Chapter 1158: Chapter 1158
On the ninth day of the second month.
Before dawn, Old Madam Ding had gotten up to make a bowl of egg noodles, adding a touch of chili, making Song Chongjin break out in a fine sweat on his forehead, his whole body steaming with heat.
All the luggage was packed, and Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang couldn’t personally see him off, so they could only escort him to the gate of the courtyard.
Song Chongjin held Wang Yongzhu’s hand: "It’s cold outside, you and mother should go back inside, don’t worry—"
Saying this, he turned around and left, with Da Zhuang and Xiao Zhuang carrying the luggage behind him.
Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang watched Song Chongjin’s figure disappear around the corner of the path, and only after a long while did they support each other back into the courtyard. Googlᴇ search novel·fire·net
In the front yard, Song Hong was already waiting and after a few words of encouragement, he dispatched Song Wu to escort Song Chongjin to the gate of The Imperial Academy.
Song Wu, being the most trusted leader of personal soldiers by Song Hong’s side, had done all sorts of tasks over the years, but this was his first time escorting an examinee to the exam.
Feeling both excited and somewhat at a loss, seeing a long line ahead, he wanted to find an acquaintance to cut in line so he could get the young master in sooner to avoid the cold outside.
Song Chongjin quickly stopped him. Honestly, inside The Imperial Academy, once you enter, it’s three days in a small, drafty room with bad smells, preferable to outside.
Having no choice, Song Wu had to carry the luggage and slowly move forward.
They hadn’t been in line long when they saw an acquaintance; Gu Zikai also got off the carriage. Seeing Song Chongjin, his eyes lit up, and he waved as he came over.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries.
Fearing that the examinees might carry cheats, their clothes couldn’t have padded linings, so they could only wear several layers of thick plain clothes, without embroidery.
Wang Yongzhu and the others, having experience, dressed Song Chongjin in clothes with a soft, snug inner layer of thick cotton fabric, and an outer layer made from woolen material from the cold Northwest. Though the color wasn’t appealing, it was warm and insulated.
This was something Wang Yongzhu had sought from a trading firm through Zhang Yinbao. These things were common in the Northwest, worn by ordinary herdsmen, but felt rough and looked a bit filthy due to the natural color of the wool. Local people aside, no one really liked to wear this.
Zhang Yinbao’s caravan, having been battered by wind and rain along the way, found it quite good and brought some back, thinking it would also be popular in the Capital City.
However, the price was high; those who could afford it found it unattractive, while those who wanted it found it too expensive. Why not just fill some cotton and make a cotton jacket?
Thus, it sat in the warehouse, gathering dust, unnoticed.
It was only because Wang Yongzhu needed to make clothes for Song Chongjin that she thought to ask and had it sent to her.
Wang Yongzhu offered to pay, but the shopkeeper refused, insisting it wasn’t worth anything and that since it was just gathering dust in the warehouse, it wouldn’t be right to take money for it.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yongzhu thought for a moment, and after making clothes for Song Chongjin, she called the shopkeeper over to have a look, then suggested he have the remaining woolen cloths made into clothes to be sold specifically to the students taking the exams.
Sure enough, when the shopkeeper went back, he followed Wang Yongzhu’s suggestion and made several clothes, used some tricks, and had them worn by those students.
Initially, the students dismissed them, but after someone tried them on and found them warm, they quickly bought them.
The Imperial Spring Examination was so cold, wearing too much restricted movement, making it hard to extend arms to write.
Wearing too little left one as cold as a dog, making it difficult to hold a pen and write.
It was rare that these woolen clothes were warm yet light, so even though they were not cheap, considering the impact on their future, who would begrudge spending such a small amount?
Therefore, many were willing to spend money to buy one or two pieces to wear.
In just a few days, the stock of woolen cloths was wiped clean, and many who missed out couldn’t help but feel regret.
Today, among students participating in the Imperial Spring Examination, two or three out of ten wore woolen clothes.
Gu Zikai and Song Chongjin naturally were no exception. They looked at each other and smiled.
The two chatted briefly before it was their turn. Their clothes had to be opened up for inspection by the soldiers guarding the entrance, and their luggage had to be unpacked and meticulously checked before they were allowed in.
Song Wu watched until Song Chongjin disappeared into The Imperial Academy before pushing through the crowd to return to the mansion with news.
Everyone’s hearts were tied to Song Chongjin’s exam, not just Song Hong’s.
Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang naturally hoped Song Chongjin would pass, while Song Chongjun and others wished he would fail.
Maternal Aunt Hou, Maternal Aunt Yuan, and Maternal Aunt Dong, who was confined to the courtyard copying scriptures, prayed daily before Buddha for Song Chongjin to fail the examination.
The servants in the mansion were extra cautious these days, fearing to step on toes.
If it were before, Old Granny Zhang could still go out for a walk, but in the Capital City and at such a critical time, she had no choice but to stay in the courtyard, attending to the pots of onions, garlic, and cabbages.
With the constant warmth from the heated floor, the onions and garlic sprouted green shoots long ago, now reaching about a palm’s height.
The small cabbages had also sprouted. With the warm care from Old Granny Zhang, the small seedlings filled the square pots in no time.
The small cabbages grew quickly, changing almost daily.
In a few days, they were as tall as a teacup, vibrant and green, lifting everyone’s spirits just by looking at them.
Not just Old Granny Zhang, even the servants in the courtyard clicked their tongues in wonder, amazed that vegetables could truly be grown indoors.
With too many small cabbage seedlings, they couldn’t grow big, mainly meant to be eaten fresh. So Wang Yongzhu simply used scissors to cut two handfuls, letting Old Madam Ding take them to make egg and cabbage noodles for lunch.
When the noodles were served, the white noodles and golden eggs were topped with tender green cabbage shoots, looking fresh and appetizing.
The homegrown cabbage shoots hadn’t even fully matured; scalded in broth, they were scooped up and tasted fresh and juicy, melting in the mouth.
As she ate the noodles, Old Granny Zhang discussed with Wang Yongzhu about setting up a few more pots indoors. Even if they skipped the onions and garlic, as long as cabbage seeds were sown under proper temperature, they would sprout and grow quickly. They should plant several trays more, so as soon as one batch was finished, the next would be ready.
Wang Yongzhu had no objections, as it wasn’t troublesome at all.
Seeing Old Granny Zhang so enthusiastic made Wang Yongzhu happy too; it prevented her from getting too bored.
After finishing the noodles, Wang Yongzhu looked at the room full of small cabbage shoots, thought for a bit, and instructed Gu Yu and a few maids to find some small bamboo baskets, only two hands big.
Then she had them cut the cabbage shoots, filling two or three baskets, covering them with woolen cloth, with one basket to be sent to Song Hong, another to Lady Gao, and the last one, of course, to the senior madam.