Chapter 9 Protecting One's Own
Before they knew it, it was Xiao Liulang's exam day.
Gu Jiao got up early, prepared the dough, steamed a basket of firm white steamed buns, and also cooked a pot of wild mushroom soup.
The wild mushrooms were picked on the mountain. The first batch was already eaten, and these were freshly picked yesterday. There are still quite a few left, and she plans to carry them to the market to sell later.
She also picked some wood ear mushrooms, but fresh wood ear mushrooms are poisonous and must be dried before they can be eaten.
While waiting for her meal, she went back to her room and took her medicine.
The wounds on her wrist and the back of her head have healed, and she's almost finished her medication. The ointment, however, is quite durable, with more than half a tube left.
On the other side, Xiao Liulang also got up.
Gu Jiao knew he had been studying late again last night, so she didn't bother him this morning, but he was still up so early.
Gu Jiao set out the bowls and chopsticks and served him a small bowl of wild mushroom soup. She deliberately didn't fill it up because she was worried he would need to use the restroom in the examination hall.
But whether it was Gu Jiao's imagination or not, she felt that Xiao Liulang's glances at her were a little resentful.
The exam would last all day, so Gu Jiao packed some steamed buns and water for the students.
After a pause, as if remembering something, she stuffed ten more copper coins into her bundle.
Xiao Liulang watched her insert the copper coin, his eyes flickered, but he remained silent.
Gu Jiao handed him the packed bundle: "I've already paid the fare and informed them to take you directly to the vicinity of the academy."
"Hmm." Xiao Liulang responded, picked up his bundle, and went out the door, leaning on his cane.
Looking at his limp, Gu Jiao resisted the urge to take him to the village entrance. He probably wouldn't want to anyway.
When Xiao Liulang arrived at the village entrance, Uncle Luo's oxcart was already parked under the locust tree, with many people sitting on it. They were all villagers who were taking their own vegetables and eggs to sell in town.
When the villagers saw him, they all smiled and greeted him.
Xiao Liulang was a scholar who appeared aloof but was actually quite approachable. Whenever someone needed to read or reply to a letter, they would come to his door. Although Gu Dashun was also a scholar, he spent his days at the private school and his evenings buried in his studies, so the villagers rarely bothered him.
There was one last seat on the oxcart, which was probably reserved for him.
Just as Xiao Liulang was about to go up, he felt a figure flash by and block his way.
The other person held the oxcart down with one hand and supported another figure behind him with the other: "Shunzi, hurry up!"
It was Zhou, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, and her son.
Zhou blocked Xiao Liulang completely, giving him no chance to get on the oxcart.
On the oxcart, an old woman spoke up: "Shunzi's mother, Liulang arrived first."
Gu Dashun paused in his action of getting onto the oxcart.
He turned his head, his gaze passing over his mother, and looked at Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang had a cold and aloof expression.
Zhou scoffed dismissively, "My Shunzi has an exam! So what if he came first? Does coming first mean he can delay my Shunzi's exam?"
Everyone in the village knows that Gu Dashun is a promising young man. He recently passed the county school entrance exam, which makes him a Xiucai (a scholar who has passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). It is said that he doesn't even need to kneel and pay respects to the county magistrate.
Although Xiao Liulang was a good young man, his future was ultimately not as important as Gu Dashun's.
If Gu Dashun becomes successful, it will not only bring glory to the Gu family, but the entire Qingquan Village will also benefit from his success.
Everyone fell silent.
"Well..." Uncle Luo said awkwardly, "Sixth Brother... he's also going to take the exam."
Last night, when Gu Jiao came to see Uncle Luo, she explained to him that Xiao Liulang needed to take an exam at an academy, and since Xiao Liulang had difficulty walking, she instructed him to make sure he got him there. She even gave him two extra copper coins for this.
Uncle Luo was quite puzzled. The little fool from the Gu family, who didn't get along with Xiao Liulang, seemed to have become a completely different person in his speech and actions.
However, before he could ask any more questions, Gu Jiao left.
When Zhou heard that Xiao Liulang was also taking the exam, she didn't take it to heart at all. How could Xiao Liulang's exam compare to her son's?
Gu Dashun looked at Xiao Liulang in surprise: "You...are you also going to Tianxiang Academy?"
"Hmm," Xiao Liulang responded indifferently.
When Xiao Liulang first came to the village, he was already a student of the Imperial Examination. At that time, Gu Dashun was also a student of the Imperial Examination. Later, Gu Dashun passed the examination and became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination), while Xiao Liulang was still a student of the Imperial Examination. As a result, Gu Dashun did not think much of Xiao Liulang.
“You haven’t been to the private school for half a year…” Gu Dashun shook his head.
The meaning is quite clear: Xiao Liulang has no chance of passing the exam.
Uncle Luo, who had originally intended to persuade a fellow villager to give up his seat for Xiao Liulang, silently swallowed his words.
Since I can't pass the exam, there's no need to bother.
Uncle Luo took out his money bag.
Going to the market costs two copper coins, while going to slightly less expensive places costs three copper coins. Gu Jiao gave two extra, making a total of five copper coins.
While Uncle Luo was counting out the copper coins and returning them to Xiao Liulang, Gu Dashun was pushed onto the oxcart by Zhou Shi.
Before he could even settle in, a thin, bony hand suddenly reached out from behind him, grabbed him by the back of his collar, and pulled him off the oxcart!
Gu Dashun was two years older than Xiao Liulang, and was already nineteen years old this year. He was a sturdy young man, but he was pulled so hard that he staggered and almost fell to the ground.
Zhou was terrified and hurriedly went to help Gu Dashun.
Who is it?
She turned around angrily, cursing.
Then, together with everyone else, they saw the petite and thin Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao's eyes were icy, exuding an untamed chill.
Everyone was stunned.
"Gu Jiao, what's wrong with you!" Zhou Shi wondered who was so bold, but it turned out to be this little fool.
"Take the copper coins back." Gu Jiao ignored Zhou Shi completely, only glancing at Uncle Luo, whose hand was frozen in mid-air, and frowned impatiently. "I booked the oxcart last night. If you want to back out, you can refund everyone's fare."
"What do you mean?" Zhou asked.
"Literally, if Xiao Liulang can't get on the oxcart today, then nobody else is allowed to get on the oxcart," Gu Jiao said.
"What gives you the right?" an auntie scoffed.
Gu Jiao slowly pulled out a sickle from behind her back: "Just because I'm an idiot?"
Everyone turned pale when they saw the knife.
Zhou, who wanted to rush up and grab Gu Jiao's hair, was too frightened to go forward.
Idiot... an idiot is capable of anything.
But the fool never liked Xiao Liulang before, so why would he go against the Gu family, with whom he had always been close, for his sake?
Not to mention the villagers' confusion, even Xiao Liulang's eyes showed a hint of astonishment.
"Those who want to invite Grandpa Gu should hurry up and do so," Gu Jiao said, blowing on her sickle, which she had polished until it gleamed.
Zhou really wanted to go.
Gu Dashun stopped him.
You can't reason with a fool; it would be bad if it interfered with your exam.
Although Xiao Liulang would also miss the exam, he was destined not to pass anyway, so missing it was no big deal. But he was different.
Finally, Uncle Luo came up with a solution: Zhou spent money to buy the vegetables from one of the villagers, and that villager gave his seat to Gu Dashun.
Gu Jiao didn't care whose seat Gu Dashun had bought.
However, to prevent any further accidents along the way, Gu Jiao carried a sickle with her.
There was no extra space for her in the oxcart.
Despite her small, thin frame, she walked more than ten miles to safely escort Xiao Liulang into the examination hall.
Liulang: Why are you so good to me?
Jiaojiao: You're beautiful.
Mukuro:......
(End of this chapter)
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