Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Zhang Jin entered the main room, his gaze lingered on the scroll painting "Initially Brewing" above the long table, then looked at the landscape screen made of rosewood inlaid with mother-of-pearl next to it, before sitting down at the right side of the octagonal table.

Wan Qing stood behind him, holding the silver staff, her back ramrod straight. Her gaze swept over the beams, behind the door, and through the window cracks, finally settling on a corner unseen behind the screen.

Wang Yue'e whispered a few words to Huangfu Ce, then brought in a tea tray, with A-Yun following behind carrying a copper kettle.

They didn't bring the loose-leaf tea they usually drink at home, but rather the compressed tea that Yan Shizhong had given them a while ago. Zhang Sanlang doesn't usually drink it either, mainly because he finds it troublesome.

Huangfu Ce walked a few steps to the table, nodded to Zhang Qian, and took the tea grinder handed to him by Wang Yue'e.

He deftly spread out the tea towel, then took the bamboo tongs, tea spoon, and tea whisk and arranged them one by one. He first lightly roasted the tea cake over a low flame, then placed it on the table to cool. Next, he gently tapped it with a tea mortar and pestle, broke off a piece, and dropped it into the tea grinder.

He held the tea grinder base with one hand and pushed and pulled the grinding wheel back and forth with the other. The grinding wheel made a soft rustling sound as it rolled over the tea cake, and the tea dust fell into the bottom groove. The aroma of roasted tea was mixed with the fragrance of yucca flowers.

After grinding the tea into powder, Huangfu Ce placed the tea sieve on the rim of the cup, poured the tea powder from the grinding trough into the sieve, and gently tapped the edge of the sieve a few times with his fingers. The fine powder fell into the bottom of the cup, while the coarser powder remained on the surface of the sieve.

A-Yun poured water from the kettle, and white steam rose up, filling the room with a delicious aroma.

Huangfu Ce whisked the tea into the cup quickly, his wrist turning steadily and evenly. A layer of fine white froth gradually floated up in the tea soup, growing thicker and softer with each whisking, like clouds condensing on the rim of the cup.

Huangfu Ce pushed the teacups he had ordered towards Zhang Sanlang and Zhang Qian, saying, "Please!"

Zhang Jin took the bowl with both hands, smelled it, and then smiled, "This tea is excellent, Zhang Yashi. It's top-grade Shuangjing white bud tea, tightly pressed into a cake, and evenly roasted. Ordinary people rarely even see it."

Zhang Sanlang took a sip from the bowl and began to understand him better. "Young Master Zhang certainly knows his stuff."

Zhang Jin put down his bowl, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I apologize for my intrusion. I came during the day but did not find Clerk. I have come again in the evening, which is truly an inconvenience."

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand, glanced at Wan Qing, and asked, "How does young Master Zhang know my surname is Zhang, and that I am a clerk?"

Zhang Jin smiled and said, "Your literary reputation has spread to Caozhou, no less than it was in Puzhou. Last month, I heard your two poems of 'Looking South of the Yangtze River' in Caozhou, and they're being circulated all over the city."

"Later, I inquired around and learned that you were working in the Juancheng County government office. I also found out that you lived in Jinshi Lane. So I asked a broker to search for a house in that lane."

Zhang Sanlang held his teacup but didn't reply.

Of the five counties in Caozhou, the nearest county seat is only a hundred miles from Juancheng. It's not surprising that a poem could be passed on there. What is surprising is that a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy moved next door just for a poem.

Zhang Jin seemed to sense his confusion, and cupped his hands in a slight bow, his face showing a hint of shyness. "This junior is of dull talent, and I always feel that poetry is separated from me by a layer of paper. As the ancients said, 'If you live in the same room as orchids, you will naturally become fragrant over time.'"

"Now I am fortunate to be neighbors with Zhang Yashi. As the poem says, 'Like cutting and polishing, like carving and grinding,' I may also be influenced by his style through daily exposure. In the past, people would travel thousands of miles to seek out virtuous men."

"I have recently read your 'Record of Emperor Yao's Mausoleum' and found every word to be a gem. It is a delightful experience to read and I still savor the memory. If I could receive some guidance from Zhang Yashi, I would not be left with empty talk about principles."

Zhang Sanlang's eyelids twitched; these words did indeed please him somewhat.

But upon closer inspection, it reveals something strange about it.

A young boy came to live in Juancheng after reading his poems and essays. Was he worshipping him as a literary star, or was he being fooled like a fool?

He exchanged a glance with Huangfu Ce, then smiled slightly, "Young master, you flatter me. I am merely a clerk who knows a few characters; I dare not presume to offer guidance."

Zhang Jin sensed Zhang Sanlang's wariness and looked slightly embarrassed, preparing to offer an explanation.

Suddenly, a strange noise came from behind.

The sound was loud and long, like a pot boiling in the kitchen.

Glug...glug...a series of sounds rolled up from the bottom of my stomach, echoing in the quiet main room.

Zhang Sanlang's eyelids twitched, and his hand holding the teacup paused.

Huangfu Ce sat opposite him, his mouth half-open, the words stuck in his throat. Lu Qiucheng stood under the east wing, hearing it from more than ten steps away, and turned his head to glance into the main room.

The group looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that it was coming from Wan Qing.

Wan Qing remained expressionless, switching the hand he was using to support his silver staff, his eyes fixed on the screen, seemingly admiring Li Hang's poem.

Zhang Jin's lips twitched. "Zhang Yashi, please don't be offended. I just moved in today, and we haven't hired a cook yet. The old housekeeper can't cook. I'm afraid the aroma of food is wafting from the kitchen right now, and Sister Qing can't resist it."

Zhang Sanlang looked outside the main room. It was already getting dark, and the food was indeed ready. If it weren't for the guests, he would already be eating.

Zhang Jin stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhang Sanlang, and said, "If Clerk Zhang doesn't mind me disturbing you, would you mind inviting me to stay for a simple meal?"

Zhang Sanlang glanced at him, slightly surprised.

The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, still a bit childish in his eyes, was very outgoing. He readily offered to ask for a meal without any embarrassment.

Wan Qing stood beside him, his stomach rumbling incessantly, like a nest of toads.

Zhang Sanlang pressed down on the corner of his mouth, sighed, and said, "If you don't mind the simple home-cooked meal, young master, please stay."

Zhang Jin cupped his hands in greeting again and sat down once more.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yue'e quickly asked A-Yun to set out the bowls and chopsticks.

The food had been prepared in advance and was served shortly afterward.

A large bowl of wild rice, a clay pot of mung bean soup, a dish of pickled radish strips, a plate of garlic-flavored pork belly, a plate of stir-fried amaranth, and a plate of cucumber salad—all dishes that Zhang Sanlang usually loves to eat and that Wang Yue'e can make.

Wan Qing's nose twitched, and her body swayed slightly before stopping.

Wang Yue'e carried the bowls and chopsticks to the old locust tree, and waved to Wan Qing, "Miss Wan, come and sit here. The three of us can eat at this stone table; there's not enough room for so many people inside."

Wan Qing glanced at Zhang Jin, and seeing him nod, he walked to the stone table, sat down, and leaned his silver staff against the locust tree trunk.

The dishes on the stone table were the same as those in the main room, only in smaller portions. There was also a ceramic bowl containing white rice.

Wang Yue'e first went to the backyard to deliver food to happy Mei'er and the Lin sisters before returning to the stone table to sit down.

A-Yun took the small porcelain bowl, intending to serve Wan-Qing rice, but unexpectedly, Wan-Qing directly picked up the earthenware pot and started eating!

Inside the main room, Zhang Sanlang, Zhang Jin, Huangfu Ce, and Lu Qiucheng sat around the eight-immortal table. Lü Sanbao brought in a wine pot, poured wine for everyone, and then went back out to sit under the eaves and eat his own portion.

Zhang Sanlang raised his bowl, "Young Master Zhang is new here, so please don't find the food too simple."

Zhang Jin also raised his bowl, saying, "I'm sorry to bother you, Clerk Zhang."

They clinked their wine bowls together and each drank half a bowl of wine.

Lu Qiucheng picked up a piece of white meat with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth and chewed slowly, but his eyes were looking outside. Zhang Sanlang followed his gaze and glanced at him, only to feel his eyelids twitch again.