Upon returning to the Zhuangyuan Building, Xie Lin was pursued by a barrage of questioning. He simply shook his head without uttering a word, leaving everyone at a loss for words and finally giving up on their prying attempts.
Zhao Shu was easy-going and didn’t make much of the situation between Xie Lin and the departing siblings of the Feng family. Lu Fengyan, however, was eagle-eyed and suspected that the Feng siblings were probably no ordinary individuals and Xie Lin must have followed them out earlier.
After their meal, having grown familiar with each other, everyone file out of the Zhuangyuan Building, waving each other off.
Xie Lin clapped Zhao Shu on the shoulder, "Zhao, brother, I like you and Lu, brother. After the examinations, it’s my treat for drinks."
Zhao Shu was pleasantly surprised, "It’s a deal, many thanks, Young Master Xie. After the examinations, we’ll definitely get together for drinks."
Xie Lin asked, "Where can I find you guys?"
Zhao Shu quickly reported his address.
Xie Lin noted it down, grinning as he declared, "You could also come visit me at the Wang Residence of Rui’an. I’m guessing I don’t need to give you my address?"
Zhao Shu hurriedly responded, "No, no need."
Who doesn’t know where the Wang Residence of Rui’an is? Even if someone didn’t, they could easily find out with a simple inquiry.
Xie Lin didn’t say anything else, let go of Zhao Shu, waved a hand, and rode off in the carriage from the Wang Residence of Rui’an.
When everyone else had dispersed, Zhao Shu and Lu Fengyan began walking back to their own places, Zhao Shu’s heart filled with immense joy. He said to Lu Fengyan, "Brother Lu, who could’ve thought that we’d become acquainted with Young Master Xie of the Rui’an Wang Residence today? He doesn’t seem to look down on people or act too snooty and is quite easygoing, not at all as the rumours portray him. Just think, he even wishes to be friends with us."
Lu Fengyan sighed, "Zhao, brother, you can’t judge people based only on their outward appearances."
"Ah? Are you saying that I’m mistaken?" Zhao Shu was confused.
Lu Fengyan shook his head, lowering his voice, "You’re not wrong, but don’t you think it was a little strange today? Young Master Xie and those noble sons clearly seemed more interested in the Feng siblings. The reason they even deigned to talk to us was because of the Feng siblings."
Zhao Shu suddenly understood, "Lu, brother, you mean that Young Master Xie thought we are familiar with the Feng siblings since we dined together, so he wished to befriend us to get to know them?"
"You could say it like that."
Zhao Shu scratched his head, "Lu, brother, shouldn’t we have more confidence in ourselves? Especially you, with your superior talent; even if their status is elevated, after we distinguish ourselves in the examinations, we’ll step into the limelight too. Can’t Young Master Xie’s desire to make our acquaintance simply because we’re talented?"
Lu Fengyan shook his head, "It’s not that I’m undervaluing myself, but think about it, how long have we been in the Capital City? Young Master Xie had been to the Juxian Building and he had clearly seen us at the debate that day, yet he didn’t bother to get to know us, showing that he wasn’t particularly keen on making our acquaintance."
With a coldly logical head, he analyzed for Zhao Shu, "For young masters like him, they’re extremely mindful of their status. Even if we’re talented and excel in examinations, they won’t necessarily value us."
He sighed, "After all, our finish line is only their starting point."
Zhao Shu, as if doused with a bucket of cold water, drooped instantly. "Ah, Lu, brother, couldn’t you let me be happy for a little while longer..."
Lu Fengyan cleared his throat, feeling he had perhaps been too forthright, "I apologize, Zhao, brother. I’m only worrying about you..."
"I know, I know. You’re worried I might be too uninhibited and distasteful when I interact with Young Master Xie in the future. I know you mean well." Zhao Shu quickly replied, "But if you didn’t point it out, I really wouldn’t have realized. Ah, I’m really stupid."
Lu Fengyan shook his head, "Zhao, brother, you’re not stupid. You’re just sincere when dealing with others. It’s not a bad thing. But since we’re in Capital City, it’s better to maintain some reservations."
Zhao Shu nodded in agreement, "You’re right, Brother Lu."
He then thought of the siblings, speaking in a soft voice, "Hey, did you really notice? That Miss Feng, she really is beautiful." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Lu Fengyan paused mid-step, "Feng, brother, is also quite handsome."
Listenting to Lu’s words, Zhao Shu knew that he had also seen. At the time, Miss Feng, perhaps because she found the Fried Crispy Chicken delicious and felt her veil was obstructing her eating, lifted it slightly to expose a good part of her face. It was only for a brief moment before she lowered it again, but Zhao caught sight of her.
He immediately thought, Miss Feng is quite beautiful. A person as beautiful as her probably wears a veil to avoid trouble due to her comeliness. Out of respect, he didn’t dare to lay eyes on her again.
Zhao Shu recalled Lin Chunzhi, the scholar from Jibei, and found the event amusing. "Brother Lu, who would’ve thought that Lin Chunzhi was bold enough to rush over to Miss Feng and speak such words in public. However, Feng, brother, was also interesting and played him perfectly, sending him back. I wonder what he whispered into Lin Chunzhi’s ear as Lin Chunzhi obediently returned to his seat without stirring any more trouble."
"Scholar Lin Chunzhi from Jibei is inferior in both character and academic talents compared to Scholar Zhao Li’an from Jibei; no wonder the latter comes out on top." Lu Fengyan didn’t think much of Lin Chunzhi, "Publicly disrespecting a young lady in such a high profile manner, he’s disgracing the literary profession."
Zhao Shu nodded, "If it hadn’t been for him, the Feng siblings may have stayed a while longer. I observed them leaving unwillingly. They haven’t even finished half the dishes on the table."
He suddenly slapped his thigh, "Oh my, Brother Lu, we should have packed our leftovers. It’s such a waste."
Having said that, he turned around and saw Lu Fengyan not responding, he continued, "Right? It’s cool outside now. Even if we don’t keep pets at our place, if we left the leftovers overnight and heated them up next morning, it should still be okay to eat."
"That’s true." Lu Fengyan nodded.
Zhao Shu sighed, "It’s such a waste. Can we go back now and still make it in time?"
Lu Fengyan turned and saw the distance they had already covered, spoke softly: "It’s probably too late, right? The waiter must have cleaned up everything by now."
Zhao Shu also felt it was too late, "This is really... When we left the Zhuangyuan Building with young Master Xie earlier, we totally forgot about the leftover food on the table. It’s all my fault. I was so thrilled to connect with young Master Xie that I completely forgot we had so much food left."
"I share the responsibility too." Lu Fengyan patted his shoulder, "Let’s go, the food is already wasted, there’s nothing we can do about it now. We just have to be more mindful next time!"
Zhao Shu nodded.
Su Rong and Fen Ling had no idea that after they left, Zhao Shu and Lu Fengyan were blaming themselves for not packing the remaining food and felt a remorse for the waste.
Fen Ling, rubbing his belly said, "Master, I still feel a bit hungry, and there was still more than half a plate of Fried Crispy Chicken left."
The dishes at Zhuangyuan Building were huge, which they hadn’t anticipated. Even if four people order eight dishes, it was too much. After the two of them left, Zhao Shu and Lu Fengyan, both scholars with small appetites, could not have finished the food, making it inevitable that a lot was left over.
"What a pity." Fen Ling murmured, "That Lin Chun, and to make matters worse, we bumped into young Master Xie."
What a bad day it was!
"You’re full enough if you are ninety percent full. Add some snacks later, and that will make it full. However, you are not adopting a healthy diet by doing so. It’s enough to be seventy percent to eighty percent full during meals, especially at night, even fifty percent is enough." Su Rong reminded him.
Fen Ling groaned, "When I was growing, even if I eat till I’m fully satiated, I would burn it off during night-time sword practice."
Speaking of this, he suddenly had an idea, "Master, can you ask for me... can I spar with the Crown Prince’s secret guards? Specifically Yun An. I want to test his skills, but I haven’t seen him since we’ve been staying at the Eastern Palace."
"Sure, I’ll ask tomorrow." Su Rong thought it was a good idea for them to exchange techniques, each having their own unique styles of martial arts. The secret guards around the Crown Prince would certainly be top-notch. If they could spar, it would be beneficial.
When the two arrived at Chengji House, the shop was big and there were people queuing up. Fen Ling looked inside and said to Su Rong, "Master, it seems like there’s not much left. By the time it’s our turn, there might not be much left. We’re a bit late, they’re about to close and probably won’t make anymore."
Su Rong looked at him, "Then you’ll have to think of something."
Fen Ling blinked his eyes, took out a ten tael silver coin, walked up to the person in the front of the line and said in a low voice, "Brother, my sister is pregnant and really craves the pastries from this shop. We came too late and I’m scared by the time it’s our turn they will run out of her favorite Blooming Flower Cake. If they do, she probably won’t be able to sleep all night. Here’s ten taels of silver, would you give your place in line to my sister?"
The person at the front of the line, who was roughly in his thirties, glanced at Su Rong who was waiting further behind and hesitated, "Brother, the ten taels you’re giving me is too much."
"Not at all, considering you’ve queued for so long only to finally get to the front, it’s been quite the trouble," Fen Ling said.
The man struggled for a moment before taking the silver, "Alright then, let your sister come here! I’ll go to the back of line."
Although the pastries at Chengji House were expensive, ten taels of silver was not a small amount either, so it was worth giving up the spot even if he couldn’t get the kind of pastry he wanted.
When Fen Ling secured a good spot in the queue, he waved to Su Rong, "Sister, come over quickly. This spot is now yours, hurry inside and choose what you want."
Su Rong’s hearing was good, she could hear clearly. She rolled her eyes at Fen Ling before going to the front of the line and said to him in an irritated tone: "Wait for me outside."
Fen Ling chuckled, "Of course, I’ll wait outside. We only bought one spot. There’s no room for me. Hurry, go in!"
Su Rong stepped inside.
A few moments later, Su Rong came out carrying various types of pastries. Upon seeing Fen Ling, she instantly forgave him and said, "That was close, there were only two servings of Blooming Flower Cake left. If we had waited our turn, definitely none would have been left."
After all, there were more than a dozen people lining up behind them, and undoubtedly, someone would have bought the Blooming Flower Cake.
Fen Ling gloated, "See? It’s always handy to have money."
He whispered, "We have to work hard to make money. Having money could make anything easier, the old saying is indeed very meaningful."
Su Rong agreed wholeheartedly, "Yes, you’re right. We need to work harder."
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