My classmate Zhu Houzhao

Chapter 6 Negotiations between Father and Son

Fang Hong had witnessed Fang Heng's composure many times, but he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

For Fang Hong, the best Fang Heng would be someone who would obediently listen to him and be at his mercy. But Fang Heng was extremely capable. In the past three years, he hadn't spent a single penny of his money and had even made a name for himself in the entire Liangxiang area.

Originally, he and Liu had agreed that after Fang Heng's mother died, they would temporarily cut off Fang Heng's monthly allowance. Once Fang Heng completely bowed his head, submitted to him, and allowed himself to be controlled, then whatever happened to Fang Heng would be up to him.

Fang Heng was just too capable, so capable that even he, the head of the family, often had to suffer setbacks in front of this young man. Therefore, Fang Hong usually disliked spending time with his son.

"Your grandfather devoted his entire life to the Fang family, sparing no effort whatsoever."

Fang Hong considered his words carefully, preparing to speak in his father's name.

"Exhausted efforts? More like scheming and plotting? Scheming and plotting against my maternal grandfather's family?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng couldn't help but sneer.

"How dare you talk like that? That's your grandfather! Aren't you a member of the Fang family? Why are you siding with outsiders?"

Fang Hong glared at Fang Heng and said.

"If you have something to say, then say it. If not, I'm leaving. I have other things to do."

Fang Heng was about to get up as he spoke.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you."

Fang Hong felt helpless as he watched the boy in front of him remain unmoved by reason.

"Your grandfather's biggest regret before he died was that our Fang family had not produced a single scholar who passed the imperial examination. As the saying goes, it is better to rely on yourself than on others. If the Fang family wants to prosper, someone must serve as an official in the court. Otherwise, everything is just a mirage."

Fang Hong sighed.

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng raised an eyebrow and instantly guessed Fang Hong's meaning.

"You want Fang Xu to take the imperial examination?"

Fang Xu was none other than Fang Hong and Liu Shi's son, and Fang Heng's half-brother.

Fang Xu had already completed his formal education two years ago and had been studying at a private school for the past year. However, for a scholar to truly excel in his studies, he either needs to be exceptionally gifted in reading or find a renowned teacher.

Throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, there were very few people who were truly gifted. Tang Yin, the top scholar in the imperial examination, was one of them, having been wrongly imprisoned a couple of years ago due to a cheating scandal.

But Tang Jieyuan's talent was far beyond what Fang Xu could ever match.

Then there is only one option left: to find a famous teacher.

In the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, it was always about choosing sides and nepotism. Choosing the right patron could save a scholar at least ten years of struggle, or even completely change the course of his life.

After the Tumu Crisis, the imperial court gradually restored the recommendation system, allowing high-ranking officials to directly recommend scholars for official positions without requiring them to pass the subsequent provincial and metropolitan examinations.

Of course, only a small number of scholars were recommended to serve as officials in the imperial court, and such people were more or less looked down upon by their colleagues.

However, this is not a big deal for a scholar who has repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, unless the scholar is extremely principled, in which case it is a different story.

Therefore, whether a scholar can find a famous teacher is often the key to whether he can enter the government and become an official in the future.

Fang Hong felt increasingly uncomfortable after Fang Heng saw through his thoughts. What kind of twelve-year-old boy could be so shrewd? In fact, "shrewd" was not even an adequate description of the boy in front of him.

To cover up the embarrassment of having his thoughts guessed, Fang Hong had to pretend to cough.

"That's right, the third son is quite gifted in his studies. His private tutor often praises him. It's not easy for our Fang family to produce a scholar, so I thought I'd find him a famous teacher."

Fang Hong finished speaking and took a sip of tea.

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng couldn't help but sneer inwardly. He knew Fang Xu's character all too well. Saying he was ignorant and incompetent might be a bit unfair, but Fang Heng absolutely did not believe that he had any potential for studying.

In Fang Heng's view, it was most likely that Liu had bribed the private school teacher to praise Fang Xu, so that the Fang family's resources could be used to cultivate Fang Xu.

"What does this have to do with me?"

Fang Heng looked at Fang Hong and asked the question knowingly.

"How can it be none of your business? My Fang family doesn't have many connections in the capital. If we're talking about connections, your maternal grandfather has a good friend who is now the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a fifth-rank official. This Lord Zhang is said to be upright and incorruptible, and has an excellent reputation in the capital. If the third son can become his apprentice, he will definitely have a good chance of passing the imperial examination in the future."

Fang Hong became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see Fang Xu in high school.

The "Lord Zhang" that Fang Hong mentioned was none other than Zhang Lun, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

"You want my mother's seal?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng finally understood. This old man wanted to use his mother's seal, which actually belonged to Fang Heng's maternal grandfather. When Fang Heng's mother married into the Fang family, Shen Zui specially gave her a seal so that it could be used in case of trouble.

But now that Shen Zhui has been exiled, the seal is no longer of much use. However, Zhang Lun is not one to fawn over the powerful and flatter the weak. Fang Heng had heard of this Lord Zhang's reputation in Liangxiang. Although his official rank was not very high, he was extremely aloof.

For this kind of person, money is useless, and many other means are useless; it is precisely this seal that can play a decisive role.

"That's right. Write a letter to your father later, and stamp it with your maternal grandfather's seal. I think Lord Zhang will definitely accept the third son as his student."

Fang Heng shook his head upon hearing this.

"What, you don't want to?"

Fang Hong's expression changed instantly.

"It's not that I'm unwilling, but someone like Lord Zhang is certainly a discerning person. You can write a letter, and I can affix my grandfather's seal, but how could Lord Zhang accept Fang Xu as a student without any investigation?"

Fang Heng glanced at Fang Hong and said calmly.

Fang Hong fell silent upon hearing this.

"It's far too easy for Lord Zhang to investigate our family's petty affairs. When Lord Zhang finds out the truth, do you think what will happen to the third son?"

Fang Heng said somewhat jokingly.

Fang Heng said this not out of consideration for Fang Xu, but out of consideration for himself.

This kind of aimless drifting can't go on forever. Fang Heng has been considering whether to find a famous teacher to study under. Coincidentally, the famous teacher Fang Heng chose was none other than Zhang Lun. Therefore, he naturally couldn't give up this spot to Zhang Xu.

However, the path of the imperial examination was never simply about studying; it also required adherence to the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, with filial piety being the most important.

Fang Heng has never left the Fang family for this reason. If he were to leave the Fang family, not only would his path to the imperial examinations be cut off, but it would also be many times more difficult for him than for others.

Over the past three years, Fang Heng has worked diligently, partly to genuinely help his neighbors, and partly to gain a reputation for virtue, as a good name would greatly benefit his future career.

Upon hearing this, Fang Hong was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

"It's not that there's no way. I can have Uncle Jiang arrange for Fang Xu to get into Taiji Academy."

Fang Heng's words made Fang Hong's eyes light up.

Taiji Academy is a large academy left over from the Yuan Dynasty. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, it even became the academic center of northern China. Although it has gradually declined over the past few decades and is now not well-known, it is still one of the most prestigious academies in the capital.

However, the Taiji Academy is now just a name, an empty shell, and very few of its graduates pass the imperial examinations.

However, Fang Hong was unaware of these things; he was very familiar with the name Taiji Academy.

Fang Heng made this arrangement for two reasons. First, it was to better negotiate with Fang Hong. Second, he thought that once they entered the capital, Fang Xu would have no one to protect him. At that time, he could punish Fang Xu however he wanted.

"If Lord Jiang is willing to make the arrangements, that would be wonderful."

Fang Hong looked at Fang Heng with anticipation.

"I've always had a good relationship with Uncle Jiang, so this isn't a big deal for him. But I have one condition."

Fang Heng looked at Fang Hong and said with a serious expression.