The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 030 Just What Kind Of Person Is My Senior Brother!
Tang Shen felt a bit embarrassed. He looked up at Wang Zhen, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Wang Zhen smiled and said, "Junior Brother, shall we go?"
Tang Shen snapped out of it. "…Okay."
The two of them got into the sedan chair, and Wang Zhen ordered, "To the Imperial College." The sedan chair bearers lifted the chair and headed towards the Imperial College.
The official system of the Song Dynasty mostly followed that of the previous dynasty, with strict regulations on the attire and lifestyle of officials. Officials without the proper rank could not use official lanterns or carriages beyond their grade. The sedan chair that a second-rank minister could use was very spacious, enough for two people to sit side by side without feeling crowded.
The streets of Shengjing were bustling with people and noise, but these sounds were kept outside the sedan chair. Tang Shen sat upright and proper.
The interior of the sedan chair was silent, with no one speaking.
As they passed by a street with snack shops, the cries of vendors could be heard outside. Wang Zhen opened his eyes and asked, "Have you had dinner?"
Tang Shen was taken aback and turned to look at him.
Even in the large sedan chair, the two were still quite close. Tang Shen turned his gaze away and, after adjusting, replied, "No, I haven't."
Wang Zhen instructed the sedan chair bearers, "Go to Caiqi Villa."
The bearers responded, "Yes."
Tang Shen was confused. Having just arrived in Shengjing, he had no idea what Caiqi Villa was. But since it seemed to be on the way, the bearers didn't detour and continued straight. After a quarter of an hour, they stopped. After a short wait, the bearers handed in a package of pastries, still warm to the touch. Tang Shen opened it to find a packet of glutinous rice cakes, known as aiwowo.
Tang Shen immediately understood Wang Zhen's intention, but he noticed that Wang Zhen had no intention of eating the pastries. Sensing something was amiss, Tang Shen carefully thought it over, then wrapped the aiwowo back up and said, "Senior Brother, how can I eat in your sedan chair?"
Wang Zhen looked at him and said, "I don't mind."
Tang Shen earnestly replied, "A gentleman doesn't speak while eating or sleeping. Eating outside the dining hall is also impolite."
Wang Zhen seemed a bit taken aback. He looked at Tang Shen for a while before smiling and saying, "Junior Brother, you are quite the character. Then let's wait until your student records are sorted out to take the pastries back to eat. Caiqi Villa's pastries are well-known in Shengjing. If you like them, you can try them again. They have many branches in Shengjing."
"Since Senior Brother has recommended it, I will definitely try them."
Soon, the sedan chair arrived at the Imperial College. Tang Shen followed Wang Zhen out of the chair.
Wang Zhen, still in his bright red official robes, was respectfully welcomed by the gatekeeper, who called for the dean. The dean was a portly old man with graying hair. Seeing Wang Zhen, he was surprised, greeted him, and said, "Wang daren."
Wang Zhen returned the greeting, "Lin daren."
"Wang daren has not visited the Imperial College for many days. What brings you here today? It is fortunate you came just in time, as I was about to leave. If you had come a bit later, only the few hundred students would have been here to greet you."
Wang Zhen smiled, "I indeed have a favor to ask." He stepped aside and said, "This is my Junior Brother, Tang Shen, courtesy name Jing Ze, from Gusu. He gained the honor of sanyuan in Gusu last year and is now here in Shengjing to study and participate in the autumn xiangshi exam in August. Can the Imperial College admit him as a student and transfer his student records?"
Dean Lin replied, "Naturally, it can be done. However, generally, gongsheng students entering the Imperial College require a recommendation letter."
Tang Shen suddenly remembered that Fu Wei had mentioned writing him a recommendation letter but had forgotten to give it to him when he left Fu Residence. Tang Shen was about to say, "I'll bring the recommendation letter tomorrow," but before he could speak, Wang Zhen said, "I'll write the recommendation letter."
Dean Lin responded, "With a recommendation from Wang daren himself, there is naturally no issue."
The three of them went to a study room where Dean Lin provided ink, paper, and brushes. Wang Zhen slightly rolled up his right sleeve, picked up an ink stick, added a bit of water to the inkstone, and started grinding the ink. Then, he selected a fine-tipped brush from the brush rack, dipped it in the ink, and began writing the recommendation letter.
Dean Lin commented, "Wang daren's calligraphy is elegant and vigorous, with a unique and upright style. I had the honor of seeing it half a year ago, and it remains as impressive as ever!"
Wang Zhen replied, "You flatter me, Lin daren."
"It is the heartfelt truth."
This flattery was delivered by Dean Lin with a straight face, and did not faze Wang Zhen, who seemed to take it as a matter of course.
Tang Shen observed from the side, learning a bit from the interaction. Then, he quietly moved to the table and began grinding more ink.
When Wang Zhen finished writing two lines and needed more ink, he noticed Tang Shen grinding ink for him. He looked up at Tang Shen, who was focused on watching him write. Wang Zhen shifted his gaze, dipped his brush in the ink, and continued writing. In no time, he had finished the recommendation letter, dried the ink, and handed it to Dean Lin.
Dean Lin said, "That's settled then. I will handle the student record matter. However, since the office has already closed for the day, I will transfer Tang gongzi's student record tomorrow."
Wang Zhen suddenly said, "Transferring the student record from Gusu Prefecture might take a month."
Dean Lin was taken aback. After thinking for a while, he asked, "What do you suggest, Wang daren?"
Wang Zhen hesitated, playing with his white fan, his fingers gently stroking the jade frame. "The Jiangnan Academy is not an impenetrable place. They lose one or two student records each year, which can simply be reissued. Sometimes records believed to be lost are found later, with no impact on the gongsheng students. The Imperial College is the holy land for cultivating the nation's pillars. Focusing too much on student records is a failure of our official system."
Dean Lin suddenly understood, "Tang gongzi's student record will be at the Imperial College tomorrow."
Wang Zhen smiled, "We'll be leaving now, Lin daren."
Dean Lin said, "Safe travels, Wang daren!"
Wang Zhen and Tang Shen left the Imperial College together.
Wang Zhen asked, "How long have you been in Shengjing? Do you have a place to stay?"
Tang Shen hadn't yet recovered from the previous conversation. After a while, he said, "Yes, I live next to the Imperial College."
Wang Zhen raised an eyebrow. "So you can go to classes at the Imperial College every day?"
"Yes."
Wang Zhen said, "In that case, let me give you a ride."
The two of them got back into the sedan chair, and Wang Zhen sent Tang Shen to the entrance of an alley. Tang Shen got out of the sedan and saw Wang Zhen use his white fan to lift the curtain. He said to Tang Shen, "Spring days linger, and the vegetation flourishes."
Tang Shen didn't respond immediately, but his sharp memory kicked in, and he instinctively completed the verse, "The orioles sing melodiously, and the fern is plentiful."
This verse was from "The Book of Poetry."
Wang Zhen smiled. "Junior Brother, don't let yourself go hungry."
Tang Shen: "..."
So, it was a reminder not to forget the package of rice cakes!
Tang Shen held the package of rice cakes. "Alright."
The sedan curtain fell, and Wang Zhen's pleasant voice came from inside, "Back to the minister's residence."
Before long, the sedan chair disappeared at the end of the alley.
Tang Shen held the package of rice cakes, watching the two official lanterns disappear down the road, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Without Wang Zhen around, Tang Shen no longer adhered to the dining etiquette and started eating the rice cakes as he walked home.
“Oh, they really are delicious," he said, eating two more.
After filling his stomach, Tang Shen reflected on the events at the Imperial College. He sighed, "Tang Jingze, this is the officialdom!" When he got home, Yao San had already prepared his bathwater, and Tang Shen began to bathe.
Even in ancient times, Tang Shen enjoyed bathing. In Zhao Family Village, he hadn't had the conditions for it, as the family struggled for food, let alone bathing. But in Gusu, once the living conditions improved, Tang Shen resumed this hobby from his past life. He placed his hands on the edge of the bathtub and closed his eyes to relax.
Suddenly, Tang Shen opened his eyes in surprise, "When did he find out my courtesy name is Jing Ze?" After a moment, he added, "And he also knows I gained the honor of sanyuan in Gusu? Did Mr. Liang tell him and Mr. Fu in a letter, or did he find out by himself?"
Tang Shen: "..."
"What kind of person is my Senior Brother!"
Despite his sigh, Tang Shen decided to be even more vigilant around Wang Zifeng.
The next day, Tang Shen went to the Imperial College and found that he had been accepted as a student and his student record had been "transferred" there. Three days earlier, it had been the Empress Dowager's eightieth birthday, and the entire Imperial College had a half-month break, so no students were attending classes. Tang Shen collected his monthly stipend and student uniform and returned home.
Having been busy for three days since arriving in Shengjing, Tang Shen and Yao San finally had some free time and decided to explore the vast city of Shengjing.
Shengjing, the capital of the Song Dynasty, truly lived up to its reputation.
Gusu prospered due to its geographical advantages, being a transportation hub of the south, thanks to the Grand Canal. But Shengjing was different. The Khitan and Liao people, rarely seen in Gusu, were common in Shengjing. They blended in with the common folk, distinguished only by their attire, and dined and drank tea like everyone else.
Before coming to Gusu, Yao San had said to Accountant Lin, "Though Shengjing is impressive, Gusu isn't bad either." But after seeing the real Shengjing, Yao San said to Tang Shen, “Little boss, I thought our business was big enough in Gusu and that we could succeed in Shengjing too. But now, I think Shengjing is too big, and our business might not succeed here."
Tang Shen replied, "You're not entirely wrong."
Yao San asked, "Is there still a chance?"
Original soap, scented soap, and essential oils were indeed good sellers in Shengjing, but there was no Tang family in Shengjing, and Liang Song couldn't help Tang Shen here. In Shengjing, high-ranking officials were as many as stray dogs! Tang Shen's business was easy and profitable, but so long as it was booming it would attract envy and might not survive without strong backing.
Seeking help from Fu Wei and Wang Zhen was a good idea, but Tang Shen only had a teacher-student and Senior Brother-Junior Brother relationship with them. As the saying goes, even blood brothers kept different account books. Tang Shen's business profits were substantial, and without a partnership, negotiations would be difficult.
As for logistics, that was even more unlikely.
Gusu had a population of over a hundred thousand, but Shengjing had millions!
Starting a logistics business would require more money than Tang Shen currently had.
However...
"Brother Yao, the boxiagong business is worth a try!"
Yao San was surprised. "But little boss, our Xixia Tower in Gusu succeeds because Tang's Logistics provides fresh supplies daily. Shengjing doesn't have that."
"But Shengjing is adjacent to the Liao Kingdom."
"Huh?"
Tang Shen smiled, "Those who truly love hotpot are not from Jiangnan but Shengjing!"
It was only in Shengjing where old Beijing hotpot mutton could be called true and authentic!
While in Shengjing fresh vegetables and meat couldn't quickly be transported like in Gusu, it never lacked mutton or pork due to its proximity to the Liao Kingdom and the vast grasslands. Even beef, which was rare in Gusu, was common in Shengjing!
Tang Shen said, "Brother Yao, tomorrow let's go to the agency to buy a few servants. We'll rent a courtyard and settle them there. Also, when you return to Gusu, find Manager Lu from Xixia Tower and tell him to find me in Shengjing."
"Alright. Little boss, do you plan to start a Xixia Tower branch business here?"
Tang Shen said, "That's right!"
Yao San's eyes lit up, "Then I'll come with Manager Lu to help you in Shengjing."
Tang Shen said, "You don't need to come."
"Huh?"
"When did I say I was starting the Xixia Tower branch business now? In five months, I'll have to take the xiangshi examination. Brother Yao, I still want to earn an official title. I don't need to win first place, but my rank shouldn't be too low, or I'll embarrass Mr. Fu and that Senior Brother Wang of mine!"
Three days later, Yao San took a boat south, returning to Gusu.
The Imperial College had not yet started its term, so Tang Shen lived alone at home, studying diligently day and night, enduring hardship to excel in his studies.
Fu Wei, as the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, was a renowned Confucian scholar, one of the four great scholars of the land. However, he had become accustomed to laziness over the years. Ever since Wang Zhen achieved the top scholar position eight years ago, Fu Wei had stopped overseeing Wang Zhen's studies and had lost the habit of teaching. It was only after spending half a month tending to birds and watering flowers that Fu Wei suddenly remembered, "Huh, why hasn't my new student Tang Jingze shown up?"
Wen Shu reminded him, "Sir, according to the schedule, Tang gongzi should already be studying at the Imperial College."
Upon hearing this, Fu Wei felt a rare pang of guilt: "Alas, I am old. I accepted a student but have no energy to teach him, leaving him to study with other gongsheng students at the Imperial College."
Wen Shu muttered, "You never seemed to care much when teaching Wang xianggong either. It was all due to Wang xianggong's intelligence and self-learning!"
Fu Wei responded, "Little page boy, what are you muttering about?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Fu Wei stroked his graying beard: "There are still four months until the autumn xiangshi exam, and this won't do. Alright, have him come see me tomorrow. Tomorrow is also the Ministry of Revenue's rest day; call Zi Feng over. I have something to instruct him."
AN: Little Tang: My Senior Brother and I are not close; how can I ask him to help with my soap business?
Neighbor Wang: Junior Brother, I always felt that this little soap might have other uses.