Chapter 509 Meeting the Hong Family
Sun Shan originally wanted to go find Hong Chengcai, but after hearing what the Chen family said, he felt embarrassed to travel alone and did not want to cause trouble for others, so he had to stay in the inn obediently.
After lunch, I took Gui Ge'er and Sun Dingnan for a walk near the pier to relax.
As for Sun Dali, he still stayed in the inn on his own initiative, taking the words of the village chief, Sun Boming and Su as an imperial decree, and was determined not to leave the inn and not let his money be stolen.
Before Sun Shan had taken a few more steps, he heard someone shouting, "Master Sun, Master Sun Shan."
When I turned around, I saw that it was Hong Chengcai's servant.
Confusedly asked: "Why are you here? Is your young master here too?"
The servant shook his head and said, "Master Sun, the young master is not here. The master knew that you would go to the capital recently and would definitely pass by Zhangzhou Prefecture, so he asked me to watch at the dock and pay attention if I saw a ship from the Chen family. I didn't expect to see you."
The servant continued, "Master Sun, please stay in Zhangzhou for a few days. The master wants to see you."
Sun Shan smiled and said, "We'll stay for one day, and we'll continue north tomorrow. But I can't leave the dock."
The servant seemed to have known about this situation for a long time. He nodded and said, "Our master also guessed this situation and asked me to come over to watch. As soon as I see you, I will go back and inform you. Master Sun, you wait here. I will go and inform my master."
Sun Shan was happy and said, "Okay, I'll wait for your master and your young master here."
Sun Shan pointed to a teahouse not far away and told the servant that he would wait there.
After the servant determined the location, he got on the car and left in a hurry.
Gui Ge'er said with a smile: "Brother Shan, Brother Hong actually knew to find someone to wait for you here. Haha, you can see Brother Hong and Brother Hong later."
Sun Dingnan smiled and said, “The Hong family is really smart. They sent someone to wait.”
After passing the imperial examination, Sun Shan wrote a letter to Hong Dalang in Zhangzhou Prefecture, informing him that he would go to Beijing for the exam soon and that he would visit him if he passed by Zhangzhou Prefecture on the way.
It’s just that the Chen family hopes that the students will not leave, and Sun Shan is embarrassed to leave.
I have to wait until I return to visit again.
Hong Dalang was thoughtful and actually calculated the exact date and sent someone to wait.
Looking at Hong Chengcai's servant, you can tell that he has been waiting for some time.
Sun Shan led Gui Ge'er and Sun Dingnan into the teahouse and ordered a pot of tea.
The dock is bustling with ships coming and going, passengers coming and going, and goods coming and going.
After waiting for a while, Sun Shan saw the Hong family from afar.
The pier is neither far nor close to the Hong family's residence. It seems that the Hong family rode at full speed, so they arrived so quickly.
Sun Shan stood up and saw the plump Mrs. Hong from afar.
He hurried forward to greet Mrs. Hong: "Aunt, why are you here? The sun is very strong today, are you getting sunburned?"
Mrs. Hong was so touched to see Sun Shan caring about her that much that she said happily, "Mr. Sun, you have been waiting for us for a long time, right? Sorry to have kept you waiting for a long time."
Sun was amused and said with a smile: "Aunt, calling me Mr. Sun is embarrassing. We are not relatives but we are better than relatives. You calling me like that makes me feel ashamed. Aunt, please call me Shanzi, it is more intimate."
Mrs. Hong was so happy to see Sun Shan's sincerity that she said, "When I came here, I called him 'Shanzi Shanzi'. But, humph, that Hong insisted that we can't call him that now. He said that you are different now and you are a scholar now, so we can't call you that randomly. He also said that you will punish me."
Sun Shan quickly shook his head and said, "Aunt, don't say that again. I am studying in Zhangzhou Prefecture, and I am living such a good life thanks to your care. I especially like the soup you cook. Whether I am a scholar, a juren, or even a jinshi, I will always be your Shanzi."
These words moved Mrs. Hong even more.
Sun Shan quickly helped her to sit down.
Middle-aged women eat and drink a lot, and their bodies are fat, so walking is a bit heavy. It is even more tiring to walk under the scorching sun.
Sun Shan personally poured tea and served water to Mrs. Hong.
Only then did he have time to pay attention to Hong Dalang and Hong Erlang, who were also fat men.
Of course, there are also the fat guy Hong Chengcai and Hong Erdi.
Sun Shan smiled and said, "Uncle, uncle, thank you for coming to see me. I am going to Beijing on the Chen family's merchant ship and it is difficult for me to leave. Otherwise, I would definitely visit the Hong family."
Hong Dalang and Hong Erlang waved their hands and said, "We understand. It's better for you to wait for others than to make others wait. How can you be free when you ride on someone else's boat? It's the same whether you come to see us or we come to see you."
Hong Chengcai held Jianzi in his arms and pointed at Sun Shan and said, "Jianzi, hurry up and call someone. This is your uncle who has passed the imperial examination."
Sun Shan had seen Jianzi before, but he hadn't seen him for a few months. Why did he look more and more like Hong Xiucai, and he had the same serious face as Hong Xiucai?
Sun Shan said jokingly, "Jianzi, come here, let Uncle Shan hug you."
Jianzi had some impression of Sun Shan, but not much. However, this kid was not shy and was willing to be held by Sun Shan.
Sun Shan touched his little head and said with a smile, "Brother Chengcai, our Jianzi looks like his great grandfather. Haha, they look exactly the same."
Second brother Hong said, "Ashan, you are not the only one who said that. Everyone who knows my grandfather says that Jianzi looks like him. Of course, besides you, my grandfather likes Jianzi the most."
Sun Shan understood. Who wouldn’t like a kid who looks like his own? It feels so natural and approachable.
Mrs. Hong took Jianzi from Sun Shan's arms and said with a smile, "Just hold him for a bit. Although Jianzi looks skinny, he is actually quite fit. This kid knows how to hide his fat."
Jianzi looked at Mrs. Hong in confusion and said, "Grandma, where is the meat? I want to eat it."
The childish and funny words made everyone laugh.
Hong Dalang said with concern: "Ashan, it will probably take two or three months to get from Guangzhou to the capital. It's a long journey, so you have to be careful on the way."
Speaking of this, Mrs. Hong also said worriedly: "You must be careful not to eat or sleep well during this journey. Don't get sick. Why do you have to go so far to take the exam? Why can't you take it nearby?"
Hong Dalang looked at Madam Hong unhappily and said, "As a woman, you are not allowed to deny the matters stipulated by the court. Humph, don't say anything."
Sun Shan, Hong Chengcai and Hong Erdi looked at each other for several times.
The three of them were already used to Hong Dalang and Mrs. Hong starting to quarrel after just a few words.
It seems that they will still not treat Sun Shan as an outsider just because his identity has changed.
Hong Chengcai quickly interrupted and said, "Mother, didn't you bring some soup? Ah Shan has to drink it."
Mrs. Hong then remembered and anxiously asked the servants to bring a pot of soup for Sun Shan to drink.
He smiled and said, "This soup was originally made for the two Chengcai brothers. It's not a good soup, so you just drink it. Hey, if I knew you were coming today, I would definitely make a delicious soup. You like my soup the best."
Sun Shan was not polite and said with emotion: "Aunt, you are so kind to me. Even if the ingredients are not good, as long as you cook it, it will taste good. I love it."