Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times - Chapter 98

On the last day, after handing in the papers, the old scholar went back to the inn, took a shower, changed clothes, and angrily ran to the address Jing Xingzhi had given him to find someone.

When he arrived in Xicheng Road, he went straight to Jing Xingzhi’s house.

The old scholar stood at the door, lifted his sleeves, and knocked on the door.

Dong dong dong—

“Who is it?” The concierge poked his head out and asked curiously.

The old scholar replied, “I’m looking for…”

Who was he looking for?

The wise brother next door hadn’t even informed him of his name!

The old scholar was going crazy. It was a coincidence that Jing Xingzhi was sending Li Jiafu and Li Jiading off and bumped into him.

The old scholar pointed at Jing Xingzhi and said in surprise, “I’m looking for him!”

Jing Xingzhi smiled, a little surprised, “Brother, you really came to my door? The address is so long, but you have a good memory.”

The old scholar muttered to himself, “It’s just that my memory is better.” He didn’t mention the fact that his aunt lived next door.

Then he shook the gift box in his hand and said, “Today’s gift.”

“Brother, please wait a moment. I’ll send these two off first.” Jing Xingzhi held his fists apologetically and simply watched Li Jiafu and Li Jiading get into the carriage, before turning back to entertain the brother next door.

“Brother, my name is Jing Xingzhi, from Hanbei Prefecture. I don’t know your name?”

“I’m Hao Youcai, from the border town,” Hao Youcai, the old scholar, said, covering his mouth to cough.

Jing Xingzhi smiled, “Brother, the name is quite good. It seems that your uncle’s expectations have been achieved.”

Hao Youcai was slightly chubby, with a round face and a medium build. He looked to be about thirty years old, more like a wealthy young man than a civil servant.

Hao Youcai listened to Jing Xingzhi’s words, “You know my father well. His biggest wish at the beginning was that I would be a Jinshi. I wanted to show him that I, Hao Youcai, could be a Jinshi.”

Hao Youcai shook his head as he spoke, saying, “It’s a pity I’ve been unlucky. I’ve been on the deputy list for three terms, and this year is the fourth.”

It was held every three years, and this year’s fourth examination was after twelve years.

Even if the brother next door was able to take the imperial examination as soon as he passed, he still stayed at this step for twelve years.

What did this mean? It meant that the brother next door likely passed the general examination at the age of eighteen.

There was also a deputy list, which was a list of one hundred people after Jinshi, to encourage those who hadn’t won Jinshi.

This talented brother was on the deputy list three times. He wasn’t weak. He was truly talented.

Jing Xingzhi was somewhat impressed: “Brother, you’ve done the general examination when you were just a teenager, so you’re already an outstanding figure. But you’ve failed in three examinations, so it’s hard to say…”

“What can’t you say?” Hao Youcai asked with a smile, feeling a little hopeful in his heart.

Jing Xingzhi told the truth: “I can’t say but you’ll probably pass this time.”

The two of them were walking and talking at the same time. When Jing Xingzhi mentioned the next term, Hao Youcai stopped immediately.

Hao Youcai stared at Jing Xingzhi with a straight face.

Then Hao Youcai looked fierce, suddenly raising the slap he’d had with his cattail fan, and slapped Jing Xingzhi on the shoulder.

“If I don’t pass this time, I won’t bring anything with me when I come to your house for dinner!”

Jing Xingzhi laughed loudly after hearing this, feeling that he met a very interesting person.

But it wasn’t enough to eat for nothing, even if the person was interesting. Jing Xingzhi shook his head, “This won’t work either.”

“Alas!” Hao Youcai felt bored. “Why doesn’t this work?”

Jing Xingzhi touched his chin, “Because my son seems to be very good at eating.”

This time, it was Hao Youcai’s turn to laugh so hard that he stuffed the gift box into Jing Xingzhi’s hand so that he could free his hands to cover his stomach.

Jing Xingzhi took Hao Youcai into the dining room, and Hao Youcai’s laughter didn’t stop.

Jing Xingzhi ignored him and waved his servants to order the dishes, which were both light and heavy. There was no beef at home, but pork.

Hao Youcai was satisfied and started to eat. After Jing Xingzhi said a few words to him, he obtained the other party’s consent and went to see his Xiao Fangfang and Little Ah Deng first.

Hao Youcai was eating happily alone, and there was another person eating behind him, Wu Mingrui, who had just taken a shower.

The two candidates started eating opposite each other. After eating, they informed each other of their names. Then they yawned while chatting about Jing Xingzhi until they fell asleep on the dining table.

On the other side, Jing Xingzhi hugged little Ah Deng and teased him.

Liu Fang had been laying on the bed with a smile on his face. “Didn’t you say that someone came to our house to have a meal? Where did you leave the person?”

“He wanted to eat, so I had left him in the dining room. I’ll go there after he finishes. I’m not familiar with him, but I thought he was quite interesting.”

Jing Xingzhi smiled and said, “It’s my treat for him, I let him worked hard to help me establish my ‘fame’.”

——Talented but stubborn, emphasizing love and justice but withheld grudge, family was more important than anything else, but indifferent to everyone.

These three sentences were, the external impression Jing Xingzhi had conceived at this time, the external persona he had wanted to create.

To put it simply, he had wanted to be a good person who was not easy to mess with, someone he could make friends with but not offend.

Jing Xingzhi had been very confident in his results in the general examination, and Li Yunxi had praised him profusely during the washing ceremony. He had thought it was really good, which would satisfy Li Yunxi.

After the results of the general examination came out, his various connections would definitely be noticed.

The twice-generation of Imperial Master, Fang Qichen, and his second senior brother, Li Yunxi as the current Holy Emperor. Then, Ning Haibo, the “father” he had not recognized.

He would be the envy of countless people, and he would be envied because of his three great backers.

But in fact, these three backers were not solid. The old man had long since quit the court, Li Yunxi always suspicious and fickle, and Ning Haibo was a weak man. These weaknesses would be discovered sooner or later, and it would have been dangerous if he was targeted.

So, Jing Xingzhi still had to prove that he was strong and not easy to mess with, all while increasing his favourability to his “Second Senior Brother.”

Also, how could a man be willing to live under other’s halo?

Jing Xingzhi just wanted to be himself.

“I, Jing Xingzhi, am powerful myself.”

“I have my own charms…”

Wrong!

“I’m talented but stubborn and don’t know how to forgive, so don’t mess with me.”

When Jing Xingzhi had been thinking about his future of being promoted, making a fortune, being admired by all the people, and having more children, a little kid had laid in his arms and started to cry.

Jing Xingzhi looked down and said, “Ah Deng, why did you pee again??!”

Liu Fang laughed out loud when he saw him getting angry again.

Jing Xingzhi sighed helplessly.

No matter how easy it was… he still had to change his son’s diaper.