Chapter 5

Chapter 5

My mother-in-law went up against all of them by herself, arguing until she was practically steaming with rage.

After Songzhu left, even the blankets grew cold.

As the weather warmed, I went out more often.

A new bride got teased wherever she went. Some people called me “the scholar’s wife” with every breath, but not a single one of them meant it sincerely.

No one believed Songzhu could break through his streak of bad luck and pass the exam to become a Scholar.

Aside from my mother-in-law and me, everyone was waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Once, when I went to market, I ran into my mother.

She scolded me. “I heard you’ve been going around bragging that that unlucky man of yours can become a Scholar. The talk has already spread to our village.”

“Stop doing such embarrassing things from now on. With that skinny bamboo-pole build of his, where does he look blessed enough to be a Scholar? You’d better give up on that idea early.”

She did not wish me well at all.

Not long after, my mother-in-law, who had gone to buy bowls and plates, came looking for me.

My mother smiled without any warmth. “Look at that, this daughter of mine has even put on weight. Has she been slacking off at your place? She’s quick with her hands, so please feel free to put her to work, in-law.”

My mother-in-law shot back, “I was the one who fattened her up. When she married into our family, she was so thin you could see her bones. It made my heart ache just looking at her. A young woman looks better with a bit of roundness to her. My family isn’t lacking those few mouthfuls of rice.”

“Wouldn’t you agree, in-law?”

My mother’s face turned blue and white by turns. Through gritted teeth, she said, “Naturally. Once my son-in-law finishes his exam, he can still help the family farm the fields!”

That meeting ended on a sour note.

The wait was so long. I counted the days on my fingers. The results should have been posted yesterday.

I had no idea what the outcome was.

Just as my mother-in-law and I were worrying, a child’s cry sounded from outside. “Fifth Ji is back! Fifth Ji is back!”

How could he be back so soon?

My mother-in-law and I exchanged a glance, and both our hearts sank.

There were no major affairs in the village, and the child’s shouting had already drawn many men and women out of their homes.

My mother-in-law and I half ran all the way to the village entrance, where we saw the travel-worn Ji Songzhu.

I hurried forward and looked him up and down. In just a short time, he had lost a great deal of weight. He looked exhausted and dispirited.

Auntie Pang covered her mouth and laughed. “Back so quickly? Don’t tell me you didn’t even make it to the exam this time.”

My eyes reddened. “As long as you came back safely.”

My mother-in-law was impatient by nature. Under the stares of the crowd gathered to watch the show, she asked, “Well? Did you pass?”

Every gaze fell on him.

Auntie Pang laughed so hard the fat on her body trembled. “The results were only posted yesterday, and he’s already back today. How could it be that quick? I’m afraid he didn’t even finish the exam this time.”

“Look how thin he is. Could he have fallen seriously ill?”

Everyone wore an expression that said, Just as expected.

The light in my mother-in-law’s eyes went out.

I could not care about anything else. I took Songzhu’s hand and said softly, “It’s all right. We’ll try again next time. You’re only twenty.”

He lowered his eyes and looked at me gently. “I passed.”

Hm?

He smiled as he swept his gaze over the crowd. “Thank you for your concern, fellow villagers. This time, I passed.”

For a moment, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even the chilly spring wind seemed to stop blowing.

Auntie Pang frowned. “He really passed? Could he be lying?”

No sooner had she spoken than someone at the village entrance shouted, “Scholar Ji! Scholar Ji!”

A young servant came hurrying over, carrying a bundle in his hand. “Scholar Ji was eager to return home and left his bundle on the carriage.”

The village head was well-informed and had already recognized the man as an attendant from the county commandant’s side.

After the two sides exchanged greetings, the servant said, “Scholar Ji, five days from now, my master invites you to his residence for a drink. Please don’t forget.”

So the reason he had returned so quickly was because he had hitched a ride.

Even the county commandant invited him to dine. It was clear this Scholar title was absolutely real.

My mother-in-law was overjoyed. She thanked every immortal and several hundred generations of ancestors in one breath, tears falling nonstop.

I hurriedly took some copper coins from my sleeve and handed them to the servant. “Sorry to trouble you to make this trip, brother. The mud in the countryside is heavy. Take this to have your shoes cleaned.”

The servant glanced at me in surprise. After declining a few times, he accepted it.

As soon as he left, the way everyone looked at Songzhu changed at once.

Auntie Pang had originally been standing across from Songzhu, but now everyone crowded forward, calling him “Scholar sir” with every breath, forcefully squeezing her to the side.

She muttered, “He really stepped in dogshit luck…”

Before she could finish, the village head smacked her plump face. “Shut up, you ignorant woman. A twenty-year-old Scholar? In our entire county, you could count them on one hand.”

Scholar Zhang, whom Auntie Pang had been so proud of before, had only passed at thirty. His wife died last year, and his child was already eleven.

Even so, he was still a hot commodity.

Compared with him, Songzhu was a bowl of braised pork dripping with oil.

As people called me the scholar’s wife again and again, I felt as if I were in a daze.

After we finally shook off the villagers and returned home, Songzhu drank a large bowl of hot tea, then looked at me. “Jiaojiao, why do you look like something is on your mind?”