Chapter 231 Have you eaten it?
After Qi Fang sent Su Zhizhi and Yuan Caiwei to the yard that day, he heard from the doorman that someone had sent something to him from home.
Qi Fang went to the door and saw his carriage parked not far away.
He got into the carriage and saw his mother sitting inside, handing him a package:
"You left home in a hurry a few days ago, so the new clothes I made for you were just finished yesterday. Try them on first. If there's anything that doesn't fit, you can alter them next time you get home."
Qi Fang held up a soft bag of clothes and said, "Mom, I don't really need that many clothes. A few pieces are enough for changing."
The two exchanged a few words, and Qi Fang heard his mother mutter again:
"You must stay calm in the martial arts hall and never go against those nobles. It's a good thing that Zhou Jijiu has taken a liking to you, but you must do your duty and not be too arrogant, otherwise you will see your aunt..."
Qi Fang's ears were almost callused from hearing this: "Mother, I understand. It's getting late, you should go back and rest early."
Qi Fang said goodbye to his mother and walked into the martial arts hall.
He was not a commoner's son. His grandfather was a fifth-rank official and had retired to his hometown a few years ago. His father was a sixth-rank official in Beijing.
A sixth-rank official might be a big shot in other counties, but in the capital, which is under the emperor's feet, and in this martial arts academy, he is just like an ant.
Qi Fang was admitted to the martial arts academy on his own. He came to the academy just to practice martial arts well and work hard to get a military officer position in the future.
His parents told him again and again not to get involved in the affairs of the royal family, as they couldn't afford to offend them.
There is a reason why parents say this.
Qi Fang had an aunt who had been born with a beautiful appearance since childhood and was originally intended to be betrothed to a family of equal status.
But my aunt encountered the imperial concubine selection and insisted on entering the palace, saying that if she was favored, the Qi family would prosper.
Later, Qi Fang's aunt was indeed favored for a while, and was promoted from Qi Cairen to Shu Meiren by the emperor. She seemed to be rising higher and higher in status, but suddenly something happened and she was abandoned by the emperor.
Qi Fang heard from the elders that his aunt would never see them again in this life.
Therefore, my mother always said, "Don't be as arrogant as your aunt. If a lowly official like us gets into trouble among the rich and powerful, we will be eaten to pieces."
Qi Fang took the clothes back to the men's living quarters.
The men's dormitory occupies two courtyards. The area is much larger than Su Zhizhi's courtyard, but there are more people living here.
Every two people share a dormitory, and the hot water room, toilet, etc. are shared by multiple people.
Murong Ming and He Wenhan came out of the toilet with their noses pinched, looking as disgusted as if they had eaten a fly.
"It stinks. No one brings the toilet, and no one even sprinkles spices."
When Murong Ming saw Qi Fang, he called out:
"Hey, who will help me wash up at night?"
Qi Fang: "A servant will bring hot water. Each student can use the hot water themselves and then ask the servant to refill it."
Their martial arts school is already very thoughtful.
There are servants to help take care of these precious young masters.
But Murong Ming was still not satisfied:
"There's not even anyone to help with washing and changing clothes."
He had also looked at the living quarters. The rooms were small and simple, and the beds were very hard.
I have to stay with He Wenhan, and we share a room.
You have to wash your feet and take off your clothes by yourself at night, and put on your clothes by yourself tomorrow morning.
"If the prince feels that this place is inconvenient, he can go back to the mansion to stay. Just inform the chief priest." After Qi Fang finished speaking, he did not stay any longer and went back to his room first.
He Wenhan asked Murong Ming: "Do you want to go back?"
Murong Ming simply said, "I don't want to."
If I go back to live there, I will have to get up early tomorrow morning to rush back here. If I make my family unhappy, I will be tied up and confined to my room.
He would rather not wash his feet than go back to live there.
After the students put their things away, they were notified to assemble at the martial arts training ground.
At the meeting, Zhou Jijiu introduced the coaches and doctors in the martial arts academy and repeatedly stated the various rules of the academy.
In addition, Zhou Jijiu also specifically praised Su Zhizhi and Yuan Caiwei in front of everyone, saying that they were the first batch of female students in the martial arts school and their courage was commendable.
"Once you've arrived at the martial arts academy, devote yourself wholeheartedly to studying martial arts and military tactics. If any of you dare to bully your classmates, skip classes, or violate discipline, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Zhou Jijiu gave a stern warning.
Murong Ming lowered his head and rolled his eyes, thinking that Zhou Jijiu was just a small official, so how could he dare to really touch him?
At dinner time, the students gathered together in the cafeteria.
There are many people, and they sit in different areas according to age when eating.
The older ones sit together, and the younger ones sit together.
Su Zhizhi and Yuan Caiwei brought their food and found a place to sit down.
The evening meals were plentiful and generous.
The students in the martial arts school consume a lot of physical energy and are still growing, and many of them are of high status, so the food provided here is very good.
Su Zhizhi saw that in addition to the usual meats, there was actually abalone in the bowl. Although there was only one, it was definitely more than Su Zhizhi had expected. Su Zhizhi then opened the small stew pot next to it and saw a little white fungus and wolfberry in the thick soup.
The Tremella fuciformis in Dayu is rare and very expensive.
Yuan Caiwei took a bite of half an abalone and said, "Zhizhi, eat quickly. If you don't eat enough, you can get a second helping."
Su Zhizhi and Yuan Caiwei were admitted through exams and do not have to pay for food.
Others who enter directly without taking the exam have to pay dozens of taels of silver a year just for food expenses.
"It tastes pretty good too." Su Zhizhi took a bite of the dish and gave it a positive review.
Murong Ming happened to be sitting across from Su Zhizhi, fiddling with his food boredly:
"There are only two dishes, how can we eat them?"
He Wenhan was really hungry. Although he felt that the food was too little, he still put the food into his mouth.
Murong Ming was bored when he saw He Wenhan not talking to him, and then he saw Su Zhizhi and Yuan Caiwei eating happily.
Murong Ming moved closer to Su Zhizhi, holding the abalone and asked:
"Hey, country boy, do you know what this is called? Have you seen it?"
Su Zhizhi looked puzzled.
Murong Ming was proud: "How can there be so many delicious foods in your remote and poor place in Lingnan?"
Yuan Caiwei put down her chopsticks first:
"Murong Ming, you've never been to Lingnan, so what are you talking about? My dad went to Lingnan and said there's a lot of abalone there! There are so many delicious foods in Lingnan, and you're the only one who's not experienced."
Murong Ming stiffened his neck:
"Is there any delicacies from the mountains and seas in Lingnan that this prince has never tasted?"
The people around also laughed when they heard this conversation. Who doesn’t know that Lingnan is poor?
Su Zhizhi chewed the meat in her mouth into small pieces, swallowed it, and then asked:
"Have you ever eaten elephant meat?"
Everyone: ???
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