Prime Minister

Chapter 1070: The Zhang Family is Like a Dragon (Part 2)

Chapter 1070: Family members are like dragons (Second update)

Under the Ministry of Rites list.

Zhang Gen, who ranked first in the lock hall test, stood with his hands behind his back.

He remembered that his father often told him that the experience of being able to accomplish something and actually accomplishing it are different.

The worst thing about mountain climbing is giving up halfway. The experience of reaching the summit is unique. Only after you have tried it yourself can you gain your own understanding.

What you want to do in your heart and what you say verbally must be unrelated, and cannot be revealed to anyone. That is why it is said that secrecy leads to success, while disclosure leads to failure.

Therefore, a smile appeared on Zhang Gen's face, so he made a strategy early. After ten years of hard study, his articles were highly praised by Zhang Yue's disciples such as Chen Guan, Chao Buzhi, and Qin Guan.

For a time, no one in the world took it seriously.

How could Zhang Gen be willing to not take the exam and compete with the world's talents? Therefore, he made a plan early on and tricked his parents with the help of his father-in-law.

Zhang Gen bowed to Chen Guan, Chao Buzhi and Li Kui, who also passed the exam in the same year.

"Where's Brother Qin?"

The three shook their heads and said, "Try again in the next subject."

Zhang Gen said: "Bad luck."

Chao Buzhi smiled and said, "I never thought that we would become the same age."

"I wonder how many people can make it to the first class."

At this time, the wealthy people on the list saw that Zhang Gen, Chen Guan and others were so young and thought they must be their future sons-in-law!

So they all gathered around and pushed each other.

"This gentleman, look here!"

"My master is Mr. Lu from Beijing!"

When Zhang Gen met wealthy businessmen, he never refused them and accepted all the invitations and gifts they sent.

Seeing this, Chen Guan couldn't help but ask, "You are both Huang's sons-in-law, why are you still chatting with these people?"

Zhang Gen said disapprovingly: "The son-in-law is the son-in-law, and the gift list for receiving invitations is the gift list for receiving invitations. The two do not interfere with each other!"

Chen Guan also had no idea what Zhang Gen meant.

However, looking at the people rushing to deliver the letters to Zhang Gen and the pairs of beautiful eyes cast on Zhang Gen from behind the curtains in the distance, Chen Guan felt that he could not stop them.

All of a sudden, all the servants who had surrounded the wealthy businessman Zhang Gen were dismissed, and everyone looked to see who was so powerful.

But they saw rows of tall and strong soldiers arriving. If they knew them, they would know that these people were Xihe's elite soldiers.

When Zhang Yue was the commander of the Xihe Army, in order to provide relief to the dead and wounded soldiers, he took them or their children into his home.

These strong soldiers who had survived hundreds of battles blocked the attack and no one dared to act rashly.

A soldier walked up to Zhang Gen, clasped his fists, and then made a gesture of invitation to the carriage in the distance.

Zhang Gen knew he couldn't escape, so he walked to the front of the carriage, lifted up his long gown, knelt down, and said to the woman sitting behind the pearl curtain: "Mother, I have fulfilled your mission and won first place in the lock hall test. I am now reporting the good news to you!"

Shiqi Niang looked at her son's achievements through the pearl curtain and felt proud from the bottom of her heart.

Shiqi Niang said slowly: "What if my father is the prime minister? What if my husband is the prime minister?"

"It's not as good as my own son's ability to study."

"Today you can bring honor to the Zhang family, and your mother is sincerely happy for you!"

Shiqi Niang and Zhang Yue are truly a couple of one mind and said the same things.

Zhang Gen thought about how Shiqi Niang had been supervising his studies every day for more than ten years, and had invited the best teachers to teach him, putting in a lot of effort.

"Who says that a little bit of filial piety can repay the kindness of my mother? Without my mother's constant guidance, I would not be where I am today. What I am now is not even a fraction of what I have owed my mother!"

Shiqi Niang said, "It's good that you think so. It's worth my careful teaching. Come back with me to the mansion and congratulate your father!"

Seeing that Zhang Gen did not answer, Shiqi Niang asked, "Do you know why your father has been ill until now?"

Zhang Gen was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

My father kept saying that he didn't want me to take the imperial examination, saying that it would compete with the Han family for fame and arouse the jealousy of the royal family. But in his heart, he still loved me very much and did not hesitate to claim illness and stay at home, so as to avoid gossip about me, the son of a prime minister, taking the exam.

But Daddy also underestimates me. I am not the kind of person who is afraid of what others say.

"Let's go!"

"Okay, my friends, I have something to do first!"

Zhang Gen got on the carriage as he was told, and saw the scholars on both sides of the road bowing and seeing him off. This was a sign of respect for the elders!

The people watching the excitement raised their fingers and said, "That person just now is the top of the list!"

Zhang Gen turned around and took a look at the Ministry of Rites' list and thought to himself, this is the beginning of my success.

Zhang Gen returned to the Zhang Mansion in Shiqi Niang's carriage, only to see guests filling the house. Zhang Gen said, "They all came to congratulate my father, not me."

Shiqi Niang looked up at the door lintel of the Zhang family and said, "No, they are here to congratulate the Zhang family! They are here to congratulate the seed of learning that has been passed down from generation to generation in our Zhang family!"

Zhang Gen changed his lazy expression upon hearing this and said seriously, "Mother is right! I have learned my lesson!"

Zhang Genfang entered the mansion, and saw many guests rushing to congratulate him. Seeing Zhang Genfang bowing, all the guests said they dared not and stood up to return the greeting.

Although no one was giving advice to Zhang Gen, he responded calmly, making the guests feel at home. Chen Mu, Han Zhongyan and other friends of Zhang Yue's age saw that Zhang Gen was more decent and calm than Zhang Yue when he passed the imperial examination. Although he was only fifteen or sixteen years old, he was familiar with all this.

The cultivation and bearing of the children of aristocratic families is sometimes something that young people cannot learn.

The younger generation is better than the older generation. For a family to prosper, it takes the efforts and succession of several generations.

The Zhang family finally achieved the glory of being a prominent family today!

"Good boy, Anzhong has really good taste to pick such a good son-in-law!" Han Zhongyan said enviously.

Chen Mu said: "He got there first, haha. It hurts, it hurts, but I am also very happy today!"

After that, Han Zhongyan and Chen Mu drank a cup of wine together.

"I really envy him for his age."

"It reminded me of when I passed the imperial examination."

……

"According to the imperial decree, the Duke of Jian'an's residence is packed with guests today, and the carriages and horses have blocked half the street."

The servant reported to Zhang Dun who was in a carriage.

"I understand." Zhang Dun lifted the curtain of the car and looked at the blocked street, then turned back to look at his eldest son Zhang Ze and second son Zhang Chi in the car.

The two sons also took the imperial examinations, but failed. However, they were not sons of the imperial family, but took the examinations through the Ministry of Rites, which made it more difficult for them to succeed.

Zhang Ze and Zhang Chi looked annoyed and ashamed at this moment.

Zhang Dun said: "The Ministry of Rites just released the list of candidates. I read the article written by Zhang Gen. It is indeed a masterpiece written by heaven. The article is as beautiful as the sun, the moon, the mountains and the rivers."

"It is a great joy for our Zhang family that my cousin has won the exam, but we two will not embarrass our father!"

Zhang Dun said: "Yes, if I were you, I would be so ashamed, but I know you two tried your best, let's fight again tomorrow!"

The two boys were so ashamed that they wanted to burrow into the ground.

"Dad and I are both from the Zhang family, why can Zhang Gen get it but we can't!"

"I will work harder this time when I go back!"

The two sons said this one after another.

Zhang Dun nodded and said, "My son Zhang Dun is able to know shame and then be brave!"

Zhang Dun thought that the younger generations in this family were competing with each other, vying for the first place, and were only afraid that others would catch them first. This was even more exciting than having a Jinshi or a prime minister in the family.

What is a seed of reading? Either one may not appear for several generations, or once one appears, it will flourish!

So after Lu Huiqing passed the imperial examination, eight of his brothers became Jinshi one after another.

And my Zhang family... Zhang Dun smiled when he thought of this.

……

"Geng'er greets uncle and aunt."

"Good! Good!" Zhang Shi was so happy that tears were streaming down his face. Yu, who was already gray-haired, was also sincerely happy to see this scene.

Zhang Shi loved Zhang Genshi as much as Zhang Zhi. Usually when Zhang Gen got into trouble and was beaten by Shiqi Niang, he would hide in Zhang Shi for protection. But Shiqi Niang was a person who would not blink an eye even if a knife fell from the sky. When it came to disciplining Zhang Gen, no one could intercede for him. Not to mention Zhang Shi, even Zhang Yue did not dare to say a word about it.

So Zhang Shi could only watch Zhang Gen being dragged away by Shiqi Niang to execute the family rules.

Whenever he saw Zhang Gen being beaten, Zhang Shi would feel so sad that he almost cried, and he would personally apply medicine to Zhang Gen's wounds.

Now that Zhang Gen has won the first place in the Zhongsuo Hall test, Zhang Shi is so happy that he can hardly contain himself.

He held Zhang Gen's hand and said.

"I am a loser who has never accomplished anything in my life. I am far inferior to your father and your second uncle. Now that you have passed the imperial examination and are being looked after by your father, you will have a bright future. I dare not tell you the truth!"

"But you must remember one thing, that is, 'brothers working together can break metal'! The future prosperity of our Zhang family depends on you."

Zhang Gen said with tears in his eyes: "Uncle raised the second uncle, Dad, and took good care of Zheng Ge'er. Without you, our family wouldn't be what it is today. You are the pillar of the family and you support this family!"

"I wouldn't dare say that."

Yu said: "Aunt has nothing to say to you, but remember one thing: 'A harmonious family brings prosperity'."

"Being harmonious with one's wife is the most remarkable thing for a man. Your father married a beautiful woman and that's how he is today!"

Yu didn't finish her words but listened.

"elder brother!"

It turned out that Zhang Cheng threw himself into Zhang Gen's arms and cried, "You ran away from home and made me suffer. My parents took their anger out on me."

Zhang Cheng then said proudly: "But I always remember what you said, and I never said a word against you!"

"Well done, you can share my burden now," Zhang Gen said, "When I become an official, I won't be able to stay at home all the time. You have to take care of my parents on my behalf."

When he said this, Zhang Gen's eyes dimmed, and then he regained his confident look.

He met Lu and his niece again.

"Daddy!"

Finally, Zhang Gen saw Zhang Yue, who was wearing a green shirt, and the room suddenly fell silent.

The guests all held back the running nephews and nephews.

As soon as Zhang Yue arrived, the whole audience fell silent. At this moment, the father and son looked at each other, silent for a long while.

Zhang Yue sat on the chair and said, "Since you are determined to become an official, it will be different from being at home."

“You should think about the world 70% of the time and yourself 30% of the time.”

After saying this, Zhang Yue stood up and went back, but he heard Zhang Gen fall to his knees with tears on his face and kowtowed three times to Zhang Yue.

"Thank you, Dad, for your help!"

Zhang Yue waved his hands, and walked back to his room with a proud look on his face: "Remember to thank our ancestors for their protection!"

……

Ten days later, the emperor selected the tribute scholars in the Jiying Hall.

This was the first imperial examination after the Yuanfeng era, and the emperor went to the Jiying Hall in person.

"Your Majesty, this is Zhang Gen, the son of the Duke of Jian'an!"

The official looked at the man who had been interested in being his son-in-law, nodded and said, "Everyone in the Zhang family is like a dragon!"

Fortunately, Zhang Yue and Zhang Dun did not get along, otherwise it would be difficult.

(End of this chapter)