AD (QT) Chapter 109

The group returned to their rented courtyard, where Wang Caiwei, Lady Zhang, and Old Madam Wang were already waiting at the gate, crane-necked and anxious. As they climbed down from the carriage, Han Erlang caught sight of Wang Caiwei and started hollering: “Sister-in-law! Big Brother passed! Big Brother is a Juren now!”

His voice was so loud that even Wang Caixia, standing at the gate of the neighboring courtyard, heard him clearly. She froze in disbelief. Han Ze actually passed?

If even Han Ze passed, did her own husband make it too?

Liu Xiucai’s carriage followed closely behind Han Ze’s, pulling up at the neighboring gate. Wang Caixia didn’t have time to wonder how Han Ze had succeeded; she rushed forward to greet her husband. But when she saw the man’s face—dark and clouded with gloom—her heart skipped a beat.

Wang Caiwei’s face was a mixture of grief and joy; her eyes reddened instantly. Her husband had passed? Truly?

Old Madam Wang and Lady Zhang hurried to offer their congratulations. Wang Caiwei snapped back to reality and wiped away her tears, apologizing for her loss of composure.

“You’re crying for joy!” Old Madam Wang said with a smile.

Wang Caiwei nodded through her sobs. She was indeed crying for joy. Her husband had attained the rank of Juren; she should be happy. No one knew the bitterness she had carried in her heart these past few years. Ever since her husband fell ill and couldn’t leave his bed for months, the pitying looks from the villagers and the subtle hints from her own parents to give up on him and “prepare for the future” had nearly broken her. The pain of pretending everything was fine had been immense. Now, finally, it was all over.

Old Madam Wang looked on with envy. “I wonder if my silly son passed?”

Just then, Wang Ziwen walked over. Having overheard his mother, he interjected, “I passed. Last place.”

Old Madam Wang didn’t understand the nuances of ranking. Hearing he passed sent her into a fit of excitement. “As long as you passed, what’s the difference between last place and first? You’re both Juren!”

Wang Ziwen pressed a hand to his forehead in shame. There’s a massive difference, Mother! Can you please stop talking if you don’t know?

Lady Zhang also looked on with envy, then turned to Zhao Zhengxiu. He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “They both made the list, yet I fell short.”

Lady Zhang sighed softly, looking at him with concern. Zhao Zhengxiu forced a smile. “It’s fine. I didn’t hold much hope for this session anyway. Next time I’ll have more experience and a better chance.”

Lady Zhang’s expression relaxed slightly; she was glad her husband could take it in stride. Zhao Zhengxiu then looked at Han Ze with genuine admiration. “I truly didn’t expect Brother Han to take third place.”

Han Erlang laughed heartily. “My Big Brother took third place in the last exam too!”

In the provincial exams, the first place is the Jieyuan, the second is the Ayuan, and the third, fourth, and fifth are called Jingkui. By taking third place, Han Ze had become a Jingkui. Han Erlang didn’t know what those titles meant; he only knew his brother was a Juren and had taken third place—just like in the institute exams.

Liu Xiucai stepped off his carriage. Hearing Han Erlang’s words, he clenched his fists. Wang Caixia watched him carefully, terrified he would lose his composure. Even though he hadn’t said a word, she knew he had failed. Her gaze turned complicated. The husband she had pinned all her hopes on had flopped, while the farmer brother-in-law she had always looked down upon had not only passed but taken third place. It was a colossal irony.

Han Erlang continued, “Big Brother, if you take third place again in the next exam, will you be a Tanhua¹Third Rank in the Imperial Exam? I heard you even get to see the Emperor?”

Liu Xiucai let out a cold sneer. Did they think that because he took third in the institute and provincial exams, he could do the same in the Metropolitan and Palace exams? He wasn’t afraid of the wind biting his tongue; what a pipe dream.

Han Ze tapped Erlang on the head. “What nonsense are you talking? After the provincial exam is the Metropolitan exam. If I fail that, where will I get a Tanhua title? Even if I’m lucky enough to pass the Metropolitan exam, being the Tanhua is no guarantee. Do you think it’s that easy?”

Though Erlang knew a few words and the basic concept of Zhuangyuan²First Rank in the Imperial Exam, Bangyan³Second Rank in the Imperial Exam, and Tanhua, he wasn’t clear on the process. He chuckled sheepishly and dared not say more to avoid making them a laughingstock.

Liu Xiucai sneered internally. At least you have some self-awareness.

Wang Ziwen remarked, “Out of the eight students from our county school who took the exam, only the two of us passed.”

Han Ze smiled. “Regardless, passing is what matters.”

Wang Ziwen smiled at that. “Passing at all is good enough for me. I don’t plan on taking the Metropolitan exam next year. You, however, had excellent results; you should definitely give it a try.”

Han Ze indeed intended to sit for next year’s exam. He nodded. “You haven’t reached your capping ceremony (age 20) yet, so there’s no rush. I, however, am nine years older than you.”

He was twenty-seven. If he didn’t take the exam next year and no “Grace Exam” was called, he would have to wait three more years. By then he would be thirty. While thirty was still young for many Juren, he didn’t want to wait.

Zhao Zhengxiu sighed and looked at Wang Ziwen. “I almost forgot, you’re only eighteen. An eighteen-year-old Juren… our county has many young Xiucai, but a Juren this young? We’ve never had one.”

Han Ze also showed full appreciation. For Wang Ziwen to become a Juren at eighteen showed outstanding talent—a true boy wonder.

Wang Ziwen, being young, felt himself floating on their praise. Come to think of it, even if he was in last place, his result was actually quite impressive for his age.

Old Madam Wang announced, “Since you’ve become Juren, we’ll prepare a grand table of food tonight to celebrate!”

Wang Ziwen hesitated. The three of them had traveled together; he and Han Ze passed, but Zhao Zhengxiu failed. If they celebrated too loudly, would it make Zhao uncomfortable?

Zhao Zhengxiu seemed to read his mind and spoke with calm confidence. “Though I am older than you, Ziwen, I am younger than Brother Han. Brother Han became a Juren at twenty-seven; I am only twenty-one. I believe my scholarship is not lacking; I can certainly pass by the time I’m twenty-seven. You two celebrate as you should—I’m perfectly fine.”

Failing stung, of course, but the three of them had become close friends on this journey. Even though he fell short, he was genuinely happy for his friends and didn’t want to spoil their mood.

…

Back at the Tongyang County Private School

School had just let out. Han Jinye grabbed his cousin Xuewen and hurried home, completely ignoring Yan Hong who followed closely behind. Once home, the two boys continued to give Yan Hong the cold shoulder. Han Jinxiu noticed the tension and frowned. “What is it? Did you have a fight?”

Jinye huffed and turned his face away from Yan Hong.

Yan Hong pursed his lips and said nothing.

Jinxiu looked at Xuewen, her voice stern. “Xuewen, you tell me!”

Jinye glanced at Xuewen, then looked at Yan Hong with a sneer. “Yesterday, Teacher Shen’s classmate, Hu Juren, came to the school. He wants to take Yan Hong as his disciple.”

Jinxiu whipped her head toward Yan Hong. “You’re going to take another master?”

Yan Hong frowned. “I already have a Master.”

Jinye snorted. “If you know you have a Master, why were you showing off so much in front of that Hu Juren? You just want to abandon my father and apprentice yourself to someone else.”

Yan Hong didn’t look at him, but addressed Jinxiu instead. “I will not take another master. I already have one.”

Jinxiu still believed in Yan Hong’s character. She turned to Jinye and said firmly, “Stop talking nonsense without proof. Not only is Yan Hong Father’s disciple—and we should trust Father’s judgment—but we’ve lived with Yan Hong for so long. Do you really think he’s the kind of person to abandon his loyalty for gain?”

Jinye huffed again. He had been fuming since he heard Hu Juren wanted Yan Hong. Out of respect for Teacher Shen, he had held it in at school, but he didn’t have such a good temper with Yan Hong.

“People climb up and water flows down. Father is just a Xiucai, but Hu Juren is a Juren. Now that a Juren wants him, even if he hasn’t agreed yet, he must be tempted,” Jinye argued.

Yan Hong’s expression dimmed. “I didn’t think my Junior Brother saw me this way—that I, Yan Hong, would betray my Master just to climb higher.”

Jinxiu frowned and gave Jinye a cold look. “What is wrong with you? Did you swallow gunpowder?”

Jinye looked at Yan Hong’s indifferent face and felt a pang of guilt, but he insisted: “Didn’t that Hu Juren tell you to go home and think about it? If you can firmly reject him tomorrow, then I’ll believe you.”

His father had put so much effort into Yan Hong; they couldn’t let someone else snatch him away. Besides, his father was away at the exams—who’s to say he wouldn’t become a Juren this time?

Yan Hong simply said, “I will not apprentice to another.”

His Master treated him like a son; he was not an ungrateful man. If he took another master, he wouldn’t even be able to look at himself in the mirror.

…

The next morning after breakfast, the three headed to school. Jinxiu gave them an uneasy reminder: “Watch your tone when you reject him. You still have to study at that school; don’t offend the teacher.”

Yan Hong felt a warmth in his heart and nodded gently. “Don’t worry.”

Jinxiu trusted Yan Hong, but she was worried about her troublesome brother. She looked at Jinye and said seriously, “Let Yan Hong handle this himself. Don’t go meddling, do you hear me?”

“I hear you, Sister,” Jinye said lazily.

Jinxiu watched them leave, still a bit uneasy. She only hoped her father would pass the exam; then, even if they offended Hu Juren, it wouldn’t matter much.

At school, Yan Hong was soon called out by the teacher. Jinye watched his back, narrowing his eyes.

Hu Juren looked at the student before him, liking him more the more he looked. This boy was not only pleasant to look at but also had a sharp mind and a capacity for hard work. At such a young age, his foundation was solid; passing the Tongsheng exam would be no problem. In a few years, he might become a Juren, or even a Jinshi.

Hu Juren was an old Juren who had long given up on the Metropolitan exams. If he could train a Jinshi, it would be a crowning achievement for him. He stroked his beard and asked with a smile, “Have you thought it over?”

Yan Hong said, “Hu Juren, I already have a Master.”

Having a Master meant he could not apprentice to another.

Hu Juren’s beard bristled, and his body shook with indignation. “Why didn’t you say so yesterday?” he blustered.

Yan Hong smiled bitterly. You didn’t exactly give me a chance to speak yesterday.

Hu Juren snorted. “Who is your Master?”

He knew all the Juren in Tongyang County. He wanted to see which one had snatched the disciple he’d set his sights on.

“My Master is a student at the county school,” Yan Hong said. “He went to Yangcheng for the provincial exams.”

Otherwise, Yan Hong wouldn’t have been sent to this private school to study.

Hu Juren’s eyes widened again. “Your Master is a Xiucai?”

Yan Hong looked at him. “Master is at the exams. If he passes, he will no longer be a Xiucai.”

Hu Juren waved a hand dismissively. He knew the prominent students at the county school. “What is your Master’s name?”

“Han Ze!” Yan Hong replied.

Hu Juren frowned. “Never heard of him.”

If he hadn’t heard of him, his talent must be mediocre. Every exam cycle, the county school was lucky to produce three Juren. Since he hadn’t heard of Han Ze, the man’s scholarship likely didn’t rank in the top three. There was probably no hope of him passing.

Yan Hong said nothing. Just because the Scholar hadn’t heard of the name didn’t mean his Master’s scholarship was poor or that he couldn’t pass. On the contrary, he had absolute faith in his Master.

Hu Juren looked at Yan Hong with regret. “How could you have already apprenticed yourself?”

And to a mere Xiucai! What a waste, a total waste! If he ever met this Han Ze, he would have to give him a piece of his mind. Misleading a talented youth! This boy was Jinshi material—how could he be tied to a mere Xiucai?