The monument must be written, because it is to inspire the future generations of Xihe Village, the monument must also be particularly good. The village old man and the village Zheng are not satisfied with the inscription provided by the engraver, so early in the morning to come over to Zhu Pingan’s house to say that the monument to set up a flagstone, in fact, the main meaning is still to come over to ask Zhu Pingan to write down the inscription.
Therefore, after breakfast, Zhu Pingan’s family was surrounded by the village elders, the village chief and the neighbours who had heard of the incident and headed towards the centre of the village where the monument would be erected.
Because of the monument to set up the flagpole stone thing, Zhu father can not go to drive the oxcart, and as usual, let the elder brother Zhu Pingchuan take over to drive the oxcart to go, now almost the town are used to or is somewhat dependent on the Zhu family’s oxcart.
The centre of the village is a clearing, there is a banyan tree in the middle of the clearing, the banyan tree has a history of hundreds of years, the roots of the tree such as coiled dragons, the skin is like cracked rock, like a hundred-year-old man, stroking his long beard. A thick branch winding circling, a thousand forms, like an umbrella, there is a kind of heaven and earth weather.
Now under the big banyan tree there is a ten feet high stone monument is standing there, the monument is surrounded by a stone platform.
In the middle of the monument, there is a line engraved with the words, “Jiajing 30 years of Xinhai Enke Jiaozi Zhu Pingan Li”, leaving white space on both sides for the engraving of inspirational inscriptions for future generations.
Zhu Pingan and other people rushed to this big banyan tree, the village people heard the news came dozens of mouths, usually there is no fun in the village, and now there is such a big event in the village, naturally, also hold the children over to see the fun, Zhu Pingan as a role model for their own children to instil the idea of learning from Zhu Pingan, for a time the scene is very hot.
About a short time after Zhu Pingan and the others arrived, one of the villagers came over and said that Zhu Pingan’s family had come again.
Without waiting for the villagers to make it clear, a palanquin rattled over there, followed by two carriages full of things.
The scene was so big that all the people in the village looked there, and soon the sedan chair arrived in front of Zhu Pingan and the others, a middle-aged man wearing a green sunflower round-necked shirt and a hat. A middle-aged man wearing green sunflower round-necked shirt, head wearing a hat and wearing soap boots came down from the sedan chair.
This is Zhang Ju Ren at home, is the next town, more than forty years old, originally in Wangjiang County County Yamen as a county magistrate. Last year, Zhang Ju Ren was at home, because Zhang Ju Ren’s wife is from the town of Guanshan, so Zhang Ju Ren is also very familiar with Guanshan town, this time Zhang Ju Ren’s wife went to her mother’s home, Zhang Ju Ren came with her. I heard that the thirteen year old Zhu Ju Ren happened to be leaning against the mountain town, so also over to visit.
“Heh heh heh, uninvited, I hope I didn’t cause trouble for Mr Zhu and your village.” Lifted man Zhang was a person who had been a county minister, and also spoke with eight faces, as soon as he got off the sedan chair, he arched his hand with a smile on his face and took the initiative to greet Zhu Pingan.
“It is a great honour for Lifu Zhang to come to our Hahe Village.” Village Zheng is also a man of eight faces, and has seen Zhang Zuoren before, and is also worried that Zhu Pingan does not know Zhang Zuoren, so as soon as Zhang Zuoren’s words fell. He took the initiative to go forward and express his welcome to Lifter Zhang.
After listening to the words of the Village Chief, Zhu Pingan also knew that the visitor was a Litigator surnamed Zhang, and seemed to have quite a face in Guanshan Town, otherwise the Village Chief wouldn’t have known him.
“I’ve long heard of Lifu Zhang’s great name, but I just don’t have the chance to wait to pay my respects.” Zhu Pingan also arched his hand forward, being generous.
Before Lifter Zhang came, eldest uncle Zhu Shouren still had a haughty posture in front of his fellow villagers as well as in front of Zhu Pingan, this moment he saw Lifter Zhang. The eldest uncle Zhu Shouren immediately and legs, respectful and dignified can not, just like a primary school student to see the teacher like. Zhu Shouren had the intention to go forward to greet, but was afraid of being left out. I’m not sure what to do.
“I didn’t prepare any generous gifts in my haste to come, I hope that Mr Zhu won’t mind.” Zhang Zuoren said with an arch of his hand, and a servant beside him passed an envelope into Zhang Zuoren’s hands.
“Duke Zhu is already a Litigator before he is even a weak crown, it’s really something to be congratulated. My humble brother has nothing to offer, so I have the honour of presenting a congratulatory gift of 50 taels and some fruits and vegetables, and I hope that Duke Zhu won’t mind.” Litigator Zhang handed the envelope to Zhu Pingan. Muttering words of congratulations.
Fifty taels of silver, said to give it, the surrounding villagers have sucked in a breath, their eyes burned staring at the envelope in the hands of Lifter Zhang, especially the eldest uncle Zhu Shouren is even more fiery eyes.
Zhu Pingan smiled and excused himself, “No merit, no reward.”
Lifu Zhang insisted on giving it, making a face that he was about to get angry, “Is Mr Zhu too little?”
Zhu Pingan shook his head and pushed back.
“You and I will have to support each other in the future, if Duke Zhu is like this again, he is looking down on me, Zhang.” Litigator Zhang insisted on placing the envelope into Zhu Pingan’s hands, his tone somewhat agitated.
Zhu Pingan could not push back, so he had no choice but to accept it.
Zhang Zuoren was satisfied, and then and Zhu Pingan and the village village old man and other people exchanged pleasantries for a long time, when he heard that the lower river village was about to set up a monument and flagpole stone for Zhu Pingan, Zhang Zuoren was even more excited. Because Zhang Zuoren had once experienced his clan members erecting monuments and flagstones for him, he still had some experience, and Zhang Zuoren talked about his experience in great detail, benefiting the village elder and the village chief.
After the style of the monument and flagstones were simply repaired, it was time to write the inscription and find a stonemason to carve the monument.
“Zhu Xian Di is young and talented, his fame is all over the South Zhili, the monument raises his hand to the matter. Exhortation to the future, but also a fortunate thing.”
When he heard that the erection of the monument is still missing the inscription, Lecturer Zhang also pushed Zhu Pingan to write the inscription with his own hands, and Lecturer Zhang also wanted to take the opportunity to see how Zhu Pingan’s level of literary talent is, because he heard the news that Zhu Pingan is the last in the list of Lecturer, but then he heard about Lord Zhao catching his son-in-law under the list as well as the reversal of the Luming Banquet, which made him a little bit curious about the level of Zhu Pingan’s literary talent.
When it comes to the inscription, the eldest uncle Zhu Shouren is a bit foolish, seems to have prepared it in private.
Originally it was also for Zhu Pingan to write the inscription, but now Zhang Zuoren has also come, it wouldn’t be very nice to leave Zhang Zuoren out in the cold, so the village chief and the village elders made up their minds for a while, and then the eldest uncle, Zhu Shouren, followed suit and expressed his opinion.
“It’s rare that we have two lifters in Xiahe Village, why don’t we both leave behind ink treasures to encourage future generations.” After the summing up, the village head came out and proposed.
“With Xianzhi Zhu around, I’ll forget about it.” Litigator Zhang smiled and shook his head.
“The stone monument needs an inscription, and there are stone pillars on both sides, which also need ink treasures, as well as the ancestral hall, which also needs ink treasures, so Lifu Zhang shouldn’t excuse himself.”
Village Zheng was inviting again, and in the end, Litigator Zhang compromised and said, “I see that both sides of this monument are left white, and so are the stone pillars, and since this is to encourage future generations, why don’t we all write one or two couplets, and choose a few at that time, okay? The rest, if there is a need in the future, can also be a reference.”
Zhang Zhuren’s proposal is in the eldest uncle Zhu Shouren’s mind, looking at Zhu Pingan gold list title fame monument, the eldest uncle Zhu Shouren also very hot, if you can write their own inscriptions engraved on the stone monument, then they are not followed by a hundred years of fame. ……
Zhang proposed, the village will not oppose, Zhu Pingan also has no opinion, so the village will arrange for a few juniors to carry a few tables and chairs, set up ink, paper and inkstone under the banyan tree, the village old man, the village, as well as the eldest uncle, Zhu Shouren, and other literate followed Zhu Pingan and Zhang to the table, ready to wield the ink!
