels of silver have to do with him?
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The 5,000-word update has arrived, and I think my writing is pretty good. Please give me a monthly pass.