Chapter 31: Du Xiu Offended the Prefect
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For a scholar, the imperial examinations were no small matter.
Cheng Dahai arrived early that morning.
He stood in the courtyard, his expression grim.
“Third Brother.”
Looking at the younger brother he had once exploited and bullied, Cheng Dahai could only swallow his anger and say, “The prefectural examination is almost here, but I’m still short of some travel money for the journey to Ya Prefecture. Do you think you could lend me a little first...?”
“No!”
Madam Liu cut him off before he could finish.
“It’s a loan.”
“I’ll pay you back once I have the money...”
Cheng Dahai nearly ground his back teeth to powder.
Had this happened six months ago, Liu’s attitude alone would have been enough to earn her a scolding she would never forget.
But things were different now.
Ever since the third branch had separated from the family, their lives had grown increasingly prosperous. And with Cheng Dashan being so capable, it had not taken long for him to build up a considerable fortune.
How could Cheng Dahai possibly let such a useful younger brother slip away?
“Absolutely not!”
Liu Cuiyun stood proudly in the middle of the courtyard.
This was the first time she had ever spoken to Cheng Dahai from such a position. Besides the sheer satisfaction of it, she felt a faint, almost unreal elation.
“Let’s be frank, Big Brother.”
She glanced at her son, who was bent over his bowl, eating with gusto.
With undisguised pride, she said, “Little Six is also taking the academy examination this year. How much money can our family save in a year? Supporting one scholar has already drained us dry. Where would we find spare money?”
“He’s taking the academy examination?”
“Isn’t that just foolishness?”
For the moment, Cheng Dahai forgot all about borrowing money.
His words were full of mockery.
An eight-year-old boy taking the examination for the rank of licentiate?
Why not just have him sit for the scholar’s examination while you’re at it?
Someone flattered you by calling him a prodigy, and you actually believed it?
“How is that foolish?” Madam Liu glared at Cheng Dahai in displeasure. “Master Du said that my Little Six is a once-in-a-century genius, destined to become both a great general and a high minister!”
“Him? A general?”
“And a minister?”
Cheng Dahai could not even be bothered to sneer anymore.
He said bluntly, “Do you know why Du Xiu abandoned the imperial examinations and returned to his hometown with his entire family to become a village tutor?”
“Why?”
Inside the house, Cheng An suddenly set down his bowl.
Cheng Dahai cast him a sidelong glance, then ignored him and continued, “Because he offended Fan Xichun, the prefect of Ya Prefecture!”
“The prefect?”
“Is that really true, Big Brother?”
The couple from the Cheng family stared at him in astonishment.
Many country folk went their entire lives without ever seeing even a county magistrate, let alone a prefect. In Ya Prefecture, the prefect was practically an emperor in his own domain.
His reports reached the imperial court above, while his authority extended over the common people below.
To offend a prefect was no different from being sentenced to death.
“Uncle, aren’t you exaggerating?”
Cheng An could not remain seated. He rose and stepped outside. “If Master Du truly offended the prefect, how could he have made it back? And even if he did return, wouldn’t the local county magistrate retaliate against him?”
In those days, an official was as good as heaven itself.
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If he were the magistrate of Pinggu County, what would he do if an enemy of the prefect came into his territory?
There was only one answer.
Deal with him!
Other people might spend several lifetimes praying for an opportunity to curry favor with a superior. Never mind the magistrate of Pinggu County—even an ordinary person would know what choice to make.
“Why do you have so much to say?”
“Besides...”
Cheng Dahai could not explain himself, so he changed the subject. “Master Du is sending an eight-year-old child to take the academy examination. What do you think his intentions are? Can’t you see it?”
“Are you saying...”
“He wants to make a name for himself?”
Cheng Dashan spoke hesitantly.
Men who sought fame and reputation were usually ambitious.
How could Du Xiu truly be content to remain hidden away in the countryside?
If he were really a selfish opportunist, he would never have offended the prefect in the first place, much less willingly returned to a backwater like Qingshui Town.
“At least you have a little sense after all.”
Cheng Dahai once again assumed a superior air and sneered. “What else could it be? You don’t truly believe Du Xiu can cultivate some heaven-sent prodigy, do you?”
Remembering how his son had been expelled from the academy with a single word from Du Xiu, he was filled with resentment.
Back when they had all taken the examination for child scholars, Du Xiu had looked down on him and even remarked, “Fortunately, you managed to pass.”
That one comment had made him the object of ridicule for a long time.
But now...
Once he passed the scholar’s examination, every one of them would pay the price!
“But I’ve already promised Master Du!”
With that single sentence, Cheng An destroyed all of Cheng Dahai’s plans.
He then turned to his parents and said, “Father, Mother, Master Du already explained everything to me. This academy examination is mainly meant to give me some experience and broaden my horizons.”
In truth, taking an examination felt rather like going to prison.
The first time, one entered nervously.
The second time, one entered in confusion.
By the third or fourth time, it felt almost like returning home to sleep.
If one went often enough, even imprisonment could become familiar.
“Hah. You’re simply throwing money away.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone willingly make wedding clothes for another man!”
Cheng Dahai left unwillingly.
But as he departed, his gaze was unmistakably vicious.
...
Three days later, Cheng An set out from Qingshui Town.
Du Xiu had made painstaking preparations for his examination. Not only did he accompany Cheng An personally, he also gritted his teeth and rented a donkey cart. The party then headed straight for Pinggu County.
The journey, however, did not go smoothly.
“What are you two doing here?”
Du Xiu frowned as he looked at Gu Xiaorou and Gu Xiaoyue.
“The day after tomorrow is our mother’s death anniversary...”
“We’re going to clean her grave.”
The two sisters rarely visited the academy.
Yet even now, whenever they encountered Du Xiu, they could not help feeling timid.
“Your father didn’t come with you?”
“Father is too busy...”
“Busy with what?”
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Du Xiu was as blunt as ever. Frowning, he said, “What business could possibly be so important that he can’t even attend his first wife’s death anniversary? I told him long ago... Money, money, money! How much is ever enough?”
“It’s such a long journey. Is he really at ease letting you come alone? You’re two young girls. What will you do if you run into bandits along the way?”
A single donkey cart, accompanied by two servants.
A journey of more than fifty miles was no joke.
If they encountered desperate bandits who had no way to make a living, one slash would be enough to end their lives.
“No, Father, he...”
Gu Xiaoyue was just about to explain, but Gu Xiaorou stopped her with a glance.
Du Xiu noticed that something was wrong, but he did not pursue the matter.
“Since you’re here, come along with us. Once we reach the county seat, we can pay our respects together. That will count as doing your aunt a kindness in your mother’s place.”
The party set off again.
What had originally been three people had now become seven.
The journey also grew much livelier.
“Hey, you little rascal...”
“What?”
Cheng An answered impatiently.
Gu Xiaoyue immediately puffed up her cheeks. “What kind of attitude is that? Have you forgotten how you and Sister Qingqing secretly...”
“Hey, hey, hey!”
Cheng An instantly sat upright.
He glanced at Du Xiu, who was dozing nearby, then winked and gestured frantically. “If you have something to say, just say it. Why keep bringing up the past?”
“Hmph!”
“So you do know how to be afraid?”
Gu Xiaoyue looked slightly pleased with herself.
She raised her eyebrows and said, “I heard you’re taking the academy examination this time. An eight-year-old scholar... Tsk, tsk! Are you trying to imitate Sima Liang of the previous dynasty?”
Every era had its child prodigies.
In the previous dynasty, Sima Liang could recognize a thousand characters at the age of three, recite ancient poems at five, and read the classics fluently by seven. Emperor Zhao Jiong of the Zhou dynasty had hailed him as a genius without equal.
“Was Sima Liang really that impressive?”
“Nothing but an empty shell!”
Cheng An had spent the past few months reading extensively through the histories. He also understood much about the current political situation.
To put it plainly, Sima Liang had been an opportunist who pursued his own interests at the expense of his country’s foundations. Those so-called glorious reputations were merely embellishments deliberately added by his followers.
It was much the same as the tales of Cao Chong weighing an elephant, Kong Rong giving up the larger pears, and Kuang Heng reading by moonlight through a hole in the wall.
Such praise was usually nothing more than carefully crafted propaganda meant to elevate a person’s reputation.
As the saying went:
“Once we reach the city, learned scholars will surely appear to defend my arguments!”
“Tsk!”
“You actually look down on Sima Liang?”
Gu Xiaoyue curled her lips in disdain.
Cheng An gave a soft laugh and said contemptuously, “What is there to admire about a man who formed factions for personal gain and handed over his country’s territory to a foreign enemy?”
“That’s enough!”
“Scholars should not discuss affairs of state!”
Du Xiu had woken at some point.
His face appeared stern, but the faint satisfaction between his brows was impossible to miss.