Volume 1 In the Countryside Chapter 45: Bad News Before Birthday
Lu Sanlang happily copied the textbooks and exercise books, and then immersed himself in the progressive mathematical system. He then experienced what it was like to solve the vast sea of questions that Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai had once endured.
Zhang Chen began to reflect deeply on why his original act of "leaving his family after his work was done, hiding his achievements and fame" was leaked, whether it would bring enemies and harm to his father and family, and how he should be an excellent and influential Duke of Qin in the future. As for the book of aristocratic rules that Zhang Shou gave him, which was said to be the secret code of the Ge family, he said he would not read it, but in fact he had always kept it in his sleeve, and occasionally glanced at it.
These untalented dandies obtained various rare copies of algebraic and geometric theories, some of which were the second volume, and some of which were the third volume. After they had put together several sets by adjusting them from each other, they decided to find a printing house to print the books and distribute them to make their ancestor Mr. Ge famous.
This business was undoubtedly taken over by Lu Sanlang, who promised to write the name of the printer for everyone.
As for Zhang Shou...it is one thing for the playboys to admit that he is a teacher with a pinch of their noses, but it is another thing to take the initiative to promote his name.
They are still holding their breath as to whether his engagement with Zhu Ying is true or not!
Of course, although staying would definitely bring limited gains, they didn't want to leave yet... As disciples of Ge, they had to stay in front of their teacher for a while.
Therefore, during that night of long one-on-one conversation, the six people who had seen Zhang Shou's true face and did not feel deceived at all felt that they had become the most transcendent group of people in the Cuiyun Room.
Especially Zhang Wu, who was the first to come to Zhang Shou the night before, had a strong feeling that everyone was drunk but he was the only one sober, so that he even gave up the job of Zhang Chen's follower, which he once thought was infinitely wonderful. When Qi Liang was sent away by Zhang Shou to take the provincial examination, he wanted to take his place, so even though he couldn't understand some of the business plans Zhang Shou gave him at first, he still tried his best to learn them.
Zhang Shou, on the other hand, had some free time.
In the past three years, since he could not leave the village, he studied farming, improved the food, taught the children, and took notes of some books he remembered when he had nothing to do. Because he did not dare to guarantee how long this kind of welfare treatment for a person with outstanding memory could last.
Now, he distributed a bunch of books like a gift pack for beginners, and he said irresponsibly that he would not give a big class for the time being, and everyone should read the books first and ask questions if they didn't understand. As for himself, since Zhu Ying asked for two horses from the Duke of Zhao's mansion, he also got one to practice horsemanship. It was a very docile mount, and after a few days, he had no problem riding it slowly.
The peaceful days passed one by one, the weather was getting cooler, and the renovation of the houses in the village was almost completed. The large bamboo houses in Cuiyun, which were originally elegant but had unsatisfactory cold-proof and warm-keeping functions, were also completely renovated after the playboy hired villagers to help. The outside still looked like bamboo, but the inside... anyway, it fully reflected the different financial conditions of each family.
The most luxurious Qingfeng Xulai Hall was naturally empty and was only opened during lectures. On weekdays, Zhang Shou would go there to answer questions and solve problems for people during the day, and return to the Zhang family mansion as usual in the evening.
This day was August 14th. If it were in the past, Zhang Shou would not have any feelings about tomorrow's day. But this time, sitting in Qingfeng Xulai Hall, without his most familiar Qi Liang, he began to think about it unconsciously in his free time.
"Born on the same day of the same month of the same year... In other words, we have the same birthday on August 15? Is the lady of the Duke Zhao's mansion so careless that she didn't even come to pick up her granddaughter on her birthday? Besides, Zhu Yu has been sent to the Shuntian government office for half a month, right? How come there's no news of any kind?"
"Ah Shou!" Following this cheerful voice, Zhang Shou couldn't help but look up, and saw a figure happily opening the bamboo curtain to come in. In this country weather that was already getting chilly, she was wearing an extremely bright orange dress, which made her skin look as white as snow, as if she had brought the sun and warmth into this house where the furnishings and walls were all green and cool.
"Oh, our distinguished guest from Rongshui Village is here!" Zhang Shou blurted out a witty remark with a smile, but that was also the truth.
Since the day Ge Yong left, Zhu Ying rarely came to Cuiyun House, and spent most of her time wandering around the village. She once supervised the children to recite poems and the Nine-Nine Songs, and the winners were awarded stationery and clothes; she also generously lent out the first 100 taels of silver, and lent out another 500 taels of silver in the second installment; she also visited the silkworm house and the loom room, and she didn't think it was dirty at all...
In short, Miss Zhu has now become the most popular guest in Rongshui Village.
Zhu Ying snorted lightly, ignoring Zhang Shou's teasing. As soon as she came in and looked around, she laughed and said, "Those guys actually spent so much money in Qingfeng Xulai Hall, and they spared no effort to please Grandpa Ge!"
"Haha, anyway, I'll be at the Shuibobuxing Pavilion during the renovation days. As long as they are happy!" Zhang Shou said as he thought to himself that he would never tell anyone that Ge Yong's short stay as a hermit here was a complete tragedy.
Zhu Ying just sighed casually. As she had a deep feeling for garden houses, she naturally looked down on the views of a group of playboys. In fact, even in Cuiyun Room, she was more interested in the panda screen wall in front of the door. She only loved the bamboo houses inside because of Zhang Shou. Now that certain things were revealed, she just found it funny every time she thought about the origin of this group of bamboo houses.
After laughing, she said directly: "A Shou, tomorrow is our birthday. Grandma sent longevity noodles! Some for me, some for you, and some for birthday peaches. There are sixteen for each of us, the size of a thumb, crystal clear, and very cute!"
Although Zhang Shou had a vague guess, he was still a little surprised: "On such an important day, the Madam really won't take you back?"
"I'm only sixteen, it's not a big day. Didn't I say I was sixteen more than a month before?"
Although she spoke confidently and as if nothing had happened, Zhu Ying's eyes still revealed a trace of anxiety: "Zhu Yu has been sent back for so many days, but there is no news from the Shuntian Prefecture Office in the capital. It's a dead end everywhere. When I asked about my father, my grandmother only said two words: stalemate; when I asked about my eldest brother, there were only two words: missing... It's so frustrating!"
Zhu Ying looked cheerful , but she couldn't let go of everything. Zhang Shou was silent for a moment, and finally said softly: "Sometimes, no news may not be the best news. I once heard you say to Zhu Gongquan in the carriage that your father might not be faking defeat, and your brother might not be unable to return with merit. So, think more about the good things and make a wish tomorrow by lighting a lotus lantern!"
"You still believe this!" Zhu Ying finally burst out laughing again, "I stopped believing in lighting lanterns and making wishes , because someone stepped on my lotus lantern that hadn't even been put into the water yet, and then sarcastically said that I would have bad luck for the next year. I was so angry that I threw a stone at her lotus lantern. If I have bad luck, then she should have it with me!"
Zhang Shou couldn't help but wipe his sweat: "Who is so stubborn that he wants to make things difficult for you?"
"Who else could it be? Princess Yongping! She and I have the same birthday, and she thinks she's a princess so she always wants to bully me. But the Queen Mother and the Emperor always help me, so she can only resort to dirty tricks! I'm pretty good with the other princesses, but I hate her the most. She's always so weak and timid, and she's the one who spreads a lot of bad things about me!"
Although Zhang Shou was somewhat curious about the inner court, he knew it was not appropriate to continue to inquire. So, he could only cough heavily and change the subject by force: "If you don't believe it, then don't light it. Mother likes this the most. She lights lanterns every year on her birthday and keeps saying that she hopes I will live a hundred years. Anyway, I'm not really interested..."
"It's also good to just have fun." Zhu Ying rolled her eyes and said with a smile, "In previous years, I set off lanterns with annoying people like Princess Yongping. How can I compare this year with you? But I have also set off those beautiful lotus lanterns in the palace. They are boring. I think we should just make lanterns ourselves with bamboo tubes. It will be more interesting this way!"
Zhang Shou was still thinking about how to make the lotus lantern, and when he heard Zhu Ying take the initiative to reduce the difficulty, he immediately agreed. However, when he saw Zhu Ying off happily and walked out of Qingfeng Xulai Hall, he saw Zhu Hong pacing back and forth at the door, obviously having been waiting for a while. Seeing him coming out, he hesitated for a while before approaching.
"Miss, Mr. Shou." After bowing solemnly, he said in a deep voice, "There was a riot in the Linhai camp of the Tianjin Patrol Department. Twelve officers were killed. Although the Zhenhai camp was dispatched to suppress it, hundreds of people escaped from the camp. It is said that the rebel army is heading straight for the capital. The suburbs may not be safe. Miss and Mr. Shou had better leave for the capital immediately to take shelter."
Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying thought of the same question almost at the same time.
This is great, the sky is falling with chaos...
