Chapter 68: Titles Are So Hard to Come Up With

Chapter 68: Titles Are Hard

After nearly three days of rough travel, the whole group finally arrived at Chuanyang Prefecture.

The long journey had worn everyone out, and they were all feeling wilted.

But upon hearing the leader announce that they'd reached the prefecture, they couldn't help but scramble out of the carriages.

A mix of carriages, some fancy, some plain, lined up waiting for the gate guards to check them. The five scholars looked around, taking in how the prefecture differed from the county town.

Guess it really was a prefecture, huh—even before they got inside, the city gate and the crowd waiting outside were nothing like the county town.

Gu Chaoning was also looking around, since he had tasks assigned by his little brothers.

"Yah!"

Suddenly, the sound of hooves rang out from behind the orderly line, followed by a brash, showy voice.

"Why are there always so many people entering the city? This is taking forever!"

"Ah, young master, have you forgotten? There's exams going on lately, so the prefecture's naturally crowded."

The young man paused, then sounded a bit flustered and annoyed: "Who asked you to butt in?"

With a crack of his whip, he yanked the reins and trotted off toward the city gate.

The man behind him silently smacked his own mouth, then hurried to follow. "Young master, wait for me... What are you all gawking at? Open the gate for my young master, now!?"

The soldiers who'd been inspecting goods and travel permits had already spotted the young man and were ready to open the gate the moment they saw him. As he approached, two of them hurried over, shoving aside the waiting crowd to let the young man and his attendant enter first.

Those waiting for inspection only heard the sound of hooves, then saw a young gentleman in fancy silk robes pass by in a flash.

If you tilted your head a bit, you might catch a glimpse of his profile as he rushed by.

He was only eleven or twelve, with handsome features and a lively, spirited look.

His skin was as fair as fine mutton-fat jade, so smooth and luminous it seemed to glow in the sun.

His phoenix eyes tilted up at the corners—not sharp, but, because he was so young, they seemed to hold a pool of spring water.

The whole thing happened so fast, like a gust of wind that ended in the blink of an eye, leaving everyone behind to feel the breeze on their faces and realize a rich young gentleman had just ridden by.

"Th-that... who was that?"

Hearing Gu Rong's question, a man nearby propped his arm on the carriage shaft, also gazing in the direction the young gentleman had gone.

"That's the young master of our prefect's family..."

Gu Chaoning looked toward the city gate, his gaze deepening.

The prefect's young master...

He Feiguang.

"He Feiguang."

He was also Yin Hongxue's best friend in his past life.

"Hey, hey, hey, the folks up front are moving—get a move on!" A shout from behind snapped the group out of it. The man leaning on the carriage shaft awkwardly withdrew his presumptuous hand and walked back.

The carriage driver cracked his whip and got the carriage moving again.

Perhaps because of He Feiguang's little stunt, the inspection line moved faster. Soon enough, it was Gu Chaoning's group's turn.

A small merchant caravan, along with five scholars there for the prefectural exam.

The soldiers checked the travel permits, checked with the guys inspecting the goods, and waved them through.

Strictly speaking, once they reached the prefecture, the caravan and the scholars were supposed to part ways.

But the caravan had been well paid by the scholars' elders, and they'd gotten along fine on the road. The leader had someone who knew the prefecture take the five young scholars to the official broker, helped them rent a small courtyard, and only then left.

After the bumpy journey, once the initial excitement wore off, everyone was drained. After a quick cleanup, they each retreated to their rooms to lie down.

When they woke up, it was already evening.

Gu Chaoning freshened himself up, stepped out of his room, and looked at the quiet little courtyard, realizing he was the first one awake.

Right then, his stomach growled.

With nothing else to do, he pocketed two taels of silver and strolled out the door.

It was dinner time, and the streets were packed with all kinds of food vendors.

The prefecture was prosperous, the food fresh, so of course the prices were a bit steeper.

Gu Chaoning wandered around first, picked up some cheap, easy-to-eat stuff, and prepared to head back.

The sky was getting dark—though the sun hadn't fully set, lanterns were already lit outside every shop.

"Hey! Scholar!" A hand suddenly shot out from the side and grabbed Gu Chaoning's wrist.

Startled, Gu Chaoning nearly dropped the oil-paper package in his hand.

He turned to look and saw a young lad with a face so smudged he looked like he'd just crawled out of a stove.

But...

Gu Chaoning firmly and distantly pulled his wrist free from the lad's grasp, then looked at him with confusion: "Brother, is something the matter?"

The lad flashed Gu Chaoning an ingratiating smile: "I can see by your fair complexion and refined bearing that you must be a kind and noble gentleman."

Gu Chaoning said nothing, only smiling quietly as he watched him.

The lad didn't seem embarrassed and continued: "My name is Qi Aliu. I too came to the prefecture as a scholar for the exams, but I unfortunately lost my money pouch on the way. Would you be willing to lend me some silver to help me pass the exams?"

Gu Chaoning: "..."

If you pass, then what am I supposed to pass?

Gu Chaoning clutched his oil-paper package tightly and turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, hey, scholar, scholar!" Gu Chaoning's steps were firm—his heart as hard as iron. Qi Aliu hurried alongside him, "Don't go, scholar! If you won't donate, I can borrow—I'll borrow some silver!"

To seem sincere, he even raised his hand and held up a finger beside his cheek, his face full of earnestness.

Gu Chaoning glanced at him sidelong and asked, "How much do you want to borrow?"

Seeing that he didn't look like a fool who was short on money, lending him a small amount wouldn't be out of the question.

"Not that much, not that much," seeing that Gu Chaoning's expression had finally softened, Qi Aliu grinned. "I only need to borrow a hundred taels."

Gu Chaoning turned away and quickened his pace once more.

Where the hell did this rich kid idiot come from?

"Only a hundred taels," indeed—he didn't even have a hundred taels on him, period!

Qi Aliu's eyes widened in disbelief, not getting why Gu Chaoning, who'd been fine a second ago, had suddenly turned on him.

After getting brushed off again and again, Qi Aliu, not used to being treated like that, felt his own expression sour, and he slowed his pace behind Gu Chaoning.

But then he remembered something and chased after him again.

"Scholar, I won't borrow a hundred taels anymore—could you at least treat me to something to eat?" He made it sound like he was the one making a huge sacrifice.

Gu Chaoning glanced at him, about to say yes, but then stopped, like something had just hit him.

"What do you want to eat?"

Qi Aliu, easy to please, perked up when he saw Gu Chaoning softening. "I want to eat the crispy braised pork from Qianwei Tower, braised wild mushrooms, Longjing shrimp..."

Watching him rattle off dish after dish, Gu Chaoning looked at him like he was a curiosity.

Even people who weren't from the prefectural city knew Qianwei Tower was the biggest restaurant in Chuanyang.

So what made this guy think he could get treated to Qianwei Tower?

Gu Chaoning stopped in front of Qi Aliu, and seeing the guy's eyes all lit up after he finished listing the dishes, he was actually speechless for a second.

After a brief silence, he tossed one of the oil-paper packages to Qi Aliu. As the man fumbled to catch it, Gu Chaoning spoke coldly, "That's all you're getting. Don't want it? Then go hungry."

Qi Aliu opened the package and found three plump, shiny white buns inside.

As the paper opened, the aroma of the buns wafted out, making his already starving stomach growl.

So hungry~

Before his brain even caught up, his hand had already grabbed a bun and stuffed it in his mouth.

He wolfed it down in big bites, clearly starving.

Gu Chaoning's face relaxed a little.

He led Qi Aliu to an inn he'd noticed during his stroll, booked a cheap room, and paid for an extra night, then got ready to leave.

By then, Qi Aliu had finished the buns. Initially, upon seeing Gu Chaoning book the room, he'd been griping, saying he wanted a nicer room. But when he saw Gu Chaoning pay for only two days and prepare to leave, he dropped the whole thing and hurried after him.

He gave a fawning smile, "Scholar, scholar, could you pay for two more days?"

Gu Chaoning gave him a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Want to stay in a nicer room?"

Qi Aliu's eyes went wide, and he blurted out, "Yeah!"

Gu Chaoning smiled again. "I'd like that too."

"Then you—"

"No money!"

And with that, leaving Qi Aliu standing there stunned, Gu Chaoning took off.

Qi Aliu stood not far from the inn's entrance, staring at Gu Chaoning's back in total disbelief.

No money!?

He'd only clocked Gu Chaoning's rich, classy vibe and rushed over without thinking.

Only now did he actually bother to look Gu Chaoning over.

A plain blue cotton robe, hair tied back with a matching cloth strip—clean, sure, but it didn't change the fact that he was wearing plain cotton with no jewelry or anything.

Wait, what...

Qi Aliu was completely floored.

But he'd looked like some rich young master raised on gold and silk!?

When Gu Chaoning got back to the little courtyard, the other four were already up.

Seeing Gu Chaoning come in, Gu Rong hurried over. "Ning Di's back."

Xu Huaisheng was sweeping the yard and, spotting the oil-paper bundle in Gu Chaoning's hand that was obviously food, couldn't help laughing. "Rong Di called it—Ning Di really did go out to get supper."

"I woke up hungry, and since you brothers were still dead asleep from the trip, I didn't want to bother you, so I went out and grabbed some simple stuff. Eat up, and then you can get back to resting and unpacking."

The others thanked Gu Chaoning in turn.

There was a stone table and stools in the courtyard, which Gu Rong had already wiped clean. Without needing to go inside, they all ate their supper right there in the open.

Over the next few days, aside from going out with Gu Rong and the others on the second day to pick up daily necessities and rice and flour, Gu Chaoning stayed in, nose buried in his books.

Since he never went out, Gu Chaoning had no idea that Qi Aliu was circling the little courtyard every day, obviously looking for him.

The others, Gu Rong included, were just as clueless.

Since Gu Chaoning had come in third on the county exam, and with Gu Rong leading the way, plus Gu Chaoning seeming all warm and easygoing, a few of them started coming to him for study help.

Other than that, Shen Zhenghao was the one who went out a lot and made some friends. One of them, a guy named Zhao Kangsheng, got closest to him and even came by the courtyard once.

And so, a dozen or so days went by, and before long, it was time for the prefectural exam.