That's just how inexplicable human jealousy can be. If Yuanrun Qian hadn't been so good at disguising himself, he probably would have been cursing right now.

That's not all that's annoying, this guy surnamed Li just keeps nagging.

“Brother Li, I’m really curious about what’s going on with Zhao’s family. Why don’t we find an opportunity to ask them how they manage to make a living?”

After all, it's quite rare to see a family where all the men have gone out to study, leaving only the women at home to support the family business.

After saying that, he gave a meaningful smile.

Li, with his long, thin face, also showed the same expression.

Not only did he want to observe the surroundings, but he also wanted to travel around.

Behind the main house of the Zhao family are rows of independent small buildings. On the east side of the houses, there is a winding road that leads straight to the top of the mountain.

Qian and Li then fanned themselves and tried to walk up the mountain along the path.

They had only taken a few steps when they were stopped by the guards.

Hai'an said, "Young masters, the guests are all dining and resting in the front yard. If you two want to go to the restroom, do you see? Just walk along that path."

Outside the outhouse was a sink and soap for washing hands; the water there was running water.

He pointed ahead as he spoke.

The round coin was quite displeased.

"We just want to take a look around and visit Zhao's home, not go to that filthy place."

Hai'an laughed.

"I apologize, gentlemen. I misunderstood you. The back mountain is the Zhao family's backyard, and outsiders are not allowed to enter at will. Please leave."

This infuriated the long-skinned Li and the round-faced Qian. But since the host family disagreed, there was nothing they could do.

Looking at the clothes on the shore, I knew that he must be a servant of the Zhao family.

This only made Yuanrunqian even more jealous, since even a servant was dressed in better fabric than him.

The reason Yuanrunqian made himself so fat was not for any other reason than to prove to his classmates that his family was rich.

After all, there aren't many fat people these days. Only those with money and plenty of food can gain weight, right? So this round coin doesn't move around after each meal.

In his words, it would be a waste to continue the effort after spending money on food.

With more people, things become more lively. Some of the students from the county school came to the Zhao family to find out what was going on.

After all, in their eyes, the Zhao family was too mysterious, and their way of dealing with people was different from that of ordinary people.

When things come naturally, everything feels new and exciting.

Because the entire courtyard is several acres in size, there are stone-paved paths that lead to many places.

For example, the person who had just come out of the toilet was quite emotional.

"I have never seen anyone's outhouse so clean. There is no dirt in it and no smell."

After using the toilet, scoop a ladle of water from the sink, rinse your hands, and you'll be clean.

The water pool outside the latrine was even more amazing; just turn the switch on the thin pipe and clean water would flow out.

I heard the servants beside me say that the water came from a mountain spring, and it was not only suitable for washing, but also for drinking.

And that soap... it lathers up really well when you wash your hands, it not only cleans them thoroughly but also smells floral. Smell it.

Zhong Xiucai was excitedly sharing his experiences with his classmates.

So, many classmates went to the outhouse out of curiosity.

Others strolled together along the paths in the front yard, where they could see ripe fruits and vegetables growing in the ground.

They consider themselves well-read, yet they don't really know much about things like watermelons and tomatoes.

They look so beautiful, I really want to pick one and taste it, but I'm afraid the owner will look down on me.

It was so uncomfortable, I can't even describe it.

Especially looking at the bright red tomatoes, they look incredibly tempting.

"You know, if these fruits are planted in the yard, they must be edible, right? They look so appealing."

"I asked, Scholar Chu."

"I don't know either. Isn't it said that the prettier something is, the more likely it is to be poisonous? Like mushrooms, it is said that the prettier they are, the more poisonous they are."

"Why don't we ask someone later?" Xiang Xiucai said.

As it turned out, this person actually found the Zhao family and asked what the red fruits in the field were. After learning that they were edible, the two men's pitiful eyes seemed to come alive.

Zhao Qingluan was young, but she couldn't resist the greedy little eyes of the two scholars, Chu and Xiang, and after picking two for them, she stirred up a hornet's nest.

The tomatoes in the Zhao family's front yard were almost destroyed by these students.

While eating fruit they had never tasted before, a few shameless individuals even started eyeing the seeds.

The Zhao family politely declined.

"This stuff comes from overseas, and we really know nothing about how it's planted or how the seeds are obtained. Perhaps we should ask my grandmother."

As you all know, the old lady makes all the decisions in our family, big and small.

Zhao Qingfeng replied.

After eating the tomatoes, the lingering fragrance in my mouth made me want to eat another one. I had lost interest in the Zhao family's banquet.

I thought that even if a family in the countryside held a feast, the food might not taste good.

The moment they picked up their first piece of meat and put it in their mouths, even the students who usually paid attention to etiquette forgot what restraint meant.

Their mouths were greasy and their teeth were brimming with fragrance; they all looked like they'd never seen the world before.

A scholar whose family owned a silk shop said,

"This meat is so delicious, it tastes just like it. I was lucky enough to have it once at Wangyuelou."

You know, just one plate of braised pork, only ten pieces in total, with at most half a pound of meat, can sell for more than 400 coins.

This plate alone must weigh at least two pounds. What do you think it would cost?

As soon as he finished speaking, the man next to him, who owned a jewelry store, nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I was fortunate enough to have eaten there too. Did any of you notice that the manager of Wangyuelou came to congratulate us, as did our county magistrate?"

"Our classmate Zhao's family is truly unpredictable."

Similar discussions arose on the students' desks.

Yuan Runqian had never eaten such a sumptuous and delicious feast before. Even when he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, the banquet at home only had 10 dishes.

The cost of the banquet was half paid by the clan, and there were only four meat dishes. Unlike the Zhao family, who had eighteen dishes, only four of which were vegetarian, and they were all stir-fried with sliced ​​meat.

Yuanrunqian had no interest in discussing the matter anymore. As for jealousy, he was still jealous, wishing he could take back the 50 coins he had given her as a donation.

Therefore, every time he picked up a piece of meat, he would calculate how much he would have to pay for it.

Towards the end of the meal, I felt the food was already in my throat, and I felt like I would vomit if I ate any more, so I put down my chopsticks.

After resting for a while while holding her stomach, she said reservedly to the thin-faced Li, "Brother Li, let's get up and move around a bit."