That evening, Qin Xiong brought over a fresh pork stomach from the neighboring village, saying it was to nourish the family scholar, who had been tense and losing weight over the exams.
“I went to the neighboring village today to get it. Fresh pork stomach, washed this afternoon. Don’t tell me the scholar hasn’t returned yet, and I’ve already cleaned this for him!”
Xiaoman, busy putting away the clothes he had worn in the county, laughed when he saw his uncle. “Second Uncle, I bet you just wanted to eat it yourself, didn’t you? You couldn’t find a cook, so you thought of Du Heng.”
Regardless of who had wanted it, the gift was already sent. Du Heng was pleased.
“Perfect timing. I haven’t cooked in days, so I’ll make garlic-braised pork strips tonight,” Xiaoman said.
Qin Xiong went inside, scooped some wine from the jar, and sat down. “See, Du Heng speaks sense. Your mouth is foul, and I don’t know how he puts up with you. At least I’ve fed Huzai for two days.”
The little dog, now about calf-height, ran over, rubbing against Xiaoman’s legs at the mention of its name.
Qin Xiong tried to grab its head, but Huzai ignored him. “This dog… used to wag its tail so eagerly when you fed it. Now that the master’s back, it doesn’t even look at me. Just like you, ungrateful little thing.”
Xiaoman heard Du Heng say he would make garlic-braised pork strips that evening, so he reached into the bamboo basket and peeled two cloves of garlic. Watching Qin Xiong sipping his wine, he couldn’t help but hum a little in disapproval, choosing not to continue bickering with his uncle—otherwise, Qin Xiong would undoubtedly tease him about how he couldn’t drink now.
Since becoming pregnant, Du Heng hadn’t let him touch alcohol, promising that once the baby was born, he could brew wine early to have it ready.
That night, Qin Xiong ate some pork stomach and downed two taels of wine before happily heading home. Du Heng drew water for Xiaoman so they could wash up together, and then they went to bed early.
Exams weren’t physically demanding, but the mental effort was exhausting. Back home, Du Heng just wanted to hold Xiaoman and sleep peacefully. Even if he couldn’t fall asleep, lying together was a great comfort.
“The inn in the county was nice, the beds bigger than ours, and the quilts soft like freshly picked cotton, but I slept better at home,” he murmured.
It wasn’t just Xiaoman—Du Heng felt the same. After finishing the exams, coming home was like shedding layers of winter clothing—finally leaving only his undergarments, he felt unburdened.
He lay on his side, looking at Xiaoman, who, due to his growing belly, could only lie flat. “They say a golden nest or silver nest is not as good as your own doghouse. This is exactly what they mean.”
Xiaoman gently pulled the quilt up to his chest and stared at the canopy above. “The exams are done. It’s a big relief. Though we still have to wait for the results, it’s already mid-February. Tomorrow we should check on the fields.”
Before winter, the fields had been plowed, but by spring, weeds inevitably grew, and some areas needed tending. Seeds would be sown gradually in March. He hadn’t mentioned any of this while in the city, not wanting to distract Du Heng from the exams.
Du Heng watched the person beside him, seemingly lost in thought, probably planning which fields needed reworking. Xiaoman’s single-lidded eyes were small, and it was rare to see him absentminded like this. The spring breeze had dried his lips slightly, the color like cherries. Du Heng, momentarily silent, leaned in.
The touch snapped Xiaoman back to awareness, his eyes lighting up. He opened his mouth, and Du Heng’s lips met his. After a long moment, Du Heng finally pulled away, gently biting his own upper lip. Xiaoman’s face, flushed from the kiss and light oxygen deprivation, looked even more vivid, the lips tempting in a way they hadn’t been before.
He seemed surprised at his own boldness. In truth, he often showed affection through little gestures—hand-holding, gentle kisses—but he was naturally reserved, so such acts were rare. Xiaoman’s astonished gaze made him slightly embarrassed, so he didn’t speak, simply getting up to blow out the lamp.
Xiaoman’s hand, resting beside the bed, was suddenly held. He bared his teeth playfully. “Are you planning something naughty?”
Du Heng blushed. “…No, I’m just…”
Xiaoman ignored him, tilting his head up. “Come on, then.”
After extinguishing the lamp, Du Heng carefully pulled Xiaoman into his arms.
“You lied,” Xiaoman said softly, letting him touch. “You said you weren’t thinking about it.”
Du Heng kissed the back of Xiaoman’s neck. “Just… youthful impulses. Not old enough not to want it yet.”
The next morning, Du Heng woke early while Xiaoman slept peacefully. He kissed him and got up. Even though the child exams were over, years of preparation had ingrained early rising into his routine.
He went to the kitchen to make breakfast and, while tending the fire, thought about the family’s fields this year. He intended to hire laborers to help.
Villagers had been gossiping about their large landholding and the plan to hire help, joking that they were acting like landed gentry. Du Heng ignored the chatter; only the results would silence the busybodies.
Though the official results weren’t out yet, he had a good sense of his performance—five sessions, all handled with ease. It was like a high school student tackling elementary problems. Unless an accident occurred, there shouldn’t be an issue.
He didn’t share this confidence, not even with Xiaoman. Close family avoided pressing the matter, fearing that discussing it might add undue pressure.
A couple of days later, the villagers continued to inquire about the exams, and Du Heng politely brushed off their questions.
That day, Qin Xiong was at the county meat market. He saw Zhou Wanqing, accompanied by a servant, buying ingredients. Though his cousin had some reputation in the county, everyone still needed food.
Even with household servants, Qin Zhiyan and Zhou Wanqing’s relationship had always been good. Zhou Wanqing cared for her husband’s workload in the county office, often cooking meals herself, personally selecting fresh ingredients when time allowed.
If not for Zhou Wanqing’s kindness, Qin Zhiyan, despite being a newly minted scholar, would likely have had many complaints about his father-in-law’s interference.
“This pork hock is for Yan San’er to cook a dish. It’s fresh, slaughtered just yesterday,” Zhou Wanqing said, greeting Qin Xiong. He always brought some meat when visiting, which made Qin Xiong feel slightly embarrassed.
When he tried to pay, Qin Xiong waved it off. “What’s the point of money? Isn’t Yan San’er busy with spring planting?”
“Yes, it’s that time of year, dealing with the usual annual tasks.”
Qin Xiong responded with a nod, saying, “The children’s exam was the day before yesterday. My nephew-in-law just left the exam hall—that’s the one who came to our house during the first month; you’ve met him before. It’s been three days since the exam, so the papers are probably graded by now. If Yan San’er has a moment, have him give you a sneak peek.”
“The child is anxious at home as well.”
Knowing the urgency families feel about exam results, especially since his own household also had children studying, Zhou Wanqing was fully aware of the situation. He remembered meeting Qin Xiong’s nephew-in-law and had a good impression of him. “Alright, I’ll mention it to him when he returns. Second brother, come over for dinner today.”
Qin Xiong waved his hand. “I’ll be keeping an eye on the stall.”
Zhou Wanqing replied, “Fine, then come when you have time.”
“Alright.”
After watching Zhou Wanqing leave, Qin Xiong quietly exhaled. He hadn’t asked about Du Heng’s results, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t concerned about his studies. Even though he spent most of his time away, he still kept up with village news—after all, there was a naturally loudmouth at home.
By noon, Qin Zhiyan returned to the household, exhausted from the morning’s duties. Upon entering, the aroma of braised pork knuckles immediately lifted his spirits. Striding into the house, he saw the table already set.
“Is today a special occasion? You’re cooking yourself?”
Zhou Wanqing waved him over as a servant brought water for Qin Zhiyan to wash his hands. “It’s not often I cook for you. This pork knuckle was a gift from Second Brother.”
“His business thrives; he barely sells a bit of meat for profit, mostly he subsidizes family.”
Zhou Wanqing handed him a napkin to wipe his hands, and once seated, said, “Second Brother mentioned today he wanted you to check Du Heng’s results.”
Qin Zhiyan’s brow twitched slightly. “I saw Du Heng with Xiao Man during the children’s exam and had thought about whether to show them the results early, but the exam wasn’t finished yet, so I held back. Now that it should be out, I can go to the office of education—it won’t be much trouble.”
Zhou Wanqing added a piece of pork knuckle to Qin Zhiyan’s bowl, noticing the fatigue etched on his face—hardly hidden despite his effort. Life at the county office was rough; the magistrate was not an easy man, and naturally, he never relied on Qin Zhiyan. He often passed trivial and exhausting tasks onto him. Although Qin Zhiyan rarely complained to his husband, they were married—he was aware of the burdens.
He truly did not know when such days of hardship would end, only hoping that Zhifeng would succeed and their family wouldn’t have to live always under others’ scrutiny.
After lunch, Qin Zhiyan would normally rest for half an hour before heading to the county office, but worried about Du Heng, he went straight to the office of education.
The office was chaotic after the children’s exam, as expected. Everyone under the education officer was busy.
“Education Officer, you’ve been working hard. How did the children’s exam go this year?”
Wu Xuezheng was preparing the official red notice with the results. Looking up, he greeted, “Ah, it’s Registrar Qin. Please, have a seat.”
Qin Zhiyan, a minor registrar, didn’t have to show extreme deference, and the education officer’s warmth was a relief. The proximity of the office to the county hall also meant he was a familiar face.
“Have the children’s exam results come out yet?”
“They’ve been busy for several days; this morning we finally finished grading all the papers.” Wu Xuezheng’s face showed the strain of the past days. Pausing with his brush, he glanced at Qin Zhiyan. “Here to check the results? I remember your child has already passed the children’s exam.”
Qin Zhiyan nodded. “I came to let my nephew-in-law see them.”
“Nephew-in-law?” The officer pondered, unfamiliar with the person. But letting a relative peek at the results early wasn’t illegal. “What’s the name?”
Qin Zhiyan, relieved at the officer’s patience, quickly said, “Du Heng, twenty years old.” In a county town, multiple examinees could have the same name, so he also mentioned the age to avoid confusion.
Originally, he expected to have to search for the paper, but Wu Xuezheng immediately said, “Du Heng is your nephew-in-law?”
“Yes, exactly.”
The officer’s face brightened. “I read his essay—well-written and beautiful handwriting.” He fetched the exam paper, adding, “Your nephew-in-law is remarkable. He ranked first in the children’s exam this year. Even more impressive, he topped all five subjects!”
Qin Zhiyan was stunned, barely believing it. He took the exam paper in hand, the name sealed during grading, and the red marks from Wu Xuezheng visible. He recognized the handwriting from his previous visit to Qin Xiong’s home and instantly confirmed it was Du Heng’s work.
A broad smile spread across Qin Zhiyan’s face. “This boy has great promise!”
Wu Xuezheng’s tone softened, abandoning earlier indifference. “Given his talent, he shouldn’t have taken the children’s exam at this age.”
“He’s been diligent these past two years,” Qin Zhiyan said.
“Diligence is good. Passing is good. Encourage and praise him when he returns; if he continues, he will surely achieve success.”
“Very well, we’ll follow your advice.”
“If there’s a chance, I’d like to meet this child too.”
Qin Zhiyan’s heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t sure if the officer was merely being polite or truly impressed by Du Heng, but either way, it was excellent for the child to leave such an impression. A truly auspicious matter.
……
“Really? Uncle, don’t joke about this.”
“I heard from your paternal uncle that the meat wasn’t sold, so he packed up early, just to bring you two the news in the morning. No joking—who would joke about such a thing?”
Qin Xiong couldn’t hide his excitement, speaking rapidly. “If your uncle hadn’t been busy at the county office, he would have come personally to tell you both. He just couldn’t get away, so I’m the messenger.”
“This is such a joyous occasion! If we don’t hold a three-day, three-night feast, it would be a shame for such a great achievement!”
Du Heng laughed at this. “What kind of family could afford a feast lasting three days and nights?”
“First place, you fool! How many first-place winners are there in the entire county? You probably still can’t believe it’s real!”
Qin Xiong patted Du Heng on the shoulder three times, yet even that wasn’t enough to express his delight.
“It was your paternal uncle who went to the office of education in person to see it. There’s no mistake. Husband, you passed! You’ve made the list!”
Qin Xiaoman grabbed Du Heng’s hand, shaking it excitedly.
Du Heng was naturally happy, though he expected the result; the real surprise—and joy—was that he had ranked first.
“I heard the education officer even praised you, said you did very well,” Qin Xiong said cheerfully. “This bodes well for your future.”
Du Heng smiled modestly. “It’s only the children’s exam. It’s not much. If I want real achievement, I’ll need to pass the provincial exam in the future—that would be worth celebrating properly.”
“You’ve got ambition, that’s for sure!” Qin Xiong’s grin never faded. “Oh, I need to go burn an incense stick for my elder brother and tell them the good news too!”
Qin Xiaoman chuckled. “My father’s grave hasn’t had a moment of peace these past two years; your uncle has been busier than Du Heng and I combined. Now that you’re home, just sit and relax. I’ll burn incense and tell Father myself.”
“You say it your way, I say it mine. But I must go tell him—then he’ll know I haven’t neglected you two, and he can rest easy.”
Qin Xiaoman pressed her lips together, feeling a pang when thinking of her father, but today was a day of great joy; the small sorrow quickly passed.
Seeing him truly preparing to go burn incense, Qin Xiaoman hurried after him. “Uncle, shouldn’t you wait to announce it after the official results are posted in the county?”
Du Heng raised an eyebrow. “You’re always impatient. Why today, you want my uncle to hold back?”
Qin Xiaoman explained, “The official notice hasn’t been posted yet—it’s not stable. Once it’s out, it will shut the mouths of all those annoying villagers. And if they knew now, they’d still find a way to complain.”
“True,” Du Heng said, smiling at the flustered Xiaoman. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gently rested a hand on her growing belly. “With the baby coming, I’m no longer a layman either. All these early mornings and late nights weren’t in vain.”
Qin Xiaoman covered his hand with her own, thinking how, even in the freezing county town, Du Heng had kept studying diligently. Today’s result was well-deserved.
The couple had waited so long for the day the results would be posted. It happened to be the market day of the county, so they set out early in the ox cart to see the list.
Though they left early, by the time they arrived, the list was already posted. The notice board was crowded, so Du Heng held Qin Xiaoman back from pushing in.
Moving a bit closer, they saw the name at the very top of the red list.
The top three names were written larger than the others, visible even from afar.
Qin Xiaoman had previously struggled to recognize the character “Heng,” but since Du Heng had started reading and had shown her his name, she could now read it easily. She thought her husband’s handwriting was always beautiful, but today’s display on the red list was especially pleasing to the eye.
“It’s true, it’s true! He really made it!”
Holding Qin Xiaoman’s hand, Du Heng felt a sense of calm settle in his chest.
After the children’s exam results were posted, successful candidates could go to the office of education to collect their certificates and small rewards.
As the lowest-level qualifying exam, it was not as prestigious as the provincial or imperial exams. Even the top-ranked students received no official banquet—just a certificate and little else.
When Du Heng went to the office, several other successful students were waiting as well.
There wasn’t much to issue, so the process was quick. Du Heng received a silver plaque, engraved with his achievement and name. He also received a red-sealed document detailing the rights of a certified student.
There weren’t many privileges, but the most practical one was the ability to hire laborers.
Du Heng shook the plaque—it must have weighed several taels. Though it was ordinary silver, it couldn’t be used as currency.
While some staff were impatient, accustomed to dealing with students, Du Heng noticed that as soon as he gave his name, they treated him with slightly more courtesy. He felt quietly proud—his own ability had earned him some respect.
The couple didn’t linger. They collected the items and happily headed home. Celebratory meals were in order, but they didn’t spend money in the county town—there were still a few domestic fowl at home to prepare.
Before noon, villagers already saw the Qin couple returning by horse-drawn cart. Even if some didn’t have children taking the exams themselves, everyone had been talking about Du Heng in the fields, and today’s results were widely anticipated.
From afar, villagers saw Qin Xiaoman smiling, her expression recalling the day Du Heng had bought an ox for her.
“Xiaoman, Du Heng, you’re back so early from the county?”
“Of course! We came back early because he passed!”
Xiaoman shouted. As soon as her words reached them, the villagers in the fields put down their tools and hurried over. “He really passed?”
“The notice is still posted in the county. How could this be fake?” Xiaoman replied with a bright smile. “Oh, and my husband didn’t just pass—he’s first place! His name is at the very top of the red list, visible from several meters away.”
The villagers were astonished, mouths agape. Truly, they had never expected Du Heng to achieve such a feat.
Although everyone knew Du Heng could read and write, the village work was demanding, and the Qin family had vast tracts of land to manage. Even scholars who spent their days buried in books didn’t always pass the exams—so for Du Heng, who still had to work the fields, passing seemed nearly impossible.
Yet here was the reality: he had not only passed but ranked first. The villagers could hardly believe it. It wasn’t until Qin Xiaoman pulled out the silver certificate they had just collected from the office of education and showed it to everyone that they had to admit it was true—Du Heng had really passed.
“Extraordinary! Even before, I thought Du Heng had the makings of a scholar, and now he passes on his first try. He’s bound to achieve great things in the future!”
“Now it’s perfect—our village has produced a certified scholar! Truly a joyous occasion!”
The villagers who had heard the news in the fields all came to congratulate them. Qin Xiaoman was naturally proud, while Du Heng remained his usual calm and humble self, nodding politely to thank everyone for their congratulations.
“Oh! Aunt is here in the field too.”
Qin Xiaoman’s sharp eyes caught sight of a woman holding a hoe, listening to the chatter from a distance. Perhaps she had considered approaching, but now, upon hearing of Du Heng’s achievement, she could not maintain her composure.
“Yes, congratulations, Du Heng.”
Qin Xiaoman’s grandaunt gave a nervous, awkward laugh and offered a perfunctory compliment.
“What’s there to congratulate? Didn’t you already know Du Heng would pass? You’ve been telling the villagers in advance that our family would be hiring laborers,” Qin Xiaoman said without hesitation. “I’m just letting you know that we’re actually recruiting now, so you needn’t linger thinking about helping us with the fields.”
The woman’s face burned as Qin Xiaoman spoke in front of the gathered villagers. Her intentions to involve herself in the Qin family’s land were exposed for all to see. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Unlike the bold Zheng lady, she lacked the nerve to argue back shamelessly; instead, she murmured, “Xiaoman, you jest.”
“I’m not jesting. The village has been abuzz these past days, thanks to your meddling,” Qin Xiaoman replied.
The woman dared not meet the villagers’ scrutinizing gazes. She knew she could not afford to offend Qin Xiaoman now. She also regretted having been influenced by the Zheng family lady, who had stirred her to confront Qin Xiaoman and speak impertinently—only to be put in her place immediately.
In frustration, she told the villagers that the Qin family was hiring laborers, hoping the local officials would hear and trouble the Qin household. But now, with Du Heng having passed the children’s exam, everything was in proper order. Any official visiting would likely act politely and might even help arrange the laborers.
She felt deep regret. She had barely interacted with the Qin household these years; though not close, they had maintained civility. Yet she had been goaded into conflict by the Zheng lady, achieving nothing but trouble for herself.
Returning home, she intended to complain to her husband, only to find he had already heard about it. Normally taciturn, he scolded her fiercely for seeking trouble where there was none. She could only swallow her resentment. In a world of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, the Qin family had now firmly placed themselves among the leading households. Simple farmers like her, even if not fawning, knew better than to offend them.
None of them had expected that someone could truly pass the exam.
Qin Xiaoman didn’t hide her little show of pride in the village, reveling in the moment. Du Heng, who usually disliked such display, allowed it this time. He understood Xiaoman had a sense of restraint and occasionally used these moments to assert a little authority—letting the villagers know they were not to be trifled with.
Family and close acquaintances suggested that Du Heng should host two celebratory tables for his achievement, but he refused. For him, passing the children’s exam was not a major accomplishment. Furthermore, it was the busy season for farming, and they had no spare time to prepare a feast. His priority was to recruit laborers and get the family’s land properly managed.