Chapter 499 - 189: Additional Special Imperial Examination (Part 2)
Chapter 499: Chapter 189: Additional Special Imperial Examination (Part 2)
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhao, though a little disappointed, clasped her hands together in delight when she learned that Chen Song and his wife might come to the Prefecture. "Thank heavens, and thank the bodhisattvas... Your father is so capable, he should have been promoted long ago... The family will be reunited soon. This is truly wonderful news, just wonderful."
Sheng Kaolin and Jinbao came running over, roughhousing as they went. When Mrs. Zhao saw the fair-skinned, handsome boy, she froze for a moment.
"Whose child is this?"
Sheng Saya hurried forward to greet Mrs. Zhao and offer her apologies.
She explained that they had come in a rush and hadn’t prepared a visiting gift. Her younger brother was being playful, she added, which was why they hadn’t immediately come to pay their respects upon arriving at the Zhao Family’s home. She insisted it was terribly rude of them.
Mrs. Zhao frantically waved her hands, rushing to help Sheng Saya to her feet.
’These are the Lord Prefect’s daughter and son! I’m just a common woman. What right do I have to accept a formal greeting from them?’
Mrs. Zhao wasn’t accustomed to such situations. Using the excuse that she needed to have the kitchen prepare a meal for her esteemed guests, she instructed the cook to make several impressive dishes and then beat a hasty retreat to the back courtyard.
Sheng Saya called out after her a couple of times and even took two steps to follow, but Mrs. Zhao didn’t stop. Helpless, Sheng Saya could only turn to Chen Wanqing with a wry smile. "Wanqing, Mrs. Zhao is being far too formal."
"Since you’re our guests, please stay for a meal today. Our family’s chef is from Qingshui County, and the dishes from our hometown that he makes are very authentic. I’m just not sure if they’ll be to your liking. It’s a perfect chance for you to try them. If you enjoy the food, please come visit us often."
Sheng Saya glanced at Sheng Kaolin, but he couldn’t be bothered with them.
The boy was normally very well-behaved, always polite and proper when they went out. But after playing with Jinbao for a little while, he let his true nature run free, as if he’d forgotten his own father’s name.
In the end, the brother and sister did stay for the meal at the Zhao Family’s home.
During lunch, worried the children might feel uncomfortable with an elder present, Mrs. Zhao only came over to say a few kind words before retreating to the back of the house again.
Sheng Kaolin was accompanied by a table full of older youths... Not that their presence mattered much to him. What was important was that Jinbao was right at his feet. Besides, after playing all morning, he was truly starving.
He secretly fed Jinbao as he ate. The two little ones ate until their bellies were round and full before they reluctantly left the parlor.
After that day, De’an returned to the academy, while Zhao Jing continued his diligent studies at home.
Chen Wanqing would sometimes chide him. "Since you’re just studying whether you’re at home or at the prefectural academy, why must you insist on coming back?"
"The academy has a much better atmosphere for learning, and instructors are always available to answer your questions. Not to mention the huge Book Collection Building for research. Isn’t that much more convenient than being at home?"
And what was Zhao Jing’s reply when he heard her question?
"When you’re by my side, my mind is at ease, and I study much more efficiently."
Chen Wanqing was left speechless.
’Well... in that case, she could only indulge him and let him study at home, by her side.’
Chen Wanqing waited with bated breath, but before Chen Song’s transfer orders arrived, news of a special imperial examination was announced.
On that day, the couple was having breakfast on the street.
A father-daughter duo had recently appeared at the mouth of an alley, setting up a small canopied stall to sell breakfast. They specialized in spicy pepper soup and fried dough cakes. They only sold during the morning rush; as soon as they sold out, they would pack up and leave.
The father and daughter had a hard life. The old man had reportedly lost his wife in his youth and his son in his later years. His only daughter had married far from home, but after seven years without children, she had been cast out by her husband’s family.
The daughter was a skilled embroiderer, and her craft was enough to support them both, but just barely. If they wanted to live more comfortably, they had to find another source of income.
This little stall was the first step in their struggle to make a living.
Chen Wanqing felt the story was somewhat familiar, so she went to the alley entrance herself to take a look. When she returned, she told Zhao Jing, "It’s that old man we saw at the City God Temple fair—the one who was seeking out Mr. Zhou to have his fortune told. Mr. Zhou told him he would be provided for in his old age and have a grandson to dote on. The old man is probably trying to earn enough silver quickly to find a live-in son-in-law for his daughter."
Feeling sorry for the father and daughter’s difficult life, Chen Wanqing had lately been dragging Zhao Jing to eat at their street stall.
And it wasn’t just them eating; she would also bring portions back for Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er.
It was currently mid-spring, a time when the weather was deceptively warm but still held a lingering chill. A bowl of the hot spicy pepper soup would go down, and the flavor of the dogwood fruit would radiate from within, instantly warming one’s entire body.
Chen Wanqing remarked, "This spicy pepper soup isn’t as good as my mother’s, but she’s extravagant with her ingredients—plenty of pepper, plus beef and mutton. A small business like this can’t afford all that. Still, the flavor is decent enough."
On this day, the two of them came to the small stall as usual for spicy pepper soup and fried dough cakes.