Chapter 32: An unexpected encounter with the professor, almost leading to disaster...

At the banquet, most of the dishes had already been served, with a wide variety of items, all of which were delicious and visually appealing.

The dishes are arranged in a petal shape, clustered together to form a flower, with rich colors and a unique charm.

But it's all the same old thing, just different names for the same dishes, which Zhang Ting is quite familiar with.

Cui Jingji had eaten at many famous restaurants, but this was the first time he had encountered such an exquisite dish. Holding his chopsticks, he didn't know where to begin.

At this moment, Brother Xi served another soup. Zhang Sheng could smell the aroma from a distance, and his mouth watered. He asked Zhang Ting, "Nephew, what is the name of this dish? Its aroma is so strong."

Zhang Ting, unaware of this, summoned Du Zaolang to report.

Du Zaolang arrived in a hurry, and seeing that his hands were still wet, he quickly wiped them dry with his apron.

"Miss, this dish is called 'Soup Bath Embroidery Balls.' It is made with ingredients such as fish, chicken, sea cucumber, and ham, and then stewed in a rich broth. It has a soft, fragrant, and extremely delicious flavor."

Du Zaolang was only good at cooking simple home-style dishes, so Zhang Ting had a plan in mind as to whose handiwork this dish was.

Zhang Sheng scooped up a spoonful of meatballs and ate them, marveling at their delicious flavor. He sighed, "My dear nephew, your kitchen staff is exceptionally skilled. I had hoped to borrow them to teach my clueless son, but unfortunately, I have to set off for my hometown early tomorrow morning."

"Auntie, why the rush?"

Zhang Sheng didn't say much, only deflecting, "I'm getting old, and it's inevitable that I'll miss my hometown after being away for so long."

"When my nephew comes to Taizhou Prefecture in the future, I will definitely give you a welcome feast."

Seeing that she refused to explain, Zhang Ting couldn't help but think of her situation yesterday and had a guess in his mind. He lowered his eyes, thanked her for her kindness, and said that he would definitely visit her in the future.

After speaking, he smiled and invited the two to eat.

They ate heartily, and the guests and hosts were all happy, but Xiaoyi was so worried that she had no appetite.

He rested his head on the ledger, his thick eyelashes trembling slightly as he stared intently at the string of tiny numbers, wishing there were more. Finally, he couldn't help but sigh.

Suddenly, his bright, clear eyes lit up, his face lit up with a smile, and he abruptly sat up straight.

With such high expenses, let's cut the daily snacks provided to Zhang Ting and just serve tea instead.

Zhang Ting used too much meat at every meal, and chili peppers were too expensive, so she crossed them all out and opted for light meals, making only two dishes and a soup.

As the saying goes, a light diet is good for your health and helps prevent aging.

Then she couldn't find a way to cut back. Xiaoyi searched around and found that Zhang Ting, this blockhead, only loved food and drink, and had almost no other expenses.

He buried his head in his hands in thought: We've cut costs, but how do we increase revenue...?

After the meal, Zhang Ting saw Zhang Sheng off. Thinking that he had nothing else to do, he took the contract and went with Cui Jingji to the yamen to register it.

Although the procedures were not as smooth and quick as Xu You's, Cui Jingji was familiar with the process and had some connections, so the procedure was completed in an hour.

Upon receiving the new contract, Zhang Tingzhen felt as if he had searched high and low without finding it, only to have it come to him effortlessly.

Last time Cui Jingji returned to her hometown to visit relatives, she missed the opportunity to purchase property. Now, she ran into the homeowner by chance and obtained the deed without any effort.

She owned a property in the capital, had servants to handle miscellaneous matters, and planned to purchase an estate to grow seasonal vegetables, grains, and fruits, which would be sent to her home to enjoy when ripe.

The surplus crops produced on the farm can be given as gifts to friends during festivals, which is both convenient and cost-effective, or they can be taken to sell.

In the future, when I have free time from studying, I can stay at the manor to relieve stress and depression. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

After saying goodbye to Cui Jingji, Zhang Ting thought that since she was already out, she might as well look for some delicious food in Kyoto.

Seeing a bustling pastry shop ahead, she got out of the car and prepared to walk over, but instead saw a deserted tavern across the street, where a thin, old woman sat hunched over. She was dressed in apricot-colored clothes, had an ordinary appearance, and a lonely figure, giving off the feeling of a frail scholar.

Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow, leaned closer to take a look, and sure enough, it was her.

Zhang Ting greeted her with a smile, her tone respectful: "Dr. Zheng, it's you."

She immediately said, "I didn't expect you to like the drinks here too."

Dr. Zheng looked up and saw that the person speaking was dressed in a maroon silk robe, extremely young and beautiful, with bright eyes, a spirited and high-spirited demeanor, just like his friend from his youth.

Her mouth was half-open, and she stood there stunned for a moment before regaining her senses and asking, "Who are you?"

Fortunately, no one was around, so Zhang Ting smiled faintly and said, "I once listened to your lectures at Chang Gung Bookstore."

Upon hearing this, Dr. Zheng lowered his eyes, concealing the desolation in them, and gestured for Zhang Ting to sit down at the same table.

“Nowadays, everyone avoids Chang Gung Bookstore like the plague, but you are quite frank about it.”

Only those who share the same ideals can open their hearts. Zhang Ting understood the stance in her words and said frankly, "I have received the kindness of the bookstore in imparting knowledge and teaching me, and I admire your character. How could I be a hypocrite?"

Dr. Zheng was deeply moved by these words, and tears welled up in his eyes. "It is rare to find someone as sincere and upright as you who still remembers the kindness of the bookstore. If Granny Zong knew this in the afterlife, she would surely be very gratified."

“The bookstore has been established for more than ten years, and countless students have benefited from her kindness. She devoted herself to finding a way out for children from poor families and exhausted her life savings. However, when she was criticized, no one stood up to defend her.”

"In the end, they wrapped the head and torso in a mat, threw them into a mass grave, and no one dared to collect the body..." As he spoke, Dr. Zheng burst into tears.

"I... as her friend, am also a timid and cowardly person, only daring to wear apricot-colored clothes... to wear mourning clothes for her."

Zhang Ting opened her mouth slightly, frowned, and took out a clean handkerchief, handing it to Dr. Zheng.

She shook her head and refused, her tone sorrowful: "I watched her rise to prominence, and I watched her fall. She was famous in life, but no one wrapped her body after she died. All her hard work and painstaking efforts over most of her life were in vain."

"The affairs of this world are truly just a dream."

Zhang Ting's lips closed, then moved slightly, unsure how to offer comfort.

However, Zhang Ting figured out the relationship between the two. Dr. Zheng was a crony of Grand Secretary Zong. Presumably, the faction leader had died tragically, and as a crony, she would inevitably be implicated, demoted, or blamed. This fear and anxiety caused her to have such a realization.

"The dead are gone, but the living remain. If you continue your plans now, wherever you go, it will be for the benefit of the people and the country. Perhaps after several years of dedicated work, you can..." Before he could finish speaking, Dr. Zheng interrupted him.

She closed her eyes and shook her head heavily, "How many years do I have left... Why should I continue to be a burden to others?"

Dr. Zheng opened his eyes, stared straight at Zhang Ting, and said, "Young man, if one day you become an official in the court, then be a treacherous minister."

"Good people don't live long; they might even be remembered for their infamy."

"Evil may last a thousand years, but at least one can enjoy power and wealth during their lifetime."

Zhang Ting was startled, thinking that she had seen through something, but he was not an innocent child after all. He smiled bitterly and said, "Let alone the fact that I am just a scholar who has studied hard for many years, it is still unknown whether I can become an official."

"But if a student becomes an official one day, he will surely be a law-abiding official who speaks out for the people. If he truly abandons his conscience and becomes a treacherous minister, then what is the point of studying hard day and night?"

Dr. Zheng sighed, patted her shoulder, and then said, "You are a good child. I don't regret teaching you."

"To tell you the truth, I hate two-faced, deceitful, and sycophantic officials more than anything else in my life. If I encounter one, I will risk my life to kill her."

Zhang Ting smiled sincerely, "You're absolutely right. How can someone who talks a lot of lies and is two-faced have a good ending?"

Dr. Zheng praised these words, saying, "If Granny Zong were here, she would definitely admire you greatly as well."

"They might even want to take you as their first disciple."

Zhang Ting: No, thank you.

She laughed heartily, "If I could gain the appreciation of Master Zong, I would be extremely honored."

Then, with a sorrowful expression, she choked out, "But... life is unpredictable, alas!"

Dr. Zheng shared her sentiments and invited her to drink with him to relieve her distress.

With someone accompanying him, Dr. Zheng drank heartily and was very happy. In his high spirits, he even composed a poem and presented it to Zhang Ting, imparting to her many key points of poetry and literature.

Zhang Ting didn't mince words, picking up his bowl and drinking with her, telling her about trivial matters in the countryside, the villains who killed and robbed, and how he got along with his friends, and so on.

Dr. Zheng, his face flushed from the alcohol, laughed loudly, "You child, so young, yet your experiences are more complicated than most!"

After saying that, she frowned again, "Something's not right. When ordinary people encounter bandits and escape, they are usually still shaken. You are so calm and composed. Something's not right."

"And another thing! You're so young, yet you're so mature for your age. How did your family raise you? It's outrageous."

Seeing that she was swaying as she leaned on the table, Zhang Ting didn't dare let her drink any more and quickly took the bowl from her hands.

"My parents passed away when I was young, and perhaps I've grown accustomed to planning things on my own, which has made me a bit reserved. Please don't take offense, Doctor." With that, she went to pay for the drinks first, then returned to help Doctor Zheng.

It was getting late, so Zhang Ting took her home, asked for her address, and told the driver to go there.

Passing by a beverage shop, I asked for a cup of honey water to feed her, so she wouldn't have a hangover headache the next day.

Throughout the journey, Dr. Zheng behaved very well, doing whatever Zhang Ting asked her to do, and her drinking manners were excellent.

Just as she was about to hand Dr. Zheng over to a maid in the Zheng household, she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist.

Zhang Ting turned around in surprise and saw Dr. Zheng open his hazy eyes, his face flushed, and he even let out a burp at Zhang Ting.

Zhang Ting recoiled from the stench, disgusted, but then heard her say, "Child, it's truly remarkable that you've come this far."

She swayed slightly. "There is no eternal darkness. You will surely have a bright future and soar to great heights."

Zhang Ting was taken aback, quickly helped her up, and replied with a smile, "Then I'll take your kind words."

Dr. Zheng had been away for a long time, and her husband came out to help her. He looked haggard and worried, as if he was very concerned about his wife.

Zhang Ting immediately let go.

After leaving Zheng's residence, we passed the street we had just left, which was the bustling Tongping Street that Cui Jingji had mentioned earlier.

The pastry shop was still open, but the area in front of it had become quiet. However, they had made a lot of pastries and hadn't sold them all yet, so Zhang Ting went down and bought two bags of pastries, one peach blossom cake and one pear blossom cake.

Now is the season when peach and pear blossoms are in full bloom, so these pastries are quite seasonal.

The pharmacy next door was about to close for the day when Zhang Ting saw it and rushed over to get a jar of frostbite cream.