After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

After returning from the academy, Peng Zhizhi went to the main house in the backyard to pay his respects to Madam Peng.

"mother."

When the maids in Mrs. Peng's room saw their young master approaching from afar, they went inside to inform Mrs. Peng. Therefore, as soon as Peng Zhizhi arrived at the main courtyard gate, he did not need to wait; a maid led him into the room.

Looking at Peng Zhizhi, who was walking briskly but with a composed demeanor, Madam Peng looked pleased and asked gently, "Did you have a full lunch at the academy? I'll have the maid bring in some snacks."

Before Peng Zhizhi could speak, Mrs. Peng slightly raised her head and gestured to the maid beside her, who immediately went to get some pastries.

Peng Zhizhi was used to his mother's arrangements, and now that almost two hours had passed since lunch, he was indeed a little hungry.

He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip of tea. Suddenly, he remembered something and looked at Mrs. Peng, asking, "Mother, have you used the shower gel I bought? Is it good?"

As soon as Peng Zhizhi finished speaking, Madam Peng picked up a handkerchief and covered her upturned lips, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "It's fine. If it weren't for your friendship with your classmates at the academy, we don't know how many days it would have been before we had shower gel. When your aunt came today, she even brought some shower gel and soap."

Seeing that his own mother was using the shower gel well, Peng Zhizhi felt relieved.

After a while, a maid brought some snacks to Peng Zhizhi. Peng Zhizhi didn't pay attention to them. After the maid left, he shifted his gaze and saw that the cakes on the plate were different from the usual ones.

Unlike other places, most of the cakes and pastries in the prefectural city are savory, but Mrs. Peng does not like savory pastries. Since Peng Zhizhi could remember, he had never seen savory pastries in Mrs. Peng's house.

Normally, Mrs. Peng's main courtyard is stocked with sweet treats like osmanthus cake and rose milk cake. Considering that Mrs. Peng has been gradually handing over the management of the household to her sister-in-law recently, Peng Zhizhi's usually amiable face darkened as he said, "Recently, the Prefect has been advocating frugality, and has your sister-in-law even reduced the food, clothing, and other necessities here?"

The thought that his mother, who had raised him and his elder brother with great difficulty, could not even afford a piece of her favorite pastry made Peng Zhizhi stand up. Before his wife could react, he turned around to confront his elder brother.

His sister-in-law was a woman and also his eldest sister-in-law, so it was not his place to discipline her. But his elder brother was different. If his brother got married and tacitly allowed his wife to mistreat Mrs. Peng, Peng Zhizhi would never agree to it.

"stop!"

As she watched her youngest son's figure shoot out the door like an arrow, Mrs. Peng called out from behind.

Peng Zhizhi stopped and turned around. Looking at the toddler standing not far in front of her, whose usual playful demeanor had turned serious and who seemed afraid of being wronged, Mrs. Peng said helplessly and touched, "Do you think your mother is so easy to bully?"

Mrs. Peng softened her voice and said, "Don't let your mind wander all day. Your most important thing now is to study. Besides, your sister-in-law is the most virtuous person. Even when she cuts back on expenses, she does it in other ways and has never shortchanged us or your grandparents."

Peng Zhizhi looked up and saw Mrs. Peng's sincere explanation. He gradually realized that he had misunderstood something, and his expression slowly brightened.

After seeing this, Mrs. Peng straightened her face and said to him, "Let it go this time. No one in my household is talkative. You can't be so impulsive in the future. Your elder brother is the pillar of the Peng family. If he finds out that you suspected them before you even understood the situation, I don't know how heartbroken he would be."

"I know, mother."

Realizing his mistake, Peng Zhizhi assured his wife, then felt guilty towards his sister-in-law and elder brother.

Mrs. Peng pointed to the mooncakes on the table next to Peng Zhizhi and said, "Hurry up and try the mooncakes your aunt sent. They're a new flavor this year. I think they're pretty good. You young people should like them too."

After calming himself down, Peng Zhizhi sat down again, picked up a mooncake, and chatted with Mrs. Peng while eating it, saying, "I've never seen my aunt send food home before, why did she send so much this time?"

Mrs. Peng glanced at him. Peng Zhizhi had one bad point, which was also the point that scholars disliked the most these days: he was a chatterbox.

Peng Zhizhi touched his nose, but Mrs. Peng still answered.

"Your aunt had only been married into the Li family for a short time, so your maternal grandmother naturally had to watch over her and teach her how to interact with relatives. Now that some time has passed, your aunt is a reasonable woman, and your maternal grandmother is not like other mothers-in-law who like to make things difficult for people. So she has gradually handed over the household affairs to your aunt."

Peng Zhizhi shook his head slightly, not understanding the intricacies of the situation. Seeing such a blockhead, even after years of getting used to him, Mrs. Peng couldn't help but feel a tightness in her chest. Her eldest son was shrewd, capable, and charming, but her second son, despite his sweet talk and cleverness, was actually a simpleton. Fortunately, the family business was inherited by the eldest son, and the youngest son, who had some talent in the Four Books and Five Classics, was sent to study. Now he had the title of a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations), and with some inheritance in the future, he could live a wealthy and leisurely life.

While Mrs. Peng was speaking and thinking, Peng Zhizhi had already swallowed the mooncake in his mouth. A look of amazement flashed across his face. He first looked down at the mooncake in his hand, and then looked up at Mrs. Peng and asked, "Mother, where did Aunt buy this mooncake? It's so delicious. We haven't bought any mooncakes this year, have we? Let's just buy them from this store!"

Seeing Peng Zhizhi's eyes glued to the food, Mrs. Peng took a deep breath and pondered, "I heard it's... a mooncake made by Haoyunlou."

"Lucky Tower?"

Peng Zhizhi repeated, his face clearly showing surprise.

Mrs. Peng nodded, quite certain, and said, "It's Haoyunlou. You know what, Haoyunlou really has a lot of ideas. They used to only sell barbecue and hot pot, but now they've started selling pastries, and they all taste pretty good."

The money seemed to be targeting their purse, flowing in without any hesitation.

As Da Zhuo dismounted from the oxcart, he saw a handsome young man walking out of the academy. Unlike before, he didn't just hand him a food box. Da Zhuo said to Zheng Hao, "Young Master Zheng, our Haoyunlou restaurant has made a new flavor of mooncakes. The owner asked me to bring some over for you and your teachers and classmates to try."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Hao slightly raised his indifferent eyebrows and eyes. After a long while, he said to Da Zhuo, "Give it to me."

Da Zhu smiled憨厚ly at Zheng Hao and said, "There are quite a few mooncakes; you might not be able to carry them all in."

He turned around and lifted the carriage curtain. Even someone as composed as Zheng Hao couldn't help but catch his breath slightly when he saw the scene inside the carriage.

However, considering Uncle Gu's somewhat eccentric nature, it wouldn't be surprising if the other party did something like this if he got carried away, Zheng Hao's expression softened.

But looking at the dozens of gift boxes filled with mooncakes in front of him, Zheng Hao couldn't help but chuckle.

Outsiders couldn't enter the academy, so even with all his strength, he couldn't carry dozens of boxes of mooncakes inside.

Zheng Hao turned and walked over to the guards. He paid them some money, and they opened the side gate next to the main gate of the academy.

Zheng Hao got on the oxcart and had Da Zhu drive it into the prefectural school. After arriving at the school building, Zheng Hao and Da Zhu got off the oxcart and carried the mooncakes into the school building together.

When Da Zhu first saw the boy carrying mooncakes with him, he tried to stop him.

Zheng Hao said calmly, "It's incredibly strenuous for one person to carry it, but two people can achieve twice the result with half the effort. There's no need to worry about these things."

The two entered the school building one after the other. Their movements were subtle, but the slight noise still attracted Zhen Yuan, who loved watching a good show.

As Zhen Yuan stepped out of his dormitory, he saw Zheng Hao carrying four or five food boxes into the schoolhouse. His previously smiling face froze for a moment, and then he looked at the other man with a complicated expression and said, "Brother Zheng, Uncle Gu is really worried that you won't eat well at the academy."

The mooncake gift boxes from Haoyunlou were somewhat similar to food boxes, so Zhen Yuan misunderstood.

She thought her family was extravagant enough, sending clothes and food every day, but she still had to keep a low profile in front of Uncle Gu.

Seeing Zheng Hao carrying four or five food boxes, and his servants carrying four or five more behind him, Zhen Yuan couldn't help but shake his head. It was rare to see such a refined young man doing these things, and Zhen Yuan watched with great interest.

Zheng Hao turned his gaze to Zhen Yuan, who was leaning against the door, and said calmly, "These are mooncakes sent over from home, all Mid-Autumn Festival gifts for my teacher and classmates. There are still dozens of boxes outside. If Brother Zhen Yuan has time, could you please help me bring some in?"

Zhen Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Why not?"

After saying that, Zhen Yuan stepped out to help them move the mooncakes. Zhen Cheng and the other two senior brothers inside the house also heard the commotion and came out of the room. Seeing the group moving the gift boxes, they all went to help.

After all the gift boxes were moved into Zheng Hao's house, Zheng Hao invited them to sit down.

Zhen Cheng and the others took their seats in turn. Zheng Hao brewed tea for them and then thanked them, saying, "Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Yang, Senior Brother Ye, Brother Zhen Cheng, and Brother Zhen Yuan. This humble tea may quench your thirst a little."

Walking back and forth a few times is quite a workout for a scholar who spends most of his time indoors reading.

Zhen Cheng and Zhen Yuan were fine, but Senior Brother Yang and Senior Brother Ye were a bit out of breath.

Everyone reached for tea and drank. After resting for a while, Zhen Yuan looked at Zheng Hao and asked, "Brother Zheng, why are you thinking of giving gifts for the Mid-Autumn Festival? This doesn't seem like..."

Your temperament...

Before Zhen Yuan could finish speaking, Zhen Cheng glanced at him coldly, causing Zhen Yuan to swallow back what he was about to say.

Knowing what Zhen Yuan was about to say, Zheng Hao didn't mind and explained, "Because my family has developed a new flavor of mooncakes, and they taste quite good, the elders in my family thought of sending them to the academy so that I could give them to the teachers and classmates to try."

Upon hearing this, the group nodded in understanding and then thanked him in turn.

However, Zhen Yuan quickly realized what Zheng Hao was saying next and asked, "What? You said your family has developed a new food? This time it's mooncakes again?"

Zheng Hao nodded, took a gift box from behind him, opened it, and took out mooncakes wrapped in oil paper. There were five people present, including him, and the gift box contained six mooncakes, which was more than enough to share.

The group accepted the mooncakes from Zheng Hao. Out of courtesy, neither Zheng Hao nor Zhen Cheng and the others ate first. Even Zhen Yuan waited for Zheng Hao, the host, to take the first bite.

Under the watchful eyes of the others, Zheng Hao unfolded the oil paper, took a bite of the soft, golden mooncake without changing his expression, and the sweet and smooth taste swept over his tongue.

Seeing that Zheng Hao had started eating, Zhen Yuan and the others didn't stand on ceremony either. They opened the oil paper and started eating the mooncakes one after another. Since there were six mooncakes in one gift box, two of each flavor, Zhen Cheng and the others were not eating the same flavor.

Da Zhuo had already told Zheng Hao about these matters before leaving. Zheng Hao swallowed the mooncake and briefly explained them to the people in front of him.

Chewing on the oily, grainy egg yolk, Zhen Yuan's eyes flashed with satisfaction as he said to Zheng Hao, "Your family's food is getting better and better. I've never had mooncakes like these in the capital. I have to tell my family to go buy some right away, otherwise, as usual, your family will have nothing left."

As Zheng Hao swallowed the mooncake with tea, he realized that although he didn't like sweets, the thought that it was made by Uncle Gu made him feel that it was very sweet.

After having eaten the mooncakes, Zhen Cheng and the others prepared to leave. Zheng Hao got up and took a few gift boxes to give to the four of them. The group was not the type to refuse, so they thanked Zheng Hao and left.

The following day, Zheng Hao gave mooncakes to each of his classmates, and after class, he also gave mooncakes to each of his teachers.

Upon arriving at Mr. Zhou's place, Zheng Hao said to him, "Mr. Zhou, these are homemade mooncakes. Please have a taste."

Mr. Zhou said nothing more, only nodded in agreement, and Zheng Hao bowed and turned to leave.

Inside the room, after Zheng Hao left, the headmaster came out from behind the screen, his kind and gentle face looking at Zhou Zicheng, but his words were not serious: "That must be the student you have taken a liking to. He does look quite good."

"You even know how to respect your teachers and elders, personally bringing you mooncakes."

Faced with the headmaster's teasing, Zhou Zicheng replied with a serious smile, "Given Zheng Hao's character, he has all the teachers in the prefectural school. My room is in a remote location, so it should be the last one sent over."

As soon as Zhou Zicheng finished speaking, the headmaster said, "All teachers are like this. According to you, this student should be a very shrewd and worldly person. You dislike such worldly and cunning people the most, so why bother to give him pointers?"

Zhou Zicheng said in a deep voice, "Times change and people change, what's so strange about that?"

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to talk to him, the headmaster changed the subject and said, "You said that all the teachers have mooncakes, but when I came over just now, I didn't see any on my table."

Zhou Zicheng slightly raised his eyelids and looked at the headmaster, saying, "Are you the master?"

Seeing the mockery in the other person's eyes, the headmaster was not angry. He shook his head helplessly and said, "I don't know what news came from the capital that made you unhappy, so you vented your anger on me. I won't hold it against you. I'm going back."

Watching the headmaster's departing figure, Zhou Zicheng frowned and rubbed his aching temples.

Back in his room where he handled important matters, the headmaster immediately noticed the gift box on the table.

The pageboy stepped forward and said, "This was sent by Zheng, a scholar from the top class. I saw that all the teachers accepted it, so I accepted it too."

The headmaster waved for the other person to leave, then stepped forward, opened the gift box, took out the mooncakes inside, unwrapped the oil paper, and began to eat the mooncakes without any formality.

After a moment, he said, "What a shrewd young man."

Although it was a gift-giving ceremony, there was not a trace of flattery or obsequiousness. He came in person to deliver the gift, without any intention of seeing him or leaving a congratulatory letter to attract his attention. Yet, no one could ignore the presence of the gift-giver. The gift was small but the sentiment was heavy. No wonder he was a favorite disciple of many teachers.

The fact that even Zhou Zicheng, a man of such unyielding character, could be moved by this man shows that Zheng Hao is not only quite capable in his studies, but also considerate and tactful in his dealings with others.

What's most precious is that it makes people feel genuine and sincere.

If one is too tactful and considerate, one will appear worldly and unpopular; if one is too lacking, one will be a poor imitation, failing to capture the essence of a tiger and becoming a laughingstock.

[Uncle Gu's act of sending mooncakes was a brilliant assist, making up for Zheng Hao's lack of human touch and at the same time downplaying his perceived opportunism.]