In this era, no one could compare with Zhang Xiaobao when it came to educating children.
When they ate that day, they really steamed insects. They specially left a few for the younger brother to feed the ants. They even let the younger brother take a bite of an unprocessed green insect. As a result, the little fellow no longer put the insects they found outside into his mouth.
In the afternoon, they found insects and gave them to the servant girl, which meant that they would cook them for him.
They also made a glass jar and threw a small nest of ants into it. They were not afraid of them running out with a lid. As Zhang Xiaobao said, the little fellow lost interest in the ants after a while. Instead, she became curious about the magnifying glass and held it in her hand to shine around. When she shone it on her sister's face, she was shocked by her sister's curious big eyes.
Since the younger brothers and sisters could run, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan began to think of ways to train them. They could not be like the two of them in the past. That would cause trouble. They made a few balls for them to play with. They also prepared some slightly heavy toys. If the children wanted to play with them, they had to exert themselves. If they were tired, they would not play with them.
"It's hot. We can let them learn to swim. Throw a few more life buoys sewn with pig bubbles into the water. The temperature of the water needs to be adjusted. Let them play in it. Also, throw in the ducks and fish made of wood."
When Zhang Xiaobao got up in the morning and saw the four little guys sleeping in the shade after eating, he adjusted their jackets and said.
The purpose of wearing jackets was not to look good, but to block the navel. This was the place where nutrients were transmitted. It was easy to get sick when it was cold.
Wang Juan took two books and gave one to Zhang Xiaobao. When she found a place to sit down and was ready to read, she said, "Aren't you afraid that they will choke on the water?"
"Shallow water. Even if they sit in the pool, they can still show their heads." Zhang Xiaobao took the book and read it. It turned out to be the notes from last year's imperial examination. He suddenly felt a headache.
"Then why do we need a life buoy?"
"Let them know what it's like to climb on a life buoy and experience the buoyancy for themselves. Perhaps there's no need to teach them. They'll know how to swim by themselves in a few days. Right now, they don't know how to be afraid like when they grow up."
Zhang Xiaobao explained and began to read the book. In the past, the questions from the Imperial Examinations could be collected by others, but the good answers could not be found. These were brought out by people from Beijing. Some were directly placed there, and some were looked at by others with comments. These were very useful to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
*****
From the fact that the rice seedlings had not yet formed ears, it was obvious that this year's harvest would not be small. There was no need to worry about rent.
Zhang Zhong then thought about the tax collected from the people who were selling the condoms after the end of the year. He estimated that the tax collected would also increase by a lot. His mission here could be considered completed. He estimated that after two years, he would be able to move to another place.
After that, he would be free. If it were other Provincial Governors, they would think of ways to have fun. They would have a small banquet every three days or a big banquet every five days. Or they would go hunting and send benefits to the higher-ups.
Zhang Zhong did not have this kind of hobby. He did not need to care about giving gifts. He would either read the book or see the children. In the end, when he was really bored, he would go out for a stroll after breakfast every day. He would bring along his bodyguards and go from place to place. He would see the lives of the people, look at the goods in the market, and admire the scenery of Shuzhou.
After visiting the nearby places, Zhang Zhong wanted to go further away. When that day came, he would not be able to come back. Traveling on the road that had not been repaired yet, it would take half a month to travel from the magistrate's office to the furthest riverside.
Zhang Zhong did not plan to not go home for so many days. He wanted to go to Lake Tai, which was three to four days away, to take a look. He asked people to set up the carriage and bring along more bodyguards. After informing his family, he headed towards Lake Tai unhurriedly.
As for the matters in the prefecture, he left it to the people in the inner courtyard to manage.
The procession walked leisurely, looking at the scenery and tasting tea. It was already night time, and they were in the middle of nowhere. Other officials might feel uncomfortable because of this, but Zhang Zhong did not feel the same way.
They found an open space and set up their tents. The chefs began to cook for everyone. The three chefs did not cook for Zhang Zhong. They all knew that even if they cooked a small stir-fry, Zhang Zhong would not eat it. He had to eat with everyone.
It was not that he deliberately wanted to get closer to the people in the inner courtyard. Zhang Zhong had already treated the villagers and the people in the inner courtyard as his family. It was more comfortable to eat with family members.
After a day's journey, they did not eat any stir-fried dishes. The chefs also followed suit. They directly asked the three chefs to cook a stew and a big pot of rice. Everyone ate with the rice. There were dry and watery dishes. It was very lively.
Zhang Zhong ate a lot and walked around the tent. There were two bodyguards and a little boy following him. The little boy was a villager from Zhuangzi, which was the first village of the Zhang family. He usually studied in the Jianjia Academy. When he heard that he could follow the master of the family, he applied to come here.
Although he had left the academy, he had learned a lot. It was much better to follow Zhang Zhong than in the academy. The knowledge that he could learn in the academy could also be learned by Zhang Zhong. At the same time, he could also broaden his horizons by going outside.
"Zhang Tong, you are 16 this year, right?" Zhang Zhong suddenly stopped walking and looked at the starry sky. He asked the little boy.
The little boy nodded and replied, "Yes, master. Your memory is very accurate."
"Study hard this year. Next year, before I leave Shuzhou, take off your status and take the imperial examination. Then you can go to the places where our two shops are. Read thousands of books, travel thousands of miles, see the mountains and rivers of the Tang Empire, and experience the happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy of the people in different places. When you feel it's enough, go to the capital and take the imperial examination. Don't be lazy."
Zhang Zhong warned Zhang Tong.
Zhang Tong was stunned and did not know how to reply. He nervously rubbed his hands and said, "Master, I don't want to take off my status. I just want to stay in the Zhang family and be a villager of the Zhang family."
"You are still a child. If you don't take off your status, how can you take the imperial examination? If you don't take the imperial examination, who will help Xiao Bao and the others in the future? Not only you, but all the villager who can take the imperial examination should take off their status and take the imperial examination. You also have to take the military examination. When the time comes, you will be scattered everywhere and be an official, so that the people of the Tang Empire can benefit.
If you lack money, you can get it from the main family. Don't be greedy. If the Zhang Family and the Wang Family can let those people go, we can also beat them down. Do you remember? "
Zhang Zhong's thoughts had already shifted to when his sons grew up. As long as the Zhang Family and the Wang Family cultivated more outstanding children to be officials, they would have a helper.
Zhang Zhong just thought of it. He was so busy with other things that he was muddle-headed. He did not know that his son had this plan long ago. Not only the villager, but also the people in the Academy and the people supported by the Zhang Family and the Wang Family in various places. Some of them were already officials now.
They were all cultivated secretly and did not allow corruption or bribery. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan spent more than 20,000 strings of money on this every year. The person with the most money had already sat in the position of the Lower Province's Sub-Class Fifth Grade official. After Zhang Zhong entered the capital, there would be several people, at least two assistant ministers.
There were also people who were specially trained to be in the Censorate. These people had to be in the three provinces and six ministries. These people might not be used even once in their lives and would only be wasting money. However, once they forced Zhang Xiaobao to use them, it would definitely not be a small matter. Only Zhang Xiaobao, Wang Juan, and the people close to them knew about this. Even Zhang Zhong and the other family members did not know about this.
While Zhang Zhong was thinking about the future, Zhang Tong's heart was unable to remain calm. He could imagine a day not too far away when the young master and his brothers in the manor would all be officials at the same time, helping each other. As long as they walked the right path and sat upright, they would not have to worry about being framed or pushed aside.
The two of them were silent for a while. They looked at the stars and the moon. After a while, Zhang Tong spoke.
"Master, don't worry. We all know what to do. We think for the people. We are all people who have suffered."
"Yes! Let's go. There is still a long way to go. " Zhang Zhong, who did not know the direction of history, was not like Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, who had already started to calculate people and wanted to make the Tang Empire more prosperous.
The two of them strolled around for more than two hours. In fact, they were just walking in circles around the tent. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had distilled the toilet water according to the mosquito repellent prescription. Otherwise, they would have been stared at by the insects long ago.
There was also cooling oil and essential balm, which were used to ensure a stable sleep in the wild or to help refresh one's mind.
After a few rounds, they were finally tired. Zhang Zhong yawned and said, "It's late. Let's all rest. We still have to hurry on tomorrow morning."
As soon as he finished speaking, they heard a shout from the west.
"Who is it? The Governor of Shuzhou is here. Report. Stop and come down."
As the voice came, Zhang Zhong was immediately surrounded by guards. More torches were lit one after another.
After a few breaths of time, three riders came back from the east. They were all Zhang Zhong's bodyguards. One of the horses had a person tied up on it. There was an arrow stuck in the shoulder of this person.
There was another horse behind the three horses. It seemed that the tied man was riding it.
"Master, we caught a sneaky man. He didn't rest in the middle of the night and rode here. After he was seen, he fled in a hurry. I guess he is going to do something bad to you. Please punish him."
Immediately, a guard who had tied the person up flipped over and threw the person to the ground. He said to Zhang Zhong. There was no joy or worry on his face, as if he had done something insignificant. This was what Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had taught him. The responsibility of a guard was to protect, and there was nothing to be happy about in ensuring the safety of others.
Zhang Zhong didn't know who the person was. He looked at the person on the ground and waved his hand. "You can interrogate him. Tell me when you have news. I'm going back to lie down for a while."
After saying this, Zhang Zhong went back into the tent. Immediately, someone took out the thing in the tied man's mouth. Before they could ask, the man threatened, "Do you know who I am? I am the Prince's subordinate. I work for the Prince. "
"Then hurry up and say it. I'm sleepy. It's time to sleep. Why talk so much nonsense? Which Prince? Tell me. What is the Prince?"
The guard didn't care who the man was. The information was the most important. He kicked the man to make him speak quickly.
"It's, it's Prince Si Ning. Let me go." The man struggled to get up but couldn't use any strength.
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