Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 5 Aspirations
"Luming Pavilion?"

Upon hearing this name, Zhang Yusheng and the others were once again filled with doubt.

Although Luming Pavilion was not the largest bookstore in the capital, it was quite famous among the city's literati.

The scope of Luming Pavilion was very broad. It not only edited and published many collections of poems and essays such as Bai Juyi's poetry collection and prose collection, and Yuan Cishan's collection, but also published a number of popular literary books.

Among them is "The Complete Record of Martial Achievements and Heroic Deeds of the Ming Dynasty", which helped Guo Xun, the Marquis of Wuding, to be promoted to Duke of Yi and Grand Tutor. There is also "Yongxi Yuefu", which includes Sanqu and opera from the Jin, Yuan and Ming dynasties. It even includes "Water Margin" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

These scholars who had passed the imperial examinations in the capital would naturally visit bookstores in their spare time to experience the cultural heritage and atmosphere of the capital, and thus they would inevitably have heard of Luming Pavilion.

They just couldn't figure it out for the time being.

Yan Maoqing is usually quiet, so how did he get involved with Luming Pavilion again, to the point that the manager of Luming Pavilion personally came to Yuzhang Guild Hall?

"It's nothing major, just some trivial matters related to the bookstore business."

Manager Liu only mentioned it briefly and did not elaborate.

Upon hearing this, Yan Shifan assumed that Yan Maoqing had bought books from Luming Pavilion on credit, and that Manager Liu had come to collect the debt. He didn't bother to inquire further, simply waving his hand and jokingly saying:

"Thank goodness you arrived in time. If you had been any later, we probably wouldn't have been able to find him."

"Why?"

Manager Liu looked puzzled.

"It's just that the Yuzhang Guild Hall is too small, and Yan Maoqing is not used to the food and lodging there. He was just packing his bags to find another place."

Yan Shifan casually reversed the wording to prevent Manager Liu from spreading rumors and ruining the Yan family's reputation as a respectful and virtuous family.

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu's expression changed, and he subconsciously pressed for an answer:

"Are you going to the Jiangxi Guild Hall?"

This was a big problem for him. After the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from Jiangxi came to the capital, most of them would stay at the Yuzhang and Jiangxi Guild Halls, otherwise they would have to spend money to rent private houses or inns.

Hanging it in the Yuzhang Guild Hall signifies an intention to become Yan Song's disciple.

Hanging it at the Jiangxi Guild Hall signifies that they are on Xia Yan's side.

This matter might not concern others, but his master and Xia Yan have always been at odds, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they are mortal enemies, so naturally he couldn't ignore it.

"That's hard to say, since his legs are his own."

Yan Shifan knew who Manager Liu's master was, and naturally he also knew about this relationship.

Although Xia Yan knew that the Yan family was afraid of being associated with him due to their reputation, he would only keep his distance from them. Therefore, it was better for Yan Maoqing not to go and hang out with the Jiangxi Guild Hall, as going would only bring him humiliation.

But in front of Manager Liu, he still deliberately said so, and then tripped up Yan Maoqing again.

In this way, even if Yan Maoqing is a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), Manager Liu will definitely not give him any more kindness. Let's see how Yan Maoqing handles himself later.

really.

"This……"

As soon as he finished speaking, Manager Liu frowned and bowed somewhat impatiently.
"Young Master Yan, please forgive me for leaving. I must go see Scholar Yan immediately."

"Someone, lead him there."

Yan Shifan realized that Manager Liu had fallen for the trap, and while finding it amusing, he waved his hand dismissively.

He then sat down comfortably on the rose chair in the hall, instructing his servants to serve wine to the other scholars while waiting to see the exciting show that was about to unfold.

However, Yan Shifan wasn't looking to cause trouble just to watch a play; he wasn't that bored.

His real purpose was to isolate Yan Maoqing among these successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

After all, the real reason he expelled Yan Maoqing from the Yuzhang Guild Hall could not be said openly for the time being. However, if a reasonable explanation was not given, these scholars would inevitably have some doubts in their hearts, even if they did not say it, and would inevitably gossip in private.

Now, if we can use Manager Liu to expose Yan Maoqing's ugly behavior in front of these scholars, making them ashamed to associate with him, then we can succeed.

So even if he doesn't offer any explanation, these people will just make it seem reasonable in their own minds.

……

In the wing room.

Yan Maoqing had just finished packing his change of clothes and books, and then carefully counted the remaining money he had saved for this trip to the capital.

There were eight taels of silver in total, plus about three hundred coins in change. Prices were relatively stable during the Jiajing era, and the purchasing power of silver was quite good. A pound of pork cost about twenty coins, and a pound of rice cost only three coins.

Therefore, this amount of money was a huge sum for an ordinary family.

This was naturally due to his family background. Although he could not be said to be extremely wealthy, he belonged to the landlord class in the village, where he had enough to eat and wear and even had surplus grain. There was no way he, a Jinshi who had finally brought honor to his ancestors, would suffer.

It's just unknown what his parents and relatives would think when they learned that he, a scholar who could have his own page in the family genealogy, was only thinking about retiring and returning to his hometown to continue "living off his parents."

However, there's no need to worry too much.

His parents and relatives were all commoners, so if anyone was disrespectful to him, he could still use his status as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) to deal with them.

Anyway, he's living a carefree life in Beijing now, with only himself to feed and no one else to worry about.

With these eight taels of silver, as long as I don't squander it, even without the free room and board at Yuzhang Academy, I can easily get through the observation period, which could last from a few months to a year. I reckon I'll even have some left over, so there's no need to worry...

Just as this plan was being made.

"Scholar Yan, Scholar Yan!"

Suddenly, a familiar shout came from outside the room.

Yan Maoqing quickly put away the money, carefully placing it at the bottom of the box, before putting on a smiling face and going out to greet them with great enthusiasm.

"Manager Liu, what brings you here? You've come at just the right time."

"Just a coincidence?"

Manager Liu was taken aback.

Yan Maoqing stepped aside to show off the luggage he had just packed, and continued to smile shamelessly:
"I was just about to move out of the Yuzhang Guild Hall. I had just finished packing my luggage and was wondering if I should go outside the guild hall to pay someone to help me move when Manager Liu arrived at the door. Isn't that a coincidence?"

"It's both a coincidence and not a coincidence."

Manager Liu then realized what was happening, and his face immediately showed a troubled expression:

"If Scholar Yan intends to stay at the Jiangxi Guild Hall, please forgive me for being unable to assist you. Not only can I not assist you, but I am afraid that the cooperation agreement previously made between Luming Pavilion and Scholar Yan will have to be painfully terminated, and we will cease all contact from now on."

"Who said I was going to hang out at the Jiangxi Guild Hall?"

Yan Maoqing was puzzled.

"So, what is Scholar Yan planning to do..."

"Manager Liu has misunderstood. It's just that the guild hall is too crowded and noisy, and I prefer quiet, so I plan to move out and find a quiet place to live alone."

Yan Maoqing did not involve Yan Shifan, so as not to make Manager Liu wary of him and put him in a difficult position.

"really?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu immediately perked up.

"Can we still have a holiday?"

"Has Scholar Yan already found a place to go?"

"Not yet, I was originally planning to stay at an inn temporarily... but Manager Liu has lived in the capital for a long time, do you have any suitable places to recommend?"

"It's getting late, and it might not be suitable to go looking for someone right now. But I happen to have a small, vacant courtyard. If you don't mind, Scholar Yan, why don't you stay there for a few days and we can make a decision later?"

"Well... then I have no choice but to accept your offer."

“Scholar Yan, you flatter me. These are the luggage you need. Let me handle them!”

Yan Maoqing had no idea who was behind Manager Liu.

All that is known is that Manager Liu came in person today and is being so attentive, so the cooperation that was previously just a trial run must have been finalized.

And after the recent market testing, the results should be quite good.

This is an unexpected surprise.

From then on, he already had extra income in the capital city before he even started spending any money.

Now that I can return to my hometown, I'll have another way to make money, and I feel that my life after retiring from officialdom is becoming more and more promising.

(End of this chapter)