Xiao Yubai picked up the food box. "I'll escort Madam downstairs. I need to go back too!"
An Shuyi nodded, and the two went downstairs. They took the food box handed to them by Xiao Yubai and carried it home. When they got back, they found that Hua Hua had already returned and was sitting in the hall.
"Hua Hua, when did you get back? Why didn't you call me? I was thinking of going to the pastry shop to get some pastries." She walked over and put the food box on the table. There were people on the road, and she was too lazy to find another place. She put the food box in the storeroom and carried it back.
Xia Hua glanced at the food box and said, "You've been back for a while now. Even if I went to call you, you wouldn't come back while you were engrossed in your game. I'd just have to wait there, how boring."
"The dim sum shop has almost sold out for today, and you don't like what's left. Go get it tomorrow morning, and you can leave right away. You're back just in time; we're having hot pot today. The kitchen is all set and waiting for you."
After leaving the teahouse, she went back to her residence, packed her things, and gave instructions to Tao and the others. She has been busy ever since.
"Hot pot? That's perfect. I didn't eat too many snacks today, so I'm not full. What about the others?" She was also telling Hua Hua that she hadn't eaten too many lotus flower pastries and had been obedient.
Xia Hua understood what she meant and smiled, "They've been playing all this time and they're all sweaty. They've gone to change their clothes and will be back soon. Wash your hands and have Tao put the table down."
The dining tables in the courtyard, just like those in hot pot restaurants, can be combined to serve as a side dish table, or separated to serve hot pot.
An Shuyi nodded and ran to wash her hands. Soon the others came out as well. Seeing the dishes on the table, they knew they were having hot pot and excitedly sat down.
Hot pot is delicious, but the villagers don't eat it very often. And today's dishes look very good. Xia Hua even took out beef, venison, and tiger meat from the warehouse, but she didn't say what kind of meat it was, and Tao Shi and the others didn't ask.
Just because Tao and others didn't ask doesn't mean others won't. Yan Ce was the first to ask, "Grandma Xia, what kind of meat is this?"
"Tiger meat," Xia Hua said directly, not afraid of scaring the child.
"Grandma Xia is lying to me, right? I didn't hear anything about anyone killing a tiger in the capital today." Yan Ce looked unconvinced, but the others could tell from Aunt Xia's serious expression that she was telling the truth.
Wen Fan couldn't help but give a thumbs up, "Auntie is amazing, she can even buy tiger meat. Yan Ce, since your Grandma Xia said it's tiger meat, then it is, you should believe her."
"But you can still buy tiger meat in the capital. It's really the capital city. I used to think that being able to eat venison, lion meat, and bear meat was already pretty good. I never thought that we could eat tiger meat now." It's a pity that there are no dragons in this world, otherwise the two aunts could get dragon meat just the same.
Seeing the reactions of others, Yan Ce finally believed that this really was tiger meat. He hurriedly reached into the pot with his chopsticks and grabbed a large mouthful.
The other people eating at the next table did the same, dumping the meat into the pot, cooking it for a while, and then starting to eat it. They looked as ferocious as if they hadn't eaten for days, while An Shuyi and Xia Hua ate slowly and methodically.
Yan Ce suddenly remembered what happened today, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Grandma, let me tell you, when we went out to play today, Kong Lisheng was still following us. He even tried to go up to Auntie and talk to her. Before my brother could beat him up, a man came out and beat him up."
Upon hearing this, An Shuyi also put down her chopsticks. "So what happened next? Did Kong Lisheng pass the palace examination?"
“No,” Yan Zhen shook his head. “He did participate in the palace examination, but he entered the palace examination as the last person and was directly eliminated.”
Fearing that this person harbored ill intentions towards his aunt, he inquired about the man and naturally learned everything about him.
Yan Ce added from the side, "Kong Lisheng was beaten and wanted to call the authorities, but when he saw the young master's appearance, he was so frightened that he ran away and dared not mention calling the authorities."
What amused the grandson was that after that young master beat someone up, he became a stutterer in front of his aunt and didn't dare to say a word.
Upon hearing this, An Shuyi realized that the young master was interested in her son. "Yan Zhen, do you know this person?"
“Mother, I know!” Wen Liu said from the side. They were playing nearby when they saw that Seventh Sister was almost harassed, so they were about to go over. Unexpectedly, they saw Kong Lisheng being beaten. He also knew that young master, Dong Yanbo, the grandson of the Grand Tutor.
"He is the fourth grandson of the Grand Tutor, Dong Yanbo, and also this year's second-place scholar. Whether in terms of talent or interpersonal skills, he is better than my son. Although I don't understand why he is not the top scholar." Logically speaking, he is the grandson of the Grand Tutor, and his grandfather even taught the Emperor. He should not be a second-place scholar, but the top scholar.
"How can you be so sure he's better than you in every way, Wenliu? You shouldn't underestimate yourself. You're the top scholar in the imperial examination; that title should be yours." Only if he wasn't should she suspect there might be something fishy going on.
"And you are the same. You have achieved what you have today, which means you are worse than others. You shouldn't say that you are inferior to others. You should believe that you deserve it all."
These children lack confidence. They don't even consider how many people pass the provincial examination and how many pass the palace examination. In each prefecture, there are hundreds of people participating in the imperial examinations, but only 180 pass the provincial examination and only 60 pass the palace examination.
Of these sixty people, only the top three remained in the capital. The rest were sent to various places and held low-ranking positions. It was impossible for them to reach the first or second rank in their entire lives.
However, those who are ranked first or third are better off than others, but if they lack talent, they may be sent to other prefectures within a year or two.
“Mother, it is your son who is attached to the image,” Wen Liu said.
He spent two days with Dong Yanbo and discovered that he knew a lot, which made him a little insecure. But after hearing what his mother said, he instantly became full of confidence.
“If you can recognize your shortcomings, then study hard. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me and your aunt. Of course, as long as you don’t look down on us for being two women who don’t know anything,” An Shuyi said.
Wen Liu suddenly didn't want to speak. If her mother and aunt were just ordinary women, then Peach Blossom Village wouldn't be like this now. The others didn't speak either, just focused on eating, because if what her aunt said was true, they weren't even as good as women.
The next day, everyone got up early. Tao and the others prepared breakfast, and after eating, they went to the pastry shop to get some snacks before setting off. Along the way, everyone was in high spirits, and it was even more lively than when they arrived.
Knowing that Village Chief Lin and the others were waiting, everyone wasted no time this time and focused on heading towards Jinnan City. Finally, seven days later, they arrived at Taoyuan Village.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
