The young man raised his eyelids: "There is only plain face."

Lan Jue swept the stall and saw a shallow basket on the desk, with four or five eggs still asleep inside.

"Add another poached egg and cook it a little older."

The young man nodded, looking very unwilling to add eggs, but he didn't say much.

The low tables on the side were empty, and it was obvious that the business of the stall was not good. Lan Jue sat down at a table, with a vinegar pot, a pepper plate, and a few heads of sugar and garlic on the table.

Lan Jue said: "The stall owner is from the northwest. It is easy to eat noodles there to add jealousy. There is rarely this way to eat in the capital."

The young man nodded and grabbed a handful of flour and sprinkled it on the chopping board: "He is from Nanchi County, Xichuan County."

Lan Jue smiled slightly: "Nanchi County is the place where big leaf tea is produced? I heard that the tea is best to drink when it is cooked in milk and added with salt. Some of the Hu people loved to drink it earlier."

The young man took a rolling pin and rolled the noodles dryly, saying, "It's cold there and the wind is harder than a knife. Drinking this kind of Hu tea can keep the cold. At the coldest time, you have to add two more drops of wine."

Lan Jue said: "Yes, the wine in the west is also very strong, unlike those in the capital, just keep it fragrant."

The young man didn't answer the conversation, he buried his head in the face, and the knife thudded on the chopping board.

As soon as the noodles were put into the pot, a scholar hurriedly hit the stall and shouted: "My brother Zhang Ping, why are you still selling noodles? I have said that I have introduced you to you today. I will pack it up quickly. In another half an hour, I will arrive."

Zhang Ping grabbed the shredded vegetables and put them in the pot, wiped his hands on the apron: "It just happened to be sold out this portion first."

The scholar sighed: "You can't bear to earn less even half a penny."

Zhang Ping said slowly: "If you don't make any money, you won't have to eat."

The scholar sighed and dragged a small stool to sit down: "If you make a real big livelihood because of these few cents, it will be a waste of money."

Lan Jue watched from the side, waited for the scholar to sit down, and talked to him, "This guy..."

The scholar looked like he was interested in making friends and immediately bowed: "After asking me, my brother Chen Chou, how dare you ask me about my brother's surname, is it also a test for me?"

Lan Jue smiled and said, "That's right, my younger brother Cao Yu, comes from Nanjun and has just arrived in the capital."

Lord Lan is actually not young anymore, but he is confident that he is well maintained. His colleagues in the court often praise him as if he is young in his 20s. Therefore, he talks with these young people and calls himself a younger brother, with his face not blushing and breathing.

Chen Chou did not feel suspicious at all and said happily: "It was a coincidence that I don't know where Brother Cao lives. I am a tester from Xichuan County and I will get closer to you in the future and discuss some articles."

Lan Jue said in surprise: "Ah? So this stall owner is actually trying too?"

Chen Chong paused, looked at Zhang Ping, and showed a shameful and panic look: "Ah...yes, yes... Brother Zhang's family is poor and he is worthy of it. In fact, he is very knowledgeable. We were the Xichuan test and he got the third place. Some people often slander him, so Brother Cao should not believe it."

Lan Jue said: "Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce are the foundation of the country, and there is no high or low status. I heard that when the officials in the court did not make a fortune in their early years, they also went to the streets to sell characters and dig temples to save themselves. What is the difference between selling noodles and selling characters? Many people write good characters, but they cannot do good characters like Brother Zhang."

Lan Jue said this mostly from sincerity, because he was among the people who were on the street to sell their words in the early years. Mr. Lan suffered when he was young and was particularly sympathetic to these poor young people. Unfortunately, most people now say that he is snobbish, which is really a misunderstanding of the world.

Chen Chou laughed again: "Yes, yes, Brother Cao is the real insight, but unfortunately not everyone is as reasonable as Brother Cao."

Lan Jue said more rationally: "Even the gods in the temple are scolded, let alone ordinary people. If you say it, let him say it, and I will do it. As the saying goes, everyone will take care of everyone."

Chen Chou rubbed his hands and nodded repeatedly: "Brother Cao said so well!" Seeing Zhang Ping coming over with a hot noodle bowl, he turned sideways to make way. "It's a pity that I have something important to me and Brother Zhang today, so I can't talk to Brother Cao as much as possible. If Brother Cao wants to have time, he will go to Xiaomozi Lane. Brother Zhang and I live in the small courtyard facing north of the innermost gate."

Lan Jue nodded and picked up a chopstick of noodles, so he naturally couldn't get in.

Chen Chou stood up and rubbed his hands: "Brother Zhang, it's really late, otherwise I'll wait first, and the teahouse on the second floor has been booked in the teahouse facing east of the alley. After you go back, you can change your clothes and go there quickly."

Zhang Ping buried his head in the cutting board and responded.

Chen Chou apologized to Lan Jue again, "Brother Cao, I'm sorry, it's not the intention of urging you. You eat slowly, I'll take a step first. If you think this is good, you can visit Brother Zhang's business in the future..."

He said goodbye repeatedly and left.

Lan Jue stood up and saw him off. When he sat down, he pretended not to pay attention. With a bang, he swept the noodle bowl down. The soup noodles were poured all over the floor, and even the noodle bowl was broken. The poached egg was stained with mud and lay on the residue of the soup bowl.

Lan Jue sighed: "Why did your hand slip and ruin Brother Zhang's good noodles and beat your bowl. I'm so ashamed." He took out the purse from his sleeve, grabbed a handful of copper plates and threw them on the table.

Zhang Ping walked to the table expressionlessly, looked down at the ground, slowly squatted down, and picked up the poached egg.

He carried the poached eggs and walked to the wooden bucket where the water was cleaned, scooped a scoop of water, washed the eggs carefully, put them in a bowl, took a broom, and swept the noodles and broken porcelain into the dustpan.

Lan Jue was about to leave, but Zhang Ping stood up with a dustpan and suddenly said, "Sir Lan, there is no poison in this bowl of noodles."

Lan Jue stopped and turned around. In the twilight, Zhang Ping stood with a broom on his back, like a lonely sour jujube tree beside a wild tomb, looking directly at Lan Jue with a faint vastness.
Chapter completed!