After the housewarming banquet, life gradually returned to calm.
Though the county exam had concluded, and brief celebrations were held, the coming March required participation in the Ministry of Rites’ Imperial Examination—an extremely important test, rarely accessible to ordinary scholars. Only the truly outstanding could attend.
Time was tight, and there was no room for slack.
At Bai Rong Academy, over twenty graduates were preparing for the exam. Those like You Huo and Mu Ti had already taken it three years prior and had been preparing ever since. At this critical moment, none showed signs of ease; they remained as disciplined as first-time examinees.
Du Heng would also attend the Imperial Examination next year. He could not afford a single idle moment, quickly setting aside the excitement of passing the county exam to immerse himself in study once more.
Now, with vastly improved living conditions, he no longer needed to rise in the dark before dawn to rush to the academy, nor to warm his meals in the dining hall at noon. Travel to the academy now took only half an hour, and hot meals were delivered by household servants before midday.
Despite the comfort, Du Heng did not abandon the habits formed during his disciplined study. Extra time was dedicated solely to reading. Morning studies, silent reading en route to the academy, writing exercises in class, evening consolidation and review…
Books, notes, and copied texts piled higher and higher on Du Heng’s desk.
Little Chengyi would press himself against the study doorway every day, peeking at his father. When told that Daddy had to study for the Imperial Examination, he would not disturb him, only peeking sneakily through the door.
It wasn’t only Du Heng—Qin Zhifeng, also a county exam graduate, devoted himself to study even more diligently than before.
By winter, Qin Xiaoman had collected information on the difficulties people faced when organizing banquets. Considering Du Heng’s earlier idea of a one-stop service for meals and hosting, he began putting the plan into action.
He hired a clerk to oversee the paper shop. Du Heng studied rigorously, while Xiaoman handled the business.
Tasks included selecting and renting a shopfront, hiring cooks, arranging carpenters to make tables and chairs, acquiring pots, pans, and porcelain dishes… negotiating prices, and assigning personnel.
Though tedious, Qin Xiaoman enjoyed it. Previously fond of plowing fields in the village, he now found running a shop just as engaging.
The two gradually formed a tacit understanding: one focused on study, the other on managing business. Supporting each other in this way, life passed quite smoothly.
That day, winter rain drizzled coldly. Rain in the cold season was far chillier than snow.
The academy master saw the students in the classroom diligently studying. Though pleased, he cautioned them not to overstrain, lest the pressure hinder their exam performance.
The next day was a day of rest. After finishing his afternoon lecture, Master Xiang allowed the students to leave an incense stick’s time earlier, giving them a chance to go home and rest, to recover their spirits.
The cold made Du Heng unwilling to linger in the classroom, which felt like an ice cellar. He rubbed his hands to warm them, packed up his things, and washed the inkstone at the water channel. The winter rain fell steadily, bitterly cold.
By the time he carried his book trunk to the academy gate, some carriages had already arrived early to pick up students, with household servants holding umbrellas for them. Du Heng, however, told his family they needn’t fetch him—he liked walking home himself. Occasionally, he would stop by the new shop under preparation to check on it, returning home together with Qin Xiaoman.
This, though, was not his main purpose. Since moving to the county, the family had carriages and servants for all errands: morning rides to the academy, noon meals delivered to his hands. Buried in his studies, he barely walked two steps a day. Once a man accustomed to working the fields, he now scarcely moved—his joints stiffened, and he found it frustrating.
After two days of family fetching him, Du Heng insisted on walking himself. A bit of exercise made evening study more comfortable.
Today, however, the weather was uncooperative.
“Du Heng, you’re still walking home in this rain? I can give you a ride,” a voice called.
Du Heng looked up to see Mu Ti, standing by his carriage.
“Thank you, Senior Brother, but I’ll walk and enjoy the rain,” he replied.
Mu Ti shook his head. “Don’t catch a chill; it’ll affect your evening study. Come on, take this umbrella—it saves you from buying one yourself.”
Du Heng eagerly ran over. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
“Off you go, then.”
Waving to the carriage, Du Heng added, “Be careful; slippery roads in the rain.”
Seeing Mu Ti off, Du Heng opened the umbrella and stepped into the winter rain, blending with the sea of oiled-paper umbrellas on the street.
The recent frost had brought vegetables and radishes in the county to good sale, making fruits and greens even sweeter. A few days ago, Da Zhuang had delivered a cart of produce to the household. Winter bamboo shoots were scarce this year, prices higher than usual. Du Heng had instructed Da Zhuang to bring some next time, so he could cook a chicken soup or a pork hock stew, making the dish fresh and flavorful.
As Du Heng watched the bustling rain-soaked market, reminiscing about the days he and Qin Xiaoman would buy vegetables for small trades, a sudden commotion caught his attention.
Looking up, he saw a crowd gathered outside the martial arts school, unsure of what had happened.
Curiosity being human nature, Du Heng thought perhaps, with the year-end approaching, some unscrupulous people might be attempting theft. Recently, three households on Yong’an Street had been robbed. Unlike villages, which mainly suffered thieves during autumn harvests, counties often saw such incidents in the winter near the year’s end. Patrol officers had been increased over the past few nights, but no culprits had been caught.
Du Heng hurried closer, wondering if thieves dared act in broad daylight and had been caught.
Ahead, seven or eight burly men were attacking a young man in ragged clothes.
Looking carefully, Du Heng saw the youth wore patched coarse cloth, not tall—perhaps only reaching slightly above his ears. Despite his dirty appearance, his facial features betrayed youthfulness, yet his steady and determined gaze was not typical of a mere boy, making his age hard to judge.
Du Heng thought that with so many men surrounding him, the youth would surely be beaten badly.
Not knowing the reason, he did not call out to stop the men.
Suddenly, the youth grabbed one of the men by the arm and hurled him over his shoulder with a heavy throw. Another man went down, then another, three at once, each struck in turn.
Seven or eight men could not subdue him. In mere moments, they were all battered, grimacing in pain.
The watching townsfolk clapped and cheered as if watching a performance. “Good! One more!”
The middle-aged man in charge of the martial arts school, who had been shouting earlier, stumbled back two steps, almost falling at the threshold.
The youth’s face remained calm, eyes sharp, approaching the martial arts school manager. He extended his hand and said coldly, “Give it to me!”
Du Heng, having arrived a bit late, could not see clearly. He asked a woman beside him, carrying a basket of vegetables, “What’s happening here?”
The woman furrowed her brows impatiently, then, upon seeing Du Heng’s face, softened. “That young man says the martial arts school owes him wages he hasn’t paid. He came to collect. The school, relying on their trained men, tried to drive him off, but he has knocked them all down.”
Du Heng frowned. The martial arts school was known for its bullying, and their profession required skill, making them fiercer than ordinary folk. While earning a living in this way could be understood, exploiting their strength to oppress others was intolerable.
“Will you give it or not?”
Du Heng saw the youth grab the manager by the collar, lifting him as though to strike him in the face.
“Quick, someone! Restrain this madman! Report him to the authorities!”
Seeing the situation escalating, Du Heng pushed into the crowd. “Settle this calmly. Fighting will only worsen matters.”
“Du Laoye, you’ve come just in time! This is a troublemaker. When he goes to the magistrate, you’ll testify for me!”
Du Heng looked at the young man. “Let him go. Whatever the matter, speak plainly—I can bear witness for you.”
The youth glanced at Du Heng, said nothing, but obeyed and released the man.
The martial arts school manager rubbed his neck, face full of resentment. “So… what exactly happened?”
“I was working here. He should have paid me eight qian, but at settlement, he used sly words to only give me five.” The youth folded his arms, expressionless, recounting the incident.
Du Heng, uncertain of the full truth, turned to the martial arts school manager. “Did you withhold his wages?”
The manager lowered his head in annoyance. “This young fellow works without care. A few days ago, he went to Master Qian’s tavern—someone got drunk and caused a scene. When he went to restrain them, he smashed several tables and chairs. Qian came to demand compensation from our school, and we paid a fair amount.”
The youth replied coldly, “So tell me—did I manage to restrain the troublemakers or not?”
Du Heng quickly pieced it together. The patron was unhappy, came to ask for restitution, the school dismissed the young man, and now the payment was less than originally promised.
“How much silver did you pay Master Qian?” Du Heng asked. “Don’t try to fool me—I know him; a quick question will reveal the truth.”
The manager said nothing.
Du Heng continued, “The school and Master Qian have long dealings. But coming here to return someone, you didn’t actually demand money, right?”
The manager’s mouth twitched. Du Heng had hit the mark.
“Near the year’s end, work is scarce. If the young man errs, a few words of instruction suffice. If you truly think he’s unfit and must dismiss him, that’s your right as the employer—but you must pay his wages in full.”
Du Heng added, “Is it right to rely on your trained men to bully him?”
“Recently, thieves struck the county. The magistrate dispatched extra patrols. If a fight breaks out at your school, it could cause trouble with the authorities and hurt your business,” Du Heng said.
The manager, realizing his resentment had been more about the young man daring to challenge him than any intent to bring trouble to the authorities, finally relented. He begrudgingly handed three qian to the youth. “You injured several of my men, but in deference to Du Laoye, I won’t hold it against you today. Otherwise, you’d be in trouble.”
He then cupped his hands toward Du Heng, politely thanking him. “Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to mediate.”
Du Heng held his book trunk, the umbrella now dripping wet. “We’re all locals. Near year-end, it’s best for everyone to keep business peaceful. I have matters at home, so I’ll not stay longer.”
“Cold as it is, you should return quickly. In the county, whatever work you take, always be cautious,” the manager said.
Before leaving, Du Heng turned to the youth. “When seeking work away from home, there will be times you must bow your head.”
The young man said nothing, simply watching as the manager escorted Du Heng out.
The onlookers dispersed once the situation was settled, and the youth had vanished.
Du Heng continued to Shunhe Street, where Xiaoman had just set up a new shop to handle catering orders. Today, the front was lively, with craftsmen delivering the tables and chairs they had previously ordered.
“Everything going smoothly?”
Xiaoman, checking his small ledger, paused mid-note. “Why are you so early today?”
“Master Xiang let us off early.”
“That’s fine,” Xiaoman said. “It’s cold and raining anyway. Around noon, a hunter called out as he passed through Fuji Lane—I bought a mountain hare for us to have tonight.”
Du Heng stored the umbrella at the door and shook off the rain. “Excellent. I haven’t cooked in some time.”
He inspected the newly delivered tables and chairs. Not fine wood, but the joints were tight, stable, and well-made. Thirty sets were enough to host three households simultaneously.
Starting with fewer items was sensible; when business grows, they could always order more.
The two finalized the order, paid the remaining balance, and prepared to head home. Xiaoman did not call a carriage; it was only a short walk back.
Du Heng opened the umbrella, wrapped Xiaoman in his arms, and they walked home together, laughing. Under one umbrella, even the rainy day seemed pleasant.
“Watch your step—don’t splash in puddles. Some of these stones shift, and stepping wrong could send muddy water a yard high.”
As he spoke, a carriage sped through a puddle, drenching him from the side. Other passersby were similarly soaked.
The driver, however, ignored the commotion and continued at speed, seemingly oblivious to the complaints.
“Who does he think he is! Drenched us and doesn’t even apologize!”
Xiaoman scowled at Du Heng’s soaked clothes. The driver sneered back, “Don’t want to get wet in the rain? Then ride a carriage!”
“You—what kind of person are you? You actually think you’re right!”
The driver raised his whip to strike the horse, but suddenly the animal neighed, rearing on its front legs, clearly having hurt its hoof on something.
The carriage driver jolted violently, hastily pulling on the reins.
Qin Xiaoman saw this and quickly tugged Du Heng forward. “Whose driver is this? How can he be so reckless?”
The driver, now surrounded by the people he had splashed earlier, could no longer drive through recklessly. Facing the crowd’s complaints, he had no choice but to apologize sheepishly.
Du Heng brushed off his coat, relieved it wasn’t mud that would take days to wash, especially since the home-laundered set was still damp after several days of poor weather. “Some people just like splashing water on others. Such a mean streak.”
“Perhaps he’s a servant used to being bullied. Today he wanted to vent his frustration,” Xiaoman remarked.
After receiving apologies, the two didn’t make things difficult and were about to continue home when they noticed the young man from earlier.
The rain drew long lines from the eaves, and the youth had no umbrella, wearing a bamboo hat and clothing like a rural villager.
Du Heng’s brow twitched. “You were the one who threw the stone to stop that horse?”
Qin Xiaoman, puzzled, glanced at Du Heng and then at the youth.
“Yes,” he replied.
Du Heng tightened his brow. “It’s pouring—why haven’t you gone home yet? Why are you here?”
“I, Yi Yan, humbly ask Master Du for work. I know some martial skills and can help protect your house and shop,” the youth said flatly, without much expression.
Du Heng had already seen Yi Yan’s skill—it was rare indeed—and hadn’t expected him to seek employment. He pursed his lips slightly and glanced at Qin Xiaoman.
That night, the rain pattered on the roof like strings of broken pearls. Cold as it was, Du Heng saw that the youth had nowhere to go, so he offered him a place to stay in their newly furnished shop.
Though their home had many rooms, with his wife and children there, he couldn’t simply bring a capable, sharp-handed stranger into the house.
Still, having Yi Yan’s allegiance was a tempting prospect. Their family had only modest means, far from the established households around them. They truly needed trustworthy and capable hands.
After questioning him briefly, Yi Yan spoke little but clearly summarized his family background. He was from Shiyan Village in Luoxia County, one of the county’s most remote villages, bordering Qiuyang County.
Shiyan was a poor village, with infertile land and few residents, always at the bottom in yearly tax levies. Yi Yan’s family was poor, with six siblings. From a young age, he had hunted in the mountains to help his family get by.
Though used to poverty, the borderlands had been unsettled in recent years. Many bandits targeted Luoxia County, and Shiyan Village suffered occasional raids, leaving villagers uneasy.
This year, Yi Yan’s youngest unmarried sister had married, and unable to hunt safely due to bandit activity, he had ventured out to find work.
Accustomed to the wild, Yi Yan’s temperament was cold and sharp; someone raised in ordinary society would struggle in the county town.
Du Heng sighed. “How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
“You’re at the age to marry and settle down,” Du Heng said.
“No one would marry a hunter without savings,” Yi Yan replied, effectively ending the conversation.
Qin Xiaoman rested his chin on his hand. “I once visited Shiyan Village as a child. There are indeed very few households, and the mountains are full of bears.”
“His skills as a hunter are impressive. Let’s see what you can do,” Xiaoman said.
At that, there was a loud crack!
He shivered and immediately yelled, “My table!!”
The square table recently delivered from the workshop was now broken into three pieces.
“Aiya! You never change! Always breaking things!”
Du Heng squatted, picking up the broken corner, grimacing inwardly.
“Master Du asked me to demonstrate,” Yi Yan said.
Xiaoman pouted. “If you’re so skilled, why not perform at the street corner breaking stones on your chest?”
Yi Yan remained silent.
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll take you to the county office to check your registration. If what you say is true, you can stay and help with the shop,” Du Heng said.
Xiaoman added sharply, “As for this broken table, we’ll deduct it from your wages!”
Yi Yan’s brow twitched, but he said nothing.
Du Heng exhaled. “Alright. Since Master Du has decided, you’ll stay here tonight. Tomorrow we go to the county office.”
“Thank you, Master Du. Thank you, Young Master Du,” Yi Yan said.
After this ordeal, it was dark by the time they reached home.
On the way, Du Heng asked Qin Xiaoman, “Why did you decide to take Yi Yan to check his registration?”
Xiaoman replied, “His skills are remarkable. That sturdy table—he broke it with one palm. Imagine how strong he must be.”
“You’ll have to take the imperial exams soon. Beijing isn’t the same as the county, ten days or more of travel, with no relatives there. I can’t leave you unprotected. Having a capable youth by our side provides some security and prevents trouble.”
Du Heng nodded. Indeed, when away from home, it was wise to have someone dependable at hand.
The last time they relied on Qin Zhifeng’s help for the provincial exam. This time, heading to Beijing, they would have to rely entirely on their own preparations.