vstars Chapter 342 Oh dear, my good grandson, you've brought back another scholar?
Chapter 342 Oh dear, my good grandson, you've brought back another scholar?
For a moment, the grandmother and grandson only had eyes for each other, and no one else.
It was the Ministry of Revenue clerk who escorted the landlord back who spoke up to remind them that the account books needed to be unloaded first, as they still had to go back and report.
"Oh dear, look at my memory! I forget everything as soon as I see my precious grandson. Please forgive me."
The coachman and the constable's lips twitched. What a precious grandson! This Lord Jiang, it's hard to believe he'd be such a doting elder.
Sigh, what's the use of being outstanding? Only outstanding children in the family can ensure generations of glory. Suddenly, I'm not so envious of officials anymore.
Every family has a few spendthrift sons, right? This young master of the Jiang family is obviously a spendthrift. Look at his whole demeanor; it's probably all made of silver.
"Butler Wen, find a few people to help move the account books."
With the help of the Jiang family's servants, the clerks in the Ministry of Revenue were happy to have some free time.
I was astonished by the extraordinary appearance of the landlord's grandson. He was probably not much less handsome than the empresses in the palace, and perhaps even more so.
Huh? Why would I compare a respectable man to women?
While they were busy moving the account books, Jiang Xiaoqi introduced his friend Wang Jue to Landlord Jiang.
Jiang Lin also led Jiang Yan and Jiang Hao forward to pay their respects to their great-uncle, Landlord Jiang.
"Good, good, good, you are all good children. I heard that you all passed the provincial examination. You are all young talents. You will definitely go further and higher than us old folks in the future."
Landlord Jiang patted Jiang Lin on the shoulder: "You ranked 88th in the provincial examination. You can also try your luck in the metropolitan examination. During this time, you and the rest of you will stay in Mingfei's courtyard and prepare for next year's spring examination together."
"Yes, Grand Uncle, that's exactly what we were thinking. We're just about to trouble your family."
"Oh dear, child, what are you saying! We're all from the same clan, why be so formal!"
He then patted Jiang Hao and Jiang Yan firmly on the shoulders, causing them to slump in shock.
My great-uncle is indeed still vigorous despite his old age!
"Then we won't stand on ceremony. For this exam, we really have to shamelessly stick by Mingfei's side and borrow his divine power as the top scholar to pull us good-for-nothing cousins back."
"Hahaha, what are you saying? You are all the most outstanding members of our Jiang clan. If you are not up to par, where will your uncles who have not yet passed the imperial examinations put their faces?"
All three of them scratched their heads sheepishly. At home, they rarely received such direct praise from respected elders. Mingfei's grandfather was indeed extraordinary.
However, they like it~
"This young master Wang is also a handsome man. He is not only a good friend of Mingfei, but also a fellow scholar who passed the imperial examination in the same year. Please stay at my home and study together. Don't be shy."
When you all graduate high school, all the hardships and pain you've experienced will become your best memories.
"Yes, sir!"
Looking at the green official robe, Old Wang finally addressed him as "Sir."
"Oh dear, why are you being so formal? Just call me Grandpa Jiang like Mingfei did!"
"Yes, Grandpa Jiang!"
Landlord Jiang's eyes were curved, and his wrinkles were full of smiles.
Landlord Jiang was genuinely happy, firstly because his beloved grandson had returned, and secondly because he had arrived in time.
Secondly, he was pleased that members of the Jiang family had achieved success, with several passing the imperial examinations.
The third thing is that I'm happy my grandson is clever enough; he's brought back another scholar-official friend.
Who was it that Mingfei lured back last time? Oh, it was my third granddaughter's husband! Haha!
Old Wang felt that Grandpa Jiang's gaze was a bit too intense. Although his ranking was not high, Grandpa Jiang did not look down on him at all and was so enthusiastic.
It is evident that the Chiang family had an extremely upright family tradition.
The six of them couldn't just chat at the door forever, so Jiang Xiaoqi and Jiang Hao helped Landlord Jiang through the gate, one on each side.
"Oh dear, I'm not that old yet. I'll walk by myself, hahaha."
By this time, the bailiffs watching the Jiang family servants move the account books were numb.
Okay~ He takes back his previous assessment of the Chiang family members!
Where is this not excellent? Where is this not hard-working? Where is this not enough to bring prosperity to the whole clan and uphold the family's honor?
He's blind. This family of scholars, so distinguished and virtuous, has no reason to worry about not having a place for the Jiang family in the capital or in the officialdom of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Who knows, he might one day rise to a prominent family and become a rising star!
The prosperity of a clan is nothing more than this.
It seems I'll have to be more polite to Lord Jiang from now on.
As expected of the Vice Minister, your judgment of people is spot on!
After everyone entered the mansion, Jiang Xiaoqi first settled his three cousins and friends in his courtyard.
Let the group rest for a while before they can settle their luggage themselves, leaving four clever but young servants to assist them.
"This is where I used to read every day. Please feel free to use any of the books on the shelves, brothers and king. Don't be shy."
The group looked around the huge study. Unlike the studies in ordinary homes, the study had three walls lined with bookshelves.
The bookshelves are filled with a wide variety of books, which shows that the owner of this study has a broad range of interests.
The bookshelves stretched all the way to the ceiling, and the books on the top shelf would probably require a ladder to reach. Indeed, they saw a small, exquisitely designed ladder next to the bookshelves.
In the middle of the bookshelf was a huge desk large enough for ten or so people to read and practice calligraphy together, surrounded by eighteen comfortable-looking chairs.
The ten sets of writing brushes, inkstones, and cigarette holders on the desk were neatly arranged, clearly indicating that someone regularly cleans and tidies them.
The group not only admired the extraordinary nature of the Jiang family in Beijing, but also their dedication and efforts in exploring and refining their knowledge.
Thinking that their own collection of books was less than a tenth or a twelfth of what was here, the group felt a sense of joy, like mice falling into a rice jar.
"As expected of a scholarly family, I, Old Wang, am convinced. This top scholar title belongs to you; otherwise, it would be a disservice to all these treasures in this room!"
"Haha, then we won't stand on ceremony. In the past, we didn't have many books at home, and sometimes it was hard to find the books we wanted to read in bookstores."
After all, many rare ancient books are collected by powerful families and nobles, and they are not made available to outsiders.
Mingfei, it's rare to find a scholar as generous and selfless as you.
Jiang Xiaoqi was well aware that many valuable books were monopolized by powerful and wealthy families, who cherished them dearly.
They didn't want to give money to the people they considered lowly, and they wanted to monopolize books and the dissemination of knowledge.
Little did they know that later generations had already restored these rare ancient books, which they regarded as treasures and wished to be buried with them, during the excavation of the ancient tombs.
The bookshelves on Jiang Xiaoqi's three walls now hold electronic versions of rare and ancient books that he copied from the system using a lot of points.
Of course, he had already replaced the copier font in the system with a font commonly used for book printing in Da Zhou.
Aside from the fact that the books are of better quality paper and are a bit too new, there's absolutely nothing else to tell the difference.