“Xun Zhou.” Ji Caimai said. Looking at the solemn expression on Wen Mingtang’s face, he thought for a moment and said, “It seems that someone said that your father likes this student very much. It seems that something was going on.”

At this point, he shook his head and held his forehead with his hand, saying, “I can’t remember the specific circumstances. Although everyone in Chang’an City was talking about your father during those days, I only remember the purchases. Sometimes I can’t even tell which is which.”

Not everyone who watches the fun will get to the bottom of it. Most people will just leave after watching the fun and go on with their business.

For a person who was responsible for purchasing items for the public kitchen all day, figuring out how much food to buy every day was his daily job. He would not ask about it, nor would he deliberately write it down.

Wen Mingtang thanked Ji Caimai and said, “Ji Caimai, it’s a lot that you can remember these. As for Xun Zhou…” When mentioning the word “Xun Zhou”, Wen Mingtang paused and said, “I don’t know most of my father’s students. After he got into trouble, most of his students cut off contact with him for fear of being implicated. But I do have some impression of this Xun Zhou. Not long before my father got into trouble, he accepted Xun Zhou as his student. He even praised this student named Xun Zhou several times for his excellent qualifications and said he would become a great man in the future!”

Wen Xuance had countless students, but the ones that he praised so highly were counted on one hand. This Xun Zhou was definitely good. Otherwise, he would not have switched to Wang He’s school after Wen Xuance’s accident.

“Given the feud between my father and Wang He, Wang He must be displeased with people related to my father. The person who can make an exception for him to be accepted as a disciple must be a great talent!” Wen Mingtang said.

As for why she remembered this great talent, it was because Wen Xuance mentioned during that period that this “Xunzhou” brother-in-law took his sister to be exiled away from Chang’an to stay away from those lustful men and avoid disaster.

Although the original owner didn’t quite understand what he said, she was impressed by this “Xun Zhou”. After Wen Mingtang knew about Prince Yu’s targeting and past, she thought about it again… She roughly knew who this “Xun Zhou”‘s sister was: most likely the wife of Wen Xuance’s student who was almost snatched away by Prince Yu.

“Although he made enemies everywhere, he helped Xun Zhou’s sister and never owed Xun Zhou anything.” Wen Mingtang said this with a calm expression, “I am right, I am not afraid.”

In that case, there was nothing to be afraid of. Ji Caimai nodded and continued to discuss the ingredients with Wen Mingtang.

…

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day for Yu Jijiu to host a banquet. As soon as the sky was light, Wen Mingtang rushed to Mount Li and began to prepare for the banquet.

Most of the dishes and drinks today were “tasted” by Yu Jijiu himself, with only a few new dishes added. To cater to the elegant preferences of the literati, Wen Mingtang did not cook the staple food, rice, in a big pot as she did in the past. Instead, she picked out bamboo and prepared to make a special zhútǒng fàn to cater to the literati’s preference for bamboo.

Here, Wen Mingtang was busy in the mountains. At the foot of the mountain, Yu Jijiu, who had left the city early to pick up people, also received the first wave of old friends who had arrived in Chang’an.

“Brother Suqing!”

“Brother Shinan!”

“Brother Jingchu!”

…

The old friends were overjoyed to meet again. There were several carriages parked beside the post station on the official road, and the people getting out of the carriages were greeting each other warmly.

“It’s been ten years since we last met! Brother Shinan is still as charming as ever!”

“No, no, how can I compare to Brother Jingchu’s poetic talent? I also heard about the debate a few days ago, and I heard that Brother Jingchu won first place!”

Seeing this group of literati and scholars talking in the street, passers-by looked over there: the content of the conversation was somewhat incomprehensible!

How could Yu Jijiu and the others care about the opinions of others? After the greetings were halfway through, someone remembered.

“Where is Wang and that crazy boy?” One of them looked around and asked curiously, “I remember that he left Jingzhou two days earlier than me. At that time, I thought he was the first one to arrive among us. How come he hasn’t come yet at this time?”

Yu Jijiu was also a little surprised when he heard this. He said, “I didn’t know there was such a thing! Wang He didn’t come to Chang’an earlier!”

A scholar nearby stroked his beard and nodded when he heard this, saying, “Given Wang He’s arrogant personality, if he came to Chang’an, I’m afraid he would have a few debates with others and cause a sensation!”

As soon as these words were spoken, they at once attracted the approval of the crowd.

“Since Brother Shinan has never heard of it, then Wang He must have not arrived in Chang’an yet!”

Yu Jijiu nodded and was about to speak when he heard a voice coming from the official road not far away.

“It’s just a few days of sightseeing by water. You don’t have to worry about it so much!”

The sound came before the people arrived. Seeing the carriage at the end of the road, the people who were greeting each other looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

“Wang He is Wang He. Who else have such an arrogant tone if not him?”

As the carriage at the end of the road gradually approached, when it was close, everyone realized that the two boys who usually followed Wang He were not next this time. Instead, there was a handsome boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old.

When they reached the front of the crowd, the young man driving the carriage pulled the reins, jumped off the carriage, turned around, and said respectfully outside the carriage: “Lǎoshī, we’re here!”

Everyone was quite surprised to hear the word “lǎoshī” in ancient China, calling someone “老师” indicated profound respect, acknowledged their role as a mentor and educator, and reflected the deep cultural values placed on education and moral development. It was a term that encapsulated not just the act of teaching, but the revered status of teachers in society. It was customary for respected teachers to pass on their knowledge and skills to their most favored disciples, who would then continue their work. This passing of the “衣钵” (yībō, meaning mantle or legacy) was a significant cultural practice. . They subconsciously glanced at the young man: When did Wang He accept a new disciple? He even brought him with him to the banquet for old friends. It seemed that he was very favored and was even prepared to accept him as the successor.

A response came from the carriage, and the curtain was lifted. A barefoot scholar with disheveled hair appeared in everyone’s sight, yawning.

After greeting everyone, Wang He said, “My shoes and socks got wet while enjoying the water, and I still have to go up the mountain, so I won’t get off the carriage. I’ll wait until I get to the top of the mountain and dry my shoes and socks before coming down!”

He even got out of the carriage to enjoy the scenery while he was on the way!

Everyone laughed. They were all famous and romantic people who didn’t care about conventional etiquette. So they all nodded and said, “Then let’s go up the mountain and have a banquet first!”

One of them glanced at Yu Jijiu and said, “I heard that Brother Shinan has found a new chef with good cooking skills. I don’t know how many times he has praised him in his letters! This time we can try the chef’s cooking skills to see if they are worthy of Brother Shinan’s praise!”

“Then let’s go up the mountain!” Wang He brushed his sleeves disapprovingly and leaned back into the carriage. “If the reputation is not worthy of it, even if it is for Shinan’s sake, I will turn hostile!”

Everyone laughed again after hearing this. Yu Jijiu smiled and shook his head, saying, “The King and you are really… Even if you really don’t like me, why would you bother with a little girl?”

Huh? The cook that Brother Shinan found this time turned out to be a little girl? The celebrities were surprised and looked at Yu Jijiu, but Yu Jijiu said nothing more. Instead, he pointed in the direction of Mount Li and said, “Let’s go! We’ll talk about it after we get to Mount Li!”

(End of this chapter)

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