Lu Yang gave Xie Yan one hundred taels of silver. Coming from a modest family but now with means, he thought it wise to bring extra silver for the journey to the capital, uncertain of what might happen along the way.
The remaining silver Lu Yang kept for himself. He planned to rent a small house to set up a printing workshop. His godfather and others were busy at home, but over time, it would be impractical. Not to mention, the woodblocks took up a lot of space; the house was so cluttered that people could barely move.
When Xie Yan passed the provincial exams and returned home to honor his ancestors, he hadn’t altered the family residence. After Lu Yang gave birth, regardless of Xie Yan’s results in this exam, they would return home, renovate the old house’s entrance, add some farmland, buy a shop, and expand their ancestral estate.
The remaining silver would stay untouched for now, reserved for settling the household and as capital for business.
Zhao Peilan did not comment on family affairs; she asked about the exam preparations and Lu Yang’s childbirth arrangements. Xie Yan had already taken care of everything, so he explained the details thoroughly. Once he left, people would come to help, easing his mother’s burden. With Lu Liu and Madam Luo able to assist as well, Lu Yang was well cared for.
Xie Yan said, “I’ve informed my master and senior brothers; if anything difficult arises, we can go to them. They’ll help.”
He hadn’t spent much time on studying in the past few days. When asked about academics, he said, “It’s fine. Exams cover the same material over and over. I’m clever enough to handle it. My only worry is if they change the evaluation method this year, requiring us to perform actual tasks. That would be disastrous.”
Lu Yang and Zhao Peilan laughed. “You seem quite capable now. Even if asked to handle affairs, you could bluff your way through.”
Xie Yan nodded. “It’s enough to appear competent. I want a place to idle, not to do real work. To avoid harming the people, I must achieve good results. Otherwise, I’d be assigned locally as a county magistrate, and everyone would be ruined.”
He looked at Lu Yang. “Then you’ll have to help me act as an official.”
Lu Yang froze. He marveled at the level of skill required to act as someone’s official.
Xie Yan seemed to admire Wu Pingzhi’s situation. “I told him it’s best to rank at the very end. The higher ranks stay in the capital to gain experience. The lower ranks must continue studying and exams, and some go to the six ministries—none easy to advance. The last rank suits him: he can succeed locally, attract attention from officials, and gain imperial favor. His career will flourish.”
Lu Yang thought that sounded promising. Wu Pingzhi had spent New Year in the prefectural city; he only came to Lu Yang’s home to pay respects, and had been absent recently. Originally, he planned to persuade Xie Yan to take the exams, but after Xie Yan sought help arranging midwives and physicians, Wu Pingzhi left things to chance.
He asked Xie Yan, “Will we benefit this time? Hitching a ride on the exam carriage, staying somewhere comfortably?”
Xie Yan replied, “Like the provincial exam, there will be lodgings in the capital. Before the exam, we’ll pool some silver to rent a private home to sleep well before the test. Upon leaving, someone will meet us—most households send multiple people.”
Hearing this, Lu Yang immediately wanted someone to accompany him as well.
Xie Yan initially refused, but Lu Yang insisted, “If everyone else is met, you can’t be left alone.”
Xie Yan laughed foolishly, yielding entirely to Lu Yang.
The next day, Lu Yang visited his elder brother. Upon hearing the plan, Luo Dayong volunteered: “I’ve never been to the capital. I can go and see it for myself.”
He and his younger brother decided to accompany Lu Yang partway, using the exam trip to scout the capital in advance.
Lu Yang was deeply moved. Though lacking Lu Liu’s finesse, he couldn’t summon tears, so he smiled brightly instead. “Big brother, we leave tomorrow. Pack quickly. Once there, lodgings are ready. When Xie Yan takes the exam, you can explore the capital a bit. I’ve given him silver, but I can’t trust him to carry it all—here, you manage it.”
Xie Yan, as a scholar, was not supposed to handle silver. He had received it just yesterday, and in less than a day, he spent forty taels to buy Lu Yang a gold necklace, ending with a large pearl. The necklace featured a “fortune pattern,” two curved sections lengthened in gold, totaling the value in silver.
Xie Yan was delighted. Under Lu Yang’s stern yet affectionate gaze, he helped him put on the necklace. Being a scholar of reputation, he had previously commissioned its making, waiting until he’d saved enough silver to purchase it.
Now, he bought the necklace before departure, with the large pearl included.
Seeing Xie Yan so happy, Lu Yang smiled and touched the necklace. “You spent all your silver on me. Good thing you’re not some wealthy heir, or I’d be scolded as a mischievous troublemaker.”
Xie Yan teased, “If only I were a wealthy heir—I’d shower you with gold daily, making you laugh in your sleep with endless treasures.”
What sweetness!
Lu Yang drew him close for a kiss, no longer worrying about the silver. He instructed his elder brother to accompany the exam journey, keeping the money in his care.
Xie Yan agreed. Having bought the necklace, there was nothing more to spend.
Tomorrow they would depart; today, they packed.
Clothing and shoes for the exam were brought from home. This time, they would travel by water, taking carriages out and carrying their exam baskets.
Remembering Xie Yan’s prior frustration leaving the exam, Lu Yang stayed up late, explaining ways to pass the long hours.
He instructed Xie Yan to bring two pounds of mixed red and green beans into the exam hall. When idle, he could sort them. Afterwards, he could count them again.
If Xie Yan wanted to write, he could arrange the beans into characters or images. Should anyone approach, a sweep of the hand would scatter them like a chessboard, leaving nothing visible.
Speaking of chess, he could use the red and green beans as pieces, playing alone if desired.
With this attachment, Xie Yan would no longer feel bored or stifled. Embracing Lu Yang, he only felt reluctance to part.
The next morning, Luo Dayong drove the carriage, accompanied by Li Feng. The three went to the dock to meet others.
The dock was lively; nearly every merchant ship carried two scholars. These were all candidates taking the capital exams, each given private cabins—treatment far superior to that of common examinees.
They sailed on the Hong family’s ship, a large merchant line with direct routes to the capital, unlike other ships requiring transfers.
Wu Pingzhi was waiting early at the dock. Sheng Daxian and Ji Mingzhu arrived slightly late, each accompanied by their husbands. Upon seeing Xie Yan, they immediately teased:
“Without your husband, what will you do?”
Xie Yan ran to Wu Pingzhi. “I have friends!”
Then he grabbed Luo Dayong. “And my elder brother!”
Sheng Daxian and Ji Mingzhu, familiar with him, simply repeated, “But we have our husbands accompanying us—you don’t.”
Xie Yan was speechless, realizing the lesson: do not impose on others what you would not wish for yourself.
As they boarded, cargo was still being loaded.
Ji Mingzhu’s sharp eyes spotted a familiar face among the laborers—Liu Youli.
Liu Youli’s reputation had completely collapsed. With such infamy, he could not mix among scholars; few merchants sought him out. Near the exam, with little silver and no partners, he resorted to sneaking onto a ship.
Ji Mingzhu sent his servant to warn Liu Youli:
“Get off the ship yourself, or I’ll make everyone at the dock know that Liu the scholar is working as a porter.”
After the message, Liu Youli glanced at them, said nothing, dropped his load, and stepped off the ship. The ship steward shouted after him, “Don’t expect payment!”
The ship departed, leaving Liu Youli on the dock.
Luo Dayong, arriving late and unaware of this, understood the situation only after Xie Yan briefly explained.
