"My son understands."
After Zhao Dawen got out of the car, he saw Zhao Dashu's family gathered together cooking dumplings. He was immediately furious, his face turning bright red.
Who doesn't just bring some dry food when they go out? Who's as particular as them? Are they crazy?
The aroma of dumplings made me swallow hard, which was quite pathetic.
He felt like a beggar on his journey, eating half a pancake for lunch and the other half for dinner. The food was tasteless, and he ate the pickled vegetables his wife had brought him. Zhao Dawen wanted to curse.
"Eldest brother, find some time tomorrow to go and find Xiao Lei and ask him to teach you a thing or two. He was definitely more learned than your father and I, and he just passed the imperial examination. He knows more about what to take the exam and how to study than your father does."
"Okay, my son will look for an opportunity tomorrow. It would be great if he could ride in the same car with him."
"Don't think about it. Didn't you see that he couldn't possibly get out of the carriage while he was in his wife's? You can ask him more questions during your rest time. Ask him anything you don't understand. If he can't answer you all at once, he will naturally find time to answer you."
"My son understands."
After much difficulty, the group finally arrived at the prefectural city. Zhao Dawen had completely lost his temper, having been thoroughly humiliated by Zhao Dashu along the way and losing all his arrogance.
He just doesn't understand how someone like him, who only cares about eating and drinking and acts like a lazy bum, could earn money.
However, there was one good thing about the journey: his son said he had learned a lot from Xiao Lei. The only thing that bothered him was that his son said Xiao Lei taught better than him and was more knowledgeable.
Zhao Dawen fell into deep self-doubt. Was his knowledge really lacking? So, his failure to pass the imperial examination was indeed due to a lack of real talent? How could that be? Back then, he was a well-known child prodigy in the county.
It must be that Xiao Lei used his teacher's method to teach his son. His teacher came from the city, so his knowledge was naturally better than his.
"My lord, we will arrive at the prefectural city in another hour."
"Are we almost there?" Zhao Dawen lifted the curtain and looked out of the mule cart.
Having not visited the prefectural city for many years, he had almost forgotten what it looked like.
Zhao Dashu's servant looked at him and said, "Yes, we'll rest for a while and then set off. We should arrive in the prefectural city this afternoon."
The coachman chimed in, "We've arrived. We'll be in the prefectural city soon."
Once they arrived in the prefectural city, they unloaded the things from the cart, and he could go home.
He planned to rest in the city for a day or two, find a passenger to hitch a ride with, and then continue his journey.
In this way, both trips yield business, so it's not a wasted trip.
"Wife, it seems my elder brother and his family will have to stay at our house today. It wouldn't be right to refuse them entry after they've come all this way."
I'll personally take them to find an inn tomorrow. What do you think?
Song remained silent. Did she have a mean face? She always treated everyone who came to the village with great hospitality.
"You handle it yourself. I won't interfere in your brotherly affairs."
"I knew you were the best, my wife. Don't worry, they won't bother us for more than two days. They're here to take the exam, not to see us."
"Yes, I know."
The imperial examination for scholars was still a long way off, and staying in an inn would be very expensive; renting a house would be the most cost-effective option.
"Honey, I'm afraid my elder brother and the others won't be willing to stay in an inn. Why don't you take them to find a small courtyard tomorrow? I think renting a house is the most cost-effective. There are still more than two months until the exam. Who can afford to stay in an inn for such a long time?"
They arrived early, so the courtyard should be easy to rent out, don't you think?
The only drawback might be the food; neither of the two men can cook, but that's the same when staying at a guesthouse, since no one cooks for them anyway.
“They can find a cook; one cook is enough for the father and son.”
"My wife is so thoughtful."
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