Chapter 62: Results Are Out

Chapter 62: The Results Are Out

When Gu Chaoning's fever broke and he woke up, he ate some light, easy-to-digest porridge before lying back down.

Beside the small bed was another small bed, set up by Huichun Hall for whoever stayed to watch over him.

After Gu Chaoning's fever subsided and he lay back down, everyone waited for a while. Once they saw the fever hadn't come back, they finally relaxed.

Gu Wen, who'd been out running errands, first dropped Yin Hongxue off at Painter Cen's place, then went to Carpenter Wang's shop himself, cramming in for the night with the junior apprentices who hadn't moved out yet.

Early the next morning, the doctor checked Gu Chaoning, confirmed his fever was really gone, wrote a new prescription, gave careful instructions, and finally let them take him home.

Gu Muan saw that his elder brother's fever had broken and, clutching the medicine he'd mixed himself, hopped around in place with joy.

Yesterday, Gu Daniu and Wang Xiuxiu had shown up after hearing the news and taken him back, and this morning he'd come along with them again.

The little guy's eyes were shining, like a puppy hoping for a treat.

Gu Chaoning let out a low chuckle. His voice was still raspy: "Where'd this clever little pharmacy apprentice come from?"

Seeing his brother play along, Gu Muan got even happier.

"He's from Papa and Daddy's house!"

"Wow, that's impressive. Your Papa and Daddy are so lucky to have such a smart little boy."

"Hee hee hee."

Gu Muan was beaming.

The others thought it was cute but kept their mouths shut.

They waited until the brothers were done chatting before getting ready to head out.

That morning, Painter Cen had brought Yin Hongxue by as well. Remembering how Painter Cen had been the first to come yesterday, fronting the money and running around helping, Gu Wen, Chen Youyan, and the rest were especially thankful to him.

They agreed that once Gu Chaoning was better, they'd treat Painter Cen to a meal.

Painter Cen could tell the Gu family meant it, so he readily agreed, then took Yin Hongxue back with him.

Inside Huichun Hall, Gu Muan watched his family leave. He felt happy but a little let down, watching their backs until they'd all disappeared.

The Gu family's ruckus over the past two days had gotten Wang Chengyin, Zhao Yunxin, Zheng Chengping, and even Doctor Ding a bit curious.

Everyone knew the gist of what had happened.

Zhao Yunxin thought for a moment, then asked: "An Geer, is your big brother a scholar?"

Gu Muan's face lit up with pride when talking about his brother: "Yeah, Sister Yunxin! My brother's super impressive!"

Zhao Yunxin made a few agreeable noises, then went on: "So did your brother catch a cold during the county exam, or on the way home?"

Gu Muan was a little confused about why she was asking, but he answered honestly anyway.

"During the county exam."

"Which day was it?"

Gu Muan wasn't sure about that. But since his brother had been so sick, he scratched his head and said, a little hesitantly: "The first day?"

A few people who'd been eavesdropping on the conversation changed their expressions when they heard that.

A pharmacy apprentice under another Doctor Zhou immediately glanced at Doctor Ding and the others when he heard Gu Muan. After reading their faces, he shot Gu Muan a pitying look.

The pharmacy apprentices at Huichun Hall knew Gu Muan's situation best over the past few days.

This little kid had just blurted that out without thinking.

Wang Chengyin snorted.

Catching a cold on the first day of the county exam—even if he made it through the other two days, how well could he have done?

And rushing back home while still sick—he probably knew he'd failed and wanted to save some cash.

After all, they were just mud-footed peasants who lived off the land.

At that moment, Doctor Ding spoke up, taking his time: "Gu Muan, since your brother was sick yesterday and you kept zoning out, stepping out to the courtyard alcove, I didn't say anything. But today, you need to make up all the medical theory you missed yesterday."

Gu Muan had been secretly glaring at Wang Chengyin, but when he heard Doctor Ding, he quickly bowed and said yes.

It was six days before Gu Chaoning's cold was completely gone.

*

That same evening, Xu Huaisheng and the others, who'd stayed in Sui County to wait for the results, came back to Xiaohe Village.

It was the village head's oldest son who'd come to fetch them.

When the Gu family heard Xu Huaisheng and the others were back, they all hurried over too.

Gu Chaoning actually felt pretty confident, but the rest of the Gu family was nervous.

The kid had come in first last time, but this time he'd been so sick...

Gu Wen, who'd also gone to school, was already thinking of ways to comfort the kid.

But before they even stepped into the village head's courtyard, they heard Xu Huaisheng and the others laughing.

Chen Youyan and Gu Wen exchanged a look, both pleasantly surprised.

Chen Youyan was holding Gu Muan, who'd been getting sleepy as soon as it got dark lately. Hearing the laughter, Gu Muan perked up a bit as well.

The group instinctively picked up the pace. Gu Dalang had been called by the village head to fetch Gu Chaoning and didn't know the situation either. He walked the fastest, pushing open the gate and shouting: "Father, Chaoning is here!"

"Chaoning!"

The village head's face was full of excitement. Xu Huaisheng and Gu Rong were even uncharacteristically emotional, grabbing Gu Chaoning's hands.

"Ning Di, you placed third—third in the county examination!"

Having endured the third day of the county examination entirely while ill, pushing through in sickness—it was truly enough to make one tremble with excitement.

Although they knew Gu Chaoning's abilities were considerable, this kind of impact was still a delightful surprise.

This meant that, barring any accidents, Gu Chaoning would definitely pass the imperial examination at the shengyuan level, and with a high score at that.

And a shengyuan with a high score meant he was certain to pass the provincial examination for juren!

How could this not make people excited, how could they not lose their composure?

Gu Daniu, upon hearing this, let out three hearty "Good!"s in a row.

The Gu family finally had a scholar of their own!

They chatted a bit more before going their separate ways.

Word came that fifty-six students had passed the county examination in total—Gu Chaoning came in third, Gu Rong twelfth, Shen Zhenghao fifteenth, Xu Huaisheng twenty-seventh, and Chen Hengdao trailed at fiftieth.

Shen Zhenghao from Xiaodukou Village had already gone home during the return trip, and Chen Hengdao, feeling unsure of himself, had also headed back early.

That left Xu Huaisheng, also from Xiaohe Village, to deliver the news to Gu Chaoning and Gu Rong.

The next day, Gu Chaoning, Gu Rong, and Xu Huaisheng rose early, visited their tutor, went over the exam questions and their answers, and agreed to return to the village school in three days. Only then were they let go.

Gu Chaoning and Gu Rong barely exchanged words; after leaving the tutor's place, they each went straight home.

The county exam was set for the eighth of the second lunar month, and the prefectural exam for the eleventh of the fourth month, so on paper, there seemed to be plenty of time.

But the exam itself took three days, waiting for results took five more, the trip back took a day, and getting to the prefectural city would take two to three days—that already added up to over ten days.

Inns were hard to come by around exam time, and there was also the worry that a sudden change of scenery plus nerves could make the students sick, so they'd need to head over early.

By a rough calculation, where was there any time left!

Gu Rong muttered to himself and, upon returning home, immediately retreated into his study.

Little did he know, his good younger brother Gu Chaoning had gone straight to the backyard after coming back.