Chapter 117 Jinjiang First Release Chapter 117 He was quite sure that...

This year, the Great Yan Kingdom issued a new regulation for its imperial examinations. All examination rooms for the township and provincial exams must be guarded by a soldier. The soldier was forbidden from speaking to the examinees, and his only duty was to monitor and prevent cheating during the exams.

It was said that this rule came very suddenly, being issued just before the exam began. Therefore, some candidates who had planned to cheat were caught off guard, and there was much scratching of the head in the exam room.

He Yun was one of the officers and soldiers guarding the examination rooms. He was guarding the examinees in examination rooms No. 5 and No. 6 on Bingzi Road.

Number five, Zhang Youming, arrived with a fairly complete set of materials, but once the exam began, he picked up his pen countless times, making numerous small movements, effectively unable to write a single word on the paper. Meanwhile, number six, Fang Shu, was the exact opposite. He wrote eloquently and quietly as soon as he picked up his pen.

It is daytime.

At night, once the papers were collected and the students were ready to rest, the two men switched places. Zhang Youming lay flat on the makeshift wooden bed like a dead cat, motionless. Fang Shu, on the other hand, was like a live fish on a chopping block, unable to calm down for a moment, tossing and turning like a pancake.

If they were not forbidden to talk, He Yun would have wanted to ask Fang Shu if he had not answered enough questions and wanted two more sets.

In reality, Fang Shu couldn't sleep. He missed home so much. It was cold here at night, and there were mosquitoes. Although he had plenty of bedding, all made by his husband himself, it was warmer than anyone else's. But he still felt cold. He longed to hug his Long Ge'er.

He had never felt that time passed so slowly before, and he wished he could take the exam without rest or sleep.

After much difficulty, they finally made it to the last day. At dusk, the papers were collected and their names were checked. They could finally leave, but they were only leaving the Imperial Examination Hall and could not return home.

To avoid suspicion, Fang Shu and his group didn't stay at the Hong or Qin residences. He, Ma Qinsui, and Yan Xikuan stayed at the restaurant. While not the most prestigious in the area, it was certainly a respectable establishment. It was unassuming yet comfortable, a place Hong Huan had arranged in advance. Fang Shu, Ma, and Yan would stay there until the results were announced.

Fang Shu returned to his room and asked for water to take a good bath. Then he took out his pen and ink and prepared to write a letter to Yu Qinglong. But just as he was about to start, a servant came over and handed him a thick letter.

"Sir, someone asked me to give this to you."

"Thank you, little brother." Fang Shu took a look at the handwriting on the envelope and immediately found ten coins for the little brother. "Please help me close the door when you go out."

"Okay, sir, call me if you need anything."

Fang Shu thought to himself, I won’t call you, he doesn’t want to see anyone from now on!

He eagerly opened the letter and discovered it contained a series of drawings separated by lines. His husband had once told him they were called "comics." He loved using this method to convey problems and emotions, and he read through them one by one. The drawings were all about family life: parents, children, even the animals, and even the vegetables in the garden. He felt as if he were right at home.

Fang Shu kept looking at the pictures with a smile on his face, but when he saw the last one, his eyes suddenly turned red.

In the painting, he saw his Longger pushing a stroller and looking towards the south outside the house with the children, clearly waiting for him to come home.

Fang Shu pressed all the "letter papers" against his chest, as if he was hugging Yu Qinglong in his arms.

After a moment, he took the paper down and looked at it again. He imagined the scene in the painting again and again in his mind, and then hugged the people in the painting again and again.

Yan Xikuan and Ma Qinsui knocked on the door at this time: "Shoucheng, are you there?"

Fang Shu: “Not here!”

Yan Xikuan and Ma Qinsui: “???”

Fang Shu sighed and put the letter away: "Yes, come in."

Yan Xikuan and Ma Qinsui had just showered, their hair still damp. Yan Xikuan said, "Finally, we're refreshed. Shoucheng, should we go for a walk?"

Fang Shu said, "It's so late, where are you going?"

Yan Xikuan said, "They say there's a lantern festival going on, and it's going to be very lively."

It was indeed quite lively outside. The three of them weren't the only candidates staying here. Many people from other places had finished their exams and were looking to relax. Some gathered to chat and drink tea, while others made plans to go boating. But Fang Shu had no desire to play at all. He just wanted to enjoy the lively atmosphere of his husband's presence. He said, "You guys go ahead. I want to write a letter to Long Ge'er to let him know I'm safe."

Yan Xikuan asked, "How do you think you did on the exam?"

Fang Shu said, "Not bad."

He had answered them all seriously, and he'd gotten them all right. For the policy essay section, he'd also referred to questions he'd previously discussed with Yu Qinglong. His husband had many novel ideas, which he believed would greatly benefit the people's livelihood, and the policy essay section of the third exam was specifically about that.

On the strategy of keeping the people safe.

Yan Xikuan said, "My personal attendants and I also felt that this exam went very smoothly. Speaking of which, during the disaster last year, we provided relief to the victims in the Huaitong area. Although it was a bit hard, we did learn a lot."

Whether one's answers are superficial or truly meaningful depends not only on how much one has read but also on past experiences. Their experiences allow them to write with more substance.

Ma Qinsui said, "I hope we can all pass the exam. Whether it's coming to the provincial capital to take the exam or answering the questions smoothly, we have to thank you, Shoucheng, and Brother Yu for your help. Especially Brother Yu, we have learned a lot from him."

Yan Xikuan nodded and said, "Yes. It's a pity that Brother Yu couldn't come with us, otherwise we would definitely celebrate now."

Fang Shu was already thinking about Yu Qinglong, and their endless chatter made him miss him even more. He said worriedly, "I'm really looking forward to the results being announced tonight. Okay, I won't talk to you anymore. I need to write a letter quickly."

Seeing how anxious he was, Yan Xikuan and Ma Qinsui joked a few words and left. Fang Shu thought for a moment and picked up his pen again.

My beloved Long'er:

The moon is shining brightly, and the autumn examination is over. I have been away from home for nearly a month, and I am always worried about you.

I'm so fortunate to have received your letter home, and knowing that everything is going well at home is a great comfort to me. However, your diligence is rare in this world, and with your twin children so young, I worry about your overwork. Unfortunately, the imperial examinations haven't been announced yet, and I'm so tormented that I can't return home. I can only pick up my pen, comb through the pine incense, and express my longing for you.

There are three tests and nine questions in the exam. The topic is "governing the country and ensuring the people's safety". When you hold the pen, you suddenly remember the relief work in Tong County. You are sharp-minded and have great ideals in your heart, and you are not inferior to any other talented people in the world.

If by chance you are on the list, you should take the first place in the credit and share the new name with me.

Longer, Longer,

Whenever I watch the stars at midnight, I often recall the time when we were writing together at the desk, and the light in your eyes was as warm as the bright sun and autumn water.

But tonight, when I drink in a foreign place, I feel a little bit cold and astringent, because I just lack the sound of the chimes.

…

The letter is short but the feelings are deep, I am writing to you with reluctance. I only hope that you will put on more clothes and eat more, and take care of yourself.

My husband is stationed at the Imperial Academy, writing this letter to me at night.

…

Yu Qinglong received the letter at the end of August. Fang Shu had not only written him a letter but also wrapped a sweet-scented osmanthus flower in a paper bag. The paper was folded into the shape of a small tree—who knew who had learned this trick? It was plump and fragrant with sweet-scented osmanthus.

The only thing missing is the sound of the chimes, and the only thing missing is the tree to lean on.

Yu Qinglong put the letter away and saw the two little guys lying on the kang, staring at him with eyes as big as black grapes. He poked them one by one and said, "You guys miss Fang Shu too, right? Wait a little longer, he'll be back soon."

Yuan Sihan laughed at him from the side: "It's obviously your own idea, but you're trying to push it onto Yang Yang and Xiao Shitou."

Yu Qinglong said, "I haven't. I did think about it, but it wouldn't prevent them from thinking about it. By the way, Brother Yuan, did Brother Hong mention anything about your family's elders?"

Yuan Sihan said, "Yes. Brother Huan said my mother-in-law has been making trouble at home a few times. But now my father-in-law doesn't approve of her behavior, and she has no choice. Brother Huan has replaced all the servants in the house. My father-in-law also told my mother-in-law that if she doesn't keep the family harmonious, he will send her back to her parents' home. My mother-in-law definitely doesn't want to go back. She doesn't get along well with her sisters-in-law, so she has no choice but to stay put."

Yu Qinglong smiled and said, "That's good. You can slowly feel relieved."

Yuan Sihan felt a lot more relaxed, but he still didn't want to get along with his mother-in-law. He didn't dare to think that such a person could change for the better. At most, she was forced to stop making trouble.

He knew that his mother-in-law had not wanted him to marry into the Hong family; she had other potential husbands in mind. It was only because he and Hong Huan had been inseparable since childhood, and his grandparents had persuaded his father-in-law not to force marriages on their children, that he was able to enter the Hong family.

But he should be grateful for the outcome today. He said, "Brother Huan said he might return to Beijing after the New Year. Perhaps then I can go directly to the capital with him, and then I won't have to face my mother-in-law anymore."

Yu Qinglong asked, "Returning to Beijing?"

Yuan Sihan said, "Yes. His letter said that the emperor has issued an order. If the potato planting expansion can indeed enrich the people's grain reserves, the emperor will ask him to supervise all expansion matters north of the capital. If so, he won't be able to stay in the capital for long, and he will probably have to travel around."

"But you can't follow him around in your current situation."

"That's true. But compared to the past, this is already a paradise. Brother Huan meant that if I really like this place, I should buy a house in Huaitong County. Then I will be close to Shuang'er and you, and I won't be too lonely."

"So what do you think?"

"Of course I want to live here forever, but that's impossible." Yuan Sihan said with a smile, "It's also thanks to you and Uncle Fang and Aunt Fang that you've been so kind and tolerated me for so long. After winter comes, I will return to the county. But when the child is born and grows up, I will definitely come here as often as Shuang Ge'er did. Don't be disgusted with me then."

"What are you complaining about? I think it's lively with you living here. Otherwise, who can help me watch these two brats tonight, right? Hey, Yangyang, you peed again."

Yu Qinglong changed the diaper for the fat boy, washed it, and hung it up to dry. When he came back, he found that Yuan Sihan had actually coaxed both children to sleep.

Raising a child is quite demanding, so it's good to have a break. He sat down in his study and took out the letter to read it again. He discovered something in the envelope he hadn't noticed before: a leaf.

Above is...

Yu Qinglong carefully examined it for a long time. Yuan Sihan asked beside him, "Is this... a leaf with hair?"

Yu Qinglong's mouth twitched. "No. This should be a small fish stuck to the leaf with hair."

Yuan Sihan: “…This, doesn’t look like a fish at all.” It’s a mess, how can it look like a fish at all?

Yu Qinglong said firmly, "Yes. This is fish. I'm sure this is the craftsmanship of my Fang Shu."

If this is done, he won't dare to admit it--.

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Author's comment: Fang Shu: I wonder if Long'er will be happy to receive my gift. I glued it so carefully [laughing]

Qinglong: I need to fix it and keep it [covering my face with laughter and tears]

Fang Shu: Aunts, have you finished helping me? If you have, I will go home soon [let me check][empty bowl][empty bowl][empty bowl]