Outside the Wang family's mansion, a black lacquered carriage was parked, its body simple and unadorned, without any decorative items. However, the horses pulling it were two high-headed, large steeds with jet-black coats, recognizable at a glance as famous Da Wan horses.

  Under the carriage stood a man, who was none other than Qiu Tingxuan, who had once visited the Wang family. Today he wore a bamboo-patterned long shirt, with a scholar's kerchief tied around his head, and held a folding fan in his hand. The weather wasn't hot enough to warrant using a fan, but he insisted on holding it and kept waving it nonstop, looking like a learned scholar.

  Wang Youcai hastily stepped out of the gate and exclaimed, "Ah, it's actually Master Qiu visiting my humble abode! I, Wang, have failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive me!" He took three steps in two strides and arrived at the horse carriage, where he bowed with his fists clasped together towards Qiu Tingxuan and asked, "Master Qiu, is Master Qiu inside the carriage?"

  Qiu Tingxuan shook his head, snapped the folding fan shut and pointed to a distant place, saying: "Father is over there in the fields."

  Wang Youcai looked in the direction of his finger, and saw a person wearing black clothes squatting at the edge of the distant field. He was a bit far away and couldn't see his face clearly. He wondered, since he came to visit my home, why didn't he wait at the gate, but ran to the side of the field?

  It suddenly dawned on Wang Youcai that Qiu Shan might have gotten up too early, and since the outhouse at home wasn't available, he came to his place for convenience! Good, the fertilizer didn't flow into someone else's field, Qiu Shan came to his land to relieve himself, which was a bonus for that piece of land!

  Qiu Tingxuan suddenly opened the folding fan again and said, "Father has not left the city for some time, but he has always been concerned about agriculture. Today, he came to your field, just in time to take a look at the crops. If you have any doubts about planting crops, don't hesitate to ask Father later, let him explain it to you!"

  Wang Youcai hummed a sound, thinking: "It turns out it's not convenient to go to the fields. However, even if Qiu Shan understands farming, how can he compare with someone like me who has been doing this for decades? I won't have any questions to ask him!" Taking advantage of this opportunity, he quickly tidied up his clothes, as he had rushed out earlier and hadn't even tied them properly.

  As they spoke, Wang Ping'an supported Yang Shi and also walked out. Qiu Tingxuan stepped forward quickly, snapped the folding fan shut again, and bowed his fist to Wang Ping'an: "Wang Xian-di, I came uninvited today, becoming an unwelcome guest!"

  Wang Ping'an politely asked: "Did Brother Qiu come with Old Man Qiu?"

  Qiu Tingxuan hummed in response, saying: "Father is out of the city today to enjoy the scenery and happened to drop by your place to see what kind of books you usually read!"

  Wang Ping'an chuckled a few times, this Qiu family young master's arrogant temper can't be changed after all. He came to visit and said he was just visiting, but insisted on saying it was on his way, and also wanted to see what book I was reading. Isn't this just pretending?

  Qiu Wenpu wore a black cassock, holding a small piece of soil in his hand. Hearing someone speaking in the distance, he turned his head to look back and saw that the Wang family had all come out to greet him.

  He threw away the clod of earth, patted his hands and stood up, saying loudly: "Who was the first to realize the great dream? I know that I am a young master in my life. Good poem! Good poem!" It was obvious that Qiu Tingxuan had told him about what happened that day, so he came today to tease Wang Ping'an.

  As he approached, Qiu Wenpu smiled and said: "Is this Mr. Wang? I've long heard that Mr. Wang is skilled in agriculture, today I see it for myself, and indeed the reputation is not undeserved, the crops are growing very well!" He bowed to Wang Youcai and said: "I am Qiu Wenpu, I came specifically to visit you today, please forgive my sudden arrival, Mr. Wang!"

  Wang Youcai was so excited that he didn't know what to say, people in this era were extremely respectful of scholars, and Qiu Wenpu was a renowned figure, the undisputed number one scholar in Xuzhou, he could be so polite and talk to him, a rural landlord, it was something he never dared to think about before!

  Wang Youcai said repeatedly: "No need to be polite, no need to be polite, Master Qiu is too courteous!"

  Yang looked at Qiu Tingxuan and thought to himself, "You little scamp, you're not honest enough in your words. Earlier, you said it was on the way, but now look at your old man, coming up and saying it's a special visit, that's what an honest person is like! If you two were tenants of our household, your father would definitely be the hardworking one, while you'd be the lazy glutton!"

  Qiu Tingxuan followed his father with a smile, was invited into the Wang's house by Wang Youcai, but didn't know that Old Lady Wang had already treated them as tenants and given him the four-character evaluation of "lazy and gluttonous"!

  After entering the front hall, they sat down as host and guest. The servant brought up fragrant tea, and Qiu asked Pu to take a sip before saying: "Lord Wang, I have come today with a request, and I hope you will grant it!"

  Wang Youcai hurriedly said: "Master Qiu, please speak, as long as it's something I can help with, I absolutely won't decline!" But in his heart, he thought: "Could it be that someone in their household has fallen ill again and they want my son to go take a look? However, even if that's the case, there's no need to be so polite, is there?"

  Qiu Wenpu smiled and said, "The Wang family has a son who is young and promising. I am very fond of him. I would like to ask Mr. Wang for his permission to let him study at my academy. Is that possible?"

  Wang Youcai was overjoyed, hastily nodding his head and saying: "It's settled, it's all settled!" He turned to Wang Ping'an and said: "Son, why don't you quickly pay your respects to your teacher and kowtow?"

  Wang Ping'an nodded, but was somewhat unwilling in his heart. In fact, he didn't want to become Qiu Wenpu's student. He wasn't taking the imperial examination for a scholar-official position, but rather for a medical license. Qiu Wenpu couldn't teach him anything about medicine, and it was just a nominal teacher-student relationship. If Wang wanted to make a name for himself, he could do so on his own without relying on Qiu Wenpu. All he would get from Qiu Wenpu was a quota for the imperial examination as a tribute student, but having to acknowledge someone as his teacher just for that seemed unnecessary!

  But his father wanted him to pay respects, and Wang Ping'an could only obey, just as he was about to kneel down. Suddenly, Qiu Xun said: "Wait a minute, Mr. Wang misunderstood my intention. I just want Ping'an to study in my academy, but I have no intention of accepting him as a disciple, don't misunderstand!"

  As soon as these words came out, everyone in the living room was stunned!

  Yang's family was in a hurry and said, "That, that entered your... entered Qiu Shan's academy, isn't he your disciple? Why haven't you accepted him yet?" Whether or not to accept his son as a disciple is unimportant, but that quota is very important!

  Wang Youcai looked at his son, seeing that his son furrowed his brow, wondering what he was thinking. He then looked at Qiu Wenpu, seeing a smiling face, also looking at his son!

  Wang Pingan said, "Mr. Qiu, what do you mean? Please explain it to me!" In fact, he had already understood a bit in his heart, but he really couldn't imagine that Qiu Xingpu could have the thoughts of later generations. If this were true, then this old man would be too formidable!

  Qiu Wenpu smiled and said, "The imperial examination is only a few months away. Although the examination will be held next year in Chang'an, it's necessary to set out from Xuzhou in advance. With such a short time, even if you are exceptionally talented, Ping An, it's impossible for you to pass the examination and become a scholar!"

  Wang Ping'an nodded and said, "Mr. Qiu is overpraising me, I'm afraid I'm not talented enough, even if I study hard for ten years, it's still impossible to pass the imperial examination." The imperial examination is difficult, but the key is that he wants to succeed, and he doesn't have to take the imperial examination, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and playing to one's strengths while avoiding weaknesses, taking the medical examination is the wisest choice.

  Qiu Wenpu stroked his beard and said, "So, I advise you to take the medical examination. In our dynasty, the miscellaneous examination is used to select officials, and its status is not inferior to that of the imperial examination. The only difference lies in whether one's future career path will be smooth or not. However, I have observed that Ping An is humble and kind to others, even if there are misunderstandings at first, after getting along with him, people will be won over by his demeanor. To become an official, one must first learn to be a good person. Ping An's future prospects are boundless!"

  After saying that, he glanced at Qiu Tingxuan beside him. Qiu Tingxuan nodded slightly, his father had already told him this, and he deeply agreed with it. The future of making friends was uncertain, but making friends with Wang Ping'an was a bright one. After the young master of the Wang family entered the capital, he would definitely be in a good position, and might even have an advantage over himself.

  Wang Youcai said, "What Qiu Shan said is absolutely right. We also plan to let Ping'an take the medical exam, but no matter what subject he takes, he must...he must have the qualifications to take the exam!" As soon as he said this, Old Man Wang became nervous and stared intently at Qiu's eyes, looking at his expression.

  Qiu Wenpu smiled slightly, he certainly understood the meaning of these words. He picked up his teacup and took a sip, but didn't rush to speak.

  Qiu Tingxuan said, "After Wang Xian entered my academy, although he didn't have a formal teacher-student relationship with Father, he had a fellow student relationship with Father's disciples. This will be very beneficial for Wang Xian's future career path. Father is completely considering Wang Xian's well-being. When we go to the capital together in the future and take care of each other, won't that be wonderful?"

  Wang Ping secretly thought in his heart: "I'm afraid it's not just me who is afraid of Mei Zai!"

  As expected, Qiu Wenpu put down his tea cup and said: "As for the qualifications, next year's imperial examination list has already been confirmed, it's too late to change now, however..."

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  Here is the translation:

  Additionally: Peace thanks book friend Awen 2006 for continuously generous rewards, you are the one who has rewarded this book the most, thank you for your strong support. Peace also wants to thank book friends Kaixin Dabao and Fangshui, thank you for your generous rewards. Also want to thank book friends Zhengzhe Nishi Pigu and Tiejuan, thank you for your enthusiastic rewards, a million thanks!

  Kelp and Pork Rib Soup

  Ingredients: Kelp 200g, Pork ribs 1000g.

  Method: Soak the kelp in water, wash and cut into coarse strips. Cut the pork ribs into pieces. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pot over medium heat, add the pork ribs and stir-fry until they are no longer raw. Then add 3 tablespoons of yellow wine and a small amount of water, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. When fragrant, transfer to a large casserole. Add kelp and enough cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours with 1 tablespoon of yellow wine added. Season with fine salt, then continue to cook for another half hour until the pork ribs and kelp are tender. Remove from heat.

  Efficacy: resolving phlegm and dispersing stagnation, softening hardness and unblocking collaterals, tonifying Qi and nourishing blood.

  Usage: Take with meals.