Chapter 66: No Black Dragon~

Water Margin world, a small courtyard in the east of Yuncheng County.

Zhang Jie, Wu Song, and others are standing at the gate of the small courtyard.

Because of Chen Wenyun's earnest invitation, and Zhang Jie also wanting to travel around Shandong,

so after finishing the provincial examination, he brought Wu Song and others to Yuncheng County.

"The residence is relatively simple, making the virtuous brother laugh."

At the gate of the small courtyard, Chen Wenyun said somewhat shyly.

He knew that Zhang Jie was from a wealthy family, and his house must be more luxurious than his one-entry small courtyard.

"Brother Chen, what are you saying?

Confucius once said, 'A bamboo dish of rice, a gourd dish of water, living in a narrow alley,

others cannot bear its sorrow, but Hui does not change his joy. Virtuous, Hui!'

Brother Chen's

Zhang Jie replied while looking around the small courtyard, which was a bit old and dilapidated, yet not dirty or messy.

"My virtuous brother, this gesture of yours is too flattering; how could I be mentioned in the same breath as the Duke of Yanzhou?"

Chen Wenyun said with a bitter smile.

However, he also knew that Zhang Jie was not someone who despised the poor and fawned over the rich, so he didn't say anything more.

At the same time, Zhang Jie was also recalling the origin of Chen Wenyun's title for Yan Hui:

"Duke of Yanzhou?

Hmm, Yan Hui wasn't canonized as a saint in the Great Song; he was canonized during the Jiajing era."

Yan Hui was one of Confucius's most prized disciples, known for his noble character and outstanding scholarship.

Among the disciples of the Confucian school, Yan Hui ranked first among the seventy-two sages and was highly revered by later Confucian scholars.

Successive emperors also repeatedly bestowed posthumous titles upon Yan Hui, such as Tang Taizong honoring him as "First Teacher,"

Tang Xuanzong honoring him as "Duke of Yan," and Song Zhenzong bestowing the title "Duke of Yanzhou."

Yuan Wenzong further honored him as "Duke of Yanzhou and Restorer of Sages,"

and it was not until the ninth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty that he was renamed "Restorer of Sages," and the "Temple of the Restorer of Sages" was built in Qufu, Shandong.

While Zhang Jie was reminiscing, a middle-aged woman in plain clothes and a simple hairpin, not particularly beautiful but quite gentle

and kind-hearted, came out to greet them with a boy and a girl.

"Husband!"

As soon as the woman came out, her gaze fell upon Chen Wenyun.

"Father!"

The two children also ran happily toward Chen Wenyun.

"Yun'er, Li'er!"

Chen Wenyun also excitedly embraced the two children.

Pan Jinlian watched this scene with envy in her eyes.

"Virtuous brother Renjie, this is my humble wife, Lady Wang, and these are my little daughter Chen Yun and my son Chen Li."

Chen Wenyun picked up the two children and introduced his family to Zhang Jie.

Although he was already over thirty, because he was obsessed with the imperial examinations,

he did not marry until he was nearly thirty, so his children were quite young.

"Madam, these are my virtuous brother Renjie, my virtuous brother Wu Song, and Miss Jinlian."

Chen Wenyun then introduced Zhang Jie and the others to Lady Wang.

Although he already knew about the intimate relationship between Zhang Jie and Pan Jinlian,

because Zhang Jie and Pan Jinlian were not married, he referred to Pan Jinlian as "Miss."

"Greetings, Sister-in-law."

Zhang Jie cupped his hands and greeted Lady Wang.

"Greetings, Uncle."

Lady Wang, who clearly had a scholarly background, performed a formal bow.

"Greetings, Sister-in-law."

Wu Song and Pan Jinlian also greeted her.

Lady Wang responded to each of them.

Chen Yun and Chen Li also widened their big eyes, curiously examining Zhang Jie and his group.

"Come, this is a small gift from your uncle."

Zhang Jie, who already knew that Chen Wenyun had a son and a daughter, handed the gifts he had prepared in advance to Chen Li and Chen Yun.

What he had prepared were two longevity locks.

The longevity lock symbolizes "locking in health, growing up safely, protecting the future,

and long life and blessings," which was most appropriate here.

"Virtuous brother Renjie, this is too precious; it must not be."

Chen Wenyun hurriedly stopped Zhang Jie.

He could tell from the golden luster of the longevity locks that both were likely crafted from pure gold.

"Uncle, this cannot be."

Lady Wang also echoed.

"Yun'er, Li'er, quickly return the longevity locks to your Uncle Zhang."

Chen Wenyun said to his children while trying to stop Zhang Jie.

Although Chen Yun and Chen Li liked the gifts very much, they obediently handed them back to Zhang Jie:

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang, but the gifts are too precious; we cannot accept them."

However, the reluctance in their eyes was obvious even to Wu Song, who was not very good at reading people.

It wasn't that they recognized the longevity locks were valuable,

but that children naturally like shiny, golden things.

"Haha. It's just a small gift. Brother Chen and Sister-in-law, please don't decline."

Zhang Jie patted Chen Yun and Chen Li on their little heads and smiled.

"This..."

Chen Wenyun felt quite conflicted.

He knew that Zhang Jie, with his vast family business, didn't care about this bit of wealth,

but if he accepted these expensive gifts,

wouldn't it affect his gentlemanly friendship with Zhang Jie, which was as pure as water?

"Brother Chen, just accept it.

When the Young Master has children in the future, you can just give a longevity lock back, can't you?"

Wu Song, seeing Chen Wenyun's inner struggle, said.

Chen Wenyun heard this and thought it made sense, so he gritted his teeth and said:

"In that case, I will shamelessly accept."

At the same time, he decided in his heart that when Zhang Jie had children in the future, he would definitely repay him twofold.

"Why don't you thank your Uncle Zhang?"

Chen Wenyun said with a smile to Chen Li and his sister, who had regained their gifts and were all smiles.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Chen Yun and Chen Li thanked Zhang Jie sweetly.

"You're welcome."

Zhang Jie smiled and patted their heads again.

Whether before or after his transmigration, he had always been very fond of children,

except for some dark-skinned ones.

The ancestors said that if the barbarians are close to China, they become Chinese.

That was because they hadn't encountered the issue of race back then.

Zhang Jie could only say that if they look different, they really are different; that's just how humans are.

Although there were Kunlun slaves in the Tang Dynasty, they were all castrated before being sold as slaves to avoid cross-breeding.

In this regard, Zhang Jie says everyone should trust the after-sales service of Arab merchants.

Although, in fact, the Arab merchants were afraid that we would breed them ourselves,

causing them, these Arab profiteers, to lose money, but they didn't expect they had done a good deed with bad intentions.

Some women are so obsessed with them that they refuse to marry anyone else,

Zhang Jie can only say that marriage is fine, but could you please, after the marriage,

follow the man back to his hometown and never come back?

As for Black Dragons or whatever, Zhang Jie says he respectfully declines.

While Zhang Jie was interacting with Chen Yun and Chen Li, Pan Jinlian behind him looked downcast.

"Uncle Zhang, Uncle Wu, Sister Jinlian, please come in."

Lady Wang, as the hostess, greeted Zhang Jie and the others.

"After you, Sister-in-law."

Zhang Jie and the others followed Lady Wang into the courtyard, passed through the small yard, and arrived in the living room to sit down.

"Uncle, please have some tea."

Lady Wang deftly served tea to Zhang Jie and the others.

Because Chen Wenyun was obsessed with the imperial examinations, he only had a small private school as a livelihood,

so due to financial constraints, they didn't hire any servants.

Household matters were always handled personally by Lady Wang.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Zhang Jie took the teacup, blew on it lightly, skimmed off the foam, and took a shallow sip.

"Sister Jinlian, let these men stay here;

let us sisters go to the back to chat about women's matters."

After serving tea, Lady Wang said to Pan Jinlian.

"Young Master?"

Pan Jinlian looked at Zhang Jie.

She had some things she wanted to ask Lady Wang about.

However, she, who always took Zhang Jie's will as her primary directive, still sought his opinion.

"Go ahead."

Zhang Jie, seeing Pan Jinlian's interest, said.

After Lady Wang and the others left, Zhang Jie and the others also began to chat.

"Virtuous brother, are you planning to participate in the spring examinations next February?"

Chen Wenyun, sitting in the main seat, asked.

"Exactly. Since I have already passed the provincial examination, I intend to strike while the iron is hot."

Zhang Jie gave an affirmative answer.

"Young Master, after I return to Qinghe County, I will resign from Magistrate Wen and focus on escorting you to Bianliang."

Wu Song, upon learning of Zhang Jie's thoughts, was very supportive.

"I'll trouble you, Second Brother Wu."

Zhang Jie thanked Wu Song.

Although with his martial arts, he could even fight his way through Mount Erlong,

Mount Qingfeng, and other large bandit strongholds with thousands of followers,

and no longer needed Wu Song's escort, since it could be easier, why not?

Just Wu Song's sturdy build alone could deter many ill-intentioned people.

Moreover, he had more important plans for Wu Song in his heart.

Wu Song, unaware of Zhang Jie's thoughts, replied:

"The Young Master has shown great kindness to my brother and me; protecting the Young Master is something I would die for."

"Brother Chen, why not travel with us? We can look after each other on the road."

Zhang Jie turned his head to look at Chen Wenyun and invited him.

After some contact with Chen Wenyun, he knew that although Chen Wenyun was obsessed with the imperial examinations,

he was not pedantic, nor did he view the common people as grass, which was exactly the talent he needed for his future great cause.

"Sigh, Renjie, you overestimate me. I don't have your talent;

going to Bianliang this time will result in nothing but failure.

In that case, it's better to settle down for a few more years to avoid humiliation."

Chen Wenyun sighed and said with a bitter smile.

After Zhang Jie passed the provincial examination before he was twenty, while he only passed in the middle of the pack after he was thirty,

he finally realized that there truly were geniuses in this world that one could only look up to.

The words he used to comfort Zhang Jie, "You and I, brothers, will go to the metropolitan examination together in three years,"

were nothing more than his own delusional ramblings.

I'm afraid that by the time Zhang Jie makes the golden list, he will still be nothing more than a provincial graduate.

"Brother Chen, why be so self-deprecating? Who knows, you might pass the metropolitan examination in the future."

Zhang Jie comforted Chen Wenyun.

He knew his own situation; compared to true imperial examination prodigies like Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty, who passed the scholar examination at 12, the provincial examination at 16,

and the metropolitan examination at 23,

he was nothing more than a fake genius with a golden finger.

If he didn't have the shared space, with his aptitude after transmigration,

passing the metropolitan examination before forty would be a miracle.

As for his aptitude before transmigration?

Zhang Jie felt it would be more feasible to just give up on the imperial examinations and take another path...