Chapter 89: Birthday wishes with ulterior motives (Please collect, please follow!)

Today was the day the Yongzhou Prefectural Examination results were posted. Jia Cong got up early as usual, did his daily fitness exercises, washed up, and started practicing calligraphy in the study.

Today he had agreed with his classmates Cai Xiaoyu, Cui Anzhi, and Liu Xiaoping to go to the East Court of the Ministry of Rites at 8:45 AM to see the results of the Yongzhou Prefectural Examination.

Just past 8:00 AM, Jia Cong prepared to finish practicing the last two large characters before going out.

At the same time, the steward Lai Da welcomed two outside guests to Rongqing Hall.

One of the two outside guests was a middle-aged man, wearing an indigo Shu brocade robe, with a jade belt around his waist, a tall figure, tiger eyes, and a military spirit.

The young man following him was fifteen or sixteen years old, with a similar appearance to the middle-aged man, with a long knife hanging from his waist, a cold expression, and a servant following behind carrying birthday gifts.

Outside Rongqing Hall, Jia She had been waiting there. Seeing the two coming, he stepped forward to greet: "General Wang, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

The middle-aged man smiled: "Great Brother, how have you been? I dare not call myself a general. We are all relatives of one family, just call me Ziteng."

Wang Ziteng entered Rongqing Hall, met Jia Mu, and offered birthday gifts. Lady Wang and Baoyu were both in the hall to accompany them.

Jia Mu loved Baoyu the most, and it was only right that a figure like Wang Ziteng praised him. Hearing these words, she was full of smiles and felt very satisfied in her heart.

Wang Ziteng also said: "Speaking of reading, I heard that Cong Ge'er under the old lady's knees entered Qingshan Academy a few years ago and is studying very well."

"It's not that I'm bragging about my nephew, I've seen many noble descendants in the capital, and there aren't many who are more outstanding than Baoyu."

Jia She's face turned red, and he said: "That beast..., just a hairy kid, reading a few books, and he really wants to come back as a top scholar? What's worth mentioning?"

He had just asked about Jia Cong's affairs, not with the intention of being difficult or venting, but just asked about Baoyu when he mentioned reading.

Wang Ziteng knew that his wife was not a person with a city mansion, and it was inevitable that she would do things without a scale, but the Wang and Jia families were in-laws, yet she didn't even leave a bit of face, and he was also dissatisfied in his heart.

Jia Mu smiled: "Baoyu is the most filial and polite child. Among these children and grandchildren of mine, he is the most considerate. His father has always been urging him to study."

Jia Mu knew that this Wang Ziteng was a capable person. Although he had the help of the Jia family, if he didn't have the ability himself, he would never sit firmly in the position of Commander of the Capital Battalion.

Today he was not here to settle accounts, but indeed had long planned to pay respects to Jia Mu's birthday. After all, his official position was obtained from the legacy of the Jia family, and this favor was so heavy.

"I heard that my brother-in-law has been teaching him to read. I'm afraid that in a few years, he will be able to climb the moon and win the laurel, bringing glory to his ancestors."

He seemed completely unaware that his wife had been severely disciplined by Jia Cong in this hall yesterday.

Yesterday he heard his wife crying and making trouble when she returned, saying that she had been humiliated by that bastard Jia Cong in the Jia Mansion, and she had lost all her face.

He also said to Jia She: "Great Brother, you have taught your son well. I heard that Cong Ge'er was recommended by Jing'an Gong to enter Qingshan Academy. It can be seen that this child is a person of talent."

Baoyu heard that he was actually linked to the words "climbing the moon and winning the laurel," his mouth couldn't help but twitch, he touched the jade on his chest, and lowered his head again.

Wang Ziteng looked at Baoyu standing behind Lady Wang and smiled: "Old Lady, now Baoyu has grown up and has become even more outstanding. This child has been clever and intelligent since he was a child."

"I'm afraid that in a few years, he will enter the school and become an official. Great Brother has good fortune."

As for whether Baoyu would climb the moon and win the laurel, whether it was too ridiculous, it was automatically ignored by the old lady.

Wang Ziteng heard this and had a trace of imperceptible mockery in his eyes.

Wang Ziteng now held a military position, but his speech was shrewd and decent, without the coarseness of a military general. After all, he was the leader of the Wang family among the four great families, and his behavior could be considered not bad.

Reaching his official position, his vision was extraordinary. How could he be like a woman who seeks revenge for the smallest grievance, and everything is measured from a large perspective?

Moreover, he was currently using Jia Zheng to mobilize the Jia family's connections to seek the position of Commander of the Nine Provinces. At this juncture, the relationship with the Jia family was the top priority.

How could he provoke disaster for no reason because of his wife's idle anger and ruin his own future?

But he mentioned Jia Cong just now, yet Jia She had such an expression and tone.

Wang Ziteng was an old and sophisticated bureaucrat. How could he not see what was going on?

Jia She spoke of Jia Cong, even in front of outsiders, he still called him a beast. It can be seen how much he didn't care about this son.

He also heard that the Jia State Lady had always disliked this grandson the most.

After a long time, this kid not only had a lowly background but was also a person who was hated by ghosts and humans in the Jia family.

With his weight, he actually dared to ridicule his wife in public. He really didn't know the height of the sky and the thickness of the earth.

At this time, the young man behind Wang Ziteng said: "Old Lady, I have never seen this Brother Cong. Since he is outstanding, can I invite him to meet? Speaking of which, we are all brothers of the same family."

The speaker was Wang Ziteng's only son, Wang Yi.

Wang Ziteng frowned when he heard his son say this. Yesterday his wife returned crying and making trouble. His son's face was gloomy when he heard it, presumably to vent his anger for his mother.

Hearing him say he wanted to invite Jia Cong to meet, he knew his son better than his father. How could he not hear the ill intentions in it?

He came to the mansion to celebrate the birthday, and brought his son originally to show solemnity. If he knew that this kid had such thoughts, he wouldn't have let him come.

But his son had already spoken. If he didn't express his position, or said he didn't need to meet, it would appear strange, making the old lady think he had ulterior motives, which was not worth it.

It was better to call the person to the hall, and he would watch him. His son wouldn't be able to make any trouble, and it would pass.

"Old Lady, Yi'er only knows how to dance with knives and guns and cannot calm down to study. Being close to a brother like Cong Ge'er, who is outstanding in literature, can also be influenced. Why not invite him to meet?"

Jia Mu's face stiffened. Yesterday, she let that kid come over to meet people, but it turned into that.

How can he be invited to meet today? Jia Mu felt a bit empty in her heart, thinking, don't you know that kid is evil?

But she couldn't say she wouldn't call him over to meet, which would be a bit rude, and Wang Ziteng would not look good on the surface.

She could only helplessly let Yuanyang go call someone over.

……

Yuanyang hadn't walked to the Qingzhi Study when she happened to meet Jia Cong halfway. She told him that the Wang family's uncle wanted to see him, and the old lady asked her to call him.

Hearing this, Jia Cong felt a bit impatient. The Wang family's uncle, wouldn't that be Wang Ziteng?

Yesterday, he was also asked to go to Rongqing Hall to meet guests, but he was humiliated by that Wang Zhang for no reason. Although he severely disciplined that Zhang and made her look wretched, it didn't mean Jia Cong was willing to experience such a scene again.

He had just finished cleaning up someone's wife yesterday, and the man came today. Could it be that he wanted to come back to find a place?

Jia Cong didn't want to give people such an opportunity. What Wang family uncle? He was Baoyu's uncle, and he was separated from him by a branch. Which uncle was he?

Thinking of Wang Zhang's stupid behavior of provoking trouble, Jia Cong had no good feelings for the Wang family. He said he would see him, who does he think he is?

"Sister Yuanyang, please tell the old lady for me. Today is the day the Yongzhou Prefectural Examination results are posted. I have already agreed with my classmates to go to the Ministry of Rites to see the results, so I shouldn't break my promise."

Suddenly someone shouted: "You are Jia Cong? My father asked you to come over to meet, yet you actually don't go. You have such great courage!"

Only to see a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young man walking out from behind a rockery, with a long knife hanging from his waist, his expression was very unkind.

(End of chapter)