Chapter 1019

Seeing Sheng Hong and Madam Wang emerge from behind the screen, Wang Yan, who had been sitting quietly for a long time, stood up to salute.

"Junior Wang Yan pays his respects to Uncle and Aunt."

Shamelessness is a basic quality for an official, but Sheng Hong had never seen such a thick-skinned person. Given the huge gap in status and strength, and the fact that he had offended them first, Wang Yan was calm and composed in this situation, not calling him "My Lord," but cheekily calling him "Uncle," forcefully pulling the relationship closer.

Although speechless, Sheng Hong still affirmed Wang Yan's shameless courage. After all, a considerable number of scholars couldn't even speak clearly when they saw him, a Tongpan. Wang Yan dared to tease his daughter on the street, dared to submit a card to visit, and now, seeing them in person, he wasn't the least bit intimidated; this kind of temperament is truly rare.

Sheng Hong, together with Madam Wang, looked him up and down before waving his hand: "Sit and speak."

After saying this, he and Madam Wang sat in the main seats, one on the left and one on the right, and Wang Yan sat back down in the lower seat.

"Teasing the legitimate daughter of the Sheng family on the street, Wang Yan, you have a lot of nerve."

"Not at all, not at all; Uncle, your words are mistaken. Junior was not teasing, but fell in love at first sight, admiring her so much I couldn't bear to part. I presume that what Junior said that day, Uncle, you have understood; those were Junior's heartfelt words. My parents died early, and there is no one to manage my marriage, and I am unwilling to marry some painted face; Junior has no choice but to take care of it myself."

"You have long had the reputation of a genius and are not lacking in good matches; why act like this on the street, and are you not afraid of being ridiculed?"

"Being ridiculed cannot hurt Junior in the slightest, but missing a good match would make Junior suffer for a lifetime. Which is light and which is heavy, Junior can still distinguish. Junior is not afraid of ridicule; what I fear is not being able to marry the person I love."

Sheng Hong sneered: "Just one meeting at the market, and you dare to talk about love?"

"Junior just said, it was love at first sight. Fate is wonderful; who can explain it clearly?" Wang Yan said with a smile, "Uncle, although Junior is not wealthy or noble, I have no worries about food and drink, and I am not one to cling to wealth. Junior took a fancy to your daughter first, and only then asked if she was betrothed. Even if she were the daughter of a tenant farmer, Junior would still come to propose. But to be honest, your daughter is beautiful and proper; an ordinary family could not raise such a girl."

"That is indeed the truth." Madam Wang added, very satisfied with Wang Yan's affirmation of Hualan.

Sheng Hong also nodded with a smile. After these few exchanges, he grasped that Wang Yan was a down-to-earth person, but not brainless. He was also handsome, tall, and upright, neither humble nor pushy; he already felt this person was quite good.

However, he certainly wouldn't end it just like that, and instead asked: "Do you know that I have recently been looking for a husband for Hualan? I will tell you the truth: the second legitimate son of the Zhongqin Earl Yuan family is about the same age as Hualan, and they intend to marry into our family. You are but a mere rural squire; how can you compare to the Zhongqin Earl's mansion?"

"Uncle is a capable official and understands the national policy of our Great Song best. The nobles privately engage in dirty and filthy dealings, lending money at high interest to plot against the people's land—what else can they achieve? They are but people who are strong on the outside but weak on the inside. Let alone the Zhongqin Earl, what of the Zhongqin Marquis or the Zhongqin Duke?"

Sheng Hong raised an eyebrow, expressed nothing clearly, and continued to ask: "I heard that you beat Hualan's attendants until they couldn't move with just two moves; are you skilled in martial arts?"

"I only know some fisticuffs; the purpose is merely to strengthen the body and invigorate the spirit, so as not to become a scholar who truly has no strength to truss a chicken. Moreover, in the future, when serving as an official, one cannot do without a good body. As for being skilled in martial arts, one must go to the north to see for oneself; paper talk harms others and oneself, so Junior dares not claim to be skilled in martial arts."

"It seems you are confident about passing the autumn examinations. Let me test you."

"Uncle, please set the questions." Wang Yan nodded with a smile, accepting everything.

Sheng Hong's questions went from shallow to deep, first asking some questions about the classics, and then extending from the classics to current affairs, examining Wang Yan's level of policy essay writing.

The classics were easy to talk about; they were all basic skills. But policy essays required time to think, and on-the-spot testing was a higher standard. However, for Wang Yan, it was truly effortless; the language was refined, and various allusions were filled within, shocking Sheng Hong so much that he tried his best to restrain his jaw-dropping, so as not to be looked down upon by Wang Yan.

After this, Sheng Hong asked Wang Yan, who was drinking tea: "As far as I know, you have always studied in government-run schools, have never been to an academy, and have never hired any famous teachers?"

"It's not that I didn't want to study and make friends at an academy; I had already signed up, but my parents suddenly fell ill, and Junior had to stay home to take care of them. Later, my parents died of illness, and Junior was heartbroken, and someone plotted against my family business; that is why I didn't go to the academy. Fortunately, I had some good friends who cared for me, sending me some of the master's lecture notes for me to copy; after several years, I have gained some insights."

"Junior, you are truly divinely endowed, especially that calligraphy; it truly captures the creation of heaven and earth."

Sheng Hong also began to be shameless. Yesterday's background check and today's face-to-face exchange confirmed Wang Yan's level. He truly judged Wang Yan to be an extremely high-quality potential stock, so now he began to release goodwill; he didn't want to miss this good opportunity.

Just as he had previously told Madam Wang, Wang Yan would undoubtedly pass the Jinshi examination; it was only a matter of time. But if he really waited for Wang Yan to pass the Jinshi examination, then it would have nothing to do with the Sheng family.

It was like back then, when he only went to the Wang family to propose after he had passed the Jinshi examination, marrying Madam Wang; he wouldn't have gone to find a small Tongpan. Because if they couldn't provide political assistance, they were useless.

From this point, it can be proven that Wang Yan truly took a fancy to Hualan. Otherwise, if he just waited another two or three years, what kind of girl couldn't he find? Why run to the Sheng family to look at their faces?

In this way, Sheng Hong can get a good reputation for having a discerning eye and being open-minded, and it can fulfill the beautiful story of Wang Yan and Hualan; it's a very good thing.

There are certainly risks, but they are basically equal to zero.

The "Junior" had already come up; how could Wang Yan not understand? Sheng Hong had basically agreed, and was waiting for him to express himself.

Wang Yan said with a smile: "Then my affair with your daughter can be considered settled. After the autumn examinations, if I can pass, I will find a matchmaker to propose and ask for her name; if I can pass the Jinshi examination next spring, we will marry afterwards. Uncle, Aunt, what do you think?"

Madam Wang, upon hearing this, looked at her eldest daughter who was peeking from the side of the screen, and then turned to look at Sheng Hong; this matter still had to be decided by Sheng Hong.

Sheng Hong, however, laughed out loud: "I know you have strategies in your chest and the universe in your belly, and are naturally clever, but the imperial examination is not an easy matter. I am a Jinshi myself and know the difficulties involved. You have taken a fancy to my eldest daughter, and my eldest daughter has also taken a fancy to you; could it be that if you don't pass the autumn examinations this year, you will break off such a good marriage?"

"The Sheng family marries our daughter to you, Wang Ziyan, not to a Jinshi; you underestimate our Sheng family. I will decide: after the autumn examinations, we will propose and ask for her name, and we will find a good day next year to marry. You are the only one in your family; it is time to marry early, have more offspring, and strengthen the family. There will be some betrothal gifts, but don't force it."

"Although my official position is not high, I am not lacking in wealth; I cannot let my daughter go hungry, and even more so, I cannot watch my son-in-law ignore his bright future, waste his talent, and engage in business. When the time comes, I will prepare more dowry for her, enough for you to live a good life. You only have one thing to do, and that is to focus on the imperial examinations. A man stands in the world to enter officialdom through the imperial examinations and seek welfare for the people of the world."

"Uncle is right." Everyone was a shameless person; besides nodding, Wang Yan had nothing else to say.

"Since that is the case, the marriage is settled. It is getting late; Ziyan, have dinner before you go back. If you can't make it out of the city, it doesn't matter; just rest here for the night. Drink a few cups of wine with me and have a good talk."

Sheng Hong didn't give Wang Yan a choice, directly waving his hand to call people to prepare wine and food.

Wang Yan cupped his hands and accepted. He also instructed the Sheng family's steward to entertain the coachman and little Dongliang who came with him, as well as the horse pulling the carriage. Afterwards, Wang Yan was pulled into the study by Sheng Hong to discuss academics, especially to study calligraphy, and to have Wang Yan appreciate his work...

On this side, Madam Wang returned to the back courtyard, walking back and forth in the room to relieve the discomfort of sitting for a long time, glancing at Hualan, who was sitting there happily drinking water, and simply couldn't bear to look.

"Happy now? Look at your worthless appearance; even if you marry over there, you'll be bullied to death by that rural squire."

"Mother, he certainly won't. Father even praised his learning and likes his character; otherwise, how could he so easily agree to let daughter marry him?"

"Hmph. Let me tell you, don't be happy too soon. After I married your father back then, we were also loving for a period of time. What happened later? Scholars are romantic, and he brought that little bitch home. Look at how I live now; as the mistress of the house, I can't control a concubine, and the children are raised by her, and the household is managed by her. If it weren't for the fact that my maiden family still has some influence, I might have been harmed to death by that little bitch."

"I don't think he is that kind of person; even if he takes a concubine in the future, he won't bully me."

"You, you've just been deceived by this rake. You don't think about it; he teases you on the street now, and he might not necessarily not tease others in the future. I can see it now; this is someone who is bold enough to defy the heavens."

"Mother~" Sheng Hualan pouted unhappily, "Father has already agreed to this marriage; can't you hope for daughter's future to be better?"

"It's precisely because I hope your future will be better that I'm telling you this. Do I usually tell you these things? Yes, that Wang Yan is a genius, and it looks like he will certainly pass the Jinshi examination and be an official in the future. With his boldness, and his ability to hold onto his family business at just over ten years old, if he really becomes an official, he might be even more formidable than your father. The higher his official position, the harder your life will be."

"You might not understand now, but you must firmly remember for me: once you are married, you must be careful..."

Madam Wang chattered on, forcibly instilling principles into Hualan, who was impatient to listen.

After a good while, the thirteen-year-old eldest legitimate son of the Sheng family, Sheng Changbai, couldn't listen anymore and spoke from the side: "Mother, that's enough. You're teaching Eldest Sister all this now, but she won't remember it by the time she gets married."

"I'll say it again when the time comes. Hmm?"

Madam Wang came to her senses: "What are you doing here? Go, go, hurry to the study. Although Wang Yan's family is not wealthy, he is a capable person. When he was your age, he had already passed the county examination, and people said then that he could pass the autumn examinations in one go. It was only because his parents died of illness that his imperial examinations were delayed until this year. Not only that, he held onto his family business all by himself and lived a good life."

"Your father is certainly studying calligraphy with him in the study; his calligraphy is something even your father feels inferior to. Hurry and go serve him, learn more from him, and ask for advice if you have questions, so that my son can become a Zhuangyuan in the imperial examinations."

While speaking, Madam Wang shooed Sheng Changbai out.

Little Sheng Changbai was speechless, but resignedly stepped toward the study.

Before he even entered, he heard his father's exclamations inside, praising Wang Yan for all he was worth. He let out a long breath, knocked on the door first, and then opened it and walked in.

"Father, Mother told me to come and learn calligraphy from Brother Wang; I have met Brother Wang." Little Changbai walked in with a stiff manner and cupped his hands to salute Wang Yan.

Wang Yan waved his hand casually: "We are all one family from now on; there is no need for such formalities."

"This is Changbai, Hualan's own younger brother from the same mother." Sheng Hong introduced him with a smile and said, "My eldest son here is just too formal. He hasn't read many books, but he has learned the rules to the letter."

"Knowing etiquette, understanding propriety, and distinguishing right from wrong—Changbai will have a future."

While speaking, Wang Yan walked forward two steps with a smile, pinched his frame, and then patted his shoulder, "Your body is a bit weak; eat more meat, walk and run more. Only with a good body can you have the energy to study the classics well."

"Listen to him, Changbai; find time to move around in the future and learn from Brother Wang; he knows martial arts." After saying this casually, Sheng Hong waved his hand, "Come here, Changbai, and look at this piece of calligraphy written by Brother Wang."

Then they began to discuss again, also taking care to explain things to Sheng Changbai.

After a long time, when the food was ready, Sheng Hong was chatting happily and decided to eat and drink in the study.

Although the marriage had been agreed upon, Wang Yan was an outsider, so it was impossible for him to go to the back to eat with the female relatives. In fact, even if they had eaten in the back, it would still have been the three of them; the female relatives could not sit at the table.

Even Sheng Changbai only barely accompanied them because he was too young. Even if he acted like a little adult, it was the same. It was only because Sheng Changbai was the eldest legitimate son and Wang Yan was considered half an outsider that he sat at the table. Even then, he just ate silently, listening to Sheng Hong and Wang Yan talk, and didn't speak unless asked.

However, Wang Yan didn't pay much attention to that; he just looked with a smile at Sheng Hualan, who came in with the servants of the mansion, carrying trays with wine pots and wine sets.

Hualan blinked her expressive eyes, her trained, quiet footsteps drifting closer, and she stood still between Wang Yan and Sheng Hong, arranging the wine sets in front of them and pouring wine, and finally bowed to the smiling Wang Yan before drifting out of the study.

"She truly has no self-control." Sheng Hong scolded with a smile, "You don't know, Ziyan, my eldest daughter has always been well-read and polite, quiet and indifferent. Look at her now; she has only met you twice, and her heart has already grown onto you. You must not bully her after she marries over; I will come to settle accounts with you."

"Uncle, rest assured; even if there are ten thousand matches, they may not be a heaven-sent fate like ours, with mutual affection; I will certainly cherish her doubly." Wang Yan raised his wine cup with a smile, "Junior toasts Uncle, thanking you for your fulfillment."

Sheng Hong laughed and drank the wine: "It is you, Wang Ziyan, who has ability; otherwise, this marriage would never have happened."

"Uncle has the ability to recognize talent and a discerning eye; even if Junior has ability, if no one discovers it, it is in vain. Han Changli has 'On Horses' passed down through the ages; if Junior is a thousand-li horse, Uncle must be the Bo Le who recognizes the horse."

Sheng Hong was even happier, drinking cup after cup with Wang Yan and talking about all sorts of things.

After three rounds of drinks, Sheng Hong was slightly tipsy and asked: "Does Ziyan know who the current prefect is?"

"Before meeting Hualan the day before yesterday, Junior met a friend on the road who said it was Ouyang Zuiweng."

"Exactly." Sheng Hong nodded repeatedly, "This matter is a long story; you were still young then and didn't understand court politics. Back then... and so, it led to Ouyang Gong being the prefect of Yangzhou today."

Listening to Sheng Hong explain from his perspective how he viewed the court situation at the time, and explaining the ins and outs of Fan Zhongyan's reform in detail, Wang Yan asked as if he didn't understand: "I wonder what Uncle means?"

"Ouyang Gong is a great scholar of the current age; although he is out of power now, he is merely biding his time, and he has wide connections, with many supporters in the court, and is on close terms with great scholars like Fan Gong. If you can be favored by Ouyang Gong, Ziyan, your official career will surely be smooth."

"What advice does Uncle have for me?" Wang Yan poured wine for his new father-in-law.

Sheng Hong glanced at his silly son, took a sip of wine, and laughed: "Ziyan is learned and talented, and your calligraphy is supreme in the world. I wonder if Ziyan has any masterpieces that have not yet been heard of? If so, write a piece of calligraphy, and I will find an opportunity to ask Ouyang Gong for his corrections. With Ziyan's fine calligraphy, you will surely be able to meet Ouyang Gong, and with Ziyan's ability, once you meet, you will surely be favored by Ouyang Gong."

The father-in-law's meaning was simple and direct: create an original poem or lyric; whether the poem is good or not is not important, what is important is that the calligraphy is good. When the time comes, Sheng Hong will cheekily take the calligraphy to request an audience with Ouyang Xiu, watch Ouyang Xiu be shocked by Wang Yan's calligraphy, and then introduce Wang Yan as his future son-in-law. Not only can Wang Yan connect with Ouyang Xiu, but he, old Sheng, can also build a relationship.

"What is difficult about that?"

Wang Yan smiled, drank a cup of wine, stood up, and went to the desk, picking up a brush and licking the ink, "Ever since I met Hualan the day before yesterday, I have been admiring her and unable to part, tossing and turning, unable to sleep peacefully; yesterday I wrote a 'Yi Jian Mei'."

"Write it, write it."

Sheng Hong also drank a cup decisively and ran over. An original lyric, Wang Yan's calligraphy—this thing could be a family heirloom, not to mention it could be said to be Wang Yan's first calligraphy work since he started his career.

Sheng Changbai, who had been eating silently, also put down his chopsticks and ran over. In the past period of contact, he had been deeply conquered by his future brother-in-law. He was natural and unrestrained, with a great atmosphere, yet he wasn't the kind of wild scholar; he was contradictory yet natural.

Wang Yan laughed out loud, put brush to paper, and began to create directly...

Rain beats against the pear blossoms, the door is tightly closed. I have failed my youth, wasted my youth in vain. With whom can I discuss these joyful things? Under the flowers, I am heartbroken; under the moon, I am heartbroken. Sorrow gathers at my brows, frowning all day long. A thousand spots of tear stains, ten thousand spots of tear stains. At dawn I watch the sky, at dusk I watch the clouds. Walking, I think of you; sitting, I think of you.