An Jingzhi and He Changxing were waiting for dinner in the living room. He's father and mother had gone out to take care of business matters and would not be home for a while.
"Your red bean cake is good."
"Really? Really? With a skilled cook like Uncle Zhao at home, how can I lose all this fat?"
An Jingzhi glanced at him and didn't respond.
It's obvious that he can't control his mouth. Don't think he didn't see that he never stopped talking during breaks in class.
"It would be good if you put some salted duck egg yolks in it."
He Changxing slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, that's right! How did you come up with this idea? I didn't even think of it."
After he finished speaking, he felt that his words seemed a bit ambiguous, so He Changxing quickly waved his hand and apologized, "I'm sorry, I, I didn't mean that."
An Jingzhi waved his hand nonchalantly, "It's okay, I know what you mean." He had simply been wondering how a country boy could know such extravagant ways of eating. It was simply a question, not an insult. After all these days of knowing him, An Jingzhi had a pretty good idea of what kind of person he was.
An Jingzhi just had a sudden idea because he saw that this thing looked very much like a mooncake. Maybe he could get a few pieces later.
He had also been learning about He Changxing's academic performance over the past few days. Logically, given his knowledge, he should have been able to pass the exam. After questioning him several times, he realized that it was primarily a matter of his mindset during the exam. His family had always provided him with abundant care, but he had to rely on himself during the exam, and his ability to handle life on his own was extremely limited. As an only child, his family likely wouldn't let him suffer any hardship, so they made every possible effort.
He already had a solution in mind to overcome his exam problem, so ordering more food from his house was a losing proposition. Of course, he had to encourage his chef to improve the food!
After the two of them talked, He Changxing called Uncle Zhao from home.
"Master, are you looking for me?"
He Changxing happily pulled An Jingzhi to introduce him to Uncle Zhao: "This is my classmate and good friend from school. He just mentioned a method. Uncle Zhao, see if you can do it."
"Uncle Zhao, this red bean cake you made, could you put some salted duck egg yolks in it next time?"
Uncle Zhao glanced at An Jingzhi in surprise. Everyone knew that the young master was inviting his classmates to his home. The young master had even informed them in advance that his classmates' families were in trouble and asked them to be careful with their words. He hadn't expected that he was such a good eater.
After thinking about it for a while, he said, "Master, it shouldn't be a problem. I happen to have salted egg yolks at home, so I can give it a try."
He Changxing clapped his hands happily, "Then go ahead and do it, Uncle Zhao. Make more. I'll let Jingzhi take some away later."
Uncle Zhao bowed and went down.
"Thank you." Considering that the other party thought so much about him, An Jingzhi decided to increase the difficulty during training and train his brain and limbs well.
He Changxing didn't know what he was going to meet. When he was happily recommending the snacks at home to An Jingzhi, He's father and mother came in from outside.
Father He's cheerful voice instantly echoed in the living room, "Hahaha, this must be my son Changxing's good friend Jingzhi, right? He is indeed a handsome man."
An Jingzhi stood up from his stool, bowed and said, "Uncle, thank you for your kind words."
He's father walked in with He's mother, "Hahaha, what a humble and sensible young man! My son is lucky to have a friend like you."
"Brother Changxing is a kind person. My nephew has benefited greatly from being friends with him."
Seeing that her husband was still trying to argue with the young man, He's mother was a little angry and pulled He's father's sleeve, "Master, why don't you ask our guests to sit down quickly?"
Father He smiled apologetically and pulled An Jingzhi to sit down. "I'm sorry for not considering this. Come on, Jingzhi, please sit down."
The meal was served quickly after the host family arrived.
He's father had been secretly observing An Jingzhi. He found that the child had clear eyes and reasonable manners. Even some of his eating postures at the table were like those of a child born in an official family. If his son hadn't told him about An Jingzhi's family situation, he would have thought that this was a young master from an official family.
An Jingzhi didn't do it on purpose, he just subconsciously restrained his eating posture. He couldn't be so careless while eating in front of others, right?
He's mother enthusiastically kept picking up food for An Jingzhi, fearing that he would feel embarrassed and hungry.
After dinner, An Jingzhi ordered a cup of tea to strengthen the spleen and digest food, and sat in the living room to chat with the He family.
After sitting for a while, Mr. He gave the space to the two children.
"Do you want to pass the exam to become a Tongsheng?"
He Changxing stopped drinking water and laughed at himself, "Of course I do. I think about it even in my dreams. How could I not think about it?" Although he only studied in the school for three years, his family had invited a teacher to teach him since he was a child. At that time, they didn't expect him to be able to pass the imperial examinations, but just wanted him to learn to read and understand etiquette.
Later, the imperial court allowed the children of merchants to take the imperial examinations, and he had this opportunity.
He started his education at the age of seven, and now he is still a 17-year-old with nothing to show for it. He was about to give up, and if his father hadn't asked him to stick with it for another year, he would not have wanted to go to school anymore.
An Jingzhi looked at him seriously and said, "I have a way to help you pass the exam, but the prerequisite is that you must listen to me."
He Changxing stood up in shock, his entire body trembling. He looked at An Jingzhi excitedly, his lips trembling. "You're not kidding me, are you? What can you do?" His tone was filled with suspicion, but the anticipation in his eyes was undeniable. He was like a drowning man desperately grasping at a life-saving straw to climb out.
Under He Changxing's anxious gaze, An Jingzhi leisurely sipped his stomach-strengthening tea before slowly speaking, "What good would it be for me to lie to you?"
"Then why are you helping me?"
"Maybe he likes you?" Just consider it as repaying the original owner for the five taels of silver.
He Changxing found this reason hard to believe, and even his father didn't believe it, but what other reason could there be? An Jingzhi didn't ask for anything from them. If they had asked for money, it would have been fine, but they hadn't asked for anything, only to help his son.
After An Jingzhi left, He Changxing told He's father the news. He's father thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure out why An Jingzhi did this, so he could only temporarily believe the answer he gave.
"Go to the academy tomorrow and promise him first, and see what he's going to do."
He Changxing tossed and turned all night, his fat body making creaking noises as he shifted in bed. He usually slept as long as he was in bed, but except for the two times he failed the exam, this was the first time he had experienced insomnia.
Although He's father never put any pressure on him, he knew that if he could pass the imperial examination, whether it was a scholar or a student, as long as he had the title, people would not look down on their family so much, and his father would not be often extorted by those people. At the very least, some of the unnecessary expenses could be avoided, and some people would not dare to target their family so blatantly.
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