Great Nation, Small Freshness (Imperial Examination) - Chapter 18

18: Minced Meat Stew with String Beans

“It was only that one time we met at the county banquet before the New Year, and then by chance we ran into each other again and exchanged a few words. We can hardly be called acquaintances.” Qin Fanghe said, tapping the invitation card twice against his palm with a smile. “This card may not even make it inside.”

From his perspective, Kong Ziqing should have some mutual appreciation for him, but he wasn’t sure what the elders’ attitude would be.

In a great clan with strict rules, how could just anyone come and go freely? Even something sent in would have to pass through several rounds of inspection by many hands. For someone like him, an unknown nobody, it was entirely possible that the gatekeeper would simply pocket the card he sent.

But whether it got delivered was the Kong family’s business, whether to send it at all was his own decision.

Since they had met once, he had to go through the motions at least.

Mr. Sun, however, was so delighted he felt as if ants were crawling all over him. He hurriedly reached out with both hands to take it, carefully tucking it into his sleeve. When he spoke again, he had already upgraded the form of address.

“It’s only a few extra steps—what’s that worth? Young Master, just leave it to me!”

That was the Kong residence, after all.

Even a seventh-rank official stood tall before a prime minister’s gate, even the lowliest sweeper in the Kong household was nobler than an outsider. In the past, his own boss had never managed to exchange a single word with anyone from the Kong family, yet now he had a legitimate reason to visit their gate. Only a fool would pass that up!

If it worked out, the future benefits would be immense… Mr. Sun couldn’t help but feel his heart race and his blood surge.

Don’t think about it, don’t think about it! Stay calm!

Even if it didn’t work, it was just an extra trip on foot. He could at least broaden his horizons. Surely the Kong household wouldn’t have him beaten with clubs for showing up?

A no-risk venture—what was there to lose?

Qin Fanghe cupped his hands toward Mr. Sun. “In that case, thank you.”

This trip was a test of the waters.

A card delivered through the gatekeeper would never escape the notice of Old Master Kong. Even without reading the contents, the old man would certainly inquire about its origin. The Kong family was powerful, if they wanted to do anything to him, they would never bother with indirect methods.

If they refused it, it meant they looked down on Qin Fanghe’s humble origins—or perhaps intended hostility. In that case, he would avoid them in the future.

If they accepted it, then regardless of their true thoughts, at least on the surface, the family was not the sort of shallow people who judged solely by family status…

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all.”

By now, Mr. Sun had figured it out: all of the young man’s previous behavior had nothing to do with some nonexistent elder in his family.

He was aiming to rise on his own.

When Qin Fanghe had been inquiring about Magistrate Zhou, Mr. Sun had imagined all sorts of possibilities. At one point he had even suspected… could this boy be the magistrate’s illegitimate son from some romantic indiscretion? Otherwise, why ask so much about someone who matched his age and native place so closely?

Now he realized how narrow-minded he had been.

This young man wasn’t Magistrate Zhou’s bastard son—he probably wanted to pass the exams and become a magistrate himself one day!

Meanwhile, on that very day, Kong Ziqing was discussing scholarship with his grandfather in the study when a servant suddenly came to report, “Sir, the gatekeeper sent word that a young Master Qin has sent up an invitation card. Since this person is acquainted with the young master, we servants didn’t dare handle it carelessly.”

Because their young master had achieved the Little Three Firsts, congratulations and attempts to curry favor had poured in nonstop these past days. The old master couldn’t be bothered to see most of them and had simply ordered two large baskets placed at the gate—anything from first-time visitors was to be tossed straight in.

But this visitor claimed to be running an errand for an acquaintance of the young master, so the servants had no choice but to come in for instructions.

Hearing that name, Kong Ziqing immediately knew who it was. His eyes brightened. “Did young Master Qin come in person?”

The servant shook his head. “He did not.”

Kong Ziqing felt a touch of disappointment. “Bring the card in, then.”

That made sense. He’d heard the village was quite far from the county seat, and the family couldn’t even afford a donkey—how could he come just like that?

As the servant turned to fetch the card from outside, the old master Kong, who had remained silent until then, suddenly asked, “Besides the invitation, was there anything else?”

“Nothing else—just the single card,” the servant replied after thinking carefully.

Old Master Kong nodded in satisfaction. “You may go.”

Only after the servant left did he say to his grandson, “That boy is quite sensible.”

Until he left the Kong residence, Mr. Sun still felt as though his feet weren’t touching the ground, half-convinced he was dreaming.

Good heavens—he had actually been invited into the gatehouse for a cup of tea!

It was tea from the Kong family! It really did taste better than anywhere else.

Because of the attitude of the two masters of the house, the gatekeepers had treated Mr. Sun courteously as well. As he left, they even said “Take care,” which made him even more overjoyed.

He walked all the way to the street corner before stopping, turning back to gaze at the tall mansion in the distance, then slowly exhaling. His face was full of delight.

Ever since accepting this errand, he had barely slept for several nights from excitement. He had calculated the timing and rushed straight to the county seat, only to arrive just as Kong Ziqing returned home. Thinking the young master must be weary from the long journey and that a great household had many affairs to attend to, he forced himself to wait another two days.

This morning he had risen early, specially combed his hair until it gleamed, washed his face and trimmed his beard, chosen his most presentable clothes, and checked everything carefully before setting out.

Passing various shops along the way, he had wondered whether to buy a few gifts out of his own pocket. But then he thought better of it: young Master Qin was so meticulous—how could he overlook such a thing? Since he hadn’t mentioned it, there must be a reason.

Besides, the Kong family was wealthy and powerful—what good things hadn’t they seen? Ordinary gifts would never catch their eye and would only make him look shabby. Better to bring nothing at all.

Sure enough, when the gatekeepers saw he carried only the card, they treated him with greater respect…

Compared to Mr. Sun’s excitement, the person most directly involved, Qin Fanghe, remained far calmer. After returning home, he went about his usual tasks.

It was now late June—roughly early or mid-August in the modern Gregorian calendar—the season when vegetables and melons were at their most abundant. This year Qin Fanghe had followed the villagers and planted plenty of eggplant and string beans. Several vines of luffa and pumpkin had climbed over his wall, and now they were all mature and growing wildly. Every meal featured fresh produce.

One person couldn’t eat it all, and his neighbors had even more than he did, with no one to give it to. So he picked the surplus and dried it into preserved vegetables for winter, saving the need to buy any later.

Eggplant and string beans needed no introduction—they were the “meaty” vegetables, thick and soft. Dried and then stewed, they gained even more flavor and were just as good as fresh.

As for luffa, he left a few thick ones to dry naturally. Once fully dry, he would split them open, remove and clean the fibers, and they would become excellent dish-scrubbing sponges and bath scrubbers—better than anything else.

Pumpkins had thick skins and low water content, making them very easy to store. As long as they weren’t damaged, picking them and placing them in a cool, dry spot caused the skin to quickly wax over, turning them into natural mummies.

Later in the season, when fresh produce grew scarce, he could split the thick shell with a knife—or even a small axe—and the bright golden flesh inside would still be delicious!

Because the moisture evaporated, the sweetness intensified, making them perfect for cooking porridge—wonderfully sweet and fresh.

Looking at his growing stockpile, Qin Fanghe experienced the joy of hoarding food.

“Brother He!” While he was recording the inventory, Qin Shan’s voice rang out from the gate, brimming with excitement. “Someone from the county seat is here!”

From the county seat?

They had come all the way here?

Qin Fanghe quickly stood, wiped his hands, patted the wrinkles out of his clothes, and stepped outside. Sure enough, behind Qin Shan stood an unfamiliar young man.

The visitor appeared to be about twenty, dressed in fine gray cotton, leading a horse by the reins. Seeing Qin Fanghe emerge, he smiled and asked, “Might I ask if you are young Master Qin Fanghe?”

Baiyun Village was rarely known to outsiders, and even fewer visited. The moment he entered, curious villagers had surrounded him. Once they heard his purpose, Qin Shan had led the way.

“Brother He, he says he’s from the Kong residence in the county seat,” Qin Shan whispered as he ran to Qin Fanghe’s side.

Qin Fanghe had already guessed as much and showed no surprise. He nodded to the visitor. “That’s me. Does your young master have a message?”

The man did not look down on Qin Fanghe for his youth or poverty. He greeted him properly again, then took a bundle down from the horse and presented it with both hands. “This humble one is Gui Sheng, the young master’s personal attendant. The young master asked me to thank you for remembering him and to convey his regards. He said he should thank you in person, but the distance is great and he is tied up with obligations, so he cannot leave the house…”

Qin Fanghe listened attentively, feeling quietly pleased.

A servant’s attitude was the most direct reflection of his master’s intentions. From this, the Kong family’s stance toward him was clear.

“It’s a scorching day—you’ve gone to a lot of trouble coming all this way,” Qin Fanghe said with a smile. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Why not come in, wash up, have a meal, and then head back.”

Zhang County was far from Baiyun Village, with difficult mountain roads in between. Even riding hard, it took an hour or two. Gui Sheng had been baked by the sun the whole way, he was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked and clinging to him, caked with sweat and dust until he looked like he’d been rolled in mud.

Gui Sheng started to decline, but Qin Fanghe said, “Going back like that wouldn’t look proper. Besides, I have a reply for your young master. Wait just a moment.”

Only then did Gui Sheng agree.

Qin Shan helped lead the horse, tied it up in Qin Fanghe’s yard, stole a few glances, then dashed off. Before leaving, he made sure to shoo away the onlookers outside the gate. “Go on, go on, everyone go home. Don’t let the city fellow laugh at us.”

The villagers had already seen their fill and knew it wasn’t the time to ask questions. Who wanted to stand around in the blazing sun? So they scattered with cheerful smiles, planning to come back in the cool of the evening to gossip.

Personal attendants were used to running errands and always carried everything they needed. After entering, Gui Sheng asked to borrow a spot, drew water to wash his hands and face, wiped down his body a bit, and changed into the spare clothes he had brought.

Summer clothes dried quickly. He washed his dirty ones right then and hung them in the yard—they would be dry soon enough to take back.

When he finished and came out, he saw a bowl of food on the table, along with two extra steamed corn buns.

In the inner room, Qin Fanghe was bent over writing. Hearing him enter, he said without looking up, “You must be hungry after the journey, and you won’t make it back in time for a meal there. Fill your stomach first. It’s rough country fare—make do.”

He hadn’t opened the bundle in front of the crowd earlier. Now he did, and the scent of fresh ink greeted him. It was this year’s selection of the best institute examination papers! A thick volume, complete with annotations from the prefect and the court-appointed educational commissioner!

Qin Fanghe inhaled lightly. This was truly a generous gift.

A collection like this couldn’t be measured in money—it was something people outside would scramble for. Ordinarily, where could one buy it? Even if it reached Zhang County, it wouldn’t arrive until the end of the year at the earliest.

Outside, Gui Sheng examined the dish closely: a bowl of glistening minced meat stewed with string beans. The dish was common enough, but somehow this young master had prepared it in a way that made it extraordinarily rich and fragrant, so appetizing that it made one’s mouth water.

He truly was hungry. He swallowed involuntarily, quickly bowed in thanks, then moved to a corner to eat in large mouthfuls.

A friend of the young master was also a master, it was one thing to eat the host’s food, but how could he presume to use the host’s table?

Soon the reply was ready. Qin Fanghe picked it up, blew on the ink a few times, then felt it was a bit too plain. After thinking a moment, he stood and fetched a small box from the kang, opening it to reveal several woven grass toys.

In his previous life, while doing poverty alleviation work at the grassroots level, one county had specialized in grass weaving crafts that later exported abroad. For publicity, the leaders had all tried their hand at it to varying degrees, but Qin Fanghe had genuinely learned the skill.

Kong Ziqing came from a great aristocratic family, reportedly descended from the Kong clan of eastern Lu. He naturally lacked for nothing rare or precious—and Qin Fanghe couldn’t afford to send such things anyway, so he wouldn’t embarrass himself.

These little trinkets, however, he could send.

After all, the boy was only fourteen or fifteen—still a child!

Qin Fanghe selected the prettiest ones: a little frog and a pair of grasshoppers, all woven from green grass. Even the webbed feet and eyes were made by threading appropriately sized grass beads, round and cute, lively and vivid, full of character.

That very afternoon, Kong Ziqing came face to face with the frog and grasshoppers.

After a long moment, the young master pressed his lips together, curiously reached out a finger, and poked the frog on the head.

“…Ribbit?”