FIMA Ch48.2: Book Copying

After Gu Siyuan had left, Wang Xu stood up and respectfully asked Mr. Chen, “Sir, may I have a look at Brother Gu’s masterpiece?”

Mr. Chen glanced at him and, uncharacteristically, nodded.

Wang Xu’s face lit up with a smile as he carefully took the paper.

Moments later, he quietly put down the essay, bowed in silence, and left the room.

Indeed, there are always more talented people out there.

In the capital, Wang Xu had been exceedingly proud, thinking only a few could match him. After coming to the small Wuqing County, he felt like he was the top. But who would have thought…

So, that noon, as Gu Siyuan was buying hot soup to have with his flatbread for lunch as usual, a certain young man named Wang casually brought over an exquisite lunchbox and sat down, saying boldly, “Brother Gu, the servants at home sent too much food. Why not join me?”

Gu Siyuan glanced at him. This was a very typical way of socializing, bonding over a meal.

However, he still nodded. In his newly formulated plan, the person before him was a crucial part.

Moreover, the imperial examination was never a solitary endeavor.

From the county examination onwards, candidates needed to vouch for each other. The higher the level of the examination, the stricter this requirement became. By the time of the provincial examination, five candidates needed to vouch for each other, and they were jointly liable. If one person committed fraud, the other four would also be implicated.

Therefore, it wasn’t enough to be honest oneself; one also had to consider the character of fellow candidates. Getting to know them in advance was naturally beneficial.

Furthermore, judging from the performance in the classroom just now, this young man indeed had some knowledge and skills. With a strong background, he would undoubtedly achieve something significant in the future.

Even if it wasn’t for the current plan, having such a classmate could be invaluable in the political arena once he reached a high position in the future.

Despite thinking all this through and finding numerous advantages in befriending this person, Gu Siyuan soon regretted it a bit.

Wang Xu, who seemed rebellious and unruly, turned out to be a chatterbox once he got familiar.

Finally, when Wang Xu was about to spit into his bowl while talking, Gu Siyuan quoted an old saying for the first time, “One should not speak while eating.”

Wang Xu blinked, “Then let’s discuss after eating, Brother Gu.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Does he really have that much to say?

When school ended in the evening, Wang Xu still chatted with him as they left the academy together.

Even when Gu Siyuan went to the bookstore to hand in the volume of “Complete Collection of Classics” he had just copied, Wang Xu followed him the whole way.

When Shopkeeper Song received the book, he was somewhat incredulous, “So fast, sir?”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

Shopkeeper, watch your words.

However, after Shopkeeper Song finished checking the copied content, he cheerfully paid up immediately and even gave him three more volumes to copy without requiring a deposit.

As they crossed Qingxi Bridge and approached the corner of Anding Street, they saw many people gathered around a stall.

Standing on the bridge, Gu Siyuan saw that it was a merchant selling watermelons.

Watermelons were introduced to the Central Plains from the Western Regions a thousand years ago. Initially, they were only popular among the aristocracy. During the previous dynasty, frequent trade with foreign nations in the Jiangnan region brought watermelon cultivation techniques, gradually making them available to common people, though they were still not very common.

However, in Tongzhou, which is under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, there are quite a few merchants who travel to the capital and also come this way.

Gu Siyuan said, “I’ll go take a look.”

Wang Xu obviously saw the stall as well and exclaimed, “Oh, watermelons! I love them too. Let’s go together. I’ll have a few sent to my home later.”

Gu Siyuan carefully picked a round watermelon at the stall, which looked just like the curve of Xie Changyue’s cheeks when he was unhappy.

He asked the stall owner for the price and learned that one watermelon cost several hundred wen. He couldn’t help but touch his money pouch and sigh in relief. It was fortunate he had just delivered the copied books and received two taels of silver; otherwise, he might have had to eat without paying.

Wang Xu looked at him and said, “Why buy only one? That’s not enough. I’m treating. Take a few more, Brother Gu.”

Gu Siyuan shook his head. “This fruit is quite cooling. I’ll just take it back for my husband to have a taste.”

Wang Xu was shocked and frowned, “Brother Gu is already married?”

This man looks about the same age as me.

Gu Siyuan nodded.

Wang Xu couldn’t help but sigh, “Ah, I originally wanted to tell Brother Gu that I have many sisters at home…”

Gu Siyuan immediately stopped him, “Brother Wang, please don’t joke. My husband and I are deeply in love.”

Wang Xu, always perceptive, switched topics and asked with a smile, “Your husband must be a well-bred gentleman, elegant and virtuous, to be so cherished by you.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “My husband is indeed outstanding, but he is not from a prominent family. He is just someone from my village.”

“Ah… oh.”

Wang Xu opened his mouth, feeling a bit regretful. Someone with Gu Siyuan’s talent and appearance would surely go far in the imperial examinations. He would likely attract the attention of prominent figures who might marry their daughters to him, making his future career much easier.

But now…

Gu Siyuan, unaware of what was going through Wang Xu’s mind, hugged the round watermelon and thought of Xie Changyue, who might be waiting with puffed cheeks at the village entrance. He couldn’t wait to say goodbye, “Brother Wang, see you tomorrow.”

Wang Xu nodded, “See you tomorrow!”

In Huangyang Village, Xie Changyue threw down his small hoe and ran towards the courtyard gate.

Today, because some of the flower seeds his husband had given him had sprouted, he was so excited that he spent some time in the backyard. When he looked up again, he found that the sun was already setting.

Mu Xia, seeing his son-in-law running off on time again, was helpless. Does his son really have such great charm?

Today, with an extra watermelon in the basket, Gu Siyuan’s pace was slower than yesterday.

He had just reached the outskirts of the village when he saw a familiar, slender figure quickly running towards him from the village.

When Xie Changyue saw him, his eyes lit up, and he ran straight up to him, hugging his arm and affectionately calling, “Husband.”

Gu Siyuan patted his head and said softly, “I bought a watermelon today, so I walked a bit slower. I’m glad you didn’t wait long.”

Xie Changyue shook his head, still excited, “The flower seeds sprouted today, so I was late too.”

Seeing him sweaty from running, Gu Siyuan felt a pang of tenderness and gently coaxed, “It’s fine now in the summer, but in two months when autumn comes and it gets dark earlier, you’re not allowed to wait for me at the village entrance anymore.”

Xie Changyue pouted but didn’t reply.

Gu Siyuan pinched his round, always-missed cheeks, “In autumn, I’ll take the ox cart home every day. It’ll be earlier than usual. It’s dangerous at the village entrance after dark, and I don’t want to worry.”

Hearing that he would worry, Xie Changyue’s face lit up with a smile again, “I’ll listen to you, but you have to come back early.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “I won’t lie to you.”

Back home, Gu Siyuan took out the watermelon and asked Xie Changyue to cut it and enjoy it.

Although Xie Changyue wanted to keep the treat his husband bought for himself, the watermelon was a rarity that the Gu family rarely had. He decided to take it to the yard, thinking the whole family could have a taste.

Gu Siyuan naturally had no objections.

Just as Li Xiangtao was coming out of the kitchen, she saw him washing the watermelon and immediately glared, “Oh my, I thought there was no one who pampered their spouse more than our A-Yang. Just yesterday, you bought cakes from Bao Xiang Zhai, and today you bought a watermelon. Hmph, still a student spending the family’s money, yet so willing to buy such expensive things.”

Xie Changyue paused his washing and slowly looked up, squinting at the person in front of him.

He had good eyes, long and elegant, with slightly upturned corners. When he smiled, he looked especially cute, but now, squinting like this, he looked somewhat strange and eerie.

Li Xiangtao felt a bit guilty, “What are you looking at? Am I wrong? Such a waste of money.”

Xie Changyue sneered, his voice cold, “Yesterday, when aunt took three or four pieces of cake from me at once, she didn’t think it was a waste of money.”

Li Xiangtao was at a loss for words. After a while, she muttered softly, “It’s all family money anyway.”

Hearing this, Xie Changyue’s eyes grew colder, and he was about to say something.

Just then, an extremely cold and sharp male voice came over.

“Buying cakes and watermelons are from the money I earned from copying books. The ink money the family gives each year is the same for me and my eldest cousin. I’ve never exceeded it, nor have I ever been privately subsidized.”

Gu Siyuan’s tall figure emerged from the house.

Li Xiangtao’s face turned ugly. Gu Siyuan’s first few sentences were fine, but the last one was a veiled accusation. Gu Siyuan had never been privately subsidized, unlike her son Zhen’er, who often received extra money from the old lady.

The coldness around Xie Changyue instantly vanished. He ran a few steps to Gu Siyuan’s side, hugging the watermelon, and looked pitifully at him, “Husband…”

The tone was drawn out, with many ups and downs, as if he had just been terribly wronged.

“…” Li Xiangtao.

You weren’t like this when you were talking to me just now.

Gu Siyuan raised his hand to touch Xie Changyue’s round, chubby cheeks, feeling an immense surge of tenderness.

He coldly looked at Li Xiangtao, “Since Aunt dislikes it so much, I’ll take this watermelon back to the house. We’ll cut it later and send it to Grandpa and Grandma. But… Aunt, you should act with propriety. How I treat my husband is a private matter. It’s inappropriate for Aunt to observe so closely.”

“You… Gu Siyuan, you little brat…” Li Xiangtao’s face turned red, whether from anger or shame was unclear.

Gu Siyuan actually dared to say such nonsense?

What does he mean by her spying on his private affairs? How can she face people if this gets out?

“Alright, fighting over a watermelon within the family.” Old Madam Gu, hearing the commotion, came out of the house.

She rarely scolded her daughters-in-law in front of the grandchildren, but this time, she harshly reprimanded Li Xiangtao, “If you don’t like it, go back to your room. It’s not your money being spent.”

Li Xiangtao didn’t dare argue with the old lady and walked away angrily.

However, before leaving, she gave Gu Siyuan a disdainful look, thinking, very well, she would like to see what kind of results someone who thinks about his husband all day can achieve in next year’s imperial examination.

Gu Siyuan pretended not to see.

Old Madam Gu also turned to Gu Siyuan, speaking coldly, “You are a scholar. Mind your words. Family members shouldn’t say everything that comes to mind.”

Xie Changyue immediately pouted, feeling indignant.

Hmph, it’s clearly Aunt’s problem, always meddling in others’ business.

Gu Siyuan had no intention of arguing with the old lady. He nodded, acknowledging her words, then took his husband back to their room.

Old Madam Gu watched the two of them leave, frowning.

Originally, her eldest daughter-in-law was also sharp-tongued and liked to nitpick, but the second son’s family never took it seriously, so there were no disputes.

Now that Siyuan had married, his temperament had changed a lot, leading to conflicts.

Just now, both the second son and his wife were inside the house but didn’t come out to mediate, which showed their stance.

Originally, the old man planned to wait until Zhen’er got married before dividing the family. Now it might have to be done sooner; it’s not good if they continue and end up turning against each other.

Xie Changyue followed Gu Siyuan back to their room, looking at him with admiration, “Husband was amazing just now, not only making that annoying aunt furious but also ensuring we don’t have to share the watermelon with her.”

Gu Siyuan pinched his cheeks, “If you like it, I’ll bring you another one tomorrow.”

Xie Changyue hugged his husband’s neck, sweetly nestling against him, “I love everything you give me, but no more watermelon. Copying books is hard work, and I don’t want you to tire yourself out.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.

How could there be such an adorable sweetheart in the world?

He turned around and pushed him onto the bed, wanting to taste if Xie Changyue was sweet all over, just like his mouth.

The days that followed were relatively peaceful.

Gu Siyuan continued his studies, while Xie Changyue continued planting flowers and waiting for his return.

Time passed day by day, with the tips of the tree leaves beginning to turn golden, and various flower buds slowly transforming into fruits.

In early September, the seasonal clothing break started, lasting about ten days. The students would take this opportunity to prepare winter clothes.

The academy, understanding that it was difficult for students from other regions to return home, dismissed classes at noon, similar to the previous farming break.

When Gu Siyuan returned home, his little husband, who usually ran out early to greet him, was now in the backyard, sighing in front of plants taller than himself.

“I’m really sorry, husband. It seems I can’t grow beautiful flowers. I wonder if there’s something wrong with the way I planted them?”