Chapter 1039: Taking Office

Married life felt very good to Hualan.

The fact that they didn't share a bed was indeed not very good, but she didn't tell anyone, so she just endured it.

She could feel Wang Yan's care for her, so although it wasn't good, she had to obey since Wang Yan didn't agree. She even went to the medical clinic in the city to verify it, and it was indeed as Wang Yan said, it had some influence. And the amount of data wasn't just the thousand people Wang Yan said, but over ten thousand people.

It was a statistical summary of people who came to the medical clinic for treatment, asking about the childbirth situation of the women in their families, which was relatively accurate. So naturally, she had no more objections and cooperated very well in drinking the medicine Wang Yan prescribed for her.

Except for this one thing, everything else was happy and good.

There were really not so many rules in Wang Yan's family; no one cared what time she wanted to wake up every day, and the food was not bad at all, even better than the Sheng family's in terms of taste. It was mainly because Wang Yan would occasionally run to the kitchen to research when he wanted to eat, various dishes, pastries, desserts, and so on, which the Sheng family's chefs hadn't had time to learn yet.

Women, they all like to eat and drink sweet things. Although official families at this time were not short of sugar, their processing and application of sugar were still not as good as the many tricks Wang Yan brought out.

As for other expenses such as clothing, accessories, and beauty, Hualan was truly a rich woman; she brought a lot of dowry, not to mention she didn't lack money to spend. Wang Yan didn't care, and he couldn't manage how Hualan handled her dowry. Moreover, Wang Yan also handed over some of the family's businesses to Hualan to manage. For example, the purchase and sale of grain, oil, and various meat products, as well as pawnshops, and the most profitable incense shop.

As for merchant caravans and banks, Wang Yan controlled them directly. These were his core industries. If they were handed over to Hualan, they would really become businesses, which obviously wouldn't work.

And the industries managed by Hualan still had to go through the bank for accounts, and in the end, it was the same. Of course, Hualan had decision-making power, and influencing the business would affect the money earned. However, Hualan was still good and wouldn't be arbitrary; if she had any ideas, she would talk to Wang Yan first.

Actually, Hualan wasn't useless; she was a genuine lady who had received professional training. Before getting married, there were nannies to teach her about the bedroom, and the family would also let her manage the house and operate it for a period of time to accumulate experience, looking at account books, calculating accounts, employing people, and so on, all of which she had certain experience in. The piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, music, and dance she learned from childhood all had a certain level. Her needlework and embroidery were even better.

To make an analogy, it was roughly equivalent to receiving various careful training from childhood a thousand years later, specifically preparing to become a CEO, and definitely being able to become one.

Because the legitimate daughters of official families were mostly married to official families. And the men of official families basically didn't care about business matters, so the wives who managed the house naturally took over this task, managing the inside and outside of the house.

Business matters were all small things, especially since the various shopkeepers under Wang Yan had been adjusted by him, and they were all very honest and considered loyal. Even if there were some who were not honest or loyal, Wang Fuli could go and chat with them, and in general, it was a situation where everyone was happy.

However, Hualan did it very happily, because of freedom. And she found that the business structure Wang Yan operated was different from their family's, which was very interesting.

Besides these, her time was spent with Wang Yan, either eating and drinking, or reading in the study, or going out for a walk and taking a look together.

Every few days, she would go back to her maternal home for a meal, or follow Wang Yan to participate in some gatherings.

Now that he had an official status, the level of gatherings and activities Wang Yan participated in was basically the top level in Yangzhou. In the past, the gatherings Wang Yan participated in belonged to the gatherings of Yangzhou's future opinion representatives. Now the gatherings he participated in were the current opinion representatives of Yangzhou. They were all local big families, and not ordinary merchant families, but families with origins, all official families.

Even more, they were gatherings of local officials in Yangzhou. The gatherings of this kind he participated in Yangzhou were completely overlapping with Sheng Hong's daily social circle in Yangzhou, and he didn't rely on Sheng Hong's face. Even Sheng Hong now had to rely on Wang Yan's face to mix in the officialdom of Yangzhou.

Hualan participating in various gatherings was a small matter, because they were about to leave Yangzhou to take office elsewhere, and would stay away for a long time, and unless they were dismissed, they would basically not return to Yangzhou, at most passing by, so what he did during this period was to adjust the industrial layout, and most importantly, to further screen loyal personnel.

After all, it wasn't a blatant rebellion; if the matter wasn't secret, it wouldn't be successful, and without people, it wouldn't be successful. Under such circumstances, using people prioritized loyalty, followed by talent. It was exactly to constantly screen reliable personnel, even if their ability was a bit poor, it didn't matter.

He wasn't in a hurry, just develop slowly. After all, he had to be an official first, then reform, until the resistance was too great, and the Emperor couldn't hold on, and when the reform was difficult to succeed, that was the time for him to establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, and establish a life for the people...

Just like this, a month passed, and it was finally time to leave Yangzhou and go to Hangzhou to take office.

The busy Yangzhou port, the coolies who made a living here were moving various gifts onto the ship that was docked. Wang Yan cupped his hands to Feng Jing and Fan Chunren: "I wish you both a smooth journey, and we will meet again."

Ouyang Fa and Changbai, who were beside Wang Yan, also bowed and said goodbye together.

Feng Jing smiled and returned the salute: "Ziyan and Yaofu will be able to meet in less than two months, but we are afraid we will be far apart."

"In just two or three years, the two of us can meet again in the capital; just write more letters." Wang Yan waved his hand with a smile, "Let's go."

Watching the figures of Wang Yan and the others moving away, Feng Jing smiled: "Yaofu, actually it would be good for you to participate in Ziyan's wedding here. By the time he goes to Hangzhou to take office, and you go home, it will be the same road."

"He also has to bring his wife when he takes office, it's all the same. This younger brother is now eager to go home and really can't stay."

Just as the two were talking and laughing, Wang Yan and the others were no longer in sight.

Sheng Changbai said: "The family has already prepared wine and dishes; will the brother-in-law stay at home tonight?"

"That's fine." Wang Yan followed the trend.

Immediately, he gave instructions to the people who came from home, had them take all the luggage back, and then got into the carriage and headed towards Yangzhou city.

"Master, Changbai and the others should be back, right?"

Sheng Hong was reading a book and didn't lift his head: "In another hour or so."

"You say Changbai has been by our side since he was a child; when has he ever left for so long? I don't know if he's doing well in Bianjing."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong couldn't help but hum: "Could it be bad following Ziyan? Didn't he write in his letter that for more than a month, he met the ministers of the court and drank wine with famous scholars? Didn't he also write that he met the Prince of Runan by chance with Wang Yan? He goes to Fanlou every few days; I haven't been there many times."

It was meaningless, and Wang Shi, who was fiddling with jewelry and accessories, laughed: "You're not afraid of being laughed at when you say that; it's not that you were afraid your precious son-in-law wouldn't recognize the account, so you sent Changbai to guard him, and now you're angry with Changbai instead; it's truly unreasonable."

"How many times have I said it? Sending Changbai to Bianjing is to broaden his horizons and learn. The people Ziyan associates with are truly scholars who talk about great things, and there are no white-clothed people coming and going; do you think everyone has this opportunity?"

Sheng Hong coughed and looked at Wang Shi with dissatisfaction.

Wang Shi didn't pay attention to Sheng Hong's little pride, and turned to say: "Does Wang Yan have an opinion about our Wang family, and the Kang family? My mother, my eldest brother, and my sister all wrote letters saying that Wang Yan doesn't understand etiquette, and that since he went to the capital, he didn't visit them. They also said Changbai was not good, and didn't visit them either. I know Changbai; if no one was whispering, he would definitely be polite."

"Aren't you talking nonsense with your eyes open?"

Sheng Hong couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Changbai's letter said it clearly: Ziyan sent invitations as soon as he arrived in the capital, but neither the Wang nor Kang families showed any indication; isn't this looking down on Ziyan? Do you know how great Ziyan's reputation is? As a result, they did this kind of thing. Now that Ziyan took first place in the provincial examination, they sent servants from their mansions to send invitations; what does that mean?

I told you long ago that Ziyan is not someone who can be manipulated. He managed his family at fourteen, and at that time he dared to wield a blade to take someone's life, and now he has such a great reputation; how could he suffer this humiliation? They actually have the face to write letters asking for an explanation?

I'm telling the truth, don't blame me; your Wang family has been increasingly declining since the old master passed away. If it weren't for the care of the old master's old acquaintances, how could you stand in the capital? Although Ziyan's background is not prominent, when he went to the capital, he was already Ouyang Gong's disciple, his calligraphy was famous all over the world, and his poetry was even sung by children in the market. Such a hero, how could they treat him lightly?"

"Do you have a conscience? How much has my Wang family helped your Sheng family? Huh? Now you're talking about the Wang family's faults."

This was why Sheng Hong had to sigh, because whenever the Wang family was mentioned, Wang Shi couldn't help but talk about this set. He actually envied Wang Yan; having talent means being fearless.

Up to now, the help he had truly given Wang Yan was minimal, nothing more than spending money to boost Wang Yan's reputation, all of which Wang Yan could solve himself. The truly substantive, key help, he hadn't helped at all; the whole situation was created by Wang Yan himself.

Instead, Wang Yan had helped him quite a bit; after all, Wang Yan's calligraphy was very sought after, and he used Wang Yan's calligraphy to build relationships, which was still very popular. Especially after the Fanlou incident, the price of Wang Yan's calligraphy was much higher, and now that he had become the top scholar, his future was bright, and the price would rise by another three points.

To put it bluntly, just Wang Yan's calligraphy alone, he could use it for bribery without any problems. Because there were really people who would take it, and he was Wang Yan's father-in-law, so how the people who received Wang Yan's calligraphy handled it had nothing to do with him; he just let his son-in-law write a few pieces of calligraphy and sent them to friends for appreciation, which was truly safe...

Thinking of his many difficulties back then, Sheng Hong shook his head and sighed again: "I have indeed received the grace of the Wang family, but we are talking about Ziyan; what grace has he received from the Wang family? It's not that having the status of an elder means one can put on airs. Wang Yan is someone with ability; if he doesn't make mistakes, he doesn't need the future; even now, I, this father-in-law, need him to take care of me, let alone the future? Today the Wang and Kang families humiliated Ziyan; in the future, they might not necessarily not have to beg Ziyan. At that time, how will they meet and talk? Moreover, Ziyan has always had the ambition to reform; in the future, Ziyan will be in the cabinet, and the Song Dynasty has had many ills for a long time. Anyway, Ziyan has no parents or relatives; at that time, if he performs a 'righteous destruction of relatives' to establish his prestige and position, who do you say he will destroy? If you were Ziyan, who would you destroy?"

Hearing Sheng Hong's words, Wang Shi was startled; if there really was such a day, the Wang family would probably not end well.

She shook her head repeatedly: "Who can say what will happen in the future? The Master is always good at bluffing people."

Sheng Hong naturally understood Wang Shi, and of course, he was intentionally bluffing; he knew at a glance that Wang Shi was frightened, and turned to say with concern: "I am indeed bluffing you, Madam, but Ziyan is definitely not an ordinary person. If he is determined to make things difficult for the Wang and Kang families, these two families will not have a good time either. Madam, you must understand that a married daughter is like spilled water. You are a member of the Sheng family; you must consider things for the Sheng family. In the Wang family, you are an outsider.

It's not what I said, it's that they won't treat you as one of their own. I know you are the most sincere, and as long as you are good to people, you have to pour out your heart. But you must also pay attention to the measure, don't be deceived and not know it.

Just take Ziyan's matter; he is our family's son-in-law, but not the Wang family's son-in-law. Our Sheng family is close to the Wang family, and Ziyan is close to our Sheng family, but it doesn't mean Ziyan wants to be close to the Wang family. You make things difficult for Ziyan for the sake of the Wang family, and it's Hualan who is embarrassed. You must understand that it was never Ziyan begging our family.

Even if you don't think about Hualan, don't you think about Changbai? In the future, when Changbai is an adult, regardless of whether he passes the imperial examination and becomes an official, his biggest backer will be Ziyan. Our family's wealth, the face you have in your maternal family, and the glory you have in front of your good sisters, all depend

If Wang Shi were harder, taking advantage of Sheng Hong's absence, and directly dealing with Lin Qingshuang, there wouldn't be so many rotten things. Even if she were beaten to death directly, it would pass if she fooled around, and no one would pursue it.

Wang Shi didn't do so, presumably because of the decline of the Wang family, and her backbone wasn't hard. Otherwise, no matter how much Sheng Hong loved Lin Qingshuang, he would have to swallow his teeth and swallow them into his stomach.

So for these messy things in the back courtyard, Wang Yan was really not interested, even if Lin Qingshuang was still an acquaintance...

Thinking of himself, Wang Mou, who had traveled through the rivers and lakes for a thousand years, constantly getting involved in other people's housework, was really meaningless. Relatively speaking, rebelling was more interesting; after all, that was his old profession, especially this time it was a different posture of rebelling.

Of course, if this back courtyard were the Jia mansion, then just treat it as him farting...

"You have a heart." Sheng Hong nodded with a smile and didn't refuse.

At this moment, a little girl's head poked in from the door, followed by an immature male voice that hadn't fully developed: "Sixth sister, you must be careful; father is entertaining the brother-in-law inside, how can you be so rash and rude."

At this time, the little girl had one foot inside the threshold, bending over and holding the door, stabilizing her figure. Her big eyes were full of question marks, and she couldn't help but let out an "ah," and then looked at Sheng Hong's serious gaze that was staring over, feeling at a loss. She couldn't help but turn her head back, looking at her good third brother who was concerned and blaming her.

"Take her away, take her away, how can she be so rude." Sheng Hong waved his hand unhappily.

"We are all family, why care about useless etiquette, father-in-law?" Wang Yan waved his hand with a smile, and turned to greet the door, "Come in, all of you. I've never seen you two before; you speak first."

Seeing Wang Yan being close to his children, Sheng Hong shook his head with a smile, but didn't scold again, nor did he care that Wang Yan had made his decision and was giving orders in their house; he just drank a cup of wine by himself.

The more he treated it as his own home, the better it was; after all, Wang Yan could be considered half a son-in-law...

"My name is Sheng Minglan, I'm from Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard, and I'm the youngest in the family." The little girl said crisply. She looked at her father who was smiling on the side, and then continued, "But my mother is pregnant again, and in a few months, I won't be the youngest anymore."

The half-grown boy on the side continued, cupping his hands in a decent manner: "Brother-in-law, I am Sheng Changfeng, from Lin Xiaoniang's courtyard, third in the family."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, and then asked Sheng Changfeng: "Did you push Minglan in?"

"Uh... no, no, it's... uh it's..." In just these two sentences, Sheng Changfeng, who was only eleven years old, was already blushing, and sweat had already appeared on his forehead.

Mainly because everyone's gaze was on him, which put a lot of pressure on him. Wang Yan was smiling, and couldn't tell if he was happy or angry. Changbai was frowning, with two parts of blame. On the side, there was a little chubby boy, holding a chicken leg in his hand, grinning and watching his joke. Most importantly, his father, Sheng Hong, was staring with eyes as if he were going to beat him to death.

Just when Sheng Changfeng's heart was beating faster, as if he were going to die for everyone to see at any time, it was little Minglan who spoke up to resolve the siege.