Chapter 28: County Exam – Being a Scholar’s Wife Is No Easy Task

Lin Guilan stood dazed, still processing the overwhelming information she’d just received. Yet her movements remained fluid as she walked to the chicken coop and deftly retrieved the chicken they had brought.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Qingshi smiled at Lin Guilan as he untied the ox cart’s rope. He lifted Jiang Zhimiao onto the cart, then moved to help Lin Guilan, but she had already swung her long legs over the side and climbed up herself.

Jiang Qingshi’s elegant, slender hand hung suspended in mid-air.

Well… having such a self-sufficient wife could sometimes leave one feeling rather helpless.

Unaware of Jiang Qingshi’s slight disappointment, Lin Guilan spent the entire journey holding Jiang Zhimiao tightly while replaying Yuan Yuexian’s words in her mind.

Yuan Yuexian had always been loose-lipped, so her words shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Even if she was upset, why take it out on her husband with such unreasonable nonsense?… Oh dear, after spending so much time with her husband, she’d started picking up the cultured way these educated people spoke.

Her husband hadn’t said a word since they left the Jiang residence. Had Yuan Yuexian’s words hurt him too deeply…

Lin Guilan had intended to hold her tongue until they returned home to comfort her husband, but keeping quiet wasn’t in her nature. Their home was quite distant – even by ox cart, the journey would take over half an hour… Watching Jiang Qingshi’s back, she finally couldn’t restrain herself.

“Husband, if you’re feeling upset, you can tell me. Don’t keep it bottled up…”

Lin Guilan didn’t realize Jiang Zhimiao could understand. The child looked up at his mother, his own heart filled with mixed emotions. Although the Jiang Family had always treated his father and mother poorly, such matters would be difficult for anyone to accept immediately.

“Why would I be upset?” Jiang Qingshi drove the cart without turning his head. “Wife, the Jiang Family’s words can no longer harm me.”

“But aren’t you curious?” Lin Guilan thought Jiang Qingshi was just putting on a brave front, her tone growing urgent. “What if… what she said was true… Husband, don’t you wonder whether you’re really…”

Lin Guilan suddenly felt cruel for pressing the matter. It was her fault – she was too clumsy with words. She gritted her teeth, wishing she could slap herself.

“Husband, I’m no good with words and don’t know how to say this properly. But no matter who you are, whether you’re the Jiang Family’s blood or not, I only know you’re my husband and Miao Ge’er’s father. Nothing else matters. The Jiang Family never treated you well anyway. From now on… Guilan will always be good to you! Whatever you do, I’ll stand behind you!”

“That’s right, Guilan. You understand perfectly.”

Jiang Qingshi turned his head gently, the night breeze playing with a stray lock of his dark hair. The man’s deep-set eyes seemed like they belonged in a painting.

“I’m just your husband, Miao Ge’er’s father. The three of us are a family. Whether Old Master Jiang is my biological father is completely insignificant, as long as this matter doesn’t escalate and affect my imperial examinations. Besides, it’s just baseless rumors – people might gossip privately at most. But I have you, I have Miao Ge’er, and with your love, I’ve no need to care about others’ gossip.”

“That’s good then.”

Lin Guilan breathed a sigh of relief and stole another glance at Jiang Qingshi. Earlier, she had only been worried about her husband and hadn’t given much thought to the matter. Now that she considered it, her husband really didn’t seem like a biological child of the Jiang Family. Look at those Jiangs with their crooked noses and sunken eyes—her husband didn’t resemble them in the slightest.

Bah! What nonsense was she thinking? This was hardly the time for such thoughts!

“For now, I still need the identity of a Jiang Family son, otherwise the county exam might pose some trouble,” Jiang Qingshi said, tightening his grip on the reins. “As for the future… given how the Jiang Family is, it would be best to sever ties completely if possible.”

Lin Guilan was taken aback, feeling her husband’s words sounded somewhat cold and unfeeling. But then she reconsidered—she had been born into a harmonious and loving family, while her husband… had never received any care from the Jiang Family. Since they had given him nothing, how could they expect any repayment from him?

Even if her husband was a reserved person, as long as he showed warmth toward her and their child, that was enough!

“Mhmm,” Lin Guilan nodded emphatically, even though she knew Jiang Qingshi couldn’t see her. “The Jiang Family has never treated you well, and now they dare question your identity! No wonder Old Master Jiang has always been biased—he must have had a thorn in his heart all along. But I’ve rarely heard you speak about our mother. I’ve always wondered why she would willingly become the Old Master’s second wife.”

“Truthfully, I don’t know much about Mother either,” Jiang Qingshi said briefly. “If you’re curious about her, you can ask Jiang Yunxiu next time we meet. She’s always been curious about Mother and often pesters the Old Master to tell her stories. Probably because she’s his only daughter, he’s more patient with her.”

“Alright.” Lin Guilan had already spotted their small house in the distance and felt a warmth spread through her heart. “Though we’ve had some troubles today, it’s still not too late. Let’s go home and heat up a pot for a warm, cozy meal! We’ll leave all our worries behind this year—next year is sure to go smoothly!”

Yes, next year would definitely go smoothly.

Jiang Zhimiao giggled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Unknowingly, over two years had passed since coming here. Memories of her previous life had blurred like flowers in the mist. Today, she had witnessed all facets of human nature at the Jiang Family, and now in the ox cart, she felt the warmth of their family of three.

Whether in good times or bad, as long as they were together as a family, there was nothing to fear.

The new year was coming soon.

Happy New Year.

…

After the Spring Festival, grass grew and orioles sang amidst gentle winds and sweet rains. Spring colors returned to the earth as patches of emerald green sprouted rapidly, growing fresher and greener with each passing day.

And Jiang Qingshi was finally going to the county to take the county exam.

Jiang Zhimiao could now speak and walk proficiently. Watching her usually calm father cramming books against the clock, she suddenly felt like the tables had turned.

So this was how it felt for a child to watch their father take an exam—it was downright exhilarating! Hahahahaha!

Even more anxious than Father was Mother.

Lin Guilan was anxiously pacing in circles, terrified she might have forgotten to pack something for Jiang Qingshi. She had already checked and rechecked the bundle for her husband multiple times. She remembered her husband saying that to prevent cheating, items had to meet specific requirements—prepared foods and dried fruits couldn’t be too large. Lin Guilan was efficient and had a good memory; Jiang Qingshi had only explained these rules once, but she had taken them to heart, fearing any oversight might hinder her husband’s important endeavor.

The neighborhood aunties, who often came to their home to buy goods, had grown quite close to Lin Guilan. Seeing her bustling about for Jiang Qingshi’s sake, they teased, “Guilan might just become a Xiucai’s wife after all!”

“Oh, I’ve heard it takes several rounds of exams. Being a Xiucai’s wife is no easy feat!”

“Exactly! In our Fanjiazhuang, only one Scholar has emerged in decades, and that family moved to the county town long ago. That Jiang lad is certainly refined-looking, but who knows if he’s destined for such fortune?”

Lin Guilan knew these women meant no harm—it was just idle chatter—but their noisy banter still grated on her nerves. Why was she, the wife, more anxious about her husband’s exam than he seemed to be?

After inspecting the bundle yet again, Lin Guilan decided to put all business on hold for the next few days and accompany her husband to the county town for his exam. She had booked an inn a month prior—her husband had warned her that inns would be crowded during exam season, and she was glad for her foresight. Miao Ge’er was older now, so this was also a perfect chance to take him around the county town.

Jiang Qingshi had left before dawn. Lin Guilan was awake but stayed quiet to avoid worrying him. Once Miao Ge’er woke up, with little else to do, she took him out for a stroll. They had wontons for breakfast at the market. Seeing the long queue, Lin Guilan assumed they must be delicious. Miao Ge’er rarely visited the city, so she felt he deserved a treat. Mother and son waited in line for nearly half an hour before getting their turn. Two steaming bowls of wontons were finally served, and Jiang Zhimiao’s stomach was growling with hunger.

Lin Guilan felt guilty—she hadn’t expected wontons to require such a long wait.

“Quick, try them! With so many people lining up in the county town, these wontons must be good!”

Jiang Zhimiao clumsily picked up his spoon, scooped a wonton, blew on it gently, and slowly brought it to his mouth. He had already learned to use utensils by himself. Sometimes, when Lin Guilan saw him struggling and offered to help, Jiang Zhimiao always refused—he knew accepting his mother’s assistance would only slow his progress!

After tasting one, Jiang Zhimiao met his mother’s expectant gaze, wrinkled his little face seriously, and shook his head with grave earnestness. “Not as good as yours, Mother.”

“Really?” Lin Guilan was surprised. She tried one herself, savoring it carefully. “They are rather ordinary. Why is the line so long?”

“It means Mother’s cooking… is delicious!” Jiang Zhimiao declared earnestly. “Mother should open a shop… in the county town!”

Lin Guilan was taken aback and hastily shook her head. “Miao Ge’er, you’re talking like a child again. How could I ever manage to open a shop in the county town? If someday our family savings grow enough for me to afford a shop in the town, I’d be more than content…”

“Mother is… the best!”

Jiang Zhimiao gave Lin Guilan a thumbs-up. Though Guilan didn’t understand what her son meant, she knew it was his way of encouraging her. The more she looked at her son, the more adorable he seemed, and she couldn’t resist patting his head.

“Miao Ge’er, do you think your father will pass? Honestly, I don’t care about becoming some Xiucai’s wife, but seeing your father work so hard every day with bloodshot eyes worries me terribly. I’m afraid if he fails he’ll be upset, but I’m so clumsy with words I don’t know how to comfort him.”

To be honest, Jiang Zhimiao wasn’t sure about his father’s chances either. Though he believed his father was outstanding and could overcome all obstacles, this was only the first level – the Tongshi. The ancient Imperial Examination was notoriously difficult; even white-haired elders commonly retook this preliminary test. While Jiang Zhimiao felt his father was extraordinary, he didn’t dare be overconfident – after all, his father was merely the bookish one in their village, while the entire county might be full of hidden talents.

But seeing the worry in his mother’s eyes, Jiang Zhimiao sensibly patted her shoulder.

“Father… is very awe-some!”

Author’s note:

Finally embarking on the Imperial Examination journey~