Chapter 12

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Cheng Zijian hurriedly returned a salute and said, "Brother Cai, I have long admired your Big Name! I am Cheng Zijian of the Waishe, Chen Fuzi introduced me to come here……"

That Cai Xiu was stunned for a moment, thought for a bit, then suddenly realized and said, "So it's Zijian! You've come for the provincial examination essays, haven't you?"

Cheng Zijian nodded his head.

He was, after all, somewhat restrained; he drummed up courage in his heart for half a day before saying, "I heard Brother is a Guanzhong person, so Little Brother specially prepared some Guanzhong food and brought it over; just one breakfast, it really doesn't count as proper respect……"

While speaking, he handed over the food box he was carrying in his hand,

That Cai Xiu took the food box from his hand, casually placed it on the table to one side, yet sighed a breath, and said, "Zijian, speaking of this matter, it's really very sorry; yesterday I spoke too fast, Fuzi asked, and I agreed without much thought; only when I returned did I remember that last time when I went to attend a literary gathering, I had already given the essay to the Second Young Master of the Yong'an Bo household."

"Zijian, if you don't mind, you might as well come again next time."

The smile on Cheng Zijian's face froze at once.

The provincial examination is right before his eyes; if he tests well, he might be able to enter the Shangshe; if he tests badly, when the three-year term expires, he will have to return to his hometown.

This time he entrusted a teacher, originally wanting to borrow this talent Cai Xiu's essay lessons to study them well; sharpening the spear at the battlefront, even if it doesn't shine, it's polished.

Right now the other party says come again next time; next time — which time, which day?

But the other party's reason is reasonable, attitude amiable; how could he press further?

Cheng Zijian's heart was bitter; he could only keep shaking his head and say, "No matter, then I'll come again next time to bother Brother Cai."

This Cheng Zijian has always been a person with extremely thin face skin; once rejected, if it were usual times, he would have long been extremely embarrassed, hastily taken his leave, and wouldn't come again next time; today, however, for some unknown obsession, thinking of the promise he himself made in the Food Alley just now, he hardened his scalp and said again, "Only, I have another improper request — I wonder if Brother Cai has the 'Wei Xing Tong' in hand; if convenient, could you lend it for a few days?"

"This small matter, naturally no problem." Cai Xiu immediately said.

Cheng Zijian hadn't yet had time to be happy, but heard the other party continue, "However that book I haven't used for a long time, already put back at home; I'm afraid I still have to go back to fetch it — you come another day and take it together."

Again another day.

Clearly Cai Xiu agreed very readily, but for some reason Cheng Zijian felt very uncomfortable, hesitated and said, "It's actually this troublesome, then…… forget it?"

Cai Xiu only smiled and said it was no matter, repeatedly apologized, yet also didn't insist, saying, "Today is really not coincidental; I ought to keep you to sit a while, only I still have to go attend a literary gathering in a moment; when free another day, you and I will properly associate once more!"

Cheng Zijian is also not a person who doesn't know propriety; seeing he was busy, he could only hurriedly take his leave.

He came today full of high spirits, yet not a single thing was accomplished, and thinking the provincial examination is right before his eyes, his brain was really somewhat dazed; after going out, he originally didn't know the roads well, and actually walked the wrong direction, heading toward the back of this Xue She.

When he reached a dead end, he then reacted, hurriedly turned back; unexpectedly just as he returned to below the window, he heard Cai Xiu's speaking voice from inside the room.

"Zheng Yan, you really aren't going? Today's literary gathering invited both Master Cao and Master Wei to come together."

Cheng Zijian heard the words "Master Cao and Master Wei", his footsteps paused, he secretly thought, could it be Master Cao Jie and Master Wei Defu?

Next month is Dean Deng's seventieth birthday; many disciples have entered the Capital to celebrate his birthday; Xiangshan Shuyuan's Cao Jie and Wei Defu are also among them.

These two are both famous Confucian scholars of the current age; if he could gain their favorable regard, a casual pointer from either would surely be of help; no wonder this Cai Xiu is this dedicated.

In his heart he envied endlessly.

But before he could finish envying, he heard someone inside reply, "I'm not going, you go yourself."

The tone was quite cold.

Cheng Zijian was so shocked his footsteps couldn't move.

Cai Xiu in the room said again, "These two days I mostly won't be back; since you aren't going, this person sent some food……"

"Matters of mouth and belly, then no need to bother on my account."

"Right, Zheng Yan you never like these things; only I'm pressed for time; if someone comes, you help me distribute to others to eat; if no one comes, throw it away."

"Originally still wanted to say borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, take this breakfast to ask you to help a bit; though you don't want it, but if Fuzi asks…… still please Zheng Yan help bear a few sentences!"

That Cai Xiu finished speaking, hugging a bamboo basket in his hands, not knowing what was inside, footsteps hurried, went out the door and left.

Left Cheng Zijian standing in place, watching Cai Xiu's back recede far away; in his brain only the two words "throw away" that person just said; in his heart an indescribable flavor.

His family generations farmed; since childhood both parents died; the remaining few mu of thin fields, to support his studies, were long sold out; the travel expenses to enter the Capital after passing the Taixue were still scraped together by Elder Sister helping people starch-wash clothes; after entering school, not a single day did he dare indulge, always saving where he could.

Others eat at food shops; he, three meals a day, either eats at the Canteen or eats at food stalls; shaobing, steamed buns, cold rice noodles taking turns to eat; even drinking one more bamboo tube of Chenpi Mung Bean Drink he had to calculate.

Today this Huang Bobo in others' eyes might not be presentable, yet it was also his piece of heart; for this, yesterday he would rather eat one less meal, but also scrape out more silver money to ask that young woman to help.

A gift sent out, of course is disposed of by the recipient; there's nothing to say about that.

But why waste grain?

You must know this Cai Xiu, is also from a cold-field poor family!

If not for hearing Fuzi say this Cai Xiu is generous and kind, modest and courteous, how would he have had the nerve to come to the door?

Don't know if it was receiving Elder Sister's letter before the year, learning Brother-in-law died of illness, making him uneasy in his heart this whole past period; or the provincial examination imminent, making him nervous and suffering; or promising that young woman's favor but unable to help; or feeling himself pitiable and sad, others not putting those few Bobo and steamed buns in their hearts at all, he was actually this petty. Cheng Zijian's emotions for a moment could not be self-controlled, unexpectedly involuntarily, he stepped forward and walked toward that Xue Zhai.

He forcefully knocked on the door.

In the Xue Zhai there was only one person, precisely the one called "Zheng Yan" by that Cai Xiu; at this moment reading a book in the corner, hearing the sound, already raised his head.

Cheng Zijian walked straight toward the other party.

Reading for many years, basic propriety he wouldn't forget; first performed a salute, then pointed at the food box placed on the table to the side, and said, "This…… Brother, because I knew Brother Cai is a Guanzhong person, I specially entrusted someone to help make this box of Huang Bobo; the Chef Household kindly, fearing my gift was meager, stayed up all night and also helped make mutton steamed buns; all used good Ingredients……"

"Though it's already a gift sent out, but…… could you do a convenience, don't throw this kind of food away; if Brother can help eat it naturally best; if unwilling, rather give to others, just don't waste……"

As he spoke, don't know when, his nose soured, tears actually could no longer be controlled flowing down; his brain became a lump of flour paste, fundamentally not knowing what nonsense he was babbling.