Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 281: Uncle Lang (Part 1)
I guessed the beginning, but didn't expect the result.
For Zhang Shou, this sentence perfectly explains his complicated feelings. After the high-profile days when he first entered the Imperial College, he has been relatively low-key in the past few months, hoping to manage his two completely different classes quietly. Today's sudden high profile is just to stir up a storm and attract other people's attention.
But such an incident ended with Xie Wanquan, the former head of Ruexing Hall, angrily declaring that he would quit Ruexing Hall, and Yang Yiming, a doctor of the Imperial College, fainted from anger. He was really troubled.
Moreover, perhaps because Xie Wanquan's lesson was too profound, after Yang Yiming fainted, no one came forward to help him, so he could only ask for help from his future brother-in-law. In the end, he and Zhu Tingfang worked together to lift Yang Yiming onto the carriage and then rushed him to the clinic, because he was worried that during the time it took to call the doctor, Yang Yiming would get so angry that he would suffer from a sudden cardiovascular disease and die suddenly.
Although he found that the students of Ruexing Hall were somewhat shunning Yang Yiming, Zhang Shou was not willing to bear the risk alone, so he had to ask Xie Wanquan to recognize five or six students of Ruexing Hall - of course, including the current head of the hall who had previously avoided the matter and kept silent, and asked them to go to the clinic with him. Then he loudly instructed Lu Sanlang and Zhu Er to go to the Doctoral Office to notify other academic officials.
So, when the whole thing finally came to an end, the moon was already high above the treetops.
After learning the whole story, Zhou Jijiu had no choice but to come here in person with Luo Siye, and then used his own car to send Yang Yiming back to his house near the Imperial College. Seeing Luo Siye giving many instructions to the doctor who was invited to stay with him overnight in case of emergency, he called Zhang Shou out of the yard.
"Dr. Yang's family and children are all away in the capital. Fortunately, you put aside your past grudges and sent him to the clinic. Otherwise, he wouldn't know whether he was dead or alive." Zhou Jijiu certainly didn't like Yang Yiming, who was old and had a low position, and who always liked to compete like young people in everything. However, he also kept his distance from Zhang Shou, who was too independent.
But he understood today's incident from beginning to end. Although he felt that Zhu Ying did wave the whip in threatening manner when arguing with Yang Yiming, in essence, it was Yang Yiming who was the first to provoke and he deserved it!
"It's not like we've forgiven the past. Dr. Yang is an elder after all. Although I despise his unreasonable behavior, I can't just watch him fall to the ground and be ignored. However, if you, Da Sicheng, hadn't arrived in time with your men, I would have just sent him to the clinic, paid the medical fee, and left him in the care of his students. I would have left immediately."
Zhang Shou paused for a moment, then said nonchalantly: "After all, if you repay evil with kindness, how can you repay kindness?"
"You have done your best. Luo Siye and I have discussed today's events, and the other doctors have expressed that Dr. Yang is not suitable to manage Ruxingtang anymore. If his illness doesn't get better soon, he will retire. If he does, I will petition the emperor to let him serve as an official outside the capital."
"Thank you for the trouble, Grand Secretary and Junior Secretary." Zhang Shou said dryly, but did not express his own opinion.
Even though he knew that the so-called external school officials were not good jobs at all - they were not the so-called grandmasters of school administration and the imperial censors! External school officials, county school instructors were only ninth-rank, and prefectural school professors were only eighth-rank, and their treatment was far from that of the Imperial College Doctor. Regarding this measure, which could definitely be called a demotion, he only wanted to say one thing in his heart.
You won’t die if you don’t do it... You deserve it!
When Zhang Shou walked out of the Yang family's gate, he saw his familiar carriage parked at the foot of the opposite wall. But he clearly remembered that he rode a horse today, not a carriage, to the Imperial College. When he got closer, he found that the person sitting in the driver's seat was none other than Zhu Tingfang!
"Young Master, what are you doing..."
"My grandmother and parents are worried, so they asked me to pick you up." Before Zhang Shou could thank him, he added, "Of course, the most important thing is that Yingying is restless. If I don't come, she will wait here. So I have to come here in person. Also, since our two families have already signed the marriage certificate, you can change the way you address me. You can follow Yingying and call me brother."
As if seeing Zhang Shou's stunned face, he said nonchalantly: "Of course, you don't have to worry about that guy, Second Brother. Just call him by his name."
It was not until this moment that Zhang Shou felt that the eldest son of the Zhu family, who always behaved perfectly, had a bit of fresh air. He thought for a moment, and walked forward quickly, but did not enter the carriage. Instead, he directly motioned Zhu Tingfang to move over, and sat next to him in the driver's seat, smiling and saying, "It's late at night anyway, and no one can see us, so let's just go back like this!"
Ever since he first met Zhang Shou, Zhu Tingfang understood why Zhu Ying fell in love with him at first sight - the girl had liked good-looking people since she was a child. At first, the honest wet nurse was disliked by her when she was still a baby, so she was replaced by the plump and beautiful Mother Zhao. As a result, when Zhu Ying grew up, Mother Zhao became restless, and Zhu Ying gradually disliked her personality, so she was sent away.
The two older maids around Zhu Ying, Zhan Jin and Liu Yin, were both extremely beautiful, and were secretly ridiculed by outsiders for this. However, Zhu Ying was always confident that she was beautiful enough and did not need those mediocre-looking maids as a foil.
In addition, when the Duke Zhao's mansion found a teacher for her, Zhu Ying first criticized his appearance. Over the years, the one Zhu Ying liked and respected the most was the old but still elegant Master Ge.
Therefore, Zhu Tingfang knew very well how attractive Zhang Shou's handsome and elegant face was to Zhu Ying. However, if he only had this face but was vulgar, Zhu Ying might get bored of him after a few days. But Zhang Shou didn't look like a poor boy who grew up in the countryside at all. No matter his knowledge and conversation, even after he had met him several times, he couldn't help but admire him secretly.
If the entire Rongshui village was not filled with people carefully selected by his father, and if Wu's care and concern for Zhang Shou were not absolutely impossible to fake, he would have thought that someone had long since found out that the two families had an engagement and secretly replaced Zhang Shou.
At this moment, Zhu Tingfang drove forward in silence for a while. He glimpsed Zhang Shou sitting beside him contentedly. He suddenly couldn't help asking, "Even if Yingying just whipped Yang Yiming to scare him, it still seemed domineering to others. Zhang Shou, do you really not mind?"
"What's the matter?" Zhang Shou laughed and said disapprovingly, "Everyone says that women should be gentle, but if they are too quiet and gentle, they no longer look like living people, but like clay sculptures or wooden sculptures. Even if Yingying is arrogant and domineering, she is still hated by people. She is much better than those women who look like weak flowers but are actually vicious."
Zhu Tingfang heard the sincerity in Zhang Shou's words and couldn't help laughing. Then he said slowly, "When my mother went to the temple, I was less than five years old and didn't know much. She hugged me and cried before she left. She hoped I could help her take care of Yingying and not let her suffer any grievances. My mother was very kind to me at the time, so I agreed without a second thought."
"Grandma and Dad didn't ignore Yingying just because Mom left. Instead, they held her in the palm of their hands. I am the same. Anyone who makes her unhappy is my enemy, no matter who it is. Under our pampering, Yingying grew up. Although she is a little spoiled and willful, she has always been clear about what she loves and hates."
"She once heard someone badmouthing her mother behind her back at a banquet, so she made a scene and said she never wanted to see that woman again. As a result, the gossiping lady was sent back to her hometown by her husband's family and never showed up in the capital again. She once spent a lot of money in a quarrel with others, and was accused of being extravagant. Sooner or later, the Duke of Zhao's mansion will be ruined by her."
"But she also persuaded her acquaintances to donate porridge and warm clothes when the capital was hit by heavy snow. She also used her cosmetics money to build a charity to adopt homeless orphans and taught them skills to survive. Like Zhang Chen, she also saw injustice and directly submitted people's petitions to the emperor... Some of these things were done when she was less than ten years old."
"Although she quickly forgot about the little things she did, I still think she is a kind-hearted girl."
"She has a kind heart. I saw that when I was in the village."
Zhang Shou narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking of her holding a big red oil-paper umbrella, adding a rich and colorful scene to the simple countryside. After a pause, he said nonchalantly: "In fact, it's just like what you said, brother. What I like most about her is that she has a clear distinction between love and hate. It's easy to hide your likes and dislikes, but don't you think that as a relative or friend, you don't like people around you to pretend to be themselves?"
"That's right." Zhu Tingfang finally caught the best opportunity and said directly, "Yingying has always been open and honest with everyone, but what about you? Are you really honest with her? Are you honest with everyone?"
"I can only say that I tried my best to hide nothing, but some things were secrets that belonged to me alone, and this neither damaged my relationship and affection with her, nor hindered my actions. Maybe sometimes I seemed not to be frank enough, but looking back, you will know that my concealment beforehand was only for the convenience of doing things, and there was nothing to hide."
Although Zhang Shou's words were still a little vague, Zhu Tingfang felt that it was almost enough.
After the incident at the Imperial College was over, he dragged Zhu Ying home and asked her the truth on the way. Zhu Ying said that she had discussed it with Zhang Shou last night and planned today's drama. As for Yang Yiming's provocation, it was a completely sudden incident and she took the opportunity to make a fuss about it.
And at the critical moment when things got out of hand, Zhang Shouneng came out and did not let Zhu Ying handle it alone. He was quite satisfied with this attitude.
Zhu Tingfang and his uncle were not familiar with each other, so they did not continue to have a friendly and in-depth conversation on the way. More often, Zhang Shou asked about the previous northern expedition with interest. Zhu Tingfang did not have the habit of showing off. When he mentioned himself, he was usually brief and concise, but when it came to others, he was often generous in praising them.
When he finally parked the car, Zhang Shou realized that this was not outside the Imperial College, but his temporary residence located on the back street of the Zhao Mansion, next to the Zhao Mansion.
Zhu Tingfang could understand his surprise, so he took the initiative to explain: "Since Ah Liu is not here, it will be inconvenient for you to live in the Imperial College dormitory. You should work harder these days. It's better to go home and live well."
Zhang Shou was a little stunned: "Did Yingying tell you that Liu was not here?"
Zhu Tingfang smiled slightly: "Yingying mentioned Ah Liu several times yesterday. If I still don't notice it, I am too slow. I don't care what you send people to do, but I don't want the assassination, kidnapping and frame-up to happen again, so I will personally bring people to pick you up in the next few days."
Hearing this, Zhang Shou was stunned.
Although he knew that because of his identity as the son-in-law of the Zhu family, coupled with the many incidents he had encountered in the past few months, he was not that safe even in the capital, under the feet of the emperor. However, if the Duke of Zhao sent a few guards to accompany him as before, it would be fine. But the eldest son of the Duke of Zhao personally picked him up...
Zhang Shou couldn't help but think of Zhu Tingfang's newly-minted official position - the fourth-rank Mingwei General. Although this was just a casual rank given because of the destruction of the Firearms Battalion, and had no real job to support it, it was still a lot higher than his position as a doctor of the Imperial College, Zuo Chunfang Zuo Zanshan of the Zhanshi Mansion, and the title of Imperial Academy Attendant.
And nowadays, it is far from being called the noble civil and the humble military. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "Is it necessary to do so?"
"It's necessary." Zhu Tingfang smiled faintly and said in a more serious tone, "Especially after you and Yingying made such a big scene today. As long as I escort you out every day, I think some people will be able to weigh the situation clearly."
Zhang Shou stared at Zhu Tingfang for a long time, and finally gave up. This brother-in-law had been willing to accept missions that would have meant his death in the army before, so he must be extremely stubborn. If you want to convince him, you better forget it...
"Well, it's late, I won't keep you any longer, big brother. Good night, bye."
Seeing Zhang Shou jump off the carriage neatly and then stride to the door and knock, Zhu Tingfang watched Old Liu open the door and welcome Zhang Shou in. Then he jumped off the carriage, returned the carriage that he had given to the Zhang family, and then came to the back door of his own house.
When he walked through his backyard and finally arrived at the Qing'an Hall where the lights were still on, he saw Mother Li coming out with a lantern. Mother Li smiled and saluted him, then relayed the words that several masters asked him to bring.
"The Madam and the Master said that the eldest son does not need to go to Qing'an Hall and Yongning Residence to pay respects and should go back and rest early. The Madam said that you have worked hard today. It is all thanks to you, otherwise she would not be able to resist and would have taken action... And the eldest daughter said that she knew that the eldest brother was the best."
