Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 282 Qionglin Banquet

……

The carriage arrived at the Wen Mansion.

Jia Rong first handed over his business card, then asked Xiao Zhuzi to send Xiao Xiao home and come to pick him up in the afternoon.

Soon the housekeeper of the Wen Mansion came out and said respectfully with a smile, "Our master wants to see you."

"It's troublesome."

"You're welcome, young master."

Although the Wen Mansion is not as grand as the Ningguo Mansion, it is also a large mansion with five courtyards. Pavilions and towers are scattered around inside. There is also a garden on the east side, and lush trees and rockery can be vaguely seen.

"The master is in the study, please come in, sir."

The butler made a gesture of invitation at the door of the study courtyard, but did not go in himself.

"Thank you."

After thanking him, Jia Rong walked inside.

A line of gorgeously dressed dancers came playfully into the garden from the other side, and some of them even stopped to look at Jia Rong from afar.

"Look, is that Master Jia?"

"Hehe, it seems so. Didn't the housekeeper just say that Master Jia is here? It must be him."

"Tanhua."

"Hey, hey, stop being so crazy, or you guys will get angry!"

Jia Rong had good ears and vaguely heard a few words. He thought to himself: I heard from my grandfather at home that old man Wen Ge is old but young at heart, and that he has many young and beautiful dancers at home. Today I see that he is indeed as famous as he is.

"Dong dong dong."

Jia Rong knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Wen Ting's voice came from inside.

Jia Rong gently pushed the door open and walked in, seeing Wen Ting sitting there, reading a copy of the Book of Songs.

"Students meet their teachers."

Jia Rong bowed.

Wen Ting put down the book and said with a smile: "Shunzhi, no need to be polite, please sit down."

Although he did not want to get too deeply involved with Jia Jing's grandfather and grandson, he still had to keep up appearances, so he immediately ordered a banquet and called his youngest son Wen Gunian to accompany him.

"You two should talk properly. I still have some official business to take care of." Wen Ting stood up and said with a smile. He didn't intend to stay here forever.

Jia Rong bowed and said, "Teacher, you have devoted yourself to the country. I admire you."

Wen Ting nodded, and then instructed his youngest son: "Remember to treat Shunzhi well, learn from Shunzhi how to study, and don't hang out with those bad friends all day long."

"Yes Yes."

Wen Gunian agreed hurriedly and respectfully escorted his father out the door.

After Wen Ting left, Wen Gunian heaved a sigh of relief and patted his chest, saying, "The old man is finally gone. Brother Shunzhi, you are my savior. Today, we brothers must have a good drink and not leave until we are drunk."

Jia Rong was puzzled and laughed, "What do you mean? I don't remember ever saving Brother Wen."

Wen Gunian flicked his sleeves and took out a folding fan, shaking it gently and smiling, "My father originally said he would ask me about my homework today, but you interrupted him, so he probably forgot about it, hehe."

Jia Rong: “…”

"Brother Jia, you must come here often in the future. I have some fine foreign wines here, and I will not take them out easily when others come. Come, come, let's have a good taste." As he spoke, he enthusiastically pulled Jia Rong into the house and sat down.

After three rounds of drinking.

Wen Gunian shook his head and said with a smile: "Brother Jia, today we hit it off right away. It's a shame that we didn't meet earlier. I'm going to show you something good. I guarantee you'll like it very much."

"Oh? What good stuff?"

Jia Rong was also a little tipsy, Master Wen was really too enthusiastic.

Wen Gunian smiled mysteriously: "Brother Jia, wait a moment."

"Someone is coming."

A servant who was guarding outside hurried over, bent over and said with a smile: "Third Master, what can I do for you?"

Wen Gunian narrowed his eyes and whispered something in his ear. The servant's face froze: "Third Master, this is not a good idea, right?"

Wen Gunian hit the boy on the head with his fan and shouted, "The master personally ordered me to entertain Brother Jia well, what's wrong with that? Just go ahead, I'll take care of anything that happens."

"Yes Yes."

The servant wiped the cold sweat from his head and hurried out to pass on the message.

"Brother Jia, let's continue drinking." Wen Gunian filled Jia Rong's glass.

Jia Rong: "Brother Wen, please."

Wen Gunian: "Please."

The two of them drank it all in one gulp.

Not long after, several dancers came in from outside, some of them played the flute, and some of them danced gracefully.

Her face is like a peach, her waist is graceful, her feet are like jade...

Wen Gunian wiped the corner of his mouth unconsciously and said with a chuckle: "Brother Jia, how is it?"

Jia Rong clapped his hands and smiled, "Great!"

Lord Wen really knows how to enjoy himself. Although there are many maids in Ningguo Mansion, none of them are as good at singing and dancing as her.

Wen Gunian smiled and said, "I didn't expect that Brother Jia is actually a fellow traveler. I thought you were devoted to studying the books of sages."

Jia Rong took a sip of wine, and said with a smile: "Food, sex, and love are the greatest desires of human beings."

"Brother Jia, that's a brilliant idea. I'll offer you another bowl." Wen Gunian's eyes lit up and he said with great admiration.

As expected of the third place in the imperial examination, what he says makes sense. Next time I get caught in the brothel, just tell my dad this.

The two of them drank and listened to music and had a very pleasant conversation.

After noon, Jia Rong left the Wen Mansion in a daze. Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Xiao were already waiting outside the door.

"You're very happy, eh?"

Xiao Xiao looked at Jia Rong and said with a smile.

"Okay."

Jia Rong sighed.

I don't know what Wen Ge Lao meant. He didn't believe that Wen Gunian would dare to pull out his father's dancer to dance without Wen Ge Lao's permission.

However, Jia Rong was just overthinking. At this time, Wen Gunian was being given a beating.

"You bastard! You are so brave!"

Wen Ting's eyes were blazing with fire, and he smashed down hard with a stick in his hand. Although he was old, his strength was not light.

"Woooo..."

Wen Gunian had a cloth stuffed in his mouth. He wanted to cry but couldn't. He felt very aggrieved.

It was you who asked me to treat you well!

What did I do wrong?!
……

The next day was the Qionglin Banquet.

The examiners of the palace examination, the chief examiner, the deputy chief examiner, and the examiners of the various chamber officials must be present. Of course, the newly graduated Jinshi cannot be absent either, as this is the best time to contact teachers and make friends with peers, so that they can help each other in the future when things happen in the officialdom and serve the country together.

Of course, not all the three hundred scholars can become friends. They often form small groups, and some are even hostile to each other.

At this time, Zhou Yanru disliked Jia Rong very much.

Although Jia Rong was the third place in the imperial examination, his status and age showed that he would undoubtedly have a brighter future. Therefore, many people came to talk to Jia Rong, and even the second place in the imperial examination ran to curry favor with him, so that the first place in the imperial examination actually felt a little "desolate".

A group of people who follow the trend of others.

Zhou Yanru snorted in disdain.

"Brother Zhou, why are you drinking tea here alone?"

Su Gaoyuan, who was also a Jinling Province Jinshi, approached Zhou Yanru and said something with a smile.

Zhou Yanru said, "I've been drinking too much these days, so I'll have a couple of cups of tea to clear my head."

Su Gaoyuan cupped his hands and praised, "As expected of you, Brother Zhou. You understand the importance of self-reflection. Some people are just ranked third in the exam, but they are already so proud of themselves."

Zhou Yanru agreed in his heart, but his face was still serious: "Brother Su, please be careful with your words. Jia Shunzhi is also a man of real talent and knowledge, and he is humble and polite."

"Hmph, if he is really humble and polite, he should come and pay his respects to you, the top scholar, first. But he is the other way around, taking this guy over there to drink and chat, leaving Brother Zhou aside." Su Gaoxing said indignantly.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter."

Zhou Yanru said it was okay, but he was secretly resentful in his heart.

In the future, I must suppress Jia Rong!
However, he was not from a noble family. Although he won the top spot in the imperial examination, he had no one in the court, so it was basically impossible for him to suppress Jia Rong.

Unless... there is a higher backer.

……

(End of this chapter)