Chapter 42 (1/2)

With the departure from Beijing in early summer, the capital returned to a brief calm. Until a large number of students arrived, the hot topic in the capital finally turned from the little Marquis who was famous in the capital to the Chunwei scientific examination.

Bingwen booked four rooms at Shuangsheng Inn in the capital early in the summer.

Now it is only February, but there is no empty inn in the capital. Let alone going to the house, there are firewood houses, horse pens, houses and temples. Now they are overcrowded. It is even more difficult to find a place to live in such a big Chang'an city.

At first, Bingwen believed that people who could win the favor of early summer should at least have a little talent and fame, not to mention being well-known. But who ever thought that except that Xie Jiming had participated in the spring palace twice and had a reputation for bad temper, the remaining three were in danger and unknown, which was very difficult to find.

Bingwen now promoted an intelligent young fellow in the yard to a schoolboy and named sang Yi. Early this morning, I took sang Yi to Tongfu Inn and planned to meet Ji Ming for a while.

Xie Jiming lives in a general store in Tongfu inn. Bingwen inquired about it early in the morning. Now he has had morning tea with the candidates who live with Xie Jiming on the same table and chatted all over the world.

Seeing his extraordinary conversation and generous spending, these students couldn't help chatting up one after another. Bingwen kept Xie Jiming in mind and glanced at the position of the Tongpu from time to time.

After half an hour, before Xie Jiming came out, Bingwen asked the examinee who lived with him, ”are all the people in your Tongpu here?”

Everyone replied, ”yes.”

She frowned at the words.

At this time, I heard a boy suddenly say, ”it seems that there is another one called Xie or something.”

The crowd knew again: ”that man is not very sociable. I heard that he has failed the exam twice. Every morning, he buys a Wotou in the back kitchen and goes back to his room to read. He doesn't go out all day.”

Bingwen basks in the sun. No wonder he has a reputation for bad temper. Seeing that it was impossible to meet by chance, he raised his hand and bowed to the candidates to bid farewell and walked towards the Tongpu.

Xie Jiming's room is very remote. Bingwen asked several waiter's questions before he saw the shop where he lives near the horse circle.

When the door was opened, the room was dark and damp, and the furnishings were very simple. In the small space, there are six narrow single beds, two cabinets and a small table against the window. Xie Jiming sat on the ground next to the small table and looked through the books in the light. He was not surprised when he saw Bingwen coming in. He said calmly, ”did someone come to be a lobbyist today?”

This time it was Bingwen's turn to be surprised.

”Excuse me, but Mr. Xie Jiming?”

”Aren't you sent by your highness four?”

”No, I'm just entrusted by others. Come and see if Mr. Xie needs any help.”

Bingwen couldn't help but be surprised. What kind of talents even the four Highnesses sent people to condescend and win over.

”No, please go back.”

Jie Jiming's face was calm and his tone was indifferent.

Bingwen's hand was frozen there and the corners of his mouth smoked. Xie Jiming is really not polite at all.

”Don't get me wrong, Mr. Xie. I don't need you to do anything for me. I just cherish my talent. Looking at the bad environment, I might as well let me...”

Bingwen was interrupted by Xie Jiming before his voice fell.

”I'm not interested in who sent you. I won't do it if you need it or not. It's very good here. Please stay away from me.”

Xie Jiming made a gesture of seeing off the guests.

Bingwen can't help helping his forehead when he meets such a prick. He took out a letter from his arms, which was left to him at the beginning of summer on the night of parting. He said that in case he didn't know Ji Ming, he would give this letter to him for a try.

Take the first two steps and present the letter with both hands.

”Then please let Mr. Xie finish reading this letter and I'll leave, so that I can explain to the person I entrusted.”