The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 74

Xu Tian also stood up, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes as he looked at Meiniang: "Meiniang, are you sure you're okay? If you need any help, just let us know."

Mei Niang smiled gratefully: "My lords, there's really no need. I'll handle it. You can stay here and enjoy this rare moment of peace."

After saying that, she turned and walked downstairs, her steps firm and composed.

Du Erlang and Xu Tian exchanged a glance. Although they were still somewhat worried, they could only trust Meiniang's words.

However, Xu Tian had absolutely no liking for this kind of place, so he suggested that they go back first.

Du Erlang also felt that since he had brought Xu Tian out to play today, he had no choice but to go back first since he hadn't had enough fun.

After making a scene for two hours, Xu Tian felt tired and decided not to go to the factory again today.

After he returned, he accompanied Du Erlang and Uncle Du in the back living room to talk and learned the origin of the matter.

Du Dalang failed the imperial examination last time and planned to work for the government after returning home, so his family began to make plans for him.

Since the goal is to enter the government, it's natural to want to be as close as possible to important figures; everyone understands the principle that proximity is key to success.

Everyone knows who the most powerful figure in the officialdom of Dingxiang City is right now. It is none other than Li Su, the Jiedushi and Prefect who holds the highest official position and is currently enjoying great influence.

Li Su's merit in pacifying Cai Prefecture cemented his place in history; he was a truly capable figure. With the world still unsettled, working for him offered a bright future. With even a little credit, promotion was a natural progression, and his rise through the ranks was swift.

A direct visit to the military governor is not feasible for the Du family given their current status and position. They must find another way, through an introduction from Li Su's subordinates. Anyone with a bit of influence knows that Zheng Zhu is the most influential person under Li Su these past few months.

For this reason, the Du family managed to establish contact with Zheng Zhu with a little effort.

This also shows that although Zheng Zhu is currently popular, he doesn't actually have any real identity or status. Therefore, the cost of spending money on him will not be too high, and the potential risks are relatively small.

However, Zheng Zhu was no pushover; to get his help, they naturally had to offer something in return. The Du family racked their brains trying to figure out what kind of benefits would motivate Zheng Zhu to work wholeheartedly.

At a family meeting within the Du family, Du Dalang proposed to give up his share of Hua Zilou's profits. This gift was no small matter; unlike ordinary one-off deals, Hua Zilou's profits would generate tens of strings of cash every month, a stable and steady stream of income.

However, as a scholar, Du Dalang was inevitably arrogant. As he had said before, he looked down on the restaurant business, which was considered lowly and involved serving people, and believed it would damage his family's reputation. He then had the idea of ​​taking the opportunity to sever ties with the business.

Du Dalang's proposal was met with both support and strong opposition within the family, so no decision was ultimately reached.

Before the family had reached a decision, Du Dalang took forceful action and, with the help of some people, obtained the contract that had been signed to establish the fait accompli, but in the end, he failed due to Xu Tian's counterattack.