My eunuch godfather

Chapter 20 Moving House

Back at the inn, Sun Jing called Sun Shoucheng to his room and asked in a deep voice:

"What kind of person do you think Zhang Kun is?"

"I think this person is not particular about details."

Sun Shoucheng recalled Zhang Kun's rescue of his sister during the day and his composed demeanor afterward, and said to his father:

"Not only is he unconventional, but he is probably completely unrestrained by etiquette! He has a bit of a wild Zen-like quality."

Furthermore, this person's behavior is unlike that of an official; it's more like... more like that of a businessman.

When he recruited river workers in Hejian City, he actually held a banquet to invite storytellers and opera singers to help spread his message.

What official would stoop to such a level?

"Most business people are cautious and yielding, believing that harmony brings wealth. How many act like him?"

Sun Jing shook his head and said to Sun Shoucheng:

"However, he is indeed shrewd and calculating, does not put on airs as an official, and cares more about practical benefits."

After briefly explaining the solution Zhang Kun had proposed to the Sun family, he asked Sun Shoucheng, "What do you think?"

"I believe... the Sun family's future truly lies outside."

Sun Shoucheng had traveled the canal trade routes and visited many large cities. He was quite satisfied with Zhang Kun's suggestion and replied:

"But this person may not be trustworthy; he might want to devour our family whole."

"What in our family does he want?"

Sun Jing remained noncommittal and continued to ask Sun Shoucheng.

"Our family has the skill to brew wine, and we also have a large sum of money from selling our family property,"

Sun Shoucheng thought for a moment and replied to Sun Jing:

"If we prioritize the former, it's a good way out for our family. If we prioritize the latter, it's dangerous."

"You've made progress."

Sun Jing smiled and nodded to Sun Shouchang, saying:

"Actually, our family's brewing skills are nothing special. Over the years, many of them have been learned by the masters below and other wineries."

The key issue is money; I plan to ask him about it tomorrow.

After letting Sun Shoucheng leave, Sun Jing called his daughter, Sun Shuyun, into the room and advised her:

"Father knows you are very sad. The third and fifth brothers are gone, and Father is also very sad."

The third and fifth brothers fought desperately to kill the bandits that day in order to protect you!

If you don't take good care of yourself, and something happens, wouldn't the third and fifth brothers die in vain?

"Your father wants you to live well; that's the only way to repay the kindness of your third and fifth brothers!"

Sun Shuyun said to Sun Jing with red eyes:

"I understand, child."

"Good to know."

After a long silence, Sun Jing spoke to Sun Shuyun:

"Your father taught you to read and write from a young age, and over the years, he has often had you help with chores in the study while running his business."

As you probably know, the breakdown of the marriage between the Guo family and our family is a major calamity for us.

"To overcome this calamity, we must rely on Zhang Kun, the centurion."

Sun Shuyun was taken aback upon hearing this, and lowered her head. "Father wants to give me to him as a concubine?"

"Dad does have that idea, but you can't force things."

Upon hearing Sun Shuyun's words, Sun Jing did not deny them, but directly admitted:

"Given Zhang Kun's power and wealth, he's never short of beautiful women. If he sends you over as a gift, he probably won't cherish you much."

Father would prefer you to spend more time with him, hoping he might develop feelings for you.

Sun Jing took out a sachet embroidered by his wife from his bosom, showed it to Sun Shuyun, and continued:

"Most couples today are married by arrangement of parents and matchmakers, and they have not met many times before marriage, so it is difficult for them to have feelings for each other."

Most couples treat each other with respect after marriage, leading to the saying that "a wife is not as good as a concubine." Those who cannot get along may even become enemies.

Your father and mother are lucky; they've known each other since childhood and are capable of making their own decisions.

Not only Dad, but also the third and fifth brothers, if they have spirits in heaven, wouldn't want to see you live a lonely life...

Being a concubine in this era is much better than in previous generations.

Legally, aside from official titles and ancestral lands, legitimate sons and illegitimate sons have equal rights to inherit property.

After the death of a stepmother, the legitimate son is required to observe mourning for her.

Although it was essentially a further strengthening of patriarchy and a promotion of the division of family households, the situation of concubines did indeed improve considerably.

There have even been extreme cases where a legitimate son was adopted by a concubine who had property but no sons.

"I understand, child."

Sun Shuyun interrupted Sun Jing, "He is my father's child, so just give me your orders."

......

At the Wang family residence in Zhuangxi, Zhang Kun looked at the four teenagers in the courtyard with a smile on his face.

Wang Fusheng's two sons, Wang Chenglin and Wang Chengqi, are much closer to their cousin Zhang Kun.

However, his two younger brothers, Li Yan and Li Jin, who had only met Zhang Kun a few times, were quite reserved.

They're all family, even closer than fellow villagers.

Moreover, they are still young and have the potential to be nurtured into talents.

"Uncle, I'm moving our family out."

Zhang Kun patted the heads of the four boys one by one, gave each of them a piece of sesame candy he had brought from the capital, and said to Wang Fusheng:

"I offended the Guo family in Hejian City, the Guo family whose father was a scholar and whose son was a xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations)."

Although the Guo family doesn't dare to bully our family now, I'm afraid I might cause some trouble in the capital.

That's what they mean by "a gentleman takes revenge, even after ten years!"

Wang Fusheng hesitated, after all, his social connections were all in Xinzhuang, and he was unwilling to leave emotionally.

But reason quickly made him realize that offending a scholar whose son was a student was a matter of life and death.

Moreover, with his carpentry skills, even if his nephew were to have an accident, he would be able to establish himself in the new place.

After thinking it through, she turned to her older sister beside her and said on Zhang Kun's behalf:

"Sister, listen to Kun'er, let's move with the Li family?"

Fortunately, my mom didn't hesitate much and agreed.

As for Uncle Li, he is a soft-hearted and indecisive person, and his mother makes the decisions on important family matters.

Just as Zhang Kun was about to continue speaking, Xu Xin strode over and said that Sun Jing wanted to see him alone.

inside the room.

"What's your decision, Master Sun?"

Zhang Kun smiled at Sun Jing.

"I've thought about it, and what the centurion said yesterday makes a lot of sense."

Instead of answering Zhang Kun directly, Sun Jing posed another question to probe:

"The key to the Sun family's success today lies in their brewing skills."

After selling my business, I plan to only run a winery and no longer acquire wine shops and land.

"In that case, there's still a considerable amount of money left. Does Commander Zhang have any good ideas on what to do with it?"

Zhang Kun sensed Sun Jing's worry, but instead of answering directly, he smiled and said:

"To be honest, Mr. Sun, the businesses I'm involved in are currently short of money and manpower."

So I plan to move my family to Tianjin, but my family members lack business experience.

If Master Sun is interested in participating, he can send me a few capable stewards and managers who are willing to move with the Sun family.

This way, I can support my family and also get a feel for the prospects of these businesses.

When Sun Jing heard that Zhang Kun planned to move his family to Tianjin, his eyes lit up and he was overjoyed. He agreed to Zhang Kun's request.

"Yes, yes, may I ask, Commander Zhang, what kind of business do you run?"

"Let's talk about this first."

Zhang Kun took a tobacco box from his satchel, opened it, and handed it to Sun Jing, asking with a smile, "Has Master Sun ever seen this before?"

"It seems so—but what bone?"

Sun Jing had seen this item before, but didn't remember it well, and tried hard to recall.

"This thing is called tampoo..."

Zhang Kun shared his vision of the bright future of danbagu with Sun Jing, and said with a smile:

"Besides tampongolica, my partner and I are also planning a more promising business, and even my godfather has a stake in it."

Hearing that Zhang Kun's eunuch godfather was also involved, Sun Jing became even more excited.

Could this be a case of "a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise"?