The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Daya received the letter in advance and had already arranged for Donkey Dan to wait at the dock. As soon as Zhang Pingan and others got off the boat, Donkey Dan kept waving to them.

"Grandpa, grandma, uncle, Xiaoyuer, I'm here!"

"Daya is so careful in her work. In fact, we have so many servants following us, so why does the child have to make another trip?" Although Xu complained, she was actually very happy in her heart.

"Big cousin!" Xiao Yuer sat in his father's arms, waving his hands and calling out crisply, "It's been a long time since we last met. I miss you, and cousin Maodan and the others."

"It's not a long time at all. It's not even a month yet!" Donkey Egg tapped Xiao Yu'er's forehead and said teasingly.

"Don't hit me!" Xiao Yuer covered his forehead angrily.

"Okay, stop making trouble!" Zhang Ping'an hugged his son and rocked him up and down, saying with a gentle smile, "Donkey Egg, thank you for your hard work. Are you all settled in Beijing now?"

"It's settled!" Donkey Egg nodded.

Then he said with a pained look, "Uncle, let me tell you, houses in the capital are really expensive, whether you buy or rent them. Originally, according to Dad's rank, he could have been allocated three official residences, which is enough for our family to live in. Living there doesn't cost money, and the location is convenient. However, we have to return it to the government when we leave office.

But my mother said that the capital would become more and more prosperous, and houses would only become more and more expensive, so it would be better to buy it as soon as possible to put an end to a worry. This way, it would be convenient for me and Maodan to live in after we get married and have children, and if our uncles and other relatives come to the capital, they will have a place to stay. So we bought a small house with two entrances at the end of Dutang Lane in the east of the city, and we emptied out all our family savings to buy it.

"Dutang Lane? What a good location. Your mother has good taste!" Zhang Ping'an praised.

The location of Dutang Lane is comparable to that of Zhuque Lane. Both are not far from the imperial city and are inhabited by dignitaries. Such houses cannot be bought with money alone; one must also hold an official position.

Living here is a status symbol.

Even if you don’t want to live there after you leave, it’s easy to sell because the supply is in short supply.

"My mother's vision is absolutely impeccable. She thinks long-term. She thinks that Dad is now a fourth-rank official after all, and he can't live too poorly, and he can't live with those peddlers who go from street to street. It's not a good look. The people living on the street above Dutang Lane are all Dad's colleagues in the court. Not only is it safe, but it will also be convenient for them to make friends in the future. After all, Maodan and Zhuzhu are grown up and at the age of marriage. It will not work without connections," Donkey Egg explained as they walked.

This is also why my family members support buying this place, they can see this clearly.

Then he thought of something and added, "Oh, by the way, I have to thank your classmate Mr. Zhao for this. If it weren't for him, mother wouldn't be able to get this house."

"There is such a thing. Such an expensive house requires robbery?" Xu couldn't help but said in surprise.

"Grandma, you don't know that Dutang Lane is in a very good location. It is truly under the feet of the emperor. But you also know something about our family's financial situation. We are not wealthy, so we cannot afford a very big house. A house like this with a good location and the right size is really hard to come by. It is not an exaggeration to say that we have to rob it," Donkey Egg smiled helplessly.

When they were in their hometown, their family members were praised and admired wherever they went, and even the county magistrate was courteous to them. But when they arrived in the capital, they found that a fourth-rank military officer was nothing, especially now that peace was gradually coming to the country, and there were so many high-ranking officials in the capital!

"Okay, Dad and Mom, we're tired from the boat ride. Let's get in the car first and talk about it when we get home. My eldest sister must have been waiting for us for a long time." After saying that, Zhang Ping'an told the driver to go directly back to Zhuque Lane.

I have to say, having a house saves me a lot of trouble, as I don’t have to hang around the post station.

When passing through the city, Zhang Ping'an discovered that there were indeed more and more people in the capital, and more and more people were doing business, which was similar to the situation in Yangzhou.

At this rate, it is estimated that within ten years, the capital will be able to regain its former prosperity.

When we almost reached Zhuque Lane, all the shops and stalls were gone and it was very quiet!

The streets are wide and clean, and can accommodate three carriages running side by side. The gates, walls and thresholds of each household are also a bit higher. There are also stone beasts at the door to protect the house. The materials used are more exquisite and luxurious, and it is obvious that this is a wealthy family.

The same was true of the house Zhang Ping'an was given. There were two majestic stone lions at the door, which was very impressive. Although it only had three courtyards, it covered an area of ​​about one and a half acres, which was rare in this land-scarce location. It was said that it was once the residence of a minister of the previous dynasty.

It was still early at this time, and Daya was directing the servants' work in an orderly manner.

Seeing Zhang Pingan and the others arrive, he hurried forward and said with a smile: "I calculated that we would arrive at this time, and it turned out to be right. You must be tired after the journey. Get off the car and have a rest. The house has been cleaned and the food is ready."

"Thank you, big sister!" Zhang Ping'an thanked with a smile, then ordered Chi Bao to take the other servants to pack the luggage.

After looking around, he asked, "By the way, where's Xiaohu? Why can't I see him?"

"He has gone out to buy things with the servants. You know what, he has been doing a pretty good job of looking after the house here for a few months," Daya praised.

"That's good. Xiaohu has been a well-behaved child since he was young." Mrs. Xu was very satisfied after hearing this.

After sitting down and drinking a bowl of hot tea, I finally felt comfortable. I no longer had to be tossed around on the boat or in the car, and I felt much more energetic.

"Yes, after all, they are family," Daya nodded, then sat down and talked to the others: "Dad, Mom, little brother, you all heard what Donkey Egg said, my family has also bought a house in the capital. Although it is much smaller than my house in Zhuque Lane, it is still a home after all, and the location is not bad. You guys missed the housewarming party before, so why don't you all go to my house tonight for dinner, go together to warm up the house and have some fun."

"Of course, we must go and make up for the housewarming ceremony," Zhang Pingan replied with a smile.

"Okay, let your brother-in-law accompany you for a few drinks tonight. He has been looking forward to your arrival. By the way, you still owe Zhao Renzhi a favor when you bought the house, so remember to pay him back."

"My brother-in-law and I have a good relationship with Zhao Renzhi. We can just invite him for a drink when the time comes. This is how it is in official circles. There is a lot of back and forth, and he will eventually need us." Zhang Pingan didn't care too much. Favors can be repaid at any time, but sometimes it is not good to be too clear-cut, as it seems distant.

"Okay, as long as you know what's going on. Your brother-in-law is a rough guy. You still need to teach him more about the ways of the world." After Daya finished her instructions, she accompanied Xu and Zhang Laoer to talk.

He also asked about Liu Ya's situation in Yangzhou.

She felt relieved knowing that Liu Ya was doing well.

When Xiaohu came back, he quickly ordered the servants to set the table, "The food on the road is not as good as the food at home. You all have lost a lot of weight, especially Xiaoyuer. Come on, eat. We can talk after you finish eating."

Xiaohu has grown a lot taller because he has been eating well with Zhang Ping'an. Also, because he has been helping the housekeeper for some time, he looks like a young man now. After dinner, he would run around and was very tactful.

Zhang Pingan was secretly satisfied.

However, he kept Xiaohu by his side not just to help serve tea and run errands, he had plenty of servants like that.

Later on, he will continue to train Xiaohu, let him be independent like a full-fledged person, and be his right-hand man.