CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: THE PAPER CRANE SOARS

Jichuan County, ten miles away.

The carriage stopped there was naturally the one from the Cui family estate.

The person in the carriage was none other than the Cui family steward who had previously visited Chen Xu’s hometown, Cui Fu.

At this moment, the appearance of Cui Fu was completely different from when he was in Xiaowan Village or Chen Xu’s home.

He sat back in the soft seat of the carriage with his eyes half-closed, and a clever-looking servant knelt by his knees, attentively massaging his legs.

While massaging, the servant asked, "Uncle Fu, are we waiting here for Master Chen to pass by, so we can invite him into the carriage again?"

Without lifting his eyelids and while pretending to rest, Cui Fu chuckled and said:

"I’ve already invited him at his home, and he refused. If you invite him again by the roadside, that’s not friendship, that’s pestering!"

The servant was momentarily puzzled and quickly asked, "If that’s not the right thing to do, then what are we... what are we waiting here for?"

Cui Fu said, "Who told you that we are waiting for Master Chen here?"

"Ah? Then we... aren’t we going to do what the young master instructed?"

"We are doing it, but not like this. Go and drive the carriage, advance seventy miles ahead, and stop at the entrance of the Zhongjiang Road post station."

After instructing the servant, Cui Fu gave further orders to eight guards: "Four of you stay behind and protect Master Chen in secret. Stay hidden unless something happens, and if there is trouble, don’t hesitate to appear openly to rescue him."

Finally, Cui Fu took out a paper crane from his bosom.

He bit the tip of his finger and wrote a line of characters with his blood over the paper crane before releasing it.

A clear cry was heard as the paper crane flew up, then transformed mid-air into a white-headed hawk about the length of half an arm.

The little hawk was lifelike, flapping its wings and soaring into the sky.

Jichuan County, Chen Xu, and others left the North City Gate, but the journey was far from dull.

There were three carriages in total, one of which was shared by County School Instructor Wu Zhengze and Master Yao Qing.

Yao Qing, being both a Master and a Scholar recipient in Jichuan County, could vouch for the student candidates heading for the examination.

Actually, Wang Mochuan was also a Scholar recipient in Jichuan County, and he was eligible to vouch too.

However, since Wang Mochuan was young and still studying in the County School’s Scholar class under a Scholar Master, he held a lower rank, thus not participating in the vouching matters.

At this time, Wang Mochuan was in the same carriage as Chen Xu and his clan cousin Wang Xin.

The last carriage carried Xu Wenyuan and two other students from the County School.

There were a total of five candidates, who were both friends and competitors.

On the carriage, Chen Xu and Wang Mochuan were engaged in a pleasant conversation.

As the carriage left through the North City Gate, opening the curtain revealed a view of several picturesque hills in the northern outskirts.

Wang Mochuan sighed and remarked, "Brother Chen, back in the day, the impressive might and mystery of the Star Array under the small peak are still vividly in my mind. It’s a pity that no one passed through that array back then."

When Wang Mochuan mentioned the regret that no one passed through the array, Chen Xu heard it but didn’t know how to respond.

Fortunately, Wang Mochuan was merely expressing a casual sentiment, needing no response from Chen Xu.

He continued to talk to himself, "This trip to Yunjiang Prefecture will take at least two days of travel. Tonight, we’ll probably have to rest and reorganize at the post station seventy miles ahead on Zhongjiang Road.

This post station gets renovated every year yet falls into disrepair every year. Hopefully, this year the roof won’t leak when it rains."

Speaking of the Zhongjiang Road post station, Chen Xu found a topic to discuss.

He replied, "Brother Wang, you might not know, if the post station were repaired perfectly at once, then what use would there be for the Posthouse Minister?"

This was said offhand, and after speaking, Chen Xu and Wang Mochuan exchanged glances and then both laughed.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was just right, naturally leading the conversation to open up gradually.

During their last chat, Wang Mochuan had talked extensively about the various powers in Yunjiang Prefecture, and now he began discussing its geography.

Yunjiang Prefecture, also known as the confluence of nine rivers.

Within the entire Seven Prefectures of the South, Yunjiang Prefecture was considered one of the most prosperous and affluent regions.

This single prefecture housed thirteen counties.

Unfortunately, Jichuan County had always been a mediocre player among them. The overall prosperity and affluence of Yunjiang Prefecture had not significantly benefited Jichuan.

On the contrary, in terms of livelihood, economy, and education, Jichuan County consistently ranked the lowest.

Annually, few succeeded in the examination.

Yes, unlike some dynasties, the Scholar examination of the Great Li Dynasty was held annually.

The provincial examination for Scholars was held every two years, while the metropolitan examination took place every three years.

Wu Zhengze only came to Jichuan County at the end of last year to serve as the County School Instructor, and this year was his first time leading the County School’s students to participate in the prefectural examination.

"I am quite ashamed to admit," said Wang Mochuan when it came to the examinations, "After passing the preliminary student examination back then, it took me another four years to finally pass the Scholar exam.

Now, it’s been four years since I became a Scholar, yet I still haven’t passed the metropolitan exam.

The twists of life weigh heavy. This year, I am already twenty-seven or twenty-eight, yet I have not been able to deliver an appropriate answer to my teachers and friends."

He sighed while speaking.

Chen Xu was aware that Wang Mochuan was indirectly comforting himself.

Because Chen Xu had also tried for three years without passing the Scholar exam, and this year was his fourth attempt.

While they talked, the journey unknowingly slipped away.

By midday, the group found a shaded area to disembark, take a short break, and pulled out some dry rations for a simple luncheon.

During this time, Chen Xu took out the Blood Agar Wine he had specially brought along and offered each person a sip, garnering a total of about two hundred likes.

Since except for the coachman, everyone present held at least the status of a junior Scholar, their like capacity far exceeded that of ordinary mortals.

No need to elaborate further, suffice it to say that the existence of Blood Agar Wine had tangibly opened a new pathway of gaining likes for Chen Xu.

In the short term, even if he could not sell Spirit Wine in large quantities, he could still secure a base of likes through regular interactions with his peers.

Thus, his daily income wouldn’t suffer due to exam preparations.

By evening, they completed the seventy-mile journey, and the Zhongjiang Road post station loomed in the distance.

As the carriages approached, even before reaching the post station entrance, the group heard a commotion.

It was a group of Scholars of various ages, heatedly arguing with the Posthouse Soldier: "We, too, are students on our way to the exam. Why can’t we stay at this post station?"

The Posthouse Soldier tilted his head slightly, speaking in a flat tone, "The rooms are full. How can you stay here? Don’t you Scholars know that you can’t force someone to do the impossible?"

Wang Mochuan lifted the carriage curtain and frowned, saying, "The post station is fully booked? Do we have to travel another twenty miles to stay at Yunheng County ahead? If we proceed another twenty miles, it will likely be dark."

Before his words were finished, the Posthouse Soldier at the door glanced this way.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened as he approached and asked, "Are you the party of students from Jichuan County?"