PNB Chapter 122 Teasing
Chapter 122 Teasing
Inside the private room, even after the yamen runners and the innkeeper had left, Peng Zhizhi still looked at Zheng Hao and the other two with disbelief.
"Did you hear that? The yamen runner who came to deliver the good news said I passed the provincial examination!"
"Sixty-seventh in the provincial examination!" Peng Zhizhi's face was filled with excitement and joy. "I never dared to imagine it. I was just grateful to have my name on the supplementary list. I never thought I would actually rank sixty-seventh!"
"Hiss!" Peng Zhizhi gasped as he thought about it: "This is like a dream."
Seeing Peng Zhizhi's ecstatic expression, Zhen Yuan said, "You should tone it down. If people outside hear what you're saying, they might think you're showing off!"
Having shaken off his gloomy demeanor before the list was released, Peng Zhizhi said, "I'm not stupid, why would I do something that would make people hate me!"
Having achieved good results, Peng Zhizhi even had the leisure to bicker with Zhen Yuan.
Zheng Hao addressed the three people in front of him, saying, "Brother Zhen Cheng, Brother Zhen Yuan, and Brother Zheng, please sit a while longer. I have some matters to attend to at home, so I must return first."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuan stopped arguing with Peng Zhizhi. He turned to look at Zheng Hao, his face full of confusion: "When the results of the provincial examination are out, we should at least celebrate. What could be more important than your celebration of winning the top scholar title?"
Zhen Yuan truly couldn't understand. Before Zheng Hao could speak, Peng Zhizhi explained, "The yamen runner who came to deliver the good news just now said that another group of people would come to our house to deliver the good news. Brother Zheng's family consists of elderly women, so it's not easy to deal with the yamen runners. Naturally, he has to go back to take charge of the overall situation."
Having delivered several letters home for Zheng Hao, Peng Zhizhi understood better than the Zhen brothers how much Zheng Hao valued his family.
That was no longer the ordinary junior being filial to his elders. Unlike them, who were still protected by their parents and family, Zheng Hao began to support his family, and it had become his responsibility to care for the elders in the family.
Peng Zhizhi thought that if the frail and sickly Uncle Gu had supported his studies for many years, he would also rush home every day after he grew up, unwilling to let the other suffer even the slightest hardship.
Zheng Hao did not refute Peng Zhizhi's words, nor did he continue the conversation. He did not like Uncle Gu becoming the subject of gossip.
Zheng Hao cupped his hands to the three of them and said, "Excuse me for leaving now. Let's meet again another day, and I'll treat you then."
Since Zheng Hao had said that, Zhen Yuan couldn't very well keep him there. He knew about the other person's family situation. There was no elder who could take charge, and even Uncle Gu, who was capable of managing things, was frail and sickly all year round. Unlike his family, where if their parents had an accident, they could rely on their grandparents and uncles.
Zheng Hao turned and left the private room.
.
Good Luck Building.
Seeing the pedestrians outside the restaurant all rushing in one direction, a diner asked curiously, "What day is it today? It's early September, not even the Mid-Autumn Festival yet, why is everyone running in the same direction?"
The diner sitting at the same table as him looked up and glared at him: "Have you drunk your brain out? Today is the day the results of the provincial examination are announced. Families with scholars or unmarried sons and daughters are all going to the announcement site to find a son-in-law. How can it not be lively?"
As soon as the diner finished speaking, the diner closest to the counter turned to the young man standing behind the counter and asked, "Boss Gu, I remember you have a nephew who is also a scholar. I think he studies at the prefectural school. Those who can study at the prefectural school are all scholars, right? Is he taking the provincial examination this year?"
After asking, the diner realized he had been too talkative. How could Mr. Gu's nephew possibly be taking the provincial examination?
Unexpectedly, the young man behind the counter looked up at him and replied, "You're off the stage."
"Wha...what?"
Upon hearing Gu Lin's answer, the diner who had asked the question was stunned and didn't react.
Seeing his lack of ambition, another regular customer who knew a lot about the Lucky Pavilion laughed and said, "What's so strange about that? Master Gu's nephew was the top scorer in both the prefectural and provincial examinations."
"Excuse!"
After the man finished speaking, none of the diners expected that Boss Gu had such a promising nephew who could endure for so long without revealing a word.
Some new diners asked, "Boss Gu has a nephew? Who is his nephew? Is he also a scholar? I've never seen him before. Could he be a distant relative?"
A regular customer explained, "Boss Gu's nephew is surnamed Zheng. He and his father depend on each other for survival. He seems to be seventeen years old this year. He became a scholar at a young age and has been studying at the prefectural school."
"So impressive?" the diner exclaimed in surprise, then hesitated and said, "But, to take the provincial examination at such a young age? I saw that the old scholar next door to my house has been taking the exam for over twenty years and is still only a scholar. Considering Zheng's age, how many years of schooling has he actually received?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a diner sneered, a disdainful smile on his face: "Mr. Gu's family is so wealthy and powerful, even if his nephew passed the exam for thirty or forty years, he could probably afford to support him."
The other diners turned to look at the man who had spoken, and frowned. Although what he said made sense, his tone and expression were full of contempt, and everyone remained silent.
Suddenly, a loud and festive clanging sound came from afar. A moment later, several yamen runners in black robes entered the restaurant, shouting, "Congratulations to Zheng Hao, the top scholar, for winning first place in the provincial examination!"
After offering his congratulations, the constable turned his gaze to Gu Lin, who was standing behind the counter, and asked with a friendly smile that the diners had never seen before, "Is this Mr. Gu? Zheng Jieyuan's uncle?"
Walking around the counter, Gu Lin went over and stood in front of the yamen runner. He said, "I am Zheng...the uncle of the top scholar."
The diners stared in disbelief, all looking in the direction of Gu Lin and the constables. The man who had spoken rudely earlier quickly got up and ran out of Good Fortune Restaurant, his face flushed, while no one was paying attention to him.
These yamen runners were not strangers to Gu Lin; on the contrary, they were quite familiar with him.
Zheng Hao was no ordinary scholar. He was not only a classmate of Prefect Zhen's son, but also someone Prefect Zhen valued. A few days ago, the group saw him going in and out with two of the Zhen family's sons.
Now that the other party has become even more extraordinary, rising to become the top scholar in Yueming Prefecture, it wouldn't be wrong for them to be polite to Boss Gu.
The head constable smiled and said to Gu Lin, "Boss Gu is truly blessed. Zheng Jieyuan is exceptionally talented and respectful to his elders. Boss Gu's good fortune is yet to come."
At this moment, Yu Ercheng came over with a red envelope.
Gu Lin raised his eyes to signal, and Yu Ercheng immediately stepped forward and handed the red envelope to several yamen runners.
"I'm sorry to trouble you gentlemen to make this trip. It's nothing much, just a simple cup of tea for you."
The head constable repeatedly declined, saying, "I dare not accept such an offer. This is my duty. How can I let Boss Gu spend so much money?"
Yu Ercheng, with an honest and simple look, pushed the red envelope into the hands of the yamen runners: "Gentlemen, what are you saying? If you have to refuse even a few coins for a cup of tea, our boss will not be happy!"
Gu Lin said, "Even a few coins for tea is a token of our good news, so please don't refuse."
The head constable initially looked troubled, but then gritted his teeth and accepted the red envelope containing 20% of the money. Upon touching it, he realized it was not made of copper coins.
The constable smiled, raised his hands in a fist salute, and said to Gu Lin, "Thank you for your understanding of us brothers, Boss Gu."
Then, Gu Lin politely invited them to stay for tea, but the constables said they had important business to attend to and left.
Gu Lin turned to Yu Ercheng, who then saw the group out.
After the constables left, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.
Everyone looked at Gu Lin with smiles and offered their congratulations.
"Zheng Jieyuan is truly a literary star descended to earth; Boss Gu is so fortunate."
"Boss Gu is a hero among men, and Zheng Jieyuan is also extraordinary!"
……
Listening to the diners' congratulatory messages one after another, and seeing their genuine joyful smiles.
Gu Lin said happily, "Today, every diner who comes to Haoyunlou will receive a complimentary pot of beverage, a pot of wine, and a serving of either pickled fish or boiled fish!"
Upon hearing this, the congratulatory voices in the lobby grew even more enthusiastic, and everyone praised Boss Gu for his generosity and wished him a prosperous business and abundant wealth.
After giving the perks to the diners, Gu Lin gave Yu Ercheng and Lin Xiaoyao a few instructions before heading to the room in the backyard.
Before they even got close, they saw a tall figure standing outside the door.
The man turned around at the sound and saw Gu Lin, whose fair face was flushed with the morning sun and whose face was full of smiles. Zheng Hao couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips slightly and call out, "Uncle Gu."
Seeing him there, Gu Lin asked in surprise, "Didn't you go out with Zhizhi and the others? Why are you back so early?"
Logically speaking, in the past, when the four of them went out, they would not return home until after lunch at the earliest.
Zheng Hao lowered his eyes and looked at the young man standing not far in front of him. He said softly, "I want to go home as soon as possible and tell Uncle Gu the good news."
Gu Lin was so excited and happy that he didn't notice the other person's odd behavior for a moment. His round eyes, with their upturned corners, smiled and turned into crescent moons: "You little rascal, I won't dare to underestimate you in the future."
He was worried about how to comfort the other person if their results were not ideal after the provincial examination results were released, but unexpectedly Zheng Hao quietly won first place and became the top scholar in the provincial examination.
Realizing the implication in Uncle Gu's words, he raised an eyebrow slightly: "Uncle Gu, do you think I won't pass the provincial examination this time?"
Although Zheng Hao's tone was gentle and his expression remained unchanged, Gu Lin, who was staring at the boy, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine when he heard the other party's question. He hadn't done anything wrong, but a sense of guilt arose within him.
He looked at the young man in front of him, his expression firm, his eyes darting around: "How could that be? I believe in your abilities, and I'm sure you'll have a place on the provincial examination list."
Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly, looking at him with his dark eyes, remaining silent.
As Gu Lin spoke, under the other person's focused and unwavering gaze, a look of helplessness appeared on his face: "You have to believe me!"
Zheng Hao stood still, not pressing further: "I naturally trust Uncle Gu."
His expression was indifferent and his tone was calm, so Gu Lin felt that the other party did not believe him.
He looked annoyed, regretting that he had spoken so hastily.
Gu Lin lowered his head in frustration.
Seeing Uncle Gu lower his head slightly, his fair and slightly round face half-hidden in his collar, Zheng Hao's cold expression softened slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.
He thought he couldn't tease him any longer; if he pushed Uncle Gu too far...
A look of tolerance appeared in Zheng Hao's eyes.
He looked at the young man in front of him, his expression softening, and repeated gently, "I believe in Uncle Gu."
Gu Lin looked up and saw that Zheng Hao's expression seemed genuine.
Having not noticed it before, Gu Lin now took a closer look and caught the smile in Zheng Hao's eyes and brows. How could he not realize that the other party had just been teasing him?
He feigned anger, his bright, clear eyes glaring at Zheng Hao: "Fine, I'm all nervous here, wondering what I might have said wrong, and you're just standing there watching me make a fool of myself."
Although Zheng Hao enjoyed watching Uncle Gu make a mistake, he never intended to see him make a fool of himself.
However, unlike before, he could tell that Uncle Gu was joking with him.
A hint of helplessness flashed across Zheng Hao's eyes, and his steady tone carried a touch of coaxing: "Then how about I be punished by buying Uncle Gu a new storybook every month as an apology?"
Even though he knew the other person didn't mind him reading storybooks, Gu Lin's eyes still couldn't help but wander when this topic was brought up.
Looking into Zheng Hao's dark eyes, Gu Lin felt as if he had been pricked by a needle, his face burning, and he dared not continue to look at him.
Zheng Hao seemed oblivious to Gu Lin's odd behavior and continued, "How about I cook dinner for Uncle Gu tonight?"
Gu Lin had eaten the late-night snacks that Zheng Hao made many times. Before Zheng Hao went to live in the school dormitory, Gu Lin's face had never become thin. A year later, after Zheng Hao returned home from the provincial examination, Gu Lin's thin face became round again.
However, Gu Lin had never tasted a proper meal prepared by Zheng Hao before, and his two crystal-clear eyes shone with a unique light: "Let's go home now. I'd like to try the scholar's cooking."
Faced with Uncle Gu's teasing, Zheng Hao looked slightly helpless, but let the other party tease him.
When the two returned home, there were many people gathered in front of the house. Gu Lin looked into the distance and saw Zhao's wife smiling and talking to the people around her.
As she was talking to someone, Sister Zhao turned her head and saw them returning. The crowd followed her gaze.
Upon closer inspection, Gu Lin discovered that the people at his door were all neighbors from the area. They looked at Gu Lin and Zheng Hao with smiles on their faces, but also with a hint of trepidation.
Gu Lin looked at Sister Zhao with a puzzled expression: "Sister-in-law, why are you all gathered together?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd immediately parted to both sides, and Gu Lin saw a basket of eggs, fresh meat, and fruit displayed in front of the door...
His face showed surprise and astonishment.
Bai Lang stepped out from the crowd, took a few steps forward, and said, "Thank you for saving our lives a few days ago. This is just a small token of our gratitude."
"in addition."
Bai Lang smiled and cupped his hands to Zheng Hao, who was standing behind Gu Lin, saying, "Congratulations to Zheng Jieyuan for winning first place in the provincial examination."
Upon hearing Bai Lang's congratulations and seeing the envious and slightly awe-inspiring expressions on the faces of his neighbors, Gu Lin understood what was going on.
He smiled slightly and said, "Thank you all for your concern, but please take these gifts back with you. We're neighbors, so there's no need to be so polite."
The crowd disagreed, saying, "Boss Gu, please accept it. You saved our lives. If you won't even accept a thank-you gift, we'll have no face to leave the house."
For a moment, Gu Lin was caught in a dilemma.
After thinking for a moment, he looked up at everyone and said, "Then I will accept everyone's gifts of gratitude. I hope that we neighbors will continue to help each other in the future!"
Everyone responded in unison, "Of course, of course!"