Chapter 5

A few days after the county examination, Graduate Fang hosted a gathering at a teahouse, inviting many scholars to drink tea and admire the flowers.

Grandfather hadn’t given up on having Fang accept me as a pupil, so he brought me along.

What we hadn’t expected was to find Father standing beside Jiang Mian.

Once we came face-to-face, Grandfather understood everything. His beard bristled and his eyes bulged as he warned Father he’d deal with him at home.

Father tried hard to placate him, pointing to Jiang Mian.

“Father, it’s not that I didn’t want to bring little Yu. Mian is my son too, and he’s certain to pass. I’m only trying to bring honor to our family!”

At these words, Jiang Mian unconsciously straightened his back.

He was only eight, after all, and had yet to acquire his later composure. In his fine cotton robe, he looked as proud as a peacock spreading its tail.

Grandfather thumped Father angrily and muttered, “What? You think little Yu can’t pass?”

Father gave me an awkward glance, then quickly looked away.

“That’s not what I meant. Yu is still young. There’s no rush. No rush.”

Grandfather snorted.

Just then, Graduate Fang appeared. He surveyed the room, casually selected several people who had taken the county examination, and asked them a few questions.

As the others answered, his brows remained faintly drawn. No one could tell whether he approved.

But when Jiang Mian’s turn came, he listened carefully, and his expression cleared at once.

“Very good. Only eight, and already so accomplished. Unless something unexpected happens, first place should be yours.”

A stir ran through the gathering. Even Jiang Mian, who had been restraining himself, couldn’t suppress a smile.

First place meant the highest mark in the county examination.

Everyone knew the preliminary examinations consisted of the county, prefectural, and academy stages. Someone who came first at county level was unlikely to do badly in the next two.

With a little luck, he might win the Little Triple Crown. That would be extraordinary. Never mind the lowest scholarly degree—with effort, even the provincial examination might be within reach.

Father could hardly stop grinning when he heard this.

That very afternoon, he joyfully brought Jiang Mian and his mother, Lady Sun, to the Jiang house.

He immediately announced that he would make Lady Sun an equal wife and Jiang Mian his eldest legitimate son.

Though Mother and Grandfather had been prepared, both became embroiled in a fierce argument with him.

Father was adamant. Holding Lady Sun’s and Jiang Mian’s hands, he stood with them like a true family of three.

“Mian will pass at only eight, perhaps in first place! In time, he’ll easily earn the lower degree, even the provincial one. Think of the honor he’ll bring the Jiangs! I can’t abandon them!”

Mother was utterly desolate, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

I held her hand to lend her strength, then turned a cold gaze on Father.

“You’re so certain Jiang Mian will come first?”

“Graduate Fang said so himself!”

Father had no doubts. Grandfather tried his hardest to stop him, but this was ultimately a matter for the eldest branch. He couldn’t readily interfere with Father’s marital affairs.

So Father busied himself happily with wedding preparations, and Jiang Mian settled into the household.

The day before the results were posted, I passed through the garden and came upon Jiang Mian reading in the cool shade of a large tree.

I walked past without expression. To my surprise, he called me back.

“Yu, I know you’re prejudiced against me, but I’ll soon be your elder brother. I can see you have some aptitude for learning. You can’t go without a teacher. If you don’t mind, I could instruct you.”

His lofty gaze and arrogant expression suggested he was offering me an enormous favor.

I gave a cold laugh, glanced at his book, and said disdainfully:

“I finished that book a month ago. If you have time to spare, worry about yourself. Do you really think your mother will marry into this family so easily?”

Jiang Mian froze.

Without another word, I walked away.

He stared at my haughty, retreating back, frowning slightly. After a while, he muttered, “Ungrateful brat.”

The next day, the results were due.

Father had upset Mother so badly that she had been ill for days. Even so, she forced herself out of bed to accompany me.

More nervous than I was, she talked constantly as she got ready.

“Don’t be frightened, little Yu. Even if you haven’t passed, it doesn’t matter. You’re young; there will be plenty of chances. And as for your father, I will never let a son born outside this marriage lord it over you.”

I smiled at her without speaking.

Mother had risen late and still needed to dress and arrange her hair, so we were delayed.

As we hurried out, we met Jiang Mian, who was also going to see the results.

Father and Lady Sun accompanied him. The three of them were beaming as though his success were already assured. Father even reassured him:

“No hurry. The later we go, the more people there will be—and the more glory for us.”

Our two parties met. Jiang Mian’s eyes caught mine, and I raised my eyebrows in challenge.

His gaze darkened. Inwardly, he sneered, thinking that once his results were out and his place in the family secure, he would deal with me properly.

We hurried toward the entrance.

But before we could step outside, a lively clamor of gongs and drums approached the house.