lcionline Chapter 560 Poetry Gathering Speculation, Spicy Pot is the Coolest
Chapter 560 Poetry Gathering Speculation, Spicy Pot is the Coolest
Did I say something wrong again?
No, you're fine the way you are, really!
Jiang Xiaoqi's gaze was sincere; he genuinely felt that sometimes being carefree could lead to a very easy and happy life.
"Yes, you're really doing a good job."
Liu Peng agreed, saying he liked to overthink things and sometimes drove himself into dead ends. He actually thought Xiao Ming was quite good.
In later generations, Xiao Ming would probably be the least likely of the three to suffer from depression.
"Alright, alright, I can't understand your riddles. Laugh if you want, it doesn't matter~"
Xiao Ming did not receive an invitation from the Ministry of Rites' office, and he understood after a moment's thought.
He was just a seventh-rank editor, while Liu Peng was the grandson of the prime minister. It was perfectly normal for him to receive an invitation; it would be strange if he didn't.
As for Mingfei, he certainly wasn't included at the beginning. It was only because of Lord Li's recent case that Mingfei was among those who received rewards that he was added later.
This is why Mingfei's invitation only arrived today, while Liu Peng's arrived three days ago.
It's not that someone is sick and inconvenient to bother; it's that I never even planned to send Mingfei an invitation!
Now that they've seen others receive rewards and gain recognition, they've hurriedly sent out invitations. Haha, the Tong family really isn't anything special.
It's not just about being snobbish; it's about the way they do things. It's so easy for people to harbor resentment. I don't know if it's shrewdness or stupidity.
Seeing that Xiao Ming hadn't spoken for a while and his eyes were darting around, the two knew that he was finally starting to use his brain.
Of course! How could someone who could pass the imperial examination and become the third-ranked scholar be a fool?
It's just that spending too much time with smarter people has made me lazy. I don't like to use my own brain and prefer to ask questions directly, skipping the thinking process to get the answer right away.
If you slack off for too long, your brain will inevitably become rusty. But today, as soon as I put my mind to work, it still works perfectly.
"Alright, alright, I know what you're thinking. Cough cough, well, who wouldn't be lazy if they could be?"
"Haha, you're a promising student. You know you're lazy, so there's still hope for you."
"Mingfei, I'll let it slide since you've just recovered from your illness, hmph!"
"Yes, yes, yes, my future brother-in-law is the most magnanimous and tolerant."
"Hehe, of course!"
The three chatted for a while longer, and also speculated about the purpose of the poetry gathering held at the Tong Minister's residence at this time.
"In this sweltering heat, Minister Tong is in quite a good mood."
"Who knows? Maybe he really is a lover of poetry?"
These words were full of sarcasm, but who doesn't know that Minister Tong's favorite pastime is playing chess?
Why not hold a chess tournament? It's because the audience is too narrow. Organizing an event isn't something you can just do because you like it.
Poetry gatherings, flower shows, and banquets in the capital are rarely simple gatherings; they are mostly purposeful, and their purpose is very clear.
"Does the Tong family have any unmarried young ladies?"
Xiao Ming's question hit the nail on the head.
"There really is one, the eldest granddaughter of Minister Tong, Miss Tong the Second."
"Bah!"
Xiao Ming almost dropped his teacup.
"Oh dear, you two need to be careful. Neither of you is engaged, no wonder you received invitations from the Tong family."
"I'm already engaged, so it's not because my official rank is too low. It turns out she's looking for a eligible bachelor to match up with her granddaughter!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? It can't be like that. After all, we're not the right age for each other."
"Huh? You two are such promising young people, how come you're not the right age?"
"Ahem, you don't know, this Miss Liu from the Tong family is already over twenty years old."
"Huh? Twenty years old?"
"Uh, a little over, cough cough, twenty-six."
Xiao Ming's expression was strange, but he didn't say anything unpleasant. After all, the girl didn't want to be an old maid, so she must have some unspeakable reason, right?
"Well, then the ages are indeed a bit mismatched. Mingfei is only fifteen this year, haha~ Brother Liu is only just over twenty. Such a, um, older sister, doesn't seem to be very suitable for the two of you."
"Alright, let's not talk about the affairs of young ladies; it's not very polite."
Jiang Xiaoqi interrupted the topic, "How can twenty-six be considered an old maid? 'Big sister,' that sounds nice, but it's just saying she's old!"
In his later life, when he was still a woman, she remained single until she was thirty-eight. So what?
I can support myself and live a good life. I have a house (small apartment), a car (electric bicycle), food, clothing, savings, and a decent job.
They will receive a substantial pension after retirement, and can choose to live in a nursing home or hire a caregiver if they wish.
How carefree and at ease one person could be! These ancient people, their vision was so narrow, tsk tsk~
Twenty-six years old—what a vibrant and unrestrained age that would be in later generations!
At this age, it's been three or four years since I graduated from university. I'm capable of supporting myself and don't need to be a freeloader.
People with high energy levels have a much lower chance of sudden death than people in their thirties, even if they work overtime.
Jiang Xiaoqi felt that she, as someone who had worked herself to death in her previous life, was the most qualified to speak on this matter. If she had been twenty-eight instead of thirty-eight, she wouldn't have died suddenly at the company and instead transmigrated to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Mingfei, Mingfei, Mingfei! What are you daydreaming about? We said we'd like to have hot pot at your place tonight, is that okay?"
"Oh, is that all? Of course, no problem. But let's stick to the yin-yang hot pot. Brother Liu and I will have the clear broth, and you can have the spicy broth."
"Yes, yes, you can't eat spicy food since you've just recovered from your illness. Hehe, then I'll gladly accept your offer. I'll take care of finishing off the spicy hot pot."
Xiao Ming had almost never eaten clear broth hot pot. Whenever Jiang Xiaoqi gave him a clear broth hot pot base, he would give it to his family.
He cherishes the broth from the spicy hot pot very much, often reluctant to throw it away, and eats it for two or three days in a row during the winter.
In the summer, it's not suitable because there's nowhere to cook, and even if there's a cellar, it's not very convenient.
So after the weather got warmer, he really ate very little hot pot anymore.
It was only when he arrived at Jiang Xiaoqi's place that he decided to eat without wasting the spicy hot pot base he had stored there.
"I instructed people to prepare ingredients. At this time of year, there are plenty of fresh vegetables, but mutton is not easy to store."
Please bear with this; the kitchen will just slice some fish today, and we'll have fish hot pot.
"Sure, sure, as long as there's food, it's fine. Anyway, there's chili, so anything will taste delicious in hot pot. Spicy hot pot is the best, no arguments allowed!"
Liu Peng imagined a mushroom broth with slippery fish slices. The thin fish slices would roll around in the pot, and in just a few breaths, they would be cooked by the boiling water.
Then dip it in the prepared seafood sauce for an even more delicious flavor!
"Mushroom soup base is the most classy, no arguments allowed!" Liu Peng silently chanted to himself.