Chapter 182: Want to go to high school even though you don’t have money?
Xiaoqian saw this and gradually let down her guard when she saw that he did not return to his old ways.
After all, they lived under the same roof. If Zhu Zhengxin couldn't control his heart and indulged his greed, then she really had to be careful. Fortunately, Gong Mengbi kept his word and didn't lie to her.
Ning Caichen and Ma Junji were busy reviewing their lessons all day. Seeing that they were concentrating on their studies, Xiaoqian and Zhu Zhengxin took the initiative to do some chores to take care of their daily lives so that they would not have to be distracted by other things, as an expression of their apology.
Ning Caichen and Ma Junji were indeed overwhelmed with their hustle and bustle, so Xiaoqian's presence at this moment certainly made them feel better. Accepting her kindness, they naturally turned hostility into friendship.
After staying in Lanyin Temple for half a month, I finally waited for the college entrance examination.
Ning Caichen and Ma Junji rushed to the county town to take the exam. Zhu Zhengxin was not in a position to go with them, so he stayed at the gate of Lanyin Temple after seeing them off.
Xiaoqian, however, seized the opportunity and went with them to the county town, umbrella in hand. Having lived in Lanyin Temple for so long, never having left the mountain, Xiaoqian longed to see the world of everyday life. But after actually descending the mountain, she felt a sense of panic.
Ning Caichen saw Xiaoqian's expression was strange and asked, "What's wrong, Miss Xiaoqian?"
Xiao Qian forced a smile and said, "It's just that I haven't seen such a lively scene in many years, and I feel a little emotional for a moment."
Ning Caichen could almost understand her feelings. If he was like him when he first mustered up the courage to enter Fox Hill and saw the scenery outside the human world, he would also be frightened and uneasy.
Ning Caichen smiled and said, "Then we should walk around more and see more. Today is actually no different from yesterday."
Ma Junji rubbed his stomach and said, "Don't think about today or yesterday, fill your stomach first. Come, I'll treat you to some wontons."
It was still dark, but the county town was already bustling with activity. Ma Junji paid for Ning Caichen and Xiaoqian to each enjoy a bowl of large wontons with thin skin and thick fillings, sweeping away the tranquil atmosphere of the mountains and bringing them back to the human world.
The owner of the wonton stall saw three people sitting down to eat. When he was collecting the bowls, he found that one bowl was untouched and couldn't help but feel sorry.
Seeing Hanako not far away, she called out, "Maybe she's someone's daughter. She can't get used to eating food from outside and hasn't eaten anything. Do you want to eat anything?"
Beggars naturally don’t have so many particulars. Not only will they not eat anything, they won’t even mind the leftovers.
The beggar ate one and asked in confusion, "Boss, are your wontons bad? Why do they have a strange smell?"
"Impossible! How could those two scholars eat up all the food that smells so strange?"
The beggar put down his bowl and refused to eat any more.
The boss ate one suspiciously, then immediately spit it out and asked, "What's going on?"
Although they were fresh wontons, they tasted like they had been stored for a long time, and even had a strange smell like rotten soil.
The beggar had guessed something and said mysteriously, "It must be a ghost."
The boss waved his sleeves and said, "Go away, stop talking nonsense."
Of course, Ning Caichen and the other two didn't know about this story, so they rushed to the examination hall after eating and drinking.
Xiaoqian escorted them inside with an umbrella, and then she lingered in the county town. The umbrella Gong Mengbi had given her was hidden by the magic of form obscuration, so ordinary people couldn't see through it. Gradually, she began to enjoy it.
To be precise, it is the interest in life.
When people die, they become ghosts. They lose their physical bodies and warmth, suffer from rain, snow, wind and frost, and cannot see the sunlight. Gradually, they become extremely cold and heartless, and are prone to envy the living.
Being able to feel the joy of life is a great thing.
There were many people waiting near the examination hall, some were servants, some were family members waiting. They didn't dare get too close, so they wandered around the teahouses, taverns, and bridge shops.
Xiaoqian strolled around the county town, and when she saw it was almost time, she went to the tavern to wait.
When others couldn't see her, she would find a seat by herself and listen to the conversations of people around her.
Suddenly, I heard a few people in the private room talking about the imperial examination. A female voice said, "Mr. Zhang, I think your Excellency will get first place this time."
Mr. Zhang chuckled and said, "First in the case? How could my Zhang family have such financial resources or such prestige?"
Another middle-aged man's voice said, "I know who the suspect is."
Mr. Zhang asked, "Who is it?"
The middle-aged man said, "It's the one from the Cui family."
The female voice said, "No wonder, the only one who has both money and prestige is the little bully of the Cui family."
Mr. Zhang sneered, then said, "Let's not talk about him. He's not worth offending. But Madam Li has made a fortune recently. The wine houses and clubs are very expensive, and Madam has made a lot of money."
Madam Li covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "We can earn money together, but you still earn less?"
The middle-aged man said, "Mrs. Li is very well-connected and was able to get a job as an academician. It's all thanks to you, otherwise my evildoer might never have passed the imperial examination in his lifetime."
Madam Li said, "Your son is a handsome man, and if he achieves great success in the future, he will be a good match for you."
At this point, the conversation gradually turned to the descendants of each family.
Xiaoqian just listened, looked towards the examination hall, frowned, and showed a worried look.
These people spoke in very low voices, but ghosts and gods have sharp ears and can hear a lot, so they knew the secrets of the college entrance examination.
Only after the examination was over did Ning Caichen and Ma Junji walk out of the examination hall tiredly.
Xiaoqian came up to greet them and heard that they were still talking about the exam content with great interest. It seemed that they did well.
Xiaoqian followed them quietly, hesitating in her heart, not knowing whether to tell them what she had heard.
It was only after they left the city that Ning Caichen and Ma Junji noticed Xiaoqian's silence. They thought that Xiaoqian had experienced something during their exams, so they asked her the reason.
Xiaoqian looked at them, gritted her teeth, and told them the truth about what she had heard.
As Xiaoqian spoke, she saw the worry on their faces disappear, replaced by a look of indifference.
At dusk, the autumn wind blew, and the dim sunlight shone on Ma Junji and Ning Caichen, stretching their shadows into long and slender ones.
Ma Junji's heart was filled with righteous indignation, but then he sneered, looked up at the sky, clenched his teeth, and said nothing.
Ning Caichen forced a smile and tried to comfort Ma Junji, saying, "Even if the top spot and some of the places are bought, we still have a chance."
Ma Junji's chest heaved violently as he asked, "Brother Ning, is this the reason why you and I are so devoted to studying?"
Is that what it's for?
Ning Caichen knew it wasn't the case, he only knew that his blood was gradually cooling down.
As autumn and night gradually approached, he could not tell whether it was the blood in his heart or the blood in his body that had run cold.
"You want to go to high school without money?"
Ning Caichen thought again of the woman he met that day when he was looking for a place to stay in the city.
Even a woman like her who profited from it could see it clearly, but Ning Caichen himself seemed to still have illusions.
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