Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 356: Chapter 343 Lin Zhan Returns_2

A true gentleman I am, how could I possibly lead the youth astray!

Lin Zhan felt both shy and awkward.

In fact, Liu Zhe had taken him there before. It is true that scholars like to seek pleasure, but some only enjoy discussing poetry with courtesans, listening to melodies, or watching dance performances. These are refined pleasures. If it involves actual fighting or brawling, it becomes vulgar.

Liu Zhe took Lin Zhan there, but he did not allow Lin Zhan to linger among the flowers, claiming it was to toughen his mind.

Each visit left Lin Zhan full of complaints.

As a young and vigorous man, being able to look but not touch was truly frustrating.

”Dad, what is a flower house? Can I go there?”

Just then, a clear child’s voice rang out, causing the cheerful atmosphere to pause.

Yang Zhenshan’s face stiffened.

Yu Qingyi glared fiercely at Yang Zhenshan and, not satisfied, slapped his shoulder.

”Ming Zhao dear, that place is not nice. We won’t go there!” Yu Qingyi pulled Ming Zhao closer and said.

Yang Zhenshan gasped as his wife had hit him hard, causing him real pain.

”Cough cough, indeed, that place is no good. Little children should not go there!”

”And you can’t go there when you grow up either!” Yu Qingyi stated.

”Uh, won’t go even when grown up!” Yang Zhenshan repeatedly nodded in agreement; one must not lead the children astray.

Ming Zhao was not very interested in the flower house. He just heard of it and felt it odd. Seeing how his parents reacted, he curbed his curiosity and turned to look at Lin Zhan.

”Brother Lin, Dad said you should teach me. When will you start teaching me?”

”I already recognize quite a few characters,” Ming Zhao said expectantly.

The little fellow was five years old, at an age of curiosity and eager to learn.

The Yang family maintained a righteous household atmosphere with no untoward conduct, and instead, there were two schools, one for boys and one for girls. Ming Zhao would go there to play when he was free.

Indeed, just to play; he did not understand what was taught, only finding it a fun place.

Yang Zhanshan was not in a rush to teach him martial arts or study, feeling a complete childhood was better.

In fact, children in the Yang family generally started their formal education at six and martial training at eight. The family practiced martial arts, and sometimes the children followed suit, so the timing was not very strict.

Before school, they studied or played as they wished, and once in school, the teachers took charge.

”How about I start your education from tomorrow?” Lin Zhan, his shyness and awkwardness fading, said while patting Ming Zhao’s head.

”Okay, Dad, tomorrow I want to start learning with Brother Lin!” Ming Zhao said joyfully.

Yet Yang Zhanshan asked, ”Won’t it affect your studies?”

Lin Zhan had returned home this year to participate in next year’s provincial examinations, and after that, there would be the metropolitan examinations. He needed to focus on his studies.

”Master, it won’t be a problem. It’s just basic education, and I’ve always wanted to teach my junior brother!” Lin Zhan replied.

When he left, Yang Zhanshan had mentioned teaching Ming Zhao, and although Yang Zhanshan had mentioned it casually, Lin Zhan had taken it to heart.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a while and said, ”Alright, if you are willing to teach, then teach him. If it affects you, we’ll just send him to school!”

The Yang family’s school is the best among those managed by the Tenglong Guard, and the children of officials from Tenglong Guard mostly study there.

Although it is called the Yang family’s school, it is more like an institution run by the Yang family.

”Very well, Master!” Lin Zhan responded very respectfully.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and smiled, then asked, ”What do you think about your marriage?”

Indeed, it was time for Lin Zhan to get married. Wang Yunqiao, who was the same age as him, already had two children, whereas Lin Zhan was still unmarried.

Lin Zhan lowered his head and said, ”I’ll leave it all to Master and Mistress to decide!”

Once a teacher, forever a father.

He had long regarded Yang Zhenshan as his own father and the Yang family as his own home.

In matters of marriage, importance is placed on the arrangement of parents and the matchmaker’s words, and there was no one more suitable than Yang Zhenshan to decide for him.

Yang Zhenshan looked to Yu Qingyi beside him and asked, ”Who do you think has a suitable daughter for him?”

”Lin Zhan is a scholar, I think finding a daughter from an official’s family would be appropriate. The daughters of the officials in our Tenglong Guard are either already betrothed or too young.”

”I heard that Mr. Zheng’s eldest daughter is virtuous and well-mannered, but I am not sure if she is already betrothed!”

Yu Qingyi said meaningfully.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.

There are many considerations in matters of marriage, especially since Lin Zhan will participate in the imperial examinations in the future, and he must inevitably take the path of a civil servant, so a good prospective in-law family is necessary.

It would be best to find one that could provide some help in his future official career.

This is not because Yu Qingyi is overly ambitious, but because such considerations are common in families of officials.

The Mr. Zheng mentioned by Yu Qingyi refers to Zheng Xiao, who has a promising future. He is only in his thirties and is already serving as the Imperial Censor of the Salt Administration in Liaodong. His promotion after the end of his term to perhaps an Assistant Imperial Censor is likely a smooth path.

If Lin Zhan had such a father-in-law, his future in officialdom would likely involve fewer detours.

Most importantly, Zheng Xiao could give Lin Zhan some guidance about the unwritten rules of officialdom, in which Yang Zhenshan and Liu Zhe are somewhat less experienced than Zheng Xiao.

There is no need to say more about Yang Zhenshan; he was a Military Officer, and his career has been somewhat smooth, so he knows little about the intrigue within the bureaucracy.

He has always preferred using swords, not spending his efforts on conspiracies and schemes.

With his temperament, there were naturally no major issues within the military, but amongst civil servants, his methods were too severe and not suitable.

Liu Zhe also had little knowledge about these matters; Liu Yuanfu understood this and thus was always hesitant to let him enter officialdom.

Lin Zhan is smart and has been prudent and independent-minded from a young age, with a good sense of measure in handling matters. It can be said that he is very suited for officialdom, but he is after all inexperienced and needs a mentor to familiarize him with the rules of officialdom.

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment, ”I’ll have someone inquire about Mr. Zheng’s eldest daughter’s situation!”

They definitely couldn’t ask Zheng Xiao directly; first, they need to discreetly find out about the situation.

Whether there is already a marital arrangement, whether her character is as rumored, her appearance, and health condition.

This all needs to be ascertained beforehand; if asked directly and it turns out to be unsuitable, it might affect the relations between both parties.

”That would be good, let Qingxia go to Liao’an Prefecture then!” Yu Qingyi nodded in agreement.

”Hmm! Let’s start with that, and as for other things, we’ll discuss further when we have more information!” Yang Zhenshan said with a smile.

Once the matter was agreed upon, everyone started chatting casually again. Little Ming Zhao sat next to Lin Zhan and asked incessantly, the boy now full of curiosity about everything. He had often heard Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi mention Lin Zhan but had never met him; Lin Zhan had left when he was too young to remember, so it was not wrong to say this was their first meeting.