Chapter 33 33 Tensions are at stake
Blessings arrive on the second day of the first lunar month: Firecrackers for the New Year; Reunion dinner, delicious; Reunion brings joy; Family happiness brings good fortune; Peace talisman, family cover; Lucky lottery , all drawn; in the new year, all the best!
"Mr. Zeng, there is really nothing we can do about the store. Mr. Zhang insists on going upstairs. There is really nothing we can do about it."
At this moment, the shopkeeper has quickly arrived at the wine table. Before that, he carefully told Zeng Yuanshu the situation. After all, they were occupying the third floor today, but he couldn't hold Young Master Zhang steady.
Zeng Yuanshu heard the arrogant voice downstairs early in the morning. Not many people in Pengze County dared to deny him face like this, and one came downstairs.
Looking at the Xiangyun girl with a pale face, Zeng Yuanshu knew that in fact they had just suffered a disaster in the fish pond, but he did not expect that this person who was so busy celebrating the New Year would not stop bickering and fighting. , but now that the New Year has not even ended, I’m looking for a place again.
“Let them come up.”
Zeng Yuanshu didn’t want to make things difficult for the people in Jingshui Tower. This was not his style.
Over there, Wei Guangde also knew who was coming after Wu Dong explained in a low voice. He was also a famous family in Zepeng County.
The three major families in Zepeng County, Zeng Chen and Zhang, this Zhang Haochu is now the eldest brother of the younger generation of the Zhang family. He usually acts arrogantly, but he does not do anything to bully his neighbors. He met Zeng Yuanshu, Although we can't say that we have a good relationship, we can at least nod our heads, and we still have a decent relationship.
However, the bad relationship between the two has only happened in the past two years. They are both scholars, so they naturally compete for fame.
The last time they took part in the imperial examination, Zeng Yuanshu and Zhang Haochu both went. They were all happy when they passed the county examination, but things changed when they got to the government examination.
After the results of the government examination were announced, Zeng Yuanshu, Wu Dong and Ma Xiang all successfully passed the test and won Tong Sheng. However, Zhang Haochu, who had promised to capture Tong Sheng at the beginning, failed the examination.
Failure is also normal. More than 90% of candidates fail in every exam. In fact, everyone knows it.
But the bad thing is that the day before the results were released, when a dozen Zepeng students were discussing the exam questions, Zhang Haochu also ridiculed the articles written by Zeng Yuanshu and Wu Dong, thinking that they had no hope of taking the exam.
After the list was published the next day, Zhang Haochu, the young master, was very disappointed and left Jiujiang Fucheng without saying a word.
Normally, this matter ends here, but when Zeng Yuanshu, Wu Dong and others happily returned to Zepeng County, they learned that just two days ago, there were rumors in Zepeng County Rumors arose that they bribed the prefect's edict and obtained the qualifications for childbirth.
Such rumors spread quickly, and they were already spreading all over the place when they returned to Zepeng County.
In fact, the qualifications for childbirth in the Ming Dynasty were really worthless to be honest. They did not provide any preferential treatment. They were just the qualifications to participate in the college examination.
Generally speaking, local officials, that is, county magistrates and magistrates, will turn a blind eye during the county examination and let the children of local wealthy families pass smoothly, and will not deliberately impose thresholds.
Zhang Haochu probably thought that it was for this reason that he would pass the childbirth examination very smoothly. However, an accident happened unexpectedly. He did not follow common sense this time as the prefect of Jiujiang.
Zeng Yuanshu asked someone to investigate the source of the rumor, and soon discovered that the rumor was first spread by a servant of the Zhang family. It is hard to say whether it was the instruction of Zhang Haochu.
Everyone knows a lot of things. Children of big families generally won’t spread this rumor. After all, it involves the prefect. Although this is Zepeng, the prefect may not know what’s going on here. Son.
Of course Wu Dong and the others also told Zeng Yuan about this matter, but they couldn’t say much. They didn’t know whether it was Zhang Haochu who said it or his friends who wanted to please him. The servants heard it. I thought it was the truth about the young master’s failure.
Zeng Yuanshu also approached Zhang Haochu in private, but Zhang Haochu ignored him and joked that "if you are upright, you are not afraid of slanting shadows", which made Zeng Yuanshu angry to death.
There were even more rumors after that, and it was said that the college examination also bribed the joints, and the Jinke scholars would definitely win. It was also said that if they failed, it would be because the news was leaked, and they were afraid that they would not be able to escape the public opinion.
In short, it completely blocked Zeng Yuanshu's path to the college entrance examination. No matter whether they passed or failed, they couldn't escape from cheating.
The conflict between the two parties finally broke out after Zeng Yuanshu and others failed the college entrance examination. The two groups met unexpectedly in a restaurant in Zepeng County. Several people finally got into a fight.
Fortunately, the few scholars are used to being domineering, and their fighting ability is indeed not very good. Although they have bruises and swelling, they are not serious, just skin injuries.
After that, the number of followers when the two went out increased rapidly, and they almost always had a big fight when they met.
As for the elders of the two families, they did not come forward on this issue. They seemed to want to test the abilities of the younger ones. This is what Wei Guangde guessed. Anyway, he knew that he had done something before.
Wei Guangde glanced at his cousin. This was the future Lord of Qianhu, but he actually had no fighting ability at all. It was hard to say.
"They are fighting like this, and the county magistrate doesn't care?"
Wei Guangde was surprised and asked in a low voice.
"It doesn't matter. If you don't raise your name, you won't be punished.
If you break something, you will be compensated. Whoever sues the official, as long as no one is killed, everything will be fine."
Wu Dong whispered to Wei Guangde: " Our county magistrate is a true gentleman who practices the way of a gentleman. What he preaches under his rule is inaction. As for governance, if you want to sue the official, you should go back to the village to mediate.
If you really want to sue the official, just give him a slap in the face first.
In their eyes, those who cause trouble are unruly people, disobedient to the king, and devoid of etiquette and humility in their hearts.”
Hearing what his cousin said, Wei Guangde felt speechless.
"What should we do if there are disputes in the county now? Solve them privately?"
"Of course, in the end, it depends on who has the bigger fists and stronger background.
I listen Saying that our county’s one-year lawsuit is not If there are more than ten, it will be reported that the county has good governance and the local people are gentle and live in peace and contentment. Anyway, we in Zepeng County don’t pick up things on the road and don’t close our doors at night.”
Wu Dong himself laughed when he said this. .
Now the Zeng family and the Zhang family almost have a fight every month. Sometimes he would ask his followers to help him when they met. His followers were all generals raised by Wu Qianhu and were good at fighting.
"The Chinese New Year celebrations are still going on. Will there be a fight today?"
Wei Guangde asked in a low voice.
When he said this, the eldest brother Wei Wencai's eyes were already shining.
"Normally, there should be a fight."
Wu Dong's answer made Wei Guangde feel speechless, and it seemed that he was also a little eager to try.
While he was talking, people had already come up. Not only Zhang Haochu and a group of friends and followers around him, but also the people brought out by Zeng Yuanshu and Wu Dong, the entire third floor was full of people. .
But the shopkeeper of Jingshui Tower was wiping his sweat on the side, waiting for the next war.
Zeng Yuanshu didn't wait for Zhang Haochu to speak, he slapped the table with his right hand and stood up and said: "Zhang Haochu, I didn't teach you enough last time. You dare to come and ask for a beating when you are celebrating the New Year."
After saying this Then he turned to Madam Liu and Xiangyun and said, "You have nothing to do with us here. Go down."
Facing the two groups of people who were at war with each other, the people in Fanghua Building were already trembling with fear. When they heard Zeng Yuanshu's words, they hurriedly bowed to the two groups and fled downstairs.
(End of this chapter)