Zhou Shian went out to make some soy sauce.
At the end of the month, my pockets were empty and I had no money to buy food or wine.
Fortunately, there was still some rice left in the rice jar.
Zhou Shian decided to use the last bit of money he had to buy half a pound of soy sauce, mix it with rice, and hold on until the beginning of next month when his salary was paid.
He spent twenty cents and bought half a pound of the cheapest soy sauce.
When I passed the intersection, I smelled the aroma coming from the braised meat stall. My throat rolled and my beard trembled. I was very greedy.
Braised meat and wine are a perfect match.
Unfortunately, I am short of money and cannot afford to eat braised meat with wine.
But when his salary is paid at the beginning of the month, he can enjoy himself for another half month.
Zhou Shian doesn't feel ashamed of being so greedy at such an old age.
Life is all about eating and drinking.
In the past, I had great ambitions and wanted to shine in the court and change the shortcomings of the government.
He was sent to Lantai Temple and remained silent for several years. Even a passionate person like him became a layman.
He is very satisfied with his life, where he keeps company with books every day and only cares about food and drink.
Although poor, it is rich and peaceful enough.
The soy sauce bottle swayed as his arm swung.
Zhou Shi'an was singing a little tune and was in a good mood.
Soy sauce rice is also delicious.
A carriage stopped beside him.
Zhou Shian glanced at the carriage and, without waiting for the other party to speak, spoke first: "Tell the Marquis of Zhenguo to give up his thoughts as soon as possible. I don't have time to deal with him."
"I'd like to treat Mr. Zhou to some braised meat to go with the wine. Could you please stay for a while?"
Gu Jiu leaned against the car door, stuck his head out, and looked at Zhou Shian with a smile.
Zhou Shian suddenly saw Gu Jiu with a dazed look on his face. Distant memories broke out of his shell, so vivid.
The faces of the confident little girl in my memory and the woman in front of me overlapped.
It turns out that so many years have passed.
"you……"
Zhou Shian opened and closed his lips. He wanted to ask why you were here, but after the word "you" came out, he couldn't say the rest.
"My last name is Gu, and I'm known as Madam Zhao. If nothing unexpected happens, you should have heard of me. I wonder if I have the honor to invite Mr. Zhou to have a meal with me."
"Are you Madam Zhao?"
Zhou Shian was very surprised, and then he looked suddenly enlightened.
So that's how it is. It's indeed so. Only that eloquent little girl back then could do such shocking things.
At this moment, Zhou Shian suddenly smiled with relief.
Life's encounters are truly unpredictable.
He smiled at Gu Jiu and said, "Madam, you have a request. I respectfully obey your command."
"Thank you for your kindness, sir."
Gu Jiu got off the carriage and walked towards the braised meat stall with Zhou Shi'an.
I sat down on a chair at a roadside stall.
It attracted the attention of passers-by.
It's normal for Zhou Shi'an, an old man, to appear at the braised meat stall.
The key is Gu Jiu. Just by looking at her clothes, her words and her behavior, you can tell she comes from an extraordinary family. Furthermore, she is a woman, so she shouldn't be in such a shabby alleyway that is completely inconsistent with her status.
This is like wearing a high-end evening dress worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and eating at a roadside food stall.
Sitting at a roadside stall, Gu Jiu was calm and composed.
Order one portion of each braised dish and half a pound of fine wine.
When they heard Gu Jiu ordering the dishes, the boss and his wife came back to their senses.
Both couples were a little nervous.
A big shot came to the stall, and I subconsciously became cautious.
Soon, the food and wine were served.
Zhou Shi'an didn't bother to be polite with Gu Jiu and just started eating.
He hadn't tasted meat for many days.
The food under the corridor of Lantai Temple is hard to describe in words.
The people in the Imperial Kitchen were all flatterers and looked down on the weak, always looking for the right dish for the right person. The food sent to the Lantai Temple was basically boiled in water, and no oil was used at all.
Colleagues with wealthy families eat out at noon at their own expense or have their meals delivered by servants at home.
Zhou Shi'an, who had no family background and no servants to serve him meals, could only endure the food served in the corridor that tasted like pig fodder every day.
At this moment, he ate meat and drank wine with his belly full, feeling very satisfied.
After filling his stomach to about 60% full, he finally had time to speak, "Don't you want to eat?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou, don't worry about me. Please do as you please."
Zhou Shian looked at Gu Jiu with a half-smile, "Do you think this place is dirty and the environment is bad?"
Gu Jiu said frankly: "The environment here is indeed not very good, but it has nothing to do with my dislike of braised food. My health is not very good, and I mainly eat light food at the moment. I can't eat strong flavors."
"oh!"
Zhou Shian smiled and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. "I see your sincerity, but I still say that I am doing well in Lantai Temple. I have no intention of resigning to teach at the academy."
Gu Jiu nodded. "I already knew about it before coming here. Mr. Zhou doesn't have to resign from his official position. He can just take two days a month to teach a class at the academy."
"Shanhe Academy is in need of many teachers, but they are so interested in a good-for-nothing old man like me." Zhou Shi'an was mocking both Shanhe Academy and himself.
Gu Jiu said calmly, "There are many excellent teachers in Shanhe Academy. Each teacher has his or her own unique teaching style, which is deeply loved by students.
From its inception, Shanhe Academy has embraced a spirit of openness and inclusiveness. We welcome diverse ideas and individuals of all stripes. Currently, the academy lacks a teacher who is unconventional and uninhibited. Mr. Zhou, are you willing to fill this void?
"Ha ha……"
Zhou Shi'an laughed heartily. "I don't know what the Marquis of Zhenguo said to you. What I want to say is that I am no longer the person I used to be. All that wildness and inappropriateness is in the past. Madam, you should go find some young men. There are plenty of young men who can meet your requirements."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "There are many unruly young people, but none of them possess Mr. Zhou's knowledge and talent."
"Zhou is just a poor student. Although his life is poor, he is content with his current situation."
"One thousand two hundred taels a year, plus a two-story house, with dedicated staff to look after your daily life. You'll also help publish your collection of essays, with generous fees. You'll also be able to edit your own textbooks and set exam questions for students."
When the conversation got to this point, Gu Jiu gave up trying to negotiate and directly put forward the conditions.
Zhou Shian was obviously stunned.
Gu Jiu continued, "If Mr. Zhou has thought it through, he can report directly to the Academic Affairs Office of Shanhe Academy. Shanhe Academy is open to welcome Mr. Zhou at any time."
After saying that, Gu Jiu stood up, got on the carriage and left.
"Hey, hey, have you paid for the food and drinks? I don't have any money."
Zhou Shi'an suddenly called out to stop the carriage that had already started moving.
Gu Jiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She stuck her head out and said with a smile, "The bill has been settled, Mr. Zhou, please enjoy it."
Zhou Shian looked relieved.
Gu Jiu looked at him with a smile, closed the window, and the carriage started again, clattering away, leaving the alley.
As the carriage wobbled, the maid, Aqing, asked, "Will Mr. Zhou agree to teach at Shanhe Academy?"
"Only fifty percent."
Gu Jiu gently played with the jade bracelet on her wrist. "Unfortunately, I don't see any desire in his eyes. He is a man of great strength because he has no desires. I don't know how to impress him. I can only offer the most favorable conditions with the utmost sincerity, do my best and leave the rest to fate."
"There are people that Madam can't impress. They must be very stubborn." Aqing teased with a smile.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "If you have no desires, you will be strong. There is nothing I can do about it."
…
"Seventh Master..."
"roll!"
The servant was interrupted by Zhou Shi'an before he could finish his words.
The servant stood awkwardly at the door, with grain, oil, clothes, shoes and socks on the ground.
The servant was also here to deliver something at the master's request. If he couldn't deliver the item, he would be embarrassed.
Zhou Shian smiled coldly, "Take everything back, I don't want it. I have already cut off all ties with the Chuzhou Zhou family. Tell the Zhou family not to waste their time. Even if I starve to death, I will not eat a single grain of rice from the Zhou family."
"But the Zhou family has always regarded the Seventh Master as their own. The Seventh Master does not care about the monk's face but the Buddha's. A little thought, at least..."
"I told you to get out, don't you understand?" Zhou Shi'an's originally cloudy eyes suddenly became as sharp as a knife, "If you don't want to die, get out."
The servant saw murderous intent in Zhou Shi'an's eyes, his legs trembled, and he almost fell to the ground, kneeling down in front of Zhou Shi'an.
The servant said tremblingly, "It's the end of the month, and Master Qi will be running out of food. These grains, oil, rice, and flour..."
"I won't starve to death."
Zhou Shian shook off the food and wine he had packed in his hand and said, "I have food and drink. Go back and tell them, don't waste your time."
After saying that, he kicked over the grain, oil, rice and flour on the ground.
"Take them all. If you dare to harass me again, I won't be polite."
Bang!
Zhou Shi'an slammed the door shut, blocking the servant outside.
The servant had no choice but to leave with the grain, oil, rice and flour.
Zhou Shi'an drank alone and sang a little song, feeling very comfortable.
Unfortunately, his pleasant time was short-lived and was soon interrupted.
Bang, bang, bang...
Someone was knocking on the door outside, making a loud knocking sound.
"Uncle Qi, please open the door. I'm Xiao Liuzi!"
Zhou Shi'an was furious. He picked up a stick, swung his arm, and threw the stick out of the wall.
Bang!
Hit the target.
The world is finally quiet!
However, he knew very well that a similar situation would happen again next month.
The greatest strength of the Zhou family of Chuzhou is their patience.
For one thing, let alone persisting for three to five years, even ten to twenty years is no problem.
Zhou Shian took a big gulp of wine.
This place is uninhabitable!
He had to move somewhere else.
But I am short of money.
hehe!
Hit the snake at its most vulnerable part.
The little girl who was so confident in the dilapidated temple back then has grown up and become even more incredible.
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