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

The family was chatting and laughing, and were discussing going to Dutang Lane, when the neighbors on both sides suddenly sent servants over to deliver gifts, saying that they had learned that Lord Zhang had returned to Beijing and had come to visit specially.

This is also an unwritten rule. The gifts for meeting someone are mainly some snacks, flowers, calligraphy and paintings and other things that can be used at home. They are not too expensive and are just to express an attitude of wanting to make friends.

Daya's family had encountered this before when they moved to Dutang Lane, and were no longer surprised. So they told Xiaohu to accept it and return the gift quickly.

"It is very necessary to maintain good relations with neighbors. Reciprocity is the norm. Xiaohu, remember to return the gifts. Return gifts of similar value. Don't be negligent," Zhang Pingan reminded.

"I understand!" Xiaohu nodded. During the past few months in the capital, he had already found out the backgrounds and identities of his neighbors in several nearby alleys, as well as their official positions. This also saved Zhang Pingan a lot of trouble.

After Xiaohu left, Daya sighed in her heart that it was really inconvenient to have no hostess in this house.

When Xu asked about it, Daya didn't mention it, but only expressed another layer of worry. "I only realized after arriving in the capital that living in a big city is really not easy. I spent several thousand taels to buy a house, not to mention the cost of socializing with neighbors. There are also occasional flower viewing banquets and temples to burn incense. I have to buy clothes and jewelry, and pay for incense. The vendors outside look at us looking glamorous, but they are actually calculating. I'm afraid I can't support it with Sanlang's salary!"

"My elder brother-in-law is a military officer. He is an honest person. There is not much benefit in his position. In my opinion, you still have to find a way to make money. For example, the wealthy families in the capital, do you think they rely entirely on salaries? They would have starved to death long ago. Most of them have set up businesses outside." Zhang Ping'an understood what his elder sister said.

This is also one of the common problems encountered by middle and lower-level officials with weak foundations in the capital.

Even Su Shi's younger brother Su Zhe rented a house in Bianliang for decades, and only bought a house in a remote outer city in his later years. This shows that the words "living in a big house is not easy" are not just talk.

Moreover, "It's only the early days of the founding of the country. People are still relatively sensible and simple. Wait another 10 or 20 years and you'll see that the trend of competing for extravagance will definitely be far greater than it is now, and housing prices will only be higher. Houses like those in Dutang Lane and Zhuque Lane will be out of stock."

Daya pondered over what she said. "Little brother, I've considered what you said, but my family only ran a butcher shop before, and we don't have much experience in other things. I really don't know where to start. We don't have much capital to begin with, and the marriages of your nephews and nieces are just around the corner. We don't have enough money anywhere, so we dare not act rashly!"

"In fact, the only businesses we can do that are both profitable and respectable are gold and silver jewelry, rouge and powder, clothing fabrics, restaurants and inns. Think ahead and find a good location and source of goods. Business is not difficult to do nowadays. If you are short of capital, I can lend it to you first. Anyway, the money is just there anyway."

"Okay, let me think about it carefully. Let's not talk about it for now. Let's go to my house and take a look. The house is a little small, but it's really nice. Although it is small, it has everything," Daya stood up and said excitedly.

They finally settled down in the capital. Thinking back to their previous life in their hometown, it really felt like a dream in comparison.

Going south from Zhuque Lane and around one street, you will reach Dutang Lane. Although it is a small house with only a waiter inside, it has everything you need.

The first courtyard has a gatehouse, hall, and side rooms, while the second courtyard has a second set of halls, side rooms, bedrooms, gardens, etc., covering an area of ​​about half an acre. It can be said that a family can live very comfortably and entertain guests decently.

Daya smiled proudly and said, "It can't compare with your third grade, but it's not bad either. In short, I am satisfied."

"Very good," Zhang Laoer praised, turning his hands behind his back.

"It's really nice and well maintained. It's not easy for you to buy such a good house in a hurry. If you keep it for ten years, the price will at least double." Zhang Pingan commented.

"Well, no matter how much the price goes up, we're not going to sell it anyway. If we have money in the future, we'll buy a better one. If we don't have money, it's fine to live here for the rest of our lives," Daya was very content.

"Grandpa, grandma, uncle, Xiaoyuer, you are finally here. I have been waiting for you for a long time!" Zhuzhu came out of the room holding up her skirt and greeted them with a smile.

Now she is a grown-up girl in her teens, and will soon reach the age of hair. Daya does not allow her to go out often and is worried about her marriage.

Zhuzhu was very happy to see her grandfather and his family coming.

"Cousin Zhuzhu, what are you doing in your room?" Xiaoyuer asked curiously.

Zhuzhu glanced at her own mother and muttered, "It's your aunt who forced me to do needlework and even pricked my hands!"

Daya shook her head and laughed angrily: "Who am I doing this for? It's so that you can marry into a good family. A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. You are not a talented woman, so you have to take care of the household. The family you marry into in the future can't be an ordinary family. There must be someone with some official position in the family. If you don't know anything, how can you succeed!"

"Oh, Mom, I didn't say I wouldn't learn. My uncles are here!" Zhuzhu quickly hugged her mother's arm and said coquettishly.

Mrs. Xu was a little dazed: "Zhuzhu is getting married in the blink of an eye. It's so fast!"

"Yes, it's not fast. I don't worry about Donkey Egg and Cat Egg, but I'm worried about Zhuzhu's marriage. She's not going to marry someone high enough or low enough. I'm really afraid of delaying her marriage." Daya was worried when she talked about this.

Xu agreed with this. "A girl's blooming period is short. Don't be too picky or you'll miss out. Almost is enough. No one is perfect."

Time passed quickly when the family got together. When Liu Sanlang came back from his shift, he brought some fruit wood roast ducks as a snack for everyone.

"Oh, don't spend money in the future. The servants at home have already prepared it." Although Zhang Laoer doesn't talk much, he knows from what Daya said today that his son-in-law's family is not well off now and wants to save as much as possible.

Liu Sanlang still looked naive and agreed obediently.

The women and children ate the dishes, and roast duck became the most popular dish.

Liu Sanlang accompanied Zhang Ping'an and his son to drink.

"How's your work going lately? Is everything going well?" Zhang Laoer asked with concern.