Chapter 49: Zong Liu Shou Bestows Food
Yue Fei bid farewell to Zhou Tong and stood up to take his leave. Zhou Tong escorted him out of the door, and they bade each other farewell with deep affection.
Yue Fei and others returned to their residence, the sky was already late. Jiang Zhenzi sent the dishes up to the building, Yue Fei ordered: "Brother Jiang, tomorrow is the 15th, the three-year-old exam will take place tomorrow, we have to leave before dawn, thank you for preparing meals for us."
"Don't worry, Mr. Yue, our store still has some young masters who will also take the exam tomorrow. Tonight, we'll work overtime to prepare food for you all for tomorrow, so you won't be late," said Jiang Zhenzi.
"It's just as well," said Yue Fei.
The brothers had dinner and chatted for a while before going to bed early.
The next day, at the fourth watch, Jiang Zhenzi went upstairs to urge the gentlemen to get up and wash, preparing to set off. The brothers got up and washed, hastily ate breakfast, and each put on their armor. Tang Huai wore a white robe with silver armor, Zhang Xian wore a green robe with gold armor, Wang Gui wore a red robe with gold armor, Niu Gao wore an iron helmet with iron armor, and only Yue Fei still wore the battle robe that Zhou Tong had sent him off with. The five brothers came out of the store, got on their horses, and Jiang Zhenzi handed over the lunch he had prepared in advance to Niu Gao's horseback. Then he ordered the shop boy to light the lanterns and lead the way. Before departure, Boss Jiang Zhenzi followed the custom in Xiangzhou, holding a tea tray with fruit and wine on it.
"Everyone, have a drink and some fruit before we set off, it will bring you good luck. Uncle Yue will rush back with the top prize, and everyone else will also win honors and glory for their ancestors." Jiang Zhenzi said.
"Thanks to the owner's deep feelings, we are grateful beyond words." Yue Fei said and led the way by drinking three cups, and the others also drank three cups each. After drinking, the brothers thanked the owner and bid farewell, riding their horses slowly away.
The shopkeeper carried a lantern to lead the way, and when they arrived outside the school grounds, he said: "Everyone, the imperial martial arts examination rules are very strict, and idle people cannot enter. I can only send you here, wishing you victory in battle and success in your endeavors. Farewell." The shopkeeper bid farewell and left.
The crowd of brothers entered the school grounds, and saw that the scholars from various provinces had arrived early, with those who came later forming a sea of people, packed in tightly.
"Wow, it's so lively! So many people have come to fight for the champion." Niu Gao exclaimed.
"The champion is Big Brother's, no one else can take it away." Wang Gui said.
"Brothers, there are too many people here, let's go somewhere else," Yue Fei said.
"Big brother is absolutely right, let's find a quiet place to rest and recover first," Zhang Xian suggested.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Yue Fei then led his brothers through the crowd and arrived at the back of the martial arts hall. They stood there for a while, but still didn't see any movement. Niu Gao remembered that when he left the house, his family had put something on his horse, but he didn't know what it was. He took it out and opened it to take a look, and found some steamed buns and beef.
"This boss Jiang Zhen is really a good person, he knows I have a big appetite, so he prepared so much food for me. Later we will be competing in martial arts, who has the time to eat? Might as well eat now and save the trouble." Niu Gao thought this way, quietly took out the food and ate it all up in no time.
After a while, Wang Gui felt a bit hungry and asked Niu Gao for some snacks.
"What's wrong? Didn't Old Jiang prepare anything for you?" Niu Gao asked in surprise.
"Pack all the refreshments prepared for us on your horse, for us to eat. Don't you know?" Wang Gui asked.
"I thought everyone had some, but I ate all those dim sum," said Niu Gao.
"You're in good shape, with a big belly, starving us all. How can we have the energy to fight on an empty stomach? You might as well be the champion," said Wang Gui.
Niu Gao smiled and apologized.
"Big brother, what's good if there's nothing to eat now?" Wang Gui was anxious in his heart.
"Wang brothers, don't say any more, if others hear it, they will laugh at us again." Yue Fei said.
Wang Gui could only endure it with great difficulty after hearing this.
"Niu Gao, we are all brothers. When eating, shouldn't you greet your brothers? How can you only care for yourself and ignore others?" Yue Fei scolded.
"Big brother, it's just that I'm simple-minded and didn't think of this. This time I'll remember, next time there's something to eat, I'll let my brothers have it first." Niu Gao said with a flushed face.
The crowd of brothers had been standing in the back for a long time when suddenly someone shouted: "Where is Yue Pengju?"
Niu Gao listened and responded loudly: "Here."
That person heard it and came over this way.
Before he knew it, a military officer was leading the way in front of him, and two men were carrying food baskets behind.
"General Yue, why are you standing here? It's been a hard search for us. I am a gatekeeper, and I have come on the orders of the Grand Master to deliver wine and food to each of your honors." The military officer said.
Wang Guizheng was just starving and couldn't wait any longer, when he heard Jun Ye's words, his heart was overjoyed.
"Mr. Dai is really a good man, giving us charcoal in the snow." Wang Gui said with a smile.
Zhang Xian, Tang Huai and Wang Guimao started eating without any reserve. Niu Gao looked at them and said: "This time let you eat your fill, my share of food is all yours."
"You alone ate our four-person dessert, I reckon you can't eat any more." Wang Gui said with a smile.
Yue Fei saw his brothers eating happily and also ate some snacks.
"Please trouble General to pass on a message to the Lord who stayed behind, Yue Fei and others thank the Lord for the gift of food, they will certainly do their best to participate in the martial competition and will not disappoint the Lord's expectations." Yue Fei said to the military officer after finishing his lunch.
The general nodded and left with his two attendants, carrying the food baskets back to report.
The sky was bright, and the heroes from all provinces had arrived. Only then did Zhang Bangchang, Wang Duo, and Zhang Jun, the three chief examiners, enter the school grounds and sit down in the martial arts hall. After a while, Zong Ze also arrived, went up to the martial arts hall, exchanged greetings with the three chief examiners, and sat down. The attendants brought tea, and the four chief examiners chatted idly as they drank their tea.
"Can Zong Ze's disciples such as Yue Fei fill out the form?" Zhang Bangchang asked.
"Director Zhang, how can you say such a thing? Yue Fei and the others are all martial artists who have come to take the exam, just like everyone else." said Zong Ze.
"Isn't Yue Fei of Tangyin a student of yours? You sent him wine, food and dishes, showing great care, and everyone saw it." Zhang Bangchang said.
Zong Ze's heart skipped a beat as he listened, his face turning bright red. He didn't know how to respond to Zhang Bangchang.
"Zhang Bangchang and others accepted the gifts from Little Liang Wang, they must have helped Little Liang Wang to get the top spot with all their might. The three of them are in cahoots, I am alone and cannot make a sound. What should I do? Selecting talented people for the country is our responsibility, how can we be partial and violate the law?" Zong Ze thought about this and said with confidence: "The martial arts examination is an important event for the country, its purpose is to select talented people for the country, how can we be partial and cheat? We four were appointed by the emperor as chief examiners, we should do our best. Before the examination begins, let's take an oath in front of the gods to show our intentions."
Zhang Bangchang and others listened, speechless.
