Who wants to take the civil service exam after being reborn?

Chapter 478 The World's Emotions Are Nothing More Than a Summer's White Porcelain Plum Soup
"Boom boom boom!"

The next morning, Chen Zhe was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door.

Judging from the familiar force, it should be Empress Dowager Mao.

Throughout her three years of high school, she would often wake herself up by making breakfast like this.

"Chen Zhe!"

Sure enough, Mao Xiaoqin's voice rang out from outside the door: "Hurry up and wash up and eat!"

"Huh? What time is it?"

Chen glanced around groggily; it wasn't even 7 o'clock yet.

Last night, he spent the evening in the courtyard, relaxing in the cool air while scrolling through his phone, comfortably playing until after 2 a.m. before finally resting.

I only had less than five hours of sleep, and now I'm so sleepy I can barely keep my eyes open.

"Everyone's up, don't stay in bed!"

Mao Xiaoqin's voice carried an undeniable authority.

"Okay, got it."

Chen sighed.

Normally, a mother doesn't really care if her child sleeps in late.

Yu Xuan knew she worked hard all the time, so she couldn't bear to cry.

The only reason was that Professor Guan had also gotten up, and Mao Xiaoqin felt that it was against the rules for her son to continue sleeping in, so she came to urge him.

This is the biggest problem with young people and the elderly living together: their schedules don't match. Especially for someone like Chen, who stays up late, he'd rather spend an extra 1 yuan to sleep an extra hour today.

Unfortunately, Professor Guan is not short of money.

After dawdling for five minutes, Chen jumped up, got dressed, and opened the door to find that the sun hadn't even risen yet.

The distant sky resembled a jagged tear in an envelope, with a long, amber-red fissure through which golden sunlight danced and throbbed.

Professor Guan, dressed in a gray suit, was stretching in the middle of the courtyard.

The capital is still in the north, and the climate is completely different from Guangzhou. In the morning, the air has a coolness that penetrates the skin. If you take a deep breath, you feel a urge to cough.

His drowsiness vanished instantly, and Chen greeted him with a smile: "Professor Guan."

"Ah."

Professor Guan said expressionlessly, "If we had gotten up an hour later, we would have already finished breakfast."

Chen laughed it off after being teased.

Professor Guan's personality was inherently serious, yet also somewhat "sharp and sarcastic".

This seems to be the teacher's "basic operation and essential skill." From her first disciple Tong Lan to her last disciple Yu Xuan, if students did not complete their homework well, they would basically be ridiculed by her.

However, from another perspective, it seems that she would only speak like that if Professor Guan considered her "one of his own".

In the kitchen next door, the range hood was making a "whooshing" sound, and wisps of white smoke were billowing out of the exhaust fan, like sandalwood incense disappearing into the clouds.

Good morning, beautiful ladies.

Chen smiled and pushed open the glass-encrusted kitchen door. It seemed that this was the typical decorating style of the courtyard houses in the capital.

"Auntie, the Emperor is awake."

Yu Xian glanced at her boyfriend, then turned to joke with Mao Xiaoqin, who was helping her.

Perhaps because she was at home and there were no other men besides Chen Zhe, Yu Xuan was only wearing a light pink halter dress.

Ivory-white collarbones and shoulders swayed before my eyes, a few wisps of raven-feather-like hair fell beside her temples, and she reached up and brushed them behind her ears, revealing an oval face slightly flushed by steam.

Her beauty was like that of peach and plum blossoms, captivating and alluring.

Chen, shameless as ever, leaned closer and asked, "What breakfast have Mother and Consort prepared for me?"

"Stop being silly and hurry up and brush your teeth and wash your face."

Mao Xiaoqin pretended to be impatient and said, "We'll just steam some corn and shumai. Xiao Yu was worried you wouldn't have enough to eat, so she specially cooked wontons for you."

"Wow, my beloved concubine is very much to my liking."

Before leaving, Chen said flirtatiously, "Once I ascend the throne, I will immediately issue an edict to make you Empress..."

Seeing Empress Dowager Mao pick up a rolling pin as if to hit him, Chen fled in panic. But not long after, his distressed voice could be heard: "Where's the toothpaste?"

"Ouch~"

Yu Xian slapped his forehead: "I squeezed out the toothpaste and put it in his room last night, but I forgot about it this morning. He didn't know that the toothpaste was stored in the cabinet upstairs."

"Dong Dong Dong~"

After Yu Xuan finished speaking, she ran out, and a short while later, she jogged back.

Her slender ankles beneath the long skirt were as delicate as newly sprouted willow branches in March.

"Xiao Yu, don't spoil him like this."

Even Empress Dowager Mao couldn't stand it anymore: "He's never this pretentious at home, but he becomes lazy as soon as he sees you!"

"Ok!"

Yu Xuan didn't argue, and said just as fiercely, "I won't care next time. If he doesn't want to brush his teeth, then he doesn't have to. Let him stay hungry!"

Mao Xiaoqin pouted, thinking to herself, "You're just being stubborn. You got up early this morning to roll out dough and make wontons. Even I, your own mother, might not be able to do that."

……

Because I got up so early, I finished a hot breakfast at noon.

Of course, Chen Zhe wasn't without his merits; he took the initiative to wash the dishes.

The cosplayer didn't stop him. She rested her chin on her hand and watched with a smile as the man frantically tried to do something by the sink.

It wasn't until Chen smashed a plate with a "bang" that she pouted and said disdainfully, "Go away, go away. You washed two dishes, got your clothes wet, and then smashed a plate."

"no!"

Unexpectedly, Chen Zhe seemed to get angry and stubbornly insisted on doing it himself.

Unable to dissuade her boyfriend, Yu Xian simply stood in the kitchen, instructing him not to put too much dish soap in, while chatting about trivial matters.

When did Wu Yu return to Guangzhou?

Chen asked.

"I'll go with the 26th or 27th. Xiaoyu doesn't want to go back. She insists on staying here. She says that if she goes back, she'll have to take care of her annoying younger sister. Elementary school students should attend school for 12 months."

"She's just as eccentric as Wang Changhua. Wang Changhua insisted on becoming an Olympic volunteer, but unfortunately no organization paid any attention to her."

“I saw it. He even asked me if I had any connections. The old lady does, but she definitely wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

……

"This kid's real intention is not what he seems. He's pretending to be a volunteer, but he really wants to come to the capital. He's not as good at acting as Tang Xiangyue. Look how heartbroken she was on the day the monument was erected."

"Forget it, I don't think she and Lao Yu have completely broken up. It's fine if they can live peacefully together. It's just that I feel like she's a little afraid of you."

……

"What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat her. When are you eight academies going to have your competition?"

"After National Day, the weather will be more comfortable then."

"I might not have time to come over during that period, as I'll be quite busy in the second half of the year."

"You go about your business. If I win first place, you have to treat me to a big meal when we get back!"

……

The two chatted about friends, family, and careers in a calm and relaxed manner, just like a normal married couple. Before they knew it, the dishes were all washed.

What are the plans for this morning?

Chen wiped his hands and asked.

“We usually go to the Central Academy of Fine Arts or Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts to study, or visit the studios of some famous artists to observe.”

Yu Xuan thought for a moment and said, "But Professor Guan said it's her birthday today and she's planning to take a day off. How about we take Auntie to the Water Cube?"

Chen shook his head: "My mom might not be happy. She's past the age of being a special forces soldier on vacation. She's finally getting a break, and she might prefer a more leisurely lifestyle."

Just then, Mao Xiaoqin came in and asked, "Isn't it done yet?"

"It's just finished."

Chen Zhe also took the opportunity to ask for permission: "Yu Xuan is planning to take you to the Olympic venues, and then we'll find a private room at noon to celebrate your birthday..."

"There's no rush to go today. There will definitely be a lot of tourists there, and it'll be exhausting to squeeze in and out of the way."

As Chen Zhe had predicted, Empress Dowager Mao's reaction was exactly what he expected. Instead, she enthusiastically suggested, "When we came here last night, we passed by a vegetable market. Why don't we just skip lunch and buy some groceries to cook for ourselves?"

"no need."

Chen laughed and said, "You make it in the morning and at noon too? You came all the way to the capital just to live this kind of mundane life?"

"Is not it good?"

Mao Xiaoqin taught her son: "Occasionally pausing your busy pace, talking to your family, going into the kitchen to do some housework, and smelling the aroma of ginger, scallions, and garlic is also a good way to relax."

Chen opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute it.

Let's celebrate our birthdays at home!

Professor Guan's voice could be heard from the courtyard.

"They now have two votes."

Chen turned to the cosplay sister: "But if you stand on my side, with my logical thinking ability, I might not lose if we continue arguing."

"Argue your head!"

Yu Xian tapped her boyfriend's forehead with her finger and said coquettishly, "You'll be my assistant!"

……

So, Chen Zhe, who was once enjoying great success in the media, has now become a stay-at-home husband carrying a grocery basket.

Mao Xiaoqin originally wanted to come out too, but Yu Xian persuaded her to rest, while he directed his portable boyfriend to be his tool.

"Auntie, how much are these cabbages and tomatoes?"

"Little girl, four yuan and forty cents."

"How about four yuan?" "I really don't make any money, but you're so pretty, how about I give you some scallions?"

"Hehehe...that's fine too, Director Chen will pay the bill~"

Although the market was well-ventilated, it was still unbearably hot and humid under the scorching sun, and there was also a foul odor from the animals and poultry, which was really unpleasant.

Although Chen Zhe wasn't the kind of person who floated in the air, he had never been so "down-to-earth" as he was now. However, watching Yu Baibai's sharp tongue as she bargained was quite entertaining.

Unlike Chen Zhe's baseball cap and sunglasses, Yu Xuan only wore a fisherman's hat to shield himself from the sun. The long brim of the hat covered his face, but when he raised his head to bargain, his stunning features often startled the vegetable farmers.

Cosplay Sister was very careful with her grocery shopping; she didn't buy too much, estimating it would be just enough for the four of them, before she and her boyfriend went home together.

As noon approached, the sunlight outside grew increasingly intense.

Fortunately, when Yu Xian went out in the morning, she wore a long-sleeved shirt over her dress, which covered her bare arms and collarbone. However, her graceful waist could not be hidden no matter what she did, and Chen Zhe had already secretly praised her as a "waist goddess" several times.

"Director Chen, look how pretty this little flower is, and this little dog too..."

However, Yu Baibai was in a good mood. She was fiddling with the small flowers in the green belt. In preparation for the Olympics, the green belt was trimmed as beautifully as a park.

If she sees a puppy in the alley, she'll squat down and pat it on the head.

"Go home."

Even though he was wearing a hat, Chen felt like his scalp was about to scalp from the sun, so he lifted the bags in his hands and said, "I bought the groceries, so I should carry them myself. You're making me wait here? Is that reasonable?"

"Hmph~, then I'll split the bill with you later!"

The cosplayer gave me a pretty look, vaguely reminiscent of my "fiery" self back in high school.

"That's not necessary."

Chen tossed his head casually: "Your own brother only needs to hit you twice, so you've already got an A."

Yu Xian turned her head, a captivating smile freezing on her slightly upturned eyebrows.

Then, she suddenly stood up, lifted her skirt, and took two small steps over.

Before Chen could even react, his sunglasses had already been pushed up.

"mua! mua! mua! mua!"

Soft red lips gently pressed four kisses against her face.

Chen was like a young girl who had been sexually assaulted, bewildered as she savored the lingering fragrance.

"I've kissed you four times now, so lunch is on me!"

Fish, with its chin held high, announced arrogantly.

Chen Zhe's heart was suddenly filled with boundless tenderness.

……

Once home, perhaps because of the shade provided by the lush locust trees, the yard wasn't too hot.

It was still very quiet. Professor Guan was in her room, with the door open and her easel set up, meticulously painting.

According to Yu Xian, this was a political task. In order to support the Olympic Games, artists of Professor Guan's caliber were required to contribute one of their own works.

Chen nodded in understanding.

Empress Dowager Mao was lying on a rattan chair under the shade of a tree, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan that she had found somewhere.

The cicadas' chirping weaves a veil among the branches and leaves, the faint fragrance of locust blossoms wafts in the wind, and the "rustling" sound of brushstrokes touching the rice paper is like the most soothing white noise, making even the sunlight seem thicker.

As drowsiness slowly crept in, Mao Xiaoqin unconsciously closed her eyes.

Chen Zhe and Yu Xuan exchanged a glance and simultaneously slowed their pace, so as not to disturb the painter or the one taking a nap, as they prepared ingredients in the kitchen.

"Director Chen, we're out of soy sauce. Could you go to the supermarket around the corner and buy a bottle?"

"I feel like this kind of errand-running work is something that children should do."

"Where are the children?"

Is it still possible to give birth now?

……

So, Chen, who had a slip of the tongue, was kicked out again. When he came back, he not only brought soy sauce and orange juice, but also a box of cream cake.

Most importantly, he also had a bouquet of roses hidden behind him.

The cake only cost a few dozen yuan, and the roses only a few yuan. They were like a working husband who had just finished a day's work, giving his wife a flower as a gift for cooking.

"Mmm~ It smells so good~"

The sweet cosplayer, whose emotional value is always at its peak, took a deep sniff and revealed a satisfied expression, looking around for a vase to put the roses in.

Roses are cheap, but the act of "buying flowers" is precious, so I should treat it well.

Only those who have given flowers know that when a girl carefully and joyfully places the flowers you give her into a glass vase, instead of just leaving them lying around, a boy feels a surge of emotion welling up inside him.

"There doesn't seem to be any in the kitchen."

Yu Xian glanced around, put her hands on her hips and directed, "I'm going to stir-fry the vegetables when the oil is hot. Director Chen, you and Professor Guan can ask if there are any suitable vases or jars for flower arranging."

"no problem."

Chen walked softly to Professor Guan's side, where the old lady was painting a "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" scroll.

Through the interplay of reality and illusion in ink painting on paper, mountains, water, rocks, pines, sea, and lone boats are condensed into a small space, with steep cliffs "carved by a knife and axe" in the foreground and the magnificent "water and sky merging into one color" in the distance.

"The land speaks not, yet its majesty is self-evident!"

After observing for a moment, Chen praised, half sincerely and half exaggeratedly, "It perfectly matches the theme of hosting the Olympics. We want to show the world what the demeanor of a great power with 5000 years of history looks like!"

Professor Guan has probably been flattered too many times; this kind of praise, which lacks professional competence, doesn't elicit much of an emotional response from him.

However, it must be admitted that Chen Zhe is indeed very good at speaking.

"what's up?"

Professor Guan asked.

"I bought a bouquet of flowers to celebrate my birthday."

Chen raised the rose and said with a smile, "Yu Xuan asked me to find something to put it on."

Professor Guan glanced at it and said to the long table in the room, "There's an empty bottle over there, you can take it."

The old lady spoke casually, and Chen Zhe thought it was just an ordinary object, but the moment he held it in his hand, he suddenly felt a heavy, substantial texture.

After examining the patterns and colors more closely, Chen Zhe, though not an expert in antiques, could still discern the merits of some fine pieces, even for a layman.

"Old Guan."

Chen asked curiously, "Isn't this a bit old?"

Kwan Wing-yee didn't hide anything. While controlling her brush, she made deep and shallow marks between the bristles, and said calmly, "It's an official kiln piece from the Chenghua period."

"what?"

In other words, Chen had a strong mental fortitude and was not flustered or frightened.

While the pieces from "official kilns" may not be unique or rare, they are certainly authentic. Besides, they are from hundreds of years ago, so it's easy to find items worth over six figures.

In fact, when Chen Zhe was searching for Gao Jianfu's posthumous paintings, he knew that Professor Guan had a villa in Guangzhou, which was used to store some art collections.

It now appears that the quantity and quality of the collection may be far greater than those figures suggest.

No wonder Professor Guan cared so much about Yu Xian. Perhaps the successor of the Lingnan School of painting not only needs artistic talent and hard work, but also the integrity to protect these collections and remain unmoved by huge wealth.

You can't just secretly sell a few of your collections when you're short on cash; no matter how much "ancestral property" you have, it won't last long.

In modern society where views on money are somewhat distorted, it's quite difficult to achieve this. Perhaps only Yu Xuan could perfectly meet all of Professor Guan's requirements.

Of course, it would be better if I wasn't so love-struck!
However, this was just a minor incident. With Chen's level of vision, he naturally wouldn't dwell on these things. The journey ahead is to the stars and the sea, damn it!

He placed the roses in a Chenghua doucai porcelain vase filled with water, first on the dining table, then, feeling it wasn't quite safe, moved it to the desk in cos sister's room and pushed it further in before he felt more at ease.

At this time, Mao Xiaoqin also woke up. She changed into a neat short-sleeved shirt and went to the kitchen to help.

This birthday family dinner, with groceries bought and food cooked by myself, and with Director Chen accompanying me, was no less memorable than Song Shiwei's birthday trip to Shanghai.

"Happy birthday!"

Chen Zhe and Mao Xiaoqin both raised their orange juices in celebration.

Empress Dowager Mao also brought a gift. She had heard that the "bracelet" on Yu Xuan's wrist was just a five-yuan piece of glass, so when she was in Guangzhou, she went to Chow Tai Fook and bought a real bracelet with ice flowers.

Professor Guan was in a good mood, and she, who never drinks beverages, surprisingly accepted half a glass of orange juice.

"Thank you, Aunt Mao, thank you, Grandma..."

Yu Xuan's eyes shimmered with a gentle light: "Thank you too, Director Chen~"

"No need to be so polite, it's just a small favor, but you should remember to repay it many times over."

Chen replied in a completely unserious manner.

"goose……"

Yu Baibai laughed happily, but after taking a couple of sips of orange juice, she suddenly remembered something and ran "thump thump thump" towards the kitchen.

When he returned shortly afterward, he was carrying a jar of dark red and black chilled juice, along with three blue and white porcelain bowls.

"Almost forgot."

As Yu Xuan spoke, she uncorked the jar: "A couple of days ago, a senior female student came to visit Professor Guan and brought some homemade bayberry juice..."

"Tsk tsk~"

Chen watched as the dark bayberry juice was poured into the bowl, his mouth watering.

Due to the temperature difference, small water droplets quickly condensed on the inside of the porcelain bowl, creating a warm-cold contrast with the blue-and-white pattern, which made people's mouths water.

I hurriedly picked it up and took a sip. The sweet and sour coolness that shot straight to the top of my head felt like a cold canyon being cleaved open in my chest.

"So comfortable!"

Chen sighed with relief.

"Slow down, no one's going to take it from you~"

Yu Xuan playfully scolded him.

Chen chuckled, as if the emotions of the world were nothing more than a bowl of plum soup in a white porcelain bowl on a hot summer day, with the sound of crushed ice hitting the sides.

······
(The last sentence is from the JX3 (Sword Net 3) NPC fan fiction, "Mu Xuanying Takes Command.")
(End of this chapter)