Chapter 637
The Way Out
The area in front of Zhang Fuyi's gate was quiet and peaceful.
Zhang Zhuo, Madam Zhang, Xu Shu, and Zhang Zheng all examined the relics with strange eyes, as if they were looking at rare objects.
Madam Zhang was silent for a moment, then stared intently at Chen Ji and asked, "What did you say?"
Chen Ji replied with a smile, "I said I have no plans to move out. Living at the Zhang family's house is great, and I want to live at the Zhang family's house."
Zhang Xia stared blankly at Chen Ji. Chen Ji wasn't reluctantly agreeing, nor was he compromising or enduring humiliation; he said, "I want to."
Madam Zhang said calmly, "Have you thought this through? Living in the Zhang family, people outside won't say you're a son-in-law of the Zhang family; they'll only say you're a live-in son-in-law. Wherever you go, people will point fingers at you, and every single thing you do will be said to be because you're relying on the Zhang family. Can you handle that?"
Xu Shu said with great interest, "Your mother-in-law isn't bluffing you. Your father-in-law has endured all this humiliation and hardship all these years... The worst fate for a man in our dynasty is to become a pimp, followed by becoming a live-in son-in-law, and then becoming a prince consort. Emperor Wenzong of our dynasty had a daughter who was considered the apple of his eye. Emperor Wenzong wanted to arrange a marriage between her and the Grand Secretary, and wanted to appoint the Grand Secretary's son as the prince consort. The Grand Secretary naturally refused. Just then, the imperial examinations were held, and a talented man named Zheng Xun appeared. The Grand Secretary then suggested to Emperor Wenzong that Zheng Xun be appointed as the prince consort."
Xu Shu gloated: "Emperor Wenzong also thought Zheng Xun was a good man, so he issued an edict to grant them marriage. Guess what happened next? After becoming the emperor's son-in-law, Zheng Xun went to great lengths to get into the Censorate as an imperial censor, and then impeached the chief minister every month for the rest of his life."
Madam Zhang glared at him: "You think you're so special? What's the connection between these two things?"
Xu Shu quickly shut his mouth.
Madam Zhang looked at Chen Ji: "Have you thought it through? Aren't you afraid people will talk behind your back?"
Chen Ji nodded: "I've thought it through. Let others say what they want."
Mrs. Zhang glanced at him, then at Zhang Xia, and said casually, "Let's go eat."
She turned and led the way to the inner hall of the Zhang family.
Inside the main room, there was only a small eight-immortal table, where the Zhang family of four usually ate. The table was just the right size.
Now that two more people have joined, it feels a bit crowded.
Xu Shu shamelessly took the lead and sat down on the east side, waving his hand and directing, "Everyone sit down, it'll be more lively if we squeeze in. Xia, you and Chen Ji squeeze in, sister, you and brother-in-law squeeze in, Zhang Zheng, let's each sit on one side, yes, yes, that's what a family should be like."
Madam Zhang looked at Zhang Zhuo beside her. They had been married for over twenty years. At first, they sat facing each other, but after having children, they sat separately to the north and east.
Even now, this is the first time she's had a meal squeezed together with Zhang Zhuo, and she feels extremely uncomfortable.
Madam Zhang cleared her throat and said to the door, "Nuanchun, go to Master Guo's place this afternoon and ask if he has any large tables ready. If not, go to the Bell and Drum Tower and buy a table that ordinary people use to tide you over until Master Guo makes a new one."
Before Nuanchun could answer, Xu Shu quickly said, "No, no, no, isn't this eight-immortal table nice? People can get closer together if they gather around."
Madam Zhang raised her voice: "Xu Shu! Who calls the shots in this house, you or me? Don't give me that airs. If you don't want to live in the Zhang family, then move out!"
Xu Shu still smiled shamelessly: "Sister, when the Xu family eats, we set up a big table for twenty people, but only a few people eat here and there. It feels like the house is going to lose its liveliness after just one meal. Brother-in-law, what do you think?"
Zhang Zhuo squeezed closer to his wife and said with a smile, "I also think this little eight-immortal table is quite nice."
Mrs. Zhang said irritably, "If you keep pushing, you'll be pushed off!"
She never mentioned changing the table again.
As the maid brought the food to the table, Zhang Xia suddenly said, "Mother, Xiaoman and the little monk have also moved into our house. I'd like them to come and eat with us too."
Madam Zhang frowned and asked, "Xiaoman, Chen Ji's little maid?"
Zhang Xia corrected, "Mother, Xiaoman and I have been sworn sisters for a long time. Back in Guyuan, if it weren't for her help, my brother and I definitely wouldn't have been able to come back to see you. I've mentioned that to you before."
Zhang Zheng chimed in, "Yes, we became sworn brothers a long time ago. That day at the Longmen Inn in Guyuan, if it weren't for her, Xia and I definitely wouldn't have made it back."
Zhang Zhuo chuckled and said, "Xiaoman is a nice girl."
Xu Shu also said loudly, "I heard that the little monk has the ability to read minds. I've always wanted to meet him, but unfortunately I haven't had the chance."
"You spend all your time in the Eight Great Hutongs, how could you possibly see any monks?" Madam Zhang said irritably, holding a blue-and-white porcelain bowl in her left hand. "Stop with this back-and-forth, just call them over for dinner."
Zhang Xia dashed out in a flash, and when she came back, she was with Xiao Man and the little monk.
Xiaoman stood timidly at the door and bowed to Zhang Zhuo and Madam Zhang: "Master, Madam."
Madam Zhang said indifferently, "I've heard Xia mention you before. You're all family now. Please sit down." Xiaoman responded with a soft "Yes."
Xu Shu pulled Zhang Zheng to his side, leaving Xiao Man and the little monk to squeeze to one side.
Madam Zhang looked at the table full of people, frowned for a long time, and finally sighed, "Let's eat!"
……
……
During the meal, Mrs. Zhang picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks, put it in her bowl, but did not eat it.
She looked at Chen Ji and said slowly, "What are your plans for the future? You can't just drift along like this, a nobody."
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Mother, I want to continue studying medicine at the Imperial Medical Academy."
Madam Zhang said firmly, "No, even if you become an imperial physician, you'll only reach the seventh rank. Even if you become the head of the Imperial Physician Academy, you'll only be a fifth rank!"
Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "What does Mother want me to do?"
Madam Zhang softened her tone: "Our dynasty selects officials through the imperial examination. Your father-in-law was a top scholar and rose through the ranks to become a cabinet minister. Although Xu Chuanxi was not a popular fellow, he was still a legitimate Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) and thus became the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Even Qi Xianzhun, who was expelled from the family genealogy, was a second-class Juren back then. You are only nineteen years old now, which is the perfect age for studying. If you are willing to work hard, you may be able to take the imperial examination after five years of diligent study."
Chen Ji remained silent.
Madam Zhang paused, her gaze sweeping over Chen Ji before settling on his face: "If you find the imperial examinations too slow, hereditary privilege is another option. Your father-in-law is now a Grand Secretary, and according to custom, he can grant one of his sons admission to the Imperial Academy. He is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, and after you have been admitted to the Academy for three years, he can secure you a position in one of the Six Ministries. In the old days, some students from the Imperial Academy rose through the ranks, becoming provincial governors of the third rank immediately after graduating. That's no longer possible, but gaining experience in the Six Ministries is a good alternative... It may be a bit slow, but it's better than joining the eunuch faction."
Upon hearing the words "eunuch faction," Zhang Zhuo paused for a moment as he picked up some food.
He glanced at Madam Zhang, wanting to speak, but was glared at by her and turned away.
Madam Zhang continued, “If you don’t want to go to the Imperial Academy, then go to the ‘Capital Guard Martial Arts Academy.’ You have rendered meritorious service in Guyuan. Although your title has been stripped, your name is on the merit list, and the Ministry of War will not deny it. After three years of training at the Capital Guard Martial Arts Academy, an ordinary person can only take a position as a centurion in a garrison. But you are a disciple of Master Wang. If he writes a letter of recommendation for you, you may be able to directly take a position as a fifth-rank chiliarch… If you can lead troops in the three major camps of the Imperial Guard, with your talent, you can also make a name for yourself in this chaotic world.”
The Imperial Guard Martial Arts Academy, located in Wuxue Hutong in the capital, was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War and was specifically established to train young officials of the Imperial Guard, guards, and sons of military meritors. The curriculum included the Seven Military Classics, military strategies from various dynasties, and also archery, horsemanship, battle formations, and etiquette.
Those who successfully complete their studies may inherit hereditary positions or be assigned to military or garrison posts. Those who excel may be appointed as centurions, with the most outstanding becoming commanders of a thousand.
Xu Shu tried to smooth things over, saying, "A person's life doesn't necessarily have to be about achieving great success..."
Madam Zhang angrily retorted, "Eat your food!"
Xu Shu: "Okay."
Madam Zhang put the chopsticks of vegetables into her mouth, chewed slowly, and swallowed before speaking again: "Chen Ji, I'm not forcing you. It's just that you're a grown man, you can't rely on your wife's family for the rest of your life. Xia is with you, you have to give her some dignity. When she goes out to socialize, if people ask her what her husband does, she can't say that you've been idle at home all this time, or she'll really become a live-in son-in-law."
Zhang Xia stopped eating: "Mother, he'd be more suited to be an instructor at the Imperial Guard Martial Arts Academy..."
Chen Ji gently touched her foot under the table.
Zhang Xia glanced at him and swallowed back the words she was about to say.
Madam Zhang said slowly and deliberately, "This is the rule in our dynasty. If you want to obtain a legitimate lineage, you have to follow these few paths. Also, don't even think about continuing to work for the eunuch faction. My Zhang family can't afford to lose face like that."
Seeing Chen Ji remain silent, Zhang Zhuo stepped in to smooth things over: "Chen Ji has just come out of the Censorate. It's too early to talk about these things now, Madam. Why don't we wait until after the Lantern Festival and into the spring to discuss this further? Let's eat!"
A few people swept away the remaining clouds like a whirlwind.
Zhang Xia was initially worried that Chen Ji wouldn't be able to relax, but Chen Ji ate with more gusto than anyone else.
Seeing that Xiaoman was a little reserved, she picked up food for Xiaoman one bite at a time with her chopsticks.
After a stick of incense had burned, Madam Zhang stared intently at the empty plate on the table. Usually, she would never finish the food, but today she had only eaten half full before the food on the table was gone.
She took a deep breath and instructed Nuanchun, "Tell the kitchen to prepare three times the usual amount of food from now on, and don't bring the rice in bowls anymore, just bring a rice bucket."
Nuanchun whispered, "Didn't you think it was unseemly to have the rice bucket on the table?"
Madam Zhang sneered, "There are already several good-for-nothings on the table, one more won't make a difference." (End of Chapter)