Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 460 Birthday Night
After a long drought comes the sweet rain, in a foreign land one meets an old friend. On the wedding night, one’s name is on the list of successful candidates.
This poem, simply called "Joy", describes the four most joyful events in life. Of course, for Zhang Shou, the joy of his birthday on August 15th, even though it is different from these four events, is no less joyful.
The emperor promoted him to another level in the name of exceeding expectations for his trip to Cangzhou and recommending many overseas crops to the court - the most rare of which was the cinchona tree, which was obtained from Lao Xianyu in Cangzhou and sent back to the capital at full speed. After being tested by the Imperial Hospital, it was found that it greatly alleviated the condition of several patients suffering from malignant malaria.
Now, Zhang Shou's title was changed again, and he was promoted to Zuo Yude of Zhanshifu and Shijiangxueshi of Hanlin. His rank was fixed at the fifth rank. At first glance, it seemed to be just a small step forward, but stepping into the fifth rank sequence was enough to make everyone envious. The most important thing was that he had not even taken the imperial examination, so how could a group of Jinshi who had worked hard to get the qualification feel?
What's more, how old is he now? He is just 17 years old today!
As for his original position, it was still the Doctor of the Imperial College, which had not changed. However, Zhang Shou was very suspicious of how strange Luo Siye would look at him when he went to the Imperial College tomorrow. If Emperor Taizu had not raised the rank of the Imperial College academic officials, his rank would probably have surpassed Luo Siye and caught up with Zhou Jijiu.
Since his rank was raised to the fifth rank, it was natural for him to posthumously confer honors on his parents . However, in this day and age, although seventh rank officials could theoretically confer honors on their parents, and give titles to their wives and children, the court would often do so once a year in bulk to save trouble.
When the imperial edicts were distributed in early September last year, Zhang Shou had not yet entered the officialdom. Now the new distribution has not yet begun. The emperor probably thought of his birthday, and coupled with his petition, he brought forward the posthumous honor of his parents.
The eunuch who came to Zhang Garden to deliver the imperial edict was a young eunuch. After he presented the imperial edict, scroll, and official uniform one by one, he said with a big smile on his face: "The emperor said that getting this done before Dr. Zhang's birthday was a relief to him. But, of course, there is more to it than that, there is something else..."
As he spoke, he took out another scroll like a magic trick, and then said with a smile: "The emperor said that in the past, the three mothers, the stepmother, and the biological mother, were not given titles at the same time, but your situation is different, Doctor Zhang. Although Madam Wu is not the third mother, Yunying has not married but has raised you for many years. She has worked hard and must be rewarded. Therefore, in addition to posthumously conferring the title of Yiren on your biological mother, Madam Wu is also conferred the title of Anren."
"For this matter, the Emperor summoned all the cabinet ministers this morning, and they had a quarrel. Grand Secretary Kong was so angry that his face turned black. He angrily scolded you for not even waiting for a month. September is the day for the Ministry of Personnel to confer titles. Thanks to Grand Secretary Wu and Grand Secretary Zhang for standing on your side, saying that it is natural for a son to justify his parents' reputation. Why bother about the time?"
The young eunuch paused, then said flatteringly: "The emperor told the story of your biological mother rescuing Concubine Yu and Lady Zhao on that day when the capital was in chaos. This time, even Academician Kong was speechless."
Although rumors about his, Zhu Ying's, and Princess Yongping's life stories had been spreading in the streets since he came to Beijing, they were only rumors, with all kinds of messed up statements, and even Zhang Shou couldn't be sure of his life story. Fortunately, he only decided to repay a certain cause and effect, so he just believed what the lady said to him.
At this time, he did not expect that the emperor would be so straightforward to expose the secret to the cabinet elders. Even if those three were absolutely tight-lipped, once it was said once, the emperor would definitely not continue to cover it up, and would probably tell others about it. After such a golden word spread personally, his life story would be personally acknowledged by the Supreme Emperor from now on.
In other words, even if others want to make a big fuss, they will never have the chance!
Although a eunuch was suddenly sent to present the scroll of imperial edict on his birthday, it seemed that the emperor had personally decided on it, but in fact it was approved by the cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel. In layman's terms, it was just an expedited procedure, so there was no complicated ceremony like in the opera. Zhang Shou accepted the things one by one, thanked Wu for the award, and completed the whole set of not complicated procedures.
At this time, Wu, who was standing behind Zhang Shou, was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. If Zhu Ying hadn't helped her, she wouldn't even be able to stand steadily.
When she saw Zhang Shou turn around and reach out to hug her, she couldn't help but feel even more overwhelmed. But then she remembered that the person from the palace was still there, and she hurriedly tried to push him away.
"A Shou, since the emperor has posthumously honored your parents and promoted you because of your petition, everyone will know that I am not your biological mother, but a former maid of the Zhang family. How can you..."
"The grace of giving birth to me and raising me is equally important. If not for this, why would the Emperor make an exception and confer an imperial decree on me?"
Zhang Shou smiled, let go of her hand, stepped back two steps, and then bowed solemnly, saying, "Today is my birthday, but it is also the day my mother suffered, and it is also the day when she began to work hard to raise me. Please accept my greeting."
Wu was stunned for a moment, then tears finally burst out of her eyes. This time, she did not avoid him again, until Zhang Shou bowed to the ground, she trembled and reached out her hand to help him up. Seeing that clear face with the same smile as always, she could not help but murmured to herself: "Ah Shou, you are very good, you are better than I imagined before!"
"It was my duty to raise you, but the fact that you have grown up so well is not my credit, but your own talent and hard work. I just took advantage of you, but I didn't do much." Mrs. Wu wiped her eyes and smiled, "By the way, it's getting late, you should send Yingying and the young eunuch back."
The young eunuch had followed Chu Kuan to Xinglong Tea House, and then went to summon Chef Song. He was very clever. Just now, he saw the affection between the mother and son, and he stood aside silently. When he heard Wu's words, he smiled and said, "How can I be worthy of such a young eunuch? I am just an errand boy. How can I ask Dr. Zhang to send me? Since everything is going well, I will go back to the palace to report."
After saying this, the man bowed with a smile and then walked away quickly.
Zhu Ying had just been standing by and watching this happy event with a smile. Now that there were no outsiders around, she grabbed Wu's hand and shook it: "Aunt Wu, you should be happy that Ah Shou has such a happy event on his birthday. A foster mother is also a mother. Without you, Ah Shou wouldn't be as happy as he is now! I also want to stay and celebrate Ah Shou's birthday together, but if I don't leave now, my father will kill me!"
Before Mrs. Wu could reply, Zhu Ying sighed with regret, then stepped back a few steps and waved to Zhang Shou: "Ah Shou, I'm leaving. I've always treated this place as my own home, so I won't be polite with you. I'll ask Zhu Hong and the others to move the gift you gave me. You don't have to see me off, just spend some time talking to Aunt Wu!"
Seeing that the young lady who was said to be unattainable by others passed away in such a hurry, Wu saw Zhang Shou handing her a scroll. She knew it was for her without even looking at it, and she couldn't help but feel mixed emotions.
When she was displaced in the past, did she ever think that she would be where she is today? All this is because she raised a good son!
Taking a deep breath, Wu took the scroll and placed it on the high table beside her without even glancing at it. Perhaps for her, who was just an ignorant little girl back then, such an imperial decree scroll would have been enough to make her ecstatic and put it at the bottom of the box as a treasure. However, she now has something more precious in the world.
A best son, and a daughter-in-law who has not yet married into the family but is as close to her as a family member. Even if she had married and had children, she might not have such a good son and a good wife to take care of her in the future.
"Ah Shou, it's your birthday tonight. Everyone has said that they want to celebrate your birthday together. Aunt Liu has been busy since she came back from the Xinglong Tea House in the outer city. Aunt Xu is also making her specialty snacks. I heard that Yang Hao, Zheng Dang and the other guys have prepared gifts for you, and even Ah Liu is no exception!"
Hearing that a lot of people in his family were not only preparing for his birthday, but also preparing gifts, Zhang Shou couldn't help but feel an indescribable emotion in his heart. Nowadays, the young masters and young ladies in the families of the rich and powerful would celebrate their birthdays in a lively and festive manner, with many guests and countless gifts. If his birthday had not been on the day of the imperial chef selection, it would not have been lively at all.
However, it was not impossible for him to celebrate his birthday on August 15th in a grand manner like the buffet banquet in Rongshui Village last year. However, he had long since rejected the requests of Lu Sanlang, Ji Jiu and Zhang Dakutou's group of students to help him with the festivities, and he also declined Zhu Ying's initial suggestion that they celebrate their birthdays together.
He was certainly not afraid that Zhu Jing would get angry and think that Zhu Ying had forgotten her father because she had a husband. Rather, Zhu Ying would have plenty of opportunities to celebrate her birthday with him in the future, but this was the last time for her to have such a beautiful girlhood moment of celebrating her birthday surrounded by her parents and elders.
Thinking about the hustle and bustle of the family, Zhang Shou couldn't help but laugh and said, "Why, are these people at home worried that my birthday will be too quiet, so they want to make a fuss?"
"It's not because they are afraid that your birthday will be lonely, but because they don't have a chance to thank you." Wu had always regarded Zhang Shou as an independent adult, but at this moment she couldn't help but caressing Zhang Shou's eyebrows and eyes, which looked more and more like a woman's. Those eyebrows and eyes looked a little cold and hard on a woman's face, but they were just right for Zhang Shou. Seeing that he seemed a little stiff and embarrassed, she put her hand down, but smiled again.
“Ah Shou, you don’t know that in the village back then, many people not only liked you as a young master, but also thanked you very much.”
"At that time, in addition to Deng Xiaodai and Qi Liang studying with you, many children followed you to recite poems, recite the Nine Nines Song, and learn simple arithmetic. Many of them learned simple reading and writing. And these children were now brought to Zhang Garden by your people. They learned to do various things in a confused manner. One by one, they asked to sign a lifelong death contract."
Seeing Zhang Shou's face suddenly changed, Wu said earnestly: "I know that you are not like those nobles who treat them as house slaves, but for them, they may not be able to leave the fields for their entire lives. Even if they can read, write, and do math, and go out to learn skills as apprentices, and eventually become a craftsman and become the shopkeeper in the shop, it is unknown how many years it will take."
"If they follow a promising master, as long as they are willing to work hard and learn well, they may be able to become a manager, a housekeeper, or an accountant in a short period of time. But if the contract of a person is likely to expire, do you think the master will carefully train such a person? Of course, you are not the kind of master who treats people like cattle and horses, but it is precisely because you are not that kind of master that they are unwilling to let you suffer any loss."
Wu smiled and said, "Those children may not understand this, but their fathers and grandfathers, although many of them were farmers who worked hard in the fields and were illiterate soldiers, they understood this principle very well. During the time when you were not at home, groups of people from the village, from Old Man Yang onwards, almost forced me to sign a death contract with them regardless of life or death."
No matter life or death... These people are the same. They actually trust others so easily and put the lives of their descendants in his hands.
Zhang Shou rubbed his brows helplessly, once again witnessing the violent collision of two different ideas. He no longer expected to correct the older generation. Although there were few children from the countryside who were suitable for studying, just like the situation in later generations where almost all parents paid close attention to their studies, whether their children were good students or not, he still felt that these children were very malleable.
And now, he has even greater authority than when he was in the village.
So at this moment, he decided to put aside those random thoughts and said directly: "Okay, let them do whatever they want for my birthday. However , the longest time they have worked here is less than a year, and the shortest time is only a few months. If we really spend money to buy gifts, it will probably cost a lot."
Mrs. Wu said in a tacit understanding, "Since there is a happy event coming up at home, why not give out some money to let everyone share in the joy?"
"Okay, let's do it! But don't rush, wait until I receive all the gifts and their birthdays are over." Zhang Shou laughed, but was thinking in his heart that these little guys must feel a little painful first, otherwise if he gives them the reward money in advance, wouldn't it be in vain that they started saving desperately and prepared with all their strength a month or even two months in advance?
Poor Mr. Song, who was staying in Zhang Garden, witnessed a birthday dinner that was completely different from any he or others had had before on this Mid-Autumn night when he should have looked up at the bright moon and thought about his hometown.
In the huge front yard of Zhang Garden, under the bright moonlight, large round tables were set up, followed by large porcelain bowls of food, as well as jars of rice wine and yellow wine. When the mud seal was opened, he smelled the fragrant wine, and saw large porcelain bowls being filled one by one, even he who was forced to come over to celebrate had a full bowl in front of him.
He was so confused that he didn't even have time to say anything before someone picked up the wine bowl and stuffed it into his hand. When he recognized it was the young man he had seen several times today, he saw the man suddenly raised the wine bowl and knocked it hard on the table. The sound that could not be just wood or porcelain colliding spread in an instant and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.
Then came the young man's cold voice: "Congratulations, young master!"
