vstars Chapter 347 They were really hungry!
Chapter 347 They were really hungry!
"Gulu..."
"Gulu gulu..."
Must be hungry.
Moreover, the feeling of hunger seems to be contagious.
One person's stomach growled, and the others' stomachs immediately responded in kind.
Moreover, when you're fully focused on something, it's easy to overlook hunger.
That's why there's the idiom "to forget to eat and sleep" (meaning to work so hard that one forgets to eat and sleep).
That describes someone who is so focused on one thing that they keep doing it until they have to sacrifice their sleep and even forget to eat.
Jiang Lin and Lao Wang are currently in this "working day and night" mode.
Jiang Xiaoqi still spends most of his time studying at night. Compared to these guys, he seems somewhat unambitious and idle during the day.
However, the others did not remind him, not because they did not want Jiang Xiaoqi to work hard, but because they knew that their cousin was not as simple as he seemed.
It must have been done on purpose to impress them. During the day, they pretended not to study, but at night they studied diligently, just to dazzle them!
Don't ask them how they know; they've written down anything they don't understand and will ask their cousins for help when they have time.
Each time their cousin gave an answer, they were amazed and benefited greatly, feeling that many of their own secrets had been unlocked.
Just like martial artists who open up their Ren and Du meridians through training, once one meridian is opened, everything else becomes clear.
They are no longer as confused as they were at the beginning, and they have more confidence in the imperial examinations.
It's not that I think I can pass the exam, but I feel that if I perform normally, my chances of passing the exam are at least 30% higher than before.
"Alright! Put down your paper and pen! Let your hair down. The uncles and great-uncles have arrived. See you in the main hall in a bit."
You all should hurry up and wash up and change into clean clothes, lest our uncles think I'm abusing my brothers in the capital!
Then I'd be unjustly killed! Hurry up! Stop dawdling!
Jiang Hao's eyes lit up; his family had arrived!
For Jiang Hao, this was not just a matter of his cousin having an elder visit.
Among these Jiang family members who passed the imperial examinations was his uncle, Jiang Wenhan, who had passed the provincial examinations three years earlier, but had failed the metropolitan examinations later.
This is Uncle Jiang Hao's second trip to Beijing, and the fourth trip for brothers Jiang Wenhai and Jiang Wenhao.
The once young scholars are now all over thirty, and the passage of time has etched a mark of their vicissitudes.
Apart from the three who were slightly younger, the rest of the Jiang family scholars were all over forty years old.
The oldest among them is of the same generation as Landlord Jiang, and he is now past the age of fifty.
The group untied the ribbons from their "heads hanging from the beams," shook their aching necks, and gradually left the study.
Back in his room, he quickly tidied up and followed Jiang Xiaoqi to the reception hall.
Several uncles and great-uncles were sitting upright drinking tea, their eyes showing signs of fatigue.
When Jiang Wenhan saw Jiang Hao enter, his eyes were full of affection, and he beckoned him to come closer and talk.
Jiang Xiaoqi and the others bowed to the elders once again.
"Was your journey to the capital smooth, Second Uncle?"
Jiang Wenhan smiled and nodded, saying, "Have a safe journey. The escort agency you recommended is very capable."
"That was recommended by Mingfei. It's the escort agency his family has been using for years, and they've gotten to know the head of the escort agency well."
"I see. This head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) has been very polite to us along the way and is extremely responsible in his work."
Jiang Hao thought to himself, how could he not take responsibility? Ming Fei had increased the escort fee by 30%! Money can make the devil turn the millstone, let alone an escort?
"Dear uncles and great-uncles, my grandfather will be leaving the office soon. Let's move to the dining hall first!"
We're all family, and you've all had a long journey, so please don't worry about the formalities and just wait here.
Besides, Grandfather sent word back that he will return home as soon as possible, so we can eat first and not go hungry while waiting for someone.
After saying that, Jiang Xiaoqi was about to lead the people to the dining room.
"This...this is still against the rules."
“That’s right, Brother Changshou is older than any of us. There’s an order of seniority, so it’s only right that we wait for him!”
The speaker was Jiang Changfeng, Jiang Changqing's cousin, who was the oldest among those present.
Jiang Changgeng, who was also quite old, chimed in. He was Jiang the landlord's cousin, but only a cousin of the same grandfather, not the same father.
Upon hearing the words of his two elders, Jiang Xiaoqi hurriedly replied respectfully, "Grand Uncle, today's situation is special."
If my grandfather knew that you had gone through a long journey and were hungry while waiting for him, he would be very upset.
Besides, we're all a close-knit family, and Grandfather probably wouldn't want everyone to be so formal.
If he were to return and find that Mingfei was still starving, Mingfei would probably get a real beating.
Elders, please show some consideration for the younger generation and don't let Mingfei's bottom suffer!
Jiang Xiaoqi's act of acting cute and whiny amused the elders of the Jiang family.
"You're all grown up now, a provincial top scholar, stop using such vulgar language about buttocks!"
Jiang Wenhai and Jiang Xiaoqi were very familiar with each other and knew that the child was using a surprise tactic to help them, the guests, relax as quickly as possible.
Jiang Changfeng and Jiang Changgeng exchanged a glance, agreeing that Jiang Xiaoqi's words made some sense.
Although they didn't think their cousin, who doted on his grandson, would actually lay a hand on Jiang Xiaoqi.
At this moment, Jiang Wenhan also advised, "Uncles, Mingfei is right. Let's go over first. Maybe Uncle will be back from his shift while the food is being served in the kitchen."
Everyone shook their heads helplessly before getting up and following Jiang Xiaoqi to the dining room.
To Jiang Wenhan's surprise, the Jiang family's large kitchen was surprisingly efficient.
In less than fifteen minutes, the table was filled with rare delicacies, and the aroma wafted into our noses in waves.
Just as everyone was holding back from eating, a series of footsteps came from outside at just the right moment.
As soon as Landlord Jiang entered, he apologized profusely for keeping everyone waiting, and everyone rose to greet him.
After taking his seat, Landlord Jiang didn't waste any words and immediately picked up his chopsticks: "Let's eat!"
Scholars are even more particular about "not speaking while eating or sleeping".
There were fourteen people, divided into two tables: one for adults and one for children.
Well, these five who haven't reached adulthood are being treated as children for now.
The women didn't eat in the front dining room, partly to make them feel more comfortable.
After all, a small dining room would feel a bit cramped if a table and a screen were added.
The flower hall is quite large, but it's not very well sealed off in order to make the scenery look nice.
In the summer, you can set up a few tables in the flower hall, but in the dead of winter, it's better not to suffer like that.
Another reason why no one spoke at the dinner table was that they were genuinely hungry...
Some people were tired and hungry from traveling, while others were so engrossed in reading that they hadn't eaten all day.
Of the two tables of people, only the landlord Jiang and his grandson Jiang Xiaoqi were somewhat normal, eating at a relatively slow and methodical pace.
As for the others... they weren't just wiped out like a whirlwind, they were utterly annihilated!