Watching Ruhua's departing figure, Old Man Chen scratched his head anxiously, "Old woman, we're almost out of food. We finally have some money, we should buy some grain, why do you still want to eat meat!"
"What, it's not going to work?"
"That's fine, but what if we go hungry without food?"
"That's none of your business. I'm just asking you one question: would you like some stewed meat?"
"I want to, I dream about it, but..."
"Okay, stop saying but!"
Before Old Man Chen could finish speaking, Old Woman Chen impatiently interrupted,
"What do you have to worry about? Our third brother has been gone for quite some time now. I bet he's already passed the exam and is on his way home. If we just hold on for another month or so, the hard times will be over. Then we can have big meals every day. We'll definitely need to take good care of ourselves."
Old Chen nodded. "Yes, I had forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. Zhan Cai should have arrived in Ningjing a while ago. If everything goes smoothly, he should be back in about a month."
"As long as our son passes the imperial examination and returns home, our old couple will finally be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor." Old Mrs. Chen's eyes were filled with hope. "At that time, I will make sure that my son provides me with a few maids and servants, makes me a few sets of silk clothes, and hires a few chefs who can make sesame cakes. We can eat and drink as we please, enjoy ourselves, and live a decent life for a few days."
"Oh, my good old woman, there are so many delicious foods in the world, why are you so fixated on sesame cakes?" Old Chen shook his head and laughed. "If our son really becomes a high-ranking official, who will still eat sesame cakes?"
Grandma Chen rolled her eyes, clearly displeased. "You make it sound so easy. I've lived most of my life, and the best thing I've ever eaten is a big sesame seed cake. So tell me, what else in the world is truly delicious?"
Old Chen squinted and thought for a moment, then licked his lips and said, "There aren't many good things left. Things like tofu pudding and fried dough sticks, soy milk, big meat buns, or pancakes—aren't they all better than sesame seed cakes?"
"Wow, you know a lot, sir!" Old Mrs. Chen swallowed hard as she listened. "I've heard of all of this, but I've never eaten it. I wonder what fried dough sticks and tofu pudding taste like?" Old Mrs. Chen smacked her lips.
Old Chen shook his head. "How would I know? I used to smell the fumes from frying dough sticks in town, and people would eat them with their mouths dripping with oil. They must be delicious."
"Oh my, that stuff is deep-fried, it must taste amazing. When my son comes back, I'll have him treat me to some fried dough sticks and tofu pudding."
"Yes, and those big meat buns that are so juicy when you bite into them, and those flatbreads as big as pot lids, we have to try them all."
"Alright, old man, stop talking. I'm drooling so much right now." Old Mrs. Chen wiped the drool from her mouth and laughed. "I'm just looking forward to my son coming back soon, so I can eat and drink well with him!"
The more Old Man Chen and his wife talked, the more they felt that such good days were coming, as if Chen Zhancai had already passed the imperial examination and become a scholar.
It is said that Chen Zhancai embarked on his journey to take the imperial examination with great ambition and high aspirations.
In order to get to Ningjing faster, he spent five taels of silver to buy an old donkey for transportation.
They trekked through mountains and forded rivers, traveling by day and resting by night.
After more than a month's journey, I finally arrived in Ningjing City, which I had been longing to visit.
Looking at the bustling streets teeming with people, lined with shops, and filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares,
Chen Zhancai couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "As expected of Ningjing, it's truly bustling with activity."
To avoid being looked down upon, he didn't rush to find an inn. Instead, he found a place to sell his donkey, and then went to a cloth shop to buy himself a new set of clothes.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man, a saddle makes the horse, a bell makes the dog run happily, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are a perfect match in heaven, and a lame donkey is paired with a broken cart on earth.
Although Chen Zhancai wasn't particularly handsome, he looked incredibly energetic in his new clothes.
With a folding fan, he looked every bit the wealthy young master.
After leaving the cloth shop, he immediately found an inn.
It's true what they say: "Clothes can conceal a petty person, words can overwhelm a gentleman; respect the clothes before the person, respect the appearance before the soul."
Seeing Chen Zhancai's elegant demeanor, the waiter mistook him for a wealthy young master from out of town and dared not neglect him, quickly greeting him warmly.
"Please come in, sir. Are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"
This was the first time Chen Zhancai had been addressed as "Young Master," and he felt a surge of comfort, unconsciously adopting an air of superiority.
"I intend to stay for a while. Do you have any good rooms available?"
"Yes, yes, yes, please follow me, young master." The waiter smiled obsequiously and led Chen Zhancai to the door of a guest room on the second floor. "Young master, are you satisfied with this room?"
Chen Zhancai looked around and was immediately dumbfounded. The room was filled with high-quality mahogany furniture, and the walls were adorned with numerous calligraphy and paintings by famous people.
He couldn't help but feel remorseful. He'd let his guard down; now he was in deep trouble. This kind of room was far beyond his means.
He felt a pang of panic, but outwardly he feigned nonchalance and asked, "How much is this room per night?"
"In reply to your question, young master, it's not much, only three hundred coins a night."
"What, three hundred coins?" Chen Zhancai blurted out.
The waiter quickly explained with a smile.
"Young master, please don't be impatient. This price is not expensive at all. Our inn emphasizes making guests feel at home. Before you even get out of bed in the morning, we will have someone bring you water and soap for washing. We will deliver three meals a day to your room, and we will also bring you water to wash your feet at night. In winter, we will even have someone to warm your bed. Someone of your status, young master, should not think it is too expensive!"
"Not expensive at all, that's not what I meant." Chen Zhancai was so flattered by the waiter that he couldn't help but boast, "You don't know, I often go out to do business with my father. I don't even look at small shops like yours. But today, I've seen that although the shop is small, the service is excellent. Only three hundred coins a night, I'm truly amazed!"
Upon hearing this, the waiter was so happy he almost jumped for joy. "My goodness!" he thought. "He really is a rich young master! This is a cash cow delivered right to my door! As long as I serve him well, I'm sure to get some benefits."
Thinking of this, he hurriedly nodded and bowed, making conversation as if there was nothing to say, "It seems that your family is well-off. May I ask if you came to Ningjing this time for business or leisure? If it's for leisure, I can be your guide. Whether it's eating, drinking, having fun, or seeking out beautiful women, I guarantee that you will be satisfied."
"I dare not accept such praise. Although I come from a wealthy family, how could I act recklessly? A true man should prioritize the affairs of the country. It will not be too late for me to travel around the beautiful landscapes of Ningjing after I have achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations."
"Oh my, it turns out that you are a learned and talented young master. If you pass the imperial examination with flying colors, I hope you will give you your guidance."
The waiter was a new hire at the inn, and he was also completely clueless. He assumed that Chen Zhancai was a rich young master, and a wicked idea began to sprout in his mind.
If I could really be paired with such a wealthy and capable young master, even being his horse handler would be better than being a waiter.
If I could manage to get a minor official position, that would be even more amazing!
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