My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 35p2

Chapter 35 p2: The Good News

The sun was not hot in the spring, perfect for working, unlike in the summer when one had to work under the scorching sun. Song Changxu started to hoe the land, and soon his mind was free of other thoughts.

Xu Zhizhou rested on the side. He opened the water flask and took a sip of sugar water, which was very sweet.

He watched Song Changxu hoeing the land with his sleeves rolled up, and rested against the tree with a sense of peace. It was not bad to have a husband. At least Song Changxu was very hardworking.

Some of the men in the village did nothing at home and even took the family’s money to eat, drink, and gamble, without any conscience. Some of them had a bad temper. As long as their husband did something that didn’t please them, scolding would follow.

In a large village like Qishan Village, everyone knew what was going on in each family.

After marrying Song Changxu, he had never hit or scolded him, and had been very respectful and peaceful towards him. His aunt had introduced him to someone in town, and he had been really tempted at that time, but his parents had refused.

His parents had chosen Song Changxu. Xu Zhizhou had reluctantly not made a scene because he was still studying. Now he realized that this man was really good, not just putting on a facade while being dirty on the inside, but truly consistent inside and out.

Xu Zhizhou held his face and smiled at Song Changxu.

It would be great if my husband could pass the exam to become a xiucai this time. Then I would be the husband of a xiucai, and life would be even better.

They were busy until the evening. The Song family went back. Song Changxu wiped his sweat, his face drenched. Xu Zhizhou took out a cloth from his sleeve and handed it to him.

Song Changxu quickly took it and wiped the sweat from his face. He felt that his eyelashes were covered in sweat.

“I’ll return it to you after I wash it.”

Walking on the village path, a cool breeze blew by. Xu Zhizhou asked, “Do you find this cloth familiar?”

Hearing this, Song Changxu took the cloth and looked at it carefully, then shook his head. “I don’t find it familiar. Did you buy it in town?”

Xu Zhizhou said angrily, “This is the cloth you gave me to wipe my hand when I burned it while bringing you soup before we got married.”

Song Changxu still remembered that incident, but he really didn’t remember what the cloth looked like.

Song Changxu said, “I remember now. I didn’t expect you to still have it with you.”

Xu Zhizhou walked ahead and snorted coldly. “That’s because I still remember you.”

Of course, the main reason was that the material of the cloth was very good, and he liked to use it to wipe his sweat.

Song Changxu put the cloth in his sleeve.

“Then I’ll buy you a few more in the future.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou’s anger immediately dissipated. Back at home, everyone was a bit tired. They still had to cut pig feed and feed the chickens and ducks while the food was cooking.

Song Ye said, “I only thought of the benefits of raising pigs. I didn’t expect that when we’re busy, we won’t be able to manage them at all.”

When he was young, he and Liang Su were the most hardworking people in the village. They raised chickens, ducks, pigs, and geese. Now, they couldn’t do it anymore. They were getting old, and their energy was not as good as when they were young.

Song Ye sighed, having to admit his age.

After dinner, they brought out stools and enjoyed the breeze in the courtyard. Xu Zhizhou and Song Changxu also relaxed. Xu Cheng picked some wild fruits for them to eat.

They sat for a while and then went back to their rooms. Song Changxu put away his books. Some of the things were no longer needed after the three exams.

Looking at the essays he had written and the notes he had taken, Song Changxu let out a breath, hoping for a good result.

Xu Zhizhou had washed his hair. He stuffed a cloth into Song Changxu’s hands. “Help me dry my hair.”

Song Changxu had him sit on a chair and dried his hair for him. The water droplets fell into his hands, and he wiped them with the cloth.

Xu Zhizhou felt Song Changxu’s fingers touching his scalp and squinted his eyes in comfort.

Song Changxu dried the roots of his hair. The ends were still a bit damp. It would be fine to just sit by the bed and let them air dry.

Xu Zhizhou hugged his pillow and sat obediently on the edge of the bed, humming a little tune. Although he was a bit tired from working today, his husband was very considerate, and his in-laws were good to him. They hadn’t said anything when he had ordered his husband around.

After washing up, Song Changxu came in. Xu Zhizhou was lying on the bed, swinging his legs. Song Changxu blew out the candle and climbed on, grabbing his legs.

Just as he was about to press down and kiss him, Xu Zhizhou burst out laughing.

Song Changxu: “?”

Xu Zhizhou reached out and tapped Song Changxu’s nose, saying with a smile, “Why are you in such a hurry?”

Song Changxu bit his collarbone and said vaguely, “I missed you.”

Xu Zhizhou gently hit Song Changxu. “Song Changxu, do you have any ambition?”

Why is he asking this at a time like this? The arrow is on the bowstring.

Song Changxu said calmly, “I do.”

Xu Zhizhou held his face with both hands, smiled, and kissed his eyes. “It’s because you have it that I’m happy. I think I’ve married a good person.”

Song Changxu was stunned for a moment.

He buried his head and worked hard.

He’s trying to bewitch me again.

Didn’t Xu Zhizhou say he wanted to be the husband of an official? Only then would he be a good person.

Is he a little satisfied now?

Song Changxu looked at his expression. He would never get tired of this face. He had never felt this way before.

He had never thought of it.

Song Changxu thought of the ge’ers he had seen in town. He wanted Xu Zhizhou to be just as happy, to buy new clothes, new fragrant balms, to go shopping everywhere, to eat in restaurants, to wear a jade pendant on his waist and a jade bracelet on his hand. Then he would surely be very vain and would be looking in the mirror all the time.

That way, for me, Song Changxu thought, I would also be satisfied.

Song Changxu kissed Xu Zhizhou’s slightly trembling eyes.

…

The yamen runners from Jinhe County rushed to Shuibo Town on horseback. He did not stop in the town, but went straight to Linglai Village according to the address he had been given.

The yamen runner, riding a horse back from the city, looked very imposing. Thinking of this year’s exam, the people of Shuibo Town guessed that the results were out.

A yamen runner from Jinhe County had not stopped in the town, but had gone to the village instead. This meant that no one in their town had passed, but someone in the village had.

The yamen runner arrived at Linglai Village and found the Feng family’s residence. Feng Xin’ou was in the courtyard, watching the chickens and ducks. His husband, Jiang Zhuo, was hanging up the laundry.

Jiang Zhuo: “Look at your robe. It’s so dirty after just a few days. I told you not to go to the mountain.”

Feng Xin’ou: “I just wanted to go and cut some bamboo.”

The yamen runner knocked on the courtyard gate.

The voices inside gradually stopped. Feng Xin’ou opened the door and was stunned to see the yamen runner’s uniform.

The yamen runner said cheerfully, “Young Master Feng, congratulations. You are on the list, eighteenth in Jinhe County. You have become a xiucai.”

Those who came to deliver the good news would be rewarded by the master of the house. Otherwise, no one would take on such a job. This was a lucrative position.

Jiang Zhuo heard the unusual noise outside and saw Feng Xin’ou welcoming a yamen runner in.

“Xiao Zhuo, go and make a pot of tea,” Feng Xin’ou said, taking a step forward and holding Jiang Zhuo’s hand, his face full of joy. He said in a low voice, “Also, go and get some money for this yamen runner brother.”

Feng Xin’ou was a reserved person. Jiang Zhuo had rarely seen him so expressive. He thought of something and quickly nodded, went to his room to get five qian of silver, and then to the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

The yamen runner took the money and said some auspicious words. He took a sip of tea to quench his thirst.

“Xiucai Feng, I won’t stay here for long. I still have to go to Qishan Village.”

Hearing this, Feng Xin’ou’s heart stirred. He couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask if the person in Qishan Village who became a xiucai is named Song Changxu?”

The yamen runner was surprised and said, “Xiucai Feng knows Young Master Song? This Young Master Song is extraordinary. He is the first in the college exam this time, surpassing Young Master Xie from the county school. You don’t know, this Young Master Xie is a collateral branch of the Xie clan of Chen Commandery. He is very good at studying.”

The Xie clan of Chen Commandery, he had only seen such a name in books. Hearing that Song Changxu was the top scorer, Feng Xin’ou’s heart beat faster.

Brother Song is so amazing?!

The yamen runner said and then prepared to leave with his horse. It had been a long time since a yamen runner had come to Linglai Village. Seeing a yamen runner enter the Feng family’s house, someone immediately came to watch the excitement. Seeing the yamen runner come out, they boldly asked, “Sir, what happened to the Feng family?”

The yamen runner was in a good mood after receiving the reward. He said, “Your Linglai Village has produced a xiucai. This is a great joy.”

After speaking, the yamen runner did not linger. He wanted to finish his errand early today and save the expenses for himself.

When they came out, the county yamen would allocate silver to them.

Linglai Village was not far from Qishan Village. He soon arrived. It was noon now. The villagers had just had lunch and were chatting in their courtyards. Some of them had found stools and were embroidering outside their doors, gossiping about the village.

Auntie Fang, Auntie Li, and the young girls and ge’ers in the village were all embroidering together.

Auntie Fang, with her sharp eyes, saw a yamen runner coming. She quickly said in a low voice, “Why is an official coming to our village? Has someone in our village committed a crime?”

The common people were naturally afraid of officials. As the saying goes, the people do not fight with the officials. Even a yamen runner had the power to be arrogant in front of the common people.

The yamen runner found the address and arrived at the Song family’s gate. He knocked.

Song Changxu was playing with a spinning top with Xu Cheng. Liang Su had just gone to feed the chickens. She was a bit puzzled when she heard the noise.

At this hour, there was usually someone at home, and the courtyard gate was not tightly closed. If it were a villager, they would have come in frankly. She went to open the door, and was met with a black yamen runner’s uniform. She was terrified.

“Is this Young Master Song’s home?” the yamen runner’s attitude towards Liang Su was warm.

Seeing that the villagers around were listening with their ears pricked up, Liang Su was also anxious. She stammered, “This is our home. My son is named Song Changxu. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He went to Jinhe County for the exam a while ago. He hasn’t done anything wrong. Is there a mistake?”

Hearing this, the yamen runner was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He said, “Ma’am, if his name is Song Changxu, then there’s no mistake. Your son hasn’t done anything wrong. This is a great joy.”

Liang Su was a bit confused. “What joy?”

“Young Master Song has become a xiucai, and he is the top scorer of the college exam!”

Hearing this, Liang Su was stunned. She quickly asked, “My son has become a xiucai?”

The yamen runner said with a smile, “Yes, and he is the top scorer. The county magistrate has also given some rewards. Xiucai Song can also go to the county school to study and can take the provincial examination next time.”

The villagers were not far away. They were not talking about anything else. The surroundings were quiet, with only the sound of the yamen runner and Liang Su’s conversation.

Hearing this, Auntie Fang’s eyes widened. “Song Changxu has become a xiucai?”

Auntie Li murmured to herself, “I didn’t expect the Song family’s boy to really pass. This time, both the Song and Xu families will be proud. I heard he’s some kind of top scorer. There are so many scholars in Jinhe County. For the Song boy to get the top score, he must be very amazing.”

Liang Su was still a bit incoherent. She quickly welcomed the yamen runner in. “Look at me, I forgot to let you in, brother. Come in quickly. Mingyan, go and make a pot of tea.”

Song Ye had just fed the two pigs and was still holding the pig trough. He was terrified when he saw the yamen runner.

Liang Su said, “Hurry and go to the room to get some money for this yamen runner brother. He’s here to deliver the good news for our Changxu. Changxu has become a xiucai.”

Hearing this, Song Ye’s face lit up with joy. “Changxu has passed?!”

He hurried into the room with the pig trough to get some money. After getting the money, he saw the pig trough on the cabinet and slapped his head. He was so excited that he had brought the pig trough into the room.

Song Changxu heard Liang Su’s words, and a sense of finality settled over him.

The yamen runner took Song Ye’s money and weighed it. The smile on his face grew wider. “Young Master Song is the top scorer of the college exam. The county magistrate has also asked me to bring something for him. He has rewarded Young Master Song with five acres of land. You can just take this land deed to have the ownership transferred. You can choose the location of the land in Qishan Village. There are also twenty taels of silver.”

Song Changxu hadn’t expected the county magistrate to be so generous. He said with a smile, “Thank you, County Magistrate.”

“Aiyo, Young Master Song has become the top scorer now. When the list was posted, the scholars in the county were all in an uproar, wanting to find you. You’ll understand when you go to the county school.”

Song Changxu took the land deed and the two ten-tael silver ingots. He let out a breath and smiled. “Thank you for telling me.”

He was very happy. Although he had expected it, at this moment, his mind was still a bit blank.

He had finally become a xiucai. At first, Song Mingyan was shocked, and then he felt a sense of regret. Zhizhou had gone to find Sun Luzhen. Otherwise, he would have been very happy to hear this news.

His younger brother was the top scorer. When Song Mingyan had been selling skewers in town, many scholars had also come to buy them. They all had an air of high spirits, which was enviable.

His younger brother had traveled between two villages, studying from morning till night, and had finally gotten a good result.

Song Ye and Liang Su’s smiles never left their faces. They warmly sent the yamen runner off.

Xu Cheng asked, “What is a xiucai?”

Song Changxu patted Xu Cheng’s head. “A xiucai is exempt from taxes and does not have to kneel before officials.”

.

Sun Family

Sun Luzhen and Xu Zhizhou were still embroidering. Xu Zhizhou was asking Sun Luzhen how to embroider a fish.

Wang Yan came in from the courtyard gate. Sun’s parents and his brother and sister-in-law all looked at her curiously.

Sun’s mother said, “Wang Yan, what’s wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?”

Wang Yan said, “I’ve come to call Zhizhou. Song Changxu has become a xiucai!”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: For you.

Little Xu: What, what is it?