My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 56

Chapter 56: Departure

The yamen runner had first gone to the Xie, Luo, and Cheng families, and finally to the Song family.

The other three families were close to each other and were in the center of the county town, so he had gone there first to deliver the good news.

Xu Zhizhou watched the yamen runner enter the lane, still unable to figure it out. Someone came from the west, sighing.

“Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue have all passed the exam to become Juren. It’s a great joy. Xie Feng is even fourth in Yunzhou Prefecture. He’s truly amazing.”

“I heard that there’s another person in our Jinhe County who did even better than Young Master Xie, ranking above him,” a scholar said.

“Fortunately, they’re all in one place. The yamen runner got a lot of reward money from the three families.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou suddenly thought that it had been a long time since the provincial examination. They were at home, waiting for the results. Could it be that the yamen runner had gone to Mijiang Lane to deliver the news?

After all, who would go to arrest someone on horseback? And if it were a local yamen runner, would he need to ride a horse?

Xu Zhizhou’s mind started to race.

Besides his husband, there were other xiucai in Mijiang Lane. Xu Zhizhou said to Fei-shi, “Auntie, please help us watch the stall for a while. We’re going back for a bit.”

Fei-shi, who sold braised meat, also lived in Mijiang Lane. Hearing this, she agreed.

“Zhizhou, why are we going back?” Jiang Zhuo asked, being pulled along by Xu Zhizhou.

“I saw a yamen runner going into the lane, riding a big horse. It might be to deliver good news. Let’s go back and have a look first.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhuo also felt a bit of anticipation.

At the door of his house, the courtyard gate was wide open, and a horse was tied to a tree by the gate. Xu Zhizhou held his breath and tiptoed. When he walked in, he saw the yamen runner talking enthusiastically with Song Changxu.

“Young Master Song, congratulations on passing the exam to become a Juren. You are third on the list. I didn’t expect you to be so young, Young Master Song. You have a boundless future…”

Song Changxu was already satisfied with this ranking. He cupped his hands modestly. “You flatter me. I still have many shortcomings to make up for.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou was overjoyed. He gave a fake cough to announce his presence. “Husband, I came back to get something. I’m so happy to hear this good news.”

“Brother, please sit. I’ll go and make you some tea,” Xu Zhizhou said enthusiastically.

He said he was going to make tea, but he actually went to his room to get some reward money and also brewed a pot of hot tea.

The yamen runner saw that the young couple were both very good-looking and sighed in his heart. This lane was clearly not as prestigious as the Xie, Luo, and Cheng families, but who knew what the future held?

He couldn’t help but envy Song Changxu. Now that he had become a Juren, if he had the opportunity in the future, he could become an official.

Becoming a Juren gave one the qualification to be an official, but it was usually a supplementary position, with a low rank. Only by continuing to take the exams could one have the chance to become a high-ranking official.

Xu Zhizhou stuffed a purse into the yamen runner’s hands. “Thank you for your hard work, brother. Take this silver to have some tea.”

The yamen runner happily put the purse in his pocket, the smile on his face growing wider.

Song Changxu said thoughtfully, “May I ask how many Juren our county produced?”

“Jinhe County produced four Juren: the Xie family, the Luo family, the Cheng family, and you, young master.”

It was common for a county to produce three or four Juren. After all, Ningxing’s territory was vast, and there were many counties under a prefecture.

The yamen runner did not delay. He said a few more auspicious words and then left on his horse. This time, he had gotten a reward for delivering the good news. When he returned to the yamen, he would have a two-day holiday. He didn’t know if he could get such a lucrative errand next time.

After seeing the yamen runner off, Song Changxu felt a sense of relief. Xu Zhizhou shouted happily, “Husband, you’re a Juren now. There are so many people in Yunzhou Prefecture, and you got third place. You’re so amazing.”

Xu Zhizhou’s praises followed.

Song Changxu had been about fifty percent confident that he would pass the exam to become a Juren. As for what rank he would get, he hadn’t had much hope.

This time, it was beyond his expectations. Seeing the joy on Xu Zhizhou’s small face, Song Changxu couldn’t help but smile as well.

After all, he had not let the two of them down.

Xu Zhizhou was so happy that he was dancing. Now that he had become a Juren, how far could being an official be?

“Husband, you sit down. You can do less of the household chores in the future and just concentrate on your studies,” Xu Zhizhou boasted.

Song Changxu didn’t believe him, but he still nodded.

Xu Zhizhou left the house. Seeing Jiang Zhuo, he also saw the yamen runner leaving the Song family’s. He smiled. “Congratulations.”

Jiang Zhuo was not discouraged. It was difficult to become a Juren. They had seen things they had never seen before in Jinhe County. Following Xu Zhizhou, he had learned how to make money.

In front of Jiang Zhuo, Xu Zhizhou’s excitement was restrained. He said, “It’s fine. There’s always a next time.”

Jiang Zhuo said, “My husband only plans to take it once. In a few days, I’ll go back to Shuibo Town with him. At least he’s a xiucai. He can be a private school teacher in Shuibo Town and earn some silver a year. That’s not a bad life.”

In Shuibo Town, he could take on a dozen or so disciples a year and earn dozens of taels of silver. Soon, he could buy land and property in the town and become a country gentleman. With his parents in Shuibo Town, Jiang Zhuo was also more at ease.

Then he also wanted to open a restaurant in town and be his own boss, which would also be very good.

The two of them went to the stall. Xu Zhizhou thanked Fei-shi and gave her a few vegetable and meat skewers.

“Zhizhou, why did you go back? You seemed to be in a hurry,” Fei-shi hadn’t had a chance to ask before.

Xu Zhizhou said, “I saw a yamen runner going into the lane. I thought the results of the provincial examination were out, so I went back to have a look.”

Fei-shi couldn’t help but ask, “Did your husband pass?”

Xu Zhizhou nodded and said with a smile, “He passed.”

Fei-shi’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, he’s really the God of Literature descended to earth. Now your husband is a Juren.”

Xu Zhizhou didn’t chat for long. A customer came, and he went to mix the Bobo Chicken.

Fei-shi was even more in awe of Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou. There were a few Juren in the county. After passing the exam, they would be invited by the academy to be teachers, and they would earn a lot of money throughout the year. The county would also distribute grain every month.

Even though they lived in the same lane, their fates were different.

Fei-shi’s heart was in turmoil. Someone came to buy braised meat. She put aside her thoughts and went to take care of her business. She wanted to earn more money, send her son to the academy to study and write, and find a good job in the future, to live a comfortable life.

After Xu Zhizhou had closed his stall, he quickly pushed the pushcart home and went to find Song Changxu.

“Husband, I’m going to the market to buy vegetables. Let’s go together,” Xu Zhizhou called out.

Song Changxu changed into a new set of clothes, looking like a jade tree. He said, “After you left, someone from the county came and said that Sir Huang has invited us for dinner. There’s still some time. You can go and change first, and we’ll go together.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou’s eyes lit up. “Alright.”

He had never seen a county magistrate before. Now he could go and have dinner with him with Song Changxu. He was so happy that he was bubbling.

He pushed Song Changxu out of the bedroom and then went to the wardrobe to find his favorite clothes.

Song Changxu smiled and shook his head.

The number of Juren produced was related to the county magistrate’s political achievements, so he naturally paid some attention.

By the time Xu Zhizhou came out, half a shichen had passed. He was wearing a light blue robe and had put on some light makeup, looking very beautiful. His lips were red and his teeth were white, his eyes dark. He smiled when he saw Song Changxu.

Song Changxu couldn’t take his eyes off him.

“Husband, let’s go,” Xu Zhizhou said, holding Song Changxu’s sleeve.

It was about time. County Magistrate Huang was hosting a banquet at the Chunyi Tower. When Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou arrived, they told the owner the name of his private room.

The owner enthusiastically led them up personally.

At the door of the private room, Xu Zhizhou was still a bit nervous. It was his first time seeing such a high-ranking official. Although his husband had said that Xie Huaichuan’s official position was about the same as the county magistrate’s, he still had a deeper reverence for him.

When they were living in the village, how could they have imagined that they would one day be able to have dinner with the county magistrate?

When they came to the private room, Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue were all there. Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou took their seats. County Magistrate Huang had not yet arrived.

Xie Feng said, “Brother Song, you’ve taken the top spot in our county again this time.”

Song Changxu cupped his hands and said, “It was just a fluke. You flatter me, Brother Xie.”

Luo Shuang said, “You left too early, Brother Song. If you had been in Jinhe County, you would have seen your ranking earlier.”

Song Changxu: “I just wanted to go home after the exam. The days in the examination hall were too torturous.”

Hearing Song Changxu’s words, the three of them all felt the same. If it weren’t for the exam, who would stay in the examination hall for so long?

Among the four of them, only Song Changxu was married and had brought his husband. The other three again greeted Xu Zhizhou.

Xu Zhizhou looked around the private room. There was an ink-wash screen that looked very stylish, and there were pastries and tea on the table. In front of outsiders, Xu Zhizhou still knew his place. He only drank a mouthful of tea and ate three pieces of pastry.

Song Changxu and the others chatted for a few words, talking about the metropolitan examination.

“The metropolitan examination is at the beginning of the second month of next year, and the palace examination is in the third month,” Cheng Maoxue said, his tone full of longing.

The provincial examination was in Yunzhou Prefecture, and the three of them had all been there. But the metropolitan examination was in the capital. Every prefecture had a top scorer, but there was only one in the whole country.

After passing the metropolitan examination, there were only three hundred successful candidates. So many scholars had studied hard for many years, and the metropolitan examination would determine the winner.

Even in the palace examination, the first, second, and third-class Jinshi were all from the three hundred successful candidates. Their bottom line was a third-class Jinshi.

“You’ve already arrived. I’m late,” County Magistrate Huang said, coming in from outside in his casual clothes. He had a smiling expression.

The five of them stood up at the same time to greet him.

“Alright, it’s a private banquet. Please, sit down. You can start serving the dishes,” he said. “I said you could bring your families. Xie Feng, you don’t have a family. You could have brought your younger brother.”

Xie Feng cupped his hands. “Cang’er has gone to his grandmother’s to take care of her.”

County Magistrate Huang glanced at Song Changxu. He said in a friendly tone, “You must be Changxu. I’ve heard of you for a long time. I didn’t expect to meet you only now. You’re a talented young man. It’s very good that you got third in the provincial examination this time.”

Song Changxu cupped his hands. “You flatter me, Sir Huang.”

“And this is…”

“This is my husband, Xu Zhizhou. Thanks to him, I don’t know if I could have come this far,” Song Changxu said with a smile.

County Magistrate Huang sighed with a rare emotion. “It’s rare for a young couple like you to have such a good relationship. Your husband has been with you since you were in obscurity. If you become successful in the future, you must not forget him.”

Song Changxu said seriously, “I would not do such a thing.”

County Magistrate Huang smiled without speaking. He clapped his hands and had the people outside start serving the dishes.

“You’re the best in our county. Keep up the good work in the future. And the three of you have also grown up under my watch. You’ve studied hard for ten years. You should also work harder.”

The four of them all agreed.

At the banquet, they had a few cups of wine and then started to eat. Xu Zhizhou’s eyes lit up when he saw the dishes. They all looked like things he liked to eat.

He started to eat after he saw that County Magistrate Huang had started. It was still a bit restrictive to eat with them. Xu Zhizhou ate very demurely, a little of each dish. He was only half-full.

After the meal, they all saw County Magistrate Huang off first. Xie Feng and the others said goodbye to Song Changxu, got into their family’s carriage, and left.

After everyone had left, Xu Zhizhou breathed a sigh of relief.

“At first, I was a little scared to eat with the county magistrate. But then I thought that I hadn’t done anything wrong, just had a meal with them. I gradually became less afraid.”

Song Changxu held Xu Zhizhou’s hand. “I always thought you were very bold.”

Xu Zhizhou rolled his eyes. “I am bold, but I’m not stupid. That’s the county magistrate. Who wouldn’t be afraid to see him?”

Song Changxu teased, “I see you’re not afraid of your brother-in-law.”

At the mention of Xie Huaichuan, Xu Zhizhou stammered, “That, that’s different. I have my brother. I’m not afraid of him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare.”

He knew what was important. With the way Xie Huaichuan liked his elder brother, he wouldn’t do anything to him.

He was like a kitten that would push its luck when it knew that others would not do anything bad to it.

“You have to study again this time. Then you’ll go to the capital. I haven’t been to the prefectural city or the capital yet. I’d like to see the world another day,” Xu Zhizhou said, pulling on Song Changxu’s sleeve.

“I’ll probably be going to the capital after the New Year. After all, it takes about a month to get there from here. After the metropolitan examination, if I haven’t come back in a month, it means I’ve gone to take the palace examination.”

Xu Zhizhou secretly took note.

They had just come back from the restaurant, and it was not yet dark. A few people in the small lane saw Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou and talked to them warmly.

“I heard that Xiucai Song, no, I should call him Juren Song now. It’s so good. Our lane has even produced a Juren. When I saw you two come here to live, I knew that this place couldn’t hold you. Juren Song is truly a star of literature from the heavens.”

Song Changxu declined again. “I’m not worthy. I still don’t know what the future holds. I dare not boast now.”

Xu Zhizhou was a little happy. After talking with them for a while, he went back to his room, humming a song.

“When my husband was a xiucai, they were not so enthusiastic. Now that he’s a Juren, they’re much more so,” Xu Zhizhou said, pouring himself a cup of hot water.

Song Changxu smiled. “It’s human nature.”

“Husband, I want to write a letter home to report the good news. I’ll write it, and you can help me see if I’ve written it correctly,” Xu Zhizhou said. Thinking of writing to his family, he was a little impatient.

He would ask Song Changxu a question after every sentence he wrote. He finally finished a letter. He would take it to the post station the next morning.

.

Only four Juren had been produced in Jinhe County. Feng Xin’ou sighed when he learned that Song Changxu had passed.

But he did understand that his level was different from the four of them. He let out a breath and said, “Let’s go back to Shuibo Town in a few days.”

Jiang Zhuo nodded and comforted him, “It’s fine, husband. We can still live a good life in the town.”

Feng Xin’ou sighed and hugged Jiang Zhuo. If his family had been a little richer, he might have been tempted to take the exam again. But that would mean waiting for three years, which he couldn’t afford.

He would go back to Shuibo Town to earn money first, and then think about other things.

A few days later, Feng Xin’ou and Jiang Zhuo were leaving Jinhe County. Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou went to see them off.

Feng Xin’ou said, “Brother Song, we’ll go back to Shuibo Town first. I wish you success in the metropolitan examination.”

Song Changxu cupped his hands. “Take care, Brother Feng. I wish you all the best in the future.”

Xu Zhizhou and Jiang Zhuo couldn’t help but hug. Xu Zhizhou said, “I can write now. I’ll write to you in the future.”

Jiang Zhuo: “I still don’t know where my husband and I will be living, but your location won’t change for now. When we have a new house, I’ll let you know the address.”

The two of them were both from Shuibo Town. After a year of getting along, they had already become true friends. After Feng Xin’ou and Jiang Zhuo had left, they had no companions in the entire Jinhe County.

Song Changxu patted Feng Xin’ou’s shoulder. “It would be good if you had a business in Shuibo Town, Brother Feng. You can still try again in three years.”

Feng Xin’ou: “That’s still three years away.”

The two of them got on the carriage. Song Changxu and Xu Zhizhou stood there and watched for a long time.

“There’s really no one to talk to in Jinhe County anymore,” Xu Zhizhou said, his eyes red.

They were from the same hometown, of the same age, and had both come from the village. They had more in common.

Now it was just him and his husband, all alone.

They returned home. Xu Zhizhou hugged Song Changxu’s waist. “It’s a good thing we don’t have to be separated.”

Song Changxu patted his head and said in a warm voice, “We won’t be separated.”

After Feng Xin’ou and Jiang Zhuo had left, Xu Zhizhou was in low spirits for a few days. After Jiang Zhuo had left, he had hired a helper from outside, paying him three taels of silver a month to help with the stall.

The helper was a married ge’er, honest and hardworking, and didn’t talk much.

After half a month, Xu Zhizhou gradually regained his former liveliness. Song Changxu was also relieved to see this.

After he had become a Juren, many literary gatherings were held in the county. He had gone to three and then had declined the rest, closing his doors to visitors and concentrating on his studies.

Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue were the same.

When Song Changxu had something he didn’t understand in his studies, he would still go to the county school to ask Teacher Zhou, who would patiently answer him.

“The chief examiner for the metropolitan examination this time is the current Prime Minister, Sir Liu. He is from an aristocratic family and likes a simple and unadorned style. You can take that as a reference.”

Song Changxu knew that it was difficult to get this information. He said solemnly, “Thank you, Teacher Zhou.”

“You did well in the provincial examination this time. Keep up the good work. Logically, you should be able to become a Gongshi, but I don’t know what your ranking will be.”

There were thirteen prefectures in the Ningxing Dynasty. Song Changxu’s ranking was already among the best in the dynasty, which made Teacher Zhou cherish his talent.

The county school was of little help to them now. They all went back home to prepare for the exam.

When Song Changxu returned home, he ran into Xu Zhizhou. Xu Zhizhou was holding a letter.

“It’s from home,” Xu Zhizhou said, opening the envelope and reading it with Song Changxu.

The letter was concerned about their daily life and told Song Changxu not to ruin his health by studying too hard.

“Elder Brother also sent some of his homemade smoked meat. We’ll prepare it tomorrow,” Xu Zhizhou said, looking a little happy.

“By the way, husband, are we still going back for the New Year this year?”

Song Changxu calculated the dates. “I’ll probably be leaving right after the thirtieth of the twelfth month. You can stay at home and rest for a while.”

Xu Zhizhou was a little disappointed. “After you’ve finished the exam, we won’t have to be separated.”

If he were at home with his parents and elder brother, he would feel much better and wouldn’t be thinking about Song Changxu all day.

From a group of four, only the two of them were left. Xu Zhizhou suddenly had a vague idea.

In the future, he and Song Changxu would walk together for a lifetime. Even his parents would not be with him for so long, because they had their own lives, and they would also grow old.

“Husband, why did you propose to me back then?” Xu Zhizhou asked casually.

This question immediately stumped Song Changxu. In the original novel, it was because the two families were a good match, and it was the parents’ order and the matchmaker’s words.

Now, meeting Xu Zhizhou’s eyes, he did not want to say that.

Song Changxu recalled the first time he had seen Xu Zhizhou. He had been so attracted that he couldn’t take his eyes off him.

“Maybe I fell in love with your looks, and then after getting to know you, I fell in love with you as a person.”

He said it frankly and truthfully.

No relationship was without a reason. He loved his looks, and he loved the little things about their time together even more.

“What if you meet someone better-looking than me? Won’t you change your mind?” Xu Zhizhou said, worried, and at the same time, a little proud of his good looks.

There might be people in the world who were better-looking than Xu Zhizhou, who had a more spoiled personality, who were better than him.

“Xu Zhizhou is Xu Zhizhou. There will be people with the same name as you, and there will be people who are better than you, but they will not make up one in a million of you.”

Song Changxu said, “Only you and I met in Qishan Village. Only you accompanied me from Qishan Village to Jinhe County. These little things cannot be replaced.”

Xu Zhizhou’s heart was beating like a drum. He only felt that his heart was soft, but he didn’t know what to say. His body was a bit numb.

Song Changxu said seriously, “You are the most unique. How could I fall in love with someone else? They are not you.”

The world would love him for his success, for his youth and beauty, but they would not treat him like Xu Zhizhou.

“You’re getting better and better at studying. You’re also so good at saying sweet things. I can’t win against you,” Xu Zhizhou said, his face burning. He turned his back.

“Of course I’m good. You won’t find a ge’er as good as me in the Ningxing Dynasty, so you have to cherish me.”

Song Changxu was already used to it. He agreed, “I know.”

Xu Zhizhou was happy. He thought of something and his expression became serious again. “You also have to be a junior seventh-rank official. You can’t lose to Xie Huaichuan. He’s just a boor. You’re a scholar. You have to have a higher official position than him.”

Otherwise, how could he be arrogant in front of Xie Huaichuan?

Song Changxu: “…”

Wife, you’re a real cannon fodder. You’re still thinking about it now.

That’s the protagonist gong.

Song Changxu smiled without speaking.

“Say something. Why aren’t you talking?” Xu Zhizhou said with dissatisfaction, poking Song Changxu.

Song Changxu: “…I don’t know what to say. I’d better not say anything.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: Do you know he’s the protagonist gong!! [Cracks]

Little Xu: So what? [Clown]