The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 956 - 935 Primus Pavilion

Chapter 956: Chapter 935 Primus Pavilion

Primus Pavilion was the best restaurant in their neighborhood, having been opened after it was named "Primus." Local rumors suggested that the founder wasn’t the current proprietor but someone very influential.

However, Manbao and his friends had only heard about it in the marketplace and didn’t know who that person was.

Regardless, the restaurant was expansive and opulent, frequented by the affluent and seemingly cultured individuals.

After all, with the Six Academies nearby and such a splendid name, the patrons were mostly scholars and their family elders who came to dine and drink.

Manbao and his friends, dressed plainly—neither shabby nor luxurious—were immediately captivated by the calligraphy and paintings on two walls as they walked into Primus Pavilion.

Bai Dalang, having been to Primus Pavilion before, was relatively composed, but the other three looked like country bumpkins entering the city for the first time, their eyes brightly sparkling despite their calm appearances, clearly newcomers.

Some turned their heads to look at them. Bai Shan and his friends didn’t notice as they walked straight to the wall, tilting their heads up to read the poems inscribed there.

These were left by literati who dined here, mostly poems, though some left just a character or a line. Upon seeing these characters, Bai Shan was rooted to the spot, his feet firmly stuck to the ground.

Mr. Zhuang had already headed upstairs, and Bai Erlang was trying to pull Bai Shan to follow, but couldn’t budge him.

He looked back and said, "Let’s come down again after we’ve eaten."

Manbao also admired the writing, "This calligraphy is truly exquisite."

Bai Erlang asked, "Are you still going to eat or not?"

Bai Shan replied, "You go ahead and order. It’s busy anyway, and it will take time to serve the food. We’ll keep looking around."

Manbao nodded, feeling that the poems on the wall were also appealing and wanted to linger a bit longer.

Scratching his head, Bai Erlang left them behind to catch up with Mr. Zhuang and his elder brother, "You guys keep looking then, I’m heading up."

Upstairs, the waiter found them seats, the best spots already taken, making it impossible to look out the window. However, they could still look down at the first floor from where they sat.

Mr. Zhuang settled down and glanced downstairs at his two junior brothers, then turned to look at Bai Erlang who had just run up, shaking his head slightly.

Bai Dalang helped Mr. Zhuang sit down and asked Bai Erlang, "Why didn’t you stay downstairs to check out the poems?"

He replied, "Those poems and characters were left by talented individuals, definitely worth checking out."

"Huh, I saw the notice downstairs, it seems anyone can write poems or characters on the wall."

"Indeed, anyone can, but if your poems are poor, your calligraphy flawed, would you have the courage to write them?" Bai Dalang said, "Those who dare write are very confident in themselves. Not a single poem or character is mediocre. Many from the academy come here to dine and drink just to see these writings on the wall; it’s a rare opportunity, how can you miss it?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded.

"Then why didn’t you stay?" asked Bai Erlang.

"I have already copied down the poems from the wall and seen all the characters. You go have a look, I’ll stay here to attend to our teacher."

As the waiter came to take their order, Bai Erlang said, "Later, I’ll just copy from my elder brother’s notes; I don’t need to look at the characters now, I’ll just follow teacher’s style."

Mr. Zhuang: ...

Bai Dalang: ...

Bai Dalang looked doubtfully at Mr. Zhuang, puzzled as to why he had taken Bai Erlang as a pupil.

Mr. Zhuang shook his head, pointed to a seat next to him gesturing Bai Erlang to sit, not forcing him to go downstairs.

Manbao read each poem one by one, while Bai Shan just stood in place, watching the characters on the wall, his hands gesturing several times.

When Feng Zongping and his classmates entered, they looked up and saw Manbao standing under the wall, leaving a deep impression on him.

He waved to his classmates, signaling them to go upstairs first, then walked up with Yi Ziyang.

Manbao was reciting the verses silently and decided that after returning, she would memorize these poems on the wall to learn how others wrote poetry. As she was engrossed, someone behind her lightly coughed.

Without turning her head, Manbao sidestepped slightly to make room for the person behind her, then continued staring at the wall.

Seeing this, Feng Zongping couldn’t help but lightly cough and said, "Miss Zhou, what a coincidence."

Manbao turned around, recognized Feng Zongping, and with a smile said, "Young Master Feng, it is indeed a coincidence."

Hearing their conversation, Bai Shan also came back to his senses. He turned his head, walked over to Manbao’s side, and sizing up Feng Zongping asked, "This is..."

Manbao introduced them to each other, then looked at Yi Ziyang standing beside Feng Zongping and smiled without speaking; she still didn’t know his name.

Yi Ziyang then smiled and introduced himself, "I am Yi Ziyang."

Manbao and Bai Shan greeted the two men, and they greeted back. Feng Zongping, looking at Bai Shan, smiled, "Is this Miss Zhou’s junior brother? Truly a talented individual."

Bai Shan was never one to engage in excessive politeness or humility, so he simply smiled courteously, and Manbao answered for him, "Not as impressive as Young Master Feng."

After the mutual praises, Feng Zongping started to introduce them to the writings and poems on the wall.

For instance, he knew who wrote which poem and who inscribed each character; not only Manbao, but even Bai Shan listened with great interest. They both memorized everything, determined to inquire about these people after returning.

Listening was impressive; they wondered if these people would be willing to befriend them.

As they were speaking animatedly, Bai Erlang leaned out from the second floor and called out to them, "Come up for the meal."

There was much excited discussion in the restaurant, and though Bai Erlang’s voice wasn’t loud, his shout stood out. People on one side were discussing "The appropriateness of black robes, yet here I am changing again"; on the other side, the topic was "The way of the sage is to act without contention."

Thus, the restaurant quieted down momentarily, with people on the second floor turning to look at Bai Erlang, and those on the first floor also looking up at him.

Bai Erlang, with an innocent face, met their gazes, blinked, and didn’t understand why everyone suddenly quieted down and stared at him.

Bai Dalang covered his face, wishing he could find a crack to squeeze himself into.

Mr. Zhuang, looking unruffled, poured himself another glass of wine and even took the time to signal Bai Erlang to sit properly. What kind of look was that, kneeling on the stool?

Downstairs, Feng Zongping and Yi Ziyang also withdrew their gazes and then turned to Manbao and Bai Shan.

Manbao and Bai Shan bowed to the two men and said, "We will go upstairs to dine now, excuse us."

Feng Zongping smiled and nodded, but he followed them upstairs, laughing, "We are just about to head upstairs as well."

As they walked, he curiously asked, "Was that the one teaching you, Young Master Bai Er?"

Seeing that he even made inquiries about Bai Er’s family ranking, Manbao realized that he had thoroughly investigated their backgrounds.

She nodded and said, "Yes."

Manbao was also curious, "Do students from the Imperial Academy often dine here at the restaurant?"

Feng Zongping smiled and answered, "Not often, just occasionally gatherings among classmates. For meals, naturally, we still return home."

The prices at Primus Pavilion were not low; how could they afford to eat here regularly, even if their families were wealthy? Besides, his monthly allowance wasn’t high.