Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Bian Yangchun looked at him. “What do you mean, Brother Cheng?”

“A sudden reflection.” Xie Chengze did not explain. “Let’s leave. Brother Ji looks unwell.”

Bian Yangchun turned and saw Ji Songhua’s pale, nauseated face. “Let’s go. My friend lives in the county town ahead.”

Everyone boarded the carriages.

The town was Peilin County. Conditions were slightly better, though not much. After entering, Xie Chengze said, “Since we’ll impose, we should bring gifts to avoid seeming discourteous.”

“No need. My friend is easygoing,” Bian Yangchun said. “Too much courtesy would anger him.”

Xie Chengze shook his head. “I bring many people and have no friendship with him. We must prepare something.”

Ji Songhua agreed. “We cannot expect free shelter.”

Bian Yangchun nodded. “Fine. I’ll buy something too.”

They planned to visit book and pastry shops, but prices had soared. Ink and brushes cost several times their usual price, let alone food. Xie Chengze generously paid for everyone.

“Brothers, don’t stand on ceremony. I lack talent and can offer only gold and silver. If you attain office, just don’t forget me.”

“Brother Cheng speaks too gravely!” Bian Yangchun said emotionally. “We became friends at first sight and are brothers for life! Whether I attain office or not, I will find you!”

Ji Songhua rubbed his brow, but added, “When I succeed, I will invite Brother Cheng to the capital to celebrate and enjoy the Qionglin Banquet together.”

Asking directions, they found the friend’s residence: a grand independent compound whose plaque bore two large characters – “Gu Residence.”

Bian Yangchun spoke with two guards. One went inside to report.

They waited in the street, but nearly an hour passed.

Xie Chengze reflected that this door would be difficult to enter.

Unable to sit still, Bian Yangchun asked the remaining guard, “Brother, could you hurry them?”

The guard assumed they were poor friends the young master had met somewhere, dragging families here during a crisis. Contempt showed on his face. “No. If I leave, who knows whether you’ll force your way inside?”

Bian Yangchun frowned and prepared to argue, but Ji Songhua stopped him. “Forget it. We’re unwelcome.”

Bian Yangchun returned dejectedly.

Xie Chengze comforted him. “Understandable. There is famine, and we are a large group. Let us separate here. Wait while we find an inn in the next county.”

“But…” As Bian Yangchun hesitated, something thudded behind him. A black-clad figure with luggage jumped from the wall and waved excitedly. “Big Brother Bian! I’ve come to rely on you!”

Bian Yangchun: “?”

“Go! If my father discovers I ran away with you, he’ll break my legs!” Like an energetic black puppy, Gu Ying sprang into Xie Chengze’s carriage. “Why are you standing there? Go! I brought silver!”
Bian Yangchun could only look to Xie Chengze. Xie Chengze’s eyes instantly brimmed with laughter as he played along. “Let’s go!”

The carriage set off. Before long, an old man’s booming voice rose behind them, cursing in the middle of the street. It was mostly things like “If you dare leave, don’t ever come back,” “You rotten brat,” and “Don’t get yourself killed out there.”

Gu Ying wiped the sweat from his brow and explained, “Sorry for making you wait so long, Brother Bian. My stubborn old man thought you had come to freeload a meal, so he didn’t dare let you in.”

“I got your letter. I want to go see the Min River too!” He slapped the short saber at his waist and declared gallantly, “You’re a scholar, after all. It’s dangerous there, but I know martial arts, so I can protect you – ”

He paused, then hastily added, “…all of you!”

Bian Yangchun looked unconvinced. “We are going to Yizhou because of the Yizhou examination question. You are highly skilled in martial arts, Xiaoying. You could easily become the martial examination champion. There is no need for you to suffer there.”

“Oh, I have nothing better to do anyway!” When Bian Yangchun still looked unconvinced, Gu Ying rolled his bright puppy-dog eyes and tried another tack. “Besides, didn’t they say court officials would be coming to Yizhou this time? If I go show them what I can do, maybe one of those officials will take a liking to me. Then I can go to the capital, rise straight through the ranks, and protect you!”

Ji Songhua could not resist cutting in. “Then we shall have to rely on Brother Gu.”

Gu Ying seemed to notice everyone else only then. He glanced at Ji Songhua and turned back to ask, “Brother Bian, who’s this?”

“His name is Ji Songhua. He is a scholar from our hometown.” Bian Yangchun introduced them one by one. When he reached Xie Chengze, Gu Ying’s eyes widened until he was staring outright. “Whoa, brother, you are way, way, way, way too handsome!”

Xie Chengze returned the compliment. “Brother Gu is also very, very, very heroic-looking.”

At the side, Xie Zimiao silently counted. Three verys made the meaning opposite. Second Brother was clearly saying the man did not look remotely heroic.

“I am exceptionally heroic-looking.” Gu Ying vainly stroked his face, then quickly changed the subject. “By the way, where are we staying tonight? My father says the famine will only get worse. We should stock up on rice early, or we’ll have nothing to eat once we get there and won’t last until next year’s spring imperial examination!”

“Hard to say. If we are still on the road, we’ll have to sleep wherever we stop. If we happen to reach a county town, perhaps we can find an inn for the night.”

“No problem. I’m sticking with Brother Bian!” Gu Ying declared breezily, wrapping himself around Bian Yangchun’s arm with great familiarity. “You can’t abandon me.”

Bian Yangchun lowered his eyes with a smile. “Of course not.”

The group continued on. Two days later, they reached Jiangdu County on the middle reaches of the Min River and discovered an unusual number of soldiers guarding the city gates.

It was far more security than an ordinary county town warranted. Jiangdu County had suffered the worst of the disaster, so most people were refugees fleeing the city. Few would be traveling in the opposite direction.

After they sent someone to inquire, they learned that the Prefect of Yizhou had arranged accommodations for the scholars who had come to observe the reconstruction of the river embankment. Any scholar who arrived could rent a room for a nominal fee.

“I never expected the Prefect of Yizhou to be such a practical official and arrange lodgings for scholars like us who came after hearing the news,” Bian Yangchun said in delight. “Now that is a model official!”

Shen Yuan frowned and glanced at Xie Chengze.

Looking perfectly innocent, Xie Chengze joined in the praise. “Exactly! What a fine official this Prefect is!”

Shen Yuan’s brows drew even tighter.

He could more or less guess what Xie Chengze was planning.