bona fide
To the west of the outer city of Bianjing, there is a royal garden called Qionglin Garden.
On the second day after the results were announced, the government would give a banquet to the newly listed Jinshi, which was called the Qionglin Banquet.
Bian Jing was bustling these days, and common people all went west just to catch a glimpse of the renowned number one scholar before the Qionglin Banquet.
But Zheng had already witnessed the elegance of the new champion yesterday, so she decided not to join in the fun, because in her opinion, he—
It's far from Cui Zhiyun.
The winter cotton curtains had been replaced with light, translucent bamboo ones. Zheng sat in the carriage on the way to the noodle shop, gazing aimlessly outward.
Suddenly, a familiar carriage galloped past. Zheng recognized it immediately, "Eh? Isn't this our carriage?"
Cui Zhijun sat silently, as if the bustle around him had nothing to do with him. Only when Taishi Zheng spoke would he open his mouth and utter his precious words.
Cui Zhijun looked over there calmly and replied, "It's the second wife's carriage."
"From the second house? In this direction? At this time? What are you doing out there?" Zheng was puzzled. Cui Zhijun looked at her curious expression, smiled dumbly, and said, "Maybe there's something going on."
Zheng nodded and sat back down beside Cui Zhiyun. Seeing the look on her face as she gazed at the man before her, she thought to herself, "I hope nothing serious has happened."
-
Outside Baohefang, the groom gently pulled the reins.
Zheng waited until the car stopped, carrying the basket of vegetables she had prepared earlier. With a smile on her face, she instructed Cui Zhijun, "When you're done with your work at the Imperial College, please remember to pick me up."
How could Cui Zhijun forget this?
Even if he forgot the way home, he would never forget to pick up Tai Shi Zheng.
But Cui Zhijun stood straight and replied with a smile, "I know. Madam's instructions, so I won't forget them."
Zheng found that Cui Zhijun had become more obedient in front of her recently, except when they were being affectionate in the tent, his "wolf-like and tiger-like" state was completely different from what it is now.
Zheng shook her head, not daring to think too much.
But before getting off the car, she suddenly leaned in front of Cui Zhijun and kissed him on the lips as lightly as a dragonfly touching the water.
This actually scared Cui Zhijun.
Cui Zhijun suddenly looked at him, a smile that could no longer be suppressed on the corner of his mouth, sweetness shining through his lips, and joy in his heart.
Zheng was about to turn around and leave.
Cui Zhijun grabbed her, his deep breathing falling into her ear, making Zheng's heart itch. Zheng didn't try to escape, so she took advantage of the situation and sat calmly on his lap, saying in a deep voice: "Cui Erlang, I have to get off."
Today, it was Cui Zhijun who sniffed the delicate scent of rouge on Taishi Zheng's body. He deliberately leaned his head against Taishi Zheng's shoulder and said, "Can I take you to the Zhouqiao night market tonight?"
The newlyweds were still in love, and he was being provoked by the woman in front of him, becoming unable to leave her. Zheng gently lifted Cui Zhijun's head, which was resting on her side, and said in a gentle voice, "As long as you let me go now, you can take me anywhere tonight. So, Cui Erlang, can I leave now?"
"Do you want me to help you carry your stuff?" Cui Zhijun touched Taishi Zheng's slender waist and refused to let her go. He was waiting for the person in front of him to ask for help.
Who would have thought that the words would fall.
Suddenly, the driver outside asked loudly, "Madam, we've arrived at Baohefang. Aren't you going to get off? We can't stay here for long. Please go a little faster. How about I try to find another place—"
Zheng kissed Cui Zhijun's cheek and laughed non-stop. She turned her head and took advantage of the situation to shout, "Hey, I'll be right off."
-
The noodle shop's business was still lukewarm, but the girls working in the shop were chatting and laughing, full of enthusiasm.
Because they finally found a sense of belonging in this small shop, a feeling of no longer being dependent on anyone.
It really makes people feel at ease.
When Zheng arrived, Bao Nian was sitting at the door of the shop peeling onions and chatting with another new woman, preparing for the afternoon business. Xiao Bao lay obediently in the rocking chair that Bao Nian had bought with her own money, not crying or making a fuss.
Everything looks so peaceful and harmonious.
"The boss lady is here."
One of the women, upon seeing Taishi Zheng, called out cheerfully. Bao Nian raised her head, "Madam Zheng, why did you decide to come here today?"
Zheng was carrying a heavy basket of vegetables and waved to the two of them with a smile.
Bao Nian quickly put down the peeled green onions, wiped the dust on her fingertips gently on her skirt, walked over and took the vegetable basket from Zheng's hand.
Zheng didn't refuse and passed the basket to her.
Bao Nian picked it up casually and said in surprise: "Oh my God, it's so heavy? How did you carry it here? Didn't we just ask someone to send some food over the day before yesterday? Why did Madam Zheng come here in person to add more food?"
Zheng shook her head and followed Bao Nian into the store.
She said, "This isn't some extra food for the restaurant. My father personally sent this basket of food to the uncle's house and asked me to bring it to you."
"For me?" Bao Nian asked in confusion.
Zheng hummed and replied, "Well, my father came to the inn yesterday for a stroll and happened to hear you say that Senior Brother Liu had passed the imperial examination. After the Qionglin Banquet today, Senior Brother Liu was conferred a title and returned home. You wanted to cook a meal in his honor. He wanted to give you some money as a congratulatory gift, but he thought you wouldn't accept it, so the stubborn old man ran to the morning market early to buy you some vegetables."
"Master Taishi..."
Bao Nian lifted the cloth covering the vegetable basket in confusion, and unexpectedly found not only seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables inside, but also freshly slaughtered chickens, ducks, cows and sheep wrapped in oil paper.
Tai Shi Zhengjiang's kindness made Bao Nian feel warm in his heart.
But she had already received so much kindness from them, so how could she ask for more? She quickly declined, "How could Master Taishi give me such valuable things? How could I accept them..."
"Madam Zheng, go back and tell Master Taishi that I appreciate his kindness, but I really can't accept these things. You can use them to eat. I'm already grateful for the wages Madam Zheng has given me. I can buy these things myself."
Take it back? No way.
Zheng pushed the things forward and said in embarrassment, "My father bought this at the market early this morning. How can you refuse to accept it? I can't explain it to you if you don't accept it! My father has a bad temper. If he knew you didn't accept it, he would scold me. Besides, I brought it all the way here for you. How can I ask you to carry it back?"
"Besides, what I give you is the wages you earned yourself, which is what you deserve. However, this vegetable basket is a gift from my father, so it can't be compared. Besides, don't you happen to need these things today? This way, you can save money. The money saved can be saved for our Xiaobao to marry a wife."
"Okay, Baonian, don't refuse anymore. If you continue to refuse, I will be angry." Zheng tried to persuade.
The woman beside him also smiled and said, "That's right, Baonian. These are all the boss's good intentions. Just keep them. If you want to repay us, just sell two more trays of steamed buns tomorrow. But after today, you will become an official's wife, fly away and forget us. Tell me, am I right?"
Zheng followed up, "Yes, and no. Two drawers won't do. I need to sell three more."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the store burst into laughter.
Everyone knows that the boss lady is a money-grubber.
Bao Nian said quickly, "How can I? My roots are here, I'm not going anywhere."
Now that things had come to this, Bao Nian knew that it would be rude to refuse again. She looked at Tai Shi Zheng with such emotion that she could not express it in words.
She came from afar, experienced many hardships, and was treated coldly by many people, but she found warmth and kindness from people like Taishi Zheng and Cui Zhijun. Therefore, there is a way of good and evil in this world, and they are divided into two sides.
Why be discouraged, why doubt yourself.
Keep going forward with determination, which is more important than anything else.
Bao Nian looked at the basket of kindness that was about to overflow, his eyes moistened, and he thanked her again and again, saying, "Then I will thank Madam Zheng and Master Taishi on behalf of my little Bao. I will go to work now, and I should sell six more drawers."
Their simple expressions were all about wanting a better life. They used to pin their hopes on others, and those empty and difficult days were depressing and unsettling.
Now they are slowly moving away from such emotions, and the fact that they can laugh and chat like this is the best proof of this.
Bao Nian turned around and was about to pick up the peeled onions, but Zheng reached out to stop him.
Zheng said, "Okay, I know you're diligent and capable, but why are you in such a hurry today? Cooking is a very busy job. You should just hold Xiaobao in one hand and the vegetable basket in the other and go home. I'll take care of the store today."
Bao Nian refused to relax after hearing this. She replied, "How can that be possible? It's still early. I can still make it in time if I hurry back in the evening. This isn't good. I'd better finish what I'm doing first."
As she spoke, Zheng suddenly and gently picked up the half-asleep Xiaobao. Without waiting for Bao Nian to react, she tucked the child into her arms and said, "Sister-in-law, everyone understands how long you've been waiting for this day. And since the introspection exam, you and Senior Brother Liu haven't seen each other for a long time. Go home, we'll take care of everything here, so don't worry about anything."
Bao Nian looked at everyone in the store in silence. The women also agreed with Tai Shi Zheng's approach and echoed her.
"Go ahead, Bao Nian. Go and prepare to entertain your master, the Jinshi. I really envy you for making it. My unpromising son will probably never achieve such success in his lifetime."
"Go, go, go, buy some good wine on your way home, have a few more drinks tonight, and sleep on a warm kang together. Maybe you'll have another little girl—"
A few people made jokes and the laughter started again.
Bao Nian looked at her with a blushing face, picked up the vegetable basket, and said goodbye to everyone with joy, "In this case, thank you all very much. I will go home now. I will treat you all to dinner another day."
-
After the Qionglin Banquet, the government conferred official titles.
Liu Yugeng was appointed by Qi Liyuan to the Taiyuan of the Censorate, where he was given the rank of Assistant Censor, a sixth-rank position responsible for inspecting officials and impeaching those who violated laws. While this position may seem humble, it holds the highest authority and status among the censors in the three courts. If he performs well, he will surely have a prosperous career, perhaps even rising to the position of the Secretariat. However, the position of Assistant Censor can easily offend powerful officials if not handled with care, and without a solid foundation, it is difficult to maintain a firm foothold.
Everything depends on fate.
But as for why Liu Yugeng was assigned such a position? That was all decided by those old guys in the prime minister's position, and Qi Liyuan was just following the script.
In this way, you will ascend to heaven in one day.
Liu Yugeng went from being ignored to being greeted with congratulations after the banquet.
He felt that his years of unfulfilled ambitions had finally been relieved. Heaven had finally opened its eyes, and he, Liu Yugeng, was destined for greatness and a high position in the government. But in the world of fame and fortune, there were always entanglements of personal interests, and people were constantly currying favor with the powerful, making it difficult to discern truth from falsehood.
Those who had congratulated him repeatedly, however, after a hasty greeting, left him and huddled together.
Liu Yugeng finally left Qionglin Garden alone. Countless precious horses galloped past him, and countless carriages from various wealthy families passed by. The newly selected Jinshi had already been ranked after the results were announced yesterday. And what about him? He didn't even have a decent place to live.
This is the reality he has to face.
Liu Yugeng was a self-righteous and sensitive man. He clenched his fists, avoiding the busy main road and heading towards Shuntian Gate alone through the side road. But before he could take three steps, he was stopped by a servant. Liu Yugeng raised his eyes, and the servant hurriedly clasped his fists respectfully and said to him:
"Mr. Liu, my wife invites you to Yuxiao Temple for a chat."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
