Chapter 17 of 100

Chapter 17

12 min read2,962 words

Yang Yuhuan always believed that if it weren't for her father taking the money from Fang Yun's family to gamble, Fang Yun's parents wouldn't have had to travel far and encounter a monster. She always felt she owed Fang Yun.

To atone, Yang Yuhuan burdened herself with layer after layer of responsibility, which weighed heavily on her, leaving her emotional world barren.

Now that Fang Yun had finally passed the examination to become a child scholar, and even became the top scholar with dual first-class honors, the heavy burden in her heart was finally lifted by a large part.

She was originally in high spirits, preparing the banquet with her relatives, waiting for Fang Yun to return from the literary gathering. However, with the arrival of the matchmaker, her good mood vanished completely.

Yang Yuhuan was afraid.

She had never been afraid before because she had a firm goal in her heart. But now that the goal was achieved, her heart felt empty.

She realized that the only person she could rely on now was Fang Yun, but those matchmakers and wealthy families seemed to want to take her Fang Yun away.

Just when she was most worried, Fang Yun returned and proposed to her in public.

Yang Yuhuan finally knew that no one could take Fang Yun away from her.

She couldn't help but smile sweetly, then touched her face, which was burning with embarrassment.

"Little Yun, he really has changed," Yang Yuhuan thought. Her previously empty heart slowly filled up, and her face grew increasingly red.

In the past, Yang Yuhuan's goal was to help Fang Yun grow up. Now, her goal was to be a good wife to Fang Yun.

Fang Yun opened his eyes and saw Yang Yuhuan's shy smile, like a peach blossom blooming under the moonlight, almost like a fairy descended from heaven, and he couldn't help but be moved.

Yang Yuhuan, surprised by Fang Yun's sudden awakening, was both startled and embarrassed, and instinctively wanted to run away.

But Fang Yun reached out and grabbed her wrist, saying softly, "I was pretending to be drunk, just to find an opportunity to talk to you."

Yang Yuhuan's face turned bright red, and the sisterly demeanor she usually had disappeared completely. She lowered her head and softly responded, letting Fang Yun hold her.

"There's a hundred silver taels in my outer robe, given by Scholar Su. Take it and keep it safe. From now on, you must not work for others or do any heavy labor, understood?"

"But..."

"There's no 'but.' You've worked hard for this family for so many years; it's time for you to rest. From now on, I'll take care of the family!"

Yang Yuhuan slowly raised her head, with less shyness and more gratitude, and said, "Okay, I'll listen to Little Yun."

"Add the gifts from others, and it will last us a long time. Hire a maid or buy a servant to help with the housework. Your job now is to relax, play, and eat well, to take care of your health, understand?"

"Um." Yang Yuhuan's eyes welled up; she never thought happiness would come so quickly and be so much better than she imagined.

"These years, you've suffered a lot," Fang Yun sighed softly.

To his surprise, Yang Yuhuan didn't continue to cry but instead said with a rare firmness, "I used to feel bitter, but now seeing your success, I don't feel bitter at all! I feel very sweet!"

Fang Yun's gaze became even gentler.

"Yuhuan, starting tomorrow, I'll teach you to read."

"Really?" Yang Yuhuan asked excitedly.

"Of course. I'll teach you ten characters a day, and within a year, you'll be able to read and write. Also, I'll teach you arithmetic."

"No, you should focus on your studies. You still have to take the scholar examination; you can't waste your time on me," Yang Yuhuan said.

"I can't study all the time. I need breaks, and teaching you to read and do arithmetic is a good way to use that time. How about it?"

"Um... okay." Yang Yuhuan didn't know how to argue.

They chatted for a while, and then Fang Yun, feeling the effects of the alcohol, slowly fell asleep.

The next day, Fang Yun slept until late morning, got dressed, and walked out to find Yang Yuhuan feeding the chickens, and the three horses, already unharnessed, were tied up beside the chicken coop.

"Good morning, Yuhuan."

"Good morning." Yang Yuhuan straightened up and looked at Fang Yun with a radiant smile. "I'll heat up your meal. You need to go to the temple to pay respects to the sages. After eating, you can go by carriage."

"It's not a long trip; I can walk," Fang Yun said.

After a short while, the meal was heated, and Fang Yun ate while Yang Yuhuan sat opposite him, talking about the gifts received the previous day.

"Yesterday, we received a lot of vegetables, meat, and wine, but many people came, so most of it was eaten. There was a lot of money, and I had Xiaomao help me keep track. Not counting Scholar Su's, there were 224 taels and 500 cash."

"So much?" Fang Yun asked.

"You are the top scholar with dual first-class honors, so the wealthy families in the county sent money. Last night, I heard from Mr. Fang, who teaches at the county academy, that he has already informed the Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture about your success. The Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture will certainly send you a generous gift."

Fang Yun nodded. The Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture was the most prosperous branch of the Fang clan, already a prominent family.

Fang Yun and the Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture were relatives within nine generations, and with his literary rank, the Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture would certainly send a congratulatory gift.

If the family was poor, the Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture would also provide financial assistance.

Helping fellow clan members was common, and competition between direct and collateral branches was also common, driven by interests.

For the Fang family in Dàyuan Prefecture, Fang Yun was not even a collateral branch, so he would not be involved in any conflicts. He would simply accept the help from fellow clan members and, if possible, help other clan members in the future.

Fang Yun said, "The county, prefectural, state, and imperial examinations are held in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively. In three months, I will take the prefectural examination to become a scholar."

"Aren't you going to review for another year? Although the examinations are held annually, most people study for two to three years after passing before continuing. You're not trying to win the 'same year' title, are you?" Yang Yuhuan asked curiously.

The 'same year' title means passing the child scholar, scholar, provincial, and imperial examinations in the same year. This, like 'saint before,' 'dual first-class,' and 'triple first-class,' is an extremely high honor, but no one has ever succeeded, making it the unclaimed crown of the imperial examinations.

"I didn't think of that. Ordinary child scholars study at the county academy, but as the top scholar, I have the资格 to study directly at the prefectural academy. This is a rare opportunity, and I can't miss it. Since I'm going to the prefectural academy, I might as well take the prefectural examination this summer. However, the Liu family is powerful in Dàyuan Prefecture, and I can't go there without resolving this threat."

At that moment, a carriage stopped outside, and Fang Yun saw a familiar face get out.

Scholar Fang Yusheng, who had visited the previous day, was a lecturer at the county academy, equivalent to a teacher, with no official rank but receiving a salary and eligible to take the examinations.

The gate was open, and Fang Yusheng nodded to Fang Yun, then bowed respectfully and waited by the carriage door.

A man in his forties, tall and muscular with a stern face and disproportionately large eyes, which made him look particularly spirited, got out of the carriage.

His steps were heavy, and each footfall raised a cloud of dust.

He was not dressed in the robes of a scholar but in long boots and short clothes, looking very efficient, like a soldier.

Fang Yun vaguely guessed his identity and immediately stood up with Yang Yuhuan, walking over and bowing. "Nephew did not know Uncle was coming, and I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me."

"Have you met me before?" The man's voice was extremely loud, making the tiles on the roof tremble.

"I haven't, but in Jiangzhou, who else could have such a presence besides Fang Shouye, 'Fang the Big Eyes'?" Fang Yun smiled.

Fang Shouye laughed and asked, "Are you the Fang Yun who wrote 'Spring Dawn' and 'End of the Year'?"

"Yes."

"Are you the Fang Yun who said 'the rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every man'?"

"I am," Fang Yun said.

Fang Shouye looked at Fang Yun carefully and said, "Good writing. Too bad you're so thin. You need to eat more meat; how can a man not eat meat? Yusheng, bring the things in." Then he entered the house with Fang Yun.

Fang Shouye walked with a powerful gait and sat down on the bench with a commanding presence, but this rough man was actually a scholar, a fifth-rank general in Yuhai Prefecture.

In the Holy Yuan Continent, there were no military examinations; all officials, whether in the literary, civil, or military branches, were literati who had passed the examinations.

Fang Yusheng and the carriage driver each carried a large box into the house and, at Fang Shouye's signal, opened them.

One box was filled with shiny silver ingots, each a large 20-tael ingot, with no fewer than fifty, and a thick stack of silver notes in the center.

The second box had silk and brocade at the bottom, covered with various pieces of jewelry, including gold hairpins, silver bracelets, jade pendants, gemstone necklaces, and gold bars and leaves.

Yang Yuhuan let out a soft gasp, then covered her mouth, looking at the two boxes in disbelief. She almost had to use all her strength to look away from the pile of jewelry, lowering her head and saying nothing.

"What is Uncle doing?" Fang Yun pretended not to know, and because he was prepared, he was not shocked by the two boxes of gold and silver, a side effect of watching too many movies and playing too many games.

Fang Shouye, though outwardly calm, was inwardly surprised. A poor child scholar faced with so much wealth showed no interest, something even the children of noble families could not do.

"These two boxes are in exchange for a promise. If you pass the scholar or provincial examination, join my military."

Fang Yun, without changing his expression, said, "It's not enough."

Fang Yusheng and the carriage driver looked at Fang Yun with strange expressions, thinking he was crazy.

"Ten thousand taels of silver is not a small amount," Fang Shouye said, equally unperturbed.

"Ten thousand taels is not enough to determine my future," Fang Yun, who did not yet have a clear understanding of this world, would not rashly agree.

Fang Shouye's expression finally changed slightly, and he coldly asked, "What will it take for you to join my military?"

"It's too early to say. I might not even pass the provincial examination, let alone the imperial one," Fang Yun said calmly.

Fang Shouye suddenly lost his imposing demeanor and looked defeated. "Are you really that talented? How did I not have a son like you? You became the top scholar with dual first-class honors and received ten thousand taels of silver, yet you remain humble and composed. When I was twenty, I learned a lot after surviving a battle, but I wasn't as steady as you."

Fang Yun slowly said, "I just survived a near-death experience."

Yang Yuhuan looked at Fang Yun with concern.

Fang Shouye immediately cursed, "There's not a good person in the Liu family! Liu Zicheng is a notorious playboy in Dàyuan Prefecture, spending his days with other rich boys and ruining many young girls. He is ruthless and won't give up, but he dares not touch my nephew! I'll burn down their largest pawnshop tonight and tell Liu Zicheng that if he dares to bother you again, I'll skin him alive!"

"Uncle, you're joking," Fang Yun didn't expect Fang Shouye to know about this, probably told by Fang Yusheng.

"Joking? I burned down the tent of the barbarian chieftain; do I care about a mere pawnshop? Lao Yuan, prepare the oil immediately."

"Yes, General," the driver surnamed Yuan immediately responded.

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