My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 55p2

Chapter 55 p2: Provincial Examination

After Song Changxu and Feng Xin’ou had left, Xu Zhizhou and the others still set up their stall as usual. After they had left, many of the carriages in Jinhe County had also left, all going to Yunzhou Prefecture for the exam.

Seeing so many people, Xu Zhizhou thought that there were still several other counties under Yunzhou Prefecture, and his vision went black.

With so many people, how could his husband pass the exam to become a Juren? Studying was really not an easy thing.

Besides when he was selling Bobo Chicken, Xu Zhizhou was always thinking about Song Changxu.

Even if my husband doesn’t pass, I’ll still support him, Xu Zhizhou thought.

When Song Changxu really came back, Xu Zhizhou saw his haggard appearance and couldn’t say anything. He was just heartbroken for him.

“I’ll take a nap first. The carriage was a bit bumpy.”

Xu Zhizhou nodded.

When Song Changxu woke up, he smelled the fragrance of food. Xu Zhizhou had gone to buy a lot of ingredients and had made six dishes and one soup.

“You’re awake. Come and eat.”

Song Changxu looked at the hot meal and nodded with a smile.

He was still well-mannered and did not wolf down his food, but his chopsticks moved quickly. Xu Zhizhou only had a little food. He ate a little and then watched Song Changxu eat. Finally, he stopped eating altogether and rested his elbows on the table to watch him.

After Song Changxu had finished one bowl of rice, he went to get another. He sensed that Xu Zhizhou’s sparkling eyes were on him, and his heart tingled.

He pretended to be reserved and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Xu Zhizhou urged, “Hurry and eat. Don’t mind me looking at you. Was the exam very tiring?”

Song Changxu took a meatball. The juice burst out when he bit into it. He nodded. “It was mainly the journey, and the food and sleep in the examination hall were not good.”

So after the exam, they would usually sleep for a whole day and then have a meal.

Xu Zhizhou could tell it was not easy.

He did not ask Song Changxu how he had done. Now that he was back, he should rest well first.

Xu Zhizhou cut two peaches and brought them to the room. Song Changxu was tidying up the books and essays in the room.

If he passed the exam to become a Juren this time, some of the books would be put away in a box and would not be needed anymore. Only after taking the provincial examination did he realize that the xiucai exam was a bit easier. The further up you went, the harder it got.

“Have a peach, husband,” Xu Zhizhou said, poking his shoulder.

Song Changxu agreed. It was not as comfortable to stay at an inn as it was at home. His heart was much more at ease. It would be nice if they could have their own house.

They had been living in this small courtyard for more than half a year, and it was quite tidy. But because it was a rented house, they had not bought too many decorative things, afraid that it would be troublesome if they had to move in a hurry.

He had also written down a method for making sugar, but he didn’t dare to take it out now. Sugar was too expensive in ancient times. He didn’t have the power to take out the method. It was very likely that it would be taken by the rich and powerful. To avoid trouble, he had been holding back.

When he had a certain status, he would take out the method and sell it little by little, then open a sugar workshop, and the family would have money.

Xu Zhizhou was eating a peach. Seeing that Song Changxu was looking at him, he hit him on the back. “Eat. What are you looking at me for?”

“The county school is on holiday. You can do whatever you want at home these few days. I’m setting up my stall.”

Song Changxu: “I should also clear my head. I’ll go with you to set up the stall.”

Xu Zhizhou hugged the quilt. “You can still rest for a while.”

Song Changxu smiled and kissed his forehead.

.

After the provincial examination, most of the students had left. Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue, as well as the sons of wealthy families, were still in Yunzhou Prefecture.

After the exam, Cheng Maoxue was also reluctant to part with Xie Feng and Luo Shuang. He went to Luo Shuang’s to stay in a residence, with maids and attendants to serve him. It was much more comfortable than staying at an inn.

Luo Shuang came back from outside. Cheng Maoxue was throwing fish food to the fish under the bridge. A group of carp gathered around him, their mouths wide open.

“You’re so carefree here,” Luo Shuang said.

Cheng Maoxue said “eh.” “I’m more at ease here. Fine clothes and good food. If I went to the Xie family’s, there would be more restrictions.”

The Xie family’s style was serious and proper. Cheng Maoxue was in a lazy mood now. If he went there, he would be controlled. A merchant family like the Luo family’s was more suitable for him.

Luo Shuang went to a pavilion and sat down. “Recently, someone in Yunzhou Prefecture has been organizing a few literary gatherings. Are you going?”

Cheng Maoxue: “I used to have the mind to go, but now I don’t. I’ll only have the mood to go to literary gatherings to build connections after the results are out. Otherwise, if I fail, the connections I’ve built will be for nothing.”

They went to literary gatherings to broaden their horizons and build connections. Naturally, they valued the person’s worth, or the value of their family background. Cheng Maoxue’s family was in decline, so his family was out of the question. If he didn’t pass the exam to become a Juren, it would all be empty talk.

Luo Shuang nodded with admiration. “Brother Cheng is indeed very perceptive. I won’t be going to the literary gatherings either.”

Cheng Maoxue took a bite of the apple in the pavilion. “That’s right. How could I be friends with you and Xie Feng if I weren’t perceptive? Don’t look at us not going to the literary gatherings. Xie Feng has to go. That’s just his personality.”

Luo Shuang smiled without speaking.

The officials and teachers in charge of grading in Yunzhou Prefecture were all cooped up in the examination hall. They could not leave until they had finished grading the papers. Their meals were all sent in.

Jian Xi stayed up with them. After a few days, he had finally finished grading the papers. Now it was time to decide on the rankings.

Several officials and teachers all recommended the papers they thought were good, and then they were passed around to choose the best.

“The paper in my hand is not bad. There are basically no mistakes in the front, and the policy essay is also novel. It should be the top.”

Another official said, “The paper in my hand is not bad at all. The policy essay is detailed and meticulous, from small to large. It should be the top.”

“…The one in my hand should be the top.”

Jian Xi also had a candidate in mind. When he looked at the other essays, he felt that those two were more ornate and just. He fell in love with them at first sight.

He passed the essays in his hand to the other officials to read, and then they decided on the rankings.

Jian Xi said, “Thank you for your hard work, sirs and teachers. You can go home and rest now. The information on the list cannot be revealed before it is posted tomorrow. If it is discovered, don’t blame me for being merciless. I can only act according to the court’s rules.”

“Yes, Sir Jian.”

A yamen runner led them out of the examination hall. Someone led Jian Xi and said, “The prefect has prepared a feast to relieve Sir Jian’s fatigue.”

Now he just wanted to sleep, but he was on an errand in Yunzhou Prefecture, and he was also a minister of the borderlands. Jian Xi couldn’t not give him face. He had to say, “Lead the way.”

After a few cups of wine with the prefect, he went back to his room and fell asleep. When he woke up, it was already broad daylight.

An attendant brought him some soup. After he had finished, he thought of the list being posted today. He was being lazy today, but the candidates who had stayed in Yunzhou Prefecture did not dare to be. They had gone to the examination hall early to wait.

Xie Feng saw so many people and simply booked a private room to drink tea, asking his attendant to help him check. Luo Shuang and Cheng Maoxue also used his private room and attendant.

Luo Shuang: “I heard that there are many amazing people this time. That one named Bai Shu, and another named Xiahou Hong, are both the ‘Lesser Triple Firsts’ of their counties.”

Xie Feng was not convinced. “If it weren’t for Brother Song, I could also have gotten a ‘Lesser Triple First’.”

“By the way, Brother Song is not in Yunzhou Prefecture,” Xie Feng said with a sudden realization.

“He left after a day’s rest after the exam, without any reluctance. Brother Song’s mentality is one of the best I’ve seen,” Cheng Maoxue said.

They suddenly heard a cry of surprise. Xie Feng stood up and looked out the window. The scholars were frantically squeezing into the middle.

“The list is out,” Luo Shuang’s eyes flickered.

At this moment, on the list posted at the examination hall.

First place: Bai Shu of Jiangning County

Second place: Xiahou Hong of Qingping County

Third place: Song Changxu of Jinhe County

Fourth place: Xie Feng of Jinhe County

…

Tenth place: Luo Shuang of Jinhe County

Twelfth place: Cheng Maoxue of Jinhe County

…

“Brother Bai is truly a genius. If he gets first place in the metropolitan and palace exams, he’ll be a ‘Six Firsts’,” the scholar who said this was flattering him.

Bai Shu cupped his hands. “Brother, don’t say that. No one can predict the future. Instead of the ‘Six Firsts’, I should be thinking about how to get a good result in the next metropolitan exam.”

“Brother Bai is right,” the scholars echoed.

A few people also gathered around Xiahou Hong, saying flattering words. Xiahou Hong replied absentmindedly. His gaze was fixed on the top of the list, then it moved down to Song Changxu, and then he looked away.

“Does anyone know this Brother Song?” Xiahou Hong asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

.

Teahouse

After a while, the Xie family’s attendant reported the results. Xie Feng’s face was full of disbelief. “I’m actually fourth.”

Luo Shuang and Cheng Maoxue were quite satisfied with their rankings. The Xie family’s attendant knew his young master’s heart and read out the three people above him.

“Brother Song is really surprising. He actually got third in the provincial examination,” Luo Shuang said.

“He’s going to be in the limelight again this time,” Cheng Maoxue said with a bitter smile. He looked at Xie Feng, who still looked disappointed, and patted his back.

“You’re still fourth. There are still the metropolitan and palace exams. Don’t worry.”

Xie Feng: “I’m just a little unwilling. I’m not familiar with Bai Shu and Xiahou Hong, but I’ve heard of their great names. Brother Song is the one I least expected.”

He was still the top in the county school. Song Changxu was often second or third, and sometimes even sixth or tenth. But this time, he had gotten third in the provincial examination.

“Brother Song doesn’t know this news yet. We’ll have to wait for the prefectural yamen to inform him. If I had known, I would have pulled him along to wait for the news with us,” Luo Shuang said with some regret.

.

Jinhe County

Song Changxu was selling Bobo Chicken with Xu Zhizhou. It was not tiring for a husband and wife to work together. Song Changxu would usually help in the morning, and in the afternoon, he would go home to cook. After he was done, he would come to help Xu Zhizhou with the pushcart.

“Boss Xu, you’re much more relaxed with your husband’s help.”

Xu Zhizhou said generously, “He’s a scholar. How can he always help me? But my husband is indeed not bad.”

Xu Zhizhou was visibly happy.

Back at home, after dinner, Xu Zhizhou had him wash his hair.

Song Changxu: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll scratch your scalp?”

Xu Zhizhou hummed. “If you scratch my scalp, I’ll scratch your face.”

Song Changxu: “…” That’s not necessary.

He went to get some soapberries to wash Xu Zhizhou’s hair. Xu Zhizhou was used to being pampered. He ordered Song Changxu around.

“A little harder on the left, and a little on the middle…”

Song Changxu was so annoyed by washing his hair that he wanted to take out a pair of scissors from his pocket and cut it all off.

After washing his hair, Xu Zhizhou felt refreshed. He lay on the bed and soon fell asleep. Song Changxu diligently poured out the water, washed up, and then went to sleep.

In the morning, Song Changxu stayed in the courtyard to fetch water and also to tidy up the house. Xu Zhizhou went to set up his stall.

Just as he had set up his stall for a while, he saw a yamen runner riding a horse towards Mijiang Lane.

Xu Zhizhou: “What’s he doing? There shouldn’t be any improper people in our lane.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: A diligent little bee. [Sprinkles flowers]

Little Xu: What’s he here for? [Question mark]