He originally considered whether to sell the fire cricket to the Zhong family, but then thought it was not suitable. If the price was too low, he would feel unwilling. If the price was too high, it would be hard to justify pitting the Zhong family, who were his father in law’s people. It was also truly improper to promote goods to his “father in law” under his current false identity.
After thinking it over, he still needed to go out and find buyers. That way he could earn the money with peace of mind. If he found someone easy to fool, he might even sell it for a sky high price.
When Steward Li heard that he wanted to go out for a stroll, he immediately shook his head and said, “There is no carriage. Even if there was, I would not give it to you.”
Yu Qing was stunned. “What do you mean?”
Steward Li asked back, “Young master, do I need to remind you again of your own rural examination ranking? Do you think you have any confidence in passing the exam? It is the final moment now. Sharpening the spear at the last minute may not make it shine brightly, but you should still make an effort. What did the master spend a large sum to invite Mister Ming for? This is a chance that comes only once every three years. Everything depends on this one fight. If you succeed, you will have your name on the golden list and enjoy the wedding night. Everyone will have glory on their faces.”
Yu Qing understood the reasoning. The only problem was that he was not a spear at all. He was a block of wood. No matter how you grind it, it would not shine. It would only turn into wood shavings.
To put it plainly, he just did not want to do useless work. He clasped his hands and begged for mercy. “Uncle Li, I will just take a casual stroll. I will definitely come back in the afternoon. I will definitely return before Mister Ming arrives.”
Steward Li refused outright. “No. This is the master’s order. Before the metropolitan examination, you must concentrate all your energy on preparing for the exam. You are not allowed to step out of the Zhong residence even one step. Young master, there is only one month left. After one month you can go wherever you want. During this month you must rein in your heart no matter what. You also know some things clearly. The Zhong residence has taken on huge risks by marrying the young lady to you. The difference between whether you can pass the exam or not is very great.”
Yu Qing of course understood what he meant. Once the Zhong family married off their daughter, people who had dealings with the Zhong family would definitely inquire about the son in law’s background. It would be easy to find out who “A Shiheng’s” father was. The news would probably spread in the capital before long. No one could figure out the situation with the mastermind behind the scenes back then.
Therefore, the Zhong family had indeed taken on huge risks in order to fulfil the marriage agreement from back then.
But the key point was that Yu Qing knew things would develop in another direction. He would not let the matter of the Zhong family marrying off their daughter reach that stage. After the metropolitan examination ended he would inform the Zhong family of the truth and make it clear that he was fake.
So he waved his hand indifferently, turned around and walked off on his own. “I know. I will act with discretion. I am just going out for a stroll. One cannot only study hard. There should be balance between tension and relaxation. Forget it. I will not use the Zhong residence’s carriage. I will find my own way.”
Steward Li’s face sank. He quickly caught up, reached out a hand to block him and said, “No. The master said you cannot go out. You must stay at home and prepare for the exam with peace of mind.”
Blocking my path to wealth? Yu Qing glared with both eyes. “Uncle Li, you were sent by my father after all. Which side are you actually helping?”
Steward Li said in a deep voice, “We are all on the same side. I only help what is reasonable. I know a little about the old master’s character. If it were him, he would not let you run around at this time either. Looking at your casual and indulgent manner, I really doubt whether you were trained by the old master. The master is also doing this for your own good. There is only one month left. If you insist on running around and refuse to accept discipline, then go ahead and try. See if Du Fei will let you out. If you do not listen and run around recklessly, he really will beat you.”
A single sentence doubting his identity made Yu Qing’s heart tighten. Thinking back again to the situation when he first met Du Fei, the man had indeed attacked him directly. He immediately looked around and felt somewhat restrained in his mindset. He gave a reply with his mouth. “What is the difference between what you are doing and house arrest?”
After saying that he turned around and went back to his room. He had given in with his actions.
Steward Li also followed back and earnestly advised him. “There is only one month left. It is the critical moment when the fire is burning the eyebrows. If you do not work hard now, then when will you? It is indeed not easy to run around everywhere at this time either. The capital is full of all kinds of people mixed together. If something happens to you in the capital and you cannot take the exam, we will have no way to explain it to the old master’s spirit in heaven. You must know that even your daily diet has been personally instructed by the master. It must not be allowed for you to eat something bad and upset your stomach.”
He kept on talking endlessly to comfort him. Yu Qing let the words go in one ear and out the other. He did not listen to many sentences. In his heart he was thinking that he could only wait until the metropolitan examination ended. It probably would not have much impact to go and sell things after the metropolitan examination ended.
He estimated that Xu Fei probably would not leave as soon as the examination ended either. He would definitely wait until the results were released and the scores came out.
After he had made up his mind in his heart, he interrupted Steward Li’s words. “Uncle Li, get me some big bones in the evening.”
“Big bones? What do you want those for?”
“Oh, I have the habit of simmering a pot of bone soup to drink in the evening. It can calm the mind and soothe the spirit.”
“Does bone soup have this effect?”
“It is a habit. Reading while drinking bone soup helps me concentrate more.”
“Then fine. Whenever you want it, I will have someone simmer it and send it to you.”
“No need. I am used to simmering it myself. Reading while smelling the smoke and fire of daily life is also a kind of realm.”
“Alas, as you wish. As long as you can prepare for the exam with care.”
After a sigh of lament, Steward Li left.
Yu Qing lay down on the floor mat and thought about how to get through this one month.
As for the big bones, those were prepared for the fire cricket. Along the way he had raised the fire cricket and developed some tacit understanding with it. He also understood its habits. If it was not fed for two days, it would make strange “di di” cries nonstop. The sound was so loud that it could annoy people to death.
If still ignored, it would bump around wildly nonstop.
But as long as it was fed on time, the fire cricket would accept its fate with its violent temper and sleep quietly in the jar.
Now that the Zhong residence would not let him go out, he could only feed it inside the Zhong residence.
There was no choice. So far he had discovered that the fire cricket only ate bones.
In the afternoon, just after noon had passed and at the beginning of the wei hour, the Mister Ming whom the Zhong residence had spent a large sum to invite arrived.
Squire Zhong and Steward Li came together to accompany him.
The visitor was neither tall nor short. He was said to be just over forty, but he looked like someone over fifty. The hair at his temples was somewhat loose and messy. His clothes were somewhat loose and baggy. When he walked, he also looked loose and slack. It was clear that he was a person who did not like to be restrained.
His temples were streaked with grey. Even the beard he tugged at had some grey in it. The tip of his nose had a slight reddish tinge from drinking. The muscles on his face were slack. His complexion was pale. His eyes lacked energy and spirit.
Looking at his appearance, the foundation of his looks should have been that of a very good looking man. It was just that he had clearly been hollowed out by wine and women.
After sizing up the visitor, Yu Qing who was waiting under the eaves immediately walked quickly down the steps and went to greet him respectfully.
Squire Zhong made introductions between the student and the teacher on the side and had Yu Qing perform the ceremony of paying respects to the teacher.
Mister Ming gave a casual hum in response. Afterwards he arrogantly announced the rules to the Zhong family. “I do not like to be disturbed when teaching people, and I do not like to be stared at by others. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter this courtyard. If you agree, I will teach. If not, I will leave.”
Yu Qing, who was slightly lowering his head in a respectful posture, immediately raised his eyes to look. A look of envy flashed in his eyes.
He admired this kind of person. They could earn a large amount of other people’s money and still dare to put on airs.
Squire Zhong immediately said politely, “Everything will be done according to Mister Ming’s rules.”
“Fine. Please go.” Mister Ming did not waste words. He directly gestured with his hand to indicate that Squire Zhong and the others could leave.
“Uh…” Squire Zhong was a little unaccustomed to it, but he still obediently withdrew.
After leaving the courtyard gate, Steward Li could not help complaining. “His airs are really big.”
Squire Zhong waved his hand. “Only those without ability flatter others. This kind of person has the capital to be arrogant because of his talent.”
Steward Li thought about it and nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile Mister Ming had directly asked Yu Qing to take him into the study.
Once inside the study he walked around. His nostrils flared as he sniffed. Then he glanced sideways at Yu Qing and asked, “How long have you lived here?”
Yu Qing said respectfully, “I just arrived. It has only been about two days.”
Mister Ming immediately stopped talking further. He went straight to the low couch nearby, moved the tea table on it to the floor, then went out for a while. When he came back he was already carrying a blanket and a pillow from Yu Qing’s bedroom.
He threw the things onto the low couch, lay down on it himself, shook open the blanket to cover himself, and then began to look comfortably as if going to sleep.
Yu Qing was a little dazed. He stood by with his hands at his sides and waited for a while. Finally he could not help asking, “Sir, what are you…”
He had never properly studied books before and did not know if it was because he had little experience. For a moment he did not dare to question it completely.
Mister Ming, lying on his side, opened one eye to look at him. “This study has no smell of ink. At least ten days have passed without opening any ink. I can tell with one sniff that you do not seem like a scholar. Yet you were actually able to pass the provincial examination. I really do not know how you managed it. I have seen many sons from rich families like you. Nine out of ten were forced by their families to study. I will not make things difficult for you, and you should not make things difficult for me either. I did not sleep well last night. I will take a nap. Do as you please.”
“…” Yu Qing was dumbfounded and in awe. It was not because of this person’s experience, nor because of this person’s nose that could tell with one sniff that he was not a scholar. It was because he had not expected that one could earn money like this. He had only come for an afternoon, and even this afternoon he planned to sleep through it. This was not coming to earn money at all. It was simply coming to pick up money.
It was simply too much, but he did not dislike this excess. He was precisely worried about how to get through this study period. In the end the person who came was too considerate. He did not say anything extra and knew exactly what a student like him wanted. He did not make things difficult at all.
He could not help wanting to ask for advice. “Sir, have you instructed other people’s sons like this before?”
Mister Ming, who had closed his eyes again, was also straightforward. He stretched lazily and said, “It depends on the situation. If they are willing to learn, I teach. If they are not willing to learn, there is no use even if you teach them. Why force each other? For someone like you, how much ink is in your belly was already fixed long ago. It is not something that can be trained in this short time. Just wait. Once the court has decided on the examiners who will set the questions, I will judge the scope of their questions for you. Then I will mark it out for you. You can make up for it accordingly. How much you can make up depends entirely on yourself. Of course, if you want to study now, you can. This afternoon first copy out a list of all the books on the bookshelf for me. When you have finished copying, wake me up and I will teach you the next step.”
Yu Qing turned his head to look at the bookshelf. Good grief. He did not know why the Zhong family had placed so many books in the study. There were at least several hundred to start with. Just flipping through them once would probably be tiring. He immediately lowered his posture and gave in. “Everything sir says is right. I will listen to sir. It is just… if my uncle and the others ask later, I am afraid it will be hard to explain.”
Mister Ming gave a cold laugh with his eyes closed, looking as if he had known this all along. He turned over, facing inward on his side, and slowly gave a reply. “Do not worry. I will say that you are extremely hardworking and attentive. I will definitely speak well of you. If they ask me, you know what to say, right?”