By this reckoning, there were only a few months left. His plan had just begun—far from enough.
Looking at it this way, he would have to wait more than three years.
Old Master Cui regarded him for a moment and said, “Time will make things smooth. Have you thought about the importance of seniority? Living through the years in the provincial capital is the same as doing so in the capital itself.”
Xie Yan didn’t understand officialdom, so he didn’t quite catch the meaning.
Once in the capital, how could time alone smooth things over?
Old Master Cui explained, “If you place among the top ranks, things will smooth out. Not every jinshi receives an official post in a local prefecture. Some continue with clerical work, some keep studying and take further exams. Others serve in the Six Ministries to learn the ropes. Only after mastering that can they be transferred to posts.”
Xie Yan now understood. Seniority was essentially the accumulation of experience. Enduring in the provincial capital would be in vain; enduring in the capital came with an official position, giving it substance.
Still, he was a little apprehensive. He was too inexperienced.
Old Master Cui asked, “Why did you come today?”
Xie Yan blinked, “To bring you good news?”
Ling San prompted, “What have you done?”
Suddenly, Xie Yan laughed.
He had taken a master.
He didn’t yet know Old Master Cui’s official position—it seemed the old man had retired—but knowing that Second Brother Cui could serve as a chief examiner and have his writing praised by the emperor, his court rank could not be low.
The Cui family had an eldest brother too, whose occupation was unknown; perhaps he too was an official in the capital.
By this reckoning, his future looked promising.
Xie Yan grinned foolishly. “Oh, right! I took a great master.”
He flattered too directly, but naturally, happily extolling Old Master Cui.
Old Master Cui told him to think it over at home. “The exam next year and the one three years later, what I teach you will differ.”
Xie Yan took this as a teaching plan and immediately understood. When he tutored Wu Pingzhi, it was the same—prioritize the essentials when approaching the exam, leave the rest aside.
What was he lacking now? He had just mentioned it. Clearly, Old Master Cui could see it even better.
Xie Yan did not reply immediately. He wanted to go home and discuss with Lu Yang.
Before leaving, he reported a second piece of good news to Old Master Cui.
“My husband is expecting! Next year, when the child is born, we’ll bring the baby to see you and call you Shigong!”
Old Master Cui waved him off, urging him to hurry home, thinking to himself: This silly Xie Yan, with such a clever husband—what kind of child will they have?
As evening fell, Old Master Cui flipped through the game records Xie Yan had brought.
The pages showed signs of study, with Xie Yan’s notes and ideas. He had even inserted tabs with diagrams of his strategies—hollow and solid circles on grid boards, clearly laid out, neat handwriting.
The gift showed thoughtfulness, and Old Master Cui forgave the pickle incident.
Setting aside the game records, he opened the letter signed “Cui Zhongqing.”
It was from his son, entrusted to Xie Yan. The letter was simple: Cui Zhongqing recognized his father’s judgment, agreed to accept Xie Yan as a student, and allowed Old Master Cui to guide Xie Yan in the study room, with plans to meet in the capital when Xie Yan achieved the jinshi rank next year.
Old Master Cui chuckled, handing the letter to Ling San.
“I told him several times, he didn’t take it; I accepted him, and he insisted. Look at this—what do you call that?”
Ling San held the letter, mock-flattering, “They are destined.”
In reality, Xie Yan had delivered the letter before taking a master. Old Master Cui deliberately delayed opening it until after the master ceremony, letting the timing create a small twist.
He was quite pleased. “No students? The junior has one. Let me think how to write a letter to make him send back something good.”
Ling San: “……”
With a master of this temperament, the disciples were all upright. No wonder he was so conscientious.
Meanwhile, Xie Yan returned home.
Lu Yang hadn’t left the bed yet. After resting a day, he was much better, but being in the early months of pregnancy, the family kept him on strict rest for two days.
The first pregnancy, and Lu Yang obeyed faithfully. During the day, Lu Liu brought the two little children to play; in the afternoon, Lu Yang even napped with them. Xie Yan returned home, and Lu Liu left with the children, leaving Xie Yan and Lu Yang alone.
Xie Yan touched Lu Yang’s face, then his belly, seeing his health had improved, and shared today’s events with him.
The Sheng and Ji families were not urgent matters. He hadn’t visited them yet; Sheng Da Xian and Ji Mingzhu hadn’t returned. He didn’t even report his name, simply delivered the letter and left, planning to discuss things when the friends returned.
He strolled through the academy, then detoured to the Cui residence. Xie Yan emphasized the size of the Cui estate, described the enjoyment of playing chess, and mentioned taking a master.
“Such a huge place. You can fish and admire flowers at home. Today I didn’t even enter the study, just sat in the teahouse.”
Finally, he spoke of the upcoming exam. Xie Yan felt unable to decide. Sighing, he said, “If Wu Pingzhi were still in the county, I could ask him.”
Lu Yang replied calmly, “He won’t stay long. You can ask him next time you meet.”
As for the timing of the exam, Lu Yang was also uncertain.
His perspective had changed a lot. Previously, he managed finances strictly, judging clothes by the money at hand.
Now it was different. He could first have the fabric made, craft the outer garments like coats and robes, then gradually prepare the rest.
Once fully prepared, he would have confidence, though much youthful impulse and opportunity might be lost in the process.
This is why Xie Yan was so drawn to the idea of building seniority in the capital.
His hesitation stemmed not only from his lack of political finesse, but also from Lu Yang’s pregnancy.
By counting the days, the exam would be scheduled to avoid the birth, so he could travel day and night to return. Lu Yang, however, could not accompany him.
Accompanying him was secondary. The journey was long and arduous, and returning home afterward was exhausting. Not going was acceptable.
But Lu Yang’s career was in the provincial capital; staying there three years would keep things stable.
Lu Yang’s words reached his ears and warmed his heart.
Most people, hearing about a husband’s career and a man’s exams, would prioritize the man’s future without hesitation.
Yet Xie Yan never thought that way. He never looked down on earning money, always respected Lu Yang’s interests, protected his ambitions, and intertwined their futures.
Now, with both matters coinciding, staying had benefits, leaving had benefits. Xie Yan never suggested Lu Yang sacrifice anything.
Lu Yang held his hand and asked him to fetch a notebook from the study.
“The one labeled ‘Provincial Capital Notes.’”
Xie Yan obeyed.
The study was next to the bedroom, reached through the moon gate.
Walking those few steps, Xie Yan felt more reluctant to leave.
Lu Yang had put much thought into this room. The study wasn’t fully set up yet, many bookshelves empty. Yet over the year in the provincial capital, he occasionally bought books for Xie Yan; Xie Yan’s notes had accumulated, and with Lu Yang’s own notebook, each grid showed traces of their recordings.
Xie Yan recalled the first time Wu Pingzhi came to their home, remarking they wouldn’t stay long in the provincial capital, so why decorate so thoughtfully? Back then, Xie Yan laughed. Today, it felt heavy.
Lu Yang often teased him, yet never let him feel wronged. In every matter, big or small, he always took care of him thoroughly.
Xie Yan took the “Provincial Capital Notes” and returned to the kang, following Lu Yang’s instructions, flipping through it.
In the provincial capital, Lu Yang had conceived ways to manage the study, discussed ideas with Wu Pingzhi, refined them, then explored the city, observed, listened, and reflected—step by step recorded in the notebook, eventually forming a complete plan.
Lu Yang held his hand and said, “In the provincial capital, at most we set up a seal workshop and a large study. The family’s silver isn’t much; once these two are established, funds will be tight. This year, the business is doing well; year-end dividends will be considerable. That money, saved for next year, can be used to invest in workshops or pick up bargains, maybe buy a workshop, adding another asset to our family. I don’t need to run all of it personally. I won’t handle everything myself; I’m learning how to be a capable household head.”
