Eat in Song Dynasty

Chapter 386 Extra Story: Stealing the Leap ([-])

During the reign of Tiansheng, there was a wealthy businessman surnamed Wang in Yuhang County, whose family was engaged in silk business.The wealthy businessman had a son and a daughter, and the son married the daughter of a talented scholar in the same county as his wife.

The daughter is sixteen years old and is waiting in her boudoir.

This year, the rich businessman wanted to find a husband for his daughter, but he couldn't find a suitable one.The daughter also has high eyesight, and even ordinary gentlemen would look down on her.

Until one day, when the young lady of the Wang family went out to play, she saw a scholar at the gate of the post house.

The other scholars were not in the mood to study because of the hot weather, so they sat and chatted together in twos and threes.There was only one scholar, who looked like no one else was around, holding a book and reading it intently.

Miss Wang was immediately attracted, and couldn't help walking up to the scholar, asking for his name and hometown.

When the question came out, he felt that something was wrong, and he noticed the gazes from all around him, and before he heard the answer, he blushed again and ran away.

But I have this person in my heart.

After returning home, the appearance of that person always flashed in my mind, but due to the reckless behavior during the day, I dared not send someone to continue to inquire.

Because not long after returning home, I heard rumors from the girl that there was a student in the post house who was molested in public by a young lady from a rich family.

Miss Wang was suddenly dumbfounded,

She just went up to say something, how could it become a molestation?

Fortunately, no one recognized her.

However, when fate arrived, nothing could stop it.

Miss Wang stayed silent at home for a few days, and only went out again when the limelight passed and no one brought up this topic again.

Coincidentally, I met that scholar again this time.

However, this time it was not at the gate of the post house, but in front of a restaurant on the street.

The scholar didn't go to eat, but was kicked out of the restaurant.

When we met again, Miss Wang was still the same Miss Wang, but the scholar was obviously much more downcast.Not only was the clothes on his body a little wrinkled, but his expression was no longer as calm as that day, and he was more haggard and tired.

Miss Wang froze, hesitating whether to go forward.

It's not that I despise the scholar because he is down and out, but I don't dare to be rash again when I think of what happened last time, so as not to spread any gossip.

After all, she is a frequent visitor to this restaurant, and the waiter in front of the door and the shopkeeper all know her.

While hesitating, the scholar walked past her lonely.

He didn't recognize her!

Firstly, Miss Wang's appearance is not outstanding.Secondly, she ran too fast that day, the scholar just raised his head and glanced at her, before she turned and ran away, without having time to see what she looked like.

Watching the back of the scholar walking away, Mrs. Wang pretended to be curious and inquired about the situation with Xiao Er, knowing that something had happened when she learned that he was looking for a job.

Especially Xiao Er said that he didn't even have a place to live, and he asked for board and lodging to find a job.

According to the observation that day, he should be a student who went to Beijing to catch the exam. The imperial court gave preferential treatment to students from remote areas. For students who passed the provincial exam and wanted to continue to go to Beijing to catch the exam, the government would issue corresponding 'official vouchers'.

With this voucher, students who go to Beijing for the exam can get board and lodging from governments at all levels along the way to Beijing.And the post house is the place to entertain them, so under normal circumstances, there will be no place to live.

Unless something happened.

Thinking of this, Miss Wang quickly chased after her with her maid.

After walking about two alleys, I saw the figure of the scholar, who was already lying on the ground on his back.

Miss Wang couldn't care less about avoiding suspicion anymore, she hurriedly asked the maid to hire a car, and took the scholar to a nearby medical clinic.

When the scholar woke up again, it was already an hour later.After careful questioning, it turned out that the scholar's luggage had been stolen. There were not only clothes in the luggage, but also official vouchers and money.

If it weren't for the things that prove his identity kept close to his body, he might have missed the exam.

Once the burden was lost, the scholar's entire basic necessities of life were affected.

In order to survive, and in order to continue to rush for the exam in the future, he can only put down his body and look for work around.

However, Bai Wuyi is a scholar, and no store is willing to use him.

The scholar had already contracted the wind and cold, hadn't eaten for another day, and was hit hard, so he passed out.

After learning that it was Mrs. Wang who sent him to the clinic, the scholar thanked him in every possible way, and said that he would repay him when he became capable in the future.

When Miss Wang heard this, her heart moved, and she immediately took out all the money on her body and gave it to the scholar.

The scholar was taken aback for a while, and then decided to continue. After all, the end of the road, this situation really does not allow him to pretend to be noble.

In fact, he also thought about writing letters for others or being an accountant, after all, this is what he is good at.Naihe Yuhang had a lot of scholars, but very few people needed to pay someone to write letters for him. He set up a stall for a whole day before he met one customer and earned five cents.

With this little money, not to mention the travel expenses to Beijing for the exam, even food is a problem.

As for the accountant, he only needs a long-term job. If he wants to go to Beijing to catch the exam, he can't do this job, so after much deliberation, he wants to go to the restaurant to see if he can hire short-term dishwashers and waiters.

Unexpectedly, even restaurants and tea houses are not accepted.

"These money, I have the right to lend it to my little lady, and I will return it in the future." The scholar promised.

Although it was difficult for him, he couldn't just take advantage of the little lady.

Miss Wang was interested in him, so she didn't care too much and said: "Your Majesty has great ambitions, and he will definitely climb the Dragon Gate in the future. It is fate to meet you at this time. You don't have to worry about him."

"How can I do this? If you don't get paid for nothing, I will definitely pay you back the money in the future."

The scholar originally wanted to say double or even triple repayment, but considering that there are so many talented people in the capital, and there are so many talented people in the test, it is hard to predict whether they can jump through the dragon gate in the end.

At this time, boasting to Haikou, if one day he loses his reputation and is unable to repay, he will become a person who has broken his promise, so he changed his words.

"Lang Jun really wants to pay back, but he doesn't need to pay back, how about agreeing to my request?" Miss Wang tentatively asked.

"any request?"

Miss Wang didn't answer directly, but pursed her lips, and said in a low voice: "I haven't thought about it yet, I don't know when my husband will leave, I will let you know at that time."

The scholar said that he would leave about the next day, because this place is still far away from the capital, and he had to leave earlier to avoid further delays on the way to delay the exam.

And if you arrive in Beijing earlier, you'd better find some work earlier, otherwise you will have to live in a ruined temple when you arrive in Beijing.

After a short chat, Mrs. Wang said goodbye and went home, while the scholar returned to the post house as before.

Although the official ticket was lost, because his name and identity were registered when he first checked in, he could still prove his identity as an examinee.

An official ticket covers five days, so I can stay another night tonight, but this is also the last night.

Tomorrow, he will be responsible for board and lodging, because the post officer will receive the next batch of students who are rushing to Beijing for the exam.

As for the official vouchers, they are uniformly printed and issued by the Privy Council to local governments, with the seal of the Privy Council stamped on them, and local governments have no right to print and distribute them privately.

(End of this chapter)