Rise From the Humble

People say that the setting sun is the end of the world, but when I look to the end of the world, I can’t see my home.

Zhu Ping'an sat on the top of the island, watching the sunset slowly sinking into the boundless sea. He couldn't help but feel melancholy in his heart. There was nothing but waves on the sea, no sails in sight, and he was far away from home. Everything else is fine, except that my mother, Mrs. Chen, might be worried after hearing the news.

However, the departure of the sunset is only a short separation, and it will come back tomorrow morning.

Don't worry, mother, your son will definitely come back.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the noisy Xiahe Village returned to quiet. Without the bride and groom, the wedding ceremony that the villagers loved was omitted. The entire wedding ended early, and the people who came to attend the Zhu family's wedding banquet also returned one after another. in their own homes.

After everyone dispersed, a group of five people appeared on the front street of Xiahe Village, walking towards Zhu Ping'an's house. They were Mr. Zhu, Mrs. Zhu, uncle Zhu Shouren, aunt and daughter-in-law Zhu Pingjun.

Almost as soon as the people dispersed, uncle Zhu Shouren led Mr. Zhu and the others over.

"Uncle, what are you doing here?" A villager who came back after helping Zhu Ping'an's family clean up the yard saw Mr. Zhu and the five of them and asked casually with some curiosity.

"Zhang Er, let's go help the second son's house clean up."

Uncle Zhu Shouren was wearing a jade-colored silk student uniform, which made him look more elegant. He raised his head and glanced sideways at the man. He spoke with the pride of a scholar, and his words sounded like a kind brother.

oh

The villager said oh, glanced at Mr. Zhu and the others, and walked over. After walking away for a while, the villager rolled his eyes heavily. He was disdainful of Zhu Shouren's words. If it was to help Zhu Ping'an's house clean up, then when the banquet was over, why did you run home so quickly? Waiting for us to clean up quickly and finish all the work, you then walked over slowly.

In addition, I feel that my uncle Zhu Shouren is too pretentious, and he is not even a scholar. He has such a high airs that he does not look at others seriously when he speaks. Ping'an Lang has already passed the top exam. When he came back to the village, he didn't take the initiative to say hello to anyone he met. He was always greeted by uncles and aunts. No one in the village saw Ping'an Lang put on airs.

There is also the Shouyi Family. They have become rich, but they haven’t shown off. The bridge in the village was built by the Shouyi Family. What a good family. In the past, the old Zhu family also relied on others to uphold justice and go to the mountains to hunt and work in the fields. They worked so hard. I don’t know what Mr. Zhu was thinking at the time. He almost asked the second family to clean up and leave the house!

Now look at the Shouyi family, the two big houses, and the livelihood of driving bullock carts, and they have another son who is the number one scholar.

I don’t know if Mr. Zhu’s intestines are green now.

Ping'anlang is a good boy. Thanks to the school and land rent reduction, the county government's corvee for Xiahe Village this year has been reduced by half compared to last year.

What a pity, hey, I hope God has eyes and Ping An is safe.

"Boss, I think this matter should be slowed down." Mr. Zhu was walking, suddenly stopped and looked at his uncle Zhu Shouren and said.

"Dad, we have agreed at home." Upon seeing this, the eldest aunt said anxiously.

"Why are you talking to dad?"

The eldest uncle Zhu Shouren scolded the eldest aunt. When he turned around, he blocked Mr. Zhu and Mrs. Zhu and gave the eldest aunt a look to signal her to be calm and calm.

"Dad, I also want to slow down, but I can't. In a few days, my son will go to take the hospital examination. If he misses the time, it will be too late. This time, his son is stable. Mr. Liu and the others have made a promise to his son. . When the son becomes a scholar, it will be too late. Before the son becomes a scholar, the government will not care if the land is added to his name. If the son has the title of scholar, he does not need to pay taxes. But after the son becomes a scholar, the land suddenly increases. With such a large amount of land, the government will check it, and if it is found to be in compliance with the law, you will be severely punished." After the eldest uncle Zhu Shouren finished lecturing his aunt, he turned to Mr. Zhu and explained.

"When the pig was elected, didn't many people donate land? Why didn't the government investigate?" Mr. Zhu hesitated.

"My father, if the pig is chosen to be a civil servant, of course the government won't investigate. The civil servants are all officials, and they are the same family as the government. Who dares to investigate. But my son, a scholar, will not be able to do it. When my son wins the civil prize, he will not be investigated. Of course, there is no need to worry about it later, but my son is a scholar." Uncle Zhu Shouren said with a bitter look on his face.

"Hey, it's all because of my son's incompetence. It would be great if my son could win the imperial examination earlier. In this way, even if the land of the second family does not need to be renamed, the son can protect the second family and not pay taxes." After saying this, the uncle Zhu Shouren was very happy. He sighed heavily with guilt.

"The boss is right. The second brother's family has so much land, and they didn't have to pay taxes when Shi'er was here. But now that Shi'er is gone, each family will probably have to have hundreds of taels of silver just to pay taxes." Mrs. Zhu nodded. He nodded, and then said with pain, "I can't do anything with a hundred taels of silver, so I handed it over in vain. Thank you."

"A hundred taels of silver" Mr. Zhu also felt a little sad.

"That's not all. Dad, you don't know what happened in the court recently. Last time, my son and some Nian brothers went to Anqing Mansion to meet Mr. Liu, but they heard about it. My son was afraid that you would be worried, so he never told you. "Uncle Zhu Shouren shook his head, as if there were some words he couldn't say.

"What did you hear?" Mr. Zhu's heart skipped a beat and he asked worriedly.

"Hey, you're confused." Uncle Zhu Shouren sighed heavily before he could say anything.

"What's wrong with the pig?" Mr. Zhu asked.

"She'er is confused. Hey, Dad, to tell you the truth, She'er got into trouble." Uncle Zhu Shouren shook his head and said with a heavy expression.

"What kind of trouble can a pig get into? Everyone is a pig now." Mr. Zhu's face turned a little pale.

"Dad, it was before Shi'er's accident. Hey, Shi'er was very knowledgeable, but he was still too young. He lacked experience and was easily deceived." Uncle Zhu Shouren sighed again.

"What's the matter?" Mr. Zhu was anxious.

"Now the news has spread. Before Xie'er's accident, he was sent a memorial. The memorial was to impeach a general who killed good people and took merit. He impeached a general for killing ordinary people and pretending to be an enemy to repay his merits." Uncle Zhu Shouren said with a heavy face.

"Xie'er did the right thing, this kind of person should play." Mr. Zhu was puzzled.

"Dad, you don't understand. He's been deceived by others. His general fought bloody battles on the front line. He didn't shy away from swords. He threw his head and blood to kill the enemy. The head he handed in even had a barbarian hairstyle. Well, how can you kill a good man and take credit for it? He is a real barbarian. The general was killing the enemy on the front line, but he listened to the slander and impeached the general. What do you think this is?" Uncle Zhu Shouren shook his head. said.

Mr. Zhu opened his mouth wide, trying to say something but unable to speak.

"When the general heard about it, he felt aggrieved. He took off his armor to reveal scars all over his body, and then he knelt before the criminal department to redress his grievances." Uncle Zhu Shouren sighed.

Mr. Zhu opened his mouth even wider.

"That's not all. Dad, do you know what this general's background is?" Uncle Zhu Shouren looked at Mr. Zhu and asked.

Mr. Zhu shook his head with a pale face.

"This general is the current Prime Minister, the current prime minister as we say, and a disciple of Yan Songyan's family!" When uncle Zhu Shouren spoke, he held his fists to the north with a look of awe.

"Ah" Mr. Zhu was frightened.

"This year there were two bold attempts to impeach Mr. Yan, both of whom were stripped of their official positions and imprisoned by the imperial court. Last year, a few were beheaded, which indirectly impeached Mr. Yan." Uncle Zhu Shouren continued.

"Decapitate." Mr. Zhu was completely frightened.

"No." Uncle Zhu Shouren nodded vigorously, and then continued, "You said that Xie'er was confused or not. Just the day before Xie'er's accident, the imperial court issued a special decree to Xie'er on this matter, and asked Xie'er to let him go. Let me go to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to make a statement."

"The Ministry of Punishment is under the supervision of Mr. Yan Ge, my father. How can Xie'er do well in the Ministry of Justice?" Uncle Zhu Shouren looked at Mr. Zhu's face, and then added, "What is Xie'er doing?" Gone, but the person is gone, but the family is still there. How many officials have nothing left after their homes are confiscated. Even if their homes are not confiscated, but the pig is gone, who can protect the second family, the other officials? Don’t flatter Mr. Yan, there are many ways to be an official, and some of them are clever. If you want to punish the second family, it is no better than confiscating the house."

Mr. Zhu was almost so frightened that he couldn't stand still.

"But if the land is transferred to the son's name, it will be different. The second son's family and our family are both separated, and they are registered with the county government. No matter what happens, our family will not be affected. This land can be Just saved it.”

"The son doesn't want the land from the second family. The land is only in the son's name. In fact, it belongs to the second family. He can save hundreds of taels of silver in taxes every year. What can't be done with hundreds of taels of silver? Why not give it to the second family every year? You and your mother will buy some clothes, eat well, and buy some good tobacco. It is enough to give your son only ten taels of silver every year to buy some pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. The rest of the money belongs to the second son’s family, and the son will not want a word. .Something happened, and the second child's family has a way out."

Uncle Zhu Shouren swore to heaven and said sincerely.

Mr. Zhu was persuaded by his uncle Zhu Shouren. He knocked the pipe pot vigorously, inserted it into his waist, and said one word, "Let's go."