Chapter 3338 Painting and Sauce
Zhou Man took out the bottle of sauce and gave it to Bai Shan, and also kindly wrote down the function and usage of the sauce. Mr. Zhuang also wrote a letter to him. Bai Shan then gave the things to the servants and asked them to take them back to the capital.
A few days later, the things were delivered to Kong Jijiu.
Kong Jijiu opened the box and looked at the bottle of sauce with a conflicted look on his face. Although he wanted it very much, he moved it aside and wrote a letter to Mr. Zhuang.
Kong Jijiu refused Mr. Zhuang.
The correspondence was still very fast, especially for the servants of the Bai family, who knew that their masters were waiting for this letter, so they sent it by land and sea, and it arrived in Qili Village in just three days.
At this time, the Zhou family had just repaired the tomb and finished offering sacrifices to their ancestors. When Mr. Zhuang received the letter, his heart tightened. He sighed and put the letter aside.
Bai Shan stood by and waited. Seeing this, he asked, "Sir, doesn't Kong Jijiu agree?"
Mr. Zhuang nodded.
Bai Shan frowned, "This isn't a difficult task. Why didn't Kong Jijiu agree?"
Mr. Zhuang: "There are too many children of officials enrolled this year, and Kong Jijiu refused to reduce the number of places for the entrance examination, so the number of children of officials who can be admitted is very tight. Many children of officials who just meet the upper age limit have been suppressed and unable to enter."
Bai Shan frowned, turned around twice and said, "No, if my nephew can't enroll this time, he will be over the age limit next year."
Mr. Zhuang said, "Of course I know. But even if we set off today, it would take us at least eight days to reach the capital. We would have to register and then go to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites to get the paperwork. Even if we could make it in time, and we were in the capital, and since Kong Jijiu said that the age limit would be set for candidates this year, Ji Ran would not be admitted."
To put it bluntly, it was just bad luck. There were too many students enrolling this year, and the Imperial College was trying to reduce the number of candidates.
Bai Shan lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then turned and smiled at Mr. Zhuang, "Never mind, it all depends on luck. Sir, why don't you give me the official letter and seal, and I'll give it one last try."
Mr. Zhuang was stunned for a moment, then turned around and handed him the official letter and seal, and warned him: "Don't ask the East Palace for this matter."
He knew that Bai Shan and Zhou Man had extensive connections, many times stronger than him. He didn't ask him who to look for, but he just couldn't look for the East Palace. As for whether the matter would succeed, it all depended on luck.
After a while, Mr. Zhuang had calmed down and said to Bai Shan with a smile, "There are many good academies in the capital. If I get one, I'm lucky. If I lose it, it's my fate. Ji Ran knows this too. You and Ziqian shouldn't force it too much."
Bai Shan agreed, took the official letter and seal and left.
This time, he was looking for Yang Heshu.
He sealed the official letter and seal and handed them to the servants, asking them to send them back to the capital immediately. After the servants left, he glanced at the bottle of sauce on the table, smiled, put it in his sleeve, and went to find Zhou Man.
"I'll cook you some soup tonight, okay?"
Zhou Man: "You?" She asked suspiciously, "Our cook isn't home?"
Bai Shan: "I asked you to taste my cooking skills. I made a lot of preparations. Don't you appreciate it?"
"Soup," Zhou Man became excited as Bai Shan rarely cooked. "What soup? No matter what kind of soup it is, I'll drink it as long as you make it."
Bai Shan smiled and said, "You'll know when you get tonight."
That night, the whole family, including Mr. Zhuang, had a bowl of chicken soup. Zheng was surprised, "I didn't see any mushrooms in this soup, how come it tastes like mushrooms?"
Madam Liu and Mr. Zhuang also looked pleased, "Zhishan is getting better and better, even his cooking skills have improved."
Zhou Man took several sips in succession. The more she drank, the more familiar the taste became to her. So she savored it several times in a row. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at Bai Shan, "This, this, this..."
Bai Shan: "Well, well, well... stop stuttering. I just used your precious sauce. I added a small half spoonful. I have to say, it tastes really good."
The originally mediocre chicken soup suddenly became many times more delicious.
Zhou Man: "Isn't that a gift for Kong Jijiu?"
Bai Shan said calmly, "He returned it, so I thought, as expected, Kong Jijiu may have a good appetite, but it's not enough to satisfy his inner desire."
"A precious sword worthy of a hero, a fine horse worthy of a general. Kong Jijiu doesn't know the value of a sword, so it would be a waste to give it to him. It's better to leave it for us to eat."
Zhou Man couldn't help but look at Mr. Zhuang, "Then..."
Bai Shan smiled slightly and said, "I have my own ideas. Come on, it's just a pot of soup. If you don't drink it now, Yin Huo and the two children will drink it all."
Zhou Man turned his head to look, and found that Yin Huo and the two children had already filled the second bowl. Although Yin Huo tasted the soup carefully, he drank a lot with every spoonful, and the two children even held the bowl and gulped down the drink.
Zhou Man: "Drink less..."
Registration for the Imperial College begins in June, the entrance examination is on August 9th, and the list of admitted students will be announced after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The list of children of officials admitted to school was announced on August 25th, and they started school on August 29th.
Mr. Zhuang just wanted to add Zhuang Jiran's name before the announcement on the 25th. After the announcement, he would just have to submit a letter of leave requesting delayed enrollment.
Who knew that the admission of children of officials would be so tight this year?
When the letter was delivered to the capital, Yang Heshu opened it and smiled, then took the letter to the princess's mansion.
Liu Gui, who stayed at the Princess's Mansion, came out immediately. Yang Heshu handed him a letter and said, "Your master asked me to come and get the 'Portrait of the Sage Laozi'."
After reading the letter, Liu Gui led Yang Heshu to the study in the front yard.
No outsiders were allowed to enter Bai Shan and Zhou Man's study, so after Liu Gui opened the door, he stepped aside and stood there with his head bowed.
Yang Heshu pushed the door open and saw the "Picture of the Sage Laozi" hanging on the wall on one side.
He walked forward to take a look. Although it was not the first time he saw it, he still couldn't help but admire it in his heart. It was indeed a good painting.
Yang Heshu took the painting down, slowly rolled it up, put it in the box he brought, and walked away holding it.
Liu Gui locked the door and respectfully escorted Yang Heshu out.
Yang Heshu got on the carriage with the painting in his arms and said to the driver, "Let's go to the Confucius Mansion."
Kong Jijiu had a lot of visitors in the past month, but he was not happy at all. Every time someone came to report who was visiting him, he couldn't help frowning.
This time was no different. When he heard that Yang Heshu was visiting, he frowned. "Hasn't the list of Yang's students who will be enrolling this year already been published? Could it be another student who doesn't follow the rules?"
The attendant bowed and said, "Lord Yang is upright and honest. He doesn't seem like someone who would use the backdoor. Why don't you invite him in and ask him a question?"
"Please come in," Yang Heshu was one of his most satisfied disciples after all, and Kong Jijiu was unwilling to turn him away. He sat down and invited him in.
Yang Heshu walked in slowly and said, "Greetings, sir."
Kong Jijiu waved his hand and asked directly, "Why did Changbo come to see you?"
Yang Heshu smiled and said, "I have just obtained a beautiful painting and would like to ask you to appreciate it."
Kong Jijiu became more interested. "Oh, what kind of painting is that?"
Yang Heshu then leaned over to take the painting box from Wan Tian, opened it, and took out the painting. Kong Jijiu also stood up, and the two of them gathered around the table. "What painting is so worthy of your sending it?"
(End of this chapter)
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