Chapter 46 As Young as Ever

"Qin Tianhai, you haven't changed at all."

Liu Yun was also shocked. So many people become hunched over or fat when they get old, how could they be as upright as they were when they were young?

But Qin Tianhai still looked very energetic. Apart from being a bit darker, having some whiter hair, and having a few more wrinkles on his face, he hadn't changed at all.

You've changed a lot.

Qin Tianhai smiled faintly, the old friend's temperament remained unchanged, which made him feel much more comfortable.

"Hey, I... let's go upstairs and talk about it slowly."

Liu Yun touched her large belly, which had nowhere to hide, and smiled as she stepped forward to pull Qin Tianhai's sleeve and lead him upstairs.

Qin Tianhai followed with a smile.

The young waiter smiled and said, "Boss, sir, please take your time."

Hehe, I'll be getting a bonus this month! Just thinking about it makes me feel so motivated and happy.

I heard there's a woman selling some novel snacks on South Street; they're salty, savory, and spicy. I'll buy some and try them sometime.

Qin Tianhai followed her up to the second-floor room. Liu Yun poured him a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Have some tea first."

Thank you.

Qin Tianhai thanked him, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Qin Tianhai, have you taken the exam again in the past twenty years? How are you doing now? How many children do you have?"

Liu Yun was very curious about her old friend, and asked one question after another.

Looking at his chattering old friend, Qin Tianhai smiled faintly and said, "I haven't taken the exam in the past twenty years. I have two children, a son and a daughter. My son isn't academically inclined, so he only knows a few characters. My life is ordinary; I'm just a regular farmer."

"You're so healthy now, you must be quite capable at work."

Liu Yun reached out and patted Qin Tianhai's arm, and sure enough, it was full of solid muscles, just as he had expected.

Liu Yun was a little envious. He had a good life but couldn't endure hardship, so he started to gain weight as he got older. Most of his old friends had also gained weight. But when he saw Qin Tianhai, he hadn't gained weight, he had just aged a little. Liu Yun felt a lot of emotions.

"It's nothing to mention; it's something any ordinary person would do."

Qin Tianhai smiled faintly, then took a sip of tea.

"I have come here to ask you for a favor."

Qin Tianhai looked at Liu Yun and spoke.

"you say."

Liu Yun smiled as well. Qin Tianhai hadn't seen him for twenty years, so his sudden visit must have something to say. Whether she would help or not, she had to hear what he had to say.

“I am forty-seven years old this year. My children are all married and I have no worries. I feel regretful that I failed to give my all in the imperial examinations several times. So I am preparing to take the exams in two years.”

"I have come here in search of a way to make a living. My handwriting was pretty good when we were classmates, so I'm shamelessly asking you for some copying work."

Qin Tianhai finished speaking in one breath, and he felt less nervous.

Liu Yun was stunned. After a while, he asked in surprise, "Wait, wait, did I hear that right? You're going to retake the imperial examination?"

Qin Tianhai felt his face flush, but he nodded firmly.

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Liu Yun suddenly slammed her hand on the table and exclaimed, "This is unbelievable! You stopped for over twenty years! Qin Tianhai, you've shocked me! Your courage is incredible! I wouldn't even dare to have such a thought, even if it meant a three-year gap!!"

Liu Yun was also someone who repeatedly failed the exams. He knew he couldn't pass, so he gave up.

But he never expected that Qin Tianhai would rekindle his passion for the imperial examinations more than 20 years later; this was simply astonishing.

Moreover, the examiner might even be their classmate from back then.

Imagine how painful it must be for him to be proctoring the exam while his classmate is studying below.

"I'm going all out."

Qin Tianhai smiled faintly, looking at Liu Jun with shock rather than mockery, which lessened his unease.

"Go for it, go for it! I have to support you. It doesn't matter who you copy, but write something first. If your skills aren't as good as before, I won't dare to be presumptuous with you."

Liu Yun spoke seriously, saying that one thing at a time, hiring Qin Tianhai was just a convenient thing for him, but that didn't mean he didn't care about the consequences.

His bookstore is a business; he needs to maintain both personal relationships and business interests.

Qin Tianhai nodded: "Please prepare pen and ink, Brother Liu."

He was satisfied with the opportunity, and he had the confidence to be proud.

Liu Yun quickly had the shop assistant prepare the writing brush and ink.

Qin Tianhai was sitting down when he picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and began to write.

His handwriting was praised by his teachers for being beautiful, and his essays were said to have profound meaning. When he failed the exam, his teachers sighed that it was all due to fate.

Over the years, he has made a living with hoes and sickles, but he has never forgotten how to use a pen. His handwriting has become more composed than it was in his youth, and every stroke reflects his down-to-earth character.

"That's really good. Compared to your youthful arrogance, your handwriting is much more composed and restrained now. Do you still have time to practice your calligraphy?"

Liu Yun praised it repeatedly, and was also very curious.

Farmers are very busy, does Qin Tianhai have time to practice calligraphy?

"It's been a long time since I've used a pen and ink. I'll write a little when I have free time in the mountains and fields. I hope Brother Liu will forgive my poor writing."

Qin Tianhai said with a modest smile.

“You’re being modest. Your handwriting is the best I have here. I have a scholar named Wang Yuan whose handwriting is the best, but I think yours is better. You might recognize it during the imperial examinations. I’ll show you some of the books he copied.”

Liu Yun smiled and then went out.

Qin Tianhai was already at ease and sat in the side room waiting.

Liu Yun returned quickly and handed a book to Qin Tianhai.

Qin Tianhai opened it and saw that the scholar named Wang Yuan had very neat and elegant handwriting.

"Isn't it beautiful? Your handwriting is all different. I charge six taels for copying one book. Such a book contains tens of thousands of words, and it must be perfect to be considered a top-grade book. If there is even one mistake, the price will be halved. If a book has two mistakes, it will only be a low-grade book that everyone can borrow from the bottom shelf. Here, I have some books for you to copy: the 'Zhangji Handbook,' which is the way of officialdom of the former Grand Secretary; the 'Livelihood Policy' of Lin Hengmin, Minister of Revenue; and the 'Discourse on the Way of the State' by Duke Ouyang. You can choose one to copy."

Liu Yun didn't delay and frankly said that it was very difficult to make a single word wrong in an entire book.

Each character had to be written carefully, which was another challenge, so it often took several months to copy a book.

"Thank you, Brother Liu, for your support of my livelihood plan."

Qin Tianhai knew that the price was not low, and he could finish copying one book in two months.

That's enough for him to earn money for his scientific expeditions.

"Alright, I'll have my clerk pack it up and give it to you. Once you've copied it, just bring it to the library. If I'm not here, give it to the clerk, and he'll settle the payment for you."

Liu Yun readily agreed and got up to go out and give the instructions.