AD (QT) Chapter 133

In this dynasty, the County Examinations are held in February. Specifically, they begin on the ninth day of the second month. The Imperial Examination system is quite rigorous; for the County Exams, a candidate needs the joint guarantee of four villagers and one xiucai (scholar) to even participate.

Over the past two years, Han Ze had progressively purchased two manors and several hundred mu of land. To date, he personally owned nearly a thousand mu. Many families in his village and the surrounding areas rented his land, giving him considerable prestige in the region.

When the villagers heard that Han Ze’s son, Han Shubuo, was going to take the County Exams and needed village guarantors, many families were eager to step forward. Although so many were willing to vouch for his son, Han Ze couldn’t just pick anyone. The Village Chief was a definite choice, and for the remaining three, he selected individuals with whom he had a good relationship.

As for the xiucai guarantor, it was the teacher from Shubuo’s academy. A scholar charging for a guarantee was standard practice; for Han Ze, the fee was a mere five taels of silver.

Han Chengming, however, found himself unable to bear such a cost. He was so anxious he nearly scratched himself bald. Having only studied for two years at the village school, he had never looked into the procedures for the Imperial Exams and didn’t know what was required. He only dreamt of his sons becoming scholars, never imagining that even the preliminary County Exams required a xiucai’s guarantee. That was one thing, but the fact that the guarantee cost five taels was another—meaning ten taels for his two sons.

The silver for the children’s schooling had been saved through extreme frugality. Because Han Chengming provided so little money, the two boys could only eat the lowest grade of meals at the academy, and even then, they didn’t get enough. Before they entered the academy, the Original Owner would often bring over meat to supplement them. Back then, though the boys weren’t chubby, they had healthy color and some meat on their bones—they looked like pampered children.

Looking at them now, their faces were sallow, they walked with no energy, and their clothes were a mess of patches piled upon patches. If they weren’t kept clean, they would look no different from beggars on the street.

In Han Ze’s view, if a family was truly poor, there was no harm in children wearing old clothes, but they should at least be fed. Even with poor food, tuition for one student was only two taels a year. For two sons, that was only four taels. Han Chengming and his wife definitely had private savings from the old days, and if they found work in town during the slack season, the couple could easily earn four taels a year. It hadn’t reached the point where the children should go hungry. To put it plainly, they were simply lazy.

Han Ze usually had a soft heart for children, but Shubuo had returned and told him that the two brothers, Han Jixue and Han Jiwen, had tried to extort him along with several idle students. Fortunately, they were caught by Shubuo’s roommates and severely lectured, with a warning that the teacher would be informed if it happened again. Only then did they stop.

Han Ze frowned. Children aren’t always innocent and pure. If these two were this malicious at such a young age, it was no wonder they would commit such ungrateful acts in the future. The last trace of pity he had for those two vanished.

Finding guarantors was easy for Han Ze, but for Han Chengming, it was a major headache. At times like this, one could see the importance of knowing how to conduct oneself. Despite scouring the entire village, he couldn’t find four people willing to vouch for his sons.

Logically, Han Xingwang had several brothers, so finding four guarantors shouldn’t have been hard. Yet, even Han Xingwang’s own brothers were unwilling to vouch for his grandsons, let alone the unrelated villagers.

Han Chengming complained, “Dad, why do Big Uncle and Second Uncle hate our family so much? How important is Jixue and Jiwen’s exam? If they become scholars, as Great-Uncles, they would gain some prestige too. Why won’t they just be the guarantors?”

Han Xingwang’s face darkened, his eyes narrowing. “If they won’t, then forget it. With so many households in the village, I don’t believe we can’t find four people.”

Han Chengming said dejectedly, “I’ve asked door to door. People said flat out they aren’t willing.”

Han Xingwang snorted coldly. “They are all petty people who suck up to the powerful and step on the weak.”

In his eyes, the villagers saw they had offended Han Maode’s family and, to curry favor with Maode, refused to vouch for them. If they weren’t petty people, what were they?

“Once our Jixue and Jiwen become scholars, there will be a time when they beg us!” Liu Jiahua was also filled with indignation.

Han Chengming frowned and said dissatisfiedly, “The point is that we are the ones begging people right now. If we can’t find guarantors, Jixue and Jiwen can’t even take the exam. How can they become scholars then?”

Liu Jiahua got annoyed too. “Then what do you suggest we do?”

Han Chengming fell silent. If he knew what to do, would he be asking his parents?

Han Xingwang spoke hesitantly: “Old lady, if there’s no other way, go and beg Han Ze. We can’t let this delay the children’s exam.”

Liu Jiahua paused, her face darkening. She said crossly, “I’m not begging him. If you want to go, you go.”

Han Xingwang persuaded her: “You are Han Ze’s mother. It’s not appropriate for us to go.”

Liu Jiahua turned her face away. “I’m not going regardless. It’s a waste of time anyway. He’s a white-eyed wolf; it’s useless.”

After everything that had happened, she now had a clear understanding: no matter what she requested, Han Ze would not agree. Even if she threatened him with unfilial behavior, he didn’t care. What else could she do?

Han Xingwang sighed. “Since you’re unwilling, let it be. Jixue and Jiwen don’t need to take the exam. They’ve studied for two years and know some characters; they can find work as bookkeepers in the future. That’s not bad—at least better than their grandfather or father.”

Han Chengming had high expectations for his sons. Hearing his father’s words, he immediately looked at Liu Jiahua. “Mom, for Jixue and Jiwen’s sake, will you beg Han Ze one more time? Just this once. If he refuses, we won’t ask him again in the future, okay?”

Liu Jiahua still didn’t want to go, but for the sake of her grandsons, what did her old pride matter?

“Fine, I’ll go.”

She only hoped that Han Ze might still hold a sliver of old affection and be willing to help.

…

“You want me to be the guarantor for Jixue and Jiwen?” Han Ze looked at Liu Jiahua in surprise.

“Just say whether you’re willing or not,” Liu Jiahua said expressionlessly.

Han Ze stood up straight. He didn’t say yes or no, but said seriously, “A guarantor isn’t something one can just become. If they commit a crime in the future, the guarantor is held responsible too.”

As soon as he said this, the fire in Liu Jiahua’s heart couldn’t be contained. What did Han Ze mean? If he didn’t want to do it, fine, but why was he cursing them?

“You’re the one who will commit crimes! Jixue and Jiwen would never!” she shouted with a dark face.

Han Ze didn’t get angry. He said, “Mother, I’m not trying to argue. Let’s talk business. It’s no big deal if you want me to vouch for them. But I have to test them first to see if they are fit for the Imperial Exams.”

“And if they aren’t fit, you won’t vouch for them?”

“That’s for certain.”

“You scoundrel!” Liu Jiahua hissed, clearly enraged.

Han Ze shrugged and said helplessly, “Then forget it.”

Liu Jiahua snapped, “Forget what? You must vouch for them.”

Han Ze laughed. “I’m not willing to be a sucker and be dragged down by them.”

Liu Jiahua trembled with rage. Her grandsons would never do anything wrong! But she suppressed her anger and asked, “What will it take for you to be their guarantor?”

Han Ze stated plainly, “I said I want to test them. I want to see their character. If you really believe in your grandsons, Mother, why are you unwilling?”

In Liu Jiahua’s mind, Jixue and Jiwen were bright, sharp, and filial—far better than Han Ze’s daughters and son. Letting Han Ze test them might be a good way to shut his mouth. She gave a disdainful snort. “Fine, test them if you want. After you do, you’ll realize that even if that little fool of yours chases them for a lifetime, he won’t catch up to Jixue and Jiwen. You might even have to rely on them in the future.”

Han Ze’s expression hardened. “Mother, if you still want me to be their guarantor, it’s best if you stop talking about my son like that.”

Liu Jiahua immediately looked sheepish. She had forgotten; the little fool was all better now, and Han Ze cherished him immensely.

Han Ze reminded her unpleasantly, “Xiaoliu has long since been renamed Han Shubuo. As Shubuo’s grandmother, even if we don’t live together, you can’t even remember your grandson’s name. Whose fault is that?”

“Are you blaming me?”

Liu Jiahua was a bit annoyed. She knew Han Ze had renamed the children—Da Niu, Er Niu… Xiaoliu. She was just used to calling them that and didn’t care to change. Besides, six children with six names was a lot to remember. But thinking about needing Han Ze as a guarantor, she swallowed her anger.

Han Ze said, “Mother, there is unfilial behavior, but there is also a lack of grandmotherly kindness. You are their grandmother, yet you can’t even remember your grandson’s name. If someone were to say you lacked kindness…”

Liu Jiahua stiffened, looking at Han Ze grimly. “Are you threatening me?”

Han Ze said, “I’m just stating the truth.”

Liu Jiahua took a deep breath. “Fine, I understand.”

Han Ze smiled. “Then I’m relieved.”

Liu Jiahua felt a chill in her heart once again. This son truly didn’t acknowledge her anymore; he treated her with less warmth than a stranger.

…

After Liu Jiahua returned and told Han Xingwang and his son about Han Ze’s test, Han Chengming felt Han Ze was just making trouble out of nothing. However, since they needed him as a guarantor, he swallowed his pride and took the two boys to Han Ze’s house. On the way, he kept telling them to speak well so as not to ruin their chances.

When Han Ze saw them, he didn’t waste words. He asked the two children directly, “Why do you study?”

Jixue and Jiwen exchanged a look. Jixue pursed his lips and thought for a moment. “To pass the xiucai exams.”

Han Ze nodded. Han Jixue was delighted.

Han Ze looked at Jiwen. “And you?”

Han Jiwen was nervous. Han Chengming glared at him fiercely, frustrated by his lack of spirit. Han Jiwen became even more nervous, his mind going blank. He stammered, “St-studying… m-means… I can… eat my fill…”

After speaking, he hung his head low. If there were a crack in the floor, he would have hidden in it.

Han Ze gave a light laugh. Hearing the laugh, Han Chengming felt humiliated by his son’s lack of ambition.

Han Ze asked Han Jixue again, “Do you study only to pass the xiucai exams?”

Han Jixue said loudly, “I also want to become a high-ranking official!”

Han Ze asked, “And why do you want to be an official?”

Han Jixue said without thinking, “If I’m an official, I’ll have endless silver. I won’t ever have to look at other people’s faces again.”

Han Ze arched an eyebrow. “Why would being an official mean you have endless silver? Who told you that?”

Han Jixue thought his uncle was being stupid. Everyone knew that! “Once I’m an official, people will give me silver. Of course I’ll have endless silver then.”

After saying it, he instinctively felt something was wrong, but he couldn’t pinpoint what. Upon further thought, he decided he was right.

Han Chengming also felt his son was right. If you were an official, wouldn’t you have endless silver? Take the Village Chief for example—if villagers wanted his help, they had to bring him gifts or he wouldn’t do a good job. If a tiny village official could get rich like that, what about a high-ranking one?

Han Ze looked at Han Chengming with a half-smile. “It seems I cannot be the guarantor after all.”

“Why?” Han Chengming frowned. Was Han Ze deliberately making things difficult?

Han Ze looked at Han Jixue. “So your goal is to become an official just to take people’s silver and be a corrupt official? If that’s the case, you’ll end up in prison sooner or later. In that case, you shouldn’t be an official, and you shouldn’t even study. It’s better to avoid harming yourself and others.”

Han Jixue froze, his mouth hanging open. “I… I…”

Han Chengming was stunned at first, then became annoyed. His face turned red as he said, “How can you link this to being a corrupt official? It’s just taking a bit of silver…”

Meeting Han Ze’s dark gaze, he couldn’t finish the sentence. Hearing Han Ze’s words, he actually knew in his heart that taking silver as an official was wrong.

Han Ze snorted. “Find someone else to be your guarantor. I will not give Han Jixue the opportunity to harm people.”

Han Jixue looked at Han Ze blankly. How was he ‘harming people’? He didn’t understand.

Han Jiwen, however, was delighted. If there was no guarantor, then so be it. He didn’t want to take the County Exams anyway. If he passed, it was one thing, but if he failed, his father would just scold him again.

Han Chengming was fuming with rage. “If you won’t do it, then don’t! We don’t care!”

With that, he grabbed Jixue and Jiwen’s hands and stomped off.

…

Han Ze didn’t know how Han Chengming managed to find guarantors, but Han Jixue and Han Jiwen did end up participating in the County Exams. Later, Han Ze heard from the villagers that Chengming had to pay silver before anyone was willing to vouch for them.

The County Exams were held in the county seat and presided over by the County Magistrate. There were five sessions over five days. Twelve students from the town academy were taking the exam, and Han Shubuo was the youngest.

Considering that Shubuo would likely study at the county academy in the future, Han Ze had bought a courtyard house near the government school the previous year. As soon as February arrived, Han Ze planned to go to the county seat early so his son could get used to the environment. Since her son was taking an exam, Ge Hongbu was worried and insisted on coming along. Han Ze didn’t mind.

So, Han Ze took Ge Hongbu, their son, and two house servants to the county seat a few days early.

Once there, Han Ze took Han Shubuo wandering everywhere. They visited both of the county’s famous temples. Ge Hongbu watched from behind with worry and said, “Shouldn’t Shubuo be looking at his books?”

After all, the exam was starting soon, wasn’t it?

Han Ze looked at Han Shubuo with a smile. Han Shubuo said, “Mom, I’ve memorized everything the teacher taught. Even for the things he didn’t teach—the laws, prose, and so on that Dad had me read—I’ve studied plenty of them. Studying is a matter of long-term accumulation. Let me rest these two days. Even if I sat there and read, I wouldn’t be able to focus; it would just make me nervous.”

Ge Hongbu frowned. “I haven’t studied, so I don’t understand those things.”

Han Ze said with a smile, “With Shubuo’s knowledge, as long as nothing unexpected happens, passing as a xiucai won’t be a problem.”

Ge Hongbu pursed her lips, thinking to herself: You’ve never passed the scholar exams yourself; how do you know Shubuo won’t have a problem?

Han Ze saw Ge Hongbu’s thoughts but didn’t explain. Since his son said he had learned what he needed, he would follow the boy’s lead. After all, his son was young; if he didn’t pass this year, he could just try again next time.