Capable Officials

When Zhang Xuezhou moved into his new residence, plenty of his neighbors kept an eye on him.

But none dared come to congratulate him.

Most likely, everyone would only dare drop by after Zhang Xuezhou had lived there for ten days or half a month, or perhaps even longer.

That suited Zhang Xuezhou perfectly.

At nightfall, he and Rong Tianding went out to visit Di Rang, their neighbor on the left, then went to the home of Zheng Wukong, their neighbor on the right.

Di Rang ran an inn. Perhaps realizing that he had reached the limit of what a merchant could achieve, he had not let his children inherit the business, instead seeking a path for them through official distinction.

His son, Di Shan, had become a disciple of the Confucian School and had secured an official post in the new emperor's first round of recruitment.

Although he was only a minor clerk for now, his future looked promising.

Zheng Wukong, meanwhile, was skilled in medicine and ran a pharmacy in Chang'an City. He had good connections and considerable wealth. Zhang Xuezhou reckoned his medical skills must have been a cut above Pockmarked Wang Er's back in Shu Commandery City for him to have established himself in Chang'an City.

Although Zheng Wukong was nearly fifty, he had never married or had children, taking only a few apprentices.

His apprentices followed their master around during the day but each went elsewhere at night, leaving the Zheng household rather quiet most of the time.

Having learned the backgrounds of both households, Zhang Xuezhou was quite happy to associate with such neighbors.

He warmly invited both households to visit the Zhang Household, and only when Di Rang and Zheng Wukong both declined did he return home, thoroughly satisfied.

Dinner was a pile