Qinglian Academy was overjoyed: Finally! Finally!
After so many years! Qinglian Academy finally had a top candidate!
They thought Meng Fangxun's detached, non-competitive nature would only get him second place this time. Unexpectedly, he pushed himself and brought honor to the academy and the county!
Zuo Zhengjian was almost moved to tears.
Rewards! Rewards! Must reward!
Both the county and the academy simultaneously sent gifts and monetary awards to his home. The Meng family, who had lived frugally to support Meng Fangxun's studies and had very little money, suddenly found themselves much better off.
When the news arrived, Meng Fangxun was plowing the field. They had just harvested wheat in August; in September, they had to plow under the wheat stubble. Otherwise, when winter frost came, they wouldn't be able to dig the ground to plant other crops.
As the top candidate, the news-bearers came with music and fanfare. Hearing the cheerful suona music, Meng Fangxun joked with his father, brother, and sister-in-law: "I wonder who's getting married today, they even hired musicians!"
Marriages in the countryside were usually very simple. Sometimes, the woman or man would just bring a red veil and go with the man, or carry a bundle and leave. Even marriage certificates weren't necessary. If you slept at their house one night, the whole village would consider you their new wife or husband the next day!
Just like Xu Huaqian and Chen Liejiu—he agreed to be Chen Liejiu's live-in husband, slept in his room one night, and the next day, regardless of what others thought, he was default considered Chen Liejiu's live-in husband!
Those who followed the proper betrothal process with matchmaking and name exchange did exist, but only among wealthy families in towns. Country folk didn't bother.
Of course, some more particular families would host a few banquet tables, inviting friends and relatives to eat, allowing the new wife or husband to meet people and have some lively fun.
But it was rare. Hiring a suona band was unheard of, hence Meng Fangxun's teasing.
But right after he joked, an aunt from the village who was close to his family, still wearing an apron and holding a spatula, ran from the village to their field, looking utterly anxious: "Oh my! You Meng family really aren't in a hurry?! Your Fangxun passed the Xiucai exam! I heard he's even the top candidate! The news-bearers have been waiting at your house for ages! Why are you all still plowing the field?!"
"Ah?!" Meng Fangxun, hearing her rapid-fire, machine-gun-like delivery, was so shocked he almost hoed his own foot!
"Oh, be careful!" The aunt was frantic. She didn't care that she was holding a spatula; she walked into the field, snatched the hoe from Meng Fangxun, and threw it aside. "You clumsy child, stop playing with hoes. Go back and pick up your writing brush to deal with the people in your yard."
She acted as if she were dragging her own son, so anxious for Meng Fangxun!
"Shoe! Second Aunt! Shoe!" Dazedly pulled from the field, Meng Fangxun lost a shoe and hurried back to put it on.
The aunt was dying of anxiety. What time was it to worry about shoes?!
After he put on his shoe, the rest of the Meng family seemed to finally process it.
Father Meng: "My son passed the Xiucai exam!"
Mother Meng: "My son passed the Xiucai exam!"
Elder Brother Meng: "My son—no no no—my brother passed the Xiucai exam!"
"He passed, he passed!" Second Aunt Meng saw them echoing each other like a comedy routine and was extremely impatient. "Hurry home! What are you still dawdling for?!"
"Mm! Let's go!" Father Meng nodded, abandoned the hoes, and led the family sprinting home.
They left Second Aunt Meng alone in the field, holding a hoe, looking at the scattered tools, utterly confused. Had she come to call them or not?
The Meng family were all a bit slow to react. When they rushed home and saw the house full of news-bearers, they finally confirmed their son had truly passed the Xiucai exam!
All those years supporting his studies hadn't been in vain!
When Little Xunzi was three, he would climb onto the threshold of the private school to listen to the teacher, refusing to leave even when chased. They thought sending him to school would be good, so he wouldn't have to dig food from the ground like them.
They never expected the kid to be so promising!
He went from private school to Tongsheng, entered the academy on his own, which even reduced his tuition, and now he had directly earned an official rank for them.
The Magistrate and the academy had both given rewards—fifty taels! A full fifty taels!
Father Meng had never seen so much money in his life! And hearing his son was the top candidate, who wouldn't have to kneel before officials, would have all land taxes exempted, and would receive a two-tael silver stipend yearly and six dou of rice monthly for meals, he was so excited he didn't know what to say, could only repeatedly say Meng Fangxun was had brought honor.
Others also praised them, praising Father Meng, Mother Meng, Elder Brother Meng, and Sister-in-Law Meng for their hardship in raising a Xiucai, for their years of hardship yielding to sweetness. The praise moved them to tears.
Only the calmed-down Meng Fangxun sat on the threshold with a bowl of water, took a sip, and secretly smacked his lips. At least he hadn't failed Xu Huaqian and the others' expectations—he got the top rank!
Hahahaha! Now he wouldn't have to hear them say he couldn't surpass Zhong Yichen or that Qinglian Academy was inferior to Qixian Academy. He could finally have some peace and quiet.
He just wondered if Xu Huaqian and the others had passed?!
They had! They all had!
Oh! Except for that utterly hopeless Pei Wangshu, who failed, Xu Huaqian, Duan Youyan, and Zhang Bingwen all passed!
Zuo Zhengjian, head of Qinglian Academy, had just sent gifts to top candidate Meng Fangxun when he learned that Xu Huaqian and the others—whom he had never held much hope for—had also become Xiucai.
His emotions were a rollercoaster.
His first thought upon hearing the news was: How is that possible?
His second thought, asking others: "Is it really true?!"
When he found out it was truly true, Zuo Zhengjian felt his heart squeezed. He didn't know whether to burst with joy or burst with even more joy!
Although he had held no hope for them, their passing set an example for other students at Qinglian Academy!
Look, they passed after just two months of effort! What about you?! Have you worked hard?!
Although the letter said Zhang Bingwen, Xu Huaqian, and Duan Youyan had passed, they were at the very bottom of the list—nothing like the glory of being top candidate!
But what did that matter?
Whether last or first, passing meant they were Xiucai!
Xiucai from Qinglian Academy!
That was enough! Besides, the top candidate was also from Qinglian Academy!
Zuo Zhengjian was so delighted by this sudden surprise that he snickered secretly at home for days. He couldn't wait to go to Qixian Academy soon and shame that old fool!
Some were happy, others worried.
Zhong Yichen was very annoyed about not getting the top rank. He thought Meng Fangxun looked ordinary, so his abilities must be average.
Wasn't it said that good-looking people had good scholarship? Appearance reflects the heart. He thought Meng Fangxun didn't look scholarly, yet his knowledge was this good?
He directly surpassed him for the top rank.
Actually, him being top rank wouldn't have been a big deal. But he had boasted before the exam that the top rank was his for the taking. Everyone in the county was expecting his results.
Now, he wasn't the top candidate but the second. Everyone in the county looked at him strangely, so he hadn't gone out for days, feeling like people's stares would kill him!
But he couldn't stay indoors; he would suffocate. Especially since his parents were also nagging at home: "Weren't you going to get the top rank? And you only got second!"
Zhong Yichen retorted: "I think second is pretty good too!"
"Good my foot!" his mother said irately. "I don't even dare lift my head outside! I'm afraid people will see me!"
"Then why did you have to boast while playing pai gow?" Zhong Yichen pursed his lips. "Saying your son was brilliant and would definitely get the top rank! See what happened? Now we're both embarrassed!"
"Maybe we should move," Zhong Yichen offered a bad idea. "Move to another county. Then no one will laugh at us."
"Easier said than done?" His mother was so angry her head was buzzing. "Where would the money to move come from?"
"I'll find a way to earn it!" Zhong Yichen thought his poetry and verse were quite good. He wanted to try selling poems.
His mother didn't believe him: "Earn it first, then talk!"
Xu Huaqian didn't care about other families' situations. That day, he finally had all the white charcoal for his friends packed and was ready to go out with Chen Liejiu.
But Chen Liejiu said he was going inside to change clothes and hadn't come out yet. Calling out twice brought no response.
He thought about it, felt his way along the wall to their room, pushed the door open, and called inside: "A-Jiu?"
"...Mm." Chen Liejiu's voice sounded strained, uncomfortable. "...Don't come in... I'll be fine in a moment..."
Xu Huaqian couldn't see, but his hearing and smell were sharp. As soon as the door opened, he caught a very rich fragrance—not overpowering but pleasant, the same natural scent he smelled on him every night.
Combined with the soft, wet sounds and some faint rustling from inside, his face instantly flushed red down to his neck.
He immediately understood what Chen Liejiu was doing.
He stood awkwardly at the door, unsure whether to enter or leave, and asked nervously: "...Baby, do you need help?"
He had heard about men's heat flushes, but he didn't know exactly what they entailed, only bits and pieces.
For example, the line on the brow turning red and hot, the body feeling unbearably feverish, becoming mentally confused from discomfort, etc., etc.
But he had never seen it concretely.
Now, Chen Liejiu's condition seemed like a heat flush episode? "...No, I can manage." Chen Liejiu, behind the bed curtains, was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear. Why did it have to happen now, of all times?
"...Oh?" Xu Huaqian was puzzled. "Doesn't this... require someone to help resolve it?"
"...Not at the beginning... Releasing it helps." Knowing his own body, Chen Liejiu felt it wasn't yet bad enough to need another person.
"Alright." Since Chen Liejiu was more embarrassed than he was, Xu Huaqian didn't press. He started to close the door to leave but then stepped back into the room. "Everyone is waiting for us outside. If I stand alone by the door, they'll come ask. I'll stay inside with you. If anyone asks, I can cover for you for a while."
The timing was unfortunate. A few days ago, Xu Huaqian had prepared four cartloads of white charcoal for his friends—one for each family. He hired four oxcarts and eight men (two per cart). Now, including their whole family, over a dozen people were waiting outside. If they heard Chen Liejiu's noises, wouldn't he lose all face?
For his husband's dignity, Xu Huaqian decided to guard him by the door.
"...Alright."
Chen Liejiu's breathing seemed to carry heat, his words sounding sweaty, making Xu Huaqian's ears burn.
He felt around the table, found a stool, sat with his back to Chen Liejiu, and didn't speak. He poured himself a cup of water and took a thirsty sip.
The fragrance in the room was too intense, like an invitation to sin. The noises from the bed grew louder; Chen Liejiu's sounds became increasingly hard to bear.
He sat up straight, hardly daring to breathe, afraid of disturbing him. Sweat beaded on his forehead, nose tip, and neck.
Though he couldn't see, this was even more torturous than seeing.
Finally, the movements behind the curtain stopped. Xu Huaqian waited a moment, swallowed his Adam's apple bobbing, and asked softly: "Baby? Are you done?"
No answer.
He asked again: "...A-Jiu?"
"...Mm." Chen Liejiu's voice was weak. "...Come here."
"...Oh, okay." Xu Huaqian carefully stood up. Walking toward the bed, his legs felt weak—numb from sitting too long. He steadied himself and approached, thinking Chen Liejiu might need help getting up. He reached into the curtain to assist.
But the moment his hand entered the curtain, the person inside pulled him forcefully onto the bed: "Help me, help me, I can't take it anymore."
It was too unbearable. It couldn't be relieved...
Xu Huaqian's voice trembled with nervousness: "...I can't see. How can I help?"
"You can see!" Chen Liejiu grabbed his hand, guiding it everywhere. "Your hands can see!"