Chapter 80 Old Friends
On the evening of the fourth day, the exam ended.
Feng Lin had been waiting here since early morning, and had been waiting all day. All the other candidates came out one after another, but Xiao Liulang was nowhere to be seen, which made him worried.
Just as he was hesitating whether to ask the people inside, he saw Xiao Liulang come out with an icy expression.
Feng Lin hurried over to him and noticed that he didn't look well, so he asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Or did you not do well on the exam?"
"It's nothing," Xiao Liulang said calmly.
Hearing that his voice sounded fine, Feng Lin figured it wasn't a health issue and comforted him, saying, "I just heard the other test-takers say that this year's exam was particularly difficult. Don't be discouraged; they probably didn't do as well as you!"
"Let's go back to the inn," Xiao Liulang said, turning and heading towards the inn.
Feng Lin hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
He seemed to have never seen Xiao Liulang like this before. Although he was always indifferent, he wasn't so cold that he was afraid to get close. He was filled with a chilling aura of ferocity, as if he was about to do something terrible at any moment.
"Six, Sixth Brother, wait for me!"
Despite his fear, Feng Lin gritted his teeth and chased after him.
Now he doesn't call him Brother Xiao anymore. After all, he's older than Xiao Liulang. He only calls him Brother Xiao because Xiao Liulang saved him; it's just a respectful title.
The two of them had spent New Year's Eve together, which showed their strong friendship. Calling him Brother Xiao again would be too formal!
Xiao Liulang, leaning on his cane, couldn't walk as fast as Feng Lin, who caught up with him in no time.
The two returned to the inn together.
As they passed a teahouse, two middle-aged men dressed in fine clothes came out. One of them glanced at Xiao Liulang casually. At first, he didn't pay attention, but then he seemed to realize something and turned to look at Xiao Liulang.
At this moment, Xiao Liulang and Feng Lin had already crossed the street and headed towards the inn on the other side.
His eyes followed Xiao Liulang's retreating figure until he completely disappeared around the street corner.
"Lord Zhuang, what's wrong? Did you see someone you know? Should I go and say hello?"
The one asking the question was the Prefect of Pingcheng, surnamed Luo.
Zhuang Xianzhi shook his head: "No need, he is not an acquaintance of mine, he just looks somewhat similar."
The young marquis was already dead. He himself dug the young marquis's body out of the ruins of the Imperial Academy. The body had been burned to a crisp by the fire, and the gruesome sight was unforgettable no matter how much time had passed.
Or perhaps, they don't actually look alike, but it's just that he's seeing things.
"Should I go and check on him?" Seeing that Lord Zhuang seemed to care a lot about the person who had admitted his mistake, Prefect Luo offered to go and take a look for him.
Zhuang Xianzhi shook his head again: "No need, that old friend has already passed away."
"Ah..." Since the person is dead, there's no need to confirm.
Xiao Liulang and Feng Lin returned to the inn, and as soon as they entered, they heard someone shout: "Feng Dunzi!"
Feng Lin's hair stood on end!
The shadow of being dominated by my childhood instantly loomed over my head!
He's not the same kid he used to be!
He lost weight!
Feng Lin looked up and saw a young man who looked like a scholar excitedly coming downstairs. He came up to Feng Lin and said with a smile, "It really is you, Feng Dunzi! You've changed a lot, I almost didn't recognize you! Huh? Who is he?"
The young man's gaze fell on Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang was more handsome than a woman, making it hard not to take a second look. And to be frank, even if Feng Lin beats me up, the young man was initially drawn to Xiao Liulang before noticing Feng Lin beside him.
It took Feng Lin a while to recognize the other person: "Du Ruohan?"
The young man smiled and patted Feng Lin on the shoulder: "It's me!"
"It really is you!" Feng Lin smiled and introduced Xiao Liulang, "Liulang, do you remember him? Little Belly! The three of us went to private school together when we were kids!"
The young man looked at Xiao Liulang in disbelief and said to Feng Lin, "You've mistaken him for someone else, haven't you? He's not Xiao Liulang!"
Feng Lin said with certainty, "I'm not mistaken! It's Liu Lang!"
The young man looked at Xiao Liulang suspiciously: "That... Xiao Liu who moved out after living here for a year?"
Feng Lin said, "Yes! It's him! He moved away less than two years ago, and your family moved away too! So, it's been ten years since the three of us last saw each other."
The young man still felt that the other person was not Xiao Liulang.
He said to Feng Lin, "If I can recognize you, why can't I recognize him?"
In fact, Feng Lin didn't recognize Xiao Liulang at first glance. It was only after seeing Xiao Liulang's travel permit that he realized he was his childhood neighbor. In addition, Xiao Liulang saved his life, so he had even less doubt about Xiao Liulang's identity.
As for Xiao Liulang not remembering the past, that's perfectly normal! Ten years have passed, and Xiao Liulang was less than seven years old when he moved away. What can a six or seven-year-old child remember?
"That kid was very timid when he was little, and he always hid behind his mother."
Xiao Liulang went upstairs first, followed by the young man and Feng Lin, who were whispering among themselves. It was the young man who was speaking.
“Liu Lang is different now! He’s so brave! He even saved me!” Feng Lin said.
“It’s different now…” The young man glanced at Xiao Liulang’s back and felt that the other man had the air of a young master from the capital, an air that would be hard for someone who had never seen him before to notice.
"What happened to his leg?" The young man didn't ask much in front of Xiao Liulang.
"He was injured saving me more than half a year ago and is currently receiving treatment," Feng Lin said guiltily. Then he asked, "By the way, where did you go after you moved away?"
"I've gone to the capital," the young man said.
Feng Lin's eyes widened: "You actually went to the capital?"
That was the place Feng Lin dreamed of going to, but unfortunately, the capital was heavily guarded, and ordinary people like them had no chance of getting a travel permit unless they were going to the capital to take the imperial examination.
The young man chuckled and said, "My aunt is a concubine in the capital, and she brought our whole family over. Now, are you still envious?"
Feng Lin remained silent.
The young man laughed loudly: "Just kidding, let's go!"
The three of them had dinner together. From the young man, Feng Lin learned that he was now studying at a very famous academy in the capital. He had passed the imperial examination two years ago and was preparing for the provincial examination this August. He was traveling with his uncle to broaden his horizons.
Throughout the entire process, it was only the young man and Feng Lin who were talking; Xiao Liulang was a man of few words and didn't like to talk to anyone.
“This kid wasn’t like this before…” After Xiao Liulang returned to the house, the young man pulled Feng Lin aside and muttered to himself.
Feng Lin said softly, "His mother and elder brother have both passed away, and he has had a hard time these past few years."
"Oh." The young man didn't say anything more, but after a while, he changed the subject, "You're going to compete this year too, right? I'll be waiting for you in the capital!"
Feng Lin thought for a moment and said, "I'll go off with Liu Lang."
The young man scoffed, "How do you know he can pass the exam? That kid's not very bright; have you forgotten how he always gets scolded by the teacher?"
Even if he couldn't remember what Xiao Liulang looked like when he was a child, the young man hadn't forgotten Xiao Liulang's embarrassing moments. He wasn't stupid, just slower to react than others. Such a person could do manual labor, but would struggle with studying.
Feng Lin said solemnly, "Sixth Brother is different now. He topped the county exam. This time... although the questions are very difficult this time, I believe he can pass the county exam and become a scholar!"
The young man grinned mischievously: "I bet he won't pass the exam."
Feng Lin decisively asked them to leave!
No one can look down on Xiao Liulang, not even his childhood friends!
The young man, having been turned away, was kicked out of the inn by Feng Lin. He lost interest in wandering around and returned to the prefect's mansion out of boredom.
The guards of the prefect's mansion saw him and respectfully opened the door for him.
He had barely stepped into the courtyard when a sharp shout stopped him in his tracks: "Where have you been? Why are you so late!"
The young man turned around sheepishly, smiled, and said, "Hello, Uncle. Weren't you grading papers? Did you finish so quickly?"
Governor Zhuang said sternly, "Don't change the subject! I'm asking you, where have you been?"
The young man chuckled dryly, "I ran into two former neighbors from Song County, and chatted with them for a while. I also had dinner with them."
Governor Zhuang said coldly, "Do you think I'll believe you just because you say that? Have you been up to something improper again? I promised your aunt I'd bring you out, not so you could laze around! Guards! Lock him in the house! He's not to leave without my permission!"
The young man cried out in protest: "I didn't! Uncle! I really went to meet some friends! They're staying at the Yuelai Inn! One is named Feng Lin! The other is Xiao Liulang! Xiao Liulang is a candidate this year! He just finished the crazy exam you set today! His face turned green! If you don't believe me, send someone to investigate!"
(End of this chapter)
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