typeface
large
in
Small
Turn off the lights
Previous bookshelf directory Bookmark Next

Chapter 209 Nanzi County

The truck at home is big enough, and when I ordered it, I expected it to be used for hauling goods, so even if a shed is built on it and clothes and food are put on it, there is still room for two people to sit.

Dahei had been well fed before going out. This time he came out with plenty of dry food. In addition, Zhuang Keqing and Shen Ling's food was much simpler.

In short, I can buy more when I get to Songling Town, so I don’t have to worry about getting hungry on the way.

It's only half a day's journey from Erli Village to Songling Town, but it's a bit further from Songling Town to Nanzifu County, and you have to pass through two small towns and several villages in the middle.

Zhuang Keqing was afraid that something would happen on the way and he would be delayed, so he would not be able to enter the city on the way, so he even brought a bed with him.

They set off at noon. Most of the people in the village went to the wine shop to join in the fun, and they didn't meet many villagers on the way.

When they did come across it, after learning that Shen Ling was going to take the exam in the county seat, they all smiled and wished him good luck in passing the exam.

"Shen Xiaolang looks different from a weakling like us. He will definitely come back as a scholar this time."

The villagers didn't know what a scholar was born in. They only heard a lot of storytellers and thought that Shen Ling also went to take the scholar examination.

Zhuang Keqing smiled and thanked him, and did not correct him. He only turned around and joked with Shen Ling, "Look, Aling, everyone in the village says you will win the lottery this time!"

The road to Songling Town is familiar. We set off at noon and arrived in the evening.

After paying the fee to enter the city, they found an inn to stay. Before leaving the town the next day, they restocked with some dry food and water, and then set off again.

For three days in a row, luckily the weather was kind and there was no rain or wind along the way. The two of them arrived at the county smoothly.

The prefecture is indeed a prefecture. Although the prosperity of Nanzi Prefecture is not ranked high in the Dasheng Dynasty, in Zhuang Keqing's eyes, it is definitely more than ten times stronger than Songling Town.

Look at this city wall, it’s not just earthen buttresses anymore, it looks decent, and the words ‘Nanzifu County’ are clearly engraved on the top of the city gate.

It was getting dark when they arrived. There were more people leaving the city and fewer people entering the city. After paying the entry fee of three cents per person at the gate, they were interrogated by the guards before they entered.

When I was queuing up, I heard from people in front and behind me that the county examination was coming soon, so I checked strictly. This is not usually the case.

When they entered the city, they didn't know the way and couldn't figure out the situation, so they simply invited a boy who was soliciting customers near the city gate to guide them, found an inn, and stayed there first.

"Let's take a rest today, and then we'll go find out where the inn is cleaner tomorrow, and it's close to the examination center."

As Zhuang Keqing spoke, he covered his mouth and yawned.

Although the inn they stayed in was far away from the city center, it might be because the county examination was approaching and many people rushing to take the examination came, so an ordinary guest room cost 20 cents a night, and the cost of a room was doubled. It costs forty coins.

Fortunately, Zhuang Keqing now had money in his pocket and a strong waist, so he asked for a room above without hesitation, and then asked the waiter to bring hot water for washing.

After everything was cleaned up, the soup noodles ordered earlier were also delivered to the room.

After eating, Zhuang Keqing and Shen Ling discussed tomorrow's arrangements in the room.

"Aling, tomorrow you will rest at the inn and study. I went to look for an inn earlier. If I find it, I will inform you to change places."

There are still three days left before the county examination. A Ling must rest as soon as possible and adjust her schedule. She can no longer follow her and waste her energy on these small things.

She hasn't had a good rest these days, let alone Aling.

Along the way, he was the one leading Dahei, and he only occasionally stepped in. He was obviously the one who was going to take the exam, but he was the one who was most tired.

Shen Ling was indeed a little tired, but he still felt uneasy thinking about leaving Zhuang Keqing alone to find an inn tomorrow.

"You go alone, I'm worried."

He caught the girl's cold hand, held it in his palm and warmed it carefully.

Zhuang Keqing wanted to say that he had been in business for so long and was an experienced professional, so there was nothing to worry about, but when he met Shen Ling's deep eyes, he swallowed his words hard.

"Well, then, I'll ask the waiter at the inn tomorrow and I'll give you some money at least."

She said stumblingly, and withdrew her hand shakingly.

In the past few days since they came out, the two of them have not been close to each other properly. Now that they have space to be alone, she is a little uneasy and shy again.

Under the candlelight, Shen Ling saw that her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were shining brightly, and she showed a rare expression of a little girl who was still wanting to talk, and she couldn't help but raise the corner of her mouth.

"I'm tired, go to sleep."

"Uh, uh, sleep, sleep!"

Zhuang Keqing took off the cotton shirt he was wearing carelessly and dug into the cup on the bed, leaving only the back of his head out.

She raised her ears and listened quietly to the rustling sounds outside the bed. When the bed sank slightly, she closed her eyes tightly.

Shen Ling was lying on her side, looking at the woman next to her who was completely stiff, leaving only her back, and couldn't stop laughing in her heart.

Zhuang Keqing curled up and felt a warm chest against her back, and then she was surrounded by the faint fragrance of ink.

One of Shen Ling's arms wrapped around her, holding her firmly against his chest, his hot lips lightly touched her ear, and his voice was as cold as wine.

"Ke'er, go to sleep."

Zhuang Keqing was extremely nervous. She once thought that A Ling was going to do something again, but in fact, after the other party said this, he really stopped moving and just leaned against her, breathing gradually calmed down.

Zhuang Keqing turned around gently. From her angle, she could only see Shen Ling's distinct chin and throat bones through the dim moonlight.

Aling, when did you grow up?



On the second day, when Zhuang Keqing called for breakfast in the morning, he hired an innkeeper and paid him 50 coins before he finally found out where there was an inn suitable for candidates.

"My dear lady, you are here a little late. We are only two days away from the county examination, and the inns near the examination center are already full."

The innkeeper had seen a lot of people and had become a man. He saw that this young girl was generous and lived in the same room with a young man. They must be a couple. So he didn't address her as a girl, but only gave her a hand. For the fifty cents, I called her "little lady" enthusiastically, which was regarded as an honorific title.

After learning from the waiter that all the inns near the examination center were full, Zhuang Keqing couldn't help but feel a little worried. He didn't even take a few bites of the noodle soup he had for breakfast.

The inn is full, what should Aling do?

"Ke'er, it's okay. We'll just leave early on the day of the exam."

Shen Ling said a word of relief and stopped talking. It seemed that he really didn't take this matter to heart.

But Zhuang Keqing still didn't give up. After breakfast, she still wanted to go out and inquire about the situation.

Even if the inns near the examination center are really full, it is just a good time to familiarize yourself with the roads in advance and avoid any mistakes on the day of the examination.

"Aling, you study in the inn while I go out for a walk and bring you lunch by the way."

"I'll go with you."

Shen Ling stood up, obviously not intending to let her go.

Zhuang Keqing was a little embarrassed.

After spending a long time with Shen Ling, I can sort of figure out his temper.

This young man looked cold and indifferent, but in fact he was cold on the outside and hot on the inside. He was stubborn about what he was determined to do.

Just like now, if I insist on going alone, although he will agree on the surface, he will definitely not stay at the inn and follow me.

"You, hey, okay, let's go!"

Zhuang Keqing opened his mouth, but still did not say any words of rejection.

Rather than letting him follow me, it would be better for the two of them to go together and be a companion. After all, the place is really unfamiliar, and it is the time when the county examination is about to start. There are many foreigners, so it is hard to say what will happen.

Then they went out. Before leaving, Zhuang Keqing also asked the waiter to feed Dahei some bean paste, write the money in the account, and settle the deal together later.

She had something in mind, and after leaving the inn, she inquired all the way out. Finally, she found an inn close to the examination center. They had a room left, but the price was more expensive, costing eighty yuan a night.

The county exams were taken five times in a row, one day each, plus the time to prepare before the exam and the time to wait for the results after the exam, it took more than half a month anyway. After all, if you decide to live here, it will take a long time. One tael of silver each.

It is not easy for ordinary people to provide a scholar. Just the pen and ink books are a lot of money. If you want to spend so much money to stay in an inn, not many people are willing to do so.

But what Zhuang Keqing wanted was nothing more than one tael of silver, which was a drop in the bucket to her.

She proudly paid half a month's room fee to the shopkeeper, and then took Shen Ling with her back to get the mule cart.


This chapter has been completed!
Previous Bookshelf directory Bookmark Next