The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 215: Embarrassment

A month ago, Shen Lie’s prediction was correct: the Lu family was indeed going to retrieve the eldest son, as they had sent him away quite deeply. With both going in and out over the course of two months, even with Lu family members helping, it was getting late, and they risked missing the farming season.

Just after the Xu family father and son finished talking, Lu Erlang approached Shen Lie and Chen Dashan to discuss this matter, asking for some poison for arrows to be used in emergencies.

Over the past few years, Lu Erlang and Lu Sanlang had trained extensively, especially Lu Sanlang, who had made significant progress. The brothers were already familiar with various traces of mountain forests and wildlife. If they entered the mountains with some caution and had the arrow poison, bringing back the eldest son and a few others should be manageable.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the Lu brothers left the village and entered the mountains. Wei Qinghe had also informed each family and gathered those interested in attempting the provincial examination at one location for a practice test.

Almost all the children who had been studying didn’t have to go out to the fields that day. They all brought their stone tablets, brushes, and bowls of water to the Xu family’s house, where Shopkeeper Xu had already set up tables and chairs.

Parents and grandparents also came along, unwilling to leave, and stood by, observing.

Without paper and ink, most of the questions were recited from memory by Wei Qinghe. They used brushes dipped in water to write the answers on the stone tablets.

Since the water on the stone tablets dried quickly, Wei Qinghe, Wang Yunzheng, and Sang Luo all checked the answers simultaneously. The rules were made clear beforehand: anyone who could correctly answer fifteen out of thirty questions could proceed to the next round. As Ah Xu put it, writing with real paper and ink and seeing the actual situation was also beneficial.

After more than half an hour of testing, Wei Qinghe and Wang Yunzheng, who could be considered as half-teachers, had no trouble. Among the group of candidates, Shen An and Xu Wenbo had the best results, followed by Shen Lie and Xu Wenhong, then ten-year-old Zhou Changhe and Ah Xu. At the bottom, Xu Wenqing achieved the lowest score, answering fifteen or sixteen out of thirty questions correctly.

As for the Shi family’s three brothers—Zhou Sanlang, Zhou Silang, and Chen Ershan—half of them couldn’t answer the questions.

The onlookers, including Mrs. Chen and Zhou Cunzheng, were a mix of joy, sighs, and encouragement for their children to try harder.

Shi Qiao’er, while her three brothers were answering questions, had been quietly observing from behind their tables. If she weren’t worried about affecting her brothers, she would have jumped with excitement.

When the results came out, the young girl joined the group of girls and whispered to Xu Wenyin, Shen Ning, and Chen Xiaoya, “Why can’t girls take the exam? I think I answered better than my brothers.”

Chen Xiaoya, who had also watched from behind Chen Ershan, furrowed her brows and said, “I think I got eighteen questions right.”

Shen Ning, who often studied with Sang Luo and was influenced by her diligent older brothers, said, “I calculated that I should be able to get twenty-one questions right.”

Xu Wenyin looked at Shen Ning and said, “What a coincidence, I also got twenty-one right.”

It turned out they had all quietly answered the questions in their minds.

Xu Wenyin pouted, “I’ve never seen a girl working as an official, let alone attending school. The Wang family’s legitimate daughters do have female teachers, but their teaching is quite different from what we’ve learned. My mother learned some of it when she was young and taught me, but I didn’t like it.”

On the other side, Shopkeeper Xu said with a smile, “Alright, the results are out. Previously, our family and the Shen family gathered some paper and ink. A few days ago, Yunzheng’s uncle heard that many people in our village wanted to take the exam and sent a box of pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. Everyone who has been studying diligently can come and collect a share. Later, those who are going to take the exam should go to the county office to register, and then come back to learn how to use ink and inkstones. Practice at home for the next few days.”

As he spoke, Uncle Xu had already pulled Xu Wenqing to help him move a box from the corner of the hall and open it.

When they heard that the Wang family had sent pens, ink, paper, and inkstones, everyone was a bit surprised. Many had never seen such things before and gathered around to look at them. The items were neatly arranged and classified.

Mrs. Chen took a look and touched the inkstone, “So exquisitely carved? Is this for grinding ink? It looks quite different from the one we have at home.”

She was referring to the inkstone, which she had only seen at Zhou Cunzheng’s and the old Zhou village head’s homes.

Zhou Cunzheng and his wife looked and shook their heads in unison, “Our inkstones aren’t this good. These are much more expensive.”

Their inkstones were the cheapest ones available.

Sang Luo also glanced at them and had to admire the thoroughness of the Wang family. No wonder they could manage their business so successfully.

If the Wang family hadn’t sent these items, those determined to take the exam would have had to go into town in the afternoon to buy pens, ink, paper, and inkstones. While Xu’s family could provide paper and ink, they had no inkstones. It wouldn’t be practical to bring a bowl to the examination hall to hold the ink.

These items were timely and much appreciated. Who wouldn’t be grateful?

However, Sang Luo then thought of Wang Yunzheng and glanced at the young man. She still remembered the scene when Shopkeeper Xu brought news of Wang Yunzheng’s grandparents’ deaths.

At fourteen, he had become more composed. This time, he was able to speak calmly with the Wang family’s master and had only visited the Wang family once. He had since stayed in the village with Wei Qinghe. The Wang family had apparently not interfered.

Chen Lao did not consider all this. In his lifetime, he had only used window paper at home. Seeing these items from the Wang family, his rough hands didn’t dare to touch them.

“How much did these cost? The Wang family is too generous. We aren’t that close; it feels awkward to accept this.”

Shopkeeper Xu looked at Wang Yunzheng, knowing the Wang family and Yunzheng well. He said, “How can it be that we aren’t close? Everyone has been quite helpful to Yunzheng over the years. Here, take some.”

Wang Yunzheng nodded with a smile and went on to organize and distribute the items.

Farmers are frugal and know the value of such items. Shi Dalang instinctively said, “These should be given to those taking the exam. It’s better to use them for practice in these few days so they will be more comfortable during the exam.”

Wang Yunzheng shook his head, “Uncle Shi, there’s enough for everyone. After studying for so many years, it’s good to have experienced using these items. Even if not needed this time, they will be useful later.”

He sorted out the items with Xu Wenqing and distributed them to classmates.

Wang Yunzheng first handed Shen Lie double portions, “Master, these are for you and Madam.”

Shen Lie, seeing Wang Yunzheng’s calm demeanor, accepted the items with a smile, “Thank you very much.”

Wang Yunzheng, with a hint of a smile in his eyes, then took two more portions, giving one to Shen An and another to Shen Ning, who was not far from Shen An.

Shen Ning was surprised, “I get one too?”

Wang Yunzheng smiled, “Didn’t you study with us?”

Shen Ning’s eyes lit up, and she looked at the pens, ink, paper, and inkstones on the table. She asked Wang Yunzheng, “Is it enough? Aren’t these provided by your uncle? Do the girls get them too?”

“Yes,” Wang Yunzheng replied. “These were prepared by my uncle, but there are two large boxes, and this one includes my share. I made sure to provide enough.”

Shen Ning happily accepted the items, “Thank you.”

“No need to mention it,” Wang Yunzheng said with a smile. He then took another portion and handed it to Chen Ershan.

“What about mine?” Xu Wenyin, a few steps away, approached and then called to Chen Xiaoya and Shi Qiao’er, “Xiaoya, Qiao’er, come over.”

Since An Ning received a share, she assumed they would too and called them over without thinking.

Wang Yunzheng, smiling, handed Xu Wenyin three portions, “Here you go. Help distribute them.”

Shi Qiao’er and Chen Xiaoya, who had previously complained about girls not being able to take the exam, were overjoyed. “Really for us?”

They eagerly took a portion from Xu Wenyin, hugging it with one hand and touching the paper with the other. They were thrilled and quickly joined Shen Ning, and the four girls soon clustered together.

As Sang Luo looked at Wang Yunzheng, who seemed to have indeed balanced his relationship with the Wang family, she felt reassured. She picked up a piece of paper from Shen Lie’s hand and examined it.

“Wow, even at this time, there’s such good craftsmanship,” Sang Luo thought as she felt the texture of the paper. She reflected on the items she had soaked in the mountain stream and how she had spent over a month pondering and figuring out a method to make something similar. She was just waiting for a moment to try it out.

She had no other thoughts; even if it was just a piece of coarse paper, it would be a victory.

She sighed at the foundation of wealthy families. How many times had they been through such trials? Their resources were probably much more substantial than the current provincial offices.

—

In the largest public office in the provincial office, a young man who looked quite spirited had just set down his pen. As he waited for the ink to dry and prepared to roll up the document, he noticed the large words of “Da Qian” on the back of the scroll. His hand paused, and his expression grew even darker.

“Has the Zheng family still refused to take up the position of Provincial Scholar?”

The middle-aged scholar, the Chief Official of She Prefecture, smiled wryly and shook his head, “They’ve been visited three times and still claim to be ill.”

“It seems they don’t hold our Da Qi in high regard,” the young man said with a hint of sarcasm, “Let them stay ill. Who says the Provincial Scholar has to be a distinguished scholar from a prominent family? You should ask that old master from the Lin family.”

Hearing this, the middle-aged scholar smiled, “Very well, I’ll visit the Lin family this afternoon.”

Seeing the young man continue to roll up the document, he reminded, “Sir, this is to be sent to the Emperor for review. Please use a new piece of paper. Also, the Wang family’s head sent more than fifty boxes of paper when he brought his family’s children to register for the exam today. He said they found many in their collection.”

The young man, the current Prefect of Shezhou, paused momentarily but continued his task. “The situation is the same in all the provinces now, and the Emperor is aware of it. As for the paper, move thirty boxes to be sent along with the letter to the Emperor.”

They inherited a mess in Da Qi; as a provincial prefect, he had no fear of embarrassment.

After calling for a courier to handle the task, he asked the Chief Official, “How many people have registered for the Provincial Scholar exam?”

The Chief Official sighed, “I came to address this very issue. I’m afraid we won’t reach forty candidates this year. Since the notice was posted, only twenty-seven people have signed up.”

“Twenty-seven?” The young man frowned deeply, “Where’s the list?”

The Chief Official handed over the prepared list. The young man unfolded it and quickly scanned it, noting the names and their backgrounds.

The Wang family, the Lin family, and the rest were all from middle and small wealthy families.

The young man sneered repeatedly as he slapped the list down on the desk, “What a Zheng family! Over a hundred young men, and not one of them a scholar?”

“Send more people to publicize this vigorously. Visit the city gates, the two markets, and every district. Da Qi seeks talents; age doesn’t matter. Even if they are forty or fifty, they should come if they wish.”

The Chief Official, originally from a prominent family of the previous dynasty, had never encountered such a provincial examination. He was momentarily at a loss for words. Just as he was about to speak, a clerk entered with a hint of joy on his face, “Sir, someone has come to register for the Provincial Scholar exam! A total of nine people!”

The top two officials of Shezhou immediately looked up in surprise, “How many?”

“Nine people!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the two officials rushed out like the wind. The Chief Official, being a scholar, only realized what had happened as he reached the door of the office. He chased after the military-prefect, “Sir, don’t go out! Just look out the window, just look out the window.”