pdf-ebookys Chapter 294 Words are like the person they are
Chapter 294 Words are like the person they are
"Master, this naan is for you. We have also boiled water."
Cui Taihe's wife is fifty-seven years old this year. If his eldest brother had not passed away, the two of them would not have rushed back to their hometown from the capital.
Now, for the sake of the imperial examinations and the metropolitan examinations, he had to rush back to the capital as soon as possible.
There were starving people everywhere along the way, and a lot of their dry food was stolen. Now they can only wait until the next town to get supplies.
Old Madam Cui would look at Lin Ting and the others from time to time. The roast chicken was so fragrant. She wondered what kind of seasonings Lin Ting and the others used. Thinking of this, she felt that the naan in their hands was like chewing wax.
They lived a life of luxury in the capital, but it seemed that they had never tasted barbecue as delicious as Lin Ting and his friends.
Cui Taihe was a member of the Hanlin Academy and a second-rank official of the Dongxia Kingdom. It was impossible for him to ask others for meat, even though he could see that the couple really wanted to eat it.
How could Lin Ting not know the feeling of being stared at? She used a dagger to cut two large pieces of the roast chicken and placed them on the oil paper. She also picked up two pieces of bacon and two pieces of pickled radish and took them over.
"Master Cui, this is the pickled radish my aunt made herself, and this chicken was brought to us by my mother-in-law. I see you're only eating naan without any vegetables. If you don't mind, let's eat some together."
At this point, there is no need for Cui Taihe to be polite to Lin Ting.
"Thank you, Madam Lin. I had prepared plenty of food along the way, but I didn't expect it to be robbed. Now I've eaten Madam Lin's food. When we get to the next town, I will definitely return it to you."
Lin Ting handed the roasted chicken to Cui Taihe and said, "It's just a little food. Mr. Cui and Mrs. Cui don't have to be polite to us.
"Master Cui, your things were robbed. Were you met with robbers?"
Cui Taihe waved his hand and said, "They are just some villagers who are just trying to fill their stomachs and survive. That's all, that's all..."
Life was not easy for everyone. Cui Taihe knew to steal their food, but he did not pursue the matter because the people were starving. The Dongxia Kingdom was still too weak.
"Mr. Cui is open-minded. I even admire him."
Lin Ting came back and saw Cui Taihe give half of the things he brought to his wife. She kicked Wan Weiran with her foot.
He used his eyes to let him look at Cui Taihe, who was walking in the same direction and knew the specific time of the imperial examination. Lin Ting felt that they were from the capital.
Wan Weiran glanced at Lin Ting and saw her eyes turn over there. He understood and observed Cui Taihe carefully for a while.
Then he shook his head towards Lin Ting, meaning that he didn't know him either.
He had been studying in the academy and learning medicine. He originally wanted to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau, but was kicked out by his father before he even got in. Apart from those students and a few playboys, he really didn't recognize any important people.
If you don’t know him, then you don’t know him. Lin Ting just thought that if he met someone with such a magnanimous demeanor again in the future, maybe he could strike up a conversation with him.
Before leaving, Lin Ting and the others put out the fire and packed up to set off again. Then, Mrs. Cui walked up to Lin Ting and said.
"Mrs. Lin, I'd like to ask, where did you buy the seasoning you put on the roast chicken just now? What's it called?"
Mrs. Cui had eaten roast chicken before, but she had never eaten such delicious roast chicken.
If she were to find out what seasoning was on the roast chicken, she would ask someone to buy it specifically for her. The smell was so addictive that her taste buds were completely overwhelmed.
If you don't come and ask Lin Ting now, you'll miss it and never be able to eat it again in this life.
"That's one of the Wushan pepper barbecue seasonings, specially formulated for barbecue. If Madam Cui likes it, I have a small can here that you can try."
Lin Ting took out a small can from the loaded carriage and gave it to Mrs. Cui. This can was enough for two barbecues.
"Wushan chili pepper, why does it sound so familiar to me?" Old Man Cui muttered, then took the jar handed to him by Lin Ting with both hands: "Thank you, Madam Lin."
Lin Ting: "You're welcome!"
After getting on the carriage, Lin Ting and Shen Qingzhou sat together, both still thinking about the person they had just met.
"Shen Qingzhou, what do you think of Mr. Cui just now?"
Shen Qingzhou had just observed that the man was carrying a lot of books and had a sharp look in his eyes, like someone who had been in officialdom for a long time.
"Few people know the time of the exam. Even my brother-in-law hasn't been confirmed yet. We only know it's in February. This person is no ordinary person.
Also, the exposed corner of his inner garment is made of a floating woven piece that only officials can wear. I've seen this kind of material in the official uniform that my brother-in-law wore when he was promoted."
Lin Ting didn't observe so carefully. Since he was a big shot, they just didn't need to offend him. There was no need to please him specially. Besides, he didn't want outsiders to know his identity.
"Let's not talk about him anymore. Let's just take care of ourselves."
.......
After Lin Ting heard them leave, Cui Taihe also asked people to pack up and refill the hot water bottle. It was time to set off, otherwise they would not be able to reach the next town.
This place is even farther away from the post station.
"Master, this is the roast chicken seasoning that Madam Lin gave me. She said it was made from Wushan peppers. Wushan peppers, are they the Wushan peppers we know?"
Cui Taihe took the small jar of barbecue seasoning from Mrs. Cui and looked at it. Sure enough, the words "Wushan Chili" were engraved on the jar.
"Wushan peppers, the place we just passed is not far from Wenzhu County, Wushan peppers, Wushan Village..."
Cui Taihe's thoughts worked quickly, and then he figured it out.
"I know, it's him!"
Mrs. Cui was puzzled. They didn't know those people just now. They just heard of this Wushan pepper.
"Master, do you know those two gentlemen and Madam Lin?"
Cui Taihe stood up straight, turning the small jar of Wushan pepper in his hand, and smiled proudly.
"I didn't know him before, but I know him now. That Mr. Shen is from Wushan Village. His full name is Shen Qingzhou. His wife, Lin Ting, was the winner of the last provincial examination.
I personally reviewed his article, so there’s no mistake in the handwriting, hahahaha…”
The provincial examination would investigate the family relationships of the candidates, and Shen Qingzhou, as the top scorer, naturally attracted much attention.
As the chief examiner, Cui Taihe read Shen Qingzhou's essay repeatedly. The handwriting was sonorous and powerful, and the governance methods mentioned in the article were also very exquisite. He was a well-deserved champion.
Among the students of this class, the one Cui Taihe valued the most was Shen Qingzhou. He originally thought that he would only be able to see him during the imperial examination, but he didn't expect to meet him halfway.
This sight proved the saying that a person's handwriting reflects his character. Shen Qingzhou was gentle and reserved, without any frivolous air, which was exactly in line with his imagination of Shen Qingzhou.