Chapter 429 Concealing One's Talents
When a man feels compassion, especially for a pretty girl, who would believe he has no ulterior motives?
Ye Wan clicked her tongue, and the couple decided to go back and watch their cheap younger brother's antics.
They said they were going back, but they didn't pack their things and set off until the next day.
Just as they were leaving, Old Man Zhang arrived.
Old Zhang was extremely nervous when he came to see him, fearing that he would be kicked out.
Why did I suddenly have such a rash idea and dare to come to the Emperor?
But then again, an emperor who thinks about doing practical things for the people must be a good emperor, otherwise he wouldn't have sent me gifts. Since I'm already here, I'll just have to bite the bullet and stand at the door to wait.
Upon hearing this, Lin Anyuan instructed Zheng Qingshan to bring the person in.
"Why are you here, sir? Have you encountered some difficulties?"
Lin Anyuan sat in the courtyard, looking like an immortal.
Old Zhang came carrying two wooden buckets. He put the buckets down, dared not look up, and knelt down to pay his respects.
"I... this humble subject has not encountered any difficulties. Lord Lin... Your Majesty, these are crabs made by my wife at home. They can be kept for two months. They are cleaned very thoroughly. I brought them for Your Majesty and the Empress to try."
Old Zhang said that when he opened his wooden bucket, there was a large porcelain jar on each side of the two buckets, and a fragrant and spicy aroma wafted out.
"Spicy?" Ye Wan came out of the house.
Old Zhang explained in a low voice, "It's spicy. This is a method my wife came up with. It helps preserve the crabs for longer, so the Emperor and Empress can take some back for the rest of their families to try."
"I don't mind, it looks delicious."
Ye Wan took a bite and was pleasantly surprised, "This tastes so good!"
This was the first time she had ever tasted this flavor.
Seeing that Ye Wan liked it, Lin Anyuan tried it himself. At first, he was a little unaccustomed to it, but after a few bites, he found it delicious.
"Old man, do you have any more at home? If we're taking them back, this isn't enough," Ye Wan asked Old Man Zhang.
We can't possibly take this back with us; it'd probably be too little for each person to even have a bite to share.
Old Zhang was both surprised and delighted, never expecting that his worthless possessions would catch the eye of the goddess.
"Yes, yes, my wife made a lot. I'll go get it now."
Lin Anyuan instructed Zheng Qingshan to send people to collect all the crabs that Old Zhang had prepared, totaling eight large jars. These were intended to be given to relatives and friends.
Lin Anyuan naturally wouldn't take it for nothing, so he made Zheng Qingshan pay him the money.
"Old man, keep the money. You can use it to buy some vegetables."
Old Zhang waved his hand awkwardly, "Your Majesty, how could I accept this? This is a token of my heart to Your Majesty and the Empress. I would never accept it. Besides, life isn't that difficult these days."
Lin Anyuan said gently, "I have received your kind intentions, but we still have to make a living at home. I heard that your great-grandson is about to be born, so please consider this as an additional gift from me."
"Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty," Old Man Zhang knelt down, "I wish Your Majesty and Your Majesty a long and prosperous life."
Ye Wan told Old Zhang to go back and have his children and grandchildren take the crabs to other places to try selling them; maybe someone would like to eat them.
Old Zhang was so moved that he cried. Only Emperor Lin and Lady Ye truly cared about ordinary people like them.
Many years later, Zhang's descendants specialized in selling these crabs. It is said that their family prospered because of Emperor Lin.
Lin Anyuan and Ye Wan's journey back to Beijing was quite smooth. In recent years, the official roads have been repaired and made more and more paved, and there are very few roads left to travel on.
The two walked slowly along the way, and it rained twice. Before they even got back, the autumn exams had already begun.
This was not the first exam presided over by the Crown Prince, but it was the first time he had organized it all by himself.
Both the Shen siblings went to the autumn examination this year.
Shen Sihao said with a determined look, "Don't worry, sister. I will definitely pass the imperial examination and become a Juren. Then I will continue to take the exams. Once I become an official, our family will have protection, and others will not dare to provoke us easily."
Mother had already told him and Father about what happened last time, and the family was filled with gloom. Mother Shen had already started looking for a husband for Shen Sixu.
Because her outer garment was ripped off in the street by people all over the country. Even if no one said anything openly because of His Highness the Crown Prince, people were still talking about it behind his back.
Those from higher social classes wouldn't even consider Shen Sixu, while those from lower social classes wouldn't be accepted by the Shen family, as she would have to get pregnant, give birth, and manage the household chores of the whole family after marriage.
If you don't have any influence in your family, what good will it do to get married? Such things will still happen in the future.
Therefore, Shen Sihao vowed that he must pass the exam.
"Brother, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I will work hard on my own."
Shen Sixu was self-taught under Shen Sihao. She had attended the girls' school before, but hadn't gone back since.
There were many people at the scene, and it was very lively.
Nowadays, women can also take the exams, and they can go to the palace to become female officials. Serving the Empress is a prestigious position.
There are so many women this year.
"Of course, it's so prestigious to become an official. Even if you don't become an official, just passing the exam will help you find a better match later."
"Look at that girl, she's really beautiful. It's a good thing they don't have talent shows anymore. If it were before, she would have entered the palace as a concubine or a high-ranking lady."
All eyes were on Shen Sixu, for her appearance was so outstanding that she stood out in the crowd.
"Who said there won't be a selection of concubines? His Highness the Crown Prince hasn't chosen a Crown Princess yet. He might start selecting concubines to enter the palace later."
"If it were a talent show, that girl would definitely be selected!"
Chen Sixu ignored these discussions, took a deep breath, and entered the examination room.
If she doesn't get a good ranking in the exam, she'll probably have to listen to her mother and get married this time.
She doesn't want to be married and tied down for life; she's sure she'll succeed.
...
...
The autumn exams ended in a light, drizzling autumn rain.
The rankings came out very quickly.
Chen Sixu looked at her first-place ranking, feeling both surprised and unsurprised.
She was intelligent from a young age and had a photographic memory. God had already given her a beautiful face, so she shouldn't be good at anything else.
She feared that excess would lead to loss, so she always kept her talents hidden.
This time, she didn't want to hide it anymore.
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