Chapter 38: The Eve |
Two days before the martial examination began.
In the low, cramped main room of the old Chen family house.
Three white flour steamed buns and a bowl of pickled vegetables sat on the table, which Second Aunt had gritted her teeth to scrape together, with the purpose of letting Chen Heng conserve his energy at this final moment.
Chen Wen stared longingly at the steamed buns, his Adam's apple bobbing constantly, his fingers unconsciously reaching over.
"Slap!"
Second Aunt's palm fell without mercy, "Are you trying to die? Those are for Xiao Heng!"
Without another word, she stuffed all the buns into her son's hands, lovingly stroking Chen Heng's wrist, "Son, look how practicing has worn you down these past months, you've gotten so thin... Eat quickly, eat more to recover!"
Chen Wen complained in a low voice, "Haven't seen any oil for months, my intestines are ready to tie themselves in knots..."
Old Master Chen's fingers, like dried wood, repeatedly stroked his cold pipe stem, his cloudy old eyes fixed on Chen Heng, "Endure it! Once Xiao Heng earns his title and gets a position with monthly pay, the family burden will lighten. Then what won't we be able to eat?"
"Father! Second brother, sister-in-law."
The door curtain rustled as it was pulled aside, and Chen Jinhua rushed in like a whirlwind, carefully cradling a small basket covered with blue cloth in her hands.
She lifted the cloth like revealing a treasure, and inside lay five or six white eggs!
"Xiao Heng! Come, see what eldest aunt brought you!"
She pushed the basket into Second Aunt's hands like a precious treasure, looking at Chen Heng eagerly, "This gives the most strength, you must eat them all."
Chen Heng said somewhat guiltily, "...Thank you, eldest aunt."
"We're all family, what's there to be polite about? You're our family's hope, eldest aunt has bet her entire fortune on you."
Chen Jinhua's face wrinkled with smiles, "Once you earn your title, eldest aunt will arrange a good marriage for you."
Second Aunt smiled, "Eldest sister, don't worry. The martial hall master says Xiao Heng has the makings of a martial artist."
At this moment, Chen Heng recalled his senior brother's 'guidance' in the corner of the martial hall yesterday. On the martial examination ground, ability was one thing, but luck and those little 'accidents' in the moment were the key.
Even if he didn't pass, it wouldn't be because he wasn't capable, but because heaven was blind.
"Ah Heng."
Old Master Chen's withered fingers repeatedly stroked his pipe stem, his eyes looking at Chen Heng, "The family has scraped together everything we could for you. Back then your father... lacked ability, couldn't endure the hardships of martial training."
"You're different. Grandfather just hopes you can bring honor to our old Chen family."
Old Master Chen's hunched back straightened somewhat, his sunken chest rising and falling rapidly.
He had almost exhausted everything, even depriving his eldest son Chen Wu of his share of the family fortune, just to barely support Chen Heng.
Bringing glory to the ancestors, these four words were the only hope that supported the old master through countless bitter days.
Senior brother's 'accident theory' had given Chen Heng confidence.
He tried to straighten his back, meeting his grandfather's gaze with a kind of almost bluffing 'certainty', "Grandfather, rest assured. This martial examination, your grandson will give his all! As for the result... planning is up to people, success is up to heaven. I only seek to have a clear conscience and not disappoint the family's painstaking efforts!"
He deliberately emphasized 'success is up to heaven,' as if laying groundwork in advance.
A trace of smile finally appeared on Old Master Chen's wrinkled face, and his cloudy old eyes brightened somewhat.
He unconsciously began stroking his pipe stem again, already calculating in his mind that once Xiao Heng passed the martial scholar examination, he would definitely set up several banquet tables...
...
Zhou's courtyard.
With the martial examination approaching, the atmosphere in the courtyard was tense. All disciples buried themselves in hard practice, their shouts and the sound of fists and feet cutting through air weaving together.
Qin Lie stepped into the courtyard, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping in Chen Qing's direction, then walked expressionlessly toward his own position.
Chen Qing sensed that gaze but acted as if unaware, still focused on instructing Song Yufeng in stance work practice.
"Junior brother Chen."
A soft call rang out as Liu Xiaolou walked over slowly.
Hearing the voice, Chen Qing steadily leaped down from the wooden post, picked up a nearby towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead, "Senior brother Liu, is there something?"
Liu Xiaolou, Qi Wenhan and others had been hidden strength experts when Chen Qing first entered Zhou's courtyard, serving as pillars of the academy.
Chen Qing had no deep relationship with them though.
Liu Xiaolou coughed lightly, lowering his voice and moving closer, "Junior brother Chen, I heard... you still hold a position at the River Office?"
Chen Qing nodded, "Yes."
"We're all martial brothers here, so let's speak plainly."
Liu Xiaolou held up five fingers, a gleam flashing in his eyes, "The Li family's steward approached me with a good offer, fifty taels for hidden strength, ten taels for obvious strength! I, Junior Brother Wu Lin, and Junior Brother Zhang Cang all plan to go. More people means better support for each other. What does Junior Brother Chen think?"
The Li family!?
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing immediately understood the deeper meaning.
Wu Lin and Zhang Cang, he naturally knew them, both were old disciples who had been stuck at obvious strength for years without any progress. It seemed they felt breakthrough was hopeless and were eager to find a patron.
Liu Xiaolou's mention of 'support' was nothing more than forming cliques to boost their influence and seek additional benefits.
With the current turbulent situation, Chen Qing didn't want to commit to the Li family, one of the Five Major Families.
He smiled and politely declined, "River Official Cheng has treated me well. I'll stay at the River Office."
"Everyone has their own aspirations, senior brother won't force you."
Liu Xiaolou put on a smile and patted Chen Qing's arm, "In the future, if you need senior brother's help in Li family territory, just ask. I'll definitely help if I can."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, after all, there was still a long road ahead, and no one knew when they might 'need' this relationship.
Watching Liu Xiaolou's departing figure, Chen Qing understood that disciples like him and Wu Lin seeking other opportunities were far from isolated cases.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, and refocused.
The medicinal power from the treasure fish soup he had just taken hadn't dissipated yet. At this crucial moment where every second counted, not a bit could be wasted.
Zhou's courtyard, back courtyard.
Zhou Liang sat in his study, staring out the window somewhat absent-mindedly.
He remembered his high spirits when he first came to Gaolin County, arriving with dreams.
Only ten years had passed, yet those initial dreams had been lost somewhere. The spirited young man now had white hair at his temples.
"Father!"
Zhou Yu entered carrying a tea tray, gently placing a teacup before her father, "This year's martial examination, do you think I... have a chance?"
Zhou Liang took the teacup, his gaze falling on his daughter, his tone plain yet penetrating, "Your real combat experience is too shallow, you've never experienced life-and-death battles. The martial examination's first round tests strength, the second round is actual combat. You won't have even half an advantage."
Zhou Yu fell silent upon hearing this, clearly understanding her father's words were true. She then asked, "Then aside from Junior Brother Qin Lie, who do you think has the best chance, Father? Senior brother Sun Shun?"
Zhou Liang sipped his tea, his gaze seeming to pierce through the walls toward the front courtyard, "Sun Shun's foundation is fairly solid, he has one or two chances, but... not great."
"What about Senior Brother Zheng Ziqiao and Senior Brother Qi Wenhan?" Zhou Yu pressed.
"Zheng Ziqiao is too focused on personal gain, Qi Wenhan is content with small comforts."
Zhou Liang shook his head slightly, commenting, "Both have decent aptitude and family resources to support them. If they had that kind of fate, they should have passed last year. Since they haven't succeeded yet, they lack that bit of desperate tenacity in their bones."
Zhou Yu pondered, "Junior brother Chen Qing is indeed diligent and hardworking, but he broke through to hidden strength not long ago and his foundation is still shallow. To stand out among so many skilled opponents... it's too difficult."
She paused, "Looking at it this way, Junior Brother Qin Lie is indeed the most likely to achieve high marks in this martial examination."
Zhou Liang slowly stood up, walked to the window, his gaze falling on the disciples practicing hard in the courtyard, and said in a deep voice, "Qin Lie's talent and perseverance are both superior. In this martial examination, most of the burden falls on his shoulders."
