Chapter Fifty-Three: The Challenge

Bells hanging from the carriage eaves chimed softly.

Beside them, the Nanpu Stream surged swiftly along its course.

Every time Zhang Yue entered the city for his studies via this path, he was deeply enamored with the scenery of the stream and the mountains, unable to tear his gaze away. Meanwhile, Guo Lin sat unsteadily in the swaying carriage, struggling to steady himself as he gripped the rail and read his book.

In his previous life, Zhang Yue couldn’t even look at his phone while riding on smooth highways, yet now, on this jolting road, his senior brother could concentrate on reading—truly remarkable.

“Senior brother, you’re about to take the county exam. Surely, we don’t need to rush; a couple more days of study won’t make much difference, will it?” Zhang Yue had expected Guo Lin to reply that every day spent reading was time well spent.

Instead, Guo Lin responded, “We have nothing else to do, so let’s read.”

Zhang Yue felt uneasy seeing his brother engrossed in books while he himself was idle. So he said, “Senior brother, why not think about Lady San? That’ll give you something to do.”

Guo Lin glanced at him and indeed put down his book, letting out a long sigh.

Tears welled in Zhang Yue’s eyes; he thought, Brother, I was wrong.

But Guo Lin soon picked up his book again and murmured, “Even knowing I’ll never marry Lady San in this life… I must keep reading.”

He forced a bitter smile.

Knowing what it means to work overtime, to be swept away by tides of change, to be used like so many others, yet still, like anyone else, he continued to toil without emotion—what could he do? It was all for naught.

While others might pass six out of ten, Guo Lin needed perfection. Yet he still had to attend the county academy’s recruitment, and the books had to be read. In truth, his hopes were more fleeting than anyone’s.

Reflecting on this, Zhang Yue curled up on the carriage, listening as Guo Lin softly recited passages, the donkey cart bobbing up and down. With nothing weighing on his mind, Zhang Yue drifted into sleep.

Before long, Guo Lin woke him; the two had to leave the cart and cross the river at the official ferry.

Zhang Yue tried to tip the villager who drove the cart, but the man refused as usual, simply grinning and wishing, “May you both excel in your exams!”

“Thank you for your kind words!”

The villager departed, and Zhang Yue and Guo Lin boarded the ferry. Around them were peasants with chickens and ducks in tow, their eyes full of curiosity at the sight of two scholars sharing their boat.

Standing at the bow, their robes fluttering in the breeze, they gazed upon the vast land, feeling the spirit of scholars—ready to point out the world’s wonders.

Zhang Yue suddenly pointed into the distance. “Senior brother, look—that’s Mount Dreampen!”

Guo Lin followed his gesture and saw a solitary peak rising high. “Indeed, Mount Dreampen. Jiang Yan’s Dream Pen! At such a moment, truly, ‘the heart aches most at parting.’”

Zhang Yue recognized the opening line from Jiang Yan’s famous “Farewell Prose.”

He said, “Senior brother, there’s another line: ‘Spring waters, green waves, send you to Nanpu—how sorrowful is the parting?’”

Guo Lin smiled, “Nanpu comes from the Songs of Chu—‘I clasp your hand as you head east, send the beloved to Nanpu.’ It’s often used in farewell verses, but doesn’t refer to this Nanpu Stream beneath our feet.”

Zhang Yue replied, “I believe it does. When Jiang Yan served as county magistrate here, he met a woman who stole his heart, and they parted along this very stream in the warmth of spring.”

“This stream is called Nanpu—not because it’s south of the city, but because of Jiang Yan’s prose.”

Guo Lin laughed, “Perhaps so. But everyone must part, eventually.”

The clear wind swept their scholar’s robes, stirring Zhang Yue’s heart. As the ferryman pushed them away from the shore, the boat slowly left the banks behind.

Zhang Yue looked back, seeing Wuxi recede into the distance, while the county city grew ever closer.

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The two walked on, arriving at the county city. First, they went to Shuinan New Street, to Zhang Yue’s home.

Guo Lin was surprised to find Zhang Yue’s house outside the city walls. “I thought your family lived in the city!”

Zhang Yue replied, “No. City households are exempt from certain taxes and labor, but my family is still considered rural. We used to be first-class, but now we’re ranked third.”

Guo Lin sighed, “You’ve been through much, junior brother. How did it come to this?”

Zhang Yue lamented, “It’s all my second brother’s fault!”

“Because of that runaway marriage…”

The household registration system of the Song Dynasty, inherited from the Five Dynasties, divided city households into ten grades, rural households into five. Unlike today, when city residency is a privilege, in Han times, urban households couldn’t hold office, and early Song forbade merchant families from official positions. Though now merchants’ sons could become officials, discrimination persisted. Zhang Yue’s family, though running a shop, remained rural.

Returning home, Zhang Yue knocked, and his elder brother Zhang Shi opened the door.

Zhang Yue introduced, “Brother, this is Senior Brother Guo.”

Zhang Shi laughed heartily, “I’ve long heard your name. Thank you for looking after Zhang Yue. As his brother, I don’t know how to repay you.”

Guo Lin smiled shyly, “Please, there’s no need. Someday, I’ll invite you to Wuxi as my guest.”

“Certainly!” Zhang Shi scolded Zhang Yue, “You said you’d return these days, but gave no definite word. I wasn’t prepared. Bring your senior brother inside; I’ll go fetch wine and dishes.”

Zhang Yue and Guo Lin hurried to dissuade him.

Zhang Yue knew his brother’s temperament. In the past, Zhang Shi would insist on hospitality, but now, with limited funds thanks to Lady Yu, he merely put on a brave front.

They pulled Zhang Shi inside. Lady Yu had just finished cooking and apologized, “You didn’t give notice, so we weren’t prepared.”

“Please, the fault is mine for disturbing you.”

Zhang Shi thought, This senior brother is truly courteous. Heaven’s blessing—may Zhang Yue always meet good people.

The family dined together, with Zhang Shi placing dishes before Guo Lin, urging him to eat. Guo Lin, however, didn’t touch his chopsticks.

Zhang Shi kept asking, “Why won’t your senior brother eat? Don’t be shy—treat this as your own home. We’re all your brothers and sisters-in-law.”

Guo Lin smiled, simply eating rice. When everyone was done, he finally had some leftovers.

Outside, Guo Lin remarked, “Junior brother, your daily life is better than my family’s holidays—at least you always have enough to eat.”

Zhang Yue replied, “Senior brother, you’re admirable. Your knowledge brings you grace and dignity!”

Guo Lin looked at his stomach and laughed.

By now, Zhang Shi had been visiting the registrar’s home for some time, and Zhang Yue grew impatient, deciding to join him.

Arriving at the registrar’s home, they saw Zhang Shi standing at the door, while the registrar rummaged through boxes and cabinets, muttering, “Where’s the guarantee letter? Where’s Zhang Yue’s guarantee? How did I misplace it?”

“I swear it was just here. Wait a moment, I’ll search again. Have you two eaten?”

Zhang Yue and Guo Lin exchanged glances.

Zhang Shi saw them, and Guo Lin said, “We’ve already eaten, Registrar. You’re usually forgetful, but how could you be so absent-minded today?”

Zhang Shi told Zhang Yue, “Wait a bit longer. Registrar doesn’t know where he put your guarantee letter.”

Zhang Yue said, “Brother, I must register tomorrow. Without the registrar’s endorsement, I can’t take the exam.”

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The registrar continued, “Where is it? My memory fails me—how could I lose it?”

Zhang Yue said, “We can’t wait any longer. Please, just write another letter for me. It’s no trouble, after all.”

The registrar hesitated, “It’s late, and my eyes aren’t good—I can’t write. Besides, I already wrote the guarantee, just don’t know where it is.”

“Give me a few more days. If I find it, I’ll bring it to you.”

“Registrar, this concerns my brother’s future; how can you speak so?” Zhang Shi grew anxious.

The registrar whispered as he worked, “If not this year, there’s always next year.”

Zhang Yue said bluntly, “Brother, don’t guess anymore. Registrar doesn’t want to endorse us!”

Zhang Shi was stunned, “Is that true?”

The registrar sighed deeply, sinking into a chair. “Gentlemen, I’ve always treated you well, but I cannot give you the guarantee letter.”

“Why not?”

The registrar grimaced, “The court requires eight virtues: filial piety, brotherly love, harmony, marital fidelity, integrity, compassion, loyalty, and peace. Your family fails the marital fidelity.”

Marital fidelity refers to harmonious marriage.

“My third brother isn’t even married!”

“It’s not your third brother, but his second brother—he ran from his marriage. How can I endorse you? The officials would blame me.”

“I see,” Zhang Yue said through gritted teeth.

Zhang Shi knelt, pleading, “Registrar, you’re right—my second brother’s actions were wrong. But this matter can be big or small; please, let my third brother pass.”

The registrar replied, “I can let him go, but the officials won’t let me go.”

“Registrar—” Zhang Shi couldn’t help raising his voice.

Zhang Yue stopped him, “Brother, let it go. Registrar won’t endorse us; don’t make it difficult for him.”

Zhang Shi fumed, “Why not? Registrar, don’t think I’m ignorant because I don’t read. I have friends in the administration—the eight virtues emphasize filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, and harmony; the rest are negotiable. Yet you seize on marital fidelity, and it’s not even my third brother’s fault.”

Zhang Shi declared, “If you don’t give us a clear answer today, I won’t leave. Let’s see how you face the neighbors.”

The registrar looked at Zhang Shi, then suddenly knelt, “Zhang family’s eldest and third sons, I beg you, please don’t force me.”

He tried to bow, but Zhang Yue stopped him.

“Brother, let’s leave and find another way. Registrar, you needn’t go so far. You have your reasons, but I’ll remember this!”

Zhang Yue helped the registrar up and rose to leave. Zhang Shi was furious, but seeing the registrar’s willingness to bow rather than endorse them, he knew nothing could be done.

Leaving the registrar’s house, Guo Lin said, “I’ll go to my father and ask the county academy director if there’s another way.”

Zhang Shi said, “Good idea. I’ll consult Chief Xu.”

Zhang Yue nodded, letting them go, though he knew their efforts would be fruitless. Someone was doing everything to prevent him from taking the exam, holding him back from advancing. From the moment he stepped into the county city, his examination had already begun.

For the greatest challenge of this county academy exam was not within the examination hall—but outside it.