Without waiting for Xun Zhou to speak, Wen Mingtang coughed lightly and said to Lin Fei: “Lin Shaoqing, I made some more mung bean cakes here. Would you like to try them?”

Lin Fei looked at her. Meeting Lin Fei’s gaze, Wen Mingtang immediately understood what he meant and said hurriedly, “This is my share. I didn’t take anything from the guests!”

The cook also needed to eat, so she should get a share of the food. Yu Jijiu would not be too harsh on such a small matter.

Lin Fei, who was about to touch the purse on his waist, nodded and said “Hmm” without looking at Xun Zhou. Instead, he walked to the pavilion and sat down, saying “OK.” Then he looked at Wen Mingtang and said, “Although I had lunch, I am a little hungry after rushing to Mount Li.”

Wen Mingtang said “Hmm”, and before leaving, she glanced at Xun Zhou, whose face was slightly stiff, and signaled him to leave quickly. Xun Zhou opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something to her, but seeing the look on Lin Fei’s face, he didn’t say anything. He just nodded at her and whispered, “I will come back to look for Sister Mingtang later.”

Wen Mingtang nodded at him, said “You don’t need to” and went back to the kitchen. When she brought her portion of mung bean cake to Lin Fei, Xun Zhou was no longer there.

Lin Fei, who came uninvited, sat calmly in the pavilion. There was a teacup on the stone table in front of him, as if a passing servant had handed it to him to quench his thirst.

If one only looked at that face and did not know what Lin Shaoqing was like privately, they would truly think he resembled a refined and handsome gentleman straight out of a book, evoking a sense of intimacy and a desire to befriend him upon first sight.

No wonder he appeared here inexplicably. Not only did these servants not ask him why he came, but they also took the initiative to offer him tea.

With tea, there was no need to worry about choking when eating mung bean cakes. Wen Mingtang placed the plate of mung bean cakes in front of Lin Fei, sat down, and said to him: “People are gone and the tea is cold. It is very good that he can run so far for my father. There is no need to demand that he be perfect like a saint!”

Lin Fei glanced at Wen Mingtang, said “Hmm”, took out a clean handkerchief from his arms, pinched the mung bean cake, and started eating.

Compared to Ah Bing, who often ate without washing his hands and had diarrhea several times, Lin Shaoqing’s habits were really good!

Lin Fei ate a few mouthfuls of mung bean cake slowly, and then said calmly: “I know, but he said ‘the grace is as heavy as a mountain’ several times, so I just asked.”

But looking at the girl’s expression, she was much calmer than he had imagined.

Wen Mingtang smiled upon hearing this and said frankly, “It doesn’t have to be black or white, either this or that.”

“Is it true that his kindness is as great as a mountain, or is it true that his own future is more important?”

Because the favor was as heavy as a mountain, even if Wen Xuance was gone, he was still willing to work hard for it! As for a bright future…

“My father was very busy. As far as I could remember, he seldom cared about my mother and me in the backyard.” Wen Mingtang said, “But when it came to learning, he was indeed a very serious person. Xun Zhou, who can be praised by him again and again, must have real talent and knowledge. I think it’s a pity if this real talent and knowledge is ruined for no reason. With real talent and knowledge, it is worthwhile to do something practical for Darong and the people!”

After hearing this, Lin Fei glanced at Wen Mingtang, paused, and said, “I have read the article by this man named Xun Zhou.”

Because he was also secretly investigating what happened back then, he knew that Wang He and Xun Zhou had visited Wen Xuance’s old friends everywhere in Chang’an City. Out of habit, he took the opportunity to check on Xun Zhou.

“Based on the article alone, it would be more appropriate for him to vote for Wang He.” Lin Fei said.

Although he often dealt with cases now, he was a sānjiǎtop tier or the top three ranks among the highest-scoring candidates in the imperial examinations, often considered the most prestigious and successful after all, so Lin Fei’s vision is naturally not wrong: “The writing reflects the person. Your father’s writing style is more rigorous, while Wang He is more uninhibited. His style is more suitable for Wang He.”

“With Wang He’s guidance, if there are no unexpected circumstances, he is very likely to make it into the top three in the imperial examinations,” Lin Fei said, pausing for a moment and glancing at the calm girl in front of him. He continued, “Actually, it isn’t just Xun Zhou who is working hard for this; Wang He is involved as well. I feel that Xun Zhou, as a student, does not warrant Wang He personally stepping in to help; it is more likely due to your father’s reputation!”

Wen Mingtang already knew about Wang He’s past with Wen Xuance and naturally knew the “hatred” between the two. He was able to put aside the past and personally go out to fight for his “old rival”. Although Wang He was arrogant and unruly, he was indeed broad-minded.

“He deserves to be called a true míngshì!” Wen Mingtang said.

Lin Fei nodded and looked up, his eyes paused slightly on the girl in front of him, and then he passed her and looked behind her.

This reaction made Wen Mingtang’s heart skip a beat. The next moment, before she could turn around, a cold snort sounded from behind her.

“Does a true gentleman need you to say so?” the person snorted. ‘”Doesn’t Wang He know himself?”

His tone was arrogant, and he had already introduced himself, so it was obvious who it was.

Wen Mingtang turned her head and looked at the person who was coming: not far away, Xun Zhou was following a middle-aged scholar with disheveled hair and was looking over here.

Seeing Wen Mingtang turn around, Wang He tilted his head and asked Xun Zhou who was standing beside him, “Is this the daughter of that old man Wen Xuance?”

Xun Zhou nodded and said, “This is Sister Mingtang!”

“Hmph!” Wang He snorted again, looked Wen Mingtang up and down carefully, and said, “Why are you doing kitchen stuff? If Wen Xuance, who always says ‘A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen’ knew about this, he would be so angry that he would die!”

Wen Mingtang said, “The house was confiscated, and without money, naturally, one will do whatever is necessary to survive. The priority is to stay alive first!”

Wang He: “…”

After his face froze for a moment, Wang He turned around and asked Xun Zhou again: “Is this really the daughter of that old man? Why is her personality nothing like that of the old man?”

Xun Zhou said awkwardly: “It’s Sister Mingtang, for sure! As for her temperament… I don’t know either.”

Wang He, upon hearing this, nodded and said, “That’s true. Even though her father was a blunt person, it’s possible for good bamboo shoots to come from poor bamboo!”It means that good children can come from bad parents

Xun Zhou: “…” The teacher not only scolded his mentor but also his own father.

However, since Wang He said this, it was obvious that he felt that Wen Mingtang was much more pleasing to the eye than Wen Xuance.

“That’s right, don’t learn from your father, that bastard!” Wang He snorted, paused, coughed lightly, and said to Wen Mingtang, “The bamboo tube rice is well made!”

He emptied all the rice in the two bamboo boats.

Wen Mingtang said, “As long as you like it, xiānshēngrespected teacher !” She paused, and before Wang He could speak, Wen Mingtang asked him, “What about the other dishes? Are they to your liking?”

Wang He once again said, “Your cooking skills are good. I like them all.” At this point, Wang He glanced at Wen Mingtang and said, “I heard that you are working in the public kitchen of Dali Temple now?”

Wen Mingtang nodded.

Wang He said, “That’s perfect… I will stay in the capital for a while. You are in the public kitchen of the Dali Temple, so it will be easier for me to find you if I need anything!”

(End of this chapter)

---