Chapter 71 The Examination System, This Year's Warm Winter...
The noodles in her mouth were undercooked and had a strange sour taste, like swill that had been rotten for days. Zhang Ting gave an awkward laugh, and under her husband's burning gaze, she forced herself to chew repeatedly, convincing herself to swallow them.
With just one bite, her stomach churned violently, and she barely managed to hold it in and not vomit.
Zong Suyi's cooking skills are so good that even a culinary god couldn't save him!
"How is it? How is it?" He tapped his fingers excitedly on the table, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her expectantly.
Zhang Ting couldn't bear to see his hopes dashed, so she forced a weak smile and lied against her conscience, saying, "Young master's skills are superb, unmatched by anyone."
Zong Suyi jumped up from the stool excitedly, his eyes shining brightly. He clasped his hands together and said, "I knew it! My needlework is a bit rough, but I'm definitely good at cooking!" He thought to himself proudly that he had received such high praise from her on his first time cooking. If his skills improved further, wouldn't she never need anyone else's cooking again?
Thinking this, he covered his mouth and chuckled, urging her to finish the noodles in the bowl quickly, otherwise they wouldn't taste good when they got cold.
Do we need to use it all up?
Zhang Ting stared at the bowl full of sour rice noodles, her brows twitching violently. She couldn't hold back for once, and a look of pain appeared on her face. She took a deep breath and shakily picked up a noodle, but after a long time, she didn't dare to lift it.
He watched the movement in her hands, his delicate brows furrowing in confusion, his eyes narrowing slightly. Did his wife suffer from tremors?
Zhang Ting couldn't get over her inner turmoil. She sighed, put down her chopsticks, took his hand, and said, "Xiao Yi, you've worked so hard today to prepare this banquet for me, and even went to the trouble of making longevity noodles." She lowered her eyes slightly, her eyelashes casting soft shadows, as if recalling distant memories, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. Then, she suddenly smiled, her gaze bright, "This is the first time I've ever eaten longevity noodles."
Zong Suyi knew that Zhang Ting had lost her parents at a young age and had to make a living on her own. He couldn't help but picture little Zhang Ting, dressed in tattered clothes, watching other parents celebrate their children's birthdays. His heart felt like it was being ripped apart, a sharp, throbbing pain shooting through him. His clear eyes welled up with tears, and he held her tightly with a pout.
"I'll always be there for you from now on."
Zhang Ting also reached out and hugged him. After preparing herself emotionally, she got to the point: "I am very grateful for your kindness, but my preferences are different from yours. I am not used to the taste of this dish."
Zong Suyi was still immersed in his grief. He sniffed his reddened nose and nodded. After realizing what Zhang Ting had said, he slowly pushed her away and asked in confusion, "Why didn't you say you didn't like it? You even ate it..." His eyes were still filled with sour tears, and his hand was gently stroking her cheek.
She rubbed her face against his fair and delicate palm, her gaze like the thawing stream in March, the soft light within seemingly able to reach one's heart. "My lord works hard cooking, how can I spoil your fun?"
Zong Suyi smiled gently, his eyes filled with warmth that seemed to melt away the ice. He smiled and cupped Zhang Ting's face in his hands, giving him a quick kiss.
Zhang Ting stood up with a sigh of relief. The moisture on her face made the corners of her mouth involuntarily turn up. She gently put her arm around his shoulder and said softly, "Let's go. Maybe the teachers in the dining hall are getting impatient."
"Um."
The two smiled at each other, held hands tightly, and left together, leaving the noodles on the table to cool without anyone touching them.
The dining room was decorated with colorful cloud-patterned brocade, glass palace lanterns, and seasonal red plum blossoms, creating a very festive atmosphere.
Zhang Shu presented his beloved student with a painting of galloping horses, hoping she would realize her ambitions and roam freely across vast distances.
She kept this painting for many years. Back then, when Granny Zong and Stubborn Zheng were vying for it, she couldn't bear to give it up.
Zhang Shu's slightly cloudy eyes held a smile; he had finally managed to send it out today.
......
Soon, the new year will begin.
Outside the courtyard, several maids repainted the main gate with vermilion lacquer and pasted five-blessing charms on the threshold. Inside the courtyard, servants busily swept and cleaned, laid out fruits, and replaced the curtains with new ones.
Zhang Shu sat casually in the study with his legs crossed, a pleased smile on his face. He held up the calligraphy his apprentice had handed in that day and praised her: "Your calligraphy has made great progress in the past few months, gradually developing its own style. Not bad, not bad."
"This disciple must thank the teacher for imparting all his knowledge." Zhang Ting smiled and bowed to her. The teacher was indeed a top scholar who had emerged from the fierce competition of the imperial examination. In just a few months, she had become more adept at handling policy essays and had a deeper understanding of the meaning of the Four Books and Five Classics.
Zhang Shu took a big gulp of tea, smacking her lips. It was bitter and bland; she couldn't understand how those scholars could drink it. She pursed her lips; wine was much better. A deep longing welled up within her; she'd almost forgotten what wine tasted like.
Getting back to the point, Zhang Shu touched her nose. Knowing her apprentice's calm and collected nature, she raised a finger and bluntly said, "Xiao Ting, your test poem is extremely bad. It's like a crow trying to imitate a phoenix's call. It's forced and futile, and it's utterly worthless."
"In the coming days, I will focus on disciplining you."
Zhang Ting's eyelids twitched; there was no need to be so blunt.
She respectfully and obediently replied, "Yes."
Zhang Shu nodded in satisfaction. "Look! That's more like it. Unlike her first three apprentices, who were like oxen, rough, stubborn, and impossible to teach."
Zhang Shu stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said to her solemnly with a piercing gaze, "Your current talent is more than enough to handle the provincial examination."
"I just want you to take the provincial examination and then the metropolitan examination with your senior sisters."
Zhang Ting is living a comfortable life now, and she has no requirements for the ranking. She was only surprised for a moment before replying, "Please give me your guidance, teacher."
Zhang Shu's face was solemn and dignified. He placed one hand on her shoulder with a heavy force and said, "With the provincial examination approaching, Xiao Ting, from now on, come to me after breakfast and lunch. I will strictly instruct you." As for dinner, it was naturally time to study late into the night to complete the assigned lessons.
Zhang Ting was infected by her mood and said with a serious face, "I will follow your teachings, teacher." With such high-intensity training, I hope to get a slightly better ranking.
Zhang Shu suddenly thought of how the newlywed couple loved to joke around, and she was afraid that her apprentice, who had a heavy workload, would still have time to fool around and have his energy drained.
That won't do! What if my health collapses then?
She had high hopes for Zhang Ting. As a top scholar herself, she was expected to teach someone else to be a top scholar, right? Otherwise, how could she brag about it when she returned to her hometown?
She pursed her lips, her mouth slightly crooked, as if she were carrying some important matter, and solemnly admonished her beloved disciple: "Male beauty is a stumbling block on the road to success; you must not abstain from sex." After saying this, she felt sorry for her grand-nephew, so she coughed and leaned close to her disciple's ear to specifically instruct him: "Don't let Xiaoyi know that it was your teacher who said this." Then, she left half-awkwardly with her hands behind her back.
Zhang Ting rolled her eyes, a rare occurrence for her. "You old codger."
Fortunately, Xiaoyi is still young and she is busy with scientific research, so she really didn't think about getting him pregnant. It would be good to have less sex in the next two years.
Zhang Ting turned and went back to the main room. Today was an auspicious day. Three friends from the capital had sent New Year's gifts. Zou Yueru would also be coming later, and she would change into a formal brocade robe to entertain her guests.
Zou Yueru brought her daughter over. The little girl had two braids, and her eyes were round and bright like black grapes. She was fair-skinned, clever, well-behaved, and cute. She even clasped her little hands in a proper manner and wished Zhang Ting a Happy New Year in a sweet, childish voice: "Aunt Zhang, Happy New Year! May everything go as you wish!"
Zhang Ting smiled with delight, patted her head, and handed her a red envelope.
Zong Suyi watched this heartwarming scene with tender eyes, then sadly stroked his belly, a melancholy look on his face. Half a year had passed since the wedding, and he still wasn't pregnant. His mother's maid had gotten pregnant after only three months.
Zhang Ting led Zong Suyi over and introduced her to her friend: "This is Xiaoyi, Ting's beloved servant." She specifically mentioned: "She is also the teacher's grand-nephew."
As Zhang Dajia's grand-nephew, how could Zou Yueru dare to look down on him as a mere servant? Moreover, Zhang's younger sister's future was bright and promising, a far cry from what it used to be. She really couldn't understand what her cousin was thinking, that she would break off relations with her.
Zou Yueru was quite polite, greeting Zong Suyi with "Greetings, brother-in-law." She then pulled her eldest daughter, urging her to also offer New Year's greetings to Zong Suyi.
"Happy New Year, handsome brother~" the little girl said sweetly, then covered her mouth with her hands and laughed.
Her mother frowned in displeasure and corrected her, "It's your uncle."
The little girl pouted and stubbornly insisted, "It's a handsome brother."
"Alright, alright, thank you for the compliment, my lady." Zong Suyi smiled gently and gave her a red envelope in return.
The little girl accepted it with both hands, her innocent smile blossoming into a bright smile: "Hehe, thank you, handsome brother~"
A smile slowly spread across Zhang Ting's eyes and brows. She invited them to move to the main hall for tea and to have dinner together later.
Hearing that Zhang Ting's senior fellow student, who had passed the imperial examination, would also be arriving later, Zou Yueru naturally agreed and carried her daughter inside.
At 3:45 PM, the three senior sisters' carriages arrived.
Xun Han got out of the car with her arms crossed, looking impatient. She complained to Zhang Ting about Yang Fuchen: "You have no idea how fussy she is. If someone's vegetable basket falls into a ditch, she'll crawl down to retrieve it for them. Doesn't she have hands? She made us waste a lot of time on the road, and we're only just arriving now." She and Zhang Ting had become friends after a fight, but they got along well and even their husbands were on good terms.
Zhang Ting had some understanding of Xun Han from her time in Huzhou Prefecture, and couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing her words. Her second senior sister was a typical example of someone with a sharp tongue but a kind heart; she might complain about her eldest senior sister helping someone pick up vegetable baskets, but deep down she might resent Yang Fuchen for helping someone before her. However, it was true that she and her eldest senior sister didn't get along.
Yang Fuchen and Wu Pingliu greeted Zhang Ting in turn, handed the New Year's gifts to the maid, and then the four sisters went into the house together.
"Wow! Junior sister, your house is so elegant and unique."
"It is quite different from the style of the gardens in Huzhou Prefecture, and it is very grand."
"This courtyard is all thanks to Zong Suyi's management," Zhang Ting chuckled softly, warmly inviting her three senior sisters to stay at her residence.
The three of them just chuckled awkwardly twice, none of them daring to agree.
When they were studying with their teacher, they were often beaten and criticized, not to mention having to keep an eye on the old woman to prevent her from acting recklessly. They were utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally, and their lives were filled with misery. Now, the teacher lives with Xiao Si, who is genuinely gentle, stable, and reliable, so they feel very at ease. However, as for Xiao Si herself? Well, she can only hope for the best.
At dusk, a feast was laid out in the dining hall, and Zhang Ting invited everyone to attend.
Looking back to this day last year, she was eating alone, but now she has a table full of people with yellow hair and children sitting around, laughing and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere.
The servants carried hot dishes back and forth, their laughter mingling with the aroma of the food. Although there was no charcoal brazier in the dining hall, Zhang Ting felt warm all over, as if he were strolling in the gentle spring sunshine.
Her brows relaxed, and she tightened her grip on her husband's hand, surprised to realize that this year was a mild winter. A seed quietly sprouted in her heart.
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