The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 66

[66.Chapter 66 Passed down from ancestors]

For scholars, without books, it is impossible to broaden their horizons.

Things are different now. Fang Jifan has money. He can buy all the manuscripts and anthologies printed on the market and read them at will. What’s more, Ouyang Zhi and the other three were selected as candidates, and their statuses were completely different. They began to meet friends through literature from time to time, and their knowledge improved a lot.

Fang Jifan treated these three guys in a free-range way. However, in order to prepare for next year’s general examination, Fang Jifan gave them a lot of questions. There is more time now, but Fang Jifan clearly knows the questions for next spring’s general examination. In the twelfth year of Hongzhi’s reign, Emperor Hongzhi ordered Li Dongyang, Prince Shaobao’s Minister of Rites and a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, and Cheng Minzheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and a bachelor of the Imperial Academy, to be the examiners of the joint examination. Fang Jifan also knew all about the joint examination questions and palace examination questions. .

However, this time there will be a small episode in the examination, which will involve the examiner Cheng Minzheng and Jiangnan talented scholar Xu Jing and Tang Yin’s imperial examination fraud case.

This… is a unique trial.

Fang Jifan changed his mind and smiled slightly.

As for Ouyang Zhi and the others, Fang Jifan has nothing to worry about, because he really won’t cheat, and he doesn’t plan to have anything to do with any future examiners. He only needs to ask some ‘questions’, and then hide the real questions in the sea of questions. , just let three students go to composition training.

Ouyang Zhi and the three of them really worked extremely hard to prepare for the exam. From early morning to midnight, they worked hard on solving questions and reading crazily, without daring to slack off at all.

Unexpectedly, they would have such leisurely feelings today.

Fang Jifan looked at Ouyang Zhi and the others with an expression like “I am your father”. He sat down and dusted himself off. “Oh, hello, why don’t you study today?”

The three of them looked at each other and then looked towards Master Fang Jinglong.

Fang Jinglong grinned and said: “My father has had a sudden thought recently. Well, that’s it. Son, my father went to check the account the day before yesterday. Hey… there is a lot of money missing. If this continues, how can we get it? How can we sell it?” Ebony’s millions of taels of silver, because of you, the cash at home is almost empty, leaving only a shop in Dongshi and a village outside the city. Successor, my father is looking forward to you. If you don’t expect anything else, you just have to protect our shop and property. Don’t be angry. Don’t be angry. What I want to say is that this is all my fault as a father. In the past, I neglected to teach you. For the sake of our Fang family’s last resort. He has little family wealth, so as a father, he must set an example.”

He looked at Ouyang Zhi and the others with admiration, and said with relief, “These three disciples have read books, and people who have read books have different ideas. What is enlightenment? Enlightenment means teaching by words and deeds, right, Ouyang disciple…”

Ouyang Zhi nodded in shame: “Yes, yes, yes, what the master said is right.”

Fang Jinglong spread his legs and spread his legs. Sitting upright, he said excitedly: “Today, as a father, I will teach you by words and deeds how to live frugally.”

Fang Jifan was stunned for a while when he listened, and he dared to bring in foreign aid.

It’s just… Fang Jifan looked at Ouyang Zhi’s three apprentices, your sister, you are my apprentices, but you went to teach your mentor’s father to deal with your mentor?

When Ouyang Zhi saw Enfu’s aggressive gaze, he was immediately frightened and did not dare to express his anger. He lowered his head and said, “The disciple deserves to die.”

Fang Jifan smiled in his heart. These three people did not dare to express their anger in front of him. Is he so scary? Hey, in fact, I am a motivated young man just like you. However, he still had to look like a playful smile, with his feet raised, his nostrils turned upward, snorted, and his eyes only looked at the beams.

Fang Jinglong laughed. He was afraid that his “precepts and deeds” would make his son uncomfortable, so he tried his best to use a more tactful tone so as not to irritate his son.

My son still has a brain disease, so don’t over-stimulate him.

“This is a teaching by words and deeds, cough cough… To put it bluntly, it is to be diligent and frugal in running the house. How to run the house diligently and frugally? It means that money should not be spent and cannot be spent carelessly. Of course, Fan’er, my father did not say that you spent money carelessly. , The meaning of being a father is like the weather is so cold now. If you don’t burn charcoal, you will freeze to death, right?”

Fang Jifan looked at his father in confusion. I can’t understand what this most failed parenting expert in history wants to do.

When Fang Jinglong said this, he lamented in his heart, he was poor, really poor. Only after he checked the account of the accounting room, he realized that these millions of silver coins were spent like running water. Not only that, it was also embarrassing. Now Everyone on the street doesn’t know that his son has become a money-spreading boy.

We can’t go on like this. I’m afraid Fan’er won’t be able to defeat this family for a few years, so… we must learn from the painful experience and let Fan’er be the head of the family before we know how expensive firewood and rice are.

“But look, the price of carbon in this season is really rapid. One pound has risen to more than 40 cents. It’s really terrible.” Fang Jinglong looked distressed, but then he smiled again: “Since you have to take care of the family, then You have to save money. You see, as a father, you can’t keep your family cold, but you can’t spend money carelessly. Fan’er, look at this…”

He pointed to the brazier on the ground.

Only then did Fang Jifan notice that the brazier under his feet was steaming, as if… it was not burning charcoal, but briquettes.

“Do you know what this is?” Fang Jinglong hesitated.

Fang Jifan blurted out: “Anthracite…”

“Huh?” Fang Jinglong was stunned: “Haha, my son is well-informed. Haha, to tell you the truth, this anthracite has become popular in the past two days. Someone sent a few kilograms to the British public. The British public tried it and the effect was very good. It was more interesting than charcoal. Fan’er, do you feel very warm now? This anthracite is really good. Of course, this is not the point. The point is that it is cheap. My father spent a lot of effort to buy it. It is said that it is only a trial sale and only supplies a few hundred kilograms. My father bought it because he wanted to buy it. Let me tell you a truth, you should spend the money that should be spent, and you should not let yourself freeze and starve. However, there is really no need to spend the money that should not be spent. Think about it, is there a sense in burning this anthracite now? Do you think those who burn charcoal are the biggest fools in the world? “

…” Fang Jifan suppressed his blush and hesitated to speak.

Fang Jinglong seemed to feel that his words and deeds were effective, and he immediately cheered up and said with joy: “When buying things, you have to buy high-quality and low-priced things. This is the truth. In fact, I spent so much money with you to buy Xishan. The wasteland in Xishan is like a person who buys charcoal. People will make fun of him if he buys it… Do you… understand what it means to be a father? “

Fang Jinglong blinked desperately, hoping that his son would wake up.

Fang Jifan shook his head: “I don’t quite understand.”

“It’s not clear yet…” Fang Jinglong slapped his thigh, a little anxious, and wanted to continue explaining.

Fang Jifan was already annoyed, but he said casually: “But this anthracite coal is produced in Xishan.”

Fang Jinglong laughed loudly: “Coal produced in Xishan, um… you said… eh? Anthracite coal produced in Xishan …”

Fang Jinglong’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Fang Jifan slapped the document with a bang, which made Fang Jinglong and Ouyang Zhi startled. Fang Jifan said: “This anthracite coal is indeed produced in Xishan. Dad… you are prodigal. This coal is in the hands of your son.” It’s worthless, why do you ask others to buy it? Just pick it up in your own land, it’s worthless! How can I have a father like this, who has tens of cents? Money, you have ruined it like this. Now I finally understand why others call me a prodigal son. When I drink water, think about the source, and get to the bottom of it, this is all because of your misalignment. You led me astray!”

“…” Fang Jinglong! The old man’s face turned red at first. This righteous rebuke seemed to him very reasonable. This teaching by words and deeds… seemed to have failed.

But then, Fang Jinglong’s body shook.

wrong.

Is coal produced in Xishan?

So… Xishan belongs to the Fang family again.

is it possible?

“Fan’er, don’t scare me?” Fang Jinglong muttered: “We are not joking.”

Fang Jifan yelled: “Are you kidding? If not, how would I know anthracite!”

Suddenly, Fang Jinglong’s physical condition The reflex seemed to shudder.

He touched his forehead first and felt a little dizzy.

Extremely sleepy.

But then, his eyes widened like bells, and he laughed wildly like rubble: “Hahahaha… my ancestors were virtuous, and I, Fang Jinglong, teach my children well!”

Fang Jifan looked at Fang Jinglong strangely, and a terrible thought came into his heart. I thought, my shamelessness must be inherited from my ancestors, hmm… it must be so.

(End of chapter)