The young man took the chopsticks, carefully picked up a piece of braised pork, put it into his mouth and chewed it. He ate very slowly, the smell of the meat spread between his lips and teeth, and looked at Chu Ling timidly with his smart eyes.
"Sir, why don't you eat?"
Seeing that Chu Ling was motionless, the young man thought for a while and asked in a low voice. He came to Wangyou Lake with his second uncle to set up a stall. He had run errands countless times, and this was the first time someone was so kind to him.
"Thinking about something."
Looking at the young man's honest eyes, Chu Ling smiled and said, "You can eat without worrying about me."
"Um."
The young man nodded in response, but did not move his chopsticks. Although his Adam's apple was squirming and his eyes drifted to look at the braised pork from time to time, he refrained from moving.
"No wonder he was selected as the first choice by Zhaoyan Academy. Poems written by Chu Ling are really rare. Such excellent works may be included in the "Qinglong Collection"."
"Several scholars who were resting at my tea stall earlier talked about the poems written by Chu Ling, and they were all amazed. They said that the two poems by Zhang Bu of Zhaoyan Academy will definitely be included in the "Qinglong Collection"!"
"Look, what I said is right!"
"But really speaking, who is this Chu Ling? Why have I never heard of him before?"
"Yes, if one can be selected as the leader of the primary election by Zhaoyan Academy, one's talent will definitely be admitted to the Imperial College or the other six major academies. The name of such a talented person will be spread throughout the world."
"Could he be a noble son from the Jiangnan provinces?"
"Don't mention it, it's not impossible. Jiangnan provinces have a prosperous cultural heritage, and talents emerge every year. Maybe this Chu Ling is the noble son of a certain family in Jiangnan!"
The tea patrons sitting at the tea stall, after listening to what Zhao Zheng said, chatted with each other, and even discussed Chu Ling's identity.
Forget it, don't think about this anymore.
Chu Ling heard these discussions and thought about why Jiang Zhongzi was like this, but accidentally saw the young man sitting upright, with a glimmer of light flowing from the corner of his mouth, smiling and shaking his head.
No matter what Jiang Zhongzi wants to do.
What does all this have to do with him?
I never thought about participating in the Wangyou Lake Poetry Club.
Even though he was designated as the leader of the primary election by Zhaoyan Yuan, he had no intention of participating.
"Eat whatever you want, don't be so restrained."
Chu Ling reached out and picked up the braised meat plate, handed it to the young man, and said with a smile: "What is your name? Why did you come to Wangyou Lake with your second uncle to set up a stall?"
"My nickname is Xiang Yannian. My father spent thirty copper coins to get it from a storyteller."
The young man hesitated for a moment, stared at the plate of braised pork in front of him, thought for a while, looked at Chu Ling and replied: "Last year, our family suffered a disaster, and my father and mother left, so I followed my sister to Xanadu to join my second uncle...
…”
The more he spoke, the softer the boy's voice became, and a sad look appeared on his face.
Chu Ling frowned slightly, he didn't expect the young man to experience this.
"Sir, it's okay."
Seeing Chu Ling's silence, Xiang Yannian smiled and waved his hand, "I'm fine."
However, those reddish eyes betrayed his heart.
"Sir, don't worry about it."
Zhao Zheng ran over at this time, touched Xiang Yannian's head, and said with a smile: "Country children are just like that, with shallow eye sockets. Don't let it affect your tea drinking. Ah Nian, go buy some fruits and bring them back. There are guests who want them."
"Why."
Xiang Yannian picked up the food box at hand, stood up immediately, bowed to Chu Ling and saluted, then took the copper plate from Zhao Zheng, turned around and ran towards the crowded crowd.
This kid's life is pretty hard.
Looking at Xiang Yannian's leaving figure, Chu Ling felt a little emotional.
"Shopkeeper, let your nephew and niece eat these."
Chu Ling picked up the tea bowl and drank the herbal tea in one gulp. Then he stood up, took out a few pieces of broken silver and handed it to Zhao Zheng, "If you feel that life is difficult, take them to the practice workshop and go to the A-shaped alley to find some wine."
, I’m recruiting people there.”
"Sir, this is impossible."
Zhao Zheng refused repeatedly and refused to take the broken silver handed over by Chu Ling, "We are poor, but we have great ambitions. You are a good person. To be honest, my family talks a lot, and it is not easy to live in society. When both siblings come back,
I'll discuss it with them to see if they want to go."
Zhao Zheng has been selling tea for more than ten years and has come into contact with all kinds of people. He still has the ability to observe people's emotions.
Chu Ling didn't behave like a flower girl.
If he could really find a good place for his siblings, Zhao Zheng would be very willing.
But the premise is that the siblings must agree. Even if the siblings really agree, Zhao Zheng must take him to see it in person. It is best to have Fang Zheng as a guarantee.
"Take it."
Chu Ling put the broken silver into Zhao Zheng's hand and said with a smile: "I wish shopkeeper Zhao a prosperous business."
Like Zhao Zheng, who has a heavy family burden on his shoulders and is willing to accept his nephew and niece who have lost their parents, this is not an easy decision.
Xiang Yannian was dressed simply, but his clothes were clean. It seemed that he had not been treated harshly at home.
Sometimes what the eyes see may be fake, but it may also be real. In such a world, what is true and false is what is true, and Chu Ling has long been used to it.
Chu Ling just does things as he pleases.
After leaving the tea stall, Chu Ling had no intention of stopping at Wangyou Lake.
It's not long since we've been out. It's time to go to the dental shop and hire a cook. Liu Jun is so diligent, but the food he cooks is really not delicious.
As for the selection of the leader of Zhaoyan Academy, Chu Ling didn't take it seriously.
"Sir, do you want to buy flowers?"
Not long after leaving, a girl holding a flower basket walked up to Chu Ling and said with a smile: "I came to Wangyou Lake to bring something for my family. The flowers I sell are very cheap, two cents a flower..."
…”
Why does this girl look so similar to Xiang Yannian?
Chu Ling stopped, looked at the girl in front of him, raised his eyebrows slightly, "You can buy flowers, but I have a question, do you have a younger brother?"
Um?
The girl, who looked happy on her face, frowned slightly and looked at Chu Ling warily, "Master, why are you asking these questions?"
"Just say yes or no?"
Chu Ling said with a slight smile.
"Since the master doesn't want to buy flowers, I'll leave first."
The girl remained alert, took a few steps back, turned around and left.
Quite alert.
Chu Ling smiled, stretched out her hand and said to the girl, "I mean no harm. I was drinking tea at Shopkeeper Zhao's place just now and had a few words with Xiang Yannian."
The girl stopped and turned to look at Chu Ling, but her eyes were still wary, looking at Chu Ling up and down.
"I bought all your flowers."
Chu Ling took out a small bunch of money and handed it to the girl, "Can you cook?"
"meeting."
When the girl saw this, she hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "Why do you ask these things, sir?"
"nothing."
Chu Ling reached out and took the flower basket, looked at the girl and said, "Go back to your uncle. If you agree, let your uncle lead you to me."
Fate is so wonderful sometimes.
Chu Ling also did not expect that he had just met Xiang Yannian at the tea stall, and on the way back, he met his sister. Although he did not know the girl's name, the alertness shown by the girl left a deep impression on Chu Ling.
Chu Ling was sincere in wanting to help Xiang Yannian. Those simple eyes made Chu Ling unforgettable. However, whether the siblings are willing to come or not depends on their decision.