Chapter 4

Wang Fulin already knew from the diary that he was a bit young, and although he had passed the examination to become a scholar, no elder had yet given him a courtesy name. So, Shuangmu must be his nickname, which means 'two woods make a forest,' a name that rolls off the tongue.

He didn’t expect someone to arrive so quickly. Wang Fulin was half-sitting on the bed, and even Wang Yuanguan hadn’t had time to get up when a tall, sturdy middle-aged man entered the room. The man was in his forties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, looking straightforward and easy to deal with. His face was a mix of surprise and joy, showing deep concern.

Wang Fulin knew this must be his uncle, Wu Tianbao.

Wu Tianbao quickly walked over, pressed Wang Fulin back onto the bed with a firm hand, and stared at him for a long while without moving his eyes. Wang Fulin felt nervous under his gaze, even breaking out in a sweat.

"Thank goodness you have a strong destiny!" Wu Tianbao finally released his hand and smiled. "I said it before, even a newly admitted scholar has the protection of the celestial beings. How could a few bandits harm you!"

Wang Fulin was really sweating at this statement, but thinking about the near-death experience, he couldn’t help but believe in the divine. He nodded, "Even if it is the protection of the gods, it’s also because of Uncle’s efforts and the careful care of my elder sister and younger sisters."

Wang Fulin thought this was just a polite remark, but Wu Tianbao was even more pleased. "Shuangmu, after this ordeal, you don’t seem as reserved as before. I’ve never heard you speak so well!"

Oh no, the previous person seemed to be bad at socializing, only secretly keeping a diary, and accidentally revealed a flaw!

Wu Tianbao didn’t think about the images of exorcism and demon slaying in Wang Fulin’s mind. Although Wang Fulin was his nephew, the distance from Nanshan in Yanzhen to Songming Village was about ten miles, not far but not close either. Plus, Wang Fulin had been studying hard every day since his early education, so they hadn’t spoken much before.

Now, he thought Wang Fulin had grown mentally after the ordeal and became more approachable.

"Rumors are flying outside, don’t take them to heart. Your mother told me before she left that your father repeatedly instructed in his letter not to delay your studies. That’s why she ignored your pleas, took two old servants, and borrowed a few strong servants from my side to personally go to Hankou. A fourteen-year-old scholar and a fifteen-year-old scholar are only a year apart, but their future prospects might be vastly different. To blame you for filial impiety and accuse you of cheating, someone is clearly stirring up public opinion, with malicious intent!"

Wang Yuanguan had been hiding this matter, but she didn’t expect her uncle to reveal everything. She was caught off guard and quickly looked at Wang Fulin, who seemed unperturbed. She was greatly surprised and saw him smile at her.

"Little brother, you already know?"

Wang Yuanguan asked, seeing Wang Fulin nod slightly. Thinking about how he had previously confided in her about the young master Cheng, she felt her brother had truly grown up.

"Uncle is right, but even if I stayed behind to take the exam as my mother ordered, with both parents absent, others will only see me neglecting filial piety for my studies. At this point, Uncle doesn’t need to comfort me. I just want to ask one question: who would hate me so much?"

Wu Tianbao was pleased with Wang Fulin’s composure at such a young age, but for the last question, he could only smile bitterly.

"Shuangmu, your father has been in business for many years, dealing in salt, but he started late and hasn’t made much profit yet. He doesn’t use the Wang family name in his business, so he shouldn’t have offended anyone. If I have to guess, it’s probably because of the limited opportunities. In Huizhou Prefecture, She County has the most salt merchants. Some wealthy merchants’ children cheat by registering in northern counties, but most wealthy families’ children take the exam locally, along with other officials’ children and those from farming and reading families. The talent is abundant, and compared to northern counties, the number of scholars who pass the exam is much higher. So, perhaps someone who failed the exam is jealous and spread the news about your family."

Wang Fulin knew the Huizhou merchants were wealthy, but he didn’t expect the imperial exams in Huizhou Prefecture to be so competitive. He asked a few more questions and learned about the impressive exam results in She County.

Since the early Ming Dynasty, Huizhou Prefecture’s exam results have been good, and since the mid-Ming Dynasty, they have become even more outstanding. In recent years, She County has always had at least one scholar in each exam, sometimes up to four or five, including top scorers. According to Wu Tianbao, Huizhou Prefecture’s number of scholars is second only to Suzhou and Changzhou in the Southern Jiangnan region, and the number of successful candidates is often among the top. At least two-thirds of Huizhou Prefecture’s scholars come from She County, and a high proportion of them reach high offices. So, even a mere scholar, with a fixed quota in each county, is a significant achievement, not far behind the hellish competition in places like Shanyin and Suzhou in Jiangnan!

"And you were at the bottom of the list."

Wu Tianbao didn’t say it outright, but Wang Fulin could taste the implications. Being at the bottom of the list, with no apparent family influence, and with the revelation of his father’s illness and his mother’s long journey to care for him, he was accused of cheating. This was clearly picking on the weak!

The key was that he had no idea who was behind it!

Since Wu Tianbao, as the head of the Wu family in Nanshan, Yanzhen, only knew this much, Wang Fulin didn’t expect to find the source of the rumors quickly. After thanking his uncle profusely, he entrusted the task of sending Wang Yuanguan back to her husband’s home in Huizhou City to Wu Tianbao, asking him to take his worried elder sister back to the city.

After seeing off his uncle and elder sister, Wang Fulin got out of bed, saying he wanted to go for a walk. Jinbao hurriedly helped him dress, and although Wang Erniang was worried, her brother’s decision was firm, and her protests were useless. She could only sulk. On the other hand, her younger sister, Wang Youhan, who was about the same age as Jinbao, had fewer concerns. She opened the wardrobe, found several outfits, and chattered about which ones looked good together, bringing some life back to the gloomy household.

Mouthy as she was, when her brother took Jinbao and her little sister along, Wang Erniang stood at the door, stomping her feet in anger, annoyed that her brother had left her at home. But thinking about the old servants, Wang Qi and his wife, and the two occasional helpers, she had no choice but to stay.

On his first outing, Wang Fulin had thought Songming Village was just an ordinary mountain village based on the diary in the "Collected Annotations of the Analects." But when he stepped out, he realized he was wrong.

While it was true that the village was surrounded by mountains, he saw several typical white-walled, black-tiled courtyards scattered under the ancient pines on the distant green hills. The largest one had pavilions and terraces, elegant and exquisite, revealing the wealth of its owner. The other houses in the village varied in size and condition, some neat and tidy like his own, others old and low. But what caught his attention most was the vast expanse of fertile fields and a large river in the distance, with another sizable village on the other side.

The countryside was not a wasteland, and he had underestimated this small Songming Village!

"Little Master."

"Scholar Wang."

Most of the villagers greeted him on the way, but Wang Fulin didn’t recognize any of them and had to ask Jinbao to remind him who was who so he could return the greetings.

After walking for a while, his little sister, Wang Youhan, who was following him like a shadow, laughed and said, "In the past, when you walked outside, you only focused on your books and didn’t care who you met. You even ignored elders a few times and got scolded, so you rarely went out. Today, you’re different, greeting everyone."

Wang Fulin was drenched in sweat, thinking the bookworm’s obliviousness was at a whole new level! Ignoring social norms and venting frustrations in the "Collected Annotations of the Analects," what kind of life was that!

So, he earnestly told Wang Youhan, "The past is the past, and now is now. Learn from your mistakes. I’ve learned a big lesson and decided to change!"

Rather than continue playing the bookworm, he decided to be himself!

Wang Youhan looked at him with wide eyes, unsure if she believed him. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she pointed at an old peddler nearby. "Okay, I want a sugar skewer!"

What was this about?

Wang Fulin was speechless, watching the little girl run over, speak to the old peddler, and then grin as she received a sugar skewer. He rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache, and followed her, supported by Jinbao. Being a fourteen-year-old boy was one thing, but his weak, recovering body was another!

When he caught up with Wang Youhan, she held up the sugar skewer and smiled triumphantly, then held out her free hand. "Brother, three coins."

Wang Fulin reached into his pocket, only to freeze. He had money before, but now he was penniless! He looked at Jinbao, who also had a pained expression. "Father, Second Mother didn’t give us any money when we left."

Faced with this embarrassment, Wang Fulin’s face turned red. Was this a free meal... no, a free sugar skewer?

He was about to send Jinbao home for money when the old peddler, seeing their situation, smiled. "Little Master, since you passed the exam, I have nothing to offer, so I’ll give your sister a sugar skewer for free."

"I can’t accept that," Wang Fulin said, glaring at his sister. Little glutton, you’ll get cavities!

Wang Youhan ignored his look, eating the sugar skewer and complaining, "From a young age, other brothers buy things for their sisters, but you never bought anything for me or Second Sister. Old Song’s sugar skewers are the best, famous in the surrounding areas, and he often sells them in Huizhou City. He’s a good person, even though he sells fewer here, he still brings twenty or thirty skewers to the village every ten days. I asked you many times to bring one back from school, but you never listened!"

Wang Fulin was just embarrassed, but hearing this, he could only laugh bitterly. Now, he didn’t want to blame fate. He had decided to accept his current identity, including all the consequences, and live a good life. He reached out and ruffled Wang Youhan’s hair, saying softly, "Brother was wrong before. From now on, I’ll buy you whatever you like!"

Wang Youhan was delighted and cheered. Seeing her happy, Wang Fulin bowed to the old peddler. "Thank you, Old Sir, for your kindness. But you work hard for your money. How about this: if you bring sugar skewers to Songming Village again, please bring three for my family."

The old peddler, from the village of Xixi to the west of the river, was known for his sugar skewers, which he often sold in Huizhou City. He also visited nearby villages regularly, where wealthier families and villagers with extra money could enjoy them.

Although he wasn’t familiar with Wang Fulin, he had seen him a few times in Songming Village. Seeing how he doted on his sister, he found the young scholar approachable. Now, with his promise to support his business, he smiled and agreed. Remembering recent rumors, he added a warning.

"Little Master, the rumors are spreading, and I’ve heard them in the city. The chief examiner is in the neighboring Ningguo Prefecture, and he might hear about it. She County only produces about twenty scholars a year, and each village might not get one. With your parents away, why not ask an elder to speak up for you?"

From Wang Youhan’s words, Wang Fulin knew the previous person’s character. He smiled at the old peddler’s concern. Thinking about the old man’s travels, he had an idea and said sincerely, "Old Song, after you finish selling your sugar skewers, could you come to my house for a while? I’ve been recovering for half a month and haven’t heard any news. I’d like to ask for your advice. Oh, and please bring two for my younger sister to try."

The old peddler smiled. "That’s easy. I’ll enjoy a bowl of tea at your place."

In the evening, after selling about twenty or thirty sugar skewers in Songming Village, Old Song came to Wang Fulin’s house as promised. Although Wang Erniang claimed she wasn’t a child, she was delighted with the sugar skewers. Jinbao was also surprised and excited when Wang Fulin gave Old Song money and handed him a skewer.

After sending the old and young man away with two sugar skewers, Wang Fulin closed the door and asked Old Song about the rumors in the city. Finding that the focus was on filial impiety and cheating, with no substantial evidence, he began to think.

"Little Master, I suggest you ask an elder from the clan to help quell the rumors. If this continues, the chief examiner might be alerted."

"This matter has caused a big stir, and it won’t be easy to quell," Wang Fulin said thoughtfully, then suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Old Song.

Old Song was flustered and quickly helped him up. "Little Master, you’re a scholar, how can you bow to me like this?"

"Thanks to Old Song, I know what’s happening in Huizhou City. I have another favor to ask."

Instead of weakly trying to defend against the two accusations, he decided to take a bold step!

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