Chapter 13

"Thump!" Chen Qingyan fell off the bed. Ignoring the pain, he crawled towards where Wang Ying was sleeping. The bedding was still warm and smelled of soap. She was just here a moment ago, how could she suddenly disappear?

Despite his fear and anxiety, he remained silent and sat on the ground with a solemn expression.

Wang Ying was extremely anxious while she was in the experimental field. God knew how she got in, but not how she got out!

The experimental field seemed to be surrounded by a transparent glass dome, trapping him inside, so that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find a way out.

How am I supposed to explain this to Chen Qingyan when I get back?

If I tell him about the experimental field, will he believe me?

Or should he think of himself as a demon? Let the authorities burn him alive... or just divorce him outright, that would probably be the best outcome.

Fortunately, the wheat in the experimental field was already ripe, so they wouldn't starve even if they left the Chen family.

Damn it, I should have waited until he was sound asleep before coming in! What should I do now?

Time passed slowly, and no sound came from inside the house. Wang Ying had no mood to harvest the wheat. Sitting on the edge of the field, she felt that each day was an eternity.

Finally, after a flash of white light, he returned to the house.

Their eyes met in the darkness, and Wang Ying was too nervous to speak.

"I……"

Chen Qingyan suddenly hugged him, a tear falling onto his neck, sending a chill down his spine. Wang Ying had considered many possibilities, but never this outcome, and for a moment he didn't know how to react.

Chen Qingyan was only seventeen years old, still a minor according to the previous life's standards. He was probably just frightened by his own words. She patted his back. "Don't cry, let me explain..."

Chen Qingyan awkwardly pushed him away, turned her head to wipe away her tears, and asked, "Are you a spirit?"

"No, but I do have a secret. If you want, I'll tell you slowly."

Wang Ying didn't mention the time travel, as it was a bit beyond her comprehension; it would be difficult for an ancient person to understand the world a thousand years later. She only talked about the experimental field on her body.

"Did you know that I jumped into a river once before I got married?"

"I heard Uncle Chen mention it, saying it's because she didn't want to marry me..."

Wang Ying coughed. "I really didn't want to get married back then, but I jumped into the river and didn't die. When I woke up, I found that I had an extra piece of land inside my body."

"field?"

Wang Ying suddenly remembered that she had wheat in her arms, took it out and handed it to him, saying, "That's right, it's a field, about three acres, where I planted some wheat."

Chen Qingyan held the wheat, a bewildered look on his face, unable to figure out where this field was hidden.

"This field is no different from the farmland outside. The only difference is that the temperature inside is more stable, neither too cold nor too hot. I can go in every night, but I can only stay for half an hour."

Chen Qingyan was somewhat incredulous. "Can only you go in there by yourself?"

"Currently, it seems I can only bring in inanimate objects like tools and seeds; I can't bring any live ones in." A few days ago, Wang Ying secretly caught a few crickets before going to bed and put them in his pocket, trying to bring them into the experimental field. But when he got in, he found that the crickets were all dead, as if they had been crushed by something, almost like two-dimensional planes, completely beyond human control. He was so frightened that he dared not bring any more animals in.

"So you just went into that field?"

"Yes, I thought you were asleep, I didn't expect you to find out."

After a long silence, Chen Qingyan yawned and crawled to bed to rest.

Wang Ying quickly got up and helped him onto the bed.

"I will keep this a secret for you, and you... should not tell anyone else."

"I know, possessing a treasure is a crime."

Chen Qingyan glanced at him and said, "Sometimes I really wonder if you're one of the village's young men, that you even know that possessing a treasure is a crime."

Wang Ying touched her nose. "I just have a little more knowledge than the average person."

Chen Qingyan didn't press further. "Now that you've told me your secret, let me tell you about why I can't take the imperial examinations."

"The reason I can no longer participate in the imperial examination is because... I cheated."

"Huh?!" Wang Ying's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

"Of course it wasn't me who cheated, but someone framed me."

Wang Ying was no longer sleepy. "Damn it, what's going on?"

Chen Qingyan sighed and began to recount how he had been framed.

“Last February I went to take the county examination. There were three other students from the town who went with me. One of them, Zhang Shiqiu, was about my age and took the initiative to befriend me.”

“His family was poor and he couldn’t afford to rent a house in the county, so he had to sleep in a cheap dormitory. Seeing that it was inconvenient for him to study, I invited him to my place, and the two of us studied, practiced calligraphy, and talked about the past and present together.”

Chen Qingyan's eyes darkened. "Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. One day I discovered that this person was dishonest and actually stole my things to pawn."

It was a fine piece of Huizhou ink, which my fourth uncle specially asked someone to send back. I had always been reluctant to use it myself, but he pawned it for three hundred coins.

When Uncle Chen found out about this, he immediately wanted to kick Zhang Shiqiu out. However, Zhang Shiqiu knelt down and kowtowed to apologize, saying that he really didn't have enough money on him, which was why he had such a bad idea. He begged me to forgive him this time.

At that time, I was unaware of the wickedness of people's hearts. I just felt that it was not easy to meet a friend, and besides, this was not a big deal. I forgave him after redeeming the ink stick.

For the next two weeks, we continued studying and practicing calligraphy, and he acted as if nothing had happened, still treating me like a brother. Until the day of the county examination, when we went to take the exam together…”

Chen Qingyan seemed to recall something terrifying, and his whole body trembled slightly.

Wang Ying grasped his hand, already having guessed what was going on.

That day, they lined up to register. Chen Qingyan happened to be the last in line. After the people in front of him finished checking their exam baskets, they entered the exam hall one by one. When it was his turn, the yamen runner in charge of checking suddenly detained him.

During the search of his examination basket, they found a piece of paper pulled out from the bamboo tube of his calligraphy brush, on which the Four Books were copied in characters the size of rice grains...

Chen Qingyan's eyes widened as if struck by lightning. No matter how he explained, no one believed him. In the end, he was disqualified from the exam and could never participate in the imperial examinations again.

He didn't even know how he walked out of the exam room that day. He felt like his whole life had turned gray. After returning home, he fell seriously ill. The double blow to his body and mind left him bedridden, and he almost committed suicide several times.

"Was that piece of paper put in there by someone surnamed Zhang?"

"Probably, since during that period no one but him could access my writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone."

Looking at the gaunt-faced boy, Wang Ying felt a pang of sadness. His promising future had been ruined by villains; no wonder he was so sick.

Does your mother know about this?

Chen Qingyan shook his head. "I haven't told anyone, not even Uncle Chen. Everyone thinks I'm like this because I failed the exam."

I thought this was something I couldn't bring myself to talk about, but I never expected to say it so easily now. The weight that had been pressing on my heart has been lifted without me even realizing it.

"Didn't you ask that guy surnamed Zhang later?"

Chen Qingyan said with a wry smile, "He won't admit it even if you ask him, so why bother asking him?"

“It’s alright. If we can’t pass the imperial examinations, we can do something else. Didn’t you say you wanted to open a private school? I’ll help you find a place. It would be great if we could teach a few people to pass the imperial examinations.”

"good……"

The silence in the darkness created a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere. Chen Qingyan abruptly pulled her hand back. "It's getting late, go to sleep."

"Um."

*

Summer is almost over.

Autumn begins in July. Although it is still hot during the day, it is much cooler in the mornings and evenings.

Chen Qingyan's health has been recovering well these past few days. He can now get out of bed by himself with the help of the bedposts, but he has so much leg strength that he has to sit down and rest after walking only a few steps.

Lying in bed for a long time causes muscles to atrophy. To walk, run, and jump like a normal person, it will take at least a few more months of exercise.

Seeing her son cheer up, Li was overjoyed and, out of love for Wang Ying, she adored her as well.

Wang Ying was in a terrible predicament because the family's money was running out!

Only ten days had passed since the last inventory of the warehouse, and only a few hundred coins remained of the six strings of cash. Wang Ying's head ached just looking at the account book.

It is said that one does not know the cost of firewood and rice until one is in charge of the household. Ever since Li handed over the power of the household to him, he has not cared about anything. Every day, besides reading and embroidering, he goes to the Buddhist temple to worship Buddha with several familiar ladies. Every time he goes, he also donates some money for incense.

After breakfast this morning, Wang Ying couldn't help but ask, "Mother, what did you do with the two strings of cash you withdrew from the account the other day?"

Like a child who had made a mistake, Li stammered, clutching her handkerchief, "I went to the Buddhist temple to donate incense..."

"You donated two strings of cash at once?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Tian immediately became displeased. "What's wrong with two strings of cash? This money isn't yours to spend. Besides, how can a junior criticize an elder? This country boy has no manners at all!"

"Aunt Tian, ​​please don't say that..."

Wang Ying slammed the account book on the table. "You're quite capable, aren't you? Why don't you take charge of the household and see if you can support this family!"

Madam Tian choked up, then pouted and said, "Madam is doing you a favor by letting you manage the household. If you don't have the skills, don't take on a job you're not qualified for."

"Mother Tian, ​​shut up!" Li was furious. She was usually very good-tempered and had never lost her temper like this before.

Mrs. Tian was also startled, "I was just trying to do what's best for you..."

“I know you mean well, but I allowed Butler Ying to work, so she naturally has the right to ask questions.”

Wang Ying said, "I'm not against you going to worship Buddha and chant sutras, but you know the current situation at home. Qingyan needs money for medicine, Qingsong needs money for school, and there's money for the whole family's food, drink, and daily needs. The money from the fields won't be delivered for a while, and we're almost starving."

"I...I don't have any dowry, why don't you take it first..."

"The dowry will eventually run out. Aren't you thinking about Qingyun? Do you expect her to marry empty-handed?"

Only then did Li realize that donating money was indeed inappropriate. She had been used to being extravagant in the past, and it was difficult for her to go from luxury to frugality.

“I won’t go to Buddhist temples anymore. Aunt Tian, ​​please post all the posts you can to avoid going to temples.”

"lady!"

Women in ancient times already faced many difficulties, and Wang Ying was unwilling to deprive her of this hobby. "If you are willing to worship Buddha, why not invite a small statue to be enshrined at home? You can also invite other ladies to come to your home to worship Buddha and chant scriptures." A bundle of incense only costs ten coins, and even if you burn it every day for a year, it won't cost much.

Li's eyes lit up. "You're right. In a few days, I'll go up the mountain and bring back a small statue of the Bodhisattva to worship!"

Unbeknownst to anyone, Mother Tian, ​​standing in the corner, glared fiercely at the two of them with eyes that seemed to be coated with venom.

A note from the author: