Chapter 55 We must not let him succeed in the imperial examination!
Knowing he would have to stay in the capital for a few more days, the coachman was in a dilemma. He wanted to go back to the county first to see if he could find some more work. Yu Man readily agreed and paid him extra for the fare. The coachman was very grateful and led the carriage away.
Xiao Tao, on the other hand, was overjoyed. She was a lively child, and this was the farthest she had ever been to the capital. She hoped to stay a few more days so that she would have something to talk about with her parents when she got back.
Seeing Xiao Tao's excited yet forced composure, Yu Man couldn't help but smile. He simply took out some more money and stuffed it into her hand, saying gently, "It's a rare trip to the capital, so don't just stay in the inn. Take this money and wander around. If you see any snacks or interesting trinkets that you like, buy them. Make sure you have a good time."
She paused, then carefully instructed, "Just remember, there are many people in the capital. As a young woman, you must be careful not to wander too far away. Remember to come back before dinner."
Xiao Tao held the suddenly heavy, almost overflowing silver pouch, her almond-shaped eyes wide and sparkling with surprise. She nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice, "Thank you, my lady! Don't worry, my lady, I'll be good and be back before dinner!"
After saying that, she put her money bag away and flew out of the inn with light steps.
The room fell completely quiet. Having seen Xiao Tao off and shaken off the subtle unease caused by the change in plans, Yu Man felt drowsiness wash over her again. She yawned, flopped back onto the bed, pulled the blanket tighter around herself, and mumbled, "Finally, I can get some sleep..." Her eyelids closed heavily, and soon her breathing became even and long; she had truly fallen asleep.
I don't know how long I slept, until I vaguely heard a gentle knock on the door.
Yu Man woke up with a start, sat up in bed, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and subconsciously thought that Xiao Tao had returned. She mumbled towards the door and asked, "Are you back so soon?"
She shuffled along in her slippers, slowly walking to open the door. However, when the door opened, standing outside was not Xiao Tao's petite figure.
Pei Ji was standing outside the door, holding a mahogany tray with several light side dishes and two bowls of rice neatly arranged on it. When the door opened, his gaze fell on her languid appearance, her cheeks slightly flushed from sleep and her hair still a little messy. A faint smile flashed in his eyes, and his voice was gentle: "Awake? You must be hungry."
Yu Man was somewhat surprised and stepped aside to let him in. "Why are you here?" She watched as he placed the food tray on the round table in the center of the room and skillfully arranged the dishes one by one. Then, he pushed a bowl full of rice in front of her and placed another empty bowl in front of his own seat.
Looking at the empty bowl, Yu Man blinked.
Pei Ji had always had the habit of not eating after noon or eating very little for dinner. Sometimes she admired him quite a bit. She could understand him sleeping less, since he had to study hard, but she really couldn't understand why he ate so little.
Is there really anyone in this world who doesn't care about food and drink?
She actually saw it for herself.
Later, after her occasional insistence, he finally agreed to eat a small half bowl of rice at dinner.
She looked at Pei Ji with a hint of doubt: "You haven't eaten yet?" At this hour, it was well past the usual time for dinner.
Pei Ji picked up his bamboo chopsticks and first placed a piece of her favorite stir-fried bamboo shoots into her bowl, saying in a calm and natural tone, "Not yet, I don't feel hungry."
Mentioning this, Yu Man couldn't help but glance at him. This man ate so little, she even suspected that there wasn't much meat under his clothes; she hoped that his handsome face wouldn't become emaciated.
Just thinking about that exceptionally beautiful face paired with a thin, bony body...
She couldn't help but shiver, feeling somewhat disillusioned.
Moreover, I've heard that the examination environment at the Imperial Examination Hall is extremely harsh; I don't want to faint from hunger before I finish answering the questions.
The thought crossed her mind, and she immediately took action. Without saying a word, she picked up her own rice bowl and quickly scooped half of the rice into the empty bowl in front of him with a clean spoon. Her movements were swift and decisive, and her tone was matter-of-fact: "I can't finish it, so you eat it for me."
Pei Ji was already used to this. When they ate together, he would usually take the leftovers from her at the end.
He looked at her, not exposing her, and simply accepted the half bowl of rice without hesitation. Then, he took an empty bowl from the side, filled it with milky white bone broth, gently placed it beside her, and said softly, "Drink some soup first to warm your stomach."
The two ate their meal in silence. Occasionally, Yu Man would comment on which dish tasted good, and Pei Ji would quietly move that dish closer to her. After eating and drinking her fill, Yu Man habitually wanted to lean back on the soft couch behind her and continue her grand act of lying flat.
Pei Ji had already deftly cleared the bowls and chopsticks back onto the food plate. Looking at her languid, cat-like posture, his gaze fell on the faint dark circles under her eyes that had not yet completely faded. He asked softly, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Yu Man thought to herself, "Whose fault is this?!"
He wore a listless expression and casually replied, "Perhaps I'm having some trouble adjusting to the new environment; I haven't been sleeping well."
Upon hearing this, Pei Ji believed it to some extent.
He got up and walked to her side, naturally extending his fingers to place on her slender wrist to take her pulse. He lowered his eyes slightly, feeling the beating of her pulse with his fingertips. After a moment, he looked up at her with a serious expression: "The pulse is soft and slippery, with a slight sluggishness, which is a sign of food stagnation and disharmony in the middle jiao."
Yu Man was completely confused and frowned, saying, "I don't understand."
Pei Ji readily accepted the good advice and succinctly replied: "Accumulate food."
Yu Man touched her stomach, which did feel a bit bloated and uncomfortable, and muttered, "I'll just lie down for a while." As she spoke, she was about to lie down on the couch.
"Get up and walk around," Pei Ji said gently.
"No," Yu Man objected first. She was determined to stay in bed all day, and no one could change her mind. She secretly resolved that no matter what he said, she would not get up.
Seeing her acting like a spoiled child, Pei Ji didn't say anything more to advise her. He just quietly looked at her, his gaze slowly moving down from her puffed-up cheeks, finally settling on the area below her nose.
Yu Man: "..." She instantly understood the unspoken message in his eyes.
The thought of that kiss outside the kitchen last night made her cheeks flush.
"I'll move!" She practically sprang to her feet, her voice rising slightly, tinged with embarrassment and annoyance. "Go, go, I'll leave, okay?!" The main thing was that she absolutely couldn't let this person succeed again!
So, the room became this: Pei Ji sat calmly in a round-backed chair by the window, engrossed in a book, flipping through it with focused concentration. Yu Man, on the other hand, puffed out her cheeks, like a schoolchild being punished by the teacher to copy books, resignedly pacing slowly around the small guest room. After one lap, she rolled her eyes, then slowly made her way to the next.
...
On the day of the imperial examination, before dawn, there was already activity at the inn. Yu Man, unusually early, personally cooked a bowl of steaming clear soup noodles for Pei Ji. In modern times, there's a saying that eating two fried dough sticks and an egg before an exam is a lucky way to get 100 points, but fried dough sticks weren't readily available in ancient times. Clear soup noodles were a good alternative, wishing him all the best and that nothing went wrong.
Pei Ji quietly finished his noodles, even drinking the soup clean. Seeing him put down his chopsticks, Yu Man insisted on seeing him to the entrance of the examination hall. Pei Ji knew her intentions and did not refuse.
But as soon as Yu Man stepped out of the inn, she regretted it.
The main street leading to the examination hall was already packed with people, shoulder to shoulder. In addition to the many candidates dressed in their academic robes, there were also many family members, servants, and onlookers who came to see them off. The wide street was completely blocked, and the noise was deafening, making it several times more crowded than the most bustling temple fair in the prefecture.
Seeing her frowning and instinctively shrinking closer to him, Pei Ji couldn't help but smile helplessly, stopped, and said gently, "I'll just drop you off here. It's too crowded and chaotic; I'm afraid you'll get jostled."
Looking at the surging crowd, Yu Man readily nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take you this far."
She looked up at Pei Ji and couldn't help but pour out all the exam tips she could think of, "Stay calm, skim through the paper first, leave the questions you don't know for later, and don't get stuck on any one question for too long, time is of the essence..."
Pei Ji listened quietly to her rambling instructions, his gaze fixed on her unusually earnest face, his eyes full of smiles. Only after she finished speaking did he solemnly nod: "Okay, I'll remember it all."
"Then you should hurry up and go to the examination hall as soon as possible to familiarize yourself with the environment and calm down," Yu Man nudged him.
Pei Ji smiled and replied "Okay," then gave her a deep look before turning away. His tall and straight figure stood out like a pine tree even in the crowded throng.
Only when he could no longer see his back did Yu Man turn her gaze away, let out a soft sigh, and find that her palms were slightly damp. She felt both nervous and excited, as if she were the one about to enter the examination hall.
She returned to her room, hoping to find a storybook to distract herself, but after reading only a few pages, her eyes began to wander, and her mind involuntarily conjured up images of the examination hall. Realizing this, she quickly asked Xiao Tao, who was counting coins beside her, "Xiao Tao, what time is it now?"
Xiao Tao looked up at the sun outside the window and estimated, "My lady, it's about three-quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM)."
Yu Man did a quick calculation in his mind. The examination hall opened at Chenshi (7-9 AM) for roll call. At this moment, Pei Ji should have already entered the examination cell, received the examination paper, and started answering questions for about fifteen minutes.
Seeing that she was restless, pacing back and forth, and then sitting down in a daze, Xiao Tao suggested, "Wife, why don't we go out for a walk? Staying in the inn all the time is getting boring."
Yu Man thought it made sense; the imperial examination would last for nine days, and she couldn't stay in the inn worrying every day. So she took Xiao Tao and went out.
Xiao Tao has thoroughly explored the area around the inn these past few days and has now become quite the little receptionist.
She first took Yu Man to Liulichang Street, which was not far from the inn. It was a place where countless shops sold stationery, ancient books and paintings, antiques and jade. Although many students had already entered the examination hall due to the spring examination, there were still many literati and curious merchants lingering there.
Yu Man wasn't very interested in those expensive antiques, but he lingered for a long time in a shop that specialized in rouge and face powder from various regions, picking out a few lip rouges and perfumes that were rarely seen in the prefecture.
Next, the master and servant went to Nanluoguxiang, a more down-to-earth and lively place.
The alley was narrow and long, lined with various food stalls on both sides, their calls filling the air. The aroma of freshly baked sesame cakes was irresistible, the glistening candied hawthorns were mouthwatering, and there was also steaming hot soy milk and fried dough rings... Although Yu Man had already eaten breakfast, she couldn't resist sharing a bowl of tofu pudding topped with thick gravy with Xiao Tao, and the taste was surprisingly good.
In the afternoon, they listened to a storyteller recount tales of past dynasties at a nearby teahouse until the sun began to set and they figured it was almost curfew before reluctantly heading back to the inn.
As Yu Man passed by the main branch of Jinhua Hall, he noticed a rather luxurious carriage parked in front of the door, with a conspicuous lantern bearing the character "Gu" hanging on the carriage shaft.
She wondered to herself, "Could I run into that arrogant old man Gu again?"
Just then, a man came out of the hall, accompanied by only two servants.
This man looked quite young, probably around twenty years old, and was about the same age as me. He wore a black cloak with gold cloud patterns, and his face was extremely handsome, with eyebrows that swept into his temples, eyes like cold stars, a high nose, and thin, distinct lips. Together, they gave him a sharp and imposing air of heroism.
His skin was fair and pampered, but he was not weak. On the contrary, the composure and subtle sharpness between his brows gave him a kind of majesty that was not commensurate with his age.
He seemed to sense Yu Man's scrutinizing gaze, and his eyes turned to her, lingering on her face for a moment. He did not show the slightest disdain for her simple clothes and hairpins, but instead nodded slightly politely as a greeting.
Just then, a steward-like man scrambled out of Jinhua Hall and knelt down in front of the man with a thud. His voice was trembling with sobs as he pleaded, "Young Master Chengling! Please have mercy! This old servant has served the Gu family for over twenty years. Even if I haven't done anything meritorious, I have certainly worked hard. Please forgive this old servant this time, considering how devoted I have been to the Gu family all these years! My family still depends on me to support them!"
The man called Gu Chengling remained expressionless, bent down and personally helped the old steward up. His actions seemed polite, but his words were impeccable, gentle yet firm: "Steward Li, you flatter me. This is the Gu family's rule, and it's not that Chengling is deliberately making things difficult for you."
"You are old and frail. You should return to your hometown to enjoy your old age. The Gu family will provide you with generous gifts to ensure you have a worry-free old age. As for your children and grandchildren, if they are talented, they can also participate in the selection of shop assistants according to the rules. The Gu family will never bury talent."
Yu Man had no interest in other people's household affairs. Seeing that Gu Chengling handled things in an orderly manner, she withdrew her gaze, pulled Xiao Tao, who was looking a little dazed, and continued walking towards the inn.
Walking down the street, Xiao Tao couldn't contain her gossip and whispered to Yu Man, "Wife, I heard people in the teahouse say the other day that this young master Gu Chengling is considered one of the best among the young gentlemen in the capital!"
"Oh?" Yu Man raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Tao continued, "Although the Gu family comes from a merchant background, they are imperial merchants! They specialize in supplying brocades and silks for the royal family, and are highly favored by the Empress Dowager. This young master Chengling, though adopted, is exceptionally capable and highly regarded by Old Master Gu. He now manages most of the affairs of Jinhua Hall, far superior to that legitimate eldest son, Master Gu!" As she spoke, she couldn't help but purse her lips. Ever since she saw Master Gu's arrogant demeanor last time, she had been furious!
Upon hearing this, Yu Man couldn't help but pinch her puffed-up cheeks.
She listened and then put it aside for the time being, preparing to focus on waiting for Pei Ji to finish his exam.
Unexpectedly, the following morning, she received an invitation from Gu Chengling. The invitation was on fine gold-flecked paper, the handwriting bold and strong, and the words sincere:
"To Madam Yu: My brother was unruly and disrespectful to you the other day. I apologize on his behalf and deeply regret it. Before my father left, he repeatedly instructed me to discuss the cooperation with you, as it is a crucial matter concerning the expansion of Jinhua Hall's new business. I earnestly hope that you will disregard past grievances and take the time to discuss it. Tomorrow at noon, I will prepare a small feast in the private room of the Tianzi Building in the East Market and await your presence. I hope you will do me the honor of attending. Sincerely, Gu Chengling."
Xiao Tao watched as she unfolded the invitation, and cautiously asked, "Wife, shall we... go?"
Yu Man lightly tapped the politely worded invitation with her fingertips, her thoughts racing through her mind.
With Old Master Gu away on his journey, Gu Chengling has taken over this cooperation, demonstrating his high standing within the Gu family. Considering the shrewd and meticulous way he dealt with the steward yesterday, compared to that arrogant and domineering Master Gu, this man is clearly more worthy of consideration; at least in negotiations, he won't be too outrageous.
"Go." Yu Man placed the invitation on the table and made her decision. "Let's see what this young master Gu wants to say."
A day later, Yu Man arrived at Huixian Tower in the East Market as promised. This tower was built by the water, with flying eaves and brackets. Its interior decoration was elegant yet luxurious, and it was a frequent gathering place for literati, scholars, merchants and celebrities in the capital. The top-class private room was on the top floor. Opening the window, one could overlook half of the city and the shimmering river below.
When Yu Man was led to the private room by the waiter, Gu Chengling was already waiting inside. Today he was wearing a dark blue straight-cut robe with subtle patterns. Compared to the black cloak he wore the other day, he was less imposing and more composed and reserved.
Upon seeing that it was indeed Yu Man, whom he had met briefly yesterday, a fleeting look of surprise crossed Gu Chengling's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. He rose to greet her, cupping his hands and saying, "Madam Yu, I have long admired your name. I only caught a glimpse of you yesterday and did not have a chance to speak with you in detail. It is a pleasure to meet you today."
"Young Master Gu, you're too kind," Yu Man returned the greeting and calmly took his seat.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they got down to business.
Gu Chengling was clearly prepared. After a moment's thought, he said slowly, "Madam Yu, if you would not mind, my Gu family is willing to lend our full support to help Manxin Food Shop establish itself in the capital. We can handle all the necessary official documents, inspection permits, shop location selection, and contract signing, ensuring a smooth process. Furthermore, at the beginning of the business, we can also leverage some of the connections within my Jinhua Hall to promote your business."
His words were calm, yet they carried an undeniable confidence. He then shifted his tone slightly, getting to the heart of the matter: "In return, the Gu family hopes to acquire a 40% stake in this new business in the capital and reap the profits. I wonder what Madam Yu thinks?"
The terms sounded quite tempting, especially the solution to the government procedures, which was indeed a problem for many out-of-town merchants. However, the 40% commission was not low, almost taking away half of the profits.
Yu Man pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Young Master Gu, forty percent is too high. The success of a food stall depends on ingredients, skills, and daily operations, all of which are our core strengths. The convenience provided by the Gu family is important, but not irreplaceable."
Gu Chengling seemed to have anticipated her bargaining, and calmly picked up his teacup, saying slowly and deliberately, "Madam Yu, you must know from your time in the prefecture that the capital is a treacherous place. Without a strong foundation, let alone gaining a foothold, even obtaining the necessary permits and licenses for opening a shop would be difficult. Although Jin Hua Tang wouldn't claim to have connections everywhere, we've been operating in the capital for generations and still have some influence." His words were gentle, yet they highlighted the fact that doing business in the capital without a powerful backer was extremely difficult.
Since Yu Man opened his food shop, he has traveled from Laizhou to the prefectural capital, and naturally understands the ins and outs of the business.
But she wasn't intimidated. Instead, she smiled slightly and looked at Gu Chengling with clear eyes: "Young Master Gu, forgive my bluntness. This business is optional for me. But since you invited me here today, it means that the Gu family, or rather, you, want to do this business." With just a few words, she subtly took back the initiative in the negotiation.
Gu Chengling's hand, holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly. He looked at Yu Man, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He neither admitted nor denied it, but pondered for a moment before saying, "Thirty percent. One-tenth of that is to apologize to my wife for my brother's rudeness that day." He lowered the price by one-tenth and found a rather respectable reason.
To be fair, in a place like the capital, with the protection of the imperial merchant Gu family, and only a 30% stake, the terms are already quite generous. If it were anyone else, they would probably have been tempted long ago.
However, Yu Man still slowly shook her head, her tone calm but firm: "I'm sorry, Mr. Gu."
It was only then that Gu Chengling truly realized that the seemingly gentle young woman in front of him was not waiting for a high price, but rather that she had not yet made up her mind to cooperate with the Gu family.
He put down his teacup, his face showing no anger, but with a hint of inquiry, he asked, "Since Madam Yu has no intention of cooperating with the Gu family, why did you come to keep this appointment today?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Man's lips curved into a sly smile, and she said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Perhaps... I came here today for you, Young Master Gu?"
Gu Chengling paused slightly as he held the teacup, then looked up at her.
Yu Man suppressed his smile, his expression turning serious as he said solemnly, "Young Master Gu, the affairs of your household are not peaceful, and this is probably not a secret in the capital."
"If I were to enter into a contract with the Gu family now, regardless of which side I lean towards, it would be tantamount to tying the small boat of Manxin Food Shop to a large warship in a stormy sea. If I were to be lucky enough to win, then of course there would be no problem."
"However, if the times are not right and the boat capsizes and the oars break, the newly built shop will inevitably become a fish in the moat and will be subject to liquidation. At that time, it would be lucky to lose all of one's investment, but it is more likely that the foundation will be destroyed."
Yu Man's eyes were clear and honest as she met Gu Chengling's gaze. "I am just a mere merchant. I dare not, nor can I, use the hard work I have put into my business for many years as a stake to gamble with the Gu family."
She changed the subject, her tone softening: "But let's put business aside. Just based on how Young Master Gu handled things yesterday and his demeanor today, I think it's worthwhile to come and meet him in person to plead my case."
After listening to her frank analysis, Gu Chengling remained silent for a moment, his usual polite smile fading, revealing a more genuine expression. He then picked up the now-warm teacup, slowly drank it, and when he looked at Yu Man again, his eyes held a different kind of sincerity than before:
“Lady Yu,” he said slowly, “is not quite what I imagined.”
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