Chapter 52 Idiot

Xiao Que's eating broadcast has seduced more than one person. Although Wanglaiju did not do a food tasting for the new product this time, the difference in the amount of a plate and a bowl made people see the tasting nature of a plate. Many people were reluctant to spend money and only bought a plate of ice jelly. Jingzhao Zhubu was one of them.

There is only about a spoonful of it in a plate. I put it on the table and stare at it blankly, or hold it up to the light. The halo of light refracted by the crystal shines into my eyes, and for a moment I am reluctant to eat it.

When he scooped up a spoonful and took a sip, the warm brown sugar water and the cool ice powder cubes blended together. The sharp contrast was given a unique delicious impression by the sweet and astringent taste of the brown sugar. After taking a bite, when the sweetness dissipated, a slightly astringent herbal sweetness could be tasted, which did not make people feel greasy, but rather very refreshing.

The jelly with sugar water is a kind of enjoyment that I have never seen before. The remaining pieces in the small dish float in the sugar water, and collide with the colorful dumplings, which is quite lively and interesting. The colorful dumplings are chewy and soft in the mouth, which is different from the sticky sweetness of Yuanxiao. They slide and bounce between the lips and teeth, and a different kind of herbal fragrance fills the mouth.

After reluctantly finishing the meal and even drinking up the sugar water, the chief clerk wanted to order another plate, but was told by the waiter that it was sold out. Only then did he feel the regret of missing out.

"I heard you guys say there was one more bowl left. Oh, I should have ordered one earlier!"

The chief clerk sighed as he looked at the handsome young man at the table next to him, who was happily enjoying a cup of milk tea in his left hand and a bowl of ice jelly in his right hand. The lobby of Wanglaiju was almost full of people today, and the same sighs as the chief clerk were heard from everywhere. The handsome young man Fang Hu ate one spoonful after another slowly, and was indifferent to the angry gazes of the crowd, and ate even slower.

However, Xiao Qi, who bought the last bowl of ice jelly, was not in the store. She had to go to the academy and it was inconvenient to get the bowl. Si Li asked the shopkeeper Tang for a bamboo tube and just filled it. The tube was almost full of ice jelly and formed a small peak. The sunlight shining through it reflected the bright light on her hands.

"What kind of names are you using?" Xiao Qi complained, hurried away with the ice powder tube, and stepped into the school early. She arrived early, and it was still a long time before the teacher came to teach. Most of the people in the school had already sat down, opened their books and were reviewing. When they saw her coming in against the wind, they immediately looked at the bamboo tube in her hand.

After the previous encounter with delicious food, the female students sitting next to Xiao Qi were no longer so averse to her cold face. Instead, they came over to chatter, "Qi, what did you buy? The new milk tea?"

Xiao Qi looked around at the empty seats not far away, and before finding an empty seat, she gave Liu Wuling a fierce look. She was in a good mood for a moment, and mysteriously bent down to call the girls to come closer. Amid the curious gazes of the girls, she opened the lid of the cup, "Wanglaiju's new taro ball ice jelly! The line is so long that it circles around the side of Qiyunlou. Fortunately, I went early today, otherwise I wouldn't be able to buy it. This is the last bowl of ice jelly this morning."

The girls didn't care to listen to what she said. It was winter and the days got lighted late. Candles were still lit in the dormitory. The soft crystals in the lights were illuminated to be bright and clear, and exuded a sweet fragrance. The girls who had no resistance to beauty and sweets fell for her one after another.

The one who was closest to Xiao Qi had already hugged her arm, and said coquettishly, "I know you are the best, Qi. I brought a lunch box and a small bowl. Can you give me half?"

"Who are you, Aqi? How can you be so bold?"

"Half? You can only guess!"

The first one who stepped forward was attacked by the crowd and was soon squeezed out of the small circle. Xiao Qi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She held the wooden spoon that was about to fall to the ground, stopped the girls' quarrel, and pulled the girl who was squeezed out back to her side. "In fact, it should be possible to go earlier in the evening. Why do you sisters have to snatch my spoon?"

"After class, we still have practice to do. Who knows when we will be released. Good sister, good Aqi, I am not greedy, come and let me have a taste."

The pretty girl in the blue dress grabbed the wooden spoon in Xiao Qi's hand, and seeing that she had no objection, she acted quickly and scooped a spoonful first.

The scooped ice powder trembled on the spoon, and the transparent liquid soaked in sugar juice looked like a precious ruby, dazzling the eyes. With a low sigh, the ice powder disappeared in the girl's mouth. The girl's face showed a dreamy sense of happiness. The frustration of not being able to recite the book was swept away. She clenched her hands and spoke again with great joy, "I, I like this so much!"

A group of girls gathered together in the dormitory, occasionally letting out suppressed exclamations and laughter. Liu Wuling glanced at them with annoyance, flipping through the book in her hand, but couldn't concentrate at all. When she looked up again, she suddenly saw a familiar figure appear in front of the dormitory door, "Atang?!"

Si Tang, who had not attended class for five consecutive days, smiled gently but with a hint of fatigue, "Lingling, try this. It's the crystal soup dumpling newly made by Wuweilou. I've been waiting for it for a long time."

Xiao Qi was annoyed when she saw her like this. As the biggest rival of her mother, she had heard a lot about the situation in the family of Si Shoufu. She had also heard from Xiao Que that Si Tang was forced to go to Lai Ju to apologize but was taken away. According to the feedback from her mother's subordinates, Si Tang did not dare to return to the Si Mansion until today, hiding in Jian's house and continuing to be her eldest daughter. She sneered at the moment.

"How long have you been waiting? I don't know who is so self-righteous and shameless that he doesn't even want to call his elder sister's relatives uncle. Have you been happy with the money you spent these two days? The hairpins from Liuyuxuan and the new skirts from Zhinvge, your cheap uncle dotes on you, but I wonder if he will be happy to hear that you demoted merchants to national insects and bandits in your last policy speech?"

Si Tang's face turned pale. "You are taking things out of context. What nonsense are you talking about! Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans. Before this dynasty, merchants were still lowly servants. Agriculture is the foundation of the country, and commerce is for circulation. Their importance is different..."

A cold voice came from behind her, interrupting her argument, "People say that when you haven't seen someone for three days, you'll see them with new eyes. After not seeing you for five days, have you forgotten everything you were taught in the academy? The policy is a practical discussion. The last time Xiao Qi's policy paper analyzed why Jingwen Dynasty abolished the merchant system, opened ports, and opened trade routes, it was very clear. Si Er, stand outside and come back when you have thought it through."

In the last school exam, in the policy essay subject, it was Xiao Qi and Si Tang who tied for the top spot. Together with mathematics, which Si Tang did not choose to study, they became one of the shadows of the failure to top the list year after year.

Standing in the dormitory, Xiao Qi showed a sarcastic smile. The delicate bamboo lunch box that Si Tang was holding fell to the ground with a thud. She covered her chest with her hands, and her eyes quickly filled with tears. Her lips turned pale, and her face was clear and sad. She turned around and said in a sad voice, "Master Xu, I don't have it."

However, Master Xu, who was standing with his hands behind his back, only looked at her with disgust and said, "Don't make me say it a second time."

Master Xu was known for his strictness and love of talent in the academy. Si Tang was the best student in the academy before, and she was the only one who could punish others. She never thought that one day it would be her turn. Si Tang didn't even dare to pick up the lunch box, and staggered to the door. Master Xu passed her, and the girls who had gathered in the academy sat down obediently, without any trace of the playfulness and liveliness before.

After inspecting the school, Master Xu spoke, "Last time I talked about..."

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It was already afternoon when Xiao Qi shared Si Tang's embarrassing performance with Si Li. Si Li specially reserved a large bowl of ice jelly for her and added apple and pear cubes to it, making the taste of the ice jelly even richer and more varied.

Xiao Qi, who was taken care of, couldn't help laughing, "Oh, you don't know, Master Xu's face turned black when he heard her say bad things about the merchants..."

Si Li was a little curious, "Didn't Master Xu like smart students? Why would he be so servile?"

"That idiot Si Tang has learned so much that he can't even understand what he has learned. How can he be considered smart?" Xiao Qi shook her head and told the story of Master Xu. Only then did Si Li suddenly understand.

Xu Fuzi was a candidate who passed the second imperial examination for women. She was the runner-up in the ninth year of Jingwen. She was also a legendary figure at that time. Her husband was a merchant. He failed to pass the examination for three years. However, Xu Fuzi, who accompanied her husband to study, passed the examination after women were allowed to take the examination. With the support of her husband, she passed the examination and became the runner-up. Some people say that without her husband's financial resources and support, how could there be the only female teacher of classics in Qun Ying Academy?

You have to know that the women's special examination at that time was different from the men who had studied hard for many years and received training in private schools. Most of the female students who lacked orthodox education were biased in their studies. If it weren't for the fact that the top three candidates of Master Xu performed better than the men in the subjects of classics, theory and policy essays, the third special examination might not even have these two subjects. If classics, theory and policy essays were no longer set, the status of the women's special examination would have been the same as that of the special examination for selecting minor officials, and there would be no room for the lofty and broad-minded discussions that female students have today.

With such a background, it is true that Xiao Qi said that Si Tang was confused. Si Li's thoughts followed Xiao Qi's narration and drifted to those women who had difficulty breaking the shackles. Fortunately, they all persevered, which led to the spacious Daning she saw today. She did not think she was a far-sighted revolutionary or builder, but this did not prevent her from being in awe of the pioneers who opened up a path through thorns and hardships.

Si Li's eyes fell on Meng Taotao who had just finished her work. Xiao Qi's voice was not lowered, so she happened to hear it. Meng Taotao smiled and said, "That's great."

The three of them smiled at each other.

"Your sign is so ugly, I saw it from the opposite side." The arrogant voice made the three of them look back. Si Li was surprised to find that the young man standing in front of the stall looked familiar. She subconsciously turned around to look at Meng Taotao, and just like the last time at the Buddhist meeting, the girl's expression had gloomy.

None of the three people who were close to him moved. After wiping the table, Wang Ting reluctantly stepped forward to smooth things over. "Sir, this is a small shop. Please bear with us. Today we have French fries, popcorn, and wolf-tooth potatoes for sale..."

Before he finished his introduction, he was interrupted by the young man, who pointed at the table and said, "What is this? It looks good. Give me a bowl." He looked inside the shop and raised half an eyebrow when he saw Xiao Qi. "Why are you here? Forget it, prepare it for me. It's dark inside and it's really disgusting."

It was a little dark inside the residence, but far from being pitch black. Si Li watched him lie with his eyes open. Also, she didn't know what dispute this man had with Meng Taotao, so she didn't want to sell it anymore. When Wang Ting turned around and called her, she didn't move.

"Shopkeeper?" Meng Taotao pushed her. Si Li stood up reluctantly. Seeing the concerned question in her eyes, Meng Taotao forced a smile and said, "It's okay. Isn't that how business is done?"

Si Li would have believed this no matter who said it, but it sounded strange when it came from the mouth of Meng Taotao, who had driven away those people from the Si Mansion.

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The policy discussion part was compiled by Susu.