Chapter 406 Four years

The Spring Festival, which is the fourth year of the Chinese calendar, is getting more flavorful.

I think back to the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Although the rituals were grand, they were crude. When Ying Yi offered sacrifices to heaven and founded the country, there was not even a single court musician.

As of now, every aspect has been perfected. During the New Year, Ying Yi convened hundreds of officials to celebrate the New Year, which was more grand and sublime than before.

After three years of hard work, the female officials and maids of the Palace Music Department reproduced the magnificent chapters of the Book of Songs and Yuefu. During the Lunar New Year, people sing the merits of their ancestors and the virtues of their parents with the drums, harp and sheng. The ding-dong of the chimes praises the ways of the sages and the virtues of the saints. The drums in Hexi are shocking, and the officers and soldiers are generous and fierce. The melodious flutes, flutes and guqins highlight the chapter of China.

Chanting the Book of Songs, singing Yuefu, chanting Cipai, and reciting ancient poems. There are folk ditties that describe the joys of the common people. There is also spring and white snow, which reflects the nobility of the scholar-bureaucrats.

The four-year New Year greetings were held in the imperial garden. The emperor convened the civil and military forces, and invited the elderly, good businessmen, and gentry with high moral standards among the people to celebrate the New Year together at this time.

Zhu Youjian was also invited. At this time, he had mixed feelings in his heart. I recall that I once admired flowers in the imperial garden with Queen Zhou, and saw my children playing here. However, times have changed, and he is no longer the ninety-five, nor the master. But come here as a guest.

What I feel here is really not enough for outsiders to understand.

He is the master, but he works all day long and has no peace for a moment. This person is a guest, but he is peaceful and serene, with no need to worry about anything.

He and Mrs. Zhou supported each other and walked slowly among the flowers and trees that only had a faint sense of familiarity, without communicating with anyone. Hearing the tinkling music in his ears, he sighed slightly.

"Why do you sigh?"

Mrs. Zhou became more and more beautiful. She is more radiant now than when she lived in the Forbidden City. At that time, I carried my heart all day long and couldn't let go of anything. It's fine now, I don't have to think about anything.

Even Zhu Youjian looks a bit younger than he did a few years ago.

"I'm just a little sad." Zhu Youjian patted Mrs. Zhou's hand and said with a smile: "Let's go over there and have a look."

In front of his eyes, a painter was painting on a high platform.

Zhu Youjian knew that he was also from the old Zhu family. His name is Zhu Da, and he is very good at painting. So he was invited by the emperor to paint a commemoration.

The New Year's Eve banquet lasted until evening. Zhu Youjian took Mrs. Zhou to watch Zhu Da's painting and had some exchanges. Then he went to thank the emperor and left the Forbidden City after the show ended in the evening.

Back in the mansion, Zhu Youjian convened a banquet with people in the mansion to celebrate the New Year. At night, he watched his property's income and expenditure on the New Year's Day under an oil lamp.

Although he lost his country, he is now an ordinary citizen. However, some of Zhu Youjian's habits when he was emperor were still retained. Whether he was conscientious or overworked, he no longer became emperor. On the contrary, these habits helped him make his own industry prosperous.

Seeing that the night was getting late, Zhu Youjian put down the book and rubbed his eyes. Wang Chengen stood beside him like a statue, always accompanying him.

"Today's income is more than half a month's worth on normal days." Zhu Youjian said with a smile.

Wang Chengen said: "Master, today is the New Year. People are willing to spend money."

Zhu Youjian was silent for a moment and said: "The emperor is wise and the people are rich, so they are naturally willing to spend money."

Wang Chengen opened his mouth, changed the subject wisely, and said: "Sir, the eldest young master is enjoying the night view with his classmates tonight, and he probably won't be back before the third watch."

Zhu Youjian laughed and said: "Let him go. He is already a top-notch person. Although he is just a good person, it would be good after all if he could make more connections."

But he asked: "Where is my concubine?"

"The young lady and madam also left the house after dinner."

Zhu Youjian nodded.

Although he was once the emperor of the previous dynasty, Zhu Youjian has basically looked away now. The eldest son Zhu Cixiang studied in Gyeonggi Prefecture early. Although he was not at the top, he was not at the bottom either. If everything goes well, you may be able to obtain the qualification for further study at Imperial College in half a month.

After graduating from Taixue, it is possible to be assigned to a local official, which is also a good way out.

As for the former Kunxing Princess Zhu Yuluo, now she has grown up. He is trying to find an in-law for his daughter, but he has always been opposed. Because the empire’s education system was no longer limited to men, women’s right to education was also engraved in the law. Zhu Yuluo also studied in the state school for two years. Now she has a broad vision and doesn't listen to him much.

The other sons and daughters are all studying in either free schools or state schools.

"Bring me my humanity card." Zhu Youjian said.

Wang Chengen hurriedly took out Zhu Youjian's Humanity Miles Feihong Card from a wooden box on the bookshelf nearby. Zhu Youjian took it and groped on it gently, and an illusory light curtain appeared in front of him.

He clicked on the first document number at the top of the light screen and was quickly connected to Mrs. Zhou. Mrs. Zhou's face appeared in the photo.

Zhu Youjian took a look: "Where is it at the Meridian Gate?"

Mrs. Zhou's voice came: "Master, haven't you rested yet? I'm waiting at the Meridian Gate to watch the fireworks."

Zhu Youjian has already seen it. On the Meridian Gate, rows of fireworks were launched into the sky, which was really lively and beautiful.

"Come back early." He didn't say much.

Mrs. Zhou replied: "I'll be back soon. Master, please rest early."

"Yes." Zhu Youjian flicked the human card, and the photo disappeared instantly. He said to Wang Chengen: "Bring me a pot of wine and call the kitchen to fry a plate of peanuts."

Wang Chengen bowed and said: "Yes, sir."

Soon, Wang Chengen came here holding a tea tray, a pot of wine, a plate of peanuts, and some pastries and snacks.

"Sit." Zhu Youjian asked him to sit down. Wang Chengen poured wine for the two of them and talked while drinking.

"I went to the palace today and heard that after the spring, the empire will implement the policy of civilian use of Yuan Qi. I don't know what the specific explanation is." Zhu Youjian said: "Perhaps like the civilian use of Yuan Qi, an ordinary person like me , and you can also make profits from it.”

Wang Chengen could hear the self-deprecation in Zhu Youjian's tone and did not dare to say anything more, saying: "Hasn't the master already decided that when the civilian use of Yuanqi is officially popularized..."

"Yeah... the world is changing so fast that it's dizzying to see." Zhu Youjian sipped his wine with a squeak: "What kind of Yuanqi Yuanqi is like in a dream."

Then he said: "I disdain to be in business, but if I don't do business, I will have nothing to rely on. With my children in my lap, I must seek a future for them so that they have no worries."

Wang Chengen smiled and said: "What I said is true. Parents love their children and have far-reaching plans. Several young men and young ladies have successfully entered school and have a bright future. Some expenses are unavoidable..."

The world is changing, and it's changing incredibly fast. All knowledgeable people can see this. I know that the scholars of the old times will have no future in the future, and the new type of scholars are what the empire needs. If you don't comply, you will be eliminated.

Even Zhu Youjian was obsessed with finding a way out for his children, and he did not hesitate to put down all his dignity and pursue a career that he had never thought of before.