Chapter 30: Do You Want to Take the Prefecture Examination?

Months passed. The storms within the Cheng family gradually subsided. Since the family had split, Old Lady Han no longer had any excuse to enslave the second and third branches. Although she would occasionally come over to cause a scene, Liu Cuiyun and Cheng Dashan mostly chose to endure it for the sake of their reputation, yielding to a few of her demands as long as they were not too unreasonable.

However, the Cheng household, now lacking its able-bodied laborers, was in a truly sorry state. In Old Lady Han’s own words, she had not had a full meal in a long time. Her influence in the house had plummeted; she not only had to do the chores but also had to watch Qin Dongzhi’s every expression. Yet, no matter how much she played the victim, Liu would not soften her heart. The hardships of the previous decade still stuck in her throat like a fishbone; no matter how magnanimous she tried to be, she could not simply let it all blow away like smoke.

The heartening news was that, freed from the shackles of their original household, Cheng An’s family was thriving more and more. They were supported not only by their own harvest from the fields but also by the business dealings with the Gu family. Even the fellow villagers remarked that the third son of the Cheng family was doing well, his lips often glistening with oil.

Cheng An had also grown noticeably taller. Standing beside Du Qingqing, the two were now almost the same height.

"Look at you!" Du Qingqing, who was washing clothes under the eaves, pointed at a tear in his short shirt and scolded, "I just mended this, and it’s torn again! Can't you be more careful? Do you want to work your senior sister to death?"

Cheng An, sitting beside her reading, curled his lip. "The clothes are just too small."

"Still talking back? I said you were careless, so you were careless." Du Qingqing narrowed her beautiful eyes, feigning a fierce look.

Cheng An hurriedly put down his book and laughed along, "Yes, yes, it’s all my fault for not being careful. I’ve caused you trouble, Senior Sister. I’ll definitely be more careful in the future!"

"Hmph! That’s more like it..." Du Qingqing raised an eyebrow with a smile. Putting on the air of an elder, she lectured, "This is only at home. What if you get married in the future? Mending clothes every day—see who would be willing to marry you."

"Then I just won't marry," Cheng An shrugged nonchalantly.

"Foolish talk! If you don't marry, how will you carry on the family line?" Du Qingqing had grown increasingly radiant, and at just fourteen, she already possessed a touch of maturity.

"If I can't be with someone I truly like, what does it matter if I spend my life alone? Haven't you heard the saying, Senior Sister? 'Better to miss out than to settle!'"

"Where did you hear such nonsense?" Du Qingqing frowned slightly, yet in her heart, she secretly agreed with the sentiment. She was also surprised; a child of eight... already understood the matters between men and women?

"Senior Sister?"

"Hmm..."

Watching her familiar, gentle, and pretty face, Cheng An feigned innocence. "Do you have someone you like?"

"What?" Du Qingqing’s train of thought was interrupted, and her face flushed red instantly. "You little brat, what are you spouting? 'Like' or not... how old are you? Have you been sneaking looks at your father's miscellaneous books again?"

"No!" Cheng An denied it flatly. "I’m just curious. I used to hear people say that the affairs of men and women are as beautiful as the bright moon and stars, and the books also record many who were infatuated with love... But is getting married really that good?"

Du Qingqing froze for a moment, and then, perhaps thinking of something, her face turned bright red. "You—you still say you haven't read them? At such a young age, you keep talking about 'liking' and 'marrying.' Aren't you ashamed? Besides, I’ve never been married, how would I know?"

"Then let’s get married!" Cheng An blinked innocently.

"I..."

"You brat, how dare you take advantage of me!" Du Qingqing was so embarrassed and angry that she grabbed her laundry club and chased after him.

Cheng An turned and ran, shouting, "It’s precisely because I haven't been married that I want to! The books say that once you're married, you're not a child anymore! I want to be a grown-up!"

"I'll show you grown-up!"

The two chased each other around the courtyard, their laughter ringing out from time to time.

"Father." "Teacher..."

Just then, Du Xiu entered from the gate. The two hurriedly stood at attention.

"What kind of behavior is this, chasing and fighting all day?" Du Xiu scolded with a straight face. The two, being reprimanded, lowered their heads and dared not speak, only trading surreptitious glares.

"Enough. Go back to your work, Qingqing..." Du Xiu waved his hand, then looked at Cheng An. "You, come inside with me."

"Yes."

In the study, Du Xiu was like both a strict teacher and a kind father. "How well have you memorized the books I gave you?"

"I have mastered most of them..." Cheng An recited a few essays and then offered his own insights.

"Not bad." Du Xiu smiled with satisfaction. "To reach such a level at this age, I dare say that not just in the whole of Yaozhou, but at least within Pinggu County, there is no second one like you!"

Who was he praising? Cheng An understood perfectly. He bowed respectfully and said, "It is entirely due to your excellent instruction, Teacher. Without your dedicated guidance over these past few months, even with all my efforts, I could not have achieved this today."

"It is because you have a gift." Du Xiu smiled with deep gratification. For a teacher, the greatest dream was to see their students flourish. Cheng An’s appearance not only gave Du Xiu a long-lost sense of accomplishment but also filled him with hope. Perhaps his own life would amount to this, but he had a disciple! Years from now, who could say that a golden phoenix might not fly out of these mountain gullies in Qingshui Town?

"The prefectural examination this year..." Du Xiu smiled, "do you want to go?"

"Me?" Cheng An looked up in surprise. The prefectural exam was the most basic level of the imperial examinations. Those who passed became child scholars. But any imperial exam was like thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge! His uncle, Cheng Dahai, had luckily passed it back in the day and had been the talk of the town! Even though he later failed the provincial exams twice, he remained one of the few educated men in the Qingshui Town area.

"Teacher, am I capable?" Cheng An felt a bit uneasy. This wasn't feigned; he truly lacked confidence. Wasn't passing the postgraduate entrance exam in his previous life hard enough? Compared to the imperial examinations of this era, it wasn't even in the same league. Out of tens of thousands in the county, only a few dozen would pass. And that was not to mention the later stages—the licentiate, the provincial graduate, the metropolitan graduate... every step forward was built upon a mountain of crushed dreams.

"How will you know if you don't try?" Du Xiu’s expression turned serious. "Aren't we living for a bit of 'spirit'? Keep your chest up! You are only eight; there is no shame in failing. Instead..."

The words "fame and fortune" were too glaring, and Du Xiu held back. But Cheng An’s mental age was far beyond eight; he understood Du Xiu’s intentions. If the White Horse Academy could produce an eight-year-old child scholar, what would that mean? Even if Cheng An didn't pass, as long as he went, and as long as his loss wasn't too ugly, the name of Du Xiu would still echo throughout Pinggu County.

"I do have my own selfish motives in this matter..." The usually upright Du Xiu felt a rare moment of guilt. He sighed and looked at Cheng An again. "However, this county examination is truly an opportunity for you. If luck is on your side, who knows... you might even come across a grand opportunity!"

"Rest assured, Teacher, I will definitely go! And I will certainly not bring disgrace to you or Senior Sister!" Cheng An smiled sincerely.

"Good!" Du Xiu nodded with relief. Then, he suddenly froze, frowning as he stared at Cheng An for a moment. Seeing the child’s innocent face and bright smile, he couldn't help but curse himself for his improper thoughts. The child was only eight—where had his mind wandered?