Chapter 47 Chapter 47
Chapter 47
August 17, the 13th year of Ansheng, there is still one day left before this year's provincial examination.
This year's provincial examination was really lively. Not only the examination was lively, but also what happened in the West Market Bingmasi was talked about with great relish.
Unlike the people from the Fire Prohibition Bureau, the commander of the Inspection Bureau only felt embarrassed.
Not only did he fail to get the job done, but he also lost face.
He had been at odds with Commander Su to begin with, and now they seemed to have an even stronger grudge against each other, so he simply ordered his men to go and cause trouble for Su's shop whenever they had nothing to do.
Isn’t Hui Nu Dim Sum opened by his wife? I heard that the business is pretty good. When you pass by, you must go and have a look.
The Inspection Department naturally had to go after receiving orders from their superiors.
That is, Deputy Envoy Liang winked at his own people and asked them to tell Commander Su to prevent any real trouble.
In order for his daughter to find a good marriage, he also has to think about the Su family.
When Commander Su heard the news, his face turned grim.
Matters within the Bingmasi should be resolved internally.
Who will make trouble at home?
There have always been long queues at Hui Nu Dim Sum in recent years. If the Inspection Department wants to cause trouble, it will be very easy.
"Let's go back and take a look first." Commander Su said.
Ding Peng was about to curse.
The Inspection Department has always been overbearing, but now they don't even bother to pretend.
Their commander was following the rules, so why did the other party become unhappy?
When Commander Su returned to the store, he happened to run into someone from the Inspection Department who was causing trouble. He heard the person from the Inspection Department say, "You have such a long queue in your store, which seriously affects the passage of pedestrians. The street is so narrow, and you are occupying the road. What else can you say?"
"Hurry up and disperse, all of you disperse."
Don't let customers queue, and don't let them gather in front of the door.
The surrounding shops looked at each other in dismay.
They didn't say anything, why were the people from the Inspection Department causing trouble?
If Hui Nu’s dim sum business wasn’t so good, there wouldn’t be so many customers coming here.
Besides, Hui Nu Dim Sum noticed this problem a long time ago, and the customers in line all stand along the roadside and will definitely not block the road.
"Looking for trouble." Sun Dongjun said secretly.
Sun's mother glared at him and quickly pulled him into the store.
Even if you know it, you can't say it out loud. He's a military commander and you can't mess with him.
Other shop owners and their assistants also sneaked in and did not dare to say anything to the people from Bingmasi.
Instead, the customers refused to tolerate it and said, "We are not blocking the road."
"I just bought some snacks, what's wrong with that?"
"That's right. We bought fast and left fast. What crime did we commit?"
"You still dare to quibble. I said you are gathered, so just disperse immediately. Do you hear me?" The patrol officer and others raised their knives, which was obviously a threat.
Commander Su walked over quickly and said in a deep voice, "What are you going to do? Point knives at the people?"
The people from the Inspection Department were originally showing off their power, but when they saw Commander Su coming, they immediately stopped and said quickly: "Hello, Commander Su. This is the order from above, and we have no other choice."
Above, that is their commander.
Ding Pengzheng stood up and said, "From above? Any instructions? Any written documents? What law have we violated by queuing here?"
In fact, the situation is the same now as before.
It is still the Inspection Department that uses its power to oppress others, and the people from the Fire Ban Department act according to orders.
Seeing more and more people gathering around, a sharp voice asked, "Is this the Huinu Dim Sum?"
The man was wearing the clothes of a palace eunuch and looked to be of a high rank. Everyone looked over and he walked to the door of the store calmly: "Excuse me, who is the boss? I have a business deal that needs to be discussed in detail."
Madam Su had been present the whole time. Seeing this, she stepped forward and said, "I am the host. Please come in and tell me more."
The eunuch seemed not to notice the conflict. He looked up at the person who was looking for trouble and said contemptuously, "How can there be such a person at the foot of the imperial city?"
Needless to say, everyone in the Inspection Office was already sweating profusely.
Could the other party be the eunuch chief of the palace?
Looking at what they are wearing, it seems to be true.
The people who originally wanted to find trouble, looked at Commander Su in front of them and quickly fled.
When Su Yinyin came back, the people watching at the door were still discussing: "Is that someone from the palace?"
"Looks like it."
"Could it be that the Wisdom Girl's snacks are also doing business in the palace?"
"Well, let's get in line anyway. That chiffon cake is really delicious."
Unexpectedly, Madam Su came out and said, "Sorry, we may have to close the store for three days. Please come back after three days."
Closing the store?!
What happened? !
Could it be that he is trying to avoid the spotlight because he is being picked on?
No matter how everyone asked, Madam Su kept silent. Su Yinyin hurried forward with surprise in her eyes.
It must be the business from the palace that has arrived!
After she heard what Jin Yanlei had said, she immediately rushed back and thanked Jin Yanlei's servant: "Thank you for sending me home, you've worked hard."
The other party repeatedly said no, Su Yinyin said: "The store is closed anyway, there should be freshly made cakes in the store, bring some back for you and your son."
That’s naturally good!
Jin Yanlei's servant left happily. No wonder her family's business was so good, the snacks were delicious, the people were nice, and now they were even doing business with the government.
The once bustling Hui Nu Dim Sum shop closed its doors, leaving customers with nothing but sighs.
They just want to buy some snacks!
It’s all the fault of the people from the Inspection Department. They are looking for trouble for no reason.
The inspection department went back to report, and the commander frowned after hearing it.
Someone is going to the palace?
do what?
Could it be that he really bet on the wrong horse?
I originally thought that the Su guy had no background or foundation, so it would be okay to bully him, and it would also help to please the Zhu family.
Now it seems like everything is messed up.
"Don't go, don't go ever again, this matter ends here."
The inspection officers thought to themselves, what you have thought of is probably not that simple.
At this moment, Hui Nu Dim Sum, which has closed its shop, is counting the deposit for this transaction.
There were five examination halls in Bianjing for the provincial examination, and each provided forty chiffon cakes every day.
In other words, two hundred pieces have to be made a day and delivered in the afternoon.
The price of one chiffon cake is 180 wen, and 200 pieces cost 36 liang.
With a gross profit of thirty-six taels a day, anyone would take a deep breath.
In three days, the company earned 108 taels of silver.
It can be said that this is the largest business their store has ever received!
They don't even have to deliver the goods. Just make it before 3 p.m. every day and someone from the government will come to pick it up.
That means just making snacks and having them ready before 2pm.
The eunuch who ordered the dim sum was very polite, even amiable: "The palace ate the dim sum in your store and loved it very much. It just happened to be the time when the officials taking the provincial examinations were very busy, so I ordered it for them."
"The provincial examination is important, we must provide for them."
After that, he left some silver and money, as well as documents from the palace, to prove that this incident did happen.
Commander Su had come across many official documents, but this was the first time he had seen one written with a gold pen.
Su Yinyin looked at the handwriting above and felt for some reason that it looked a little familiar. But if she looked closely, it was different and the handwriting was more beautiful.
This large order wiped out all the bad luck that Hui Nu Dim Sum had experienced.
Madam Su stroked the documents in the palace and said, "Prepare them now. Make sure they are completed in time tomorrow."
To outsiders, it seemed that Hui Nu Dim Sum had closed down to avoid trouble, but in fact, it was bustling inside.
Even on the day of the provincial examination, Madam Su hurried out to send her eldest son to the examination room.
Su Yinyin naturally followed along, but Su Xian was the calmest. It was not his first time taking part in the provincial examination, and he had long lost the nervousness he had felt at the beginning.
Su Yinyin didn't ask her brother if he was sure, she just said, "Don't feel pressured."
Su Xian smiled and touched his sister's head.
After studying for so many years, I no longer feel any pressure.
On the contrary, Sun Dongjun who joined in the fun wanted to bite his nails. He was so nervous. Although it was not his exam, as a poor student, he was instinctively afraid of such occasions!
His mother even said that he came here to see the world, but what is there to see in this world?
This year's provincial examination officially began.
Su Yinyin thought of another person, Zhu Zhongjie, who would also take part in this year's provincial examination.
I don’t know if he can still pass the exam after what happened before.
When the prince went to the Imperial College before, he was specially asked to receive him. If he failed the exam, I'm afraid his teacher would feel ashamed.
Never mind, let’s wait until after the exam.
The exam will be over in three days.
The results will be announced in ten days.
There will definitely be something good to watch then.
During the three days of the exam, Su Yinyin also met Sister Liu Yue. As expected, she couldn't just leave.
The Zhu family was just pretending to treat her well, and had her meet the family elders and officially included in the family tree.
It's a bit like getting on the bus first and buying the ticket later, so things are done in a low-key manner.
Of course, no one mentioned it, so they just went with the flow and let Liu Yue truly become the daughter-in-law of the Zhu family.
Liu Yue herself didn't want to do this. If it weren't for her daughter's identity, she would have wanted to leave long ago.
As for Liu Yue's daughter Zhuzhu, she will still be raised by Liu Yue in the future. At that time, the local clan in Suzhou will send silver, money, rice and grain every month and will not treat the child unfairly.
Even when she gets married, she will still be given a dowry as per the custom to prove that the Zhu family has not forgotten the child.
The reason for giving her to Liu Yue to raise is simple. It must be that the daughter can't bear to leave her mother, and it's not good to separate the mother and daughter.
In short, if the Zhu family wants to save face, they will definitely do things carefully.
Wait until Zhu Zhongjie comes out of the examination room, and then let him complete the necessary procedures, and then Liu Yue can return to Suzhou.
After that, the two of them went their separate ways and had no more contact, to save everyone's face.
This matter has always been a topic of conversation among the people of Beijing.
Anyone who heard this would curse Zhu Zhongjie as a good-for-nothing.
A good and innocent girl married him as his wife, but then he wanted her to be his mistress or concubine. Isn't that disgusting?
Madam Su and the others were also sighing while making the cake: "After all, they were not a good match in the beginning, and Zhu Zhongjie was irresponsible, so this is what happened."
Madam Zhou, who was helping out in the store, and Sister Liu agreed, "Yes, if Liu Yue hadn't been so determined, she wouldn't have a place to cry now."
As everyone was talking, there was a knock on the back door of the store.
Su Yinyin took a look and met Yuan Rui's gaze.
Why is he here?
Yuan Rui said, "I'll get some snacks."
who?
you?
Madam Su asked in surprise, "You work in the court?"
The Su couple naturally guessed about Yuan Rui's identity.
But no matter how I guess, I don’t know which one it is.
Su Yinyin had asked before, since he was so knowledgeable, why didn't he take the imperial examination? Yuan Rui simply replied, "No need to take the exam."
No need to ask, there are probably two possible explanations.
One reason is that his status is too high, and it makes no difference to him and his family whether he takes the exam or not.
The second reason is that one’s status is different and one cannot take the exam, which is more worthy of reflection.
Finally, it was Su Yinyin who said, "If he doesn't want to talk, then don't talk. There are so many wealthy families in Beijing anyway."
At that time, Su Yinyin knew little about the wealthy families in Beijing.
The most important children of officials she came into contact with were Sister Zhang and Master Cheng, who almost jumped into the lake at the beginning.
Next is Li Yunjing’s house.
But there was no deeper relationship.
After experiencing what happened to Liu Yue, my heart became even more different.
The high families in the capital city are unfathomable.
With just a flick of their fingers, women from ordinary families can be left with no chance of survival.
Even with Sister Liu Yue’s current situation, she can’t say a single good thing, the most she can do is to recover the losses.
Yuan Rui bowed to Madam Su and nodded, "Yes, I'm helping the elders at home with some errands."
As he spoke, Yuan Rui produced the official token to prove that he was here to receive snacks.
After the snacks for the five examination rooms were counted, the guards at the back carefully received them and delivered them to the examination rooms one by one as afternoon snacks for the examiners.
The guards left, but Yuan Rui did not leave. Instead, he stood outside the door and looked at Su Yinyin.
Su Yinyin had no choice but to go out, closing the door behind her, and said, "So you've been busy with these things recently."
"Yeah." Yuan Rui smiled, "So I took some time to come and see it."
Seeing that Su Yinyin didn't want to talk anymore, Yuan Rui said first: "Then I'll leave. I'll come back when I'm done with my recent work."
Su Yinyin wanted to say something but stopped herself and had to watch him leave.
She had never thought about this question before.
That is, what exactly is Yuan Rui's identity.
Before going to bed at night, Su Yinyin rummaged through the drawers and even moved the heavy piggy bank and opened the box underneath.
All the gifts I have received since childhood are in it.
Butterfly waist pendant, butterfly kite.
There are also various gifts for those who grow up a little bit.
I even found the small book box she used to write when she was a child.
Every gift reveals its value.
All of this proves that Yuan Rui’s identity is not simple.
Even more powerful than the Zhu family.
So what is Yuan Rui’s identity?
As she was thinking, Su Yinyin fell asleep.
When I woke up the next day, I put my things back.
What are you thinking about!
If people want to talk, they can talk; if they don’t want to talk, they can stay silent.
It's none of her business.
Now she has only one goal, to get up quickly and make snacks!
I also need to go to the citron merchant and order some more lemons to make sure we don’t have enough.
As batches of food were delivered, the originally small store became even smaller. Even if the warehouse and kitchen were included, the space was still not big enough.
Fortunately, the landlord also said that he had already booked craftsmen from Jiangnan, and the expansion could be prepared before the end of the year.
We will wait until the off-season next year to officially start construction.
By then, their store will be two stories high, which will definitely be enough.
The landlord even said: "Other stores will increase their rents, but your store will remain at the original price."
"If it weren't for your family, there wouldn't be so many tenants around."
Okay, okay, I should say you have a good heart, but I also say you are a dishonest businessman!
With yesterday's experience, the two hundred cakes were made faster today.
But in the morning, someone from the government came and said, "Madam Su, Miss Su, can you add another hundred cakes today? Your snacks are in short supply and the elders like them very much."
Yesterday was the first day of the imperial examination. The students took the exam and the examiners drank tea and chatted together after they were done.
When the afternoon dim sum arrived, many people were surprised by the new additions, while others recognized them: “Isn’t this a new product from the West Market Hui Nu Dim Sum Shop? You have to queue up to buy it.”
Hearing that it was the Queen and the Prince who personally ordered it, the adults thanked them repeatedly and then tasted it.
Just this one bite and I can't stop.
It’s delicious.
It's fragrant, soft and sweet.
Especially the elderly with bad teeth like it.
A bite of cake and a sip of tea, could life be more comfortable than this?
As a result, cakes in all examination halls were sold out, and officials who returned from duty couldn’t even get any.
The officials in charge were extremely helpless, and the adults were urging them to stop giving them enough food.
What can we do? Let them decide.
The official said, "We can make as many as we can, and I will pay you."
Madam Su and the others were dumbfounded.
The officials in the government all like it so much.
That’s right, their snacks are so delicious.
However, increasing the number by 100 every day is not feasible. Increasing it to 50 is fine.
The atmosphere at Hui Nu Dim Sum Shop was very lively, and the helpers also received bonuses.
They will definitely do it!
Three days later, the provincial examination was finally over, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Madam Su said directly, "Everyone, take a rest for two days before coming back. The store has been closed for three days anyway, so it won't matter if it's closed for two more days."
As he said this, he also paid out the bonus in advance.
The people in the store were naturally happy.
The customers outside who were waiting for them to open the store were waiting and waiting, but why wasn't the store open yet?
What about the three-day closure?
Su Xian, who had just come out of the examination room, held a piece of red paper and pasted it on the door of the store: "Take a break for two days, and then open the store in two days."
Another break?!
Then how do they buy cakes?
They will be very upset if they don’t eat your snacks for three days!
If three days isn’t enough, five days is necessary?
Why!
Many customers couldn't help but make sarcastic remarks to the Bingmasi, especially those from the Patrol Department.
It must be you who are causing trouble, so we asked them to close the shop!
Even many officials' families say so.
This caused the commander of the Inspection Office to have to ask Commander Su, and they were saying openly and secretly that the provincial examination was over, so why don't you open the door.
If you don't open the door, I will be scolded.
Commander Su was too lazy to pay attention to him, and he would not accept the other party's attitude of easing relations.
As I said, the conflicts within the Bingmasi are internal matters, and he should not cause trouble for his family. This is the bottom line.
The commander of the inspection department was extremely anxious.
The Zhu family no longer needs him, obviously thinking that he is incompetent. Now he has a bad relationship with the Su family, making his job even more difficult.
What he didn't expect was that Prince Ning actually took the time to summon him.
The first thing to do when he was summoned was to ask him about the issue of arbitrarily arresting people.
There was a stack of files on Prince Ning's case, which were all lists compiled by the Fire Prohibition Bureau.
These people had no arrest warrants and no official documents, yet they were arrested by the Inspection Department and thrown into jail.
The Fire Prohibition Bureau spent several days digging out all the files from the past ten years and delivered them directly to Prince Ning.
Prince Ning looked at this subordinate who was always slippery. He didn't like him in the first place, and this subordinate also wanted to go somewhere else, so he turned a blind eye and waited for him to leave.
Now that he not only failed to leave but was caught, he can't be blamed.
"Explain what's going on."
The Xicheng Bingmasi is about to undergo a reorganization.
The Inspection Department is of top priority.
On the other hand, everyone in the Fire Prohibition Bureau was smiling happily.
If you mess with our boss, you’re done for!
The Su family was even more relaxed.
After Su Xian finished his exams, the dim sum shop closed, and the family was resting together at home, which was a rare occasion.
The weather is nice and crisp in autumn, so let's go out for a picnic.
Su Xian also took his family to Shanjia Academy.
Many people in the academy have heard of Su Yinyin's name, especially when she said in front of the Imperial College that Zhu Zhongjie was disloyal, unfilial, unkind and unjust, which really touched their hearts.
"Those people in the Imperial College have always been like this, pretending to be serious."
"That's right. I only study hard every day. I study for the purpose of becoming an official."
"The Crown Prince was invited to the Imperial Academy by the Imperial Academy once, and after he came back, he asked for his evaluation. In fact, he wanted His Highness to praise him, but he didn't expect that he would not respond at all."
There is also this matter.
Su Yinyin and the others were very excited when they heard this, until the store reopened, and another good thing happened.
The landlord said happily: "The Jiangnan craftsmen came ahead of time, first measured the house, and then prepared the materials. By the first and second months of next year, we can start construction directly."
It is now late August. Except for November and December when it is too cold to do anything, it should be just the right time to start preparing the materials.
As I watched streets in Taipei being measured one by one, including Hui Nu Dim Sum, I knew that this market would soon become more lively.
As soon as Hui Nu Dim Sum reopened, a long line formed in front of the door.
The people from the Inspection Department who had been causing trouble before were now polite as they passed by.
After all, Prince Ning is very dissatisfied with their superiors and there is a high probability that he will be dismissed from his post.
In this situation, everyone in the Inspection Office was in danger, fearing that they would offend Commander Su again.
The customers don't have that many ideas, they just want to have a snack.
It’s been five whole days, we haven’t opened the store for five days. Do you know how much they want to eat your snacks?
Knowing that the store will be expanded next year, and that they will add a few more ovens and hire more people, I am even happier for Hui Nu Dim Sum.
Among the people queuing, there were naturally also waiters from other dim sum shops.
They were all thinking about a problem.
Why is it becoming increasingly difficult to learn how to make Hui Nu Dim Sum?
The thumb-sized date paste pastry that made them famous in the beginning, they still can’t make a dough as good as theirs. At most, in the following years, people guessed that they added butter into it.
Since then, butter has almost become a standard feature of every pastry shop.
But this year's chiffon cake has completely changed the shape and taste of the dessert.
But they still can't do it.
I know it's made of eggs, milk and flour.
But I just can't do it.
Why?
Don’t ask why, just buy it and try it first.
This enthusiasm continued until the day when the provincial examination results were announced.
Then it became even more popular!
After grading the papers, the adults can finally leave the examination room!
The first thing he did after leaving the examination room was to tell his servants, "Go to Hui Nu Dim Sum in the West Market and buy me some chiffon cakes."
"It's best to have it hot, fresh, and quick."
The servants of each household were confused.
Master, what are you talking about!
Why do you have to eat this after leaving the examination room?
The reason is simple, I like it!
Since the provincial examination began, all of you have been in the examination room.
During the first three days, delicious and soft snacks were provided every day, which relieved the boredom of eating and sleeping in the examination hall.
Where are the snacks during the next seven days of marking the papers?
What snacks do they want?
I asked the official in charge of the examination room, and he also had something to say, saying that he was currently grading the test papers and couldn't pass anything on, and that we had to wait until the results of the provincial examination were announced.
In this way, adults will naturally want it more.
Sometimes it’s not necessarily that you want to eat that thing, but when you want to eat it and it’s not available, you become more urgent.
So a strange scene appeared in all the examination halls: "Hurry up and go to Hui Nu Dim Sum to buy some cakes, the master wants to eat some!"
Seeing that the line was getting longer and longer, Su Yinyin started making cakes. Su Xian, who had just finished looking at the list, came over to help.
Just as Su Yinyin was about to comfort her brother, she heard him say, "It's expected. Don't be sad."
Nowadays, the imperial examinations are becoming more and more difficult, and the examiners’ preferences vary greatly each time.
For example, this year's chief examiner is the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, so it is normal that he does not like the reading style of Shanjia Academy.
So Su Xian didn't mind. Maybe it was because the more books he read, the more stable his mind became.
Moreover, he did not need tuition fees at Shanjia Academy, and he could earn some money by copying books and writing essays on weekdays, so he was not as panicked as he was in early years.
"Brother is only twenty years old this year, and there will be many opportunities in the future!" Su Yinyin said in a low voice.
Su Xian pinched his sister's face and said, "Yes, sister is right."
The Su family had already known about this imperial examination, so it was normal that they were not sad.
But at this moment, the entire Zhu family was in mourning.
Zhu Zhongjie sat in the lower seat in a daze, unable to hide the sadness on his face.
He failed the exam.
Everyone clearly said he could pass the exam.
But after looking through the list again and again, his name was not on it.
The Minister Zhu slapped him in the face: "Waste, really waste!"
The anger that had been building up for many years finally came out. Even Mrs. Zhu came to protect Zhu Zhongjie, but she couldn't suppress his anger: "Disloyal, unfilial, unkind and unjust, what you said is really true!"
The censors and political enemies in the court are using this matter to make a case.
Not only did he have to deal with those people, but now his son had failed the exam, so he was attacked from all sides.
"Who have you been worthy of in these years?"
"If you can't even handle this, can the Zhu family still count on you?"
Since the incident, the Zhu family has been trying their best to make amends and to comfort Zhu Zhongjie so that he can do well in the exam.
Based on his original level, he should be able to pass the exam.
What's the result?
As a result, he couldn't stand the pressure, collapsed repeatedly in the examination room, and ultimately failed.
Twenty-four years old this year is not too old.
But what made Lord Zhu even more angry was his appearance, which showed that he had no sense of responsibility at all.
If he could pass the exam, all the chaos in the capital could be suppressed.
Now not only can he not pass the exam, but he also looks very depressed.
Lord Zhu's face was full of disappointment, which made Zhu Zhongjie at a loss. He had no choice but to beg for mercy and apologize repeatedly.
But now, what's the use of these words.
Whether he can pass the exam in the future is still unclear.
As for marriage, let alone.
He has neither ability nor responsibility. Which girl in Bianjing would be willing to marry him?
On the contrary, it was Liu Yue who made people look at her with new eyes.
She did not seek fame, wealth or fortune, but only a letter of divorce. She is now returning home in a carriage hired for her by the Chamber of Commerce in her hometown.
The Zhu family could not treat their ex-daughter-in-law badly openly, so they sent her countless gifts and asked the local clansmen in Suzhou to take good care of her.
If the other party is not living well, it will be even more difficult for Zhu Zhongjie to get married in the future.
Think about others, then look at your own son.
If there is no family background, I really don’t know who is worthy of whom.
Mrs. Zhu cried for a while, and was also sad about her son's upcoming marriage. Suddenly she remembered something and said quickly, "I heard that there is a snack shop in the West Market, and there is a matchmaker there."
"Why not let my son go and ask Little Matchmaker to help? Whether it's true or not, she's famous anyway."
This is also a solution.
Master Zhu waved his hand and told her to do it, then said, "Ask the second and third young masters to come to the study."
Zhu Zhongjie was even more shocked. Was his father going to train someone else?
His mother, who had always loved him, said nothing, obviously agreeing.
From then on, Zhu Zhongjie was a idler at home. His mother only wanted to find a suitable marriage for him and just live a good life in the future.
You don't have to count on him for other things at home.
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