The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 27: Arriving at the Prefectural City

Traveling from Zhang County to Xiangping Prefecture by an ordinary carriage took three days and two nights. Xiangping Prefecture was located further south, near the Bohai Bay area, where the temperature warmed up earlier than in Zhang County, and the timing for spring plowing and sowing also came sooner.

Along the way, Qiu Huanian watched the scenery outside the window. The closer they got to Xiangping Prefecture, the taller the crops in the fields grew. After crossing over into this world, he found himself increasingly paying subconscious attention to the land and crops.

Although the official road was spacious, it was ultimately a dirt road, making for a bumpy ride. Before boarding, Qiu Huanian wiped down the carriage interior, stacked two bedding mats on the floor of the carriage, removed his shoes, and sat on top. With the addition of seat cushions and backrests, he was able to avoid backaches from the long journey.

The route from Zhang County to Xiangping Prefecture had been planned in advance by the carriage service. To save time, the carriage would set off before dawn each day, traveling throughout the day and only stopping to rest at predetermined locations after midnight. Each day, they spent fifteen to sixteen hours on the road.

Qiu Huanian had prepared dried tofu, sorghum candy, and vegetarian stuffed pastries in advance—foods that could be eaten cold and preserved for a long time—to serve as their meals on the journey.

The journey was dull, and with just the two of them confined in the small carriage, Qiu Huanian couldn’t help but chat with Du Yunse from time to time. Du Yunse always remained calm and composed, answering whatever Qiu Huanian asked.

Occasionally, Qiu Huanian would doze off and, upon waking, find himself lying inside the carriage with his head resting on Du Yunse’s lap. Du Yunse would be holding a book in one hand while using the other to shield Qiu Huanian’s head from bumps.

After this happened several times, Qiu Huanian no longer felt embarrassed. Whenever he grew sleepy, he would simply pat Du Yunse’s leg, adjust his position, and lie down on it, secretly delighted—this was an honest-to-goodness “beauty lap pillow”!

Du Yunse lowered his book, reached up to pull the carriage curtain shut, dimming the interior. Looking down at Qiu Huanian’s delicate and elegant half-exposed face, the corners of his lips curled slightly.

At night, since they were unfamiliar with the area, someone had to stay in the carriage to watch over their belongings. Du Yunse insisted that Qiu Huanian go to the inn to sleep while he himself freshened up briefly and rested in the carriage overnight. Qiu Huanian had initially suggested taking turns keeping watch but was firmly rejected by Du Yunse.

After three days and two nights, by late afternoon on the third day, their carriage finally entered Xiangping Prefecture City.

“The examination hall is just ahead. I’ll drop you off here. There are plenty of empty carriages waiting across the street, so you gentlemen can hire one to take you wherever you wish to stay. If you’re unsure where to go, there are also plenty of attendants looking for customers—you can ask around and surely find one that suits your needs.”

The carriage driver knew that Du Yunse was here for the provincial examination, so he dropped them off at the most convenient spot near the examination hall.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse stepped down from the carriage, stretching their stiff limbs, and retrieved their pre-packed luggage.

Just as they were about to hire an empty carriage, a sharp-eyed attendant, around fifteen or sixteen years old, approached them. “Are you Young Master Qiu from Zhang County and Scholar Du?”

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse exchanged a glance before Qiu Huanian asked, “And you are?”

“I’m an attendant from Shuyi Inn. You can just call me Shu Wu. A few days ago, my mistress received a letter from Granny Huang in Zhang County and sent me here to wait for you both.”

Shuyi Inn was the establishment that Granny Huang had mentioned before—a guesthouse run by her sworn sister in the prefectural city. Qiu Huanian hadn’t expected Granny Huang to go so far as to send a letter in advance, and he felt a warmth in his heart.

Dealing with forthright and generous people always put him in a good mood.

As he spoke, Shu Wu stepped forward to help carry their luggage. “Our inn is just down the street. Let’s talk as we walk.”

Since Shu Wu had accurately named Shuyi Inn and Granny Huang, Qiu Huanian did not doubt him but was still curious. “There were no portraits in Granny Huang’s letter. How did you recognize us?”

Shu Wu chuckled, “Granny Huang wrote that Young Master Qiu is an exceptionally good-looking young gentleman and Scholar Du is an extremely handsome scholar. I was wondering just how ‘extreme’ that meant, but the moment I saw you both getting out of the carriage, I knew the letter was spot on.”

Granny Huang had never met Du Yunse in person, but Granny Huang’s sister had. Hearing how the two sisters described him and Du Yunse, Qiu Huanian coughed lightly, feeling a little self-conscious.

After walking about two hundred meters, Qiu Huanian spotted the sign for Shuyi Inn. The building faced the street and was two stories high, with a dining hall on the first floor and guest rooms on the second. Behind the main building was a courtyard with additional rows of rooms, each divided into separate quarters for guests.

Judging by its furnishings and scale, this was one of the higher-end inns in Xiangping Prefecture.

As they approached the entrance of Shuyi Inn, before they even stepped inside, Qiu Huanian saw a woman dressed in fine brocade emerging from behind the counter. She appeared to be in her forties, with faint traces of hardship on her face, yet she still carried an air of elegance.

Shu Wu stepped forward and called, “Mistress.”

The woman smiled at them. “You two must have had a tiring journey. Granny Huang already explained everything in her letter. She and I share a bond as close as mother and daughter. Since you have helped her, you have helped me, Zheng Yiwan, as well.”

“If there’s anything you need before or after the examination, just let me know. If you treat me like a stranger, that would be an insult to our friendship.”

“I’ll have the kitchen prepare a welcome feast right away. Shu Wu, take our guests’ luggage to the rear hall—be quick about it!”

Faced with Zheng Yiwan’s warm hospitality, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse had no choice but to sit down. Before long, the dishes and wine were served, and Shuyi Inn’s owner, Shu Huacai, also joined them.

“When my husband and I first started from nothing in Xiangping Prefecture, it was thanks to Granny Huang’s help that we built this business. Later, she returned home to care for her sister and hasn’t visited the city in years.”

“When we heard that she was coming to Xiangping for the Hundred Flavors Competition this year, we were overjoyed! If not for Hua’s homemade red fermented tofu convincing her, she might not have agreed to come at all.”

After a few rounds of drinks, Shu Huacai and Zheng Yiwan’s manner of address became much more familiar.

Their inn was located near the examination hall and regularly hosted many scholars taking the provincial, prefectural, and county exams, making them well-informed about exam-related news.

As he poured them more drinks, Shu Huacai explained, “The provincial exam consists of two rounds with a one-day break in between. The results are posted three days after the exams, and those who pass are eligible to participate in the evening’s Hundred Flavors Competition. You probably already know this.”

“The exams are reviewed by the imperial-appointed education commissioner. I heard from some of our scholar guests that a new commissioner was recently appointed in our province. Since the Xiangping prefectural exam is the first one he’s overseeing, no one knows his preferences or strictness yet. This year’s exam might be quite unpredictable.”

Du Yunse’s expression shifted slightly. “Shu Brother, do you know this new commissioner’s name and background?”

Shu Huacai thought for a moment. “I only heard that he’s from the capital and goes by the name Feng Mingjun. Other than that, I don’t know much.”

Du Yunse nodded slightly, deep in thought. Seeing this, Qiu Huanian decided to ask him about it later when they were alone.

“Shu Boss, do you know how many candidates are taking the provincial exam this year?” Qiu Huanian asked.

Shu Huacai said, “This year, there are more than three hundred students in Xiangping Prefecture taking the examination for the scholar title, which is slightly fewer than in previous years.”

The imperial court has regulations stating that the passing rate for scholars is between five and ten percent. With fewer total candidates, the number of available spots is also reduced.

Thinking that they were worried about the limited slots making it harder to pass, Shu Huacai reassured them, “At Yunse’s age, having confidence in passing the scholar examination already makes him a young prodigy. Even if he doesn’t make it this time, he can take the provincial exam again the year after next.”

The county examination, prefectural examination, and provincial examination form a three-step process for obtaining the scholar title, held twice every three years. This year marks the second consecutive year of exams, meaning the next provincial exam will not be until two years later.

Qiu Huainan, however, was not worried about Du Yunse passing the exam. According to Magistrate Wang, if it hadn’t been for the great scholar Wen Huiyang taking him away for academic travels, he would have already earned his scholar title at the age of ten.

These past days, whenever Du Yunse was studying, Qiu Huainan would occasionally glance over out of curiosity and listen for a while, only to end up dizzy from the complex material. This made him even more impressed by Du Yunse’s knowledge and intellect.

If he were truly determined to endure sleepless nights and extreme study methods, he might be able to master the material himself, given his years of experience with modern test-oriented education. However, he was now living as a ge’er who couldn’t even take the imperial exams. And when given a choice, why subject himself to the suffering of endless studying and examinations? In a lifetime, going through one college entrance exam and one graduate school exam was already enough!

Scaling the treacherous heights of the imperial examination system should be left to the naturally gifted Du Yunse. As for himself, he was content to simply provide ropes and supplies from the sidelines.

As the dishes on the table were nearly finished, Zheng Yiwan and her husband exchanged a glance before making a decision. “Hua-ge’er, there are about ten days left before the provincial examination. Our inn, while well-equipped, is too lively and may not be conducive to Yunse’s studies.”

“Our house is just two streets away, close to the examination hall, and much quieter with fewer people around. Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you both to stay there directly?”

Zheng Yiwan and his wife had discussed this matter before their arrival. However, as they were unsure of the two men’s exact temperaments at the time and feared that inviting them into their home might lead to trouble, they had not made a decision. After meeting them in person, the couple saw that Qiu Huanian had a warm and easygoing personality, while Du Yunse was refined and reserved. Only then were they completely at ease.

With a better place to stay, Qiu Huanian naturally did not refuse, but he insisted on paying rent. Zheng Yiwan knew that Qiu Huanian had money on hand after selling red fermented bean curd, so he did not insist on persuading him otherwise.

The Shu Residence was located in Tianshui Alley, two streets away. It was a courtyard with two sections running north to south, and on the eastern side, it had a small side courtyard. The side courtyard was not adjacent to the street; inside, there was a small garden and three connected southern rooms. In the southeast corner, a small door opened to the alley, making the environment exceptionally quiet.

After handing Qiu Huanian the key to the side courtyard’s small door, Zheng Yiwan said, “You can stay here with peace of mind. If you need to go out, you can leave through this small door—just walk a dozen steps, and you’ll be on the street.”

Other than having fewer rooms, the side courtyard was practically a small independent residence. Compared to the two inverted rooms that Zhao and his group had rented in the prefectural city, this place was far superior. Zhao’s group had spent three taels of silver for a two-month rental, while Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse would only be staying for less than twenty days.

After calculating the rent in his mind, Qiu Huanian took out two taels of silver and handed them to Zheng Yiwan as payment.

Zheng Yiwan repeatedly declined, saying it was too much, and after much insistence, he returned five qian of silver. He then added, “There’s no stove in the side courtyard, so you don’t need to cook for yourselves. The inn’s kitchen will prepare meals daily, and Shu Wu will bring them to you. The cost is included in the rent.”

Zheng Yiwan asked the caretaker woman to send over some daily necessities, then left the side courtyard without disturbing their settling in.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse unpacked their belongings. The three connected southern rooms in the side courtyard had an internal space roughly the size of a modern classroom. On the eastern side, there was a built-in kang bed connected to three walls. Under the western window stood a desk and several tables, with calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls. A cabinet and a multi-treasure shelf divided the space in the middle. At the head of the room, a square table was set with two black lacquered circle-back chairs, and a large peony painting hung in the central hall.

In Xiangping Prefecture, an ordinary wealthy household without power or noble status would have such furnishings. It was not as refined as the home of Scholar Song, but it was far more elegant and exquisite than Wei Dexing’s residence, which Qiu Huanian had previously visited.

Inside the side courtyard’s cabinets were bedding sets. Although new, they were slightly damp and stiff from being stored for too long, making them less comfortable than the freshly made bedding Qiu Huanian had brought from home.

He laid the original bedding from the side courtyard on the bottom, then spread his own bedding on top. As he reached out to test its softness, he suddenly realized something belatedly.

This side courtyard had only one connected southern room. Only one kang bed. That meant…

Qiu Huanian’s back stiffened. Sensing something, Du Yunse spoke softly, “You and I are not yet married, and it is improper by etiquette to share a bed. I will sleep on the small couch on the western side.”

As he spoke, he was about to move his bedding over, but Qiu Huanian quickly stopped him. What kind of joke was that? That small couch was barely a meter wide and at most 1.6 meters long, hard as a board—how could anyone sleep on it?

“I haven’t even said anything yet. Why are you in such a hurry? And besides, this isn’t…”

Qiu Huanian cleared his throat lightly, swallowing half of the words “this isn’t something that won’t happen sooner or later.” He reminded himself that this was ancient times, and he and Du Yunse had yet to develop mutual feelings. He needed to maintain some restraint.

Before Du Yunse had returned, Qiu Huanian had worried about his own “personal safety” and had resolved to sleep separately no matter what.

But after becoming familiar with each other, Qiu Huanian realized that his initial concerns were entirely unnecessary. Du Yunse was a model gentleman—so upright that Qiu Huanian even wondered if he ever had impulses at all.

Qiu Huanian thought that even if their wedding had not yet taken place, even if he were to push Du Yunse onto the kang bed, straddle his waist with his legs, Du Yunse would probably only blush, push him away, and tuck him back into the covers.

There was no need to worry about personal safety—but being too safe was also quite frustrating.

Qiu Huanian ground his molars. As a modern man whose mind easily wandered into the gutter, facing someone like Du Yunse—a true gentleman—he could only hold his breath, silently reciting the Great Compassion Mantra in his heart.

Who told him to maintain a good image and avoid scaring him off?

Qiu Huanian avoided looking at Du Yunse, instead staring at the candlelight to the side. He bit his lip, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum. “Let’s just sleep together. The kang is big enough—you sleep on that side, I’ll sleep on this side, and we’ll leave space in the middle. It won’t be an issue.”

Du Yunse lowered his gaze to Qiu Huanian’s delicate lips, which glistened under the candlelight. He took a barely perceptible breath, his eyes darkening slightly. After a long pause, he replied with a single word: “Alright.”

The two of them had not rested properly during their carriage journey over the past few days. Now, exhausted and seeing that it was already late, they only set up their bedding, did a simple wash-up, and decided to sort out the rest of their belongings in the morning.

Qiu Huanian extinguished the candle and wrapped himself in the blankets. Staring toward the window, he felt annoyed—he had told Du Yunse to leave space in the middle, but Du Yunse had taken it to the extreme, sleeping all the way at the very edge, almost pressed against the wall beneath the window.

This was as if he were some seductive spirit plagued by unfulfilled desires, while Du Yunse was the unwavering monk who remained unmoved.

Qiu Huanian didn’t want to just go to sleep like this, but he also couldn’t bring himself to say, “Come sleep closer.” And he certainly couldn’t make himself crawl over. He could only look for another topic of conversation.

“Did you know the new Education Commissioner that Boss Zheng mentioned during dinner?”

Du Yunse’s voice came from the direction of the window. “Master Feng was the Tanhua of the sixth year of Yuanhua. He spent many years in the Hanlin Academy refining his scholarship, then later requested to become a Censor-in-Chief. He is a man of unwavering integrity, with a deep hatred for corruption, and a fiery temperament. He has offended many people in the imperial court.”

“When my teacher was still serving in the court, the two of them had some friendship. But after my teacher retired and traveled the country, their contact gradually lessened. I have seen Master Feng a few times in the capital, but we have never spoken in private.”

After hearing this, Qiu Huanian sighed. “From the Hanlin Academy to the Censor-in-Chief, and now to the Education Commissioner of Liaozhou—Master Feng’s career path is quite unconventional.”

Comparing it to the modern world, it would be like first working at the Academy of Social Sciences doing high-level academic research, then transferring to the Disciplinary Inspection Commission to investigate corruption, and finally becoming the Director of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education.

Based on Du Yunse’s description of his personality, it was likely that Emperor Yuanhua also found this talented minister difficult to handle, which is why he kept moving him around.

“This might actually be a good thing. At least he definitely won’t deliberately fail your examination just because your teacher was put under house arrest.”

Du Yunse let out a soft “hmm,” thinking that this might indeed be part of the emperor’s considerations.

No matter what, for him, the only thing he could do now was to advance step by step in the exams, ensuring a good life for Hua-ge’er, Jiujiu, and Chunsheng, living up to his teacher’s expectations, and fulfilling his own ambition of governing the nation and bringing peace to the land.

Qiu Huanian mumbled a few more sentences, but his voice gradually faded. He was simply too exhausted—once he lay down, his body dragged his mind into a deep and sweet slumber.

After a while, Du Yunse sat up. Under the moonlight streaming through the window, he quietly shifted his bedding slightly closer to Qiu Huanian’s side.

In his sleep, Qiu Huanian murmured a few words, his soft and even breathing magnified in Du Yunse’s ears. At the last moment, Du Yunse stopped. He simply lowered his head and gazed at his little husband, who was sound asleep. After a while, he got up and moved his bedding back toward the window, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Hua-ge’er was still young and easily embarrassed. He couldn’t take advantage of the situation—moving too fast might scare him.

…

Qiu Huanian slept straight through until sunrise. It was only when Shu Wu brought breakfast over that Du Yunse finally woke him up.

Opening the food box, inside was a large bowl of red bean and coix seed porridge, a tray of fist-sized buns stuffed with lotus root and pork, and four side dishes—fried peanuts, pickled diced radish, cold-dressed greens, and scallion tofu—generous in portion and delicious.

After finishing his meal with satisfaction, Qiu Huanian said, “This is probably the best breakfast set at Shuyi Inn. If every meal were like this, after half a month, the one and a half taels of rent would barely cover the food expenses.”

Du Yunse got up to clean the dishes. “The Shu couple are warm and hospitable; giving them extra money might be excessive.”

“I know. I can only remember this as a favor and repay it when an opportunity arises in the future.”

Shu Huacai and Zheng Yiwan treated them well not for money but out of brotherhood and righteousness. If Qiu Huanian insisted on calculating everything in monetary terms, it would only be awkward. It was better to treat it as a favor—future exchanges would naturally deepen their relationship.

After placing the dishes by the door connecting to the main courtyard as instructed by Shu Wu, Du Yunse returned to the room to organize his books, papers, and brushes, while Qiu Huanian sorted out other belongings.

Most of the food they brought had been eaten. The cloth bag used for carrying food needed to be washed for reuse on the journey back. Aside from essentials, Qiu Huanian also brought half a jin of small jars of red fermented tofu. If Madam Huang’s new dish could gain fame at Baiwei Restaurant, Qiu Huanian’s red fermented tofu might also take the opportunity to break into the market.

There were a total of twelve small jars. He gifted one each to Meng Yuanling, Hu Qiuyan, and the clan leader’s family, bringing the remaining nine with him this time.

He carved a large rectangular seal, with string beans, chili peppers, and several aesthetically pleasing spices on either side, and steaming fermented tofu blocks at the bottom. In the center, Du Yunse inscribed the words “Qiu’s Red Fermented Tofu.”

Once the seal was finished, he used red ink to stamp it onto similarly sized pieces of coarse paper and pasted them onto the jar lids, creating a unique label.

For the next few days, Du Yunse stayed indoors, fully focused on reading and writing. Qiu Huanian, on the other hand, went out for a few strolls. Since he was unfamiliar with the area and cautious of potential trouble, he didn’t venture too far. He simply browsed nearby shops and bought some finely crafted, novel rattan hairpins, hair ties, and wooden swords, planning to bring them back for Jiujiu and Chunsheng. Since he had come all the way to the provincial capital, he had to take some gifts back for the children.

That day, Qiu Huanian was wearing a brand-new Changrong-colored round-collared robe with arrow sleeves. He was browsing an innovative root-carved paperweight at a small stall, intending to pick one to add some elegance to Du Yunse’s desk, when he suddenly heard a commotion behind him.

Holding the chosen paperweight, he turned around and saw seven or eight young scholars dressed in identical white Confucian robes with lake-green outer garments walking down the street in an imposing manner.

Seeing them dressed exactly alike, Qiu Huanian couldn’t help but ask the stall owner, “Boss, who are they?”

The stall owner chuckled. “Young master, you must be from out of town. These are students from Qingfeng Academy, one of the top academies in Liaozhou. Today is their day off, so they’ve probably come down the mountain to familiarize themselves with the roads near the examination hall.”

“All of them are Tongsheng?” Qiu Huanian asked in a low voice.

The stall owner replied, “I don’t know about the others, but that sixteen or seventeen-year-old scholar with the flower hairpin definitely is. His name is Yu Min, the top student of Class B at Qingfeng Academy. Everyone says that this year’s provincial exam’s top scorer will surely be him!”

The stall owner explained that Qingfeng Academy was divided into Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A consisted of scholars (Xiucai) with a high chance of passing the imperial examination. Class B was for ordinary scholars and the most outstanding Tongsheng, while Class C was entirely composed of students who had not yet passed the scholar examination.

Yu Min, despite being a Tongsheng, ranked first in Class B, where most students were already scholars. His abilities were indeed formidable.

Qiu Huanian recalled that Du Yunse had also said he would win a small triple crown, and he couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking of using this to tease and motivate him later.

It wouldn’t have been a problem if he hadn’t laughed—but that chuckle caused some trouble.

Yu Min had sharp ears and had already caught most of the conversation between Qiu Huanian and the stall owner. At first, he was pleased with the mention of his reputation, but upon hearing the young master laugh, he was instantly irritated. He turned his head angrily to glare at Qiu Huanian.

Seeing the flower-adorned scholar staring at him furiously, Qiu Huanian was baffled. He could only give him an innocent smile.

Yu Min had been about to lash out, but the moment he saw the other’s exquisitely handsome smile, his anger inexplicably vanished, as if doused by cold water. He stood frozen in place for a moment.

It wasn’t until his companions urged him forward that he cleared his throat, clenched his fist inside his sleeve, and puffed out his chest as he strode over.

“You there, why did you just laugh? Do you think I won’t be the top scorer in the provincial exam?”

Hearing this, Qiu Huanian suddenly understood what had happened. He hadn’t expected his low-voiced conversation, spoken several meters away in a noisy marketplace, to be overheard by the person in question.

Not wanting to start a conflict over such a trivial matter, he explained in a warm tone, “The exam hasn’t started yet, and before the results are out, anyone could be the top scorer. Why would I doubt that Young Master Yu could achieve it?”

“I simply thought that Xiangping Prefecture is a land of talent, full of gifted scholars. There might be others just as exceptionally talented as you, which made me feel a sense of anticipation—so I smiled.”

Yu Min was unsatisfied with Qiu Huanian’s answer. He had always led the Class B of Qingfeng Academy by a wide margin, and those Tongsheng from poor rural areas were no match for him. If not for falling ill during last year’s provincial exam, he would already be a scholar.

This year’s provincial exam top scorer was practically his for the taking.

Yu Min wanted to refute him, but as he stared at the pretty and innocent-looking young master before him, his irritation subsided again.

Finally, he pointed at the root-carved paperweight in Qiu Huanian’s hand and sneered.

“This paperweight is crudely made, and the material is worthless. Even if you gave it to me for free as firewood, I wouldn’t take it. You have such a fine face, yet your taste is so low-class—you should work on improving your aesthetic sense!”

“In ten days, when the provincial exam results are announced, you’ll realize just how wrong you were today!”

After saying that whole string of inexplicable words, Yu Min left straight away. Qiu Huanian, feeling quite speechless, bought the chosen paperweight as planned and comforted the stall owner with a few words, making the originally crestfallen vendor look much better.

Qiu Huanian decided that as soon as he returned, he would immediately encourage Du Yunse. He absolutely did not want to see that rude little scholar’s name at the top of the examination list!

When Qiu Huanian returned to the side courtyard, he was still feeling frustrated. Sitting in a black lacquered armchair in the central hall, he picked up the floral tea on the square table, poured himself a cup, and drank it down in one go.

He was just strolling around the streets, yet he was inexplicably criticized for having poor taste—who had he even offended?

Hearing the sound, Du Yunse turned away from the desk by the western window and walked over to him.

“Hua-ge’er, what’s wrong? Did something unpleasant happen while you were out?”

The refreshing tea had already eased half of Qiu Huanian’s displeasure. Seeing Du Yunse’s concerned gaze and his flawless, handsome face, the remaining frustration completely vanished.

He shook his head and handed over the root-carved paperweight in his hand. “Take a look at this. What do you think?”

The paperweight was made from an inexpensive cypress root, only roughly stripped of its bark, polished, and smoothed. The lower base had been flattened to hold down paper, while the upper part retained the root’s original shape.

Its charm lay in the unique form of the root—entwined thick and thin roots, twisted and coiled, had been carefully trimmed and polished into a rectangular shape. A few slanted, straight roots in the center made it resemble a qin (a traditional zither), and the base was adorned with simple cloud patterns, fitting Du Yunse’s name perfectly.

Qiu Huanian had initially been browsing casually, but when he saw this particular paperweight, he was instantly drawn to it and decided to spend a hefty 120 wen to purchase it.

Du Yunse turned the paperweight in his hands, quickly noticing the thoughtful design. His heart warmed, and he chuckled softly, “I like it very much.”

Qiu Huanian finally felt completely satisfied, his bright eyes curving into a smile. “Now that I’ve bought gifts for all three of you, I won’t be accused of favoritism.”

A thought stirred in Du Yunse’s mind—he had yet to buy a gift for Hua-ge’er. But since all the household money was in Hua-ge’er’s hands, finding a present that would truly surprise him would take some careful planning.

Qiu Huanian took another sip of tea and brought up the matter from the street earlier. “Have you heard of a child scholar named Yu Min?”

Du Yunse shook his head but then paused. “He should be a descendant of the Yu family of Liao Prefecture.”

“The Yu family of Liao Prefecture?”

“Liao Prefecture is located in the northeast. Though it doesn’t have as many aristocratic families as Jiangnan, there are still a few notable lineages. The Yu family once produced a Grand Secretary, and their descendants are quite accomplished, with strong connections in both the imperial court and local government.”

Hearing this, Qiu Huanian stroked his chin and gave Du Yunse a once-over. Du Yunse, puzzled by his scrutiny, asked, “Why are you looking at me like that, Hua-ge’er?”

Qiu Huanian grinned. “No matter what kind of noble family he comes from, I don’t think he can compare to you.”

Calling his taste poor? He would remember that grudge!

Objectively speaking, Yu Min was good-looking, talented, well-born, and had already made a name for himself in Xiangping Prefecture at a young age—he was outstanding in every way.

But he lacked worldly experience, acted impulsively, and was too ostentatious. Compared to Du Yunse, who had already learned to conceal his brilliance and bide his time, he was clearly at a disadvantage.

“Yunse, do well in the examination. I don’t want to be told I have bad taste again when the results come out,” Qiu Huanian huffed.

Seeing his rare display of childishness, Du Yunse found him particularly endearing and couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times. In a deep voice, he promised, “Alright.”

…

Two more days passed, and with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Zheng Yiwan sent a servant to deliver realgar wine and sachets filled with mugwort. In the main courtyard, the family’s young daughter played with a shuttlecock, colorful threads wrapped around her wrists.

Zheng Yiwan and Shu Huacai had only one daughter, named Ru Tang, who was ten years old and at the height of her playful years. Sometimes, Qiu Huanian could hear her laughter from the main courtyard even through the walls of the side courtyard.

The servant woman, fearing that Ru Tang might disturb the guests, wanted to intervene, but Qiu Huanian gestured for her not to. The noise from playing shuttlecock wasn’t loud enough to disrupt Du Yunse’s studies.

Standing by the small gate connecting the side courtyard to the main courtyard, Qiu Huanian enjoyed the cool evening breeze while casually chatting with the servant.

The current dynasty’s laws allowed only nobles and scholars who had passed the provincial examination (juren) or higher to own servants. However, where there were policies, there were workarounds—some wealthy families who didn’t meet the requirements either bought servants under the guise of adopting godchildren or hired people from their own clans without signing slave contracts.

The Shu family’s servant woman was one such example. She was a distant relative of Shu Huacai, a widow who had come to Xiangping Prefecture to work. Here, she had enough to eat, a place to sleep, light duties, no beatings or scoldings, and a monthly wage of 300 wen—her life was far better than it had been in her hometown.

With a smile, the servant woman told Qiu Huanian, “Tomorrow is the fifth day of the fifth month, the official Dragon Boat Festival. Madam asked me to inform the two esteemed guests that if you wish to watch the dragon boat races, you can head to Yuan Zheng Street tomorrow morning. The magistrate himself has organized a race on Ai River. Besides the dragon boat races, there will also be a poetry contest, with the headmaster of Qingfeng Academy and the provincial education commissioner serving as judges. Since this year’s festival happens to fall just before the provincial examination, many scholars are eager to showcase their talents before the new education commissioner.”

Hearing this, Qiu Huanian felt intrigued. In his modern life, he had only seen dragon boat races in online videos. Now that he was in ancient times, where entertainment options were much more limited, the prospect of such an event was too tempting to pass up.

“If Hua-ge’er wants to go, let’s go together tomorrow morning,” Du Yunse’s voice came from behind.

Qiu Huanian turned to see him stepping out of the house, dressed in a moon-white scholar’s robe. As he passed through the small garden in the center of the courtyard, his tall, elegant figure brushed against the delicate bamboo, making for a striking sight.

“Won’t it affect your exam preparations?” Qiu Huanian hesitated—there were only three days left until the first round of the provincial examination.

“The principles of literature are already ingrained in my mind. Daily review is enough. Besides, since we’ve been in the capital for a while now, it’s time to visit the examination grounds. And tomorrow’s poetry contest will feature many scholars from Xiangping Prefecture—I’d like to observe their talents.”

After some thought, Qiu Huanian nodded. “Then after we return from Ai River, we’ll go to the examination hall so you can familiarize yourself with the venue.”

“Familiarizing with the venue”—Du Yunse found the phrasing amusing. It was indeed quite apt.

The next morning, Qiu Huanian picked out embroidered new clothes for both himself and Du Yunse, tied on sachets filled with mugwort, and excitedly set out for Yuan Zheng Street to watch the dragon boat races.

In Xiangping Prefecture, the streets were crowded with tourists, and the wide avenues were bustling with people rubbing shoulders. From time to time, one could see noble young ladies and gentlemen, accompanied by several attendants, wearing veils and gauze hats, their laughter ringing out as a fragrant breeze swept by. The clear sky was without a single cloud.

Yuan Zheng Street was located in the southern part of Xiangping Prefecture’s capital and was built along the Ai River, which flowed through the city. A three-mile-long embankment ran alongside it, making it an ideal place for visitors to watch the dragon boat races.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse arrived early and found a great spot. Not only was it close to the grand pavilion where the prefect, the education commissioner, and the head of Qingfeng Academy were seated, but it also had a broad, unobstructed view.

Du Yunse carried a basket in his hand, filled with a water pouch and some snacks, all prepared by Qiu Huanian for them to enjoy while watching the race. Just like in modern times, when watching a sports game, one had to have skewers and beer—watching a competition in ancient times also required something to snack on!

As the sun rose, the sound of drums and gongs echoed along Yuan Zheng Street, and a procession of lion dancers and performers paraded through the streets. Many children, hoisted onto their parents’ shoulders, clapped and laughed, making the atmosphere increasingly lively.

By midday, the prefect stood on the grand pavilion and announced the start of the dragon boat race. More than a dozen vividly colored dragon boats instantly surged forward together. The rowers, dressed in matching uniforms with sweat cloths tied tightly around their heads, paddled furiously under the rhythmic command of the drummer at the bow.

Spectators along the Ai River shouted loudly in support of their favorite dragon boats. Standing among them, Qiu Huanian found the noise deafening but was quickly swept up in the excitement. He stood on tiptoe, lifting his sharp chin as he cheered.

Du Yunse held the basket in one hand and wrapped his other arm around Qiu Huanian’s shoulder, preventing him from being jostled or accidentally pushed into the river. As the two of them pressed closer together, Qiu Huanian didn’t notice, but a flicker of amusement flashed in Du Yunse’s eyes as he tightened his hold slightly.

The prizes for the top finishers of the dragon boat race were generous, so all the competing teams pushed themselves to their limits. The one-mile-long course was soon halfway completed, with some boats already lagging behind, while others had capsized, drawing laughter from the watching crowds.

As the dragon boats paddled further away and became less visible, Qiu Huanian reached into the basket in Du Yunse’s hands and took out some snacks and fruits, sharing them with him. This action caught the attention of some people nearby, and a few hungry onlookers even offered to buy food from him.

Qiu Huanian hadn’t planned to make money today and hadn’t brought much, so he simply shared a little with them without taking any payment. Eating together while watching the race quickly created a friendly atmosphere among them.

After learning that Du Yunse was in the city for the provincial examination, a well-dressed young man in his teens, surnamed Zhu, said, “Brother, why are you still here? After the dragon boat race, there’s the poetry contest. Many scholars who wish to showcase their talents have already gone to wait by the grand pavilion. From what I see, Brother Du is a man of refined literary talent—why not go and give it a try?”

Du Yunse hadn’t intended to draw attention to himself, but the young man continued, “This year, the poetry contest has invited the newly appointed education commissioner as a judge. Many wealthy families in the capital are giving him face, making the contest even grander. If Brother Du can place among the winners, those fine prizes certainly won’t go to waste.”

Du Yunse, recalling his plan to buy a gift for Qiu Huanian, was somewhat tempted. Qiu Huanian, eager to join in the excitement, immediately urged Du Yunse to participate.

Coming to ancient times, how could he miss out on the romantic elegance and literary charm of a live poetry contest?

“Brother Zhu, how do you know so much about the poetry contest?” Qiu Huanian asked, curious.

The young man in fine clothes chuckled, waving his fan, “Of course, because some of those prizes were provided by my family.”

He then closed his fan and gestured toward the grand pavilion. “The dragon boats are already too far to see clearly—let’s head straight over. I’ll take you there.”

The three of them squeezed through the crowd and arrived outside the grand pavilion. The doors and windows of the first floor were wide open, revealing the entire setup inside. The spacious hall was arranged with over a hundred desks, each equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and cushioned mats placed beneath them.

This was where the poetry contest would take place.

The well-dressed young man, about to introduce the setting, suddenly froze slightly. Following his gaze, Qiu Huanian saw a man in his twenties with a slightly stern expression.

“Jingwei, why aren’t you studying at home? What are you doing here?”

Zhu Jingwei shrank his neck. “Brother, today’s the poetry contest, and my tutor gave me a day off. I came to watch the talented scholars compose poetry.”

As for watching the dragon boat race—he wouldn’t mention that at all.

Zhu Jingwei’s elder brother knew his younger sibling’s nature and was about to reprimand him when he noticed Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian standing nearby. He held back his words and instead asked, “Jingwei, who are these two?”

“They are Du Tongsheng, who came to the capital for the provincial examination, and his husband. Du Tongsheng is a rare literary talent, and I brought him here to participate in the poetry contest,” Zhu Jingwei said, lavishing praise on Du Yunse to divert his brother’s attention.

The Zhu family was one of the top merchant families in Xiangping Prefecture. Zhu Jingcheng, as the eldest son and grandson, had been strictly trained from a young age to follow in their grandfather’s footsteps in business. Meanwhile, Zhu Jingwei, as the youngest legitimate grandson, had been doted on since childhood.

Although the Yu Dynasty prohibited merchant families from taking the imperial exams, the Zhu family still ensured that their children received a proper education so they would be well-mannered and respected in social interactions.

Zhu Jingwei, however, had never pursued a serious profession. His elder brother, fearing he would pick up bad habits outside, had kept him at home under a tutor’s supervision—but studying was sheer torment for Zhu Jingwei.

Zhu Jingcheng, seeing that Du Yunse was young yet carried an air of refinement, immediately cupped his hands in greeting. “So it is Du Tongsheng. I hope my younger brother has not been too forward—please do not take offense.”

In the Yu Dynasty, scholars were regarded as the highest class, while merchants, like the Zhu family, were unable to participate in the imperial examinations. As a result, they always treated scholars with great respect, hoping to form good relationships. If one of these scholars became successful in the future, the Zhu family would certainly benefit.

Zhu Jingwei, having dodged a lecture, grinned and eagerly moved closer. “Brother, you’re familiar with the poetry contest. Tell us about it!”

Author’s Note:

Qiu Huanian: Teasing, but holding back.

Du Yunse: Wanting to kiss, but holding back.

Both, blushing and in unison: We mustn’t scare him!

The slow burn continues.

In the previous chapter, there was a slight miscalculation in the pricing of fermented red bean curd (math skills have completely returned to my PE teacher—resting in peace, lying flat). Thanks to the sharp-eyed angels in the comments for pointing it out—it has now been corrected!

Revised Summary: The cost of ingredients for the fermented red bean curd was 1 tael. Fifty pounds of tofu, along with yellow wine and spices, produced 80 pounds of fermented red bean curd. Keeping 10 pounds for personal use, 70 pounds were sold to Auntie Huang at 70 wen per pound, totaling 4,900 wen. Auntie Huang rounded it up to 5 taels.

Thus, before heading to the capital, Huanian’s total cash on hand was:
5 taels (gift from Madam Song) + 5 taels (from selling the fermented bean curd) + 2 taels (original savings) + over 3 taels (from daily sales of sorghum candy) = more than 15 taels.