Chapter 13

Chen Changsheng said it didn't matter, and in Tang Sanshiu's view, the phrase "it doesn't matter" meant the same whether it was about ordering dishes casually or being casual in their interactions. Feeling sympathy for the other party, he didn't pay much attention to the prices when ordering, and casually picked a few signature dishes from the inn, starting with a soup made from flying sparrows and a steamed two-headed fish... Just as he was ordering, he noticed Chen Changsheng's brows furrow. Thinking that the other party might be short on money and feeling a bit heartache, he said to the waiter, "No two-headed fish, let's have a mandarin fish instead. And... change the flying sparrow soup to a water shield soup."

Sure enough, Chen Changsheng's frown eased.

Tang Sanshiu smiled, thinking that he was indeed observant and considerate. He casually said, "Let's add a bowl of deer meat balls with plum blossoms at the bottom."

Chen Changsheng frowned.

Tang Sanshiu glanced at him and said, "Change it... to braised pork with pickled mustard greens."

Chen Changsheng still frowned.

Tang Sanshiu was a bit displeased, thinking that a bowl of fatty pork was something he wouldn't even bother to eat at home, yet the other party was actually reluctant to spend the money?

He said to the waiter, "Just give us a plate of cold mixed ear roots and a plate of red oil wind."

Chen Changsheng still had that disapproving look on his face.

Tang Sanshiu was really getting annoyed and said, "Considering it's your first time treating someone to a meal and you don't understand social norms, I won't say anything more."

Chen Changsheng was slightly taken aback and asked, "What did I do wrong?"

Tang Sanshiu shouted, "Even if you don't have enough money, you shouldn't show such a look in front of your guest; it's truly disgusting! As a man, you can lose your head, you can lose your blood, but you cannot lose your dignity! Even if you have to pawn your fur coat later, what does it matter?"

He thought this was a very reasonable principle and felt good about educating his companion, but Chen Changsheng found it a bit strange and asked, "Isn't this just putting on a brave face despite being poor?"

Tang Sanshiu was slightly annoyed and said, "What are you talking about?"

"This is a俗话 (common saying) in Xining," Chen Changsheng explained seriously.

Tang Sanshiu was taken aback, thinking, "Is that what I asked?" Just as he was about to lose his temper, he heard Chen Changsheng's calm and composed next words.

"...And I don't have a fur coat."

The room suddenly became quiet.

Tang Sanshiu forgot about losing his temper and felt that this was indeed a troublesome matter. He had only seen the elders and senior brothers in his family and sect who were down on their luck, often trading their fur coats and dragon ropes for drinks, but no one had ever told him what to do if someone was so poor that they didn't even have these things, and how to treat a guest without losing face. As for himself...

First, he never lacked money, and second... he had never treated anyone to a meal.

He looked at Chen Changsheng seriously and said, "Then I'll treat you to this meal."

Chen Changsheng was slightly surprised and asked, "Why?"

Tang Sanshiu looked at him with a gentle expression and said, "You don't have a fur coat, and you definitely don't have anything else of value, so how can I let you treat me?"

Chen Changsheng felt a bit wronged and said, "But... I have money."

...

...

The conversation fell silent again.

Tang Sanshiu's face turned a bit sour, and he asked, "Then why did you look so unhappy when I was ordering the dishes?"

Chen Changsheng thought about the scene and understood something. He felt a bit embarrassed and explained, "Because... the flying sparrow soup you ordered, while named as a tonic, is actually very drying. It's good in autumn and winter, but now it's spring, and drinking it can easily cause internal heat, which is not good for the body."

Tang Sanshiu was completely taken aback and asked, "Are the other dishes not good either? They are all signature dishes."

Chen Changsheng explained in a calm tone, "The two-headed fish is a deep-sea fish that feeds on shrimp and sea snakes, and it has accumulated a lot of toxins. If it's boiled, it's fine, but it's not good to eat it steamed. Plus, there are only two of us, and too much meat is not good for the body. The braised pork with pickled mustard greens is made with pork belly, which is too fatty and best not to eat."

He thought for a moment and added, "The pig's ears in the red oil wind are good, but the red oil is not good. The ear roots, if eaten too much, can cause intestinal discomfort and mental confusion, which is also not good for the body."

"Stop!" Tang Sanshiu couldn't listen anymore.

Chen Changsheng's long list of health concerns was like flies buzzing around his ears, making him very uncomfortable. No one would be happy to hear such things after happily ordering dishes. Food, of course, cannot be entirely healthy, but who pays attention to these details when eating? And to pay such strict attention was simply too much. If Chen Changsheng were an old man who cared about health, it would be understandable, but he was clearly just a fourteen-year-old boy...

"So what if it's not good for the body? Are you going to die from eating it?" Tang Sanshiu said coldly.

Chen Changsheng looked at him seriously and said, "You won't die immediately, but you will die earlier."

Tang Sanshiu was speechless and very curious, asking, "What do you usually eat?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "Two ounces of meat, two pounds of vegetables, sweet potatoes and coarse grains as I please, a white fish from the stream every two days, and no soup."

Tang Sanshiu asked, "How long have you been eating like this?"

Chen Changsheng said, "Since I can remember."

This time it was Tang Sanshiu's turn to frown.

He thought these dishes sounded terrible, and to eat them for fourteen years must be a very bleak life.

He really felt sorry for this guy.

...

...

During the meal, both of them were very quiet. Tang Sanshiu thought the dishes were too ordinary, and Chen Changsheng thought they were too unhealthy. In short, each had their own dissatisfaction, and of course, this issue could not be reconciled, just like the debate over tofu pudding and zongzi, where dietary preferences and health concerns collide.

Chen Changsheng's first banquet ended hastily. Two bowls of fragrant tea were served, and they chatted casually about the situation at the Heavenly Dao Academy. Tang Sanshiu also asked about his encounters at Zhaixing and the other two academies, expressing his confusion and doubt about how the Great Zhou military had been influenced by the Divine General's Mansion. Then there was nothing else to talk about.

Newly acquainted friends usually share stories from their childhood and growth experiences in the first few conversations, seeking common interests, but their childhood stories were so monotonous and boring that it was impossible to find common ground. To avoid the awkwardness of staring at each other, Tang Sanshiu stood up, holding his teacup and walking around the room, from the hall to the terrace and back, thinking that this guy could rent such a large suite in such an important place outside the Heavenly Book Pavilion, clearly not lacking money, so his earlier misunderstanding was really laughable.

When he walked past the bookshelf, his gaze fell on it and couldn't leave—there was a sword.

The sword was very small, not much longer than a normal dagger, and very slender, looking very delicate. The scabbard was a simple leather one, and the hilt was plain, giving off an ordinary vibe from the inside out, with no dust or bloodstains, making it extremely ordinary, yet he felt a strong desire to get close to it.

Tang Sanshiu reached out to grip the hilt.

Chen Changsheng's hand blocked his, gripping the hilt first.

Tang Sanshiu looked at him.

Chen Changsheng looked back and said, "It's mine."

Tang Sanshiu, holding his teacup, which emitted a warm mist, looked even colder in the mist, and said, "So I can't touch it?"

Chen Changsheng noticed his displeasure, feeling a bit uneasy, but still insisted, "You should ask me first. If I agree, you can take it."

Tang Sanshiu withdrew his right hand, put down his teacup, and returned to his seat.

Chen Changsheng felt a bit awkward, thinking he might have done something wrong—well, he didn't think he had done anything wrong, but since this was his first friend, he felt a bit flustered seeing the other party's displeasure. He walked to the table and handed the short sword to him.

Tang Sanshiu looked up at him and ignored him.

Chen Changsheng held the sword closer.

Tang Sanshiu refused to take the sword and said, "You're not being very generous."

Chen Changsheng was helpless, thinking, "Who isn't being generous? Who is acting like a child?" He had no choice but to walk back to the bookshelf, put the sword back, and turned to ask, "Do you have something to talk to me about?"

"In the capital, you're the only person I know. Hearing about your situation, I naturally came to see you. Don't be formal, I'm just a warm and generous person," Tang Sanshiu said with a cold expression. "Of course, this is based on my appreciation of you. You should feel honored, as I rarely appreciate my peers."

Chen Changsheng was taken aback and said, "Then... thank you?"

"Is just saying thank you enough?"

"Didn't I just treat you to a meal?"

Tang Sanshiu stood up and looked at him, "I've decided to take you as my little brother."

Chen Changsheng asked, "What does being a little brother mean?"

Tang Sanshiu explained seriously, "It means you will follow me from now on."

Chen Changsheng explained seriously, "I can't do that. I have many things to do and can't give you my time."

Tang Sanshiu was a proud young man who felt sorry for Chen Changsheng's talent not being recognized, so he visited him at the inn. Since the other party didn't accept it, he didn't say more, but was a bit puzzled, "What things? Continue studying? Why do you have to enter an academy? What is your reason for persisting?"

Chen Changsheng asked, "What about you? What is your purpose in coming to the capital?"

"I want to participate in the Imperial Examination and get first place."

Tang Sanshiu said proudly. Suddenly, he thought of the young phoenix on the Southern Holy Maiden Peak. If she returned early...

"I want to get second place in the Imperial Examination."

He corrected himself, then thought of Qiushan Jun. If that person participated in this year's Imperial Examination...

"Alright, my goal is third place in the Imperial Examination."

"But in any case, I want to carve my name on the stone tablet in front of the Heavenly Book Pavilion..."

Tang Sanshiu confirmed.

"Indeed, your ambitions are great, I admire you."

Chen Changsheng looked at him and praised, then thought of something and asked, "Then won't you have to change your name to Tang San?"

Tang Sanshiu was speechless and turned to ask, "What about you? What is your goal in coming to the capital?"

Chen Changsheng said honestly, "I also want to participate in the Imperial Examination."

Tang Sanshiu was a bit surprised but not very shocked.

Chen Changsheng said, "I haven't thought about getting second or third place."

Tang Sanshiu advised, "People should have self-awareness, but they shouldn't lose confidence. Don't forget, as long as you get into the top three in the Imperial Examination, you can enter the Heavenly Book Pavilion..."

Suddenly, his voice stopped because Chen Changsheng spoke again.

"I want to get first place."

Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, "I can't get second or third place; I can only get first place."

Silence.

Tang Sanshiu suddenly felt a strong urge to leave.

He found himself often at a loss for words today.

Because this guy's actions and words often left him speechless, wanting to spit blood.

...

...

Tang Sanshiu was speechless and turned to ask, "What about you? What is your goal in coming to the capital?"

Chen Changsheng said honestly, "I also want to participate in the Imperial Examination."

Tang Sanshiu was a bit surprised but not very shocked.

Chen Changsheng said, "I haven't thought about getting second or third place."

Tang Sanshiu advised, "People should have self-awareness, but they shouldn't lose confidence. Don't forget, as long as you get into the top three in the Imperial Examination, you can enter the Heavenly Book Pavilion..."

Suddenly, his voice stopped because Chen Changsheng spoke again.

"I want to get first place."

Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, "I can't get second or third place; I can only get first place."

Silence.

Tang Sanshiu suddenly felt a strong urge to leave.

He found himself often at a loss for words today.

Because this guy's actions and words often left him speechless, wanting to spit blood.