Waiting for Chen Liejiu to continue, Xu Huaqian didn't get more words but instead felt his breath close. He froze completely.
Thinking he was about to be kissed, he waited but nothing happened. He couldn't help asking: "What's wrong?"
Chen Liejiu snapped out of it just in time, stopping himself. He touched his forehead, which felt hot again for some reason, and shook his head: "It's nothing." He just felt his heat flushes were becoming more frequent lately.
Would he have an episode before his little husband even came of age?
He had seen Xu Huaqian's household registration and knew his birthday was in December—still several months away!
The Jin Dynasty stipulated that women and men must be at least eighteen to marry and have children, but as the dynasty was newly established, rural areas still followed the old customs of the previous dynasty, allowing marriage at sixteen.
Back then, Wang Wanwan and Chen Jinhu were thirteen and fourteen respectively, and Chen Liejiu had accepted their marriage. For a seventeen-year-old husband, he wasn't opposed either.
It was just that Xu Huaqian's body was too weak?
He was afraid that if he wasn't careful, he might exhaust him to death?
It wasn't Chen Liejiu boasting—his body was much stronger than the average man's!
He could handle a whole night without problems!
But looking at Xu Huaqian sitting tall on the oxcart, that slender waist that looked like one could easily encircle it was downright nerve-wracking.
Xu Huaqian had no idea Chen Liejiu had already mentally dragged him to bed and exhausted him for several nights. Sitting on the oxcart, listening to the rustling sound of its movement, he was thinking: Meng Fangxun's exam results should be out by now.
Why hadn't there been any news for so long?!
Did he not get the top rank? Was he too embarrassed to share the news?
But he didn't think Meng Fangxun was the type to feel ashamed just for not being first.
As he pondered this, upon entering the village, they heard the villagers congratulating him.
"Scholar Xu is back!"
"Scholar Xu, you passed the Xiucai exam!"
"Congratulations, congratulations, Scholar Xu!"
"I said so! Early this morning, magpies were circling over our Xinghua Village. There had to be a great happy event! Before noon, the news-bearer for Scholar Xu arrived!"
"The only one in our Xinghua Village! Liejiu, you're blessed now. Don't forget to host a grand banquet for everyone!"
"That's right! That's right! You didn't hold a banquet for the marriage. Now that Scholar Xu has passed, you must treat us properly!"
The villagers' teasing came suddenly. Chen Liejiu and Xu Huaqian were completely unprepared.
After they chattered enthusiastically, Xu Huaqian, amidst his confusion, finally processed it and asked Chen Liejiu, who was close beside him: "I passed the Xiucai exam?"
Because he couldn't see, the joy couldn't be conveyed through his eyes. It felt like suddenly stepping onto a cloud—unbelievably unreal.
Chen Liejiu also snapped out of the surreal news and nodded affirmatively at him: "It seems so!"
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" If it weren't so painful, Xu Huaqian would have pinched himself!
Having experienced the exams once, he witnessed how difficult ancient exams were. Forget the Four Books and Five Classics; just the various classical essays, odes, and compositions could drive anyone mad!
He had only studied for four months total! Two months were self-study, and the remaining two were systematic learning at the academy.
But his knowledge was ultimately limited. He couldn't possibly master in an instant what the original host had failed to learn over more than a decade. He only grasped the basics.
During the exam, he kept thinking, "It's over! It's over! I definitely failed!"
Therefore, after returning to the village for so long without news, Xu Huaqian wasn't discouraged. If he didn't pass this time, he would try again next year.
He never expected such a sudden turn of fortune! He went up the mountain and came back to find he had passed?
What incredible luck did he have?!
Xu Huaqian didn't think his patched-together odes and poetry could win the examiner's favor. The only possibly commendable parts were the classical text transcription and the policy essay.
But that policy essay was written while he had a fever. He didn't know if he had written anything too ahead of its time for this era.
He had been worried about that earlier. Now, hearing he had passed, he felt relieved. Probably not.
"You're not dreaming!" Xu Huaqian couldn't see, but Chen Liejiu could!
The villagers' genuinely congratulatory expressions transmitted through his eyes into his mind—so utterly real!
If this weren't true, the villagers wouldn't show such expressions. They would have kept their distance or worn hypocritical and ingratiating smiles when he appeared.
This level of uncontrolled excitement, coming to congratulate him so openly, was rare. Besides Xu Huaqian actually passing, he couldn't think of any other reason!
As happy as he was, Chen Liejiu didn't get carried away. Listening carefully to their chatter, he found a key point: "The news-bearer came?! Has he left?!"
"He left!"
A villager immediately replied: "The news-bearer went to your house and told your Wanwan. He took the reward money she gave and said he had to rush to Taoli Village to deliver news there, so he didn't delay!"
"Taoli Village!" Hearing this village name, Xu Huaqian's smile blossomed even brighter. "Xiao Wen passed too! Old Master Zhang can rest easy now!"
Taoli Village had many more scholars than Xinghua Village, which only had Xu Huaqian, but only Zhang Bingwen had passed the Tongsheng exam. So the Xiucai from Taoli Village must be him!
Unlike Xu Huaqian's seemingly lucky pass, Zhang Bingwen's was earned through genuine effort!
He was only fourteen. With such achievements at this young age, his future accomplishments would only be greater. One could imagine how happy Old Master Zhang and his family must be.
Xu Huaqian didn't know what this feeling was—being happier for his friend's success than his own—but he was utterly delighted.
"Hey, thank you!" Chen Liejiu felt the same. Seeing Xu Huaqian so happy made him incredibly joyful. Hearing this, he thanked the villager and promised, "Once we're settled, we'll definitely host a banquet for everyone!"
He would throw one grand celebration combining the wedding and Xiucai banquet for Xu Huaqian!
"Well, we'll be waiting then!"
The villagers responded joyfully, but their hearts were somewhat complex. Earlier, they had been expecting to soon attend Xu Huaqian's funeral feast. Instead, they witnessed his steady rise, now to a Xiucai banquet.
It showed that life is truly unpredictable! One should not easily dismiss, belittle, or slander others, because human potential is limitless.
You never know when someone might rise again at some crossroads, appearing before you in the most glorious manner, making your disdain look like a joke.
Of course, Xu Huaqian was unaware of the villagers' thoughts or Chen Liejiu's ambitious plans.
Upon returning home, he eagerly pulled Chen Liejiu, asking him to pack some charcoal.
Coincidentally, since this charcoal was now produced, he could give some as gifts to his fellow Xiucai friends.
It wouldn't be too extravagant nor too shabby. It could be used in the upcoming winter—practical and thoughtful!
Xu Huaqian thought to himself: Since he and Zhang Bingwen had passed, surely Duan Youyan and Meng Fangxun should have too?!
—And probably Pei Wangshu as well?
The situation in other households was unknown, but Meng Fangxun's family was definitely in for a glorious time!
Top of the List!
Top of the List in Yong'an Prefecture!
When the Magistrate of Anning County received this news, he was absolutely ecstatic. Top of the List! Top of the List!
Yong'an Prefecture governed twelve counties. How did the top rank land in his county?!
With this, becoming a Juren in three years was practically guaranteed!
Because Yong'an Prefecture was located in the southern part of the Changnan Provincial Administration Commission, a custom from who-knows-which dynasty dictated that the northern parts of any commission were always more developed than the southern, let alone the southernmost part of the south.
So, being assigned as a magistrate in a remote county in the southernmost prefecture of Changnan, if he didn't achieve something memorable here, he could forget about climbing the ranks!
Unless he had connections!
The Magistrate of Anning County had also climbed step by step through the exams, ending up as a low-ranked Third Class Jinshi. He had no relatives or close friends in the capital, let alone powerful connections!
Coming to Anning County meant that, barring any surprises, he would likely be forgotten here for life.
But it wasn't completely hopeless. For example, if his county produced a few Juren or Jinshi, the Prefect of Yong'an, seeing that this county produced many scholars and capable officials, would at least not think he was utterly incompetent, failing even in basic education. Pleased, he might promote him to Yong'an Prefecture, which was better than being a country magistrate.
Therefore, the magistrates of all twelve counties under Yong'an Prefecture placed great emphasis on education. They often went to Qinglian Academy and Qixian Academy to lecture to Xiucai and Juren, hoping they could advance further. But small places remained small; they rarely produced literary talents.
Only the county-toppers each year held some hope. The top candidates for the past two terms had been from Qixian Academy. Everyone thought this term's top rank would also be securely taken by Qixian Academy.
It had nothing to do with their Qinglian Academy, formed by five counties. Nobody expected Meng Fangxun to be the dark horse!
This shocked the Magistrate of Anning County and the heads and teachers of Qinglian Academy!!!
Meng Fangxun was actually this capable!!!
He surpassed the beloved disciple jointly taught by the head of Qixian Academy and the teacher from Suzhou!!!
After the shock came wild joy for the magistrate and Qinglian Academy!
The magistrate was delighted that his county had produced the top candidate from Anning County. Would Yong'an Prefecture finally notice Anning County?
If Meng Fangxun passed the provincial exams in three years, becoming "Meng Juren of Anning County, Yong'an Prefecture," wouldn't Yong'an Prefecture notice him, the magistrate?