Through the exchange of benefits, Zhang Zhong's appointment was settled.
Zhang Xiaobao was very satisfied with this arrangement. He would only feel at ease when he used the things he got at a price. It was worth it to buy the right to choose the local official position freely with the sleigh and the skis.
This was not a simple local official. It represented a kind of strength. How many people in the Tang Empire could choose their own official position?
In addition to this, there was also the matter caused by Lv Yanzuo, who had always been petty and wanted to make trouble for Zhang Zhong.
Ever since he was taught a lesson by Zhang Zhong in Hua Yuan County, he had not given up. The last time he sent Zhang Zhong to Lu Zhou, he found out later that he was fooled. Lu Zhou was going to Ling Nan anyway. Without his' help ', Zhang Zhong would have to pay more if he went there first.
Zhang Xiaobao could understand Lv Yanzuo's thoughts. It was not that he was a bad person. If he was really bad, he would have impeached his father when he was in Lu Zhou.
He just wanted to see his father suffer. That way, he would feel better.
In terms of ability, Zhang Xiaobao had to admit that Lv Yanzuo was indeed extraordinary. He was just an assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, not the Ministry of Rites. How could he persuade the imperial court to 'reward' the Zhang family with decorations on the streets during the Lantern Festival?
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not know what to say when they heard the news. There were still 11 days before the 15th. They were in Sanshui County now. It would take them four days to get there, and they had to ride fast horses. Time was a little tight.
"Xiao Bao, Cuckoo, you should take the money. Spend money to avoid disasters. This is the imperial court's test for your family. Assistant Minister Lv is not bad. If he sent the edict a few days later, there would be no time."
In the pavilion, Old Man Pi was persuading Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, who had just found out about the news. He clearly knew that it was difficult for them, but in his heart, he was very supportive of Lv Yanzuo. He wanted to see how powerful the Zhang family was, and whether they had really reached a point where they could defy the heavens.
Eleven days, only eleven days, was an impossible task for anyone. However, when it came to the Zhang family, perhaps it would be different. The Zhang family was really too unpredictable.
Old Man Chang had the same thought as well. He knew that the Zhang family had started doing things eight years ago. Any one of them was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. However, they had done everything. Even when Lu Zhou was facing a disaster, they never gave up.
When the two masters of the Zhang family were in trouble, it was as if they had turned into mountains and seas. They were so steady and profound that no one could see any flaws. Eleven days was just the right time to test it out.
"Xiao Bao, what should we do? Eleven days is too short. Isn't this a trap? "Wang Juan was also in a state of mental impasse.
Zhang Xiaobao looked at the fog Between the Clouds and the Water Lake that was thought to be caused by a charcoal brazier. He stood up and pulled Wang Juan back. At the same time, he turned to Old Man Pi and said, "Grandpa Bi, if you see Assistant Minister Lv, tell him that the Zhang Family and Wang Family are grateful to him for giving us such an opportunity. Thank you."
"Don't tell me the Zhang family still has a trump card?" Old Man Chang, who was chasing after Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, did not believe that the Zhang family could still be respected in such a situation.
Old Man Pi was also not sure. He really could not find out the bottom line of the Zhang family. For example, the two things that were exchanged for the officials this time, the Zhang family had designed them first. They did not even lack a backup plan. No one could underestimate anyone but the Zhang family.
"Uh ~! I heard that the two masters of the Zhang family are good at strategizing and can see through the situation first. Maybe they can do it this time too? "
Old Man Pi said with uncertainty.
Zhang Xiaobao walked at a moderate pace, as if he was strolling. When he entered the courtyard, he immediately began to issue orders. It was 11 days. It was too late to send people from Sanshui County, so they could only find people in Beijing to work.
After the order was issued, Zhang Xiaobao said to Wang Juan, "This is a good opportunity. You know, in the past, it was not easy to pay for large-scale activities. This time, it's good. We only need to spend the money for decorations. We don't need to give money to others. If it were me, others who wanted to participate would not only have to pay for all the decorations, but also have to pay extra money to buy this opportunity."
Wang Juan knew what Zhang Xiaobao was referring to. For example, in the Olympic Games, if you wanted to participate in a certain part of the construction, not only would the construction money not be given to you, but you also had to compete and spend money to get this opportunity. However, she did not expect that Zhang Xiaobao would be able to solve this difficult problem for others so easily.
"Is your brain filled with this kind of stuff? I wonder what kind of expression Lv Yanzuo will have when he finds out about your method. "
Wang Juan knew from Zhang Xiaobao's order that as long as they were willing to spend money, 11 days would be enough. The assistant minister could not compare to the minister. He did not have enough brains. He was not at the same level as Old Man Pi. Could it be that he did not understand that after reaching a certain level, it would be bad to scheme against others without paying for anything?
At a certain level, no one would want to make someone of the same level suffer while they were unharmed. That was simply impossible. Most of the time, benefits were balanced through compromise and exchange.
*****
There was no need for people to go in person. The speed of the message was faster. The order was directly sent to the shop in Beijing by carrier pigeon.
While everyone was curious, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month finally arrived. The night of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month passed. When they woke up early in the morning, the people in Beijing found that there was an ice sculpture placed on the street every ten steps.
Under the sunlight, which did not make people feel much warmth, they appeared even more sparkling and translucent. On the three roads where Zhuque Street and Tianmen Street intersected, nearly a thousand people were busy.
Lv Yanzuo did not return to Beijing. He stayed at Between the Clouds and the Water. In order to find out about the situation in Beijing, he specifically looked for Old Man Chang. He knew that Old Man Chang had carrier pigeons and would definitely receive information about the situation in Beijing.
When the sky was almost dark, the people who were concerned about how the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in Beijing received the news that it was an ice sculpture. As for what else there was, it was not clear.
When it was time to light up the lanterns, the lanterns everywhere were lit.
Zhangjia Zhuangzi's fifteenth day was the same as before. Everyone spent it together. Old Man Pi and Old Man Chang were like New Year's, joining in the bustle.
When the group of people had just crossed the small bridge, the very mysterious thing that was covered by the white cloth last night was revealed. During the day, they were still wondering what it was.
With the help of the lanterns, the group of people finally saw the thing under the white cloth. It was actually an ice sculpture. As long as one was not stupid, they would be able to guess that it should be the same in Beijing.
As someone shouted, "Light up!", the ice sculptures lit up one by one. The light came from the middle of the ice, making the already beautiful ice sculptures even more enchanting at this moment. Under the contrast of each other, it gave people a dreamy feeling.
People who had never seen the ice lanterns would never know what kind of scenery it was. It gave people the feeling that this was not the human world.
The largest piece of ice in front of the Wang Family's Zhuangzi was actually three zhang tall. Not only were there candles lit inside, there were also words engraved and painted with gold powder.
There were four rows of words that could be clearly seen without looking closely. "A world of ice and snow, blurrily illuminates the years, proudly standing in the cold wind, its own sparkling color."
At the bottom, there were three small pink words, "Between the Clouds and the Water."
"Good, good 'Between the Clouds and the Water.' I know what the scenery in Beijing will be like this year. It really lives up to the name 'Between the Clouds and the Water'. The four seasons change, but Between the Clouds and the Water will always be blurred and dreamy. Oh, I almost forgot. Assistant Minister Lu, the Zhang family's Xiao Bao also asked this old man to express his gratitude for giving his family a chance. Thank you, thank you."
Old Man Pi understood everything now. The Zhang family should have people make the same thing in Beijing. It was just a matter of spending a lot of money to find craftsmen. The Zhang family did not lack money. This time, it would definitely shock everyone in Beijing, including the Emperor.
According to the book 'Nature', the carved ice was not only beautiful because of the candles inside, but also because of the refraction and reflection, causing the night to become fluorescent.
When the ten large Kongming lanterns slowly rose, setting off the corridor and the canals below, everyone except for Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were dumbfounded. They didn't even know where to look.
Lu Yanzuo's feelings were very complicated. In reality, he didn't expect to do anything to Zhang Zhong. He just wanted to make trouble for Zhang Zhong and treat it as a game. But he never would have thought that the plan he had worked so hard to come up with would be so easily neutralized by the Zhang family. Moreover, it would be even better because of this.
It seemed that all difficulties in front of the Zhang family were opportunities. Just like Official Liu said, the Zhang family would become stronger when faced with a strong opponent. If you want to help the Zhang family, then do your best to scheme.
At this time, Zhang Xiaobao pulled Wang Juan and jumped over like a child.
"Grandpa Bi, Grandpa Zhang, isn't it beautiful? It's a pity that there's not enough time. Otherwise, I could have made an ice lantern that can move. "
Wang Juan raised her head and said to Old Man Pi and Old Man Chang.
"It's beautiful, but the time it can stay is too short. In the end, it will melt away." Liu Zhirou, who also found an excuse to stay, said first.
"Because it's short, it's beautiful; because it's nostalgic, it's eternal. Instead of feeling sentimental about things that will eventually pass away, it's better to cherish the things around you."
Wang Juan wanted to argue with Liu Zhirou. Who told Liu Zhirou to always stare at the things that Zhang Xiaobao made.
Liu Zhirou couldn't argue with a little girl, so she was choked and couldn't say anything.
Old Man Pi rubbed Wang Juan's head, sighed, and said: "Good, in the future, there will finally be something pleasing to the eyes in the winter. Tell grandpa, is there an advertisement for this thing called the ice lantern in the capital?"
"No, it's just engraved in the place where it was made. It's very small. It's engraved below the three words' Between the Clouds and the Water '. Otherwise, if something were to happen, who would blame them?"
Wang Juan replied with a serious face.
"Right, this isn't an advertisement. You have to praise it. In the future, as long as other people do the same, whether it's the person who made it or the person who saw it, the first thing they would think of would be the responsible Between the Clouds and the Water, right?"
When Old Man Pi heard Wang Juan say that the three words Between the Clouds and the Water were engraved below the ice lantern, he could imagine how famous Between the Clouds and the Water would be in the future, even in the South. After all, ice could be placed in an icehouse. As long as one had money, they could make ice lanterns.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
