My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 36

Chapter 36: Plans

Sun Luzhen and Xu Zhizhou heard Wang Yan’s voice from inside the house.

Sun Luzhen: “Zhizhou, did you hear that? Song Changxu passed the exam to become a xiucai?”

Xu Zhizhou stopped embroidering. He was a bit stunned by the news. Hearing Sun Luzhen’s words, he grabbed his hand and asked, “Is it true?”

Sun Luzhen understood Xu Zhizhou’s excitement and disbelief. He pulled him out of the house.

“Hurry and go home to see. From what Wang Yan said, I’m sure it’s true.”

Xu Zhizhou came back to his senses. He didn’t even want his scraps of cloth and colored thread anymore. He went back with Wang Yan. Did he really pass? Then, then I’m the husband of a xiucai. I’ve only been married to Song Changxu for about half a year and I’m already the husband of a xiucai?!

“Zhizhou, you don’t know. A yamen runner from the county yamen went to the Song family to deliver the news. He said that Song Changxu was the top scorer of the college exam and has become a xiucai. Not only that, he’s the top scorer in Jinhe County. I heard the county magistrate even rewarded him with land and silver.”

Wang Yan’s tone was full of longing.

She had a good relationship with Li Hu, but that didn’t stop her from thinking that Song Changxu was really amazing this time.

He was a xiucai, and he had been rewarded with land and silver by the county magistrate. He would be going to the county town to study in the future. She had never been to the county town in her entire life.

The two of them quickened their pace. When they reached the door of his house, Xu Zhizhou heard a noisy sound. When he entered the courtyard, he saw that many people from the village were chatting in the courtyard.

Song Mingyan had already brewed several pots of tea. Seeing Xu Zhizhou return, he smiled. “Zhizhou, you’re back.”

Xu Zhizhou quickly walked over to Song Mingyan and asked, “Elder Brother, did my husband really pass?”

Song Mingyan said cheerfully, “He passed.”

The others also started to talk.

“Zhizhou, you’ve only just come back. You didn’t even see the yamen runner from the county town. He looked very imposing, riding a horse.”

“Your Changxu is really promising. Not only did he become a xiucai this time, but he also received a reward from the county magistrate. How big of an official is the county magistrate?”

As common people, they had never seen a county magistrate. They had only seen the yamen runners in town, and they had to avoid them.

In their eyes, the county magistrate was a very impressive official. The entire Jinhe County was under his jurisdiction. Wasn’t that big enough?

“Zhizhou, you’ve married into a good family.”

“If you ask me, who knew Changxu was so amazing? Now our Qishan Village has also produced a xiucai. A xiucai is like the God of Literature from the heavens. And Changxu is the top scorer in Jinhe County. In the future, I can brag to my customers when I go to town to sell vegetables.”

“Zhizhou has married well.”

…

The villagers were saying all sorts of things. Xu Zhizhou could hear some envy, jealousy, and longing in their words. Xu Zhizhou had been smiling the whole time.

So what if they’re jealous? He didn’t care now. He was the husband of a xiucai. Xu Zhizhou was delighted. He was busy with Song Mingyan, receiving the villagers.

While he was pouring tea for people, he saw Song Changxu surrounded by a group of men from the village, also talking about something.

Xu Zhizhou squeezed in and saw Song Changxu. Song Changxu seemed to sense him and smiled when he met his gaze.

He refilled their tea. Xu Zhizhou’s heart was leaping with joy. He now felt that Song Changxu was even more handsome than yesterday.

The aunties and husbands in the village all pulled him along to talk. Xu Zhizhou’s mind was still in a daze.

After seeing the villagers off, the Song family was still immersed in joy. It was fine that they hadn’t gone to the fields to work this afternoon. With such a happy occasion, they couldn’t be bothered with farming.

Liang Su took a broom to sweep the floor. She said, “Tomorrow, we’ll go to a restaurant in town for a good meal to celebrate for Changxu.”

Song Changxu was helping to clear the table. Song Ye told him to let go and that he would do it himself.

Song Changxu said helplessly, “Instead of going to a restaurant, I’d rather have a good meal at home.”

“Then we’ll listen to Changxu. I’ll go to town tomorrow to buy some ingredients, and we’ll make a delicious meal ourselves,” Liang Su readily agreed.

After settling this, they cleaned the courtyard. After washing up, Song Ye and Liang Su still felt unsettled. They had thought that after their son had studied, the best he could do was to be an accountant in town. They had never expected him to become a xiucai.

Liang Su said, “Don’t just be happy. I heard he still has to go to the county school to study. The family will have to give Changxu more money.”

Song Ye said, “Yes, the family will have to give Changxu more money.”

Speaking of money, they were a bit worried. But then they thought of the twenty taels of silver the county magistrate had rewarded, and they felt relieved again.

Liang Su said in a low voice, “We still have twenty taels of silver at home. Plus the twenty taels from the county magistrate, that’s enough.”

Song Ye’s brow relaxed. “We still have to earn more money. There will be many expenses in the future.”

Liang Su also nodded. They couldn’t let the family drag down Changxu’s future. It was fine for them as parents to work a little harder. They couldn’t waste their child’s talent.

In another room, after Song Mingyan and Xu Cheng had washed up, Xu Cheng lay on the bed and asked Song Mingyan, “Xia Ya said that uncle will be an official in the future. Will he really be an official?”

Song Mingyan smiled and patted Xu Cheng’s head. “Not yet. Go to sleep early.”

Xu Cheng nodded drowsily and pulled the small quilt over his stomach. Song Mingyan had no intention of remarrying. It was enough to take care of Xu Cheng. He blew out the candle and patted Xu Cheng’s back.

Xu Cheng soon fell asleep.

Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou were not yet asleep. Xu Zhizhou was in a very good mood. He was lying in bed, a little too excited to sleep. Song Changxu was lying in bed, a little helpless.

“If you don’t sleep now, you won’t be able to get up tomorrow.”

Xu Zhizhou said, “We’re having a celebration for you tomorrow. We don’t have to work. Besides, I can’t sleep even if I want to.”

His mind was very excited. Xu Zhizhou couldn’t sleep himself and wouldn’t let Song Changxu sleep either. He poked him and said, “After you become a xiucai and go to the county school to study, I’ll go with you. You’ll need someone to take care of you.”

Song Changxu’s heart stirred. He had to go to the county school, and he was reluctant to part with Xu Zhizhou. But as for Xu Zhizhou taking care of him, Song Changxu was still a bit skeptical.

Seeing that Song Changxu was silent, Xu Zhizhou became a little anxious. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to take me? Has your heart gone wild now that you’ve become a xiucai? You don’t even like a handsome husband like me anymore?”

“No, I’m just going to be there for a little over a year, and then I have to take the provincial examination in August. If you want to go, we can go together. We’ll have to rent a place anyway.”

The corners of Xu Zhizhou’s lips turned up. “That’s right. After I go, you’ll at least have a hot meal to eat when you come back from school. You won’t have to eat at a restaurant.”

Song Changxu smiled. “You’re right.”

“Of course. I’m already the husband of a xiucai. I’ve said I want to be the husband of an official. You still have to work hard, husband.”

Song Changxu: “…”

Xu Zhizhou hugged Song Changxu’s arm and shook it, smiling like a cat that had stolen a fish.

Song Changxu laughed and kissed Xu Zhizhou’s lips.

.

The next day, Song Ye and Liang Su took the ox-cart to town. Liang Su chose a few good pieces of meat and also went to the cloth shop to get a good piece of fabric, intending to make a new set of clothes for Song Changxu. Song Ye also bought a pot of good wine, as well as some grapes and apples.

In the past, they had been reluctant to buy such fruits. Now that there was a great joy in the family, they could buy some to try.

After they had bought everything, they went home and started to prepare the meat. Song Mingyan also came to help. In less than a day, everyone in Qishan Village knew that Song Changxu had become a xiucai.

They hadn’t expected the Song family’s boy to really achieve a title through his studies.

The villagers were muttering. Their gazes towards the Song family were different now, and so were their gazes towards the Xu family.

Xu Sunzheng thought of what his second son-in-law had said about wanting to be an official. If he was so smart, and if he really did become an official, it would also benefit their Xu family.

Cao Qin was also happy. Although the Xu family was a large household in Qishan Village, they were all farmers. Now that there was a xiucai in the family, others would look at them with more respect.

“We still have two sections of sausage at home. I’ll take them to the Song family,” Cao Qin said.

She took the sausages to the Song family and was asked to stay for dinner. Liang Su had Xu Cheng go to the Xu family to call Xu Sunzheng and Xu Zhici over, so that the two families could have a meal together.

After the excitement of becoming a xiucai had died down, Song Changxu went to the yamen runner to choose the land in Qishan Village and gave it to Song Ye and Liang Su to farm.

“Father, let’s put all the family’s land under my name. That way, we can be exempt from taxes.”

After becoming a xiucai, one could be exempt from taxes on fifty acres of land.

Song Ye agreed. Now they wouldn’t have to pay taxes to the court and could save a lot of money.

Xu Zhizhou glared at Song Changxu.

“If my in-laws trust me, they can also put it under my name,” Song Changxu said with a smile.

Xu Zhizhou’s eyes lit up. “You’re their second son-in-law. Of course they trust you.”

The villagers often talked behind their backs. Some families even regretted not marrying their daughters and ge’ers to Song Changxu.

At least he was a xiucai. Even if he didn’t become a Juren in the future, he could still save up a considerable fortune by being a private school teacher in a town.

For them villagers, it would be good to be able to live in a town for the rest of their lives.

After dealing with some trivial matters, it was already three days later. In another two days, Sun Luzhen would be getting married. Xu Zhizhou wanted to see his friend off before going to Jinhe County with Song Changxu.

Song Changxu nodded in agreement. “I’ll go to Linglai Village to ask Brother Feng if he has passed.”

If Feng Xin’ou had passed, he would have a companion in Jinhe County. The two of them could support each other in an unfamiliar place.

Linglai Village was not far from Qishan Village. Song Changxu walked there. After asking for directions at the village entrance, he found the Feng family.

He knocked on the courtyard gate. “Is Brother Feng here?”

Feng Xin’ou was in the courtyard. He was a little surprised to hear Song Changxu’s voice. He said, “Brother Song, come in.”

After Song Changxu came in, Jiang Zhuo poured him a cup of tea. Song Changxu thanked him.

He looked at Feng Xin’ou’s face and knew that he had encountered something good. He understood and cupped his hands. “Congratulations, Brother Feng, on becoming a xiucai.”

Feng Xin’ou thought that Song Changxu had only known he had passed after asking the yamen runner. He smiled and said, “I’m still no match for Brother Song. Why have you come to see me today?”

“I thought that since we’ve both become xiucai, I’ll be taking my husband to the county school in Jinhe County in two days. Do you want to go together?”

Feng Xin’ou thought for a moment and agreed. “Becoming a xiucai was already beyond my expectations. I think the chances of becoming a Juren are low, but I still want to give it a try.”

Song Changxu: “I have nothing to do today. Do you have anything else to do? We can go to town to see the teacher.”

Feng Xin’ou had the same idea. He told Jiang Zhuo that he was going with Song Changxu.

Jiang Zhuo: “Wait, I’ll go with you. I’m going to town to see my parents.”

Feng Xin’ou agreed.

When the three of them arrived at Shuibo Town, Feng Xin’ou said, “After I’ve seen the teacher with Brother Song, I’ll go to my in-laws’ to pick you up.”

Jiang Zhuo smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait for you.”

Jiang Zhuo’s family owned a small noodle shop. At that time, when Jiang Zhuo wanted to marry Feng Xin’ou, his family had not agreed. After all, they were from the town. What would it be like for Jiang Zhuo to marry into a village? But Jiang Zhuo had insisted, so his parents had to agree. After they got married, his parents had been lukewarm towards Feng Xin’ou.

He had been busy at home these past few days and hadn’t had a chance to tell his parents that his husband had become a xiucai.

Now he finally had the time to go to town to tell them the good news.

.

Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou bought a jar of wine and some fruits to see Scholar Li.

When they reached the door, Song Changxu knocked first.

The teacher’s wife came to open the door. Seeing the two of them, she smiled. “Why are you here? And you’ve brought things. Come in and sit.”

“Old Li, your students are here to see you.”

The teacher’s wife brought a pot of tea and placed it on the stone table. Hearing the voice, Scholar Li came out from inside.

He was a little surprised to see it was Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou. Ever since he had returned to town in the winter, his family had been busy with his old mother’s health. At night, he would occasionally think of his disciples. He hadn’t expected Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou to come and see him.

“Come, sit. Have some tea,” Scholar Li said with a smile, pouring himself a cup.

Feng Xin’ou cupped his hands respectfully. “Thank you, teacher. I have become a xiucai.”

Some of the tea in Scholar Li’s hand spilled out. He put down his teacup and couldn’t help but clap his hands and laugh. “Good, good, good.”

Scholar Li was happy for a while, then turned to look at Song Changxu.

Song Changxu cupped his hands. “I was also fortunate enough to become a xiucai.”

Scholar Li had also taught many students in town. This time, he had only gone to the village because of his old mother’s illness. He hadn’t expected to have produced two xiucai.

Feng Xin’ou said, “Brother Song is also the top scorer of the college exam this time.”

Hearing this, Scholar Li was even more delighted. “Good. I’ll be the host today. We’ll go to a restaurant for a good meal.”

Scholar Li told his family and then took Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou to a restaurant. The three of them chatted for a while, talking about going to the county school to study.

“The county school is run by the court. The cost of food there is not high. The main expense is the rent. When I was studying at the county school, I rented a room in Mijiang Lane. The houses there are on the street, but the furniture is a bit simple. It’s relatively quiet, and the people living around are also quiet.”

Scholar Li said, “There’s another place in Jinhe County where the rent is even cheaper, but I don’t recommend you to live in a place that’s too cheap, because there are too many people from all walks of life there, and it’s easy to get into trouble. You’re there to study, so you need a quieter environment.”

Song Changxu thought for a moment. “You’re right, teacher.”

After the three of them had finished their meal, Scholar Li said, “If you have any more questions, you can come to my house to find me.”

Feng Xin’ou and Song Changxu both nodded and thanked Scholar Li for his kindness.

“Brother Song, I have to go to my in-laws’ first. I won’t be going back with you.”

Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou separated.

Song Changxu had two taels of silver on him. He went to the bookstore, intending to see if there were any books that would be helpful for the provincial examination.

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Keep working hard.

Little Xu: Going to the county to play. [Covers face and peeks]