Chapter 33: Tensions Are High

Blessings arrive on the second day of the first lunar month: Firecrackers are set off for the New Year; the reunion dinner is delicious; people are reunited and joyful; the family is happy and blessed; the peace talisman is a cover for the home; the lucky lot is drawn; everything goes well in the new year !

"Mr. Zeng, there is really nothing we can do about the store. Mr. Zhang insists on going upstairs. There is really nothing we can do about it."

At this moment, the shopkeeper had quickly arrived at the wine table and carefully informed Zeng Yuanshu of the situation. After all, they had reserved the third floor today, but he could not hold Young Master Zhang steady.

Zeng Yuanshu heard the arrogant voice downstairs early in the morning. There were not many people in Pengze County who dared to deny him face like this, so one person came downstairs.

Looking at the Xiangyun girl with a pale face, Zeng Yuanshu knew that in fact they had just suffered a disaster in the fish pond, but he did not expect that this person who was so busy celebrating the New Year would not stop bickering and fighting. , but now that the New Year has not even ended, I’m looking for a place again.

"Let them come up."

Zeng Yuanshu didn't want to make things difficult for the people in Jingshui Tower. This was not his style.

Over there, Wei Guangde knew who was coming after Wu Dong quietly explained. He was also a famous family in Zepeng County.

Among the three major families in Zepeng County, Zeng Chen and Zhang, this Zhang Haochu is now the eldest brother of the younger generation of the Zhang family. He is usually just arrogant, but he does not do anything to bully his neighbors. Although he met Zeng Yuanshu, he was not on good terms with her. , but at least nod, it’s still acceptable in terms of face.

However, the bad relationship between the two has only happened in the past two years. They are both scholars, so they naturally compete for fame.

The last time they took part in the imperial examination, both Zeng Yuanshu and Zhang Haochu went. Everyone was happy to pass the county examination, but things changed when they got to the government examination.

After the results of the government examination were announced, Zeng Yuanshu, Wu Dong and Ma Xiang all successfully passed the test and won Tong Sheng. However, Zhang Haochu, who had promised to capture Tong Sheng at the beginning, failed the examination.

It turns out that failure is normal. More than 90% of candidates fail in every exam. In fact, everyone knows it.

But the bad thing was that the day before the results were released, when a dozen Zepeng students were discussing the exam questions, Zhang Haochu also ridiculed the articles written by Zeng Yuanshu and Wu Dong, thinking that they had no hope of taking the exam.

After the list was published the next day, Zhang Haochu, the young master, was very disappointed and left Jiujiang Fucheng without saying a word.

Normally, this matter would end here, but when Zeng Yuanshu, Wu Dong and others happily returned to Zepeng County, they found out that just two days ago, there were rumors in Zepeng County that they bribed the prefect to teach. , there were rumors that he had obtained the qualification to be a child student.

Such rumors spread quickly and had already spread all over the world by the time they returned to Zepeng County.

In fact, the qualifications for childbirth in the Ming Dynasty are really worthless to be honest. They don't have any preferential treatment. They are just the qualifications to participate in the college examination.

Generally speaking, local officials, that is, county magistrates and magistrates, would turn a blind eye and let the children of local wealthy families pass smoothly during the county and prefecture examinations, and would not deliberately impose thresholds.

Zhang Haochu probably thought that it was for this reason that he would pass the childbirth examination very smoothly. However, an accident happened unexpectedly. He did not follow common sense this time as the prefect of Jiujiang.

Zeng Yuanshu asked someone to investigate the source of the rumor, and soon found out that the rumor was first spread by a servant of the Zhang family. It was hard to say whether it was Zhang Haochu's instruction.

Everyone is well aware of many things. Children of big families generally would not spread such rumors. After all, the prefect is involved. Although this is Zepeng, the prefect may not know what is going on here.

Of course Wu Dong and the others also told Zeng Yuan about this matter, but they couldn't say much. They didn't know whether it was Zhang Haochu who said it or his friends who wanted to please him. When the servants heard this, they thought it was the young master who failed the exam. the truth.

Zeng Yuanshu also approached Zhang Haochu in private, but Zhang Haochu ignored him and joked that "if you are upright, you are not afraid of a slanted shadow", which made Zeng Yuanshu half angry.

There were even more rumors after that, and it was said that the college examination also bribed people's joints, and that the Jinke scholars would definitely win. It was also said that if they failed, it would be because the news was leaked, and they were afraid that they would not be able to escape the public opinion.

In short, it completely blocked Zeng Yuanshu's path to the college entrance examination. No matter whether they passed or failed, they couldn't escape from cheating.

The conflict between the two parties finally broke out after Zeng Yuanshu and others failed in the college entrance examination. The two groups met unexpectedly in a restaurant in Zepeng County. At first, they used guns and sticks in their words and made insinuations. Finally, the angry few people finally fought.

Fortunately, the few scholars were used to being domineering, and their fighting ability was really not that good. Although they all had bruises on their noses and faces, they were not serious, just superficial injuries.

After that, the number of entourages the two went out increased rapidly, and there was almost always a big fight when they met after that.

As for the elders of the two families, they did not come forward on this issue. They seemed to want to test the abilities of the younger ones.

This is what Wei Guangde guessed. Anyway, he knew that he had done something before.

Wei Guangde glanced at his cousin. This was the future Master of Qianhu, but he actually had no fighting ability at all. It was really hard to say.

"They are fighting like this, and the county magistrate doesn't care?"

Wei Guangde was surprised and asked in a low voice.

"It doesn't matter. If you don't have a good name, you won't be promoted to an official.

If someone breaks something, they will pay for it, and no one will sue the officials. As long as no one is killed, everything will be fine. "

Wu Dong whispered to Wei Guangde: "Our county magistrate is a true gentleman who practices the way of a gentleman. What he preaches is to govern by doing nothing. If anyone complains, he will be sent back to the villagers for mediation.

If you really want to sue the official, just give it a slap in the face whether it is justified or not.

In his eyes, those who make trouble are unruly people who refuse to obey the king's rule and have no courtesy and humility in their hearts. "

Hearing his cousin say this, Wei Guangde felt speechless.

"So what do you do when there are disputes in the county now? Solve them privately directly?"

"Of course, in the end it depends on who has the bigger fist and the stronger background.

I heard that there are no more than ten lawsuits in our county a year. When reported, it is said that the county lord has good governance, and the local people are also gentle and live and work in peace and contentment. Anyway, our Zepeng County does not pick up things on the road and does not lock the door at night. "

Speaking of this, Wu Dong himself laughed.

Now the Zeng family and the Zhang family have a fight almost every month. Sometimes when he encounters it, he will ask his followers to help. His followers are all family generals raised by Wu Qianhu, who are very good at fighting.

"It's not quiet even during the New Year. Will there be a fight today?"

Wei Guangde asked in a low voice.

When he said this, his eldest brother Wei Wencai was already on the side with his eyes shining.

"Normally, there should be a fight. "

Wu Dong's answer made Wei Guangde feel speechless, as if he was also a little eager to try.

When he was talking, everyone had already come up, not only Zhang Haochu and his group of friends and followers, but also the people brought by Zeng Yuanshu and Wu Dong, and the entire third floor was full of people.

The shopkeeper of Jingshui Building was wiping his sweat on the side, waiting for the next war.

Zeng Yuanshu didn't wait for Zhang Haochu to speak, he slapped the table with his right hand and stood up and said: "Zhang Haochu, I didn't teach you a lesson last time, and you dare to ask for a fight on New Year's Day."

After saying this, he turned his head and said to Liu Yumu and Xiangyun: "You have nothing to do here, go down."

Facing the two groups of people who were on the verge of a fight, the people in Fanghua Building had already been trembling with fear. When they heard Zeng Yuanshu's words, they hurriedly bowed to the two groups in the field and fled downstairs.