jdhmnovel Chapter 293 This meal is on me!
Chapter 293 This meal is on me!
Shen Xing sat blankly beside the bed, looking at the peaceful face of the servant, feeling an indescribable grief in his heart.
He silently dug a grave for the boy and buried him personally on a hillside full of wild flowers.
The air after the rain was particularly fresh, but Shen Xing's heart was dead silent.
He knelt in front of the grave, clasped his hands together, and prayed in a low voice: "May you rest in peace in another world. I will never forget your efforts and sacrifices."
The death of Shu Tong was a huge blow to Shen Xing.
In order to save the servant boy, he took out most of his money without hesitation, but failed to save the person.
But the money that was spent like water was the savings of my parents for most of their life.
At that moment, Shen Xing's energy was almost exhausted, and he felt unprecedented loneliness and helplessness.
After burying the servant, Shen Xing embarked on a journey alone.
His steps became more firm and heavy, and every step seemed to carry his thoughts for his book boy and his expectations for the future.
He learned to turn grief into strength and loneliness into motivation to move forward.
In the days that followed, Shen Xing would often think of the time he spent with Shu Tong.
Those days of laughter and fighting side by side seem like they were just yesterday.
Whenever it was late at night and everyone was asleep, he would take out a book and read to relieve his loneliness and longing. The sound of the pages turning was particularly clear in the quiet night, as if it was a conversation with the book boy across time and space.
"I will definitely succeed."
Shen Xing silently made a vow in his heart.
One evening, Shen Xing passed by a simple but cozy inn. Tiredness and hunger made him involuntarily step into the threshold.
The store was bustling with people, but the smell of home could not be concealed. He found a corner to sit down and was about to order some food to satisfy his hunger, but found that the dry food he brought with him had already run out.
Soon, the waiter brought the steaming dishes. The aroma made Shen Xing's appetite increase greatly.
However, just as he was about to enjoy it, a drunken man stumbled over and almost spilled the wine jug in his hand all over him.
The man quickly apologized, his voice a little drunken but his words were vulgar and offensive.
Shen Xing was about to argue when he was interrupted by someone.
A woman with simple clothes and a kind face grabbed the man in time and pushed him behind her.
The woman walked away, looking back and saying apologetically:
"I'm sorry, little scholar, please don't bother with him. My husband is an alcoholic. I'm sorry to cause you trouble."
Shen Xing was unhappy when he saw this, but seeing that the two men were simple and honest and had no ill intentions, he waved his hand generously, indicating that it was okay.
He turned to ask the waiter about the price of the meal, and the answer he got was two taels of silver, which was a considerable expense at the time.
Shen Xing reached into his pocket, ready to pay, but was shocked to find that his wallet had disappeared. He suddenly remembered that the couple had had a brief contact with him when they apologized, and he immediately understood.
However, the waiter did not notice Shen Xing's abnormality. Seeing that he was slow to pay, his face gradually darkened and he began to accuse him of eating and drinking without paying. The diners around him also cast strange glances at him, making Shen Xing feel unprecedented embarrassment and helplessness.
At this moment, the inn's owner, a middle-aged man, came out from the kitchen. His eyes were sharp, yet gentle. Upon hearing this, he did not immediately blame Shen Xing, but made an unexpected request:
"How about this, if you can write me a couplet and keep it for the New Year, I will waive the cost of your meal."
Shen Xing was delighted when he heard this. This was undoubtedly a good opportunity for him to get out of trouble. He thought for a moment, picked up his pen and dipped it in ink. After a while, a neat and auspicious couplet appeared on the paper: "The spring breeze is blowing and the horse's hooves are galloping. I can see all the flowers in Chang'an in one day." The horizontal banner reads: "My name is on the imperial examination list."
The shop owner took the couplet, read it carefully, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. He patted Shen Xing on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Good calligraphy! Good couplet! What's even more rare is your talent and generosity. This meal, I'll treat you!"
Shen Xing bowed gratefully, secretly rejoicing in his heart.
This unexpected storm has finally come to an end.
Shen Xing stood in front of the shop owner, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes flashing with both desire and anxiety.
He took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and pleaded with a trembling voice:
"Shopkeeper, I...I beg you to give me a chance to earn some money here. The road to the imperial examination is long and difficult, and I have no way out."
The shop owner looked at Shen Xing's face, which was full of fatigue and determination, and sighed inwardly. He paced slowly, thought for a moment, and said in a gentle but slightly apologetic tone:
"Mr. Shen, it's not that I don't want to help, but most of the work in this inn is rough and heavy, and I'm afraid it's not something a scholar like you can do. But..." The owner changed the subject, a gleam in his eyes, "I have a suggestion. You are good at speaking, why don't you try telling stories here? It can not only give full play to your strengths, but also solve urgent problems."
Shen Xing's eyes lit up when he heard that. He bowed excitedly and said, "Thank you, owner! I will do my best to live up to your expectations."
Thus, Shen Xing transformed himself into a storyteller in the inn. He prepared day and night, telling stories from ancient and modern times, both Chinese and foreign, sometimes passionately and sometimes delicately and gently, attracting diners to stop and praise him.
However, only Shen Xing himself knows the hard work and difficulty behind this. He often studies hard under the lamp in the dead of night, just to find the next fascinating story.
Just when Shen Xing thought everything was getting better, fate dealt him another heavy blow. That day, a lady dressed in gorgeous clothes and with noble temperament walked into the inn and was attracted by Shen Xing's storytelling.
After she finished listening quietly, she raised a playful smile and said, "Your story is indeed interesting, but if you can kneel down and tell it to me, I will give you a hundred gold coins."
This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Shen Xing stunned. He looked at the lady in disbelief, with mixed feelings in his heart. Dignity, pride, shame and anger... all kinds of emotions intertwined together, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. He looked at the owner, hoping to get a little support or comfort, but the owner just shook his head helplessly, saying that this was a private matter that they could not interfere with.
At this critical moment, Shen Xing not only suffered from inner torment, but also from the discussions of the diners around him, which added a few twists and turns to his already complicated mood. Most of these diners were simple people. They were shocked and dissatisfied with the lady's request. They cast reproachful glances and whispered.
"This girl has gone too far. How could she allow a scholar to be humiliated like this?" an old man said indignantly, his eyes full of sympathy for Shen Xing's experience and indignation at the injustice.
"Yes, scholars should be respected, how can they be treated so despised?" A young scholar nearby also echoed. Although his voice was soft, it revealed his adherence to and defense of the dignity of scholars.
These discussions, like a spring breeze, gently brushed Shen Xing's heart and brought a touch of comfort. He felt the warmth and understanding from strangers, which made him see a ray of light in despair. However, Shen Xing knew that his fate was ultimately in his own hands, and he could not and should not rely on the sympathy and pity of others.
So, amid the complicated gazes and discussions of the crowd, Shen Xing made the most difficult decision of his life.