Xu Jiang laughed, "No wonder he's so presumptuous."
Lou Yunchun looked at Hu Xu and said, "I think Zhuchun has already made a good score in this imperial examination."
Hu Xu said calmly, "I've already got 70 or 80 points."
This statement is arrogant, but coming from Hu Xu's mouth, it is convincing.
Zeng Zhuiting stopped drinking and sighed, "Speaking of this year's scholars, besides Brother Zhuchun, there's Wang Chuanbai from Jiangzuo, He Yuqing from Wuzhong, and Zhao Xiu from Tongcheng. These three are all quite capable. Zhao Xiu, in particular, came to the Du residence a few days ago to submit a letter of veneration. His writing is solid, his rhetoric exquisite, and even the teacher was full of praise."
At the end of his speech, Zeng Zhui's tone was slightly sour. Thinking of Du Hui praising Zhao Xiu, he felt quite uncomfortable.
But after reading Zhao Xiu's article, he couldn't help but admire it, so he had to turn the resentment and jealousy in his heart into a lamp, burning night and day, and studying hard at his desk.
"A visit?" Xu Jiang asked curiously, "Did Mr. Du accept it?"
Zeng Zhui shook his head. "Not at the moment, and it's hard to say what will happen in the future. He's been coming to the mansion quite often lately. Mr. Du avoided meeting him, but he left his poems and essays, and they were all very satisfied after reading them."
Xu Jiang thought to herself: This is very much like Du Hui's style.
"I've heard of Zhao Xiu," Hu Xu said. "He came to the capital two years ago. He was quite talented and well-regarded among the scholars. But for some reason he suddenly disappeared and there's no news of him anymore. I heard Wen Feng mention it a few days ago, and I learned that he took the exam this year as well."
Liang Mo, who had been listening, suddenly said, "I know this person."
Zeng Zhui asked in surprise, "You know him? How did you know him?"
"I went to a master's house with my master to do printing. He was in charge of proofreading and inspecting the finished products. That's how we met." Liang Mo thought for a moment and said, "I heard from others that he was a retainer of that master's house."
"Guest?" Zeng Zhui frowned.
Lou Yunchun asked, "Which sir is it?"
Liang Mo replied, "Mu Cong, Lord Mu."
"Master Mu?" Xu Jiang had only known one Master Mu recently. She looked at Lou Yunchun and asked, "Is he Mulan Jing's father?"
Lou Yunchun nodded, "It's him."
"That's quite a coincidence." Xu Jiang didn't know why, but she felt that there was something strange about this matter, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Then she asked Lou Yunchun, "He said he wanted to invite you to a banquet that day. Did he send you an invitation?"
Lou Yunchun nodded and said, "I received the invitation yesterday and will attend the banquet the day after tomorrow."
Hu Xu suddenly said, "That's really weird."
Xu Jiang and Zeng Zhui looked at him and asked in unison, "What's so strange?"
After asking, the two looked at each other and understood what the other was thinking.
Hu Xu asked, "Since Zhao Xiu is a disciple of Master Mu, why did he send a letter to Mr. Du to pay his respects?"
Xu Jiang and Zeng Zhui's eyes lit up.
Yes, Hu Xu hit the nail on the head. Since Zhao Xiu was already a disciple of Mu Congye, why did he go to Du Hui? Even if he wasn't afraid of Du Hui's reputation for being a villain, he should have understood the principle of not serving two masters.
Xu Jiang looked at Lou Yunchun, "What does Zhaoyue think?"
Lou Yunchun's expression was slightly tense, and he said in a deep voice: "No conclusion yet."
In other words, he had some doubts, but it was difficult to say because Liang Mo was present.
Lou Yunchun looked at Zeng Zhui and said, "I'll go with you to meet Mr. Du later."
Zeng Zhui was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."
Hu Xu looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late, and we've almost finished eating. Let's pack up and leave."
Xu Jiang urged, "Just go ahead, I'll clean up."
Lou Yunchun had rolled up his sleeves and skillfully collected the dishes and chopsticks. "There's no rush."
"That's right." Zeng Zhui agreed, and added: "Besides, with so many pairs of hands, it's just a matter of a blink of an eye to clean up." After saying that, he picked up the leftovers and went to the kitchen.
Liang Mo and Hu Xu also came to help.
Several people worked together, some washed dishes, some moved tables, and some swept the floor. Soon the place was clean.
The dusk was falling, the lights were swaying, and the night wind was making the spring flags rustle.
Of the four people, except Lou Yunchun, the other three came on foot. Zeng had returned the donkey after chasing Lin Hongchu home, but the lack of a mount didn't stop him from running around the capital.
Lou Yunchun led out both the horse and the donkey. He arranged for Liang Mo to ride the donkey, while Zeng Zhui followed him on horseback. Hu Xu lived nearby, in Chang'anfang, south of Yonghefang, and was just a few blocks away from the gate, so they walked back.
Before Liang Mo left, Xu Jiang wrote a letter and asked him to pass it to Wu Qingchuang.
Lou Yunchun tugged at the reins and said to her, "I'll take them back. It's cold outside. You go in."
Zeng Zhui waved at her, "Madam Xu, come back another day."
Liang Mo also waved: "Boss, I'm leaving too."
Hu Xu smiled and said, "Sorry to bother you today. Goodbye."
Xu Jiang waved to everyone, "Be careful on the road."
Lou Yunchun looked at her and silently said two words, "Wait for me."
Xu Jiang nodded imperceptibly.
After seeing them off, Xu Jiang stood at the door for a moment. Suddenly, a cold wind blew past, bringing a hint of dampness. She looked up and saw that clouds had suddenly appeared in the night sky.
It's going to rain.
Xu Jiang closed the door and locked it, checked the front and back yards, and then stared at the donkey shed for a while.
It feels so empty, I’m not really used to it.
Yue Nu suddenly came out from the haystack, shook off the grass debris on her body, ran to Xu Jiang, and rubbed against her.
"You have a bed but you don't want to sleep in it. Instead, you like this stupid donkey's pile of grass." Xu Jiang scolded with a smile, then bent down to pick up the rubbing cat, weighed it, and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Yue Nu let out a soft meow.
Xu Jiang rubbed its head and said, "Come on, I'll give you some fish."
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