Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 616 Chance Encounter

In her own shop, only a few people could earn more than one hundred taels a year, but they did it at such a young age.

More than one hundred taels is just his dividend, which shows how big their business is.

She questioned them in detail and learned about their business experience. She had a good impression of the two girls who were his partners.

No one took advantage of Wenxuan just because he was stupid. He kept public and private affairs separate and kept the accounts clear.

Wenxuan was not around, but the accounts were sent along with the dividends, which shows that he has a clear conscience.

The Second Lady disagreed, "Those lowly people are different from us. They're willing to abandon all sense of propriety and morality just to marry into a good family. If you don't pay attention now, you'll be the one who gets upset when something really happens."

"Second brother's wife," the eldest lady scolded softly, "Don't say such harsh words. What are you talking about pariahs or not? They are decent citizens.

Also, you're worrying too much. The child is already engaged to the young man who came with you."

"Him?" The Second Madam frowned. "He's good-looking, but his family doesn't look well off."

"He is a scholar."

"What?" The second wife's eyes widened. "Scholar?"

A scholar is nothing, but such a young scholar is extraordinary!

The eldest lady nodded, "I passed the exam two years ago and came in second in the academy exam."

The Second Madam took a deep breath. "It doesn't count if they haven't gotten married yet. The child looks seventeen or eighteen years old. With my family..."

"Second sister-in-law!" The eldest lady interrupted sternly, "Don't have any bad ideas!"

The Second Madam smiled awkwardly, "I'm just telling you."

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The early morning in the capital was also very lively. The shouts of street vendors could be heard one after another, and many of the things they sold were things Song Ying had never seen before.

Lin Wenxuan led the two of them to a time-honored douzhi stall.

"Father, three bowls of bean juice!"

After a pause, he added, "Forget it, one bowl will do. Give us two extra spoons."

Song Ying tutted, "Brother, you're too stingy. We've come all the way to the capital, and you can't even afford a bowl of bean juice."

Lin Wenxuan rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, then give me three bowls. Don't waste any later."

"Will I waste?" Song Ying laughed when she heard it. Although she is making a lot of money now, saving is engraved in her bones and she will not waste a grain of rice!

Lin Wenxuan smiled evilly, "You said so."

The three of them sat down at the table, which had wooden stools and a low table. There were large coarse porcelain bowls filled with steaming soy milk with a unique sour aroma.

"Try it, it's the authentic Beijing flavor," Lin Wenxuan said, pushing the bowl over with a smile. "Don't be fooled by the strong smell, once you get used to it, you can't live without it."

After walking for a while, Song Ying felt thirsty. He touched the wall of the bowl and found it was not hot, so he picked it up and took a big sip.

The next moment, her eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth wrinkled into a ball, and she vomited.

"How many days has this soy milk been here? It's all gone bad!"

"It's not bad, it tastes just like this." Lin Wenxuan picked up the bowl, took a sip, and savored it after finishing it.

Seeing this, Song Ying's stomach churned and he felt like vomiting. Why do people in the capital have such weird tastes?

Lin Wenxuan raised his eyebrows, "Junior sister, don't stop, keep drinking, don't waste it."

Song Ying's face turned green and then white, and then white and then green again. She really wanted to slam the table and say "Drink it" in a heroic tone, but when she thought of the taste, she really didn't have the courage.

She turned her eyes and looked at Yuan Qing, pushing her bowl over to him, "Try it."

Yuan Qing didn't refuse and scooped a spoonful. Although he was prepared, his face still broke for a moment, but he was more patient than Song Ying. He swallowed it and finally praised it: "The sour and fragrant taste is refreshing. Good!"

Song Ying's mouth twitched. "Since it helps to refresh your mind, I'll prepare two more bowls for you during your Spring Examination."

Yuan Qing froze: "That's not necessary."

What should I do with such unpalatable soybean milk?

Song Ying was in a dilemma when a ragged little beggar suddenly appeared beside her. He looked at Song Ying and said, "Sister, it wouldn't be a waste if you gave it to me."

Song Ying's eyes lit up, and he quickly pushed it over, "Of course not!"

The little beggar smiled brightly, revealing a row of neat, fine white teeth, which looked even whiter against the dirt on his face.

He finished the drink in just a few gulps, and the aftertaste was so lingering that Song Ying couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with his tongue. This soy milk was actually very fragrant.

After drinking, the little beggar bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, sister."

Yuan Qing silently pushed his bowl over.

The little beggar's eyes lit up again. He picked up the drink and drank it in no time. He thanked Yuan Qing and turned to leave.

"Wait," Song Ying stopped him and handed him two or three steamed buns. "Thank you for helping us win the bet. Otherwise, we would have lost and wasted food, which would have been unbearable."

The little beggar smiled even more happily, took the bun and ran to the side to eat it.

Watching his back disappear around the corner, Song Ying sighed, "I never thought there would be beggars at the feet of the emperor."

"There are more beggars at the feet of the emperor." Yuan Qing handed her the porridge. "There are many nobles in the capital, so there are always porridge stalls. People who can't afford to eat gather here. In years of disaster and famine, refugees enter the capital and become beggars if no one cares for them."

"That's right, my uncle came to Beijing because of the famine and became a beggar."

"There's another kind," Lin Wenxuan added, "after the annual imperial examinations, many impoverished scholars who failed became 'literary beggars,' living near the Imperial Examination Hall by writing Spring Festival couplets for others."

"No way!" Song Ying was astonished. "Aren't all those who can take the imperial examination legitimate Juren? How can a Juren be poor?"

Look at the preferential treatment the court gives to scholars, fearing that they will suffer from poverty.

"There's always a chance of something happening, like a natural disaster, a crop failure, or a family disaster, or offending someone powerful..."

A juren only has the qualifications to be an official, but is not an official after all.

Speaking of the imperial examination, Song Ying couldn't help but think of Lu Xu. He took the imperial examination in February this year, and it was unknown whether he passed or not.

Speak of Cao Cao and he will appear. As he was speaking, he heard someone hesitantly call out, "...Brother Yuan?"

Song Ying and his companions turned around and saw a scholar in blue standing in front of a wonton stall not far away. It was Lu Xu.

He was much thinner than before. Although his clothes were neat, the cuffs were frayed. There was a dark circle under his eyes, probably because he hadn't slept well for a long time.

He doesn't look like he passed the exam.

"Brother Lu?" Yuan Qing stood up and bowed. "Why are you still in the capital?"

Lu Xu smiled bitterly: "I failed the imperial examination and have no face to return home..."

He looked at Song Ying again and said in surprise, "Doctor Song is here too."

"Accompany my master back to Beijing." Song Ying said vaguely.

Several of his companions who looked like scholars followed him. When they heard that Yuan Qing was a scholar, they were all surprised and boasted about the outstanding people and beautiful scenery of Qingshui County.

A scholar of fifteen or sixteen years old will be looked up to wherever he goes.

They warmly invited him, "Since you're in the capital, why don't you join us at today's poetry gathering? It's at Chengxinzhai, and many famous scholars will be there."

Yuan Qing was silent for a moment, then replied with a smile: "Being respectful is worse than obeying your command."