Chapter 6: The Ancient Scholar Used as Cannon Fodder (Part Six) At the End of the Provincial Examination…
After the provincial examination, Chu Nanfeng took a job copying books from a bookstore to earn money while waiting for the results to be released.
As a teenager, he often interacted with his neighbors, helping them with small tasks such as reading letters or writing Spring Festival couplets. They hoped that when he was not at home, someone could lend a hand to his mother.
Chu Nanfeng was not as aloof and arrogant as other scholars, nor did he look down on merchants because of his status. He copied books quickly and well, and he was not picky about the content he copied. The old shopkeeper of the bookstore was very enthusiastic about him.
They also said that because of his good handwriting, the books he copied could sell for several more coins each, which increased Chu Nanfeng's price by three coins per book.
Two days ago, when Chu Nanfeng came to deliver books, he also gave him a ream of bamboo paper that was a bit damp and not easy to sell, and two broken ink sticks.
The old shopkeeper greeted him warmly, saying, "Master Chu, you've arrived early this time. Come in and have a seat. I just got two ounces of fine tea yesterday, and I've been waiting for you."
On the system page, Chu Nanfeng could clearly see that the old shopkeeper's favorability towards him was 17, which was not low compared to others.
"Uncle Yue's tea must be excellent; I'm in for a treat." Chu Nanfeng said in a friendly tone, "I recently had a sudden inspiration and painted a few pictures. Uncle Yue, could you help me see if I can accept them?"
"Alright, judging from your usual illustration skills, you're clearly an expert. Buying your work is definitely not a problem." As for the price, business is business, so we'll have to wait until we see the artwork to know.
Old Manager Yue chuckled as he accepted the painting, carefully opened it on the table in the inner room, and immediately praised it repeatedly, "Not only is the painting excellent, but the paper and ink are also top-quality. Truly superb!"
He paid twenty taels of silver for the four paintings, which was a high price for Chu Nanfeng, who was completely unknown.
"With your skill, Prime Minister Chu, this is already a masterpiece. Why bother copying those stories? Sending the painting over for consignment is perfectly acceptable; it'll earn you more money than copying books," Manager Yue earnestly suggested, looking at the painting.
Having spent some time with Chu Nanfeng, I know he's not the kind of pretentious person who dislikes money and has a penchant for it. Manager Yue also speaks without any reservations.
"Uncle Yue is too kind. With my skill level, how could I be considered a master?" Chu Nanfeng didn't take the polite words seriously. After carefully washing his hands, he took the tea set, warmed the cups, weighed the tea, and poured in the water.
The quality of a cup of tea depends heavily on the skill of the tea brewer. When Manager Yue acquired good tea, he would always go to a teahouse and ask a tea master to prepare it. These experienced tea masters would not easily offer their services, and each time it would cost a considerable amount of copper coins.
After learning that Chu Nanfeng's skills were comparable to those of the tea master, Manager Yue became too lazy to go to the teahouse anymore. Every time Chu Nanfeng came to deliver books, he would invite him to drink tea together and chat about some local gossip.
The two got along like old friends despite their age difference. Manager Yue didn't pay extra for the tea. He was quite knowledgeable about calligraphy and painting appreciation, and he mentioned some of his knowledge during their conversation, which greatly benefited Chu Nanfeng.
Lin You had been wandering the streets for a few days and had seen other people order tea, but none of the tea masters' movements were as smooth and effortless as this.
She squatted down to the side, admiring the view while thinking to herself: "Sure enough, good-looking people do everything in a pleasing way."
Of course, she didn't say it aloud. People in ancient times were too conservative in their thinking, and even if they said such a thing to a boy, it would be considered flirtatious.
Chu Nanfeng lifted the teapot in his hand, and the tea poured precisely into the delicate white teacup. The tender leaves in the cup unfurled gracefully, as if dancing.
Next door to Chu Nanfeng's house lived an old tea master who taught his son how to brew tea every day. Unfortunately, the son had no talent at all and often made the tea master furious, yelling and shouting.
He would shout out the tea-making tips every few days, and he would often demonstrate the movements. Chu Nanfeng was also intelligent, and over time, he learned most of it.
Manager Yue reached out and took the tea from Chu Nanfeng. He first sniffed it lightly, then took a small sip, and immediately praised the excellent craftsmanship.
"That's because Uncle Yue's tea is excellent. Its shape is delicate and beautiful, its aroma is fresh and rich, its color is like jade, and it has a sweet aftertaste. It's a top-grade pre-Qingming Sparrow Tongue tea," Chu Nanfeng praised.
Manager Yue was very pleased with the praise. After drinking the tea, he not only gave the painter twenty taels of silver, but also wrapped up half a tael of tea leaves and insisted that the painter take them.
Chu Nanfeng could not delay any longer. After thanking the shopkeeper repeatedly, he took his leave with light steps.
Twenty taels was a considerable sum for him, enough to cover all the expenses of the exam.
When I get back, I can not only pay back the five taels of silver I borrowed, but also buy some nourishing food for my mother and some gifts for my younger sister.
"Chu Nanfeng, you're amazing! You made so much money all at once!" Lin You, still a tiny little thing, sat on his shoulders, clapping and praising him.
Chu Nanfeng felt a little embarrassed by her coaxing tone, pursed his lips and remained silent for a while, but his ears turned red.
"A waiter in a restaurant earns only one or three taels of silver a month. You've earned more this time than they do in a year. Our Chu Zai Zai will definitely become a great painter in the future." Seeing that he was shy, Lin You deliberately praised him a couple more times.
"Sister, please don't make fun of me. If it weren't for the brushes, ink, and drawings you provided, how could I have earned money? Sister, you have truly helped me so much."
Chu Nanfeng still felt lingering fear when he recalled the day of the imperial examination. He was just a hair's breadth away from certain doom.
"That's because you're a good painter. Okay, we've been busy for so long and haven't eaten yet. Let's go buy something delicious."
Seeing that he was in a bad mood, Lin You changed the subject and said, "Turn left at the street ahead, there's a place that sells mutton soup noodles, it's very delicious. I can't have it right now, could you try it for me?"
"Okay." Chu Nanfeng composed himself and agreed with a smile.
He followed the directions Lin You gave him, and after turning a corner, he arrived at a small eatery. There was no place to eat inside; two large pots already took up half the space, with only a few tables and chairs set up outside.
The restaurant's skills were indeed excellent; the air was filled with the delicious aroma of mutton soup. Chu Nanfeng ordered a bowl of mutton soup and two flatbreads, then found an empty spot to sit down.
The waiter quickly wiped the table and went to the big pot. He soon brought over a tray and said, "Sir, your mutton soup and baked flatbread will cost fifteen coins."
These street food vendors always pay directly when the food is delivered. Chu Nanfeng counted out fifteen coins from his purse and handed them over. The waiter bowed after receiving the money and then quickly went to attend to the customers at the next table.
The portions at this restaurant are very generous. The large earthenware bowl is so big you can almost bury your face in it. The milky white mutton soup in the bowl is still steaming, and you can vaguely see several large pieces of mutton offal sinking to the bottom of the soup. There is a layer of oil floating on top, and it is sprinkled with fresh coriander and garlic sprouts.
The flatbread is about the size of two palms, baked until the outer crust is golden brown and crispy. When you gently break it open, you can find scallions and ghee inside.
Chu Nanfeng took a bite of the pancake and then a sip of soup. The slightly hot soup, with its rich and fragrant flavor, slid into his stomach, dispelling the chill of the evening. Yet, he couldn't help but feel his eyes redden slightly.
He smiled and said to Lin You, "Sister, it's really delicious."
In my memory, the last time I ate something this delicious was eight years ago. That day, my father received his wages and brought home a bowl of meat soup and some flatbread. He smiled and said that he had already eaten, and that he and my mother should share it.
His mother only took two bites before saying she was full, and the rest went into his stomach.
Back then, he was protected by his father and pampered by his mother, and he hadn't yet learned to read people's expressions. Looking back now, I wonder if his parents ever had enough to eat.
Lin You pretended not to notice his odd behavior and continued, "In a small alley in the south of the city, there's a noodle shop that sells minced meat noodles. A big bowl of minced meat noodles only costs five coins..."
"There's a dried fruit shop near the east gate. Their candied fruit is the best. It keeps for a long time. I'll bring some back for your mother and sister..."
"On the south side of the street, there's a peddler who sells pickled vegetables from a shoulder pole. His pickled radishes are especially appetizing, and they only cost three coins a pound. They also keep well..."
Chu Nanfeng listened attentively to her rambling, and the bitterness in his heart slowly dissipated. He nodded in agreement and said, "After the results are released, my sister and I will go for a walk in the city and buy some things for our mother and sister to take back."
The days passed slowly as Chu Nanfeng practiced painting and copied books, but he stopped sending paintings to the study. When the old shopkeeper asked, he only said that he had no ideas.
When Lin You asked him why, Chu Nanfeng explained the ins and outs to her in detail. Consigning paintings and calligraphy, especially works by someone as unknown as his, could not be sold in a short time. Manager Yue probably saw that he was struggling financially and wanted to subsidize him privately.
"I have the ability to support my family, so there is no need for me to accept this help." Although he declined the offer, Chu Nanfeng kept the kindness in his heart.
Lin You grew up in an orphanage and understood Chu Nanfeng's thoughts very well. She believed that the debts of gratitude were the hardest things to repay in the world, and she expressed her understanding and full support.
Chu Nanfeng carefully put away the newly painted bamboo landscape. "When I get back, I'll go to the bookstore in town and ask if they'd be willing to take it."
"Our paintings are so beautiful, they're sure to sell for money!" Lin You gave it full affirmation.
When Chu Nanfeng had studied the four drawings in his hand and had accumulated twelve finished works, the day finally came for the announcement.
The streets were truly bustling that day. Some candidates checked the results in person, while others were accompanied by their servants or family members. There were also passersby who wanted to join in the fun and be the first to share the good news so they could receive some lucky money.
The main street was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, a vast expanse of people.
Chu Nanfeng remained relatively calm and didn't leave too early, so now he could only stand at the back and stare blankly.
Looking at the tightly packed crowd and then at Chu Nanfeng's thin frame, Lin You suppressed a laugh and said, "You probably won't be able to squeeze in. Go rest at the teahouse next door, and I'll go keep an eye on things for you."
Lin You didn't wait for his reply. Since Chu Nanfeng definitely wouldn't be able to get in anyway, she flew directly into the air, floated over the crowd, and quickly arrived at the front.
Looking at the crowd so dense that there was hardly any space between them, Chu Nanfeng finally obediently put his hands in his pockets and walked into the teahouse next door. There were also many people crowding around the windows on the second floor of the teahouse, craning their necks to see where the notices were posted, as if they could see the notices clearly from a distance of nearly two hundred meters.
People were crowding upstairs, but there were still some empty seats on the first floor. Chu Nanfeng casually found a corner to sit down and even had the mood to ask the waiter to bring him a pot of tea and two pastries.
His calm and composed demeanor drew frequent glances from the two scholars at the next table. Upon seeing this, Chu Nanfeng even cupped his hands in greeting to the two men.
"Brother, you have such composure and calmness. It's clear you have a well-thought-out plan. You're sure to achieve great success this time," a scholar in blue with a square face said, bowing in return.
"Heh, you seem to fawn over anyone you meet. Maybe he knows he won't pass the exam, which is why he's not in a hurry," the yellow-robed scholar sitting at the next table sneered before Chu Nanfeng could reply.
After speaking, she glanced at Chu Nanfeng again and saw that he was not angry at all, and his expression was slightly different.
Chu Nanfeng, of course, didn't mind these things and explained in a good-natured manner, "I'm just weak and can't squeeze inside to see the list. Fortunately, the list will be up for a long time, so there's no rush."
The scholar in blue glanced at the scholar in yellow and gave a helpless smile: "This is my fellow townsman and friend. He has always been like this, and he likes to argue with me. He is a bit outspoken, but he is not a bad person. Please forgive him, brother."
If it weren't for the barely concealed jealousy and resentment in his eyes when he looked at the scholar in yellow, one would really think that the two had a good relationship.
Chu Nanfeng smiled and said it was alright, but the scholar in yellow snorted at him and then awkwardly turned his head away.
Seeing that Chu Nanfeng was gentle, the scholar in blue sat down opposite him as if they were old friends and started chatting.
Chu Nanfeng listened as this person seemingly casually recounted some trivial matters of life, yet in just a few words, he had already portrayed the yellow-robed scholar as someone who was jealous of talent, irritable, and easily angered.
Meanwhile, the yellow-robed scholar at the next table looked out the door, his expression constantly changing with the words of the blue-robed scholar, until finally he let out a cold laugh.
Chu Nanfeng calmly opened the page of the cheat system. As expected, the person in front of him had a favorability rating of 0, but the yellow-robed scholar next to him had a favorability rating of 5.
It's true that you can't judge someone's favorability just by looking at their outward attitude.
The noise from the street outside grew louder and louder, as if the officials had begun posting notices. Many people were crowding around the entrance, and the teahouse was packed with people.
The scholar in blue, no longer able to chat with Chu Nanfeng, stood up and took a few steps outside.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
