Chapter 66

In the Water Margin world, a single-courtyard residence stood east of Yuncheng County’s city walls.

Zhang Jie and Wu Song and others stood at the courtyard gate.

Due to Chen Wen’s earnest invitation, and because Zhang Jie wished to tour Shandong,

after completing the provincial examination, he brought Wu Song and the others to Yuncheng County.

“Our lodging is rather humble—forgive the poor accommodation, younger brother.”

At the courtyard gate, Chen Wen looked slightly embarrassed.

He knew Zhang Jie came from a wealthy family; his house must be far more luxurious than this single-courtyard home.

“Brother Chen, how can you say such a thing?

Confucius once said, ‘A bamboo basket of rice, a gourd of water, in a narrow alley—

others would find such hardship unbearable, but Hui never changed his joy. How virtuous, Hui!’

Brother Chen’s conduct is emulating virtue—how could there be any mockery?”

Zhang Jie replied, glancing at the courtyard—old and worn, yet clean and orderly.

“Younger brother flatters me too much—I cannot compare myself to the Duke of Yan.”

Chen Wen smiled bitterly.

Yet he also knew Zhang Jie was not a man who despised poverty or adored wealth, so he said no more.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jie recalled the origin of Chen Wen’s reference to Yan Hui:

“Duke of Yan?

Hmm, Yan Hui was not yet canonized as a sage when the Great Scong existed—he was canonized during the Jiajing era.”

Yan Hui was one of Confucius’s most beloved disciples, renowned for his noble virtue and exceptional scholarship.

Among Confucius’s disciples, Yan Hui ranked first among the Seventy-Two Sages, and was highly revered by later Confucian scholars.

Emperors throughout history repeatedly posthumously honored him: Emperor Taizong of Tang honored him as “First Teacher,”

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang honored him as “Duke of Yan,” and Emperor Zhenzong of Song elevated him to “Duke of Yan State.”

Emperor Wenzong of Yuan further honored him as “Duke of Yan, the Restored Sage,”

and only in the ninth year of Jiajing did Ming rename him “Restored Sage,” building the “Restored Sage Temple” in Qufu, Shandong.

As Zhang Jie recalled, a middle-aged woman in plain clothes and a simple hairpin—unremarkable in beauty but gentle and kind—emerged with two children, a boy and a girl.

A kind-looking middle-aged woman stepped out with a boy and a girl.

The moment she appeared, her gaze fixed on Chen Wen.

The moment the woman stepped out, her gaze fixed on Chen Wen.

The two children eagerly rushed toward Chen Wen.

“Yun’er, Li’er!”

Chen Wen joyfully embraced them both.

Pan Jinlian watched this scene, her eyes filled with envy.

“Younger brother Renjie, this is my wife, Lady Wang; this is my daughter Chen Yun, my son Chen Li.”

Chen Wen, holding the children, introduced his family to Zhang Jie.

Though he was over thirty, his obsession with the imperial examinations meant he married only near thirty, so his children were still very young.

“Lady Wang, these are younger brother Renjie, younger brother Wu Song, and Miss Jinlian.”

Chen Wen then introduced Zhang Jie and the others to Lady Wang.

Though he already knew of the close bond between Zhang Jie and Pan Jinlian,

since they were not yet married, he referred to Pan Jinlian as “Miss.”

“Greetings, sister-in-law.”

Zhang Jie bowed to Lady Wang.

“Respectful greetings, uncle.”

Lady Wang, clearly from a scholarly family, performed a formal wufu bow.

“Greetings, sister-in-law.”

Wu Song and Pan Jinlian also greeted her.

Lady Wang returned each greeting in turn.

Chen Yun and Chen Li stared wide-eyed, curiously observing Zhang Jie and his party.

“Here, these are small gifts from your uncle.”

Zhang Jie, aware Chen Wen had one son and one daughter, handed out the gifts he had prepared to Chen Li and Chen Yun.

He had prepared two longevity locks.

Longevity locks symbolize “securing health, safe growth, divine protection, and enduring fortune”—perfect for this occasion.

“Younger brother Renjie, this is too precious—we absolutely cannot accept it.”

Chen Wen hurried to stop Zhang Jie.

From the golden luster of the locks, he could tell they were made of pure gold.

“Uncle, we cannot accept this.”

Lady Wang echoed him.

“Yun’er, Li’er, return the longevity locks to your Uncle Zhang immediately.”

Chen Wen, while urging Zhang Jie to refuse, told his children.

Though Chen Yun and Chen Li dearly loved the gifts, they obediently returned them to Zhang Jie:

“Thank you, Uncle Zhang, but the gifts are too valuable—we cannot take them.”

Yet even Wu Song, not particularly perceptive, could see their reluctance in their eyes.

It wasn’t that they recognized the locks’ monetary value—

but children naturally love shiny, golden, glittering things.

“Hah! Just small tokens. Brother Chen and sister-in-law, please don’t refuse.”

Zhang Jie patted Chen Yun and Chen Li’s heads and smiled.

It’s simply that children naturally love shiny, golden things.

Chen Wen felt deeply conflicted.

He knew Zhang Jie, with his vast wealth, didn’t care about such a small sum,

but if he accepted such lavish gifts,

wouldn’t it damage the pure, simple friendship between them?

“Brother Chen, just take them.

When your lord has children of his own, you can give him a longevity lock in return.”

Wu Song, sensing Chen Wen’s inner struggle, said.

Chen Wen heard this and thought it reasonable; he gritted his teeth and said:

“Then, I shall shamelessly accept them.”

At the same time, he resolved that when Zhang Jie had children of his own, he would repay double.

“Aren’t you going to thank your Uncle Zhang?”

Chen Wen scolded gently, smiling at Chen Li and Chen Yun, whose faces now glowed with delight.

“Thank you, Uncle Zhang.”

Chen Yun and Chen Li sweetly thanked Zhang Jie.

“No need to thank me.”

Zhang Jie smiled again and patted their heads.

Whether before or after his transmigration, he had always loved children deeply,

except for certain black-skinned Nige.

The ancestors said: “Barbarians near China become Chinese.”

But back then, they hadn’t encountered racial issues.

Zhang Jie could only say: differences in appearance truly mean differences—human nature is like this.

Though Kunlun slaves existed in the Tang dynasty, they were first castrated before being sold, to prevent offspring.

In this regard, Zhang Jie suggested everyone trust Arab merchants’ after-sales service.

Though in truth, the Arab merchants feared we would reproduce ourselves

and deprive them of profits—yet their malice somehow produced good results.

Some women became obsessed with Nige, refusing to marry anyone else,

and Zhang Jie could only say: marriage is fine, but could you please, after marrying,

return with your husband to his homeland and never come back?

As for black dragons, Zhang Jie politely declined.

As Zhang Jie interacted with Chen Yun and Chen Li, Pan Jinlian behind him grew somber.

“Uncle Zhang, Uncle Wu, Miss Jinlian, please come in.”

Zhang Jie politely declined any involvement with black dragons or such things.

As Zhang Jie interacted with Chen Yun and Chen Li, Pan Jinlian behind him grew somber.

“Uncle Zhang, Uncle Wu, Sister Jinlian, please come in.”

Wang Shi greeted Zhang Jie and the others as the mistress of the house.

“Lady, please go first.”

Zhang Jie and the others followed Lady Wang into the courtyard, passed through the small yard, and sat down in the reception hall.

“Uncle, please have some tea.”

Lady Wang efficiently served tea to Zhang Jie and the others.

Because Chen Wenyun was obsessed with the imperial examinations, he earned a meager living from a small private school,

and due to their financial hardship, they had not hired any servants.

All household matters were handled personally by Lady Wang.

“Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Zhang Jie took the teacup, blew gently to disperse the floating foam, and took a small sip.

“Jinlian, let these gentlemen stay here—

you and I will go to the back to chat about women’s matters.”

After serving the tea, Lady Wang said to Pan Jinlian.

“Master?”

Pan Jinlian looked toward Zhang Jie.

She had some matters she wished to consult Lady Wang about.

Yet, since she always took Zhang Jie’s will as her first command, she still sought his opinion.

“Go ahead.”

Zhang Jie, seeing her eagerness, said.

After Wang Shi and the others left, Zhang Jie and the others began casual conversation.

“Younger brother, are you planning to take the spring palace examination next February?”

Chen Wenyun, seated in the main seat, asked.

“Yes, since I have already passed the provincial examination, I intend to press my advantage.”

Zhang Jie gave a definite answer.

“Master, once I return to Qinghe County, I will resign from County Magistrate Wen and devote myself fully to guarding you on your journey to Bianliang.”

Wu Song, upon learning Zhang Jie’s plan, strongly supported it.

“Thank you, Brother Wu.”

Zhang Jie thanked Wu Song.

Though his martial skill was sufficient to cut through entire bandit strongholds like Erlong Mountain and Qingfeng Mountain—each with thousands of men—

and he had no need whatsoever for Wu Song’s protection,

why not take the easier path when it was available?

Just Wu Song’s imposing frame alone would deter countless ill-intentioned rogues.

Moreover, he had greater plans for Wu Song in mind.

Unaware of Zhang Jie’s thoughts, Wu Song replied:

“Master, you and I have great debts of gratitude. I would die a thousand deaths to protect you.”

“Brother Chen, why not travel with us? We can look out for each other on the road.”

Zhang Jie turned to Chen Wenyun and invited him.

After their conversation, Zhang Jie knew that though Chen Wenyun was obsessed with the examinations,

he was neither rigid nor contemptuous of common folk—he was precisely the kind of talent Zhang Jie needed for his future endeavors.

“Alas, Renjie, you overestimate me. I lack your natural genius.

My only possible outcome in Bianliang is to fail the examination again.

So why not wait a few more years? Better to avoid public humiliation.”

Chen Wenyun sighed and smiled bitterly.

After Zhang Jie passed the provincial examination as the top scholar while still under twenty,

while he himself, past thirty, barely scraped into the middle ranks as a juren,

he finally understood that true geniuses did exist—people one could only look up to.

His earlier reassurance to Zhang Jie—“Brothers, let’s take the palace examination together in three years”—

had been nothing but the foolish delusion of a man who overestimated himself.

He feared that by the time Zhang Jie was named on the golden list, he would still be nothing more than a juren.

“Brother Chen, why speak so humbly of yourself? You may yet become a jinshi one day.”

Zhang Jie comforted Chen Wenyun.

He knew his own limits: compared to true examination prodigies like Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty,

who passed the xiuren exam at twelve, the juren at sixteen, and the jinshi at twenty-three,

he was merely a pseudo-genius blessed with a cheat system.

Without the shared space, his post-transmigration talent would have made passing the jinshi exam before forty a miracle.

As for his pre-transmigration talent?

Zhang Jie felt abandoning the examinations entirely and pursuing another path would be far more practical…