Chapter Thirty-Six: The Spoiled Son Tours the World

  But then the train rumbled away... Ma San's storytelling emphasized tone and emotion, he didn't like to stand rigidly behind the storytelling platform, instead he liked to hold a folding fan and gesture as he walked among the tea customers in the hall. But this segment of his story was met with indifference, the customers sipped their tea and chatted amongst themselves, no one paying attention to him. In today's world, there is no "magic" storytelling, and everyone has lost interest. If Ma San hadn't stuck a few silver coins on the teahouse wall, and wasn't the former Red Mouth Master, the owner would have chased him away long ago.

  Sitting by the window at a table, Ye Zhaoyang couldn't help but let out a yawn. It turned out that what he had written was quite boring and didn't make much sense even to himself.

  Yesterday, the imperial edict arrived at the Prince's Palace, and Ye Zhao was confirmed as the Deputy General of Guangzhou Manchu. As for the Minister of Five Ports Trade, there is a bit of an imperial envoy flavor, which is extremely rare, so the Deputy General also gave Ye Zhao a second-grade official position.

  Before leaving Beijing, Ye Zhao came to Tianqiao again and listened to Ma San's storytelling. He couldn't help but shake his head, feeling that it was really disappointing and lacking in interest.

  On the left side of the square table sat Alhatu, Iron Tower's body, with a fierce aura all over him, but he sat down with half his buttocks, and his posture was inexplicably awkward.

  On the right side sat Ruyi, who had changed into a blue cotton jacket with small flowers, and looked quite elegant. However, this kind of woman would not normally be seen in a respectable household, only occasionally some clandestine prostitutes would come to flirt. What charm and beauty did they have? Moreover, most of the tea customers were rough men from the lower classes, so they frequently glanced over, many men's gazes were almost without restraint, which made Ruyi's face slightly flush with heat. Perhaps it was an honor to serve the master, what did a little embarrassment matter?

  Ye Zha didn't bring Rui Si'er because no matter where they went, Rui Si'er would always be loud and boisterous. There were many rough people here, and if someone was slightly disrespectful to her, she would immediately go up and slap them in the face. They had come out to clear their minds, not to show off or bully others.

  I thought I'd ask Alhatu and Ruyi to listen to my new "ping shu" segment and give me some feedback, but now it's not even necessary. Alhatu is like a wooden person, while Ruyi has been busy wiping the tables, chairs, stools, teapots, and tea bowls since she entered the teahouse. Her handkerchief is all greasy, and when I saw her drinking from a broken tea bowl with foam on it, she was so startled that she almost grabbed it away to disinfect it.

  "Grandpa! Good luck to you!" Ma San came over with a silly grin, his words sounded awkward, as if he had shrunk three inches, and this was exactly how he made a living.

  Ye Zhao put away his folding fan, tapped the table, indicating that Ma San should sit across from him. Ma San had already seen that there was a woman present and knew that this young master was no ordinary person. He guessed that the woman must be the young master's servant or something similar. Despite this, Ma San did not dare to sit down, and with a smile said: "Master, Ma San has lost his skills, I'm sorry Master, Ma San has no face to sit, nor does he dare to sit."

  Ye Zhaoming smiled and said, "This is not your fault, I told you to try it out, didn't I? If anyone's to blame, it's me. I forced you into this, and now you've lost your skills, and I've lost my face."

  "Sit down, as you wish," he said, "and I'll pour a bowl of frothy tea for Master Ma San."

  Ma Shan sat down cautiously with half of his buttocks, saw Ruyi pouring tea, and immediately stood up like a fire, took the teacup with both hands to thank for the tea, but didn't dare to look at Ruyi.

  It's unfair to say that the world is like this, Ma San has grown up so big, and he hasn't even touched a woman's hand. His greatest wish for over 20 years is to marry a wife, even if she has a face full of acne.

  Of course, Ma San didn't have any unjust thoughts, nor did he have any envious thoughts. Now his only thought is how to do the task assigned by the young master in front of him beautifully.

  Ye Zhao fanned himself with a folding fan, furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment before saying: "You do this, add some heroic and chivalrous plays to it. I'm leaving the capital soon, so I'll write something in my spare time over the next couple of days, but it won't be much. You take a look and think about the rest yourself. Alright, you've seen how I started, so you know what to do." Ye Zhao's thoughts were now also lukewarm, but at this time, teahouses were the main places where large numbers of common people received education and acquired knowledge, so telling them about things outside wouldn't be a bad thing.

  It's better to incorporate stories like "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" and only use the Western countries' situation as a small background in the storytelling, bringing it out bit by bit, so that the common people won't feel like they're hearing something from outer space, and can subtly accept it.

  As soon as Ye Zhaoyi spoke, Ma San put down his tea bowl and listened attentively with a serious expression. At this time, he smiled and said: "Your new idea must be brilliant, I'll listen to you!"

  Ye Zhaoshao smiled, thought for a moment, and then pulled out several silver tickets from his sleeve. He picked one with a large denomination of 100 taels and pushed it in front of Ma San, saying: "I'm leaving the capital this time, and I don't have an exact date to return. It's uncertain whether I'll be back in a year or two. Take this silver." Seeing Ma San's frightened expression, waving his hands repeatedly, wanting to say something, Ye Zhaoshao smiled and said: "I'm not one to speak empty words. If I tell you to take it, just take it. When I return, if this story spreads throughout the four corners of the city, there will be a heavy reward."

  "Yes, yes! Thank you, Master San!" Ma San hastily got up from his seat and left the table, bowing respectfully to thank him.

  ……

  Promoted to Guangzhou Deputy Governor, Ye Zhaowas not even giving the dignitaries of the Military Machinery Bureau a note, let alone visiting the six major officials. It was not like the socializing and networking of later generations of officials, making the small circle bigger and bigger. Firstly, since the Yongzheng dynasty, there has been much vigilance in the exchanges between the imperial family's power and nobility and the heavy ministers outside the capital; secondly, under the emperor's system, as soon as a small lotus reveals its tip, it gives people an excuse to accuse of being eager to form cliques, how can one get reused?

  Moreover, Ye Zhao also knew that in this era, the only one who can truly decide your life and death is just one person. As long as he thinks you are loyal and useful, some occasional rumors outside don't count for much. A minister who is widely praised by the entire court often finds it extremely difficult to gain favor with the emperor. After all, a mediocre ruler can only produce famous ministers!

  In the East Warming Pavilion of Jia Chun Yuan, Fu Jin's eyes were red and she kept wiping away tears. If the previous trip to Shanghai was just an errand, she had thought that her son would eventually return to her side. But this time, letting him go again made it truly uncertain when they would meet again.

  The princess wiped away tears as she spoke: "If not, if not, I'll have your mother go and talk to him. He's sent you so far away on an errand; doesn't he care about you at all? The south is hot and humid, with many ants and insects; isn't this suffering?"

  Madam Ye was nineteen years old when she gave birth to Ye Zhao. Now, even if calculated by virtual age, it's not the age of confusion, but born with a beautiful appearance, bright and unparalleled, looking at most thirty or so, elegant and noble, dignified and refined. But as soon as something happened to Ye Zhao, she became a crying and whimpering little woman, just like being sent to the south for official duties was exile, making Ye Zhao both amused and heartbroken.

  "Mother, Guangzhou is also a world of vanity, the child will not suffer." Ye Zhaosaid with some helplessness, if this were to be said over 100 years later, how embarrassing would it be? Parents who hear this would feel heartbroken. But in front of his own mother, he was speaking with righteous indignation, if you were to say something like "to become a great instrument one must first labor and temper oneself", I'm afraid mom would be so saddened that she'd faint.

  Next to her, Aunt Zhao also advised, she was naturally extremely grateful to Ye Shao, but the rules in the mansion were strict and severe, and she didn't dare to reveal this gratitude, so she secretly sent a basket of fresh fruit to Ye Shao.

  If they really get close, I'm afraid that with the jealousy of Wang Ye's concubines, she won't have a peaceful day again.

  Ye Zhao saw Fu Jin crying non-stop, thought for a moment, and then smiled: "E Niang, if not, you can go to Guangzhou with me, we'll ignore Ama together."

  "Go!" As expected, Fu Jin burst into tears and laughed, glared at Ye Zhao and said: "If your father heard this nonsense, he would be heartbroken?"

  Ye Zhao smiled and said: "As long as Mother is happy, Father will also be happy. In Father's heart, Mother is the most important!"

  The empress dowager glared at Ye Zhao with one eye, but was cheered up by her son. She didn't know how other people's elder brothers got along with their parents, but her own son always seemed different, speaking in a fresh way that made both the prince and herself feel bright inside whenever he coaxed them.

  The empress wiped the corner of her eye, but then remembered something and looked at Ye Zhaowei with red eyes, asking: "That, that your new house is bought as it is or we build it ourselves."

  Ye Zhaoming knew that Fu Jin didn't understand officialdom, and to explain the Qing dynasty's official system, regional avoidance rules and other systems were extremely strict. Officials couldn't even buy real estate in their place of work, let alone themselves being non-provincial officials who went to Guangzhou, where they normally lived in government offices, buying a house was no big deal, but building a new mansion with great fanfare would be too showy.

  However, Ye Zhao just smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mother, I'll buy a big mansion that will definitely be more luxurious than Yu Feng Garden."

  The princess nodded slightly and said, "Don't be stingy with the silver, go back and ask Ha Feng to check how much silver is left in the treasury, and bring it all with you." Ha Feng was the first-ranking official of Zheng Wang Fu, also known as the "big manager". Although the long history was nominally the manager of the king's household, he was the highest-ranking official sent by the inner court to the king's household, but in reality, the long history rarely came to the king's household, only appearing when there were major events such as weddings or funerals. It was the officials appointed by the prince who were the real managers of the king's household.

  Ye Zhao nodded with a smile and said: "Alright, alright, I'll do as you say, Mother. Don't worry, I've brought enough silver."

  The empress dowager suddenly remembered something and asked: "Is Rong'er leaving with you now?"

  "It's not the right time yet," Yu Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Let her stay with you and Ama to take care of me instead. With her around, I can rest assured." As for Rong'er, this little guy, Yu Zhao really believed that she could take care of King Fu's wife meticulously, although in his own eyes, she was just a small bean sprout, pretending to be an adult every day, but lovable nonetheless. However, Yu Zhao also had to admit that as a wife, this little guy was extremely capable and responsible, scoring full marks by any standard.

  "No, no, it's you who should bring her along and take care of us!" Madam Fu shook her head repeatedly.

  Aunt Zhao puckered up her mouth and smiled slyly.

  Ye Zha didn't realize he was a bit embarrassed, cleared his throat and remained silent.

  …………………………….

  Votes...