Pu Yan genuinely wanted to treat Ming Chengyy to a meal, but it was also true that he was short on cash.

When he heard Ming Chengyu say it was getting late and they shouldn’t eat out, he was actually a little relieved.

But soon after, Pu Yan felt ashamed of himself for feeling that way.

’How could I be so disingenuous with my closest friend?’

"Well, if you don’t want to eat out, why not come home with me and let me show you what I can do? I’ve actually picked up some cooking skills over the years, but you guys, hehe, just don’t know it," Pu Yan said.

This time, Ming Chengyu didn’t refuse, smiling and nodding in agreement.

Ming Chengyu remembered that when he first met Pu Yan, the latter lived in a place near the East Market. He never expected that after following Pu Yan through a series of twists and turns today, they would end up in Dai Xian Square, not far from Huaided Fang.

"Please excuse the humble dwelling, Chengyu. My wife and I moved years ago. This house is just a two-courtyard residence, but it’s not too bad. With only two children, it’s still manageable for us," Pu Yan said.

Ming Chengyu was truly surprised. He knew the Pu Family wasn’t wealthy, but he didn’t think things were so bad that they’d have to sell their ancestral home to live in such a remote and dilapidated-looking house.

Pu Yan’s forefathers were all scholars. Father Pu had taught at the Imperial College, where he was a Direct Instructor. His salary wasn’t low by any means—more than enough to support his family.

"Has your family run into some trouble recently?" Ming Chengyu asked. "You can tell me about it now. I’m in the Capital City too, so perhaps I can help."

Just as Pu Yan stepped through the gate, he saw his younger son in the courtyard, rocking on a small wooden horse and having the time of his life.

The little tyke, who was only a few years old and had just begun his studies, saw the guest beside his Grandpa and obediently stood up. After an introduction from Pu Yan, he greeted Ming Chengyu in a childish voice.

Since Ming Chengyu had a very cute nephew of his own, he took an immediate liking to Pu Yan’s young son.

He had actually brought gifts for the children when he came to see Pu Yan today.

When he took it out, Pu Yan couldn’t help but try to refuse it after seeing what it was.

It was too valuable.

In his family’s current situation, it would be difficult to ever return the favor with a gift of equal value.

Besides, Ming Chengyu wasn’t even married yet, so who knew when he could repay this favor.

"I can’t possibly accept this, I can’t! He’s just a child, how could he accept such a valuable gift?"

What Ming Chengyu had taken out was a solid gold longevity lock.

Among wealthy families, a gift like this was always a safe choice.

Ming Chengyu dodged Pu Yan’s hand and gave it directly to the little boy. "This isn’t for you, so why are you in such a hurry to refuse it? My nephew is about the same age, and I just adore children this size."

Pu Yan: "..."

’How could I not know that Ming Chengyu’s nephew is the current Crown Prince? How can my son possibly be compared to the Crown Prince?’

But since Ming Chengyu had put it that way, refusing any further would make him seem distant and unfriendly.

Pu Yan sighed, waved his son away, and led Ming Chengyu to the tea hall. "I’m actually doing fine now, really. Nothing’s wrong. Back then, my father offended a powerful figure. Later, on his way to the Imperial College, he was inexplicably attacked and had his leg broken. He couldn’t keep his position as a Direct Instructor at the Imperial College, either. Someone claimed he was spending too much time on sick leave at home, holding back the Imperial College students. So, not long after my father was beaten, he lost his livelihood. Around that time, my wife was pregnant with our younger son. The shock sent her into premature labor, and they almost both died. I was at the Hanlin Academy and couldn’t help with anything, and the amount of Silver I could bring home each month was extremely limited."

An editor at the Hanlin Academy really didn’t have much of a salary. Otherwise, why would people always add the word "poor" when calling them "pedantic scholars"?

Pu Yan’s meager salary was barely enough to cover his family’s monthly food and expenses. But during those months, a bleak gloom hung over his household. Left with no choice, he had to dismiss the two young servants in his home.

Although Pu Yan didn’t say it outright, Ming Chengyu could guess some of the cause and effect from what he described.

’If you offend a powerful person, they’ll find ways to make trouble for you behind the scenes. An ordinary person can’t withstand that.’

’Father Pu’s broken leg was probably connected to that person in some way.’

"I took care of my father myself, but my wife still needed someone by her side." Pu Yan wiped his face. Ming Chengyu knew what his family used to be like. Having been friends for so long, he also knew Ming Chengyu’s character; not a single word spoken in this courtyard today would ever be mentioned again once Ming Chengyu walked out the gate.

Because he was always short on cash, he hadn’t attended any gatherings in a long time. Yesterday’s get-together was one of the few he’d had with friends in years.

Now, seeing Ming Chengyu, he couldn’t help but say a little more than he’d intended.

"Later on, I was really strapped for cash, so my wife started using her dowry to supplement our household income. I thought that no matter what, I couldn’t let her spend her dowry. Besides, you’ve met her before—her dowry wasn’t as lavish as those of the noble ladies in Shangjing..."

Pu Yan’s wife wasn’t a woman from a great, noble house, nor was she the daughter of an official’s family. She was the eldest daughter of one of his former teachers.

"Right around that time, someone wanted me to invest in a money-lending business to make a profit..."

The family was short on Silver, and Pu Yan himself was no businessman. When he heard about such an opportunity, he naturally wanted to seize it.

Ming Chengyu didn’t ask for details. Judging from the Pu Family’s current circumstances, he could roughly guess the outcome of his friend’s "investment."

’He probably lost the old family home in the process.’

"After returning from my mourning period, I knew that if I had connections in high places, I wouldn’t be stuck in this position," Pu Yan said. The number of talented individuals serving the Emperor was as vast as a river of carp. Even though his own scholarship was good, countless others had reached the Emperor’s side through the imperial examinations over the years.

He possessed no exceptionally outstanding skills, so how could the Emperor possibly remember him?

But he had no connections. After spending several sums of Silver to no effect, with two children at home crying for food, he couldn’t just pursue his own "official career" and let his family starve, could he?

Thinking of this, Pu Yan had no choice but to give up on that idea.

Although Pu Yan had invited Ming Chengyu to try his cooking, his wife, who had heard the news and come to the front hall to greet their guest, shot him a reproachful look. "You and Chengyu haven’t seen each other in over five years. Now that he’s finally come to visit, you should stay here and keep him company. What’s this about you going to the kitchen?"

After saying this, she turned to Ming Chengyu, telling him to make himself at home and not be a stranger.

After the woman’s figure disappeared from the tea hall, Ming Chengyu said with a smile, "Your wife is as sharp and spirited as ever."

’There wasn’t the slightest hint of the weariness or uncertainty that came from a life of hardship.’

Pu Yan: "My wife is stronger than I am."

After they had chatted for a while, Ming Chengyu finally revealed his reason for seeking him out today.

"Brother Yan, you know about the poetry contest Ming’s Restaurant has been holding, right? I saw you composed quite a few poems yesterday, and everyone thought highly of them," Ming Chengyu said.

A bashful expression appeared on Pu Yan’s face. He didn’t put on any airs with Ming Chengyu and said frankly, "To be honest with you, I’ve been wanting to enter the competition. I heard that if you win, the first-place prize is free meals at the restaurant. The second and third places get rewards, too. My wife and my sons have all heard of Ming’s Restaurant, but it’s my fault for being so useless. My monthly salary is what it is, and it’s really hard for me to take them all there to eat their fill."

So, his reason for entering the competition was really just for the free food.