Chapter 597: Fellow Villager Zhang
In the afternoon, Sun Shan brought Gui Ge'er and some Jinling specialties to visit his fellow villager Zhang Zhubo.
When Chief Clerk Zhang saw him, like fellow villagers meeting each other, his eyes were filled with tears.
Seeing Sun Shan's Jinling specialties, he was even more delighted and said, "Mr. Sun, you are so thoughtful. You traveled across mountains and rivers to bring me Jinling specialties. You are so kind to me."
Zhang Zhubo then introduced his youngest son to Sun Shan, Zhang Erlang, who was said to have cheated in school and allowed Sun Shan to enter the examination room early.
Seeing him this time felt unreal.
Zhang Erlang greeted Sun Shan warmly, blew on the water a few times, and then went out to work.
Zhang Zhubo said: "My second son works at the Daohuisi. He is a loser, unlike Mr. Sun, who passed the imperial examination and became a juren."
Sun Shan was stunned. He didn't expect Zhang Erlang to work in the Taoist Association. But then he thought, this is a good job. It's quite leisurely.
The so-called Taoist Association is actually responsible for Taoist affairs, which is equivalent to the Religious Affairs Committee.
Sun Shan smiled and said, "Uncle, don't call me Juren Juren, just call me Ashan. We are locals in Huangyang County and we are fellow villagers."
Seeing that Sun Shan was not shy, Zhang Zhubo said happily, "Okay, I'll call you Ah Shan. By the way, Ah Shan, tell me about the examination this time. I heard from others that you didn't take part in the examination. Is that true or false?"
Sun Shan never thought that Chief Clerk Zhang cared about him so much and paid so much attention to his movements.
He explained: "Uncle, I did not take part in the examination this time."
Sun Shan changed the story of poisoning into one of a serious illness caused by the unfamiliar climate and climate. He was unable to move forward when he reached Nanjing, so he missed the imperial examination.
After hearing this, Zhang Zhubo said with regret and pity: "Alas, it's a pity that you died halfway. You suffered. How is your health now? Will you continue to go to Beijing to take the exam in two years?"
Zhang Zhubo and Sun Shan have no conflict of interest, but rather overlapping interests. They are both natives of Huangyang County and also scholars in Huangyang County. He hopes that a capable person will emerge in Huangyang County.
If Huangyang County encounters any situation, there will be someone to make the decision.
For example, if Huangyang County encounters a disaster and needs assistance, if there is a promising person in Huangyang County in the provincial capital, then relief funds can be easily allocated.
It is very important to have someone speak in the court.
Chief Clerk Zhang hopes that his fellow villager will have a bright future so that he can take him with him.
Fellow villagers have a fellow-township friendship and are rooted in each other's roots.
Sun Shan nodded and said, "I feel much better now. I will definitely attend the next meeting. I hope everything goes well then."
Zhang Zhubo said quickly: "It will definitely go smoothly, don't worry too much. In the next few days, you should recuperate and gather your strength, and make a big splash in the capital."
Sun Shan and Zhang Zhubo chatted about some matters in Nanjing, and finally turned to the situation in Huangyang County.
He frowned and said, "Uncle, what happened to Huangyang County? I came out for tea yesterday and saw a group of idlers, cursing and swearing, saying they lost the bet and wanted to sell their children to gamble. When did our Huangyang County become like this?"
Sun Shan made up the story about selling children and daughters. He exaggerated it just to bring up a new topic.
I hope to get some useful information from Mr. Zhang.
Speaking of gambling houses, Zhang Zhubo's face really changed, and he said anxiously, "What? Some people actually sell their children to gamble. Oh, what a sin."
He kept talking about how this casino was opened half a year ago. As soon as it opened, it attracted many people to gamble, making Huangyang County a chaotic place.
He also said that it was fortunate that his two boys were not willing to go to such places.
There is no good ending for being a gambler.
Sun Shan's eyes rolled around, and he asked curiously, "Uncle, I heard that this gambling house was opened by Lord Tang. Is that true?"
Speaking of Lord Tang, Chief Clerk Zhang became even angrier. He snorted coldly, looked around, and found that there was no one there except his fellow villager Sun Shan.
So he said, "It was his brother-in-law who opened it. Hum, it's still him who opened it, but he just wasn't that straightforward."
Sun Shan asked Chief Clerk Zhang a lot about Lord Tang. It turned out that it was easier to get things done if you had connections in the court, and Chief Clerk Zhang's first-hand information was more accurate.
Sun Shan knew a lot about Mr. Tang.
Zhang Zhubo said angrily: "Now those outsiders are united and exclude us locals. Oh, it's hard for me to work in the county government. Who said I'm the only local. When Lord Wei was here, I felt excluded. After Lord Wei left, Lord Tang came, and I was even more afraid of being excluded. Those people were bought by Lord Tang in an instant and did whatever they wanted. Humph. They got a lot of benefits by selling the government's land."
Zhang Zhubo kept talking to Sun Shan, and it was unclear whether he had no one to talk to about his troubles with or whether he just treated Sun Shan as his own.
Of course, 80% of the talk was about how they were excluded by the outsiders, how the locals were not united, and how no one could take the lead.
Finally, he advised Sun Shan to study hard and strive to pass the imperial examination. That way, someone from Huangyang County would have a promising future.
Sun Shan quickly agreed, and vowed that he would do well in the exam and strive to become the first Jinshi in Huangyang County.
Because he got along so well with Zhang Zhubo, he even had a meal at Zhang's house.
Before leaving, Sun Shan said, "Uncle, when I get married, come and have a drink at my wedding."
Zhang Zhubo said happily: "Okay, okay, okay, I'll wait for the drink. Hehe, you are really capable. You married a young lady from an aristocratic family. You are the only one in Huangyang County."
The reason why Chief Clerk Zhang approached Sun Shan so enthusiastically.
Firstly, he is a successful candidate in the imperial examination; secondly, he is a native of the village; thirdly, there is a big tree behind him to provide shade.
His fiancée was the daughter of a third-rank official, and his cousin was a second-class Jinshi, working in the Hanlin Academy.
Sun Shan said goodbye to Zhang Zhubo and turned to the Hong family's residence.
Uncle Hong was very happy to see him. He smiled and said, "Shanzi, my uncle was talking about you yesterday. He said that you were in the county town and only came home once. I don't know if you disliked his nagging. I don't know what you have been busy with these days."
Sun Shan bought a few yellow peels from the street.
Pretending to be wronged, he said, "Uncle Hong, I am innocent. I have been visiting relatives these days. I don't have time, not because I don't want to come. I came here as soon as I was free today."
Pointing at the yellow tangerine peel, he said, "Look, I bought the tangerine peel that Master likes to eat the most. He shouldn't be angry because of the tangerine peel."
Uncle Hong happily ushered Sun Shan into the hall and told him to wash the yellow peel. Sun Shan, who drank the yellow peel lemon tea, went to find the master's wife and saw that she was doing needlework, so he went to help.
In fact, I didn't help much, just handed over the needle and thread.
The two sat in the yard and chatted about this and that.
The master's wife is already old, but she still complains about her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Hong.
It is said that she is the happiest daughter-in-law, as she does not have to serve her parents-in-law and can be the only one in power in Zhangzhou Prefecture.
What could Sun Shan say? He could only respond with "hmm" and "oh" sounds.
There have been conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the past, there are conflicts now, and there will be conflicts in the future.
How could Sun Shan have the ability to solve this eternal problem?