dkrc Chapter 305 It's possible, but unnecessary.
Chapter 305 It's possible, but unnecessary.
After the palace banquet ended, it was the eighteenth year of Shun'an.
In the blink of an eye, Wen Zongji has been in this world for more than three years.
Compared to his previous life, he now has a wife and children.
He thought he would grow old alone, but in just three short years since he came into this world, he has already formed a happy family.
Wen Zongji felt that God was still kind to him.
It's another year of the imperial examinations. Wen Zongji, who was once a participant, is now an observer.
Wangchun Tower
Wu Fengyuan invited Wen Zongji for drinks.
The two sat by the window, which was open, and looked at the people coming and going outside. Wu Fengyuan said, "With the imperial examination approaching, the surrounding inns are already full of scholars, and Xiangguo Temple has also taken in a group of people. In a little over a month, the top three in the first class will be determined."
Wen Zongji picked up his wine cup and took a sip: "What's wrong, Brother Wu? Are you reminiscing about the past and wanting to take the exam again? Or are you still hung up on losing to Brother Lu?"
Wu Fengyuan's face darkened: "No! Brother Wen, don't slander me. Nobody wants to go through the imperial examination again. Besides, I accept my defeat to my brother-in-law wholeheartedly."
Wen Zongji chuckled: "Brother Lu isn't here, Brother Wu, you don't need to be so cautious. You should know I'm not a gossip."
I was speaking from the heart.
"I see. It seems there's nothing reliable to reply to Brother Lu."
Wen Zongji looked regretful.
Wu Fengyuan's eyes widened: "Didn't you say you weren't a gossip?"
"Yes, how can writing a letter be considered gossipy?"
Wu Fengyuan: "...You're something else! After spending a few months in the Ministry of Revenue, Brother Wen has become even more cunning."
"What have you learned during your time at the Ministry of Personnel, Brother Wu?"
"What can I learn?" Wu Fengyuan complained. "My father stays in the Wenyuan Pavilion all day and doesn't come to the Ministry of Personnel. Others won't make things difficult for me because of my father, but they also won't let me do any work. All I do every day is look at case files. It's not as good as having something to do in the Hanlin Academy."
To put it bluntly, Wu Fengyuan was being supported by other people in the Ministry of Personnel.
Compared to Wen Zongji's thriving career in the Ministry of Revenue, Wu Fengyuan achieved virtually nothing in the Ministry of Personnel.
Wen Zongji frowned: "Didn't Grand Secretary Wu say anything?"
Is Wu Yangeng just going to watch his son waste his time? That shouldn't be the case.
Wu Fengyuan sighed: "My father probably wanted me to handle it myself, so he didn't interfere."
Wen Zongji frowned: "I think Brother Wu should ask Grand Secretary Wu the most."
"My father has always been like this, always saying that you should only do what you are capable of, and he never gives me any special treatment."
Wen Zongji replied, "If Grand Secretary Wu were truly so, he wouldn't have allowed Brother Wu to enter the Ministry of Personnel. I think Brother Wu should take the initiative to seek Grand Secretary Wu's help. You are father and son; it's only natural for you to use Grand Secretary Wu's position for personal gain. Do you think people won't have any doubts if you don't use this connection?"
"Find opportunities to do things. Only by doing things can you achieve results. When you make achievements, people will look at you regardless of your status as the son of Wu Ge Lao."
Wen Zongji had a deep understanding of this.
In the eyes of outsiders, he was previously the husband of the Princess of Anhe County and the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Zhongyong.
But nowadays, when anyone mentions Wen Zongji, the first thing that comes to mind is the Beijing Daily, and then they will think of that sky-high auction where a small courtyard house was sold for over a million taels of silver.
This auction, orchestrated by Wen Zongji, left an even deeper impression on people.
It's already quite appropriate to bring up Wen Zongji's other identities.
He is just himself!
Wu Fengyuan had indeed been sidelined for a long time. After hearing Wen Zongji's words, he gritted his teeth and said, "Then I'll go back and give it a try."
When will Brother Lu return to the capital?
Wu Fengyuan said, "It's still early. The provincial surveillance commissions in various parts of the Great Chu need to be reorganized and restructured. My brother-in-law will become an inspector, not stationed in a specific prefecture, but helping the Censorate to complete the reorganization as quickly as possible."
"Having experienced many things, my brother-in-law has become much more ruthless. He wrote to me recently, saying that he had gotten several officials dismissed from their posts."
Wen Zongji didn't seem to care much about this: "People always change. If a censor isn't ruthless enough, it's easy for others to take advantage of him, and he might be negligent, allowing those who should be punished to escape punishment."
Wu Fengyuan nodded: "Brother Wen is right. My father also said that it's good for my brother-in-law to gain more experience outside."
Although he has the Wu family as a backer, it's impossible for the Wu family to give him resources just because he's their son-in-law. Lu Nian'an still has to prove himself.
Only when he has made enough achievements will the Wu family help him get promoted or transferred back to the capital.
From this perspective, it seems that there is not much the Wu family can do to help Lu Nian'an.
However, without help, Lu Nian'an might have to wait several years or even more than a decade to be transferred back to the capital.
Therefore, although the Wu family will not directly provide Lu Nian'an with resources, they can help him out at the most critical moment.
After discussing Lu Nian'an's matter, he brought up the recent changes in the capital last year: "The Ministry of Revenue is now buying land and building houses everywhere, is that all due to your influence, Brother Wen?"
After all, news of the astronomical price paid for the courtyard had already spread throughout the capital.
Wen Zongji has, to some extent, become synonymous with making a lot of money.
Wen Zongji smiled but remained silent.
If he were to say that the house-building project was not influenced by him, but was his idea, Wu Fengyuan would likely be in serious trouble.
Wen Zongji thought to himself that he was a good person and was determined not to do things that would break other people's moral compass, so he neither admitted nor denied it.
Wu Fengyuan shook his head and chuckled: "The Ministry of Revenue, which was doing so well, is almost turning into the Ministry of Works. It's either buying land or building houses. Aren't the people in the Ministry of Works worried that you're taking away their jobs?"
"How could that be!" Wen Zongji retorted, "The Ministry of Revenue only offers suggestions and discusses details; the Ministry of Works is responsible for the actual construction of the houses. We don't have the ability to take over the Ministry of Works' work."
"I don't think it'll be far off."
As the two talked, time gradually passed, and as darkness fell, Wen Zongji said, "I must return to my residence."
Wu Fengyuan said, "It's so late, why don't we have dinner together before you leave?"
Wen Zongji shook his head: "I promised my wife I would have dinner with her when I got back."
Wu Fengyuan chuckled: "It's just dinner. Just send someone back to inform the county princess... Don't tell me you don't even have the right to make this decision."
Wen Zongji still stood up: "Yes, but it's unnecessary."
"Alright, I'll go back home too."
He's not unmarried; he has a gentle and virtuous wife waiting for him when he returns home.
The two left Wangchun Tower together, said their goodbyes, and boarded a carriage to return home.