"Xiao Ping."
Zeng Zhui looked up and saw a man walking towards him.
The man called out Jiang Gu, but he was actually looking at Zeng Zhui. The way he looked him up and down made Zeng Zhui feel a little unhappy.
Jiang Gu didn't even raise his head and continued drinking.
Feng Miao sat down without being invited, then glanced at the table, raised his hand to call the waiter and asked him to add more dishes.
"I'm full." Zeng Zhui gulped down the soup noodles in the bowl, raised the remaining wine in the cup to Jiang Gu, and was about to leave the table after drinking it.
Feng Miao stopped him and said, "Since you are Xiao Ping's friend, you are also my friend, Feng Miao. Why don't you sit down and have a few more drinks?"
Zeng Zhui declined, "I have other important matters to attend to, so I can't accompany you. Please take your time."
"Brother, are you a scholar who has come to the capital to take the imperial examination?"
"That's right." This person must have heard what he just said.
Feng Miao took the opportunity to get close to him, "I am also a scholar waiting for the imperial examination. Brother, you have just arrived in Beijing and I am sure everything is unfamiliar to you. If there is anything you don't understand, Muzhi will be happy to help you."
Zeng Zhui was trapped, thought for a moment, and sat down again.
After everyone was seated, Feng Miao asked the waiter to clear away the remaining game and serve the food and wine again.
"I haven't asked for your name yet."
"Zeng Zhui."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Feng Miao bowed, "My name is Feng Miao, and my courtesy name is Muzhi."
Zeng returned the greeting and said, "Thank you, Brother Mu, for the invitation."
"You're welcome, you're welcome. How long have you been in Beijing, Brother Zeng?"
"Just arrived yesterday."
"Have you reported to the academy?"
"I'm planning to go." Scholars coming to the capital to take the imperial examinations had to report to the Imperial Academy with their official documents and complete them. Zeng Zhui asked, "Where is this Imperial Academy located?"
Feng Miao replied, "It's in the neighboring Wubenfang. The Imperial College is also here. Brother Zeng, you can stop by and pay a visit."
Seeing his friendly and amiable manner, Zeng Zhui couldn't help but smile and bowed to him, saying, "Thank you for letting me know."
"Don't be so formal. We are both strangers and scholars. We should take care of each other." Feng Miao then asked, "Where are you from, brother Zeng?"
"Sichuan."
“It’s a great place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery.”
"That's right, that's right."
The man spoke so pleasantly that Zeng Zhui's vigilance gradually subsided. He couldn't help but start a conversation with him and finally told him all about his predicament.
After hearing this, Feng Miao said, "I have an idea."
"Brother Feng, please speak."
"I heard that Jisheng Bookstore is going to hold a Shiwen Yaji soon. Brother Zeng, you can go and submit your work. If you are selected, the bookstore will not only help you publish your book, but also give you a generous fee."
Zeng Zhui asked in surprise, "Really?"
"I have submitted the letter. It is absolutely true."
"Then when and where was this Shiwenya Gathering held?"
"Half a month later, at Xieyue Tower in Quchi." Feng Miao added, "However, if Brother Zeng wants to submit his work, he must first go to Jisheng Bookstore in Taikangfang. Only after passing the initial screening can he enter Xieyue Tower."
Taikangfang Jisheng Bookstore, Zeng Zhui wrote it down and then offered Feng Miao a glass of wine.
After the two of them drank, Feng Miao asked Jiang Gu, who was in a trance, "Xiao Ping, what do you think about the matter I discussed with you last time?"
Jiang Gu came back to his senses in confusion, "What's the matter?"
Feng Miao was helpless. "Look at you, you forgot again, about the collection."
"Are you going to publish a collection too?" Zeng Zhui asked Jiang Gu.
Jiang Gu shook his head, "I can't get out."
Zeng Zhui asked curiously, "Why?"
Feng Miao will tell the whole story.
Zeng Zhui couldn't help but sigh, then suggested: "I've seen many bookstores and bookstores in Shu that have your poetry collections. Since you can't publish them in the capital, why not try somewhere else..."
"Brother Zeng." Feng Miao quickly interrupted Zeng Zhui's words and said with a smile, "Didn't you just say you had something to do?"
"Oh, yes." He had to report to the academy first. Besides, Feng Miao's words hinted at asking him to leave, so he couldn't stay any longer. He bowed to the two of them and said, "Then I'll take my leave first."
Feng Miao replied, "Goodbye, Brother Zeng."
Jiang Gu waved at him and said, "Brother Zeng, I'll wait for you to drink tonight."
Zeng Zhui didn't take it seriously and got up and left.
Not far away, he heard two people talking behind him.
Feng Miao said, "I have already contacted Jisheng Bookstore, and that gentleman is also interested. As long as you are willing to step forward and ask for an old favor, this matter will be settled."
Jiang Gu said calmly, "Forget it, I don't want to implicate others."
"With the Jisheng Book Bureau taking care of everything, no one will be implicated..."
This Jisheng Bookstore is organizing the Shiwen Yaji and is also going to publish a collection of works for Jiang Gu. It sounds like a place that values talent, so he must go and meet it.
With his talent, he will surely stand out in Shiwen Yaji.
With great ambition, Zeng returned to his room to find his own literary notes and then reported to the academy.
————Dividing Line————
I once came out of the study palace with a heavy purse, and my mouth was almost stretched behind my ears.
I never thought that the Imperial Academy in Beijing would treat poor scholars so favorably and even provide financial assistance.
He opened his purse and found about two thousand coins in it. Although it was not much, it could help him out in an emergency.
Zeng Zhui carefully put the letter and purse into his arms, remembering the advice given by the school official when he learned that he lived in Caowu Lane.
I thought to myself: It’s not a good place to live anymore. Firstly, the rent is too expensive, and secondly, the atmosphere is not very positive, which can easily dampen one’s will.
I just heard from the academic official that Wubenfang has several inns run jointly with the government office, specifically for renting by scholars traveling to Beijing for the imperial examinations. Not only are the prices cheap, but they're also supervised by government officials, so they're probably free of the messiness that plagues Caowu Alley.
He's going to check out and move here!
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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