Chapter 856 Tribute Wine
Short and Fat Shen led Sun Shan to a tavern and shouted as soon as they entered: "Boss, serve all your signature dishes."
Sun Shan was stunned. He didn't expect that the short and fat man was so rich.
Without money, there is no way to be so generous.
He quickly stopped her and said, "Brother Shen, I don't eat much, there's no need to do this, so as not to waste it."
The short and fat Shen looked at Sun Shan carefully for a while. He was as thin as a bamboo pole and could not eat much.
So he shouted loudly: "Boss, please recommend some good dishes. I want to entertain my distinguished guests today."
The shopkeeper came over with a smile and said, "Master Shen, what do you want to eat? Everything here is delicious."
Then he strongly recommended: "Master Shen, would you like a pot of Zhanggong wine? This is the most famous thing here. I guarantee you will want to drink more after you have tasted it."
Ganzhou is the confluence of Zhangshui and Gongshui. Could it be that this wine is made from Zhangshui and Gongshui?
Before Shen the short and fat could say anything, Sun Shan spoke up first: "Boss, no thanks. I don't drink."
Then he explained to the short and fat Shen: "I have to leave for my hometown tomorrow, so I really can't drink. Please bear with me, Brother Shen."
In fact, Sun Shan doesn’t like drinking very much. He feels that drinking is just a way to satisfy his loneliness.
Moreover, drinking alcohol burns your liver and is bad for your health. It is better to drink plain water.
Short and Fat Shen loved drinking, but he would get drunk and crazy every time after drinking. He was afraid that he would lose his composure in front of Sun Shan.
Seeing that Sun Shan didn't drink, he took advantage of the situation and said, "Boss, Mr. Sun has to hurry on his way, so he won't drink, so as not to delay things. Just give us some soup."
Then he added, "As for what dishes to order, you can order whatever you like, as long as it's enough for us to eat."
The shopkeeper secretly felt sorry that the person in front of him didn't drink.
Oh, how good it is to drink, he earns more.
But the customer liked whatever he wanted, so he, the waiter, could only nod and say with a smile, "Okay, Mr. Sun, Mr. Shen, wait a moment, the food will be here soon."
The short and fat Shen watched the shopkeeper busy himself and said with a smile, "This restaurant is most famous for its Zhanggong wine, but there are a few good dishes here. Mr. Sun, please try them later."
Sun Shan thanked him repeatedly and said, "I am very casual, I can eat anything. I will drink with Brother Shen when I have a chance. We have to leave early tomorrow morning, there is no other way. I am most afraid that drinking will delay my trip."
The short and fat Shen expressed his understanding and asked, "Mr. Sun, are you from Guangnan? The last time I heard your accent, it was from there. Hehe, I've been to Guangzhou for business before."
Sun Shan nodded, then shook his head and said, "I am from Guangnan, not Guangzhou Prefecture, but Zhangzhou Prefecture. I went to the capital with my relatives and friends to participate in the imperial examination."
Speaking of the imperial examination, the short and fat Shen had something to say: "Mr. Sun, you went to Beijing to take the exam three years ago. This time...?"
I dare not say the following words.
Judging from Sun Shan's appearance, he must have failed the exam three years ago. Could it be that he went to Beijing to take the exam again three years later? I wonder if he passed the exam this time?
Sun Shan still kept smiling: "Three years ago, I fell ill when I arrived in Nanjing, and missed the imperial examination."
When Shen the Short and Fat heard that Sun Shan was ill, he asked with concern, "Mr. Sun, how are you now? You should be back to normal now, right?"
He said regretfully: "What a pity, I gave up halfway. This journey was so painful."
Sun Shan nodded and said, "I'm fine. It's been three years, and I'm much better now."
It is indeed much better, but Sun Shan's hands still shake occasionally and his handwriting is not very good.
Once again, I am grateful for the transcribers in the imperial examinations. We cannot see his original handwriting, otherwise the chances of failing the exam will be greatly increased.
The short and fat Shen heaved a long sigh of relief and said with relief, "Fortunately, I am well again. Alas, I have heard of many scholars who went to Beijing to take the imperial examination and fell ill. I have heard of it, but I have never seen it, so I thought it was just a rumor. I never thought that such an unfortunate thing would happen to Mr. Sun. Alas, fortunately, everything is fine."
How could the short and fat Shen know any scholar in real life?
Birds of a feather flock together. Most of Shen the short and fat man's friends are businessmen like him.
Among all the scholars he knew, Sun Shan was the one he talked to the most.
Yes~ and have dinner with him. Shen the short and fat man thought that he could chat with his friends tomorrow.
He also has a friend who is a juren scholar.
Gui Ge'er served Sun Shan meals and also served the short and fat Shen.
One should never be ungrateful. This meal was treated to by the short and fat middle-aged man in front of me. I have to be grateful and serve him well.
Sun Shan took a bite of Three Cups Chicken and found it quite good. He smiled and said, "A lot of the rumors are true. I have a cousin who took the imperial examination this time. He caught a cold after the first test and couldn't continue. He had to miss the exam regretfully. He has to try again in three years."
The short and fat Shen ate everything with relish and picked up a small piece of fried fish.
His eyes widened as he said, "Oh, this is exactly like the opera. I finally arrived in the capital and entered the examination hall, but I had to withdraw because of illness. Tsk tsk ~ what a pity, what a pity, even more pity than Mr. Sun did at the beginning."
If we talk about pity, it is indeed a pity for He's younger brother. After successfully entering Beijing, he fell ill while taking the exam.
There are too many regrets and too much unwillingness.
Speaking of He’s cousin, I don’t know if his mother has arranged a blind date for him.
Maybe by the time Sun Shan returns, his cousin He will have already gotten married.
Short and Fat Shen and Sun Shan were eating and chatting at the same time.
Before Sun Shan asked, the short and fat Shen revealed his background.
A native of Ganzhou, he works as a middle wholesaler and sells everything. As long as it can make money, he will wholesale and resell it.
The family's business was not the best in Ganzhou City, but it was also at a medium level. They were much richer than those below them, had no worries about food and clothing, and could even indulge themselves occasionally.
He had a wife and two concubines, and had three sons and two daughters.
The three sons were born to legitimate parents, and the two daughters were born to concubines.
My parents are still alive, and we have three generations living together. They also say they are planning to have four generations living together.
The eldest son is already engaged and will give him several grandchildren in the near future.
Sun Shan: ...
This short and fat Shen is not only simple, but also has a big mouth. He tells everything out loud, leaving Sun Shan at a loss as to how to deal with him.
The short and fat Shen asked, "Mr. Sun, why are you back home so late? The last imperial examination was over a long time ago."
Sun Shan nodded with a smile and said, "Something happened in the capital, so I have to postpone my return home."
The short and fat Shen asked again: "Mr. Sun, will you go to Beijing to take the exam in three years? Will you pass through Ganzhou again?"
Then he said, "Let me see if I go to Guangzhou. If I do, I'll go to play with you. I'm going to Guangzhou and passing through Zhangzhou Prefecture."
Gui Ge'er said cheerfully, "Master Shen, although my master is from Zhangzhou Prefecture, his hometown is far away from the prefecture. My master has a house in Guangzhou Prefecture, so you might as well go directly to Guangzhou Prefecture."
After hearing this, the short and fat Shen said happily, "Okay, okay, if I go to Guangzhou Prefecture, I will go and play with the Juren Master."
Gui Ge'er was just about to say: You won't find his Shan Ge even if you go to Guangzhou Prefecture. His Shan Ge is going to be a high-ranking official.
Steward Li led a few people in. When he saw Sun Shan, he immediately bowed and saluted: "Sir Sun, are you eating here too?"