Chapter 238: The List
On the day the results were posted, everyone gathered in front of the announcement board.
Zhou Wangshu held Su Yaoguang protectively in his arms. Seeing more people crowding around, he directly lifted her up.
“Put me down, this is too embarrassing.” Su Yaoguang said, grabbing Zhou Wangshu’s arm.
“I’m holding my wife, what’s embarrassing about that?” Zhou Wangshu said. “How about it, can you see now?”
Chen Buyu and Zhong Chushan were also in the crowd. Seeing the two being so affectionate, they looked as if they couldn’t bear to watch.
“Zhong Chushan, you’re ranked forty-third. Chen Buyu, you’re ranked one hundred and twenty-fifth. Uncle-in-law is… twenty-ninth.” Su Yaoguang said, looking toward the list. “Wangshu’s ranking… is amazing. Wangshu, you’re ranked first place, the Top Scholar!”
“As expected of you, brother.” Chen Buyu said delightedly. “This is my brother, Top Scholar, Top Scholar…”
The people around looked at Zhou Wangshu with envious eyes. Many wanted to come forward to curry favor, but were stopped by others.
Su Yaoguang originally wanted to come down, but when she saw the name in eighth place, her expression froze.
Zhou Wangshu put her down and, seeing her expression was off, asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
“Wangshu is the Top Scholar, are you so happy you’re acting foolish? In three days you’ll hold the banquet, and then you’ll be the Top Scholar’s wife.”
“I just saw that the person in eighth place on the list is named Xiao Ci.” Su Yaoguang said. “It can’t possibly be someone with the same name.”
Zhou Wangshu looked toward the list and sure enough saw Xiao Ci’s name.
“No matter.” Zhou Wangshu touched Su Yaoguang’s hair. “Whether it’s him or not, I’m not afraid.”
Su Yaoguang was somewhat worried, but if it really was Xiao Ci, worrying wouldn’t help.
“No matter what, you’re the Top Scholar. We need to tell Mother and the others this good news.” Su Yaoguang pulled him and squeezed out of the crowd.
General’s mansion. The attendant had already investigated what kind of insect Pang Shi wanted to use on Su Rende and was reporting the situation to Su Rende.
Su Rende learned that it was a gu worm to control him. Once infected, he would uncontrollably fall in love with her and be at her mercy.
“Back then, that gu worm burrowed into her own body. What would be the consequences?”
“Since it’s a love gu, that means she had already planted a mother gu beforehand. The one she used on you was a child gu. Originally she could have used the mother gu to control you, but now both gu worms are in her body. Her body will have the two gu worms fighting each other. In the end, the gu worm will devour her organs for nourishment, and she will die a miserable death.”
“Got it. How’s the matter I asked you to investigate?”
“General, your old belongings haven’t been found yet. Also, we’ve checked everything we could before, but really, there are no acquaintances of yours.”
“Alright, then keep looking for my old belongings.”
Su Rende thought of that little girl Su Yaoguang. Such a cute young lady was very likely his own daughter, which made him want even more to find out the truth.
“General, the military camp is urging you. You have an appointment with General Wang today, and you’re already a bit late. If you don’t hurry over, it won’t be appropriate.”
“Prepare the horse.”
Su Rende rode out of the General’s mansion on horseback. Just as he reached the doorway, he saw Yang Qingyan rushing over.
Yang Qingyan stopped Su Rende’s horse, knelt before him, and cried as she begged, “Adoptive father, my mother is sick and dying. Please save her!”
“Your mother brought it on herself.” Su Rende said, but still took out a sachet and threw it over. “I’m not a doctor, what good does coming to me do? Go hire a doctor yourself. Also, the reason your mother is sick is because she tried to use a gu worm on me before. Now that gu worm is in her body, her organs are being devoured by two gu worms, and sooner or later she won’t be able to take it. Don’t spend all the silver, save some to find a way out for yourself. I won’t help you anymore in the future. Take care of yourself.”
Yang Qingyan watched Su Rende ride away on horseback, wiped the tears from her face, and her eyes were full of resentment. “Su Rende, you ungrateful wretch. If not for my father saving you, could you have lived to this day, could you enjoy your current glory and wealth? My mother just wanted some status. Why can’t you give it? Even if we mother and daughter wanted the entire General’s mansion, it would be justified. This is what you owe us mother and daughter.”
Yang Qingyan took out the silver from the sachet, counted it, and the hatred in her eyes grew stronger. “Only ten taels of silver? You think this bit of silver can get rid of me?”
Zhou Wangshu placed first as Top Scholar, and the messenger of good news soon came to the door to announce it. The Su family gave ten taels of silver as wedding money, making the messenger shout even more energetically.
“Congratulations to the Su family’s young man Zhou Wangshu for becoming the Top Scholar.”
The neighbors and guests heard this voice and all came forward to offer congratulations.
“Yaoguang’s Mother, what good fortune you have! Your son-in-law is practically the God of Literature descended to earth!”
“He’s not that amazing, you’re exaggerating too much.” Zhang Zhaodi covered her mouth, unable to stop laughing.
Su Rende rode by and saw Zhang Zhaodi surrounded by people. She had dressed up carefully and didn’t look at all like a woman nearing forty.
Zhang Zhaodi was laughing very happily, unlike the cold demeanor he had seen before. For some reason, seeing her beaming with joy, he couldn’t help but smile too.
“Today is the day of posting results. Look at how festive this family is. Their scholar must have done well on the exam.” The attendant behind him said.
“Not just well, he’s the Top Scholar.” A nearby person said. “Their family has another scholar who placed twenty-ninth. Did you see that woman? The one in the middle. She has several godsons, and they all seem to be on the list. Everyone’s saying she’s a woman with endless good fortune!”
“This is my godmother…” Chen Buyu introduced to the crowd. “My godmother said that today our whole family will celebrate together. But in three days, our family’s little sister and her husband will hold a make-up wedding banquet, so please come and show your face.”
“My family’s little sister and her husband already have a marriage certificate, but a few years ago brother-in-law wanted to focus on his studies, so they only got the marriage certificate and didn’t hold a banquet. This year he placed, so we’re doing both things together. It’s like adding to the family ties. Granny Wang asked the right question—we all passed the exam, but today is the Top Scholar’s spotlight.”
Su Rende looked at the lively scene and said to the attendant beside him, “Go back to the mansion and pick out a gift for me. Don’t say who it’s from, just say congratulations to the Su family for multiple joys at once—this is a gift from a friend.”
“Should I still go to the military camp?”
“You don’t need to go.”
Su Rende spurred his horse and left.
When Zhang Zhaodi turned back, she happened to see Su Rende’s figure. At that moment, the smile on her face disappeared. She looked in Su Rende’s direction, her eyes full of loss.
If only it were him returning.
“Mother, let’s close up shop early today!” Su Yaoguang said. “I see there are too many people coming to join in the fun today; we can’t do business. Let’s close early and enjoy some peace.”
