Chapter 222: Posting The List
A few days later, they arrived in the provincial capital again.
The short-term house they rented last time, this time they directly paid to stay in an inn.
According to the date, tomorrow was the day the list would be posted. They didn’t need to stay in the provincial capital too long, so there was no need to rent a house. Moreover, the services in the inn were much more convenient than renting a house themselves.
“I think I just saw Xiao Ci.” Zhong Chushan walked into the inn hall from outside.
Su Yaoguang looked out the window: “Where?”
“He flashed in front of me, and when I wanted to confirm, he was gone again.”
“Tomorrow the results will be posted, so it’s normal for him to be here.” Chen Buyu said, “But the mess in his family is really ugly. If I were him, I would never go back for the rest of my life.”
“He’s not from our place anyway, why go back?” Zhong Chushan said, “Actually, strictly speaking, that mother and daughter did him a favor. If they hadn’t kept him, he might have been sold to some place. No matter what, he should at least collect that woman’s corpse. But he just disappeared, leaving her corpse thrown into the mass grave without even a tomb.”
“How did I not know you were such a living Bodhisattva?” Chen Buyu teased him.
Zhou Wangshu looked out the window and saw that figure pass by the alley entrance in front, then disappear.
It really was Xiao Ci.
Before leaving, deal with him!
“Shall we go stroll the night market later?” Chen Buyu said, “I heard many scholars are going to Ting Feng Tower today; it should be very lively there. We might even run into many old friends.”
“What’s Ting Feng Tower?” Su Yaoguang asked curiously.
“It’s a elegant place for reciting poems.” Chen Buyu said, “We used to gather there almost every time before.”
“Then you all go, I won’t go.” Su Yaoguang felt a headache just hearing about those scholars.
Rather than listening to those scholars showing off their knowledge, it was better to rest well in the inn. If she was really bored, she could stroll around the city by herself, doing whatever was comfortable.
“I’ll bring you some midnight snacks later.” Zhou Wangshu said, “If you sleep early, I’ll save them for you to eat tomorrow.”
Zhou Wangshu and Zhong Chushan and the others left.
Su Yaoguang rested in the room for a while, listening to the liveliness outside, standing by the window looking at the scenery outside.
Tomorrow was the posting day, and today many people gathered in the county town, making it several times livelier than usual.
At the alley entrance, Zhou Wangshu frowned at the subordinate dressed as a beggar in front of him: “Couldn’t find Xiao Ci?”
The beggar subordinate said: “Hall Master, I already showed the portrait you gave me to all the brothers, and everyone said they haven’t seen him.”
Zhou Wangshu took a piece of paper from his bosom and unfolded it; it was Xiao Yanci’s portrait.
Xiao Yanci had an outstanding appearance; as long as one paid a little attention, he should be easy to notice. Yet, the informants from the branch here couldn’t find him.
Xiao Yanci was in disguise.
If he hadn’t done anything guilty, he wouldn’t have resorted to disguise. His sneaky behavior and such careful hiding only made it more obvious he had a guilty conscience.
But he could dodge the first but not the fifteenth. Once he was on the list, the local prefect would banquet all the scholars who passed, and he would have to show up then.
The next day, Zhou Wangshu and Su Yaoguang squeezed into the crowd.
Zhong Chushan and Chen Buyu did not appear on site.
Originally they weren’t even willing to come to the county town, so they didn’t care much about whether their names were on the list. They sent a bookboy to watch the list.
Zhou Wangshu held Su Yaoguang in his arms, not letting anyone touch her even a little.
“Wangshu…” Su Yaoguang tugged at Zhou Wangshu’s collar, making him lower his head, and whispered in his ear, “Did you see those household servants with ropes over there?”
Zhou Wangshu looked in the direction Su Yaoguang pointed, and sure enough, there were a few household servants who were alert, staring intently at the crowd, holding ropes and ready to act.
“Everyone is waiting for today. The scholars are waiting for the results to be posted today, to place high and give their families the best report. Those rich merchants in the city are also waiting for today, wanting to snatch these scholarly passers to be their son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family. You have to be careful later; if someone snatches you away, I won’t come to save you.”
“Our marriage certificate is still registered at the government office; even if they snatch me back, it won’t work.” Zhou Wangshu said, “Besides, if I really get snatched away and you don’t care, Mother will come after you too.”
“You’re really not taking any losses now.” Su Yaoguang said, “You get harder to fool the older you get. You were more obedient when we first met, seemed easier to fool.”
A smile flashed in Zhou Wangshu’s eyes.
He must have been even harder to fool back then; she just didn’t realize he was probing her and Zhaodi time and again. As time passed, the kindness of that mother and daughter moved him, lifting his guard, and he truly began to integrate into that home.
“The list is out.” Someone shouted.
Zhou Wangshu held Su Yaoguang’s hand.
The two watched the officer hang the list on the announcement board.
As the list was revealed bit by bit, the crowd craned their necks to look at the neat but small names on it.
The list started from the back, so Su Yaoguang wasn’t in a hurry to look; she was waiting for the front part of the list to be revealed. She believed Zhou Wangshu’s ranking wouldn’t be low.
“Look, that’s Chen Buyu’s name.” Su Yaoguang pointed to the middle: “He wasn’t even willing to come see, but look at this ranking, not bad at all!”
Someone patted Zhou Wangshu’s shoulder; he turned and saw another classmate, also one who called Zhaodi godmother.
“Brother Wangshu, your ranking must be high; we still have to wait a bit.”
“Brother Zhang isn’t bad either.”
The two smiled at each other.
In the crowd, an elderly figure looked toward the list.
As more of the list was revealed, his eyes grew increasingly manic.
First… first…
It had to be his.
In his previous life he had topped four exams; this life many things had changed.
But it didn’t matter; as long as he took first place in the local imperial examination, imperial examination, and palace examination to come, he would still be that glorious Top Scholar.
“Almost top twenty now.” Student Zhang said, “Sure enough, I’m eighteenth place.”
“Brother Chushan is seventieth.” Zhou Wangshu said to Su Yaoguang, “Such a good ranking, and he didn’t come see it himself; he’ll surely have regrets.”
“Here he comes.” Su Yaoguang pointed to the opposite direction. “See, his attendant is loyal, ran back to tell him and brought him over.”
Not only did Zhong Chushan come, but when Chen Buyu heard his name was on the list, he also ran over. The two craned their necks, looking at the proclamation with incredulous eyes.
“We both really passed!” Chen Buyu hugged Zhong Chushan’s shoulder, “Brothers, now let’s see who dares call us wastes.”
