Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 206 Asking for food from the public chef
When Zhang Dai was led back to the examination hall, he saw that many new soldiers had been added outside the hall, and Yan Tingzhi was arguing and quarreling with Cui Mian at the entrance.

“Since I took office, I have been cautious and self-disciplined, and have not violated any regulations in the selection process. All the candidates I have chosen have been fair and just. My students have also been focused and serious in their examinations, and have not violated any regulations! Now, Cui Sanqi is questioning me about some improper conduct outside the examination hall and forcing my students to take the exam again. Isn’t this a chaotic order?”

Yan Tingzhi looked indignant and spoke in a very agitated tone: "The leak of miscellaneous writings is my fault, which I dare not shirk. Whether I am exiled or punished, I dare not defend myself. However, these students have already taken the exam. If the selection is inappropriate, they can be dismissed. But now they are being re-examined. Can the final selection prevent them from currying favor with Cui Sanqi?"

“Since Master Yan knows he is guilty, he should stay here and await questioning and investigation by the Ministry of Justice! You, a convict, still claim to be impartial, so how dare you doubt my impartiality? This matter is decided by the ministers of the court, not by your opinion!”

Cui Mian looked at Yan Tingzhi and said in a deep voice, "As for whether my handling of the matter is fair or not, the prime minister and the censor will ask. If the matter does not conform to public opinion, I will also be held accountable, and this is not a reason for you to obstruct this matter!"

Zhang Dai stood aside listening to the two arguing, feeling quite moved. It's not important whether you're right or wrong in an argument; what matters is insisting you're right. If you don't occupy the moral high ground, someone else will!

Yan Tingzhi was speechless for a moment, while Cui Mian turned his gaze to Zhang Dai, who had been led back, and asked with a frown, "Where were you going when you ran away like that?"

"I am not good at cooking, and after taking the exams for several days, I was exhausted and hungry, so I went out early to find food. I saw that Cui Sanqi was imposing and I did not know why I was being obstructed, so I dared not stop."

Seeing Cui Mian's stern expression, Zhang Dai said, "I'm starving, and seeing your fierce look, it's no wonder I'm running away!"
Upon hearing this, Cui Mian's expression changed. After a moment of silence, he said to Miao Jinqing, "Take him back to the office. If there is any leftover food in the kitchen, give it to him!"

Upon hearing this, Miao Jinqing nodded in agreement and then gestured for Zhang Dai to accompany him to the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhang Dai was just making up an excuse. He wasn't hungry at all. Although he wasn't good at cooking, his family had packed the oven with all sorts of meat and vegetable dishes.

But since there was free food, he naturally didn't refuse. It would be a good opportunity to see what the meals at the Ministry of Personnel were like. Moreover, judging from the situation, the candidates would probably have to take the essay re-examination after the policy exam, and who knew how long that would take. So it was best to fill their stomachs first.

It was only a short time past noon, which is why Zhang Dai managed to slip through the net once, since normally very few people could finish the five policy questions so quickly.

There were still officials having lunch in the Ministry of Personnel's kitchen. When Miao Jinqing brought Zhang Dai over, one of them asked, "Why is Zhang Liulang here instead of taking the exam in the South Courtyard?"

Zhang Dai looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Xi Yu, who was serving as an assistant minister in the Ministry of Personnel. He then said with a smile, "The kind and benevolent Cui Sanqi saw that I was suffering from the hardships of taking the exam and was hungry and thirsty, so he specially provided me with food from the public kitchen!"

"Is there such a thing?"

Upon hearing this, Xi Yu couldn't help but look surprised and suspicious. He knew that the relationship between Cui Mian and Zhang Shuo was by no means friendly, so why would Cui Mian be so kind as to spend public funds to entertain Zhang Shuo's grandson, especially since it was on his way to take the exam?

Although the other officials from the Ministry of Personnel in the public kitchen did not speak, they all pricked up their ears to listen to the gossip, and they couldn't help but wonder if Cui Mian was planning to mend his relationship with Zhang Shuo.

"The provincial examination essay was inappropriate, and there will be a re-examination later. Zhang Dai finished answering and left first, complaining that he was extremely hungry. That's why Cui Sanqi gave him food. After eating, he was to be sent to the Censorate!"

Miao Jinqing had already witnessed the boy's lightning-fast escape speed, so when he saw him making up stories about relationships in the Ministry of Personnel's canteen, he was naturally very unhappy. After all, the boy was definitely one of the masterminds when he was questioned that day, even if he wasn't the ringleader. Therefore, he immediately exposed the boy's words.

After hearing this, everyone understood. Zhang Dai was too lazy to argue anymore. Seeing that most of the seats were empty, he found a seat that was neither too high nor too low and then asked Miao Jinqing, "Master Miao, is it permissible to order food here?"

"The officials are given food according to their rank, but there is no rich food!"

The more relaxed the young man was, the more displeased Miao Jinqing became. When he heard that the young man actually wanted to order food, he immediately said no politely. After saying that, he ignored him and simply ordered the clerks to serve him a low-ranking official's meal.

These meals were prepared in advance, and soon servants brought them up with food trays. Zhang Dai saw that the dishes were quite plentiful: a bowl of brown rice, two steamed buns, and four kinds of side dishes, including steamed fish, dried meat, pickled sauce, and salted cucumber.

"Master Miao is too stingy!"

Zhang Dai glanced at the food, then looked at Miao Jinqing, who was hiding far away, and said with a smile.

“Zhang Liu, you’ve misunderstood. Cui Sanqi is frugal and averse to extravagance. After returning to court, he drastically reduced the amount of food served in the public kitchen. As long as the officials were full, they had no desire to indulge in their culinary delights.”

Xi Yu was afraid that the boy's big mouth would offend people again, so he came forward and said softly, while also bringing over the food he hadn't finished eating, and added, "If Zongzhi doesn't mind, we can eat together."

Hearing Xi Yu's words, Zhang Dai couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He couldn't assume his grandfather's downfall was unjust just because Xi Yu was Zhang Shuo's grandson. Looking at the officials promoted after Zhang Shuo's resignation, frugality and integrity seemed to be a key indicator. This also showed that the Tang Dynasty's finances had indeed deteriorated considerably. Besides fiscally astute officials like Yuwen Rong, who excelled at increasing revenue, the court was also emphasizing cost-cutting and efficiency improvements.

He wasn't particularly hungry, but he wanted to make things difficult for Miao Jinqing. Seeing that the guy was keeping his distance, he stopped talking and started eating with Xi Yu.

Xi Yu had already finished eating halfway through his meal, and he quickly finished. He stood up to return to his office to work, and before leaving, he said to Zhang Dai, "Zhang Liu's talent is admirable. Although things have encountered setbacks, as long as you deal with them calmly, you will not be afraid of any disturbances. For example, I was hoping to see his excellent work again in last year's prefectural examination!"

Xi Yu witnessed the turmoil of last year's prefectural examination firsthand. Now that the provincial examination has encountered setbacks again, he sighed inwardly at the boy's unfortunate fate, but at the same time he had great confidence in him, so he spoke out to encourage him.

Zhang Dai got up and watched Xi Yu leave. He then sat back down and finished all the food on the table before strolling out of the Ministry of Personnel's canteen. Looking around, he saw Miao Jinqing lingering in the corridor, so he walked up to him and asked with a smile, "Master Miao, do you know about the arrangements for the re-examination later?"

Upon hearing this, Miao Jinqing shook his head vigorously, saying, "I don't know, don't ask! Now that we've finished eating, come with me, don't linger here any longer!"

While he refused to give an explanation, Zhang Dai had already made some guesses in his mind. He had just overheard Cui Mian and Yan Tingzhi arguing, and it seemed to be about their exam essays being leaked into the market and collected and sold by booksellers. He felt quite helpless about it.

First of all, the booksellers chose to do this because they were inspired by him last year and got hooked. He didn't make much money, but he was also affected by the booksellers' shady practices, and he had to take the essay exam again after finishing it.

Moreover, with the examiner Yan Tingzhi also excluded, it's hard to say how things will develop next.

However, since the situation has developed to this point, it is clearly beyond his control and influence. He can only take it one step at a time.

Cui Mian suddenly led his troops to surround the examination hall, and then had a big argument with Yan Tingzhi at the entrance of the examination hall, which was naturally heard by the candidates inside.

Although Yan Tingzhi returned to the examination room and told them to continue answering the questions and not to worry about anything else, how could the candidates not be affected by what had happened? So they stopped carefully considering their answers and instead sped up their pace.

When Zhang Dai returned after finishing his meal at the Ministry of Personnel's canteen, more than a dozen candidates had already finished answering their questions and left the examination hall. However, without exception, they were all blocked at the entrance of the examination hall and not allowed to leave.

When these people saw Zhang Dai walk back here, they all looked at him with questioning eyes. Zhang Dai glanced at Cui Mian, who was standing there with a serious expression, and decided to keep a low profile. So he also silently lowered his head and walked back there.

"Send them to the Censorate first, and they are not allowed to leave or hand them over to anyone else!"

Seeing that more than twenty candidates had left the examination hall, Cui Mian gave further instructions.

So the group, escorted by a troop of armored soldiers, headed towards the Censorate in the Imperial City. After they left, Li Yi, who had just handed in his paper, leaned close to Zhang Dai and whispered, "Zhang Liu left the earliest. Do you know why?"

"It is said that the miscellaneous essays from the previous examination were leaked and compiled and sold by booksellers for profit. Cui Sanqi discovered this and petitioned for a re-examination of the miscellaneous essays."

Zhang Dai recounted what he knew, and Li Yi and the others were outraged after hearing it, directly denouncing the unscrupulous merchants in the market for their greed and harm to people.

Then Li Yi couldn't help but ask, "When we came out just now, we didn't see Zhang Liu. Did you go somewhere else to ask for help?"

“My grandfather has long since lost his position and power; who can he turn to for help here?”

Seeing that everyone was looking at him with the eyes of a class enemy, Zhang Dai explained, "When I left, I was extremely hungry and thirsty, and Cui Sanqi wouldn't allow me to go anywhere else, so he told me to have a meal at the Ministry of Personnel's kitchen."

As soon as he said that, several candidates' stomachs started growling. Li Yi immediately glared at him and said, "The Ministry of Personnel provides food, why didn't you say that earlier? I've been studying hard for the exam since morning, and I'm starving!"

Zhang Dai was delighted to hear this, and then said, "Governor Cui is stingy, and the food served in the main hall has been greatly reduced, making it very bland and barely filling. But the food at the Censorate is usually plentiful and the supplies are plentiful, so you can beg for food after you enter!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up again, and after arriving at the Censorate, they immediately began to loudly beg for food, shouting that they were hungry.

The officials in charge of receiving the group at the Censorate were astonished and bewildered upon witnessing this scene. For a moment, they couldn't tell whether these people were candidates for the re-examination or a group of reincarnated hungry ghosts. Coming to the Censorate to beg for food? They certainly dared to think and do it!

(End of this chapter)