Ji Xuan has drunk countless fine teas, but none of them have been as amazing as this one.
He couldn't resist the urge to take them all back to the palace.
He discovered that ever since he entered the Huang family, he, the emperor of the Great Zhou, had become like a frog in a well who had never seen the world, wanting to take home everything he saw.
"Brother Wang," Han Yi chuckled, "we'll each have half of this half-pound of tea."
Han Yi noticed the struggle in Ji Xuan's eyes, and after a moment's thought, he understood what was going on.
He would never have said that if he hadn't had a good impression of this person.
"Really?" Ji Xuan was pleasantly surprised. "Thank you, Brother Han."
It was his first time visiting, and he really didn't know how to bring it up.
“Since it’s going to be split between two people,” Huang Xiaosan said with a smile, “I’ll give you a little more, maybe an extra ounce.”
"Only one or two ounces?" Han Yun pouted. "That's a bit little."
“That’s not much. We didn’t keep much at home,” Huang explained. “That’s all we have. We still need to send some to our parents on both sides. That’s about it.”
Upon hearing this, Han Yun felt a pang of regret, "It seems I won't be able to enjoy this delicious food."
Han Feng and his group knew how much they must regret it.
"How about I let you say some nice things?" Huang Xiaosan laughed. "Mother specially saved two ounces for you guys."
"Really, Auntie is so kind."
"We can't spoil them. We have all kinds of tea at home, but I've never seen them drink it."
Han Yi felt a pang of regret, thinking it was a waste to give such good tea to Han Yun and the other three to quench their thirst.
Even if he shamelessly asked for a share, he would only get two and a half ounces. Han Yun got two ounces without doing anything, which made Han Yi feel resentful.
"Young master, the tea used to always have a bitter taste, but this time it's different."
"Pretentious," Han Yi sneered. "You can't even drink pre-Qingming Longjing tea or the finest Tieguanyin. You're so spoiled."
Han Yun and the other three had always followed Han Yi and were his absolute confidants. Han Yi treated them like his own younger brothers and never mistreated them.
However, people's preferences are hard to change because of external things, and Han Yun and the other three did not like anything that was pretentious or affected.
Han Yun wrinkled her nose and muttered a complaint, "That stuff is so bitter and astringent, only someone looking to torture would drink it."
Han Yi: Uh...
Ji Xuan: Oh...
"Rotten wood!" Qi Yong sneered. "Unfit for anything!"
He had never seen anyone so stupid.
This is infuriating!
Moo!
Xiao Liu, who hadn't been there all along, suddenly let out a soft moo.
Then, she walked slowly to Qi Yong and rubbed against his thigh in a friendly manner, as if to comfort him.
"This ox is so intelligent," Qi Yong said with delight.
This was the first time he had ever encountered an animal so friendly to him.
In the past, those cats and dogs would be too scared to move with just a glance from me, but this cow is quite interesting.
"Huang Xiaoliu," Huang Xiaosan was stunned by Xiaoliu's sudden action. After realizing what was happening, he immediately scolded, "What are you doing? Go back now."
It's getting more and more outrageous for them to come out and scare people for no reason.
"No need to be so critical," Qi Yong chuckled. "This ox is very intelligent, and our family likes it very much."
Moo!
You have good taste!
It knew that only its own kind could understand each other.
Looking at Huang Xiaoliu wagging its tail happily, Ji Xuan exclaimed in surprise, "This cow seems to understand human speech!"
“Master,” Qi Yong explained softly with a smile, “There’s an old saying that you’d rather die poor than sell your watchdog than starve your oxen. They’re very intelligent.”
"I see." Ji Xuan put aside her surprise.
Moo!
Huang Xiaoliu glanced at Huang Xiaosan unhappily and ignored what he said.
Seeing this, Ji Xuan realized she had overthought things; it was just an accident, and the ox didn't understand human speech.
Huang Lao Er didn't say anything, but went straight up and grabbed the cow's tail, saying smugly, "Take the tail or go back and choose one yourself."
Huang Xiaoliu felt his tail being grabbed and immediately tried to shake it off, but he couldn't.
Seeing this, Huang Lao Er gave a haughty snort.
Fortunately, after practicing diligently, look, the benefits are here! Little Six can no longer try to flick people with his tail.
Moo!
He turned to look at Huang Lao Er reluctantly before leaving.
"Never mind Xiao Liu," Huang Xiaosan decisively changed the subject, "Brother Han Yi, is everything ready for the prodigy competition?"
"Everything is ready, except for the final push. Don't worry, you'll know in three days."
"A prodigy competition?" Ji Xuan became interested. "I've been hearing about this everywhere lately. Can it really select prodigies?"
Without making any special inquiries, Ji Xuan only knew that this matter existed, but she didn't know the specifics.
If that's the case, he wouldn't mind adding to the good fortune by giving some reward.
"Anyone who can pass the test is bound to be a prodigy."
Han Yi said this with great certainty.
While his initial intention was indeed to attract top-scoring students, he also had the desire to recruit talent. With high standards in all aspects, the one who stood out was undoubtedly a child prodigy.
What kinds of tests will there be?
“Literary exam, martial arts exam, intelligence exam, math exam,” Han Yi held up four fingers, “passing any one of these exams will earn you support.”
“I can understand the written and intellectual tests,” Ji Xuan said, puzzled. “Why do we need a martial arts test?”
What can a young child who has not yet reached adulthood be tested on in a martial arts exam?
“Brother Wang, you may not know this,” Han Yi sighed, “but there are actually many extraordinary people and events in the countryside, but they are hindered by hardship and waste their lives. This time, I want to give those people a chance.”
"Are talented people so easy to find?" Ji Xuan thought Han Yi was being a bit delusional. "Such a genius, I'm afraid there are only a handful in the entire Great Zhou."
If there were any, they were all recruited by the imperial court.
Upon hearing this, Han Yi smiled mysteriously and beckoned to Huang Lao Er, "Xiao Er, bring out the stone mill from the backyard, remember to use one hand."
"Okay, you guys wait a bit."
A moment later, Huang Lao Er leisurely carried out the stone mill and placed it in front of Han Yi.
Qi Yong asked in surprise, "Does this stone mill weigh a hundred jin?"
"No, it's only a little over sixty jin."
It's only a little over sixty pounds...
Qi Yong was speechless.
Many people can lift more than 60 kilograms with one hand, but it is very rare to see someone like Huang Lao Er lift something in mid-air as lightly as a piece of paper.
“Master,” Qi Yong’s voice was steady, but the surprise in his eyes was clearly visible, “we have truly encountered a prodigy among the common people.”
Among the Imperial Guards, there are probably very few who could do that.
"Now you believe me?" Han Yi said with a smile. "Ten years ago, I met a man in Hexi. He was extremely thin and sickly, looking like he could be blown away by a gust of wind. His stomach was like a bottomless pit. He ate a whole bushel of rice and still complained of being hungry."
"And then what happened to this person?"
"When we first met, I didn't pay much attention to it. When I passed by there again on my way back, I was no longer alive."
Later, I learned that the more that man ate, the stronger he became. After a full stomach, he could work faster than an ox. He had become so emaciated because he was constantly hungry. I felt it was a pity at the time; such an extraordinary person could have killed countless enemies on the battlefield.
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