And Xiao Yong is still his son. Although the Xiao family is relatively harmonious, there is also internal competition, and several heads of households are also fighting privately. His son has become the first person in the family, and every head of the house will ask for their help.

With one room, they might be able to hold the family's power in their hands.

But compared to Xiao Zhuo and his son, Xiao Tong's mood is certainly not that good. Although he has always been careless in reading, he has always been regarded as a seed for reading because he is very smart and no one in the family can match him. He also thinks highly of himself and always thinks that he will be the best.

He was the first person in his clan to pass the exam, but in the end, Xiao Yong, who he had never considered as his opponent, won the exam first. How could he be so happy?

But just as Xiao Zhuo wanted to take care of his mood, the person who won the election was also his brother after all. Xiao Tong couldn't help but look too ugly, so he could only force out a smile and said: "Congratulations to the thirteenth brother."

"Sixth Brother, you," Xiao Yong was about to say 'Tongxi' when he suddenly realized what he was about to say and hurriedly stopped what he was about to say. However, he didn't know what to say and was stunned. Xiao Tong didn't know what to say either, and the atmosphere

Suddenly it became a little stiff.

At the critical moment, Jiang was still old and spicy. Seeing that the atmosphere between their brothers was not right, Xiao Zhuo quickly said a few words to resolve the awkward atmosphere, and then said: "Yong'er, since the imperial list has come out, you

There’s no need to live here anymore, just move back to the business building with me today. Pack your things right away.”

"Sixth nephew, I was really negligent as an uncle. The house you originally lived in in the merchant house was given to him because a person with whom you were acquainted came from Shanghai. But I didn't expect that he would stay there as soon as he stayed in the capital.

It's been more than a month and he still hasn't left. Our family can't evict him, we can only let him continue to live there."

"Unfortunately, there are many old friends who have come to the capital these days, and the upper room has been given to them. Your thirteenth brother can only live in my outer room when he goes back. It is a room suitable for you for the time being. It just so happens that this inn is

Our family has rented the house for a few more days, so you can stay in the inn for a few more days and then move back when the man leaves." He said to Xiao Tong again.

"Ah!" Xiao Yong didn't think too much, and suddenly became frustrated. He likes to do business. Although he can get in touch with his own business in the store, Xiao Zhuo was also very strict with him in the past and found that he was learning to do business.

Business was a struggle, and he didn't want to live with Xiao Zhuo. But he couldn't go against his father's words, so he could only start packing his luggage with a shrug.

But Xiao Tong guessed Xiao Zhuo's intention. In fact, Xiao Zhuo's intention was easy to see, but Xiao Yong didn't have this string in his mind at this time. Passing the exam is something worthy of celebration by the whole family.

If we were in our hometown, the clan would probably have dressed up, beating gongs and drums to publicize the fact that Xiao Yong was elected, and would have held a running water banquet for three days. Anyone who passed by, no matter what you did, or whether you had any friendship with the Xiao family,

Everyone can come and eat at the flowing water table to publicize this matter, even if they are laughed at behind the back by the local gentry, they don’t care.

Now they can't afford to set up a flowing-water banquet in the capital, not to mention that it's not appropriate to just set up a flowing-water banquet in a place like the capital. However, they have to invite people who have friendships and business dealings with their family to hold banquets, and even invite famous people in the capital.

The opera troupe came to the business hall to hold a meeting and celebrate lively.

But the more lively it was, the more uncomfortable it was for Xiao Tong, who failed to pass the examination, so Xiao Zhuo found other excuses to let him stay in the inn for a few more days.

"Then my nephew will stay at the inn for a few more days." Xiao Tong was not in the mood to attend the banquet held for Xiao Yong, so he agreed with his hands raised.

Xiao Zhuo said a few more words to him, Xiao Yong packed his luggage, and the father and son left together, leaving only Xiao Tongyi.

His back was straight when he said goodbye to Xiao Zhuo and his son, but after they left, his figure suddenly became lonely.

…

…

"How many guests have been invited?" In the evening at the Xiao family's business store in the capital, a slightly plump man greeted another group of guests, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and lost his voice.

road.

"Almost everyone from Beijing who has friendship with our family has been invited here." The other tall disciple said.

"We have invited so many people, what's wrong with Mr. Liu?"

"Can't you tell? The thirteenth young master has won the imperial examination. He is the first person in our family to win the imperial examination! If he were in his hometown, he would probably be able to line up a line of lanterns along the courtyard wall and set up a flowing table for three days. This is why we held such a banquet

There are many people, but it’s nothing.”

"Of course I also know that the Thirteenth Young Master has won the election! I also know how to celebrate in my hometown! But isn't it in the capital? The Sixth Master has always been low-key, why is he so high-profile today?" said the fat man.

"It's not because the Thirteenth Young Master is the Sixth Master's biological son!" Seeing that no guests came at this time, the two of them leaned on the door frame to relax their legs and feet, and the tall doorman leaned into the fat doorman's ear and whispered: "Thirteenth Young Master"

Since the young master can win the imperial examination, he may not be able to win the Jinshi in the future. As for the merchants in Beijing who do big business, who does not have a noble or an official behind him? Our family and Mr. Zheng (Zheng faction) are special cases. Today, the Holy Shangqin

Ordered.”

"So the Sixth Master called all these people who have friendships and asked the Thirteenth Young Master to meet them in advance to see if he can establish friendship with the nobles and officials behind them. If he wins the Jinshi next year, one

If you take an official position, you will have someone to help you. Our family still has money, and the thirteenth young master is not very young. He may not be able to wait until he becomes a second- or third-rank official."

"Even if the Thirteenth Young Master cannot pass the Jinshi exam next year, Juren will not be like a scholar who wants to study in the Imperial College. There is only one quota per county every year, and you need to choose from thousands of people. Juren can directly enter the school, and you can also become an official after graduation. Although the Imperial College

It’s not easy to be a high-ranking official from birth, but you are still an official, so it’s not a waste of time to make friends in advance.”

"So that's it. I said that Mr. Six always pays careful attention to business and never spends money that shouldn't be spent. So that's what he had in mind." Fat Menzi sighed in admiration.

He was about to say something more, but at this time another guest came, with an unusual status. He was a businessman affiliated with the Neiguan Yamen. His surname was Zhang, and he was regarded as an imperial merchant. According to the concept at this time, the imperial merchant was certainly better than Xiao Xiao.

Free merchants like Jia Jia had a high status, so when they saw the guards riding ahead, they rushed to greet them.

Zhang Huangshang got down from the carriage and saw that the two of them were so attentive. He asked a servant to give them a reward and then walked in with the rest of them.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang, for the reward! Thank you, Brother Su!" The two of them said hurriedly. Since Zhang Huangshang often communicated with their family, they knew the servant who gave the reward, so they thanked him by the way.

"But you shouldn't say that. If the master hears it, I will be in trouble." The servant named Su said with a smile.

"Brother Su, come in and sit down for a while?" The fat doorman joked with him for a while and said to him: "The flowing mat inside the door will not be set up until all the guests have arrived. There is no place to sit if you go in now."

"Then I'll sit down for a while." Brother Su was not polite and walked into the concierge to sit and rest. The fat concierge and the tall concierge took turns to go in and rest for a while.

"Your sixth master's son won the national examination. Will he be excited now? I heard that he is only seventeen years old, and he won the seventh place in Asia. He will have a bright future in the future!" Brother Su said.

"This is natural." The fat man was also quite proud.

Brother Su praised Xiao Yong a few words, such as saying that he was young and promising, and that he had a bright future. Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he asked: "Is this ten or thirteen young master of yours getting married?"

Have you made a decision yet? If you haven't made a decision yet, you will definitely be able to marry the daughter of a family with a higher status, even the daughter of an official."

"I haven't gotten married yet, and I haven't made an appointment yet." The fat man said: "In the past, my sixth master's reputation in his hometown was not very good, and he was unwilling to marry his daughter to him if he was well-matched. Besides, the thirteenth master was still young at the time, so he didn't want to marry him.

in a hurry."

"When the Thirteenth Young Master was selected as a scholar and his family was well-off, he was willing to get married. However, the Sixth Master himself was unwilling. He said that the Thirteenth Young Master was so young that he might be able to win the imperial examination in the future, so he refused. So there is no engagement yet."

"But this time I won the prize, so it's time to get engaged."

"If I were the sixth master of your Xiao family, I would not betroth him at this time. If he passes the Jinshi exam next year, I will definitely be able to marry the daughter of a family with a higher family status. Moreover, he is only seventeen years old and will be eighteen next year.

I'm not in a hurry." When he heard that Xiao Yong was not engaged, Brother Su's eyes flashed, and then he said nonchalantly.

"Who knows what Mr. Six thinks?"

The fat doorman wanted to say more. At this time, another guest came. He hurriedly went out to greet them. Brother Su also left the concierge and entered the courtyard of Xiao's store.

Needless to say, it was a lively night. Xiao Zhuo, Xiao Yong and his son both drank a lot of wine. Even after drinking sobering soup, they were drunk. They got up early the next day and hung around for more than an hour. They didn't wake up completely until noon.

Xiao Zhuo ordered the kitchen to cook some light food and brought it to have lunch with his son.

He glanced at Xiao Yong and saw that he was still a little depressed. No wonder, he had never socialized before, and he had only tasted drinking at clan gatherings. He had never drank so much, so it was normal that he couldn't adapt to it for a while.

"If you drink a few more times in the future, it won't be like this. But you will be in the officialdom in the future, and officialdom always pays attention to dignity. Generally, people are not allowed to drink so much, so it won't be of much use if you practice this." Xiao Zhuo said with a smile.

.

"Yes, father." Xiao Yong said weakly.

"Eat something first. Father has something to tell you." Xiao Zhuo added. He originally wanted to tell him something right away, but seeing him like this, he could only postpone it.

"whats the matter?"

"It's something that's closely related to you. Don't ask about it. Eat quickly. Dad will tell you after you finish."

After hearing Xiao Zhuo's words, Xiao Yong cheered up and started eating.

He quickly finished the food in front of him and felt better. Xiao Zhuo smiled at him and said, "What dad wants to tell you is your life-long event."

"What are your plans? What kind of family do you want to marry? Is it a very wealthy businessman, a half-official and half-businessman, or a daughter of an official?"

"What kind of woman do you want to marry? Someone who is quieter, more bookish, or more lively?"

Hearing Xiao Zhuo's words, Xiao Yong was a little embarrassed. Before he was thirteen years old, he had a thief's heart, but the tools were not yet mature. When the tools matured, the clan forced him to study without sleep and food, and all the servants around him were servants.

opportunity, so I am still a virgin and not comfortable with this topic.

"You don't have to be so embarrassed. You are already seventeen. Tomorrow dad will take you to the Qinhuai River to taste what it's like to be a woman."

Xiao Zhuo laughed twice, then his face became serious, and he said to him seriously: "If it can be delayed, I don't want to talk to your father right now. But after you win the election, someone in the clan will definitely think about it.

If we want to arrange your marriage, if they decide it first, even your father will not be able to take it back. After all, the clan leader is not your grandfather, nor is he your father or me."

"So this matter must be settled as soon as possible. Even if you say you want to wait until next year's exam, there is still a rule. We father and son will go back to our hometown and make things clear to the clan leader, so that they will not control your life.

Big things, use your life's big things for your own benefit. You will be an official in the future. Unless the wife has no children, it is despised for an official to divorce his wife. It will be difficult to get promoted, unlike others who are dissatisfied with their wives.

You can still divorce your wife."

"I also don't want you to have a bad relationship with your future wife. The so-called family is harmonious, but the family is not stable, and things outside can't be done well."

"So I want to ask you what you think. As long as you don't say that you will consider it after the test next year, we will find it according to your idea. I will pick up your mother from her hometown in a few days and visit each family or invite others.

When you come to our home as a guest, be sure to choose one that suits your taste."

After listening to Xiao Zhuo's words, Xiao Yong's face became even redder. It took him a while to recover. He thought about it seriously and said, "It's a blessing to pass the provincial examination this time. According to what Mr. Shi said at home, I can't even pass the examination."

I can’t win. The chance of being so lucky in the exam next year may be too small. It would be bad if I fail by then. It’s better to make the decision this year.”

"I miss you just like your father. So what kind of woman do you like?" Xiao Zhuo asked again.

"Well, I don't like people who are too rigid, and I don't like people who are quiet, but it's not good to be too lively; they can't be those who haven't read, but they can't be those who have studied to death;..." Xiao Yong said a few of his requirements
To be continued...