CHAPTER 1034: CHAPTER 1033: HEADING FOR THE EXAM

After calculating the time, the tea tree branches can be transplanted after the Start of Autumn.

This lifted everyone’s spirits, and they first went to find the few people Song Chongjin had left in the town, took them into the Tea Mountain in Dahei Mountain, identified suitable locations, and then gave them silver to hire some workers to first build a few houses at the foot of the Tea Mountain.

Before Song Chongjin left, he had instructed them, and they naturally understood.

Without a word, they took the silver and went to do the task.

Meanwhile, Wang Yongzhu asked Wang Yongping to inquire in Yingzi Gully where Loo Xiaoshan and his group had moved, and then sent a message to them.

Loo Xiaoshan and his group now have found a cave, but it’s not as good as those in Yingzi Gully, just barely a place they can stay.

Since that incident, although no one spoke of it publicly, there was indeed resentment, and everyone felt implicated by each other.

Every day, they were caged in the cave, having conflicts, living unhappily.

Quite a few families couldn’t stand it anymore and sought out relations from their wives’ maternal homes and moved out.

Loo Xiaoshan’s wife also began to pester him daily, wanting to move back to her mother’s home, arguing reasonably that even if they were gossiped there, it was better than being trapped here.

Loo Xiaoshan was swayed.

Unexpectedly, at this time, someone sent word that they wanted to hire families from Yingzi Gully to guard the forest, and the conditions were not bad.

In the deep mountains, but there were houses to live in, a monthly wage, and an allowance of coarse grains.

The work involved guarding the forest, patrolling every few days, and tasks such as digging pits and planting trees.

The only requirements were honesty, obedience, and reliability.

Loo Xiaoshan thought that the job suited him, not to mention leaving the cave and having a house, escaping here and avoiding going to his wife’s mother’s home and hearing gossip, he was keen to agree immediately.

However, the events of Yingzi Gully shadowed his heart, fearing that something good might turn bad again, he said he would go back and think about it.

The messenger was agreeable and not only allowed it but also mentioned they were interested in others among them, asking Loo Xiaoshan to pass on the message to see if they wanted to go.

Should they agree, the messenger would return tomorrow to take them.

Loo Xiaoshan, both excited and worried, went back and discreetly called out a few named individuals to explain; they were all willing!

Now, the hunters of Yingzi Gully already had a bad reputation, outsiders mocked them as fools, throwing away good days given to them, and even lost half a lifetime’s cave.

If it weren’t for them living deep in the mountains, the gossip would have drowned them.

Now that someone still wanted to hire them for work, that was gratefully accepted.

The next day, they packed early, waiting for the messenger, and then brought their families with them.

Upon arrival, they saw it was indeed a nice place, with mountains and water, but the houses weren’t built yet. Just a few shacks with grass could barely provide shelter.

They weren’t picky, as long as people could live, the houses were under construction, after all, they’d have homes in time.

These families together, with adults and children numbering over forty to fifty, settled down without worry, helping to build the houses, busy yet content.

Later, when they learned their employer was Wang Yongzhu, there was nothing unclear anymore.

From then on, they were steadfastly loyal.

※※※

Song Chongjin returned to Jing County and didn’t even go home to his own courtyard, heading first to Imperial Doctor Du’s House.

Initially, he intended to ask Imperial Doctor Du whether there was something that would harm Wang Yongzhu, which was why she wasn’t allowed to accompany him to the county city.

Unexpectedly, Imperial Doctor Du rolled his eyes: "If she follows, she’d want to follow you to the provincial capital for peace of mind. Now the provincial capital is filled with candidates for the Qinghua Exam, even finding a place to stay is difficult. And she follows you anxiously; do you have the heart?"

Before Song Chongjin could respond, Imperial Doctor Du said angrily: "Even if you have the heart, I don’t! Are you the only one taking the exam? I’ve assigned her so much coursework; she has exams too! Following you she would just orbit around you all day. Isn’t that wasting her time?"

"Besides, you’re a grown man, go and return on your own, stop being so fussy!"

Song Chongjin was amused and helpless, having asked only one question but received so many words from Imperial Doctor Du.

However, what Imperial Doctor Du said made sense; it was heard every year during Qinghua Exam, not only the candidates inside suffer but also those accompanying outside.

Moreover, he was unfamiliar in the provincial capital, and while he sat for the exam, he felt uneasy about Yongzhu by herself.

Luckily, Lady Qi, seeing Imperial Doctor Du speak to Song Chongjin like this, felt compassionate.

She quickly mediated: "Alright, alright, this child hasn’t been seen for two months, and you have nothing nice to say when you speak?"

Turning to Song Chongjin, she said: "Quickly wash your face and eat in a while. Don’t go back to your place, stay here for one night. Your master has some words to instruct you. Tomorrow morning you board the ship."

Song Chongjin could only agree, and went out to inform Yang Zongbao to pick him up early tomorrow.

In the evening as anticipated, Imperial Doctor Du provided many important precautions he’d learned, and gave him an address: "Once at the provincial capital, don’t go to the inns; they must be full now. Go to the place I mentioned, it’s a small courtyard owned by an elder apprentice of your elder master, not large, just one courtyard."

"I’ve already had the message sent for good preparations, there are guards, and women to cook specifically. Close to the exam venue, nowhere could be more convenient."

Song Chongjin felt grateful, knowing Imperial Doctor Du had considered everything for him.

"Alright, that dark expression of gratitude or not makes no difference, don’t waste expressions, sleep now! The ship’s booked, tomorrow you need an early rise!"

Imperial Doctor Du waved his hand but paused before exiting: "Do your best in the exam! Don’t come back if you fail!"

Song Chongjin had a restful sleep that night, and the next day he felt refreshed.

After breakfast, he bid farewell to Imperial Doctor Du and Lady Qi, slipped a bunch of various pills made by Imperial Doctor Du into his bag, for seasickness, for cold prevention, for digestion, for hangovers, all sorts.

As Song Chongjin stepped outside, Yang Zongbao was already waiting at the door.

The two reached the dock and, sure enough, someone approached them and upon confirmation, ushered them aboard.

The accommodations were indeed onboard, while not large, they were tidily arranged, suitable for two people.

On the ship, besides Song Chongjin, there were two or three other young candidates traveling for the exam, visiting him the first day, but by the second day, they were seasick, even water couldn’t stay down.

Song Chongjin sent them a couple of seasickness pills, and since it was from Imperial Doctor Du, it was surely effective.

The seasick scholars immediately stopped vomiting, almost fully recovered by the time they disembarked.