Chapter 137: Clan Examination

Chapter 137: Clan Examination

Qiu Huanian was surprised to learn about Chi Qinghe's backstory. Thinking of the quiet, introverted, and intelligent young girl, he felt somewhat distressed.

Mrs. Song went on, "In fact, the Chi clan is aware that something is amiss in this matter. They don't have a strong case, so after our family actively arranged a funeral for Qinghe, they did not pursue it further."

"After all, our family has been working for the Chi clan for many years, and they are afraid of completely severing ties and exposing some secrets..."

"Initially, the matter was resolved, and as long as Qinghe did not return, she could live peacefully here with me. I had once considered finding her a husband in Zhang County, someone scholarly but with modest background and prospects, so that my husband and I could keep an eye on her."

Qiu Huanian realized Mrs. Song was explaining her earlier interest in Yun Cheng.

Back then, Yun Cheng was still a student at the county school and had not yet gone to the Qingfeng Academy in the prefecture city. He was merely the eldest grandson of a village clan leader, and his family lived close to Peach Blossom Town, so Mrs. Song considered him.

However, she only gave it a passing thought. Later, she learned that Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling were childhood sweethearts, so Mrs. Song dropped the idea.

Mrs. Song sighed softly, a hint of sadness crossing her face, which bore some resemblance to Chi Qinghe's.

"But that was a thought from years ago. Now things are different."

"What happened?" Qiu Huanian asked.

"When my brother secretly sent Qinghe away and quickly arranged a funeral, the whole affair was handled swiftly and discreetly. Very few were aware, and it was hard to verify later. The Chi clan, feeling guilty, didn't probe further."

"However, after last year's Dragon Boat Festival, my brother sent an urgent letter saying the Chi clan had begun to investigate Qinghe's past, both openly and covertly."

"For her safety, I haven't let Qinghe leave since, and I will not arrange a marriage for her anymore. This child's fate is too harsh; she'll likely have to stay with me forever."

"Though Liao Cang is a good man, he's not from Zhang County, and his academic achievements are outstanding. He will eventually pass the imperial examination and become an official, but Qinghe absolutely cannot leave."

Mrs. Song answered the question about the marriage and then shifted the topic to why she had decided to confide in Qiu Huanian.

"Number One Scholar Du and Chi Zihuai from the Chi clan are fellow imperial examination graduates. They will work together in the Hanlin Academy for the next three years and will inevitably interact."

"The Chi clan has never let go of Qinghe, and I am worried that you might hear something from elsewhere in the future and be surprised, leading them to discover clues. So I decided to tell Township Lord in advance."

"I hope Township Lord, for the sake of Jiu Jiu and Qinghe herself, will help cover for her if anything happens."

Qiu Huanian felt a heavy weight in his heart and slowly nodded.

"Mrs. Song, rest assured. I understand."

Even if Mrs. Song had not specifically entrusted him with these words, Qiu Huanian would not have exposed Chi Qinghe.

As for Liao Cang, since he did not explicitly say anything, Qiu Huanian simply pretended not to understand the hints in his words.

These matters are really not suitable for more people to know.

...

In the third courtyard of the Song residence, a moon gate separated the east wing, inside which were three small rooms—Chi Qinghe's boudoir.

Jiu Jiu gave the gifts she had brought to Chi Qinghe and chatted with the sister who had first introduced her to the vast world outside.

"We are about to set off for the capital. Brother Hua says the inner city alone has thirty-three districts, and there is a huge outer city to the south, making it more than ten times larger than Xiangping Prefecture City." Jiu Jiu's eyes were filled with longing.

When she was still in Du Village, she had a wish to travel through famous mountains and rivers and see more places in the world.

"Has Sister Chi been to the capital?"

Chi Qinghe gently shook her head, "I’ve never been there."

"What is your hometown like?"

A smile crept onto Chi Qinghe’s lips as a scene she had long yearned for appeared before her eyes.

"My hometown is in Jiangnan, where fireworks light up the night for miles, and misty bridges arch over the waters. The fields aren’t as wide and flat as those in the northeast, with lakes and low hills everywhere."

"Every summer, I’d escape to the manor to beat the heat. I’d sneak out and row a black-canopied boat, imitating the people in the poems, rowing deep into the heart of the lotus blossoms. The sun shimmered on the water’s ripples, and each stroke of the oar scattered the sunlight like shards of glass."

"Back then, Jiao’er would row alongside me, while Zao’er kept an eye out from the shore. My mother, catching wind of it somehow, called me back and made me copy Buddhist scriptures in the ancestral hall as punishment. She let me out before I could even finish half a volume..."

"Jiao’er?"

"Jiao’er was my personal maid too, who grew up with me, just like Zao’er. She’s been gone for nearly three years now, and Zao’er’s gone too. They’re both gone."

Jiu Jiu realized that Jiao’er must have passed away.

In her confusion, Chi Qinghe had followed Zao’er’s every word, even letting Zao’er talk her into trying to drown herself. This probably stemmed from her deep guilt over Jiao’er, a feeling she poured into Zao’er, who was still alive.

Jiu Jiu didn’t press further, sitting quietly with Chi Qinghe.

When she’d left Du Village before, she’d invited Chi Qinghe to visit Xiangping, but Chi Qinghe never showed up.

This time, Jiu Jiu didn’t invite Chi Qinghe to visit her in the capital. With age and experience, she could see Sister Qinghe carried too many secrets.

Jiu Jiu also guessed that the scholar Liao from the clan school had approached Brother Hua in the morning, probably to inquire about Sister Qinghe. But Jiu Jiu felt that Sister Qinghe probably just wanted to be left alone in peace.

"I’ve never stopped practicing the qin. Sister, listen to how I play now."

Jiu Jiu no longer needed a specially downsized qin. She went to the qin stand and began to play "Evening Song on the Fishing Boat."

The gentle sound of the qin flowed like water, and Chi Qinghe felt as if she had returned to that evening in the Jiangnan water town, filled with the fragrance of lotus flowers. She lowered her moist eyes, watching the faces of her old friends drift away, never to be found again.

One played the qin, the other listened, while the maids waited outside. The spacious room was filled only with the sound of the qin, like a meeting of kindred spirits.

It wasn’t until someone outside announced that the Number One Scholar Du’s family was leaving and asked Miss Du to come out that Jiu Jiu and Chi Qinghe were jolted awake.

Before seeing Jiu Jiu off, Chi Qinghe suddenly took her hand.

"Sister Qinghe?"

"Jiu Jiu," Chi Qinghe took a deep breath, hesitating before lowering her voice to say, "I want to tell you something. Can you not dwell on it too much and keep it to yourself for now?"

"Please go ahead, sister."

"You must have read the poetry collection of the famous Qingchi Xianren from Jiangnan at home?"

Jiu Jiu nodded, remembering how strangely Sister Qinghe had reacted when she saw that collection in her family’s study.

Chi Qinghe lowered her eyelids, gathering her courage before speaking in a serious, low voice.

"If one day, one day you feel that your brothers need it, tell them this sentence, and they will understand its meaning when the time comes—"

"What?" Jiu Jiu, though puzzled, also took a deep breath.

"Qingchi Xianren is not a single person."

...

On their way home from the Song family’s house, Qiu Huanian noticed that Jiu Jiu was somewhat silent. He assumed she was upset about the farewell and didn’t probe into the private thoughts of a teenage girl.

After the ancestral worship, the main tasks in Du Village were nearly finished, and there was still some time left. Qiu Huanian opted to join Du Yunse at the clan school to teach the children two classes.

Du Yunse taught literature, while Qiu Huanian taught mathematics. While one taught, the other observed from the back.

Liao Cang watched the two of them showing affection and grumbled like a lonely bachelor.

Qiu Huanian seized a chance to inform Du Yunse about Chi Qinghe’s situation, which hinted at the hidden affairs of the Chi family in Jiangnan. After listening, Du Yunse reflected deeply, as if connecting some past clues.

Du Yunse personally went to talk with Liao Cang.

Originally, Liao Cang was anxious about his advancing age and lack of a spouse and was being urged by his family. After talking with Du Yunse, he settled down and resolved to focus on his studies, at least until he passed the provincial examination before considering marriage.

The hasty plans he’d considered earlier were no longer relevant.

Qiu Huanian asked Du Yunse what he had said to Liao Cang, and Du Yunse simply smiled.

"Just let him think about things he is more interested in."

"Huh?"

"Master Liao is likely angling to hike the tuition fees again."

Qiu Huanian clenched his teeth, "Well, he is indeed most interested in making money."

Qiu Huanian did plan to give Liao Cang a sum of money, which was the "incentive bonus" he had planned earlier.

To thoroughly assess the clan school’s teaching outcomes, Qiu Huanian decided to hold an exam at the clan school. Top performers would receive rewards, and Master Liao would also earn a bonus tied to the students’ performance.

Qiu Huanian told Liao Cang about this concept, and Liao Cang immediately clapped his hands and praised, "The Township Lord truly has a knack for business. If all industries in the future paid according to this algorithm, letting those who really work get more money, what a world that would be!"

After saying this, Liao Cang did not stay long and immediately returned to the clan school to motivate his students.

For the master’s incentive bonus, everyone must study hard!

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse together designed a comprehensive exam. Considering that many students had only been studying for half a year, the paper was relatively simple but included many subjects, letting students showcase their unique talents.

After the exam was prepared, the news that the Number One Scholar and the Township Lord would design the exam spread throughout the village.

The Du Village clan school currently has thirty-six students, most of whom are beginners. Unlike other schools that only teach classics and history, the students here have different progress and strengths due to their varying talents.

Therefore, who would earn the rewards from the Number One Scholar and the Township Lord was unknown until the exam results came out.

As the sun set, Yun Kang finished a day of study and walked out of the clan school with a small bag containing books and homework.

Originally, he was supposed to study at a private school in the town, but since the clan school was established, he could study in the village, saving a lot of time.

"Yun Kang, wait for me." Just as Yun Kang was about to reach home, a young voice called from behind.

He turned around and, as expected, saw his classmate Li Jiaxin.

Li Jiaxin’s father was a man who married out of Du Village. The Li family was quite well-off, and Li Jiaxin had been studying in the county town, not coming to the Du Village clan school even after it was established.

It was only recently, after the news of Du Yunse becoming the Number One Scholar spread, that the Li family hurriedly sent their child to the Du Village clan school.

Having a connection to the Number One Scholar is the top priority!

"Yun Kang, the exam is tomorrow. Do you know what questions the Number One Scholar and the Township Lord have set?"

Yun Kang said with a stern face, "The exam papers will only be distributed during the test, how could I know in advance?"

Li Jiaxin breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought you were close to the son of the Number One Scholar and would..."

He quickly changed the subject, "I heard that Lady Qishu has brought many palace-style gauzes and satins from the capital as rewards for the top performers, and the first place will receive additional awards. More importantly, they will have the chance to be noticed by the Number One Scholar."

"From what I’ve seen, most students at the clan school are pretty average in their studies. Looks like it’s just the two of us in the running for the top spot."

Li Jiaxin, after all, is still young, and couldn't completely hide the hostility and wariness in his heart when he said this.

Yun Kang pursed his lips and couldn't help but say to him, "We are just better at the Four Books and Five Classics (the core Confucian texts). Youge from Aunt Liuhua's family is good at arithmetic, Yun Xiang, who returned from outside, is particularly skilled at drafting, and there are many other classmates. It's not certain who will be the top scorer."

Li Jiaxin curled his lips, "Those are just minor skills. To truly make a name for oneself and become a high official, one must rely on the Four Books and Five Classics. Didn't the Number One Scholar also come through the imperial examination (the civil service examination system in imperial China)?"

He complained bitterly, "I didn't want to waste time learning those useless things, which affect my preparation for the imperial examination. If the clan school's assessment equates them with the Four Books and Five Classics, I might as well skip this clan school altogether!"