Chapter 80: Encountering a garlic vendor, regaining strength...
As the carts were queuing to enter the city gate, one of the carts in front suddenly overturned, causing the bamboo baskets stacked on it to fall off and scatter garlic all over the ground, blocking the middle of the road.
The vendor, wrapped in a tattered cotton-padded coat, his lips bruised and purple from the cold, picked up the garlic cloves one by one while repeatedly apologizing to the people behind him: "I'm so sorry, everyone, I'll be leaving right away, right away."
The guards rubbed their hands, shivering from the cold, cursed their bad luck, and spat on the ground.
The vendor was startled and shrank back sharply.
On a slightly worn-out carriage nearby, the driver, following the instructions of his master, cracked his whip, intending to run over the garlic cloves scattered on the ground.
Zong Suyi was awakened by the noise. She opened her eyes slightly, still confused, then closed them again. She rubbed her face against Zhang Ting and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Zhang Ting patted his back, "It's okay. Sleep a little longer, it'll be a while before we get home." She gestured with her chin toward Liu Da, who was riding a horse nearby. Liu Da immediately understood and spurred his horse to block the carriage next to them.
Seeing this, Wang Wu simply dismounted and helped pick up the garlic and put it into the basket. But how could two people possibly pick up all the garlic that was scattered all over the ground in such a short time? The others also sent their maids out to help.
The vendor kept thanking the person, saying, "Thank you so much, thank you so much!"
Wang Wu waved his hand, holding a clove of garlic, and exhaled a misty breath: "Hey, it's nothing. If you really want to thank someone, thank our boss."
Beside him, the coachman turned and said something inside. Then the owner impatiently lifted the curtain, saw that the carriages were luxurious and elegant, and finally curled his lip and lowered the curtain without saying anything.
With the help of his attendants, the garlic was soon refilled in the bamboo basket. The vendor thanked them repeatedly and, not daring to delay any longer, quickly pushed his cart into the city gate.
The cars that followed lined up behind, their identities were checked, and they entered the city in turn.
As the carriage wheels touched the bluestone pavement of Kyoto, it was suddenly stopped again. The same vendor from before brought over half a basket of garlic as a token of gratitude.
Garlic is a rare commodity in the dead of winter, and several people refused it, but the vendor insisted on giving it away for free.
She scratched her head sheepishly, grinned, revealing her white teeth, and said, "I'm from Fengyang in Yinzhou Prefecture. This is a local specialty. I have nothing else to offer in return, so please accept this."
"Take it," Zhang Shu said leisurely, lifting the carriage curtain. "The garlic from Fengyang tastes the best."
She got off the car, still wearing a thick cloak, walked up to the vendor, picked up a clove of garlic, smelled it, and couldn't help but laugh, "This is the taste! It's wonderful for making wine!"
The vendor patted her chest proudly and laughed heartily, "You're absolutely right! Our Fengyang garlic wine is truly exceptional. There used to be shops all over the prefectures and states!" As she spoke, she gave a thumbs up, "We drink a bowl of garlic wine every night back home."
Zhang Shu chuckled, "This garlic wine is wonderful for warming up in winter. My mother had it once several years ago and still finds it unforgettable."
The vendor was overjoyed and enthusiastically pulled a wine jar from his basket and handed it to her, saying, "Grandma, you have good taste. We people of Fengyang know how to repay kindness. Please take this wine and drink it!"
The vendor had sunken cheeks, a dark face stained with dirt, and was dressed in thin, tattered clothes, looking like a beggar. Only his eyes shone brightly, like stars in the sky.
Zhang Shu glanced at the vendor, then, deep in thought, accepted the jar of wine, repeatedly murmuring, "It's good wine, really good wine!"
At this moment, light snow began to fall from the sky, gently pattering down onto the earth.
Zong Suyi and Zhang Ting stood head to head by the window, watching this scene. Suddenly, they looked at each other.
Zhang Ting sighed, "I understand." Then, she beckoned Zheng Er over and said something to her.
Zheng Er nodded slightly, brushed the snow off his shoulders, and rode his horse up to the vendor. "Seeing that the snow is getting heavy, Your Majesty, why don't you come back to the manor with us to take shelter?"
"No, no, I'm just a lowly garlic vendor, how could I possibly disturb such an important person!"
Zheng Er frowned, pulled on the reins, and turned to look at his master.
Zhang Ting smiled and said, "You've managed to preserve this garlic until now. If it gets soaked by snowflakes, wouldn't all your hard work this year have been for nothing? My residence is not far from here in the east of the city. Why don't you come with me to avoid the snow, Your Highness?"
The vendor hesitated, looking at the garlic in the bamboo basket, but finally agreed.
She blushed and said shyly, "Then, I'll have to trouble you, sir."
"polite."
There's no shortage of buyers for houses in Kyoto, and this one in the eastern part of the city was reserved in advance by Zhang Ting through Cui Jingji. The entire place is spacious, bright, and grand, easily accommodating this group of people.
When they arrived at the Zhang residence, the jar of garlic wine had already been placed in Zheng Ershou's hands.
Zhang Shu stared furtively at her retreating figure, then glared at Zhang Ting, pouting and grinding his teeth.
Unfilial son!
Zhang Ting entered the room with her husband in her arms, seemingly oblivious to the glares directed at her from behind.
Zong Suyi glanced back furtively, covered her mouth and laughed, then whispered gloatingly, "Your aunt is glaring at you."
Zhang Ting snorted and whispered in his ear, "Didn't you tell me to steal her wine?"
Zong Suyi crossed her arms, tilted her head, raised her chin, and looked at her sideways with innocent eyes: "When did I say that? My wife cannot falsely accuse someone."
"They won't admit it again."
Yang Fuchen pursed his lips, silently slowed his pace, and moved away from the young couple.
Suddenly, he looked up at the sky and saw that all the birds were in pairs. He shook his head dejectedly.
She was twenty-eight years old and had never even held a man's hand. She could only hope that after the imperial examination, someone would come along and find her a wife.
This will help resolve her life's most important matter.
At noon, Du Zaolang prepared a garlic feast, including dishes such as garlic-flavored fish, garlic-braised duck, and garlic-flavored eggplant, along with a jar of garlic wine. Everyone ate with great relish, feeling warm and satisfied.
When the snow stopped, the peddler pushed his cart away to say goodbye. Zhang Ting even had someone secretly slip a string of copper coins into her bamboo basket as payment for the garlic and wine.
In the afternoon, Zhang Ting was called to the teacher's courtyard alone.
As soon as she entered, Zhang Shu pretended to pinch his nose and waved his hand in disgust, saying, "You ate garlic and didn't even wash up before coming in. You stink!"
Stink? Zhang Ting took a bath after lunch and even changed her clothes, so there was no smell at all.
This is because the old woman is holding a grudge against her for taking away the garlic wine, and she's picking a fight again.
Zhang Ting understood perfectly. He stared straight at her expressionlessly and bowed as usual: "What brings you to my attention?"
Seeing that she wasn't falling for his tricks, Zhang Shu stopped pretending, pouted, and muttered under his breath, "Traitor!" Then he handed her a letter.
"Your senior sister Lu has gone to Zhangzhou Prefecture for disaster relief and will probably not return until next year. She wants me to give you this letter."
Zhang Ting opened the letter and quickly scanned it to the left.
The letter said she had arrived in Zhangzhou Prefecture, where the people were suffering from famine and a severe winter, and many had starved to death. Fortunately, the imperial court had allocated relief grain, relieving the people's plight. At the end, she emphasized her gratitude to Zhang Ting, both on behalf of the people of Zhangzhou Prefecture and on behalf of herself, saying that without Zhang Ting's letter, she would still be hesitant and troubled, and would not have been able to accomplish such a great deed for the people.
Zhang Shu sat in his chair with his legs crossed, stroked his chin, and said, "Xiao Lu has gained both political achievements and fame this time with his disaster relief efforts. He'll probably be promoted when he gets back."
"I agree."
Just then, a gust of cold wind blew by, and Zhang Shu shivered violently. He ordered his rebellious disciple, "Hurry up and bring your master a stove!"
Zhang Ting turned around and heard a shameless old man cursing behind her: "Unfilial son! Unfilial son! This old woman is freezing to death!"
Zhang Ting stopped in her tracks: ...
She looked up at the sky speechlessly, exhaled a breath of hot air, and a common saying suddenly popped into her head: you get what you pay for.
That's for sure! Besides, they came to us on their own initiative.
Zhang Ting chuckled softly and quickened her pace.
...
The wind and snow raged through the night, making the windows buzz.
A charcoal brazier was placed indoors, making it warm and cozy.
It was still early, and Zhang Ting, dressed in his undergarments, leaned against the headboard, reading a book of classics and historical texts.
Zong Suyi quietly wrapped himself in the quilt, only revealing the upper half of his fair face. He stared at the ceiling boredly, then suddenly rolled his dark eyes, squeezed next to Zhang Ting, hugged her arm, and looked up at her in a soft voice: "Sister Ting, what are you looking at?"
Zhang Ting knew he was up to something as soon as she heard this, but she still answered truthfully: "The rare classics and historical texts that the teacher gave me last time."
Zong Suyi came from a family with a strong scholarly tradition, and he himself was deeply influenced by it. In terms of learning alone, he was by no means inferior to an ordinary scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. But at this moment, he pretended to be ignorant, his beautiful eyes brimming with curiosity. He held Zhang Ting's hand and shook it, pleading softly, "This servant doesn't understand, Sister Ting, please teach me?"
Zhang Ting put down her book and looked down at Zong Suyi. She had a general idea of this man's level of knowledge.
She pinched his nose and suddenly burst out laughing.
"You really want me to teach you?"
Zong Suyi frowned. That wretched old man was pinching his nose again! But thinking of her disheveled and embarrassed appearance later, he reluctantly endured it.
He gently clutched the thin hem of her dress, looking puzzled. "How could this be fake?" He then slowly sat up, resting his chin on Zhang Ting's shoulder, a faint fragrance wafting into her nostrils.
Tears welled up in Zong Suyi's eyes, and her voice held a hint of grievance: "Sister Ting, don't you want to teach me?"
When he received no response, he frowned, his eyes filled with sorrow, and said sadly, "Have I delayed Sister Ting's studies?" As he spoke, he lowered his eyelids, his eyelashes trembling pitifully, like flowers shivering in the rain.
If it were an ordinary person, they would hold the beauty in their arms and comfort her.
But Zhang Ting saw through his intentions at a glance, and besides, she didn't want to teach him to the bedroom.
Furthermore, the frequency of marital intimacy should be controlled, and one should not act recklessly just because one is young.
She smiled gently as she pulled his hand away from her clothes, her smile so tender, yet her words so ruthless: "Since my husband knows that he is delaying my studies, then you should lie down and rest."
Zong Suyi stared in disbelief at her hand being pulled away, pouting and saying aggrievedly, "Sister Ting, I'm sorry, I've delayed you..." The old man has a beauty in his arms and remains unmoved; is he impotent?!
"To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue."
What's wrong with that?!
Zong Suyi gritted his teeth, wishing he could strangle someone to death. He turned his face slightly to hide the resentment in his eyes, his hands clenched into fists under his sleeves in anger.
A moment later, he regained his composure and sat on Zhang Ting, one hand around her neck and the other stroking her shoulder. His eyes were slightly red, like a fox's, exuding a seductive charm. He stared straight at her, as if he wanted to devour her whole, and his breath was sweet as orchids: "Then let this servant properly apologize to Sister Ting."
His long, slender, fair fingers slid down her shoulder to the collar of her dress, slowly making circles.
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