Chapter 64

Wang Ju brought some fruit and came to Zhang Zai's house. Zhang Zai's wife, Guo Shi, was kind-hearted. Seeing this large family in a pitiful state, and being a mother herself, she allowed the four members of the Wang family to eat at the Zhang household. However, Zhang Zai was not Cheng Kan; he was just a county magistrate, with a rank of seventh grade junior, known as a Zuo Zuo Lang.

In the Song Dynasty, the monthly salary of a chancellor or a military councilor was 300,000 cash, with 20 bolts of silk and 30 bolts of silk gauze for spring and winter clothing, and 100 taels of cotton, and 100 stones of grain per month. This was just the regular salary. In addition, there were substantial allowances, such as for tea, wine, kitchen supplies, firewood, reeds, charcoal, salt, and even fodder for horses, as well as the clothing and food expenses for personal servants. There were also public funds and income from official land, and rewards for the four seasons and eight festivals. The income was so high that it was unimaginable.

Those were high-ranking officials. For lower-ranking officials, the income was not very high. For example, the monthly salary of a magistrate of a large county was only 20,000 cash, and for a small county, it was only 12,000 cash, with 5 to 3 stones of grain per month. The allowances were also not much. Still, it was not bad; with all the miscellaneous expenses added together, the monthly income was nearly 40 guan.

It was not a small amount, but as a local official, Zhang Zai would have various people coming to request favors or visit, so he needed to have a doorman, a servant for miscellaneous tasks, and a cook.

He often received village elders, and even though the meals were simple, they still cost money.

With four more mouths to feed, the finances became tight.

Wang Ju often bought vegetables and rice and carried them to the Zhang household.

Guo Shi was not pleased.

Wang Ju then showed her a stack of jiaozi (banknotes), and Guo Shi was amazed, asking where the money came from. Wang Ju explained the matter of the Zhu family's dividends.

"You little rascal, you earn more than my husband!" Guo Shi chased after him to hit him. She was not yet thirty, and her nature was still lively. From then on, she turned a blind eye.

Zhang Zai only said, "Salt, it's best to stay away from it."

Although this kind of salt was beneficial to the country, there were too many taboos. It was like a girl working in a nightclub in later times, saying, "I'm a good person, I sell my art, not my body," and indeed, she did, but how many people would believe it?

However, Wang Ju did not hide anything from Zhang Zai. "Master is like a father," he said, and explained that it was a high-profit business with simple technology that would not last long. Therefore, Zhang Zai did not oppose it.

Moreover, Wang Ju had been very quiet over the past year.

He was Zhang Zai's disciple, and in Yunyan, no one dared to provoke him, and he did not provoke others either. On the contrary, he had been extremely low-key over the past year.

With his incredibly "forward-thinking" insights and Zhang Zai knowing the truth, he also hated the corruption of the imperial guards. Zhang Zai gradually began to like Wang Ju and treated him like a son in some aspects.

As for what Wang Ju thought, it was not entirely correct. The ancients had their own explanations. Although Wang Ju's foundation was poor, his insights were a kind of "talent," and he learned things quickly. Therefore, Zhang Zai did not think Wang Ju was deceiving him.

Putting down the fruit, Zhang Zai said, "Sit down. Write a poem about that plum tree."

"Write a poem..." Wang Ju said with a worried face.

He had been hit with a ruler by Zhang Zai many times for his poetry.

After a long time, Wang Ju managed to write a seven-character poem.

"Is this the poem you wrote? How did you write that 'Qingyu Case'?"

"That was a flash of inspiration."

For example, Cui Hao wrote about the Yellow Crane Tower, but that did not mean his poetry skills surpassed Li Bai. In fact, Cui Hao did not have many other notable poems.

It was one way to look at it.

However, Wang Ju felt lucky. If he had placed too much importance on copying, and if he had thrown out poems like 'Qingyu Case' one after another, how would he explain writing such a poem now?

"You still dare to argue. Hold out your hand."

Er Niu covered her face with her hands; her brother was being hit again.

Actually, she could not understand the adults' feelings. A strict teacher produces excellent students. The stricter Zhang Zai was, the more he valued Wang Ju.

"Er Niu, don't cover your face. From tomorrow, I will send you and your brother to a private school."

Er Niu pouted, unhappy.

Guo Shi pinched her little nose, "This is for your own good. In a private school, you can learn some female virtues, and when you grow up, you can marry a good man. Besides, there's your brother. In a private school, he can lay a good foundation. When he's a bit older, he can study hard in the county school for a while. In the future, your brother will be as learned as your big brother. If he's lucky, he might become a scholar like the brothers in an official family, how glorious would that be?"

Then she scolded Wang Ju, "Look at how wild you've made your sister."

Guo Shi's words were not entirely correct. In terms of educational methods, Wang Ju surpassed many people, even Zhang Zai. Under Wang Ju's lively and inspiring teaching, Er Niu and San Niu had learned many characters and knew many stories. Don't forget, they were only ten and nine years old. It seemed their talents had surpassed many of their peers, and even Zhang Zai thought they were good. But this was all due to Wang Ju's teaching.

"My nature is not wild," Er Niu said, helping Guo Shi pick vegetables.

"Wang Ju, write a fu (rhapsody) about the plum tree."

Wang Ju was good at writing policy essays, but fu was different. It required not only rhyme and antithesis but also a four-six structure.

The four-six structure is a parallel prose style, primarily composed of four-character and six-character antithetical sentences, such as "Houses cover the ground, homes of the wealthy; ships fill the harbor, with green and yellow dragons. Clouds dissipate, rain clears, and the sky brightens. The setting sun and the lone wild goose fly together, the autumn water and the sky blend into one color. Fishing boats sing at dusk, their sounds reaching the shores of Pengli; geese startled by the cold, their cries breaking off at the banks of Hengyang." This is a typical example of four-six parallel prose.

After a long time, Wang Ju submitted a fu.

"Why must a fu use the four-six structure? Because a fu must be rich in vocabulary and easy to read aloud. Although I don't like it, you are naturally restless, and you are not on the same path as your teacher. Poetry and fu are the focus of the imperial exams. How can your fu be announced at the Donghua Gate?"

Am I naturally restless?

But could Wang Ju argue?

"Secondly, use appropriate classical references, and the words must be concise and meaningful."

Actually, Wang Ju knew all this, but he did not know how to write a four-six structure with rhyme and antithesis.

Over the past year, he had spent almost a quarter of his time studying the "Erya," "Guangyun," and "Classic Explanations."

But Rome wasn't built in a day.

Therefore, among the major subjects of the imperial exams, his best foundation was in policy essays, followed by the classics, and the worst was in poetry and fu.

Zhang Zai corrected him for a long time and then said, "From now on, write a fu and two poems every day."

Wang Ju frowned.

"The poetry and fu of the imperial exams are crucial, especially the palace examination. Do you want to be like me, passing the exam only in your forties?"

"Isn't that good enough?"

"For me, it is, but you are restless and desire wealth. If you pass late, after several years of waiting, how much time will you have left? I plan to have you take the imperial exams next year."

This was also important. If Wang Ju passed next year, he would be under twenty. After a few years, he could gradually rise to a higher position. This was like Kou Zhun; if he hadn't passed early, how could he have become a vice chancellor in his thirties?

"Master is right."

Zhang Zai began to assign topics, giving dozens of them, covering various aspects, such as classics and current affairs, and asked Wang Ju to write poetry and fu based on these topics. Then they had a meal, and after eating, the four of them went home.

"Big brother, are we really going to a private school?" Er Niu asked.

In the Song Dynasty, women received education, even exceeding Wang Ju's expectations. But they mostly learned female virtues. Therefore, whether Er Niu went to a private school or not, Wang Ju was not too concerned. But his younger brother must go to a private school, and his own time was getting tighter.

Actually, without Zhang Zai's guidance, Wang Ju knew that having a good teacher was not enough. It was best to first pass the preliminary exams. With a preliminary pass, he would have the qualification for the provincial exams. Even if he failed the first time, he could try again, but he must have this qualification.

So he couldn't spare much time to teach his younger brother.

The best way was to let his younger brother study in a private school for a few years, then try to enter a county or state school, and he could provide some guidance on the side. Perhaps his younger brother would also stand out. Even if he didn't pass the imperial exams, he should at least pass the preliminary exams, which would give him a half-official status and a future. What could he do, living in this era?

But if his younger brother went to a private school, would Er Niu be left alone at home?

Therefore, Wang Ju nodded.

Er Niu protested all the way. Suddenly, Wang Ju looked up and said, "Dongweng, Second Brother, why are you here?"

Because of the fine salt, Zhu Qing had come several times last year. But it was the New Year, and the distance from Yanzhou to Yunyan was two hundred miles, so Wang Ju was puzzled.

"Forget it, a mysterious aunt came to our house," Li Wan Yuan said gloomily.

The aunt came, but she acted like a real aunt. Seeing Li Wan Yuan and his friends playing, she scolded them like an old woman. Li Wan Yuan had already learned the truth. A county magistrate was nothing special. "I don't need you. What's so great about a county or state magistrate? In terms of backing, there are those in the salt business whose backing far exceeds yours." So he talked back.

In the end, it was youthful impetuosity.

Li Yuanwai scolded him, and in a fit of anger, Li Wan Yuan came to his future brother-in-law's place to avoid the situation for a few days.

"Sit," Wang Ju said, laughing and crying at the same time, and had his eldest son, Quan Er, serve tea.

"So, Dongweng..."

"Little brother, you can't call me Dongweng anymore. Call me Zhu Yuanwai."

"I only bowed to Master Zhang, and I haven't done anything else. How can I forget my roots? Besides, Second Brother went to the capital, and he might be announced at the Donghua Gate."

"I sent him there to broaden his horizons. With his attitude, how can he be announced at the Donghua Gate? But I really have to thank you."

Zhu Jun stayed at Wang Ju's house for a long time, and his demeanor changed a lot. They often exchanged ideas, which greatly helped Zhu Jun. Therefore, he passed the imperial exams last year and ranked second, but there were only a few people, so the second place was not valuable.

So last winter, he was sent to the capital by the Yanzhou government for the imperial exams.

But to achieve something at the Donghua Gate would be difficult. However, having the status of a preliminary pass was different from not having it.

"I dare not."

"Brother-in-law, have you taken notes while studying with Master Zhang?" Li Wan Yuan asked.

Wang Ju had heard some rumors and found it somewhat amusing.

"Second Brother, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. Most of the time, Master teaches me the basics and discusses Confucianism, but not much. My foundation is too poor. But..."

"But what?"

"But we did discuss some things, and I took notes."

"Bring them out quickly."

"They're in the room. You can go look for them yourself."

Li Wan Yuan ran to the room to look.

Wang Ju looked at Zhu Huan, "Dongweng, why are you here?"

"There are two things. First, Cheng Gong found me the day before yesterday and said he wanted to establish a horse-buying society in Yanzhou and asked me to lead it."

"A horse-buying society?"

PS: The "Erya" is the ancestor of dictionaries, and the "Guangyun" is the Song Dynasty version of the "Da Song Chong Xiu Guangyun" by Chen Pengnian. The "Classic Explanations" by Lu Deming of the Sui Dynasty not only annotated the texts of fourteen classics, including the "Zhou Yi," but also deliberately explained the pronunciation and meanings of difficult characters in these texts. To master prosody, these three books are essential.

And then I was flooded. This new book is really frustrating. First, two books were flooded, and then a more daring Tang book came. I'm so frustrated, I want to cry.

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