Happy Little Scholar

Zhao Yuanwai's residence is in the North District of Kyoto. Although Zhao Yuanwai's family has more than a million yuan, there are some things that cannot be accomplished with money.

No matter how much money he has, he cannot live in areas where only real dignitaries can live. This is determined by his status.

Although businessmen are not untouchables, they are still looked down upon by the upper class circles.

They cannot be officials. This alone restricts them in certain aspects.

Therefore, when he heard that the county magistrate was coming to visit him in person, Zhao Yuanwai, who was playing chess with a friend, immediately dropped the chess game and hurried out to greet him.

Seeing a person coming this way from a distance, Zhao Yuanwai hurriedly greeted him and said with sincerity and fear: "Master Liu is here, and the humble house is full of glory. I hope you will forgive me for not being able to welcome Zhao from afar!"

This was not the first time he met Mr. Liu. As early as when he was promoted to the capital magistrate, he had had contact with many gentry and wealthy businessmen. This was probably what every county magistrate would do after taking office. At that time, Zhao The member of staff just clinked glasses with him and didn't even have a chance to speak.

Magistrate Liu came to the house in person today. His purpose was unknown, but it was impossible that he came to play chess with him, which made him feel nervous immediately.

Magistrate Liu smiled and said: "Haha, if Zhao Yuanwai's residence can be called a humble residence, then my county government office, I really don't know what words to use to describe it..."

When Zhao saw that he was smiling, he didn't look like he was looking for trouble. He relaxed a little and stretched out his hand and said, "Mr. Liu, please come in."

"Come here, serve the tea quickly and bring out the good tea I have collected!"

Magistrate Liu was a tea lover. He took a sip of the tea and praised it. Zhao Yuanwai absent-mindedly echoed a few words. The two of them chatted word by word, from tea to home cooking, and then to the tea. Talking about business matters, the time for a cup of tea passed unknowingly. I didn’t know it, but I thought they were such close friends...

In the end, Zhao Yuanwai couldn't help but looked at County Magistrate Liu cautiously and asked, "I wonder what important matters the magistrate has when he comes to my humble residence?"

County Magistrate Liu put down his tea cup calmly and asked with a smile: "I wonder if Zhao Yuanwai knows that the imperial court is planning to build an academy?"

"I've heard about it." Zhao Yuanwai nodded. This matter has caused a lot of commotion in Kyoto recently. He also knew that the matter seemed to be related to the eldest princess, but he didn't pay too much attention to the specifics.

Then, he realized something. He looked at Magistrate Liu and asked, "What do you mean, Mr. Liu?"

"To be honest, we have encountered some difficulties in raising money for the academy." Magistrate Liu looked at Zhao Yuanwai with a smile and asked, "I wonder if Yuan Wai is willing to donate generously and do his best for the poor students in the world. A lot of effort?”

Zhao Yuanwai was stunned. He was a student from a poor family. What did he have to do with being a student from a poor family? Why should he donate generously?

It turns out that Mr. Liu came today to ask him to donate money. The Zhao family did have money, but the money was not brought by the strong wind, so why should they donate it.

A trace of dissatisfaction flashed deep in Zhao's eyes, but he did not show it, but the smile on his face became brighter and he said: "Of course I am willing, Zhao has always thought about doing his best for the country------Zhao Fu , quickly go to the accountant and pay one hundred taels of silver!"

One hundred taels of silver was not much to him. He would not suffer much loss and could give an explanation to Mr. Liu.

He didn't shirk the blame at all. It was not a wise choice to offend Magistrate Liu for a little money. He set the amount so simply that it would be hard for the other party to ask again.

Magistrate Liu still had a smile on his face and said: "I am the official representative of the poor students in the world. I would like to thank Yuan Zhao first."

Member Zhao nodded repeatedly: "It should, it should."

The housekeeper of the Zhao Mansion quickly took out one hundred taels, and naturally there were government servants to help collect it.

"I still have something to do, so I'll leave first." Magistrate Liu and Yuan Zhao exchanged a few polite words before standing up to leave.

Zhao Yuan stood up and said, "Send Mr. Liu off."

Although I lost one hundred taels of silver in vain, it was still worth it to send this Bodhisattva away.

"If I really can't afford that much money, I would like to donate more." As the two of them walked towards the door of the mansion, Magistrate Liu shook his head and said, "Except for Xu Yuan in the south of the city, three thousand taels are for me." The academy donated a library, and Shopkeeper Zhang from the north of the city donated a thousand taels to a school. I am afraid that he will have the opportunity to put on the academy monument, which will make me jealous. "

"The courtyard monument... I dare to ask, sir, what is the courtyard monument?" Zhao Yuanwai asked in confusion as he had never heard him mention this before.

Magistrate Liu smiled and explained: "To build so many academies in various places, a large amount of money is needed. The national treasury can't come up with that much money at the same time, so we can only raise donations from various places. Xu Yuanwai donated the library. At that time, a monument will be erected in front of the library, and it will be written clearly who donated it, so that the students can remember who gave them books to read, and who should be grateful..."

"There will also be a monument like this erected in front of the school donated by Shopkeeper Zhang. As for the courtyard monument, it is erected in front of the entire academy. You will see it before entering. It is personally mentioned by His Majesty to all those who have contributed to the academy. , everyone can nominate on the college monument, the purpose is to let the students of the college remember who gave them everything."

"It's a pity that the academy monument can only be erected once. After this time, unless you have made extremely significant contributions to the academy, it will be impossible to be nominated..."

When Zhao Yuanwai heard this, he stopped and stood there blankly.

Mr. Liu just now didn’t tell him this!

Zhao Ritian has been in business for half his life, so he can be looked down upon, but he doesn't want his children and grandchildren to be like this.

He didn't want his descendants to be unable to hold their heads up forever, and never be able to straighten their spines and be human beings.

So he spent a lot of money to hire the best teachers for his son, buy the best paper and pens, and hired four of them just to accompany him when he was studying. He just wanted him to be successful in the future, gain fame, and free the Zhao family from being a businessman. The shadow of home...

What is he doing all this for, other than fame?

Donate to the school, donate the library, carve your name on the monument, and set it up in front of the college. Is that monument inscribed by His Majesty himself?

From now on, who else dares to look down on him, Zhao Ritian?

Who dares to dissent?

If you are able, would you like to engrave your names on the monument and have His Majesty inscribe it with your own hand?

That is a college. People who come out of there will never know how many people will become famous and soar to the sky. At that time, perhaps those ministers who are in the imperial class will occasionally remember the time when they were young and studying. , the familiar name seen on the courtyard monument.

Zhao Ritian.

Even if one person remembers it, it is enough for him and the Zhao family.

Not to mention how much those high-ranking officials still remember their kindness back then. In addition to tombstones, being able to have their names engraved on them is also something that he can brag about for a lifetime.

Just now, Magistrate Liu said that this opportunity is only once, and after passing this village, there will be no such store.

Damn Yuanwai Xu, it was in vain that he had been kind to him before. Such a good thing did not come with him. A trace of anger appeared on Zhao Yuanwai's face, but it quickly disappeared. The smile on his face was brighter than ever before, and he took three or two steps. I caught up with Magistrate Liu and saw that he was about to leave the house, so he hurriedly said: "My lord, stay here!"

Magistrate Liu turned back to look at him and said with a smile: "Oh, what else does Zhao have to do?"

[ps: 1/2 update. 】