Yang's words did have an impact on Zhang Yue, shaking his previous decision.
Zhang Yue stood up and said: "Second aunt, I want to go to Mr. Chen to study poetry first. I will discuss this matter with you later."
Yang said: "Third brother, I'm waiting for news from you."
After saying that, Yang left.
As for Zhang Yue, he found a restaurant nearby and had a hasty meal before heading to Chen Xiang's residence.
That day, before Chen Xiang went to court, Master's Wife saw Zhang Yue arriving and made tea first. Zhang Yue quickly said, "Master, I'll take care of these things."
The master's wife saw it and smiled and said: "Master's wife is happy, I have nothing to do anyway."
Zhang Yue looked at the two old servants outside the door who were usually responsible for sweeping the door and opening the door. Apart from them, the Chen family had no servants. He couldn't help but ask, "Why doesn't the master hire more people?"
The mistress smiled and said: "Your husband is reluctant to part with you, but he sends money home frequently."
Zhang Yue looked at the smile on his wife's face and sighed that there was no official housewife in Bianjing who would come out to serve tea and water by herself.
"Master's wife is really kind and kind."
The wife smiled and said, "What are you talking about? I'll bring you some more fruits. I sent you raw pickled large yellow croaker from home, you're in for a treat."
"Thank you, Master."
The mistress smiled and left.
Zhang Yue also lamented that Chen Xiang's ancestor was a hero of Conglong in Fujian. When it comes to Chen Xiang's branch, Chen Xiang's grandfather served as the chief minister of Guozhou and joined the army, and his father served as the captain of Huangyan County in Taizhou.
However, Chen Xiang's father died early and the family fell into decline. It is only thanks to the help of his elder brother and his clan that we are what we are today. After Chen Xiang became an official, he repaid his kindness and kept sending his salary home to supplement his clan. His wife not only did not object, but also It's really admirable to be able to hold a home like this.
With such a good wife, how can the family not be prosperous?
Therefore, it is true to say that if you marry a good wife, your family will prosper for three generations.
Soon Chen Xiang returned home. As usual, he first read Zhang Yue's homework and talked about it all afternoon.
In the evening, when the master's wife brought the food, the master and the apprentice stopped. It has always been a custom in Fujian that women have a high status, and there is no saying that they are not allowed to serve at the table.
The three of them had almost finished the family dinner. While the mistress was serving tea, Chen Xiang asked, "What worries you about the Wu family?"
Zhang Yue said: "What the student said before was that marriage will be discussed after becoming a Jinshi. Today..."
So Zhang Yue told Chen Xiang about his encounter with Mr. Yang today, but he hid the matter of buying a house. If Chen Xiang found out that he was not doing his job properly, he would definitely be reprimanded.
Chen Xiang heard this and said: "Your elders have thought carefully about this matter for you. Although I don't approve of your marriage to a powerful family, I won't object to it. Just think more about it yourself."
"Do you have a plan in mind?"
Zhang Yue said: "The students are not here yet."
Chen Xiang said: "This matter is related to your life, but if you delay in making a decision, it will become indecisive in the eyes of others. Your parents said the same thing, even if only 20 to 30% of people are interested in you, they need to do it as soon as possible There is a saying that in the future, just let the elders come forward to intervene."
Zhang Yue said: "Sir, what you said is right, students will think about it again."
Chen Xiang said nothing but stood up to change clothes.
After a while, the mistress came with a bowl of fish soup: "Sanlang, please try it."
After trying it, Zhang Yue smiled and said, "It's really fresh and sweet."
The master's wife smiled and said: "We Fujian people always make fish soup like this. If you like it, I will often make it with you."
"Thank you, Master."
The mistress smiled and said: "I just heard about your marriage to your husband, and I also listened to a few words. You are worried that the girl's family is not the right one for you, so you have been hesitant until now."
Zhang Yue said: "As the master's wife said, Sanlang has Qi Dafei's concern."
The wife smiled and said: "Sanlang, you have always been a person with ideas, why are you so difficult to make a decision on this matter? You should be cautious about marriage, but it is not good to be too cautious."
"this……"
"If you have something to hide, it's not good to talk to your husband. It's also normal to talk to your master's wife."
Zhang Yue said: "Thank you, Master. That's what Sanlang thinks. Nowadays, marriages are often based on family wealth and power. Sanlang is not exempt from this custom."
"Confucius said, it is easy to be rich without arrogance, and it is difficult to be poor without resentment. Sanlang did not believe this at first, but believed that the nature of human nature is innate. However, Sanlang has experienced a lot since the bottom, and finally realized that the words of the sage are indeed true.
thing."
"This is not what Li Si said about hamsters and rats in the toilet. Therefore, Li Si said that the virtuousness of a person is like a mouse, it lies in his own place. The girl of the Wu family has been well-dressed and well-fed since she was a child, and she has no worries about food and clothing. In today's situation
Of course it can be called virtuous. If you really marry me and you are trapped in money, rice, oil and salt, how can you be virtuous? How many women in the world are as peaceful and poor as my wife? So I still say that she is not a Jinshi.
Secondly, let’s not talk about marriage.”
The master's wife nodded when she heard this and said: "Since you have an idea, I won't say anything more. But I have something to say to you, Sanlang. If the Wu family really values you so much, even if they don't agree, don't be cold.
It won people’s hearts.”
Zhang Yue said: "Thank you, Master. Sanlang has made a decision in his heart."
Zhang Yue walked out of Chen Xiang's Mansion and looked at the lights of Kaifeng City with some thought.
Back then, he met a girl from a wealthy family on a blind date. He was very confused and asked his teacher what he should do.
The senior brother said sincerely that it's not that rich people can't marry. It depends on what you like about other people and what you like about rich people's money. In the end, it doesn't matter much, but those who like people tend to be harmonious and beautiful.
Although Zhang Yue was dealt the 'good guy card' again in the end, he still remembered his senior brother's words.
From the bottom of his heart, does he like the girl from the Wu family?
Zhang Yue looked at the scenery of Bianjing and thought of the girl he had chased during the blind date two years ago.
Zhang Yue doesn't really like them, he just pursues them because he thinks the other person's conditions are good. Sometimes Zhang Yue thinks he is "chasing" him, but the other person doesn't feel that way at all.
Although he had not met many girls from the Wu family, they felt that they were very close to each other after their meeting in Jinmingchi.
Can it really be decided based on this aspect alone?
The appearance of the Wu girl appeared in Zhang Yue's mind, and then he returned to reality and said with a little regret, "There are also big breasts, I haven't tried them..."
The carriage was resting on the road to Zhang Yue. After calming down, he ordered the driver to take him to Zhang's mansion.
After Zhang Yue arrived at Zhang's mansion and reported the matter, someone immediately ushered him in.
When they arrived at the hall, they saw Zhang Yu and Yang sitting on the left and right in the hall.
Zhang Yue stepped forward to greet him and then sat aside. Zhang Yu said a few words and then asked: "Brother Yue is here, but what do you want to say to me?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said nothing. Yang stood up and said to Zhang Yue: "You haven't visited the courtyard of the mansion yet, so come with me."
Zhang Yu's face looked a little unnatural.
Mrs. Yang was supported by Mrs. Xu and she and Zhang Yue walked to the pavilion in the courtyard and sat down. Ms. Yang said, "You have made up your mind so quickly?"
Zhang Yue said: "Exactly."
Yang said: "That's good."
"I still have my original intention not to get married before becoming a Jinshi."
"It's up to you." Yang said after a pause, "Third brother, you...what are you worried about..."
Zhang Yue said: "Second aunt Rongzhen..."
The two discussed for an hour, and Yang said, "Have you really decided this?"
Zhang Yue said: "Indeed."
Yang said: "That's fine. If you decide to do this, I will have an excuse for you in the Wu Mansion."
Mother Xu was about to speak but stopped after hearing this.
"Thank you so much, Second Aunt, Sanlang is very grateful." Zhang Yue immediately stood up and left.
"If you don't speak the same language as one family, I'll ask the palace's carriage to take you back to Taixue."
After Zhang Yue left, Mrs. Yang sat down to rest again. Mother Xu said: "Mother, please be cautious about this matter. If Mr. Sanlang goes back on your words, it will make it difficult for you to be a good person."
Yang said: "Third brother is not such a person. Besides, I think this method is the best way for him and the Wu family."
Mother Xu said: "There are two disadvantages in making an agreement before the marriage and getting married after the marriage. A first-class woman cannot wait for a long time. This is not the case in the past. The man and the woman made an agreement. As a result, the man failed after repeated attempts, and finally the woman's parents
She was given to someone else, and in the end the man fell in love with her."
"There is another category where the man changes his mind after the exam, and the man and the woman meet and get married later. As a result, the man gets a higher ranking, and the woman is unbearably humiliated, and finally commits suicide or becomes a monk."
"The most important thing is that I don't know what Mr. Sanlang thinks. He is still young and has many things going on. I think so today. Maybe tomorrow... Mistress, the hatred for Brother Dun is still there in his heart. What if Madam is also blamed for this?
…”
Yang looked at Xu's mother and said, "There's no need to say anything, Xu's mother. I've already decided on this matter. As long as the third brother is a descendant of my Zhang family, he will never go back on his promise for this."
When Zhang Yue left Yang Mansion, he was also reflecting on his decision.
Because of the industrial chain of the imperial examination, many scholars "became a farmer in the morning and ascended to the emperor's hall in the evening", and they rose to prominence in one day.
Therefore, there was a third-class son-in-law at that time.
The first step was to catch a son-in-law under the official list. At that time, such a son-in-law was called a son-in-law, and the meat was the fattest meat. No one else was allowed to get involved with it. I would worry about whoever snatches it from me.
But this would be a loss for the Yue family.
The next step is to choose a son-in-law at the top of the list, which will test people's vision.
Many high-ranking officials are very smart and discerning. When they see a young scholar, they think it is good and they marry their daughter to him in advance, which is regarded as a sign of appreciation. However, there are also many big bosses who messed up. Their son-in-law never passed the Jinshi exam and ended up losing his money.
.
There's nothing you can do about it. It's like playing with futures in the stock market. It means you are willing to gamble and admit defeat.
Then there is the third level, the agreement is made before the appointment, and the marriage is done after the appointment.
But the risk is that the two parties made the agreement verbally and did not exchange details. The woman may choose someone else when she sees that the man has not been ranked in a few years.
Many folk tales from the Song Dynasty were adapted from these stories.
However, it was very common at that time for the marriage to be agreed before the wedding and the marriage after the wedding was somewhere in between.
For example, as mentioned before, after Liu Tingshi won the Jinshi, he learned that the woman was blind, but he still completed the engagement.
The same was true for Zhang Yue's chief chaplain, Liu Ji. After he passed the first prize, he petitioned the emperor to marry the woman he had planned to marry from his hometown.
This is very admirable. Even though Liu Ji was in the capital and was obsessed with brothels all day long, when it was time to fulfill his engagement seriously, he married an ordinary folk woman without saying a word.
