Chapter 641 A Dream of Youth 173
As the last rays of the setting sun illuminated the night, Xie Ning stepped out of the palace gates. The carriage moved forward, and the lights gradually brightened.
She didn't go home immediately, but went to the street near the Imperial Academy, where Xie Yun's shop was located. There was a stove in front of the shop, a simple and rustic scene.
Xie Ning had just stepped off the carriage when he was bumped by a group of teenagers who rushed over like a gust of wind.
Realizing they had bumped into someone, the teenagers looked apologetic and bowed repeatedly.
"fine."
He glanced at Xie Ning cautiously, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Xie Ning really didn't care and didn't need their compensation. Then he tiptoed to the stove and stared at Xie Yun expectantly.
"Fried rice with egg again today?"
The boys nodded vigorously, and then each put four copper coins into the jar next to them. Three coins were for a plate of vegetarian fried rice, and four coins could add an egg.
The oil in the pan was still hot when Xie Yun cracked three eggs into it. With a sizzle, the aroma of eggs burst forth, attracting the attention of several teenagers who couldn't help but glance over and secretly swallow their saliva.
Xie Yun quickly scrambled the eggs, then poured the rice from the small wooden basin into it, flattened and loosened it with an iron spoon. As she stir-fried, the sesame oil soaked into the rice, and the aroma of the eggs and rice intertwined, making it very tempting.
Add a spoonful of salt, then sprinkle in some Sichuan peppercorn powder, stir-fry evenly, then add the shredded vegetables and chopped green onions from the side and stir-fry again.
Each grain of fried rice was carefully placed into a porcelain plate, making it look incredibly appetizing.
The waiter quickly brought the fried rice to the table, saying, "Please enjoy, sirs."
Xie Ning watched from the side, her mouth watering. She had been busy all afternoon and had only eaten a few pastries. She hadn't eaten a proper meal yet, and it would be too much trouble to go back and ask the kitchen to cook something. So she decided to eat out instead.
If the Xie family's restaurant is still open, then she will eat there.
"Auntie, I'm hungry too."
The stove was smoky and the Xie Ning had been hidden behind it, so Xie Yun hadn't seen her yet. But when she met Xie Ning's round eyes, Xie Yun felt a pang of heartache. "Oh, my darling, you're finally off duty! Sit down, Auntie will make you some fried rice!"
The food stalls were almost full, except for one seat at the square table occupied by the three boys.
Can we share a table?
Seeing Xie Ning arrive, and having just witnessed Xie Ning talking to Xie Yun, who seemed to be relatives, the boys warmly invited Xie Ning to sit down.
A young man with slightly dark skin asked Xie Ning, "Is young lady a relative of Madam Xie?"
"Yes, she's my eldest aunt!"
This immediately attracted envious glances. Wouldn't that mean you could eat delicious fried rice every day?
When the waiter brought over Xie Ning's fried rice, which included not only eggs but also shrimp, green peas, and other toppings, the boys were even more envious.
He could only swallow another big mouthful of fried rice with resentment.
Xie Ning noticed that although their clothes were not patched, they were quite old, indicating that they were not well-off. So he asked the waiter to bring them a bowl of sweet soup.
Seeing Xie Ning's generosity, the boys stopped being reserved and started chatting, some of them talking about the upcoming children's examination.
They were all under fifteen years old and could participate in the preliminary examinations for children, since passing the exams could directly lead to official appointments or be granted a degree!
The imperial examinations for children in the Great Zhou Dynasty are held twice a year. If they fail the one in September, they can take the one in February of the following year.
Xie Ning's original intention was not this. After all, the preliminary examination for children was mainly to select child prodigies. She just wanted to figure out how to start the imperial examination. But then she thought that she was not too old and could give it a try.
Sometimes fame is a good thing.
Everyone knows she is skilled in both medicine and divination, so why doesn't she put her efforts into literature and politics?
Since the preliminary examination for children could directly lead to an official position or a bestowed degree, she could advance even faster.
"Ah Yu, we're leaving now." These were the words the boys said to the young waiter standing beside them.
At this moment, several tables of guests left, and the young waiter was also eating a bowl of fried rice with eggs. Hearing this, he smiled and nodded, then continued to eat, occasionally glancing at the textbooks spread out beside him.
This young man is only about ten years old, even younger than Xie Ning.
"Alright, let's pack up and go home. Your aunt will take you there."
Xie Yun herself no longer does much business at night, only leaving the stall for her staff and kitchen helpers.
Xie Ning turned her head to look at the boy reading by candlelight and asked in confusion, "Auntie, do students from this neighborhood also come to work for you?"
"Yes, they are going to school, but studying doesn't mean they are rich. Some students come from very poor families, which is why your aunt's fried rice, which is cheap and plentiful, is so popular with them."
The family of that A-Yu was the worst. He had no parents and his grandmother supported his schooling by making embroidery for others. He was sensible and did not care about other people's opinions.
He would come to work for me every day after school, earning a few coins a day, which would provide him with free meals and help ease the burden on his grandmother.
Moreover, when he finally closed the shop, he could still take a large portion of fried rice and sweet soup home to save for his grandmother.
"Studying is very expensive..." Thinking this, Xie Yun couldn't help but recall her childhood, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Back then, when your father was studying, the family didn't have much money for him, so he would help others with their homework to earn money. You don't know, your father was very good at imitating other people's handwriting, and no teacher could tell the difference."
She would earn a penny or two by helping others with their homework, enough to buy herself paper, and she would even secretly buy me candied hawthorns.
Back then, the two of us would sneak into a cave on the back mountain, herding cattle and sharing candied hawthorns. To be honest, those candied hawthorns were really sour; only the outer sugar coating was sweet, but they were just so delicious…”
It was precisely because her parents and brothers treated her well that she was even more afraid of bringing them disaster.
She used to be timid and cowardly, but now she sees a brighter sky because her family never thought of giving up on her, and they helped her step by step out of the mire...
The two did not take a carriage, but strolled slowly down the street. The autumn wind carried the smoke through, fluttering the monk's blue robe. The sound of the wooden fish began, indicating that it was the first watch of the night.
As night fell, the vendors lit their lanterns one after another, creating a dazzling display of light that shone brightly against the backdrop of a sky full of stars.
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