Chapter 180 City Streets 80

Chapter 180: Prefecture City Life, Part 80

The next day, nearing noon, the sky was already bright and clear. Brilliant sunshine illuminated the few scattered leaves on the cherry tree in the courtyard, making them glisten. The red cloths adorning the tree and door remained, and the festive red window paper still glowed vibrantly.

"Is Gu Yu still asleep?"

In the kitchen, Cui Lanfang asked her son, Qin Rongshi, as she packed a meal basket.

Having just married yesterday, the newlyweds were still at home, not rushing off to the eatery or the academy; both had been granted leave.

Qin Rongshi seemed to ponder something, his hands pausing briefly while washing bowls. After a moment, he replied, "Let him sleep a bit longer."

Cui Lanfang, a woman of experience, understood perfectly and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"That's fine," she said with a smile. "But don't let him sleep too long. He missed breakfast, so he absolutely mustn't miss lunch. Once you're done here, go wake him up. There's some chicken soup left from last night in the pot—see if you'd like to make him some noodles."

"I'm off to deliver food to your sister. I'm leaving now, so please take good care of Gu Yu at home."

With that, she took up the meal basket and departed, saying she was bringing food to Qin Banban and Fang Liuyin.

There had been plenty of good meats and dishes left over from yesterday's wedding feast. She had already arranged with Qin Banban that morning that the family would send over lunch.

Delivering food was one reason, but she also wanted to give the newlyweds some private space, having just gotten married.

Lost in these thoughts, Cui Lanfang left with a face radiant with joy, smiling as she walked, still basking in the happiness of the night before.

Qin Rongshi tidied up the room, then tiptoed back inside, careful not to make too much noise opening the door or walking, for fear of waking the person in bed.

Liu Guyu was curled up under the warm blankets, only a mess of disheveled hair visible, with his nose peeking out for air. His face remained hidden. Qin Rongshi held a hot water bottle and gently lifted the edge of the quilt to slip it in.

The cold air rushing under the covers made Liu Guyu shiver, but soon a warmer heat source approached. Still with his eyes closed, Liu Guyu drowsily clung to it—but it wasn't the hot water bottle; it was Qin Rongshi's arm, which he hadn't yet withdrawn.

"Mmm... What time is it?"

He felt for Qin Rongshi and asked groggily, his face emerging from under the covers but still refusing to open his eyes.

He wore a thick, white cotton cross-collared undergarment, clearly revealing a patch of red marks on his neck. A long red strip of cloth—the forehead band he wore yesterday—had fallen out from under the pillow, creased and wrinkled, with dark and light patches as if it had been dampened and not dried.

Qin Rongshi's gaze darkened slightly as he reached out and stroked the reddest, deepest mark on Liu Guyu's neck. After a long moment, he replied, "It's still early. Sleep a bit longer. I'll make you something to eat and call you later."

Liu Guyu didn't open his eyes or speak, just nodded groggily. Once he found the hot water bottle, warmer than Qin Rongshi's arm, he promptly let go of the arm and hugged the bottle instead, turning over and curling up again, leaving only a head of messy black hair visible.

Qin Rongshi shook his head with a quiet laugh, then went to Liu Guyu's old room to get a set of fresh clothes and a new forehead band. He folded the clothes neatly and placed them at the head of the bed so Liu Guyu could put them on directly when he woke up.

He also thought that the new wardrobe at home was ready, and they could find time to move Liu Guyu's clothes into it. He didn't have many clothes himself, and the wardrobe was spacious—even with both their clothes, it would still have room.

Perhaps he should have more nice clothes made for his husband. One set in every color—his complexion was fair, and he would look good in anything.

...My husband.

Such a new and sweet term.

Qin Rongshi smiled even more deeply.

After all that commotion, Liu Guyu was mostly awake and couldn't fall back asleep. But the bed was so warm, and outside was so cold, that he curled up unwilling to move. He hugged the hot water bottle and lingered in bed a while longer before finally getting up with a yawn, taking his time dressing and washing up.

When he stepped outside, the sun was already high overhead—hardly "still early" as Qin Rongshi had said.

Having been in ancient times for several years now, he had long since mastered telling time by the sky. At this point, it had to be at least eleven in the morning.

By the time Liu Guyu finished washing up and entered the kitchen, a bowl of steaming hot chicken broth noodles was ready. Qin Rongshi placed the bowl on the table and waved Liu Guyu over. "Finished washing? Come eat quickly."

Liu Guyu walked over and saw a large bowl of chicken broth noodles. The bowl was filled with golden chicken broth gleaming with oil, thin noodles, a few pieces of fresh green vegetables, a juicy chicken drumstick, a halved marinated egg, and sprinkled with scallions. The aroma was incredibly fresh and delicious, and with one bite, his whole body felt warmed.

Liu Guyu hadn't felt hungry before, but at the sight of the food, his stomach felt empty, and it even rumbled twice quite obligingly.

"Eat quickly."

Qin Rongshi heard it and promptly handed him chopsticks, a hint of laughter in his voice.

Liu Guyu took them and quickly began shoveling noodles into his mouth. Qin Rongshi sat on the stool across from him, watching Liu Guyu eat. With one hand holding the bowl and the other holding chopsticks, both of Liu Guyu's wrists bore faint red marks.

Qin Rongshi couldn't help but think of Liu Guyu from the night before.

During the day, this guy put on a brave front, with a quick tongue and a tendency to tease, daring to say the most shameless things without blushing. He seemed bold, but once in bed, his courage burst like bubbles in boiling water, popping without even needing a poke.

A light touch would make him tremble, his hands unsure where to place themselves, only daring to grip the pillow. He had to be taught to wrap his arms around Qin Rongshi's neck, and before undressing, he insisted on snuffing the candles.

But the wedding candles on the wedding night were meant to burn all night—extinguishing them would be unlucky.

Those candles were thick and large, burning brightly all night, filling the room with a warm glow. The candle wax dripped down, melting into sticky, hot streams, the oil burning fiercely and unrestrained...

He could see Liu Guyu's face clearly all night—so beautiful, even more so when overcome with passion.

"What are you staring at?"

Liu Guyu finally noticed Qin Rongshi gazing at him blankly and called out, even waving a hand in front of Qin Rongshi's eyes.

Qin Rongshi didn't answer, only smiled and reached out to smooth Liu Guyu's hastily gathered but still messy hair, saying softly, "Did you sleep well? Want to nap a bit after eating?"

Liu Guyu rolled his eyes and muttered, "Still sleeping? It's already noon! If I sleep any more, I won't be able to sleep tonight..."

At this, he suddenly grinned, leaning closer to Qin Rongshi and lowering his voice to say, "Or are you saying you want to keep the evening free for some fun?"

Qin Rongshi: "..."

See, this was just like him.

After being taught a lesson last night, he seemed to have forgotten everything after a nap, as if the person who trembled at a touch wasn't him at all. Now he was itching to misbehave again.

Qin Rongshi countered, "What kind of fun did you have in mind?"

Liu Guyu raised an eyebrow and crooked his finger at Qin Rongshi, signaling him to lean closer.

Qin Rongshi obediently leaned in, and Liu Guyu whispered a few words into his ear.

Qin Rongshi's expression froze for a moment, the tips of his ears turning red unconsciously, though he couldn't help but frown.

He asked, both exasperated and helpless, "Where did you learn all this?"

Liu Guyu blinked and said cheekily, "Dirty minds are human nature."

Qin Rongshi: "..."

Qin Rongshi didn't understand, but his intuition told him it wasn't anything good. He sighed and didn't respond further, but his mind couldn't help wandering to the new ideas Liu Guyu had just whispered—things he had never heard of before.

...So that's how it could be done?

Just then, Liu Guyu finished his noodles, stood up with the bowl, and patted Qin Rongshi's shoulder earnestly, saying in a serious tone, "Trust me, you'll enjoy it."

Qin Rongshi: "..."

Qin Rongshi let out another sigh.

*

Time flew by, and nearly ten days had passed since their wedding. Soon, it was the day the provincial examination results would be announced.

It was already December, and the sun rose late. Though the moon and stars still hung in the sky, the examination compound was already teeming with people.

The crowd surged and jostled, shoulder to shoulder. From a high vantage point, one would see a sea of dark heads, and the chatter bubbled like boiling water.

Many had gathered to check the results—old and young, men and women—some adorned in gold and jade, others clad in simple cloth robes. All waited anxiously outside, their faces taut with tension, hope, and restlessness. Had it not been for the overwhelming throng, many would surely have paced in circles.

The entire Qin family had come, including the future son-in-law Chen Sanxi. Xie Baozhu and Li Anyuan were also there, all packed tightly into the crowd. Four tall, sturdy men formed a protective ring around Cui Lanfang, Qin Banban, and Liu Guyu in the center, shielding them from being jostled or trampled.

The sky hung like a silk curtain, one corner gently lifted as morning light cautiously filtered in, gradually brightening. More and more people gathered outside the examination compound.

The noise grew increasingly chaotic, filled with all manner of exclamations.

“Haven’t they been posted yet?”

“It’s already dawn—shouldn’t they be out by now?”

“Ow! Stop pushing—stop pushing!”

“Who stepped on me? They knocked my shoe off!”

…

Amid the clamor, another quarter-hour passed before officers and clerks finally emerged. A line of officers, hands resting on their swords, pushed back the crowd pressing against the east wall and shouted:

“Silence!”

“Silence!”

“Step back! No one within five paces of the wall! Move back!”

“No pushing! Watch your step! Don’t rush! The results are here—they won’t fly away!”

While the officers maintained order, several clerks stepped forward to paste the list using glue.

The provincial examination results were commonly known as the “Osmanthus List.” Originally scheduled for release when osmanthus blossoms were in full bloom, “osmanthus” (guì) sounded identical to “nobility” (guì), carrying the elegant connotation of “plucking the osmanthus branch in the Moon Palace”—an auspicious name.

Despite the officers’ shouts and efforts, the crowd instinctively pressed forward, eyes scanning the list for familiar names.

Qin Rongshi, being tall, spotted his name at the very top.

First Class, First Place. A slight smile curved Qin Rongshi’s lips, and he felt a wave of relief.

“Did you see it? Did you see it?”

Liu Guyu tugged urgently at Qin Rongshi, repeating the question.

At moments like this, Liu Guyu sorely missed his former height—1.8 meters. How could he have shrunk after transmigrating? Now, when he needed it most, his stature felt woefully inadequate!

Qin Rongshi felt lightheaded from the shaking. Just as he turned to reply, before he could utter a word, someone nearby shouted:

“First Class—Qin Rongshi! From Shanghe Village, Fushui Town, Luo County!”

“This year’s top scorer hails from a small village! He must be a scholar from a humble background!”

Ahhhhhhhhh!!! First place!!! Top scorer!!!

Liu Guyu screamed inwardly. Cui Lanfang and Qin Banban were overjoyed—tears welling in their eyes.

“I want to see! I want to see too! Give me a piggyback! Piggyback!”

Liu Guyu tugged again at Qin Rongshi, already hooking his arms around Qin Rongshi’s neck and attempting to leap onto his back.

Truth be told, Liu Guyu wasn’t short—in fact, he was quite tall. But the crowd was so dense, filled with tall, broad-shouldered individuals, that all he could see was a sea of dark heads.

Qin Rongshi smiled and complied, lifting Liu Guyu onto his back, his hands securely cradling him beneath the knees.

Liu Guyu wrapped his arms around Qin Rongshi’s neck; the smooth fabric of his sleeves brushed against Qin Rongshi’s skin. His forehead band slipped down, swaying gently against Qin Rongshi’s cheek.

Unaware, Liu Guyu excitedly scanned for Qin Rongshi’s name—and indeed found it, placed first. His smile widened.

“Who is this Qin—the top scorer? I’ve never heard of him!”

“I study at Xiangshan Academy! He’s from our academy! He’s a top student! The headmaster and teachers praise him constantly!”

“A village scholar—truly, there’s always someone greater.”

There’s always someone greater…

Outside the examination compound, before the results were posted, other scholars’ minds were filled with thoughts of the Four Books and Five Classics, classical allusions and rhetorical flourishes. Only Qin Rongshi’s thoughts wandered elsewhere—filled with private intimacies he dared not voice aloud.

“There’s always someone greater”—Liu Guyu had uttered those very words just two nights ago.

Only ten days into their marriage, his courage had grown. Now, even in bed, he dared whisper shameless, risqué, daring words.

In the heat of passion, drenched in sweat, he’d tugged Qin Rongshi’s ear and declared he wanted to test him.

Using their current situation as inspiration, he challenged Qin Rongshi to guess two four-character idioms.

At that moment, Qin Rongshi’s mind was far from scholarly—all he could think of was thrusting harder. He neither answered nor pondered; instead, he lowered his head to kiss Liu Guyu’s endlessly chattering mouth and asked directly for the answers.

“And you’re taking the imperial examinations—you don’t even know this!”

“‘Born into Death’! ‘There’s Always Someone Greater’!”

Well, Liu Guyu had once again stunned him with his words.

Today was results day, so they’d done nothing the night before—sleeping soundly and innocently. Still newlyweds, they were in that clingy, inseparable phase—which left Qin Rongshi feeling slightly restless. He contemplated pulling Liu Guyu into another round of “Born into Death” that very night.

“Rongshi! Well done! You ranked first again—you’re the top scorer!”

Li Anyuan approached, jolting the scandalous thoughts from Qin Rongshi’s mind—the top scorer’s mind.

Qin Rongshi carried himself with elegance, dignity, and composure. Who could have guessed what lurked beneath?

He nodded slightly to Li Anyuan with a faint smile and politely asked, “Brother Anyuan, have you found your name?”

Li Anyuan frowned, shaking his head with a bitter smile. “Haven’t found it yet… I’m afraid I didn’t make the list.”

He wasn’t surprised—feeling his talent insufficient and his luck poor on exam day, failure seemed inevitable. Yet disappointment lingered nonetheless.

Just then, Xie Baozhu rushed over, grabbing Li Anyuan and saying, “Yuan Yuan, why don’t I give you a piggyback too? You’ll see better from higher up! It’s too crowded here—you can’t see a thing!”

Li Anyuan’s face flushed red as he shook off Xie Baozhu’s hand, exasperated. “How utterly improper!”

Xie Baozhu glared at him; he shook off his hand in displeasure. "Hey! Stop being so picky!"

Talk and temper aside, Xie Baozhu still turned back to the announcement and continued searching, while the others quickly joined in to help.

The list was packed with names, a jumble that made their eyes swim—it would take a good while to search carefully.

After what felt like ages, Xie Baozhu suddenly let out a sharp cry.

"Found it! Found it! The seventh from the bottom!"

"Li Anyuan!"

He cried out in delight, turning and excitedly hugging Li Anyuan, exclaiming, "Yuan Yuan! Your day has finally come! You even ended up at the bottom of the list!"

Li Anyuan was stunned, hardly noticing that Xie Baozhu was once again embracing him improperly or mocking him for his low ranking.

He counted up from the last name—the seventh from the bottom: Li Anyuan, from Hongmei Village, Fushui Town, Luo County.

He passed! He really passed!

Li Anyuan also let out a stunned "Ah!", forgetting all propriety as he hugged Xie Baozhu back, shouting along excitedly.

"I passed!"

"I made it!"

Joyful and triumphant, smiles spread across all their faces—decades of diligent study had finally borne fruit on this day.

The warm morning sunlight dispelled the winter chill and drove away the night's dampness. In the pale, faintly blue sky hung a red sun—whole and unobscured by clouds—flooding the world with light.

A new day had begun.

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Author's note: Changing the cover the day after tomorrow.

New title: Food Blogger’s Transmigration Guide