This time, Zhu Ping'an invited the greasy fat man to a different restaurant - Zhuangyuanlou, and ordered an imitation version of the Lu Ming Banquet.
Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to have a standard Luming Banquet. It was not that he was reluctant to spend money, but that he could not buy it even if he had money. Last time, when Zhu Ping'an passed the imperial examination, he had a Luming Banquet, which had 58 dishes, including hot and cold dishes, desserts, soups, and meals. Moreover, many dishes could not be made on the spot and needed to be prepared several days in advance. Even the most time-consuming dish, called "honey-pickled 鱁鮧", took more than 100 days to prepare. Therefore, Zhu Ping'an could only treat the greasy fat man to a replica of the Luming Banquet.
It was an imitation of the Deer Singing Banquet, and there were as many as eighteen dishes, including venison, carp, turtle and other dishes symbolizing high school.
The greasy fat man ate like a glutton at first, enjoying the food to his heart's content. However, after a while, he suddenly became depressed, as if something sad in his heart was triggered. He put down his chopsticks and sighed.
"Brother Hu, are the food and wine not to your taste?" Zhu Ping'an asked with concern when he saw the greasy fat man suddenly look disappointed.
"No, no, it's just that the scene brought back memories."
The greasy fat man sighed, thinking of the sad things, and then looking at the dazzling array of food on the table, he suddenly felt that they didn't taste good anymore.
"I wonder if there is anything I can do for you. As long as Brother Hu asks, I will definitely not refuse."
Zhu Pingan asked.
"Alas, this is my personal battle, no one else can do it." The greasy fat man sighed.
"Oh?" Zhu Ping'an looked at the greasy fat man.
"Alas, I have been studying for decades and have taken the provincial examinations several times, but I have never had the chance to taste the Luming Banquet. Today, I can't help but feel a lot of emotion when I taste this banquet..."
When the greasy fat man said this, he couldn't help but become emotional. He lay on his back at 45 degrees, and the corners of his eyes became slightly moist.
Zhu Pingan looked at the sentimental greasy fat man and couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic. According to historical records, you will take the provincial examination several times, but the result will not change at all, and Sun Shan will still be in front and you will be behind. If history does not change, you will stop at being a scholar in your life and will not have the chance to attend the authentic Luming Feast.
"The Lu Ming Banquet is nothing. My young master has even been to the Qiong Lin Banquet." Liu Dadao couldn't help but said with pride when he heard the greasy fat man's words.
The Lu Ming Banquet is a celebration banquet for newly-appointed juren, while the Qiong Lin Banquet is more upscale and is a celebration banquet for newly-appointed jinshi.
Liu Dadao has been with Zhu Ping'an for so long and has gained a lot of experience. He is familiar with these two types of banquets.
"Huh? Your son has even eaten at the Qionglin Banquet? He is so young..." The greasy fat man was shocked and his face changed drastically after hearing what Liu Dadao said. However, after a few seconds, the greasy fat man smiled again, tapped the food on the table with chopsticks, and said to Liu Dadao with a curled mouth, "Yes, yes, a family like yours must have eaten countless Luming Banquets and Qionglin Banquets."
The greasy fat man thought that the Qionglin Banquet that Liu Dadao mentioned was the Qionglin Banquet that was ordered in the restaurant according to the standard Qionglin Banquet, just like today's Luming Banquet, so he calmed down from his surprise.
For a family like yours, let alone having eaten the Qionglin Banquet, even if they ate the Qionglin Banquet every meal, it would not be surprising to have greasy and fat people.
At first, the greasy fat man thought Liu Dadao was talking about the authentic Qionglin Feast, so he was shocked at first. What did you say? ! Your son has eaten the Qionglin Feast? ! Your son is so young, not even twenty years old, but he not only passed the imperial examination, but also the imperial examination? !
How is it possible? The Ming Dynasty has been established for a hundred years. Those who passed the imperial examination before the age of twenty were all quite young. Those who passed the imperial examination before the age of twenty were even rarer. Oh, by the way, during the special examination last year, there was only one person who passed the imperial examination before the age of twenty in the hundred years since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty. What was his name? Zhu something-an... ...
Your son can't possibly be him, right? !
Haha! How is it possible! There is no such a coincidence in the world. If it is such a coincidence, I will really be a watchdog when I turn around.
Well, speaking of that number one scholar, I actually took the exam with him, the provincial exam the year before last, and I also took part in it, but unfortunately, he became famous overnight and became the youngest scholar in Nanzhili, enjoying the authentic Luming Banquet, while I failed and stayed in the inn, eating leftovers while listening to others in the inn praising that young man... ...
"Luming Banquet... I swear, I must have an authentic Luming Banquet!" The greasy fat man swore fiercely, then turned his grief into strength, and ate the food on the table.
"I believe in Brother Hu." Zhu Ping'an nodded and encouraged.
"I believe in your vision." The greasy fat man stretched out his hand and tore off a leg, then praised Zhu Ping'an.
"I told you you're fat and you're out of breath..." Liu Dadao couldn't help but twitching the corners of his mouth after hearing what the greasy fat man said.
"Why, believe it or not, in the next provincial examination, I will pass the exam and show you." The greasy fat man stuffed the leg into his mouth and said to Liu Dadao, setting a flag for himself.
"I don't believe it." Liu Dadao was very disrespectful.
"You! Humph! Remember what I said today. Next time, I will definitely pass the imperial examination and show you. When I taste the authentic Luming Feast, I will tell you in detail about the taste of the dishes of the Luming Feast."
The greasy fat man raised the flag high and waved it vigorously twice.
When Zhu Ping'an saw the greasy fat man raise the flag twice in a row, he couldn't help but want to cover his eyes and couldn't bear to look at it.
Generally speaking, people who set a flag will often be slapped in the face. Zhu Ping'an already knew the ending of the greasy fat man, so he couldn't bear to watch it.
"Ha!" Liu Dadao chuckled.
"Why, you don't believe it?!" The greasy fat man glared at Liu Dadao and said with a solemn oath, "I just didn't tell you! In my last provincial examination, in the preliminary examination, I was selected as the first place!"
"You, the first place in the preliminary test?!" Liu Dadao was surprised and looked at the greasy fat man with full of suspicion.
Zhu Pingan was not surprised or suspicious at all, because this was the truth, and this experience was also recorded in history.
"I'm not kidding. I got first place in the initial test, for sure!" The greasy fat man raised his head, with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
"What's the result?" Liu Dadao looked at the greasy fat man again.
"Ahem, I am a flawless pearl, shining brightly, but the light is too bright, blinding the eyes of the people who admire it."
The greasy fat man coughed.
"What do you mean? Can you speak human language?!" Liu Dadao didn't understand what the greasy fat man said and glared at him.
"Ahem, the examiner was blind and didn't know the value of my essay. He couldn't appreciate my beautiful essay. I didn't pass the exam and failed..." The greasy fat man coughed awkwardly and said with a slightly blushing face.
"You've already failed the exam, so what else do you have to say..." Liu Dadao understood and couldn't help rolling his eyes.
The greasy fat man blushed.