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“Excuse me, I need to step away for a moment,” Gaing Weishou gestured respectfully to Jiang Chunbao.
“Take your time, Gaing,” Jiang Chunbao even stood up and steadied Gaing Weishou.
“Please continue eating, Jiang. I’ll be back shortly,” Gaing Weishou, slightly unsteady on his feet, inquired about the restroom’s location from the waiter before heading towards the back courtyard.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chunbao resumed his meal.
Taking advantage of Gaing Weishou’s absence, Jiang Chunbao picked out all the meat from the dishes and savored it fervently, washing it down with a gulp of wine.
Eating meat heartily and drinking wine freely, he felt truly content!
Jiang Chunbao basked in the joy of his good fortune, realizing he could save a significant amount of money by staying with Gaing Weishou after a satisfying dinner. He planned to spend a modest sum later on to purchase an antique item, passing it off as a family heirloom, as a token of gratitude to Gaing Weishou. This plan seemed perfect to him.
As the night deepened, the patrons of Zui Xianlou gradually departed, having indulged in food and drink.
Initially relaxed while eating and drinking, Jiang Chunbao soon grew restless.
Gaing Weishou had been gone for almost half an hour, which felt unusually long to Jiang Chunbao.
Worried about Gaing Weishou’s sudden disappearance, Jiang Chunbao inquired about the restroom’s location from the waiter and went to search for him. However, upon reaching the restroom, he found it empty.
“Where’s the person who was dining with me just now?” Jiang Chunbao, feeling anxious, urgently stopped the waiter for information.
“Which person?” The waiter seemed puzzled by the question.
“The one who was eating with me earlier…” Jiang Chunbao stumbled over his words, “The one who’s not very tall, a bit chubby, and dark-skinned. He was sitting with me and even moved his food to my table. He said he was going to the restroom. Where did he go?”
“Oh, that person,” the waiter suddenly realized. “He left through the back door a while ago, mentioning an urgent matter. And as he left, he took away two servings of divine fairy chicken and a pot of wine.”
“Are you leaving now, sir? Shall we settle the bill? I did a rough calculation, and the total for everything on your table comes to three taels and six coins of silver,” the waiter informed.
What?
Jiang Chunbao was initially stunned, then slumped to the ground in disbelief.
Days flew by, and before he knew it, the provincial examination had arrived.
During the provincial examination, consisting of four sessions, each exam lasted a day, with varying gaps in between. The examinations included tests on calligraphy classics, miscellaneous essays, and policy essays—each held on separate days, with the third exam spanning two days, summing up to a total of four days.
Throughout these four days, candidates were confined to the examination venue, where daily rest, meals, and other needs were managed within the confines of the “pigeon cage,” with designated attendants available for restroom visits.
The provincial examination not only assessed academic knowledge but also tested physical endurance.
At the appointed time, the exam venue opened, conducting a basic search at the entrance. Candidates were then escorted to their respective examination rooms, where a thorough body search was conducted before entering.
After passing through two rounds of checks, Song Jingyun arrived at his designated examination room, labeled as Room 46.
Inside the room, everything was meticulously arranged: three walls surrounded the space, with two sturdy wooden boards set up—one as a table and the other as a chair. These boards were movable, and when combined at night, they served as a bed for resting.
Currently, a quilt was laid on the chair, while writing materials like ink, paper, and inkstone were neatly arranged on the table for answering exam questions.
Song Jingyun settled into his assigned room, inspecting his belongings before the examination began.
After ensuring everything was in working order, Song Jingyun settled down comfortably in his seat.
As the exam papers were distributed, Song Jingyun felt a sense of relief. He dipped his pen in ink and earnestly began answering the questions on the answer sheet.
The entire exam hall exuded a solemn and serious atmosphere, accompanied by profound silence.
The quiet environment allowed for the sound of breathing, the rustling of paper as people wrote their responses, and the occasional swallowing sound from individuals feeling nervous.
Song Jingyun remained focused, diligently answering the questions without distraction.
Meanwhile, after seeing Song Jingyun off to the examination hall, Jiang Mixia took a stroll in the streets, had breakfast, and then returned to the inn to rest.
Since Song Jingyun had to stay in the examination venue for four days, Jiang Mixia would also spend the entire four days at the inn.
Being alone was a new experience for Jiang Mixia. Since arriving, she had been accustomed to the constant company of her husband, sharing meals and sleeping together. Now, with only herself for company, it felt unfamiliar and somewhat lonely.
After tossing and turning in bed for a while, Jiang Mixia eventually dozed off.
She slept until noon, feeling hungry upon waking up. Jiang Mixia decided to venture out in search of food.
While the inn’s meals were decent, the repetitive daily fare had become dull. Seeking a change, Jiang Mixia headed out to explore.
Most eateries on the main street offered similar dishes, so she turned into smaller alleys, hoping to discover some unique culinary delights.
In the narrow lanes, she found numerous small storefronts and food stalls bustling with activity as people moved about during lunchtime.
Amidst the lively chatter, the aroma of various foods filled the air.
Jiang Mixia wandered around, exploring different spots, until she stumbled upon a stall selling spicy wontons.
Red oil wontons, a delicacy commonly associated with Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine in Jiang Mixia’s mind, were a surprising find in this northern region.
Intrigued, Jiang Mixia decided to taste this dish.
The vendor selling the spicy wontons was a woman only slightly older than her, accompanied by a four or five-year-old girl. The child, a thin little girl with slightly yellowish hair, had notably large, bright eyes that exuded charm.
Seeing Jiang Mixia stop at the stall, the girl hurriedly fetched chopsticks, eagerly hoping for her to sit down.
“I’ll have a bowl of red oil wontons,” Jiang Mixia smiled as she took a seat.
The girl visibly relieved, added wood to the stove from a pile of firewood nearby.
The woman expertly wrapped the wontons and cooked them, then served them in a bowl, drizzled with red oil and various seasonings, placing it in front of Jiang Mixia. “Enjoy your meal.”
The red oil wontons, glistening and aromatic, filled Jiang Mixia’s mouth with a rich and flavorful taste as she took the first bite.
The delicious flavor spread throughout her mouth.
“So tasty,” Jiang Mixia exclaimed.
“You’re welcome to come back often,” the woman said with a shy smile.
“Absolutely,” Jiang Mixia nodded.
Such delicious red oil wontons deserved to be enjoyed more than once.
Moreover, her husband had an insatiable appetite. After he finished his exams, she planned to bring him here to taste this delightful dish as well.
Lost in these thoughts, Jiang Mixia continued to enjoy the bowl of red oil wontons, savoring every bite.
The small stall was cozy, accommodating around six to seven people, and being mealtime, it was nearly full with satisfied customers.
A burly man strode over swiftly.
Noticing the man moving towards her, Jiang Mixia casually shifted slightly, making room for him to sit beside her.
However, instead of sitting down to enjoy the red oil wontons, the man reached out to the vendor.
For the sake of plot progression, details regarding the imperial examination system and knowledge are mostly based on historical records of the Ming and Qing dynasties with slight modifications by the author. There may be some deviations from actual history, so please don’t scrutinize them too much~