HLnovel Chapter 132 Firm
Chapter 132 Firm
"Pei Lin, tell me, why has Guo Xi become like this now?" Hu Zongrui said in a low voice with red eyes.
Fang Peilin listened to the whole story and said soothingly, "Guo Xi's words were indeed a bit hurtful, but they also made little sense. If you don't study and go into business, do you have a clear plan for your future? If so, you don't have to study, right?"
"Really?" Hu Zongrui looked at Fang Peilin eagerly.
"There's a saying among the people that every profession has its top talent." Fang Peilin said slowly, "But if you don't make a name for yourself in business, you can only guard your father's family business, and you can't create new achievements on your own. You will have to live under your father's shadow for the rest of your life."
"Your mother wanted you to study not only because scholars have a high status. After all, in our Zhao Dynasty, the status of merchants has been greatly improved compared to previous dynasties. There are no restrictions on food, clothing, housing and transportation. She must still hope that you can learn something else through books."
Hu Zongrui fell silent.
After an unknown amount of time, Guo Xi knocked on the door and said, "Zong Rui, I know you are here. I want to apologize to you."
Hu Zongrui glanced at Fang Peilin, hesitated for a while, then opened the door, stared at Guo Xi without saying a word.
"I'm sorry, Zong Rui. I spoke too hastily just now. I have thought carefully about what you said. The well-being of the people should indeed be considered by officials, who should balance the relationship between businessmen and the people." Guo Xi's tone was very soft.
Fang Peilin interrupted, "Indeed, the government collects taxes from the people, so it is natural that they should help them solve their problems. They cannot let merchants and others consider the people for everything. Moreover, Zong Rui has done a good job. He also left a way out during the grain collection."
Hu Zongrui didn't say anything, just kept his head down and looked at the teacup in his hand.
Guo Xi knew that he had indeed gone too far this time, because in his mind, doing business was never a safe way to go, only a career in politics was the right path. After all, his second sister made her fortune in business, but she became rich all of a sudden, and if she didn't have someone in the officialdom to protect her, she would be very uneasy.
He added: "Actually, if you really want to go into business, I can help you convince your mother."
Hu Zongrui remained silent, swallowed his saliva and said, "Really?"
"Of course, but if you want to achieve this plan, you may have to work a lot harder, much harder than studying in the academy now. Are you really willing?"
Hu Zongrui nodded vigorously, and Guo Xi whispered his own method.
……
The three of them left the academy on the pretext of something and came to the Hu mansion.
"Why are you back? Have you finished reading all the books in the academy?" Before Mrs. Hu came out, her voice was heard first, with a lot of blame in her tone.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Guo Xi and Fang Peilin and asked hurriedly, "Why did you follow Zong Rui here? Did he make a big mistake?"
Hu Zongrui was somewhat helpless, and said weakly: "Mom, I came back to talk to you about something."
As he spoke, he put down the cloth bag he was carrying, took out piles of examination homework from it and handed them to Mrs. Hu.
Mrs. Hu took it with a suspicious look on her face, looked at it one by one, and said, "These homework assignments are no different from before, right?"
"Mom, I want to ask for something, I hope you can agree to it."
Mrs. Hu immediately put the paper in her hand on the table and said firmly, "I tell you, if you want to do business, it is absolutely impossible. You should stay in the academy and study honestly. Studying is what you should do now, not doing business. Your father and I will take care of the family business for you, so you don't have to worry."
"Mom, listen to me."
Mrs. Hu was about to turn around and go back to the house, but then she remembered that Guo Xi and Hu Zongrui were standing beside her, so she paused and sat on the armchair above.
"Mom, if I can rank among the top in my class in the next exam, can I go into business? I..."
Before she could finish her words, Mrs. Hu said stiffly, "No, I've said it many times, I can indulge you in other things, but not in studying!"
Seeing that Mrs. Hu's attitude was so firm, Guo Xi was worried that if he let Hu Zongrui continue speaking, the conversation would end in a bad mood before it was even clear.
Then he said, "Aunt, if Zong Rui goes into business, he will not fall behind in his studies. The only difference is that the place of study will not be the academy, but the place of study will be Sifang. And if he fails to make any achievements in five years, Peilin and I have promised to help him review his lessons."
"It's impossible for him to improve his grades no matter how hard he studies, right? And I don't believe that based on his performance in the academy, he can continue studying in the next five years."
Hu Zongrui lowered his head, his eyes fixed on his toes, his teeth clenched and his lips tightly pursed together.
Fang Peilin sighed and said, "Madam Hu, Zong Rui is not stupid. It's just that studying is not what he wants to do. If he is stuck in this world, not only will he not be able to make any achievements in his official career, but it will also most likely waste his business talent."
"I, I have my reasons for wanting him to pursue a career in government." Mrs. Hu softened. "He is my son, how could I not know this? But businessmen always need an official position to support them."
Guo Xi said: "I understand your concerns, Aunt. In fact, this is why Peilin and I came here. We hit it off with Zongrui right away. After spending these days together, we can actually feel his talent and don't want to waste it."
"So, Peilin and I are pursuing official careers, and he is in business. If he needs help in the future, we are willing to lend him a hand when we both enter officialdom in the future."
Mrs. Hu did not speak. The two people in front of her were the grandson of the General of the Cavalry and the grandson of Fang Tairu. They both had great talent in studying and would surely achieve a lot in the future if they entered official careers.
If he could get their help, it would certainly be much better than letting Zong Rui study hard on his own. However, true feelings change rapidly. Will the promises they made today really not change in the future?
However, if Zong Rui were to study, what would he be able to achieve? She also knew her son's grades. If she relied on herself, at most she could only get a Tongsheng or Xiucai.
Seeing that Mrs. Hu was hesitant, Hu Zongrui immediately said, "Mother, if you allow me to drop out of school and do business, I will study diligently during the five years of doing business, and study harder than when I was in the academy. If I don't achieve something after five years, I will honestly take the imperial examination."