Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 75

Chapter 75

 

Upon entering the examination hall, everyone took their assigned seats according to their examination number.

 

Xiao Douzi’s number was 166, placing him right in the middle. The seats around him were already occupied. Carrying his test basket, he walked to his seat, set down the basket, and sat upright, waiting for the exam to begin.

 

Because of his young age, he drew the attention of those around him. Some thought that for someone so young to take the imperial examination, he must be a prodigy. After all, there was a precedent of an eleven-year-old who passed as a “jinshi” in the previous dynasty, which caused a national sensation at the time.

 

Others believed the boy was just trying to attract attention. The imperial examination was no trivial matter; they doubted such a young child could even recognize all the characters. Allowing him to take the test might only bring ridicule to his family.

 

Zhao Beidou sat up straight, unyielding yet humble. Only one thought filled his mind: he must answer well to avoid embarrassing his elder brother and sister-in-law!

 

At a quarter past 7 a.m., the examination hall gates closed, barring any further candidates from entering.

 

By then, nearly everyone had arrived. The county magistrate personally delivered a speech, and the examiners read out the examination rules.

 

The county exam consisted of three sessions, but any violation of the rules would result in immediate disqualification, barring the candidate from further participation. Those caught cheating not only ruined their reputations but also found it difficult to retake the exams without the sponsorship of a “xiucai” (scholar).

 

Usually, only the results of the first session determined whether one passed. The second and third sessions were primarily for ranking. Therefore, the first session was the most critical. If one didn’t perform well, wrote illegibly, or misinterpreted the classics, there was little chance of advancing, so the scholars treated it with utmost importance.

 

After the rules were announced, bailiffs carrying lanterns patrolled the hall to check if anyone was seated incorrectly or leaving for the restroom.

 

Some, especially the older candidates, became so nervous they needed the restroom frequently. Four or five individuals raised their hands in quick succession, and the bailiffs escorted them to a nearby latrine. They were forbidden to talk along the way and had to return immediately after finishing.

 

At 7:45 a.m., the sound of a gong signaled the distribution of the exam papers, and the county examination began on time!

 

The tension inside the examination hall was palpable, and the anxiety outside was just as intense. After seeing Xiao Douzi enter, Lu Yao paced nervously.

 

“I wonder if he’s cold inside. What if he gets overwhelmed and starts crying? I hope he doesn’t upset the examiner…” Though he told Xiao Douzi not to be nervous, Lu Yao himself was more anxious, fearing the child might falter under the pressure.

 

Zhao Beichuan said, “Since he dared to take the exam, he’ll have to face the consequences, no matter the outcome. Our worrying won’t help.”

 

Despite his words, they couldn’t help but feel uneasy. For the first time, Lu Yao felt what it was like to care for someone like a parent.

 

“Ah-choo!” Xiao Nian sneezed.

 

Lu Yao quickly asked, “Are you cold?”

 

Xiao Nian shook his head. “I’m fine.”

 

Zhao Beichuan, concerned they might catch a chill, said, “Xiao Dou won’t come out until noon. Let’s head back and wait.”

 

As they were about to leave, a commotion broke out ahead. A pale-faced middle-aged man was being dragged out by two bailiffs, his body limp.

 

“What happened?”

 

“My goodness, it hasn’t even been half an hour, and someone’s already out?!”

 

Lu Yao’s heart leaped into his throat, unsure of what was happening inside.

 

A bailiff announced loudly, “Yang Shaoqing from Wuyang Town has been disqualified for cheating!”

 

Everyone immediately understood. No wonder he had been dragged out so early—he’d been caught cheating.

 

The middle-aged man collapsed to the ground, covering his face and sobbing. It was over, completely over…

 

He had studied for thirty years, with his entire family’s hopes pinned on him. He thought he might finally pass as a “xiucai” this time. Yet, as soon as he retrieved the cheat sheet hidden in his food, he was caught.

 

Now, how could he face his wife and children at home? The more he thought about it, the more despairing he became. He closed his eyes and suddenly lunged toward a nearby rock to end it all!

 

By sheer chance, a woman happened to pass by. Instead of hitting the rock, he collided with her, sending her sprawling to the ground.

 

“Hey! What’s wrong with you? Watch where you’re going! That nearly killed me…”

 

The man bowed his head in apology but couldn’t summon the courage to end his life again. Hunched over, he fled in a hurry.

 

The three of them, now too scared to leave, waited anxiously, fearing Xiao Douzi might also be escorted out.

 

About a quarter of an hour later, another person came out, this time being carried on a stretcher!

 

Xiao Nian gasped in fright and hurried closer to look. The stretcher held an elderly man with white hair and beard, who had fainted after reviewing the exam questions. It was unclear whether he had been shocked or overwhelmed.

 

Lu Yao patted his chest in relief. “This imperial examination is terrifying.”

 

Someone nearby said, “Isn’t it? I’m worried sick about my husband in there.”

 

Turning his head, Lu Yao saw a young man standing nearby, round-faced with large eyes and a birthmark on his cheek, anxiously peering toward the examination hall.

 

“Your husband is taking the county exam too?”

 

“Yes, for the second time. He failed last year. I hope he can succeed this year,” the young man said, glancing at Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan. “Do you have someone taking the exam as well?”

 

“My younger brother.”

 

The young man sighed. “I hope he passes in one go. It’s unbearable to go through this again.”

 

By late morning, several people had already left the hall. These were the candidates who finished early.

 

Their families gathered around, asking, “How did it go? Did you answer all the questions? Were there any you didn’t know?” The scene was almost identical to the modern college entrance exam.

 

Among them, some left confidently, while others looked dejected. It was clear that not all had completed their papers.

 

The family grew increasingly nervous.

 

The morning sky was clear, but by afternoon it turned overcast. Worried Xiao Nian might get too cold, the three went to a nearby teahouse to warm up and grab some food.

 

The teahouse was bustling, filled with families of examinees, sitting in groups discussing this year’s county exam.

 

“I heard a scholar from Wuyang County was caught cheating right after entering. How humiliating!”

 

“I know him. His family is dirt poor and borrowed money everywhere to pay for his studies. He was desperate to pass the imperial examination, but now that this has happened, he’ll be mocked for years.”

 

“Studying requires talent. Some people don’t pass even at seventy or eighty, while others succeed as teenagers.”

 

“Speaking of which, I heard there’s a seven-year-old boy taking the exam this year!”

 

Upon hearing this, Lu Yao immediately perked up, eavesdropping on their conversation.

 

“What were that family thinking, letting such a young child take the county exam?”

 

“Maybe the child is truly gifted?”

 

“Even if he is, he’s still too young. In this cold weather, even adults struggle to endure, let alone a seven-year-old…”

 

Lu Yao grew increasingly anxious and quickly stood up, while Xiao Nian’s face also showed concern.

 

Zhao Beichuan reassured them, “Don’t worry, Xiao Dou knows his limits.”

 

Inside the examination hall, the sand in the hourglass was nearly gone. Zhao Beidou wrote the final character on his paper, blew on the ink to dry it, and set his brush down.

 

He carefully reviewed his answers to ensure nothing was missing, then raised his hand.

 

Being so short, it took a while for someone to notice him. Finally, an official came over to collect his paper.

 

To prevent cheating, even his draft papers were collected. Afterward, a bailiff escorted him to the hall’s exit, where candidates were released in groups of ten.

 

When he arrived, nine others were already waiting, making him the tenth. The bailiff opened the gate, and the group filed out quickly.

 

“Xiao Dou!” Xiao Nian spotted him immediately and ran over.

 

“Sister, where are Brother and Sister-in-law?”

 

“They’re all waiting for you!” Xiao Nian said, taking the test basket from him.

 

Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan came over and, seeing he was in good spirits, finally felt relieved. Lu Yao patted his head. “Are you cold? Hungry?”

 

Xiao Douzi shook his head. “My body’s not cold, just my hands—they’re almost frozen stiff.”

 

Lu Yao took his hands and breathed on them. “Let’s go back quickly.”

 

The family hurried back to their lodging. Upon entering the courtyard, Brother Huang came over to ask, “Zhao, how did your younger brother do?”

 

Zhao Beichuan looked down and asked, “Did you answer all the questions?”

 

Xiao Douzi nodded. “I answered all the text completion questions, but I’m not sure if my interpretations were correct.”

 

Brother Huang chuckled. “Your little brother is quite impressive. He might just bring back a scholar’s title.”

 

Once inside, Lu Yao quickly started a fire to heat some water and cooked a pot of ginger tea to warm everyone up.

 

Zhao Beichuan, rarely one to praise, said, “We were worried you’d get too cold and leave halfway, but it seems you’ve got some ability.”

 

Xiao Douzi grinned widely. Despite his young age, his year of practicing Five Animal Frolics had made his body much stronger than most. This was why old Master Lin had insisted on the training back then.

 

The imperial examination tested not only knowledge and composure but also physical endurance. Every year, some candidates dropped out due to health issues.

 

“Can you manage again tomorrow?”

 

“No problem!”

 

To ensure that Xiao Dou would have enough energy for the second exam tomorrow, they turned off the lights after dinner and everyone went to bed early.

 

The county examination lasted for three days, an immense test of both body and mind for the candidates and their families.

 

For those who passed, their lives would change dramatically. For those who didn’t, it could mean the end of their academic journey, with no further opportunities to study.

 

On the third day, when Xiao Dou came out of the exam hall, his face was sallow, and he looked utterly exhausted.

 

Having braved the biting cold for consecutive days, just making it through was already an accomplishment. The previous day, more than thirty people had been unable to endure it and left the hall without finishing their answers. Today, seven or eight people had developed fevers and didn’t show up for roll call.

 

Zhao Beichuan quickly carried Xiao Dou on his back. The little boy, too tired to even lift his head, fell asleep on his older brother’s shoulder almost immediately.

 

Xiao Nian, feeling sorry for his younger brother, stroked Xiao Dou’s pale cheek and said, “Studying is so tough. I’ll never bully Xiao Dou again.”

 

Lu Yao remarked, “If you don’t work hard when you’re young, you’ll only have regrets in old age. At Xiao Dou’s age, enduring hardship doesn’t feel as difficult. Look at those white-haired scholars; they want to endure hardship, but they no longer have the opportunity.”

 

Xiao Nian nodded as if he understood.

 

Perhaps these few days had drained Xiao Dou completely. He slept until dusk and even wet the bed in his sleep…

 

This was the first time he had done so since he was five, and his face turned red with embarrassment.

 

While washing the bedding, Zhao Beichuan laughed and said, “Our Xiao Dou is amazing—he’s already taking the imperial exams at the age when kids still wet the bed.”

 

Covering his face, Xiao Dou was on the verge of tears. “Big brother, stop it… I’ll never wet the bed again…”

 

Lu Yao and Xiao Nian couldn’t help but laugh. If Xiao Dou became an official in the future, recalling this incident might leave his colleagues laughing to death.

 

The results of the county exam would be released in half a month. They decided to return home and wait, as news of their success, if it came, would be available at the county office in town.

 

They had been away from home for half a month now and were eager to return. That night, they packed up their belongings.

 

The next morning, before dawn, Lu Yao handed the house key back to their landlord. The lease still had two days left, but since it was a short-term rental, they had agreed upfront that no refunds would be issued for unused days.

 

At first light, the city gates opened, and Dahua the mule trotted out of Pingyang County, pulling their cart.

 

The thought of returning home lifted everyone’s spirits. Zhao Beichuan swung his whip, humming an old tune with no lyrics. His deep, resonant voice made Lu Yao’s heart race and her cheeks blush. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

 

“When Xiao Dou’s results are out, if he passes, you won’t need to do corvée labor next year. We can take a trip to the provincial city.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“If he doesn’t pass, we’ll focus on saving up. Two more months, and we’ll have enough to buy gentry status.”

 

Zhao Beichuan turned his head to kiss her on the forehead.

 

In the back, Xiao Nian and Xiao Dou covered their mouths, giggling. Their big brother and sister-in-law were so affectionate.

 

The mule cart traveled for two days. They spent one night at an inn along the way. This time, with more experience, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan took turns guarding their luggage while eating, and nothing was stolen.

 

On the tenth day of the second lunar month, the family finally returned to Qiushui Town.

 

Seeing the familiar streets brought smiles to everyone’s faces.

 

“Hey, isn’t this Shopkeeper Lu? Back from the county?” a regular customer greeted them.

 

Zhao Beichuan pulled on the reins, and Lu Yao replied with a smile, “We’re back. The shop will reopen tomorrow. Don’t forget to stop by for a meal.”

 

“Of course! I’ve been craving your cooking!”

 

Passing through the main street and reaching Lower Third Alley, Xiao Nian and Xiao Dou jumped off the cart and ran straight home. Lu Yao also got down and hurried ahead.

 

She knocked on the Liu family’s door as she passed. When Liu Yue saw Xiao Nian, her eyes lit up with joy. “I’ve been waiting for you all to come back. It’s been so boring lately!”

 

“Tell me about it. I was bored stiff in the county and couldn’t wait to return.”

 

Uncle Liu heard the commotion and came out with the keys in hand, his toothless grin on full display. “Xiao Dou finished his exams? How did it go?”

 

Lu Yao took the keys and said, “The results will be out in a few days. We’re not sure yet if he passed.”

 

“I’m sure he did! I’ve never seen a smarter kid than him.”

 

After some small talk, Lu Yao quickly returned home to open the door. They had been away for so long; who knew what condition the house was in? Most importantly, was the money jar buried in the pigsty still there?

 

Zhao Beichuan drove the cart into the courtyard while Lu Yao unlocked the door. A stale odor greeted her, so she quickly opened the windows to let in some fresh air. Then she grabbed a shovel and headed straight for the pigsty.

 

The spot where the money was buried hadn’t been disturbed. The ground was frozen solid, and it took a lot of effort to dig out the jar. Opening it, she found that not a single coin was missing.

 

Relieved, Lu Yao tucked the silver coins from her purse into the jar. This was all their savings and losing it would mean giving up on buying gentry status or opening their restaurant. She then hid the jar in the kang bed’s compartment.

 

Zhao Beichuan unloaded the cart, bringing their belongings into the house. He unhitched Dahua, fed it hay, and gave it an extra handful of beans as a reward for its hard work.

 

The chickens had been well cared for by Old Liu and would start laying eggs once the weather warmed. After cleaning out the coop and feeding the chicks some millet, he returned to the house.

 

In the west room, now that the exam stress was over, Xiao Dou had regained some of his childlike playfulness and was pestering his sister to play bean-bag toss with him.

 

The game was simple: toss a small bag filled with sand into the air and try to grab as many beans as possible from the kang bed before catching the bag again.

 

Xiao Dou’s short arms were a disadvantage. More often than not, the bag would fall before he could grab a single bean, leaving him red-faced with frustration. “That doesn’t count! Let me try again. Just one more time.”

 

“You’re such a cheat. I’m not playing anymore.”

 

“Big sister, I was wrong. Let me try one more time.”

 

“Xiao Nian, Xiao Dou, stop playing for now and change out of your dirty clothes.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The two children found their old cotton-padded jackets and trousers to change into. Though worn, their clothes were warmer than those of most children in town.

 

Carrying the dirty laundry to the kitchen, Xiao Nian helped his sister-in-law boil water.

 

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “Is this the Zhao Beidou residence?”

 

Zhao Beichuan quickly went to answer. “Yes, it is. How can I help you?”

 

The postman handed him an envelope. “There’s a letter from the capital. I tried delivering it a few days ago, but you weren’t home.”

 

“Thank you for coming again.”

 

The postman waved it off and left.

 

Zhao Beichuan couldn’t read the characters on the envelope and brought it inside. “Xiao Dou, there’s a letter for you. It’s probably from the Lin family.”

 

Hearing this, Xiao Dou excitedly jumped up and immediately tore open the envelope. Inside were seven or eight pages, all written by Lin Zijian.

 

“To my dear Beidou Ge,

 

It has been days since we parted in Qiushui Town. I have arrived safely in the capital. How are you? By the time this letter reaches you, you may have already taken the county exam. Let me wish you success in advance!

 

Without you by my side to study together, I’ve become rather lazy and can’t seem to focus. Grandfather says you’ve probably surpassed me already.

 

Unwilling to accept this, I’ve begun rising at midnight to study until dusk. It’s exhausting, so much so that I want to cry, but I must persevere. I cannot let you outpace me!

 

I miss the food your sister-in-law cooks. Although Chef Yu’s cooking is good, it still falls short. Even Grandfather says it isn’t as tasty as hers.

 

When will you come to the capital? When you do, I’ll take you to ride a boat on the Luo River, to taste the Eight Treasures Pastries, and to enjoy yellow wine duck, roast chicken, and steamed pork…”

 

“If you don’t pass the county exam, don’t be discouraged. Grandfather says we’re still young, with plenty of opportunities ahead. Don’t let one failure dampen your spirits.

 

Of course, I hope you pass. That way, you can go to Pingzhou for the prefectural exam. Let me tell you a secret—Grandfather will be overseeing the provincial exam in Pingzhou. We may meet again soon!”

 

The letter continued with tales of life in the capital.

 

“Though this letter is brief, my thoughts are endless.

 

Your Xiao Di(Lil bro), Lin Zijian.”

 

Xiao Dou read every word carefully, tears welling up in his eyes. After a year of studying together, the two boys had developed a deep friendship, and he missed his friend dearly.

 

“Sister-in-law, I want to write a reply to Zijian.”

 

“Of course. Go ahead and write it. Once you’re done, your brother will send it for you.”

 

Xiao Dou ran back to the west room, took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and began drafting his reply. He recounted his experience at the county exam and wrote down the questions he could remember, hoping Lin’s grandfather could review them.