This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Today, when he entered the palace to participate in the selection of imperial censors, the sons of military officers and the talented young men in the neighborhood all accepted his wooden plaque. Among all of them, only this tall and thin young man from Da'anfang, Du Jingjian, would wipe the surface of the wooden plaque with his sleeve from time to time.

The way he cherished the wooden plaque left a deep impression on Cheng Jun.

Du Jingjian was a little flustered, and quickly cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Brother Chuxia."

As Cheng Zhong took the reins from Cheng Jun, he said with a smile, "Sanlang, Du Dalang has been waiting for you at our residence for a long time."

Cheng Jun asked, "Was there anything I did poorly in our hospitality?"

Cheng Zhong said with a smile, "Du Dalang is Sanlang's friend, how could this old servant dare to neglect him?"

Du Jingjian quickly added, "Uncle Zhong has been very good to me; he has absolutely not been unkind in his hospitality!"

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "Shall we go inside and talk?"

Du Jingjian said apologetically, "Actually, I didn't have anything else to say. My mother just asked me to bring you some food."

As he spoke, he took out a lotus leaf wrapped with something from his bosom, opened the lotus leaf, and inside were ten flatbreads.

Cheng Jun noticed his unease, which clearly stemmed from feeling the item was too cheap and fearing rejection. He smiled and asked, "May I try some?"

Du Jingjian quickly replied, "Sure, sure!"

Cheng Jun picked up a flatbread, which was only the size of his palm and had no sesame seeds on it. It was completely different from the flatbread that he had seen Yuchi Jingde eat at the palace gate at noon.

He put it in his mouth and took a bite; the aroma of the flatbread immediately filled his mouth and nose.

"Delicious! Your mother's cooking is truly excellent."

Cheng Jun smiled and handed a piece to Cheng Zhong, "Uncle Zhong, you should try some too."

Cheng Zhong immediately took the sesame seed cake, tasted it, and exclaimed with shining eyes, "This sesame seed cake is much tastier than the ones sold in the West Market!"

Du Jingjian watched Cheng Jun wolf down a pancake, a smile immediately spreading across his face. He then explained his purpose:

"Brother Chuxia, my mother said that thanks to you, I was able to get a position as an intern officer today. May I invite you to my house for dinner tomorrow?"

Cheng Jun picked up another flatbread. He hadn't been eating it before, but now that he'd taken a bite, he realized how hungry he was. The more he ate, the more he wanted. Hearing this, he chewed his cheek and asked, "Do you have this flatbread?"

"Have!"

“No problem,” Cheng Jun said, taking another bite of the flatbread. “By the way, I have a friend, Yuchi Baolin. I’d like to take him to try your mother’s cooking. What do you think?”

Du Jingjian's smile deepened, knowing that Cheng Jun was introducing him to new friends, and he excitedly said, "Sure, as many people as you want!"

Cheng Jun laughed and said, "You said it yourself."

"a man of his words!"

Du Jingjian patted his chest and said, "Brother Chuxia, I'll take my leave now!"

Cheng Jun asked, "How are you going to get back?"

"I'll go back."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jun turned to Cheng Zhong and said, "Uncle Zhong, have your men bring out the carriage to see my brother Jingjian off."

"No need, no need," Du Jingjian quickly waved his hand and said, "The journey is not far."

“It’s not far from the city’s edge,” Cheng Jun said, both amused and exasperated. Da’an Ward was located on the south side of the city, and it was already late, almost time for curfew. If they walked back from Huaide Ward, they would probably only have covered half the distance by the time curfew started.

"Listen to me, we'll take the carriage back."

Cheng Jun gave Cheng Zhong a look, signaling him to get ready.

Cheng Zhong immediately turned around and went into the mansion. Not long after, he came out pulling a carriage.

"Young Master Du, please get on the carriage."

Du Jingjian's eyes reddened, deeply moved. "Thank you so much, Brother Chuxia!"

You absolutely must come tomorrow!

"I will!"

Cheng Jun watched him get into the car and see him off into the distance, then picked up a flatbread and started eating it.

Suddenly, he felt something stuck in his throat from the flatbread and coughed a few times.

At that moment, a large hand handed a water bag from behind.

"Thank you."

Cheng Jun took the water pouch, thanked him, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. Then he looked back and saw a big, bearded face, and couldn't help but spit it out.

"puff--"

Cheng Yaojin raised his hand to wipe the water off his face and looked at him expressionlessly.

"Father, have you come back or have you been staying at the manor all this time?" Cheng Jun chuckled dryly. Seeing that his father was still staring at him without saying a word, he held up a lotus leaf and handed him the flatbread on it, saying, "Have a bite? It's quite delicious."

Cheng Yaojin glanced at the flatbread, picked one up casually, took a bite, chewed his cheek, and said, "It tastes good."

"Then I'll take it to my older brothers to try."

Cheng Jun decided to slip away, as he sensed a menacing aura emanating from Cheng Yaojin.

Cheng Yaojin suddenly said, "We can talk about this later. I have something to ask you first."

Something's not right... Cheng Jun felt his hair stand on end, a feeling very similar to when a child does something wrong and is called over by their parents for questioning.

Generally speaking, this is a harbinger of being beaten.

Cheng Jun's throat bobbed. "What does Father want to ask?"

Cheng Yaojin looked him straight in the eye and said, word by word, "Did you cause trouble today?"

Cheng Jun countered, "What business could I possibly have visiting the official?"

Cheng Yaojin glared at him and said, "Then how did Liu Xiangdao get demoted from Vice Censor-in-Chief to Attendant Censor?"

Cheng Jun asked in surprise, "You knew all that?"

"Nonsense!" Cheng Yaojin snorted. "With so many troublemakers like you, how could I not send someone to keep an eye on you?"

"However, this is not your fault; they are the ones causing you trouble."

Cheng Yaojin sighed, "If I had known it would cause trouble, I wouldn't have let you visit them."

Cheng Jun shook his head and said, "You can't say that. Father, your advice was right. If I don't go, it will be more troublesome tomorrow."

Cheng Yaojin said with satisfaction, "You've become sensible, that's good."

As he spoke, he picked up another pancake from the lotus leaf and ate it while saying, "Don't be late when we go to that Du Dalang's house tomorrow."

Cheng Jun nodded and said, "I know."

Cheng Yaojin grunted in agreement, finished the flatbread in his hand, picked up another one from the lotus leaf, chewed it, took a sip from his water pouch, and mumbled, "What are the plans for tomorrow?"

"His Majesty summons me to court."

"Then remember to go early, it's not good to be late."

"understand!"

What are your plans now?

Cheng Jun watched as Cheng Yaojin took another flatbread from the only two available on the lotus leaf, and said with a smirk, "I'm going to let my older brothers try the flatbread made by Du Dalang's mother."

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand as he ate and said, "Then you go."

Cheng Jun was speechless. He held up the lotus leaf and said, "The problem is that there's only one left."

Cheng Yaojin turned his head and glanced at the food. Sure enough, there was only one piece left. He looked up and said expressionlessly, "Those two brats should be grateful that they have anything to eat. Who are they to be picky? Half for each of them is enough!"

"Father is right, then I'll have Uncle Zhong deliver it!"

As he spoke, he called Cheng Zhong over, handed him the flatbread, and went back into the house.

Cheng Yaojin watched his departing figure, then turned and took the flatbread from the lotus leaf in Cheng Zhong's hands. He broke it in half, put one half back, and held the other half in his hand, saying, "Take it away."

Cheng Zhong held the lotus leaf, staring at the half-eaten pancake on it, and was instantly dumbfounded.

…………

As dusk approached in the imperial city, an anxious voice echoed throughout the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"Shuyu, Shuyu!"