Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

I hurried to Tianshangju and found that Manager Hong was also there.

Like Deputy Manager Qi, Manager Hong's eyes were also bloodshot.

After seeing Chen Lang, Manager Hong stopped communicating with Deputy Manager Qi and took Chen Lang to the study on the second floor.

"Brother Chen, I received a letter via carrier pigeon saying the tofu secret recipe had been leaked, so I rushed back from Linshui overnight." After closing the study door, Shopkeeper Hong took the initiative to explain the reason for his presence. "What's going on? Can you tell me?"

Chen Lang explained the whole process and also told Manager Hong that the two grain stores refused to sell soybeans.

After hearing this, Manager Hong became very angry.

But he was not angry with Chen Lang, but with Deputy Manager Qi.

"I was the one who promoted him and had high hopes for him, but I didn't expect his ability to cope with the crisis to be so poor."

"Instead of trying to resolve the problem, they're trying to lower the price."

"It's such a waste of all the effort I've put into him over the years."

Chen Lang said, "Don't be angry, Shopkeeper Hong. I think Deputy Shopkeeper Qi's reaction is quite normal."

"After all, if you look closely, the problem lies with me."

Shopkeeper Hong said, "Mr. Chen, there's no need to blame yourself too much. This kind of thing is bound to happen sooner or later."

"To use an inappropriate analogy, if a poor person suddenly has a gold ingot, it would be strange if he wasn't robbed."

"Come to think of it, I have some problems too. I should have warned you earlier."

"But there's no point in saying this now. It's already happened. We should be thinking about how to deal with him."

Chen Lang said, "Shopkeeper Hong, please reduce the purchase price of tofu to thirty cents per pound."

Shopkeeper Hong shook his head. "Mr. Chen, if it weren't for you, it's doubtful whether Tianshangju in Nanhe County could be saved. At this critical moment, am I a human being if I lower your supply price?"

"And don't forget, the dishes you made at the main restaurant were enough for me to severely suppress Zuixianju."

"Don't think you can challenge me just because you control tofu. They are not qualified enough!"

Chen Lang said, "The main reason is that the supply will be reduced, but the purchase price remains the same. I feel a little guilty about this."

Shopkeeper Hong waved his hand and said in a domineering manner, "Mr. Chen, put your heart back in your stomach. I have been the shopkeeper for so many years and have experienced all kinds of storms. This is nothing."

"How are you going to deal with this crisis, Mr. Chen?"

"It's not a good thing for a student like you to offend the students of the imperial academy."

"They're only targeting your business. If they get upset one day and attack your reputation, that would be a huge problem."

Chen Lang pondered and said, "I want to continue studying."

"As long as you can pass the exam and become a scholar, you don't have to be too afraid of them."

Shopkeeper Hong blinked his eyes, thinking he had misheard.

Seeing that Chen Lang's eyes were firm and he didn't seem to be lying, he immediately said, "Mr. Chen, the county exam is only a dozen days away. You're saying you want to take the exam now..."

"Even if you, Master Chen, are well-educated and can easily pass the exam, the question is, how do you qualify to take the exam?"

"According to the rules of our dynasty, for a student to take the imperial examination, he or she must be guaranteed by either three scholars or one student from the imperial academy. Otherwise, he or she cannot take the examination."

"You have offended a student from the imperial academy. I'm afraid the other scholars in the county wouldn't dare to guarantee you."

"And the other students on the stipend will probably ignore you out of friendship."

Chen Lang said: "If they don't guarantee me, I will guarantee myself."

Shopkeeper Hong frowned: "What do you mean?"

Chen Lang asked, "Isn't there a small-scale poetry gathering before the county exam?"

Shopkeeper Hong pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Oh, it seems to be the case."

"Before the annual imperial examination, each prefecture and county would hold a poetry gathering to give students an opportunity to showcase their talents."

"Those with exceptional talent and learning may even be favored by the examiner."

"Master Chen, do you intend to present a good poem at the poetry gathering to win the examiner's favor and thus qualify for the examination?"

Chen Lang nodded: "I do have this plan, and this is probably the only way for me to qualify for the exam."

Shopkeeper Hong sighed and said, "It's a pity that the county exam isn't held in Linshui. Otherwise, we could just let the young lady come forward and save a lot of trouble."

Chen Lang was slightly curious and asked, "Is there no examination hall in Linshui?"

Shopkeeper Hong said, "There used to be one, but ever since it was wiped out by the Liao people, the Linshui exam center has been cancelled."

"Let's set up the examination hall in the South River. Even if the Liao invaders come, we'll have the Linshui River in front to block them."

Chen Lang said, "I see. It seems Linshui is not only an important trading city, but also a strategic location."

Shopkeeper Hong said, "Mr. Chen, since you have decided to take the exam, you can just stay at home and prepare for it during this time. You don't need to come to deliver the goods anymore."

Chen Lang bowed and said, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Hong, for your understanding. I will not bother you any further. Goodbye."

After leaving Tianshangju, Chen Lang came to Pingzhilin again.

I have to ask Xu Fei about the specific details of the poetry meeting.

After learning about Chen Lang's situation, Xu Fei was also very angry. He stated on the spot that no students with the surname Zhao who came to Pingzhilin for medical treatment would be received in the future.

Chen Lang quickly persuaded him to give up this idea, and he couldn't let his own reasons delay the normal operation of Pingzhilin.

"As long as I pass the exam and become a scholar, all problems will be solved." Chen Lang said.

Xu Fei said, "That's true, but the question is, how confident are you about passing the exam?"

Chen Lang was a little embarrassed and said, "To be honest, not even one cent."

"But right now, apart from taking the exam to become a scholar, I really can't think of a solution."

"If even this path is blocked, then I'm afraid I'll just be a fisherman catching fish and shrimps for the rest of my life, living a life of poverty."

Xu Fei thought for a moment and said, "How about I ask someone to write a few poems for you? That way, you won't be completely clueless when you go to the poetry gathering."

"As for the exam, it all depends on your personal performance."

Chen Lang said: "Not really. Writing poems and lyrics is no problem for me."

Xu Fei looked at Chen Lang suspiciously and said, "Is this true? How come I can't tell at all?"

Chen Lang said modestly: "I have always been very low-key."

Xu Fei said, "Well, since Brother Chen is so confident, I won't say much."

"The poetry reading will be held the night after tomorrow, and the curfew will be extended by two hours."

"It's called a poetry gathering, but it's actually a grand gathering. You can bring your sister-in-law and Guoguo along to make it more lively."

Chen Lang nodded: "Okay, they have never participated in such a gathering before, so it's a good opportunity to bring them here to experience it."

"I'll take my leave now. See you the day after tomorrow."

After returning home, Chen Lang began to think about the work he would write for the poetry reading.

It can't be too outstanding, nor too mediocre.

After copying all the poems he could memorize one by one, Chen Lang finally chose a poem by Tang Yin, a Ming Dynasty scholar in his original time and space.

It can be considered a famous piece, but it is not so enviable that it would motivate people to commit murder.