Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 61 I'm just passing by...
The more Zhang Shou interacted with Zhu Ying, the more he realized that the young lady was by no means simply impulsive, willful, or rude. Every time before she lost her temper, she always had a reason, just like the convincing words she was saying now.
However, at this moment, instead of letting go of the reins, he pulled them even tighter, so that Zhu Ying had to sullenly ride her horse closer to him.
"Scolding me is a small matter, violating the imperial ban is a big matter. So, scolding me is normal, but so many people gathered at the teacher's door, knowing that they violated the ban but not dispersing, that is abnormal. Have you ever thought that perhaps none of those who flocked to the door to submit their papers and seek to study and become teachers, including the people who just admired the memorial archways with us, may have achieved academic success?"
"You mean... they knew about the ban, so they brought these guys here? Great, bringing these guys who don't even want to take the imperial examinations to study under a master is simply to disgust people!"
Seeing Zhu Ying was stunned at first and then frowned, Zhang Shou couldn't help laughing.
"Since they are talking about me, Yingying, do you believe it or not, these people are definitely not ordinary people? They must be the kind of people who were recruited from somewhere and have outstanding mathematical talents."
"How is this possible!" Zhu Ying's eyes widened. "Except for Lu Sanlang, everyone else complained bitterly about those heavenly books. They are harder than studying the Four Books and Five Classics. How can we find so many people with mathematical talent to come to Grandpa Ge!"
"Otherwise, how can people use these people to make my pitiful talent dim?"
Seeing Zhu Ying's eyebrows gradually raised, obviously she was really angry, Zhang Shou smiled and said, "Okay, okay, since others are blocking the door, let's just come back later. Are you hungry? Why don't we go somewhere and find some delicious food to satisfy our stomachs, and then come back after we're full? I heard that there are many kinds of snacks in Beijing."
Abandon these guys and go eat? Zhu Ying was stunned at first, then she remembered that Zhang Shou always advocated fine food and even went to the kitchen himself, so she snorted and agreed.
The guards behind looked at each other, and didn't say much when they saw Ah Liu, who had come out with Zhang Shou today. Thinking of how he had shown extraordinary martial arts that night and dared to contradict Hua Qiye, whom they feared the most, what else could they say? Should they just accept their fate and continue to go shopping with the eldest lady and the future son-in-law?
Anyway, they were hungry, so it was better to go out for a walk and eat than for the young lady to cause a farce by whipping a scholar in the street.
Therefore, those who were carrying scrolls in front of the Ge Mansion and those scholars who were admiring the memorial archway soon discovered an incredible scene. The group of visitors who came with many followers and were obviously visiting Ge Yong actually walked away to the other end of the street after talking for a while, as if they were just... passing by!
Donkey rolls, pea yellow, tofu pudding, Aiwowowo, fried liver... After trying quite a few snacks and filling his stomach almost to the brim, Zhang Shou turned back, talking to Zhu Ying as they walked about which things were just in name only and which ones were to his liking.
It must be said that many old Beijing dim sum that should not be available these days can now be eaten, which is really a psychological comfort for him. Even some dim sum that he didn't like to eat before seem to have become delicious...
When they arrived at the gate of Ge's house, they saw that the crowd of people carrying scrolls had not dispersed at all, and the scholars who were admiring the memorial archway were still there. However, unlike the initial noise, everyone was listless and weak until they noticed their arrival, and then there was a small climax again, and the noise suddenly became louder.
Faced with this situation, Zhang Shou tilted his head and thought for a while, then suddenly whispered to Zhu Ying, "How about this, let's go back to the bookstore we just visited and buy another box of the teacher's books."
Zhu Ying was stunned: "What, we still have to go to the bookstore? You're not going in this time?"
"Look, there were , but their spirits and energy are far worse. As the saying goes, the first push is strong, the second is weak, and the third is exhausted. I believe that after we come back from another round, these guys probably won't even have the energy to cause trouble. I think the people who invited them here would not be so thoughtful as to deliver food to the Ge family's gate, right?"
Zhu Ying finally laughed out loud: "This is the first time I know that you can manipulate people like this...Okay, I'll listen to you today!"
The guards, who were also filling their stomachs, looked at each other, and the same thought came to their minds.
Don't ever offend this seemingly handsome young man, he is like a soft knife that cuts flesh without leaving any blood!
Therefore, the people in front of the Ge Mansion watched Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying's group pass by for the second time and leave for the second time. As the sun rose to the zenith and they were hungry, they didn't know how to continue this play and how long they had to hold out, and they couldn't help but fall into confusion.
When they found the bookstore they had visited earlier, this time, Zhang Shou asked Zhu Ying to stay and not show up. Instead, he sent Ah Liu over there, took out Lu Sanlang's token, and once again bought all the new books signed by Ge Yong at a very outrageous price.
As Zhang Shou expected, this San San Bookstore was opened by Lu Sanlang, who took over the printing business from other noble children and made a lot of money. Because of this, the shrewd clerk who had lost a lot of money because of selling books at a low price and was almost hanged himself was relieved to know that he didn't have to pay the difference out of his own pocket, but the boss would pay for it.
Ah Liu, who was always cautious, even asked for the original price of the books. Six books for one set, two coins, no bargaining!
As for the number of pages... sixty pages per book. The overall price is almost twice as high as other books in the bookstore.
There is no doubt that the two words "Ge Yong" contributed to the extraordinary price.
After buying a whole box of books, the group returned to the Ge Mansion for the third time. They saw that the crowd of people carrying books had not dispersed, and the scholars who were admiring the memorial archway were still there. However, there were obviously fewer people gathered in front of the door. The doorman of the Ge Mansion was also replaced.
Some of the people outside the door were sitting on the ground, and some were leaning against the wall. Compared with the first time when they were full of energy and had loud voices, and the second time when they were cheered up and made persistent efforts, everyone at this moment was like wilted vegetables. Even when they found that Zhang Shou and others had arrived again, they were unable to have a small climax.
Having been played like a monkey time and time again, those who were pretending to pass the scroll or those who were pretending to admire were all waiting for Zhang Shou and his group to make a move. Almost everyone had the same idea - if they were treated as if they were just passing by and left again this time, then they would have to give up on this show!
