Fang Yu truly hadn't expected such stinginess—charging extra for soap pods to bathe. He pretended to grumble a bit but still gave the waiter copper coins.
The waiter took the coins, then lowered his voice: "Sir, would you like someone to assist with your bath? The girls from Fengyuan Tower are all quite lovely. If you wish, this humble one can call a couple to serve you. The price isn't too high either."
Fang Yu: The services are quite comprehensive indeed~
"Thank you, but no need."
Hearing this, the waiter didn't press further and left.
After a rinse, Fang Yu shed the fatigue of the journey. Changing into clean clothes, he went downstairs to find food. Seeing a restaurant not far away, its owner calling out warmly at the door, he entered and took an empty seat.
He ordered a few dishes. As the waiter said the local bamboo shoots were in season and popular, he ordered bamboo shoots stewed with quail, sour bamboo shoot fish soup, and two plates of stir-fried greens.
Bamboo shoots were rare this season. The local variety was thin, about the thickness of a finger. Stewed with quail, they were incredibly fresh, crisp, and delicious. The jar-pickled bamboo shoots cooked with fish created a sour, appetite-whetting broth. He directly ate a large bowl of rice.
"None, none. Please don't make things difficult for me, sir. This is a restaurant, not a lodging place. Perhaps you should try the inns."
"Even the inns' firewood sheds and stables are full. I truly have nowhere else to go, which is why I'm begging here at the restaurant. It's only because I was robbed by bandits on the road that I've fallen into such straits. Please, little brother, show some mercy. Just a place sheltered from rain to lie down for the night is enough. I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"There really is no room. If you're not here to dine, please don't block the way. This is a small business. We've only just managed to attract a few customers, and with you lingering like this... You might pass the exams and rise high, but we rely on this small trade to live. Aren't you deliberately making it hard for us to survive?"
The scholar seemed to want to speak, but seeing the waiter's impatient look, swallowed his words. Picking up his muddy cloth bundle, he headed for the door.
Fang Yu put down his chopsticks. The scholar looked dark-skinned, seemingly a year or two older than him. He wore a blue cloth gown, not exactly patched but washed until old and faded to whiteness, with some stains on the hem and rather disheveled hair.
He somewhat believed the story about encountering bandits.
"Brother!"
Fang Yu called out as the scholar turned. "The journey to the exams is arduous. If you don't mind, join me for a meal."
The scholar paused, pursed his lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"I am Sheng Jia. Many thanks for your generous hospitality, benevolent brother."
"No need for formalities. Have some dishes."
The scholar intended to be polite, but he was genuinely hungry, and the food looked sumptuous. He couldn't resist and downed three bowls of rice. Only after being fully satisfied did he speak to Fang Yu: "This humble one came from Linyai County. Unfortunately, I encountered bandits on the road who robbed me of my travel funds for the exams. Fortunately, I met Brother Fang, who generously hosted me. I truly have no way to repay you."
Fang Yu had heard of Linyai County. It was the most remote and impoverished county under Yongjiang Prefecture's jurisdiction, plagued by frequent disasters. Many children sold by human traffickers came from Linyai County. It was said bandits often lurked there, making life bitter for the common people.
Coming from there to take the exams was undoubtedly more difficult than for candidates from any other county in Yongjiang Prefecture. No wonder this scholar looked so disheveled and destitute.
"Traveling thousands of li to take the exams is not easy. The road ahead is still long. How will you manage without travel funds?"
Sheng Jia replied, "It's a shame that travel stipends for the provincial exams aren't provided by the county yamen. Upon entering the city, I also thought of borrowing some silver from the prefectural yamen for travel expenses. Unfortunately, I'm not a resident of Huining City, and the yamen officials turned me down. Given the circumstances, there's nothing more I can do. Tonight, the moon is bright and the stars are few—it probably won't rain. At worst, I'll spend the night on the street and just take each day as it comes."
"Brother Sheng is truly open-minded."
"Being distressed is useless. Since I've already set out, I must find a way to reach the prefectural capital."
Fang Yu chuckled, somewhat moved: "If Brother Sheng Jia is willing, I can lend you some silver for travel expenses, to ease your current troubles."
"Really?" Sheng Jia's eyes widened, the dark pupils matching his complexion: "We've just met by chance. You're truly willing to lend me travel funds?"
"Meeting by chance is fate. Consider it making a friend."
Sheng Jia hastily stood up, disregarding others' glances, spreading his arms like a great bird taking flight as he bowed to Fang Yu: "Brother Fang's great kindness, this humble one will never forget in this lifetime."
Fang Yu lent ten taels of silver to Sheng Jia. Based on his own spending, ten taels would definitely not be enough for travel expenses. But for a scholar like Sheng Jia, it couldn't be more. Giving too much would instead feel like a burden. Moreover, he didn't want to be seen as a lavish easy mark.
Sheng Jia wrote an IOU for Fang Yu, fearing he might seem insincere or unwilling to repay. He even bit his finger to press a blood seal. Fang Yu accepted it with a smile.
The two parted ways at the restaurant entrance. Fang Yu went to buy some food for the next day's journey before returning to the inn to rest. He needed to set off early the next day; otherwise, he'd suffer under the blazing sun again.
Fatigued from the day's travel, he slept well at night. After tossing and turning a couple of times in bed, he fell asleep. At some hour during the night, the bed in the next room repeatedly creaked and groaned. He opened his eyes impatiently. Before long, sounds of intimate relations between a man and woman emerged.
Fang Yu rolled his eyes. These wooden lodgings might be cool, but the soundproofing was terrible! He threw a pillow against the wall and couldn't help muttering: "Brother, your energy is really something. After a full day of travel, you can still manage this."
"That's certainly better than you."
Fang Yu: "!"
This wasn't just poor soundproofing—it was basically no soundproofing at all!
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