Chapter 990

Xue Shao finally achieved his wish, winning the top prize amid a flurry of votes from the crowd.

He declined further socializing, collected his prize money and a plaque, and left.

Huang Quan snapped out of his daze and trailed after him; once Xue Shao broke free from the enthusiastic crowd and stepped outside, he grabbed him by the arm, eyes gleaming: “Brother Xue, are you still going to the Feng family? Actually, you don’t have to go…”

“I’m going,” Xue Shao smiled. “I’ll wait for you at the county school gate tomorrow at the hour of Si. I’ll count on you to guide me then.”

Huang Quan looked hesitant, hesitated a long while, then said: “Brother Xue, with your talent, you really don’t need to become a son-in-law. You’ve already passed the provincial exam— even if you fail next year, you can try again in three years.”

Xue Shao: “There are countless provincial graduates in this world. I, Xue Mou, know my own limited abilities. Even in three years, I doubt I’ll pass.”

Huang Quan frowned, then sighed deeply: “True. Some people spend their whole lives failing to become provincial graduates, let alone metropolitan graduates.”

Xue Shao nodded.

Behind Huang Quan, Dai Fu looked unconvinced and muttered: “But… but that’s no reason to give up entirely. A provincial graduate can still wait for an official post.”

Xue Shao: “The imperial court is overflowing with officials. Even metropolitan graduates aren’t all needed— what about provincial graduates? Without connections or money, a provincial graduate can only hope for minor posts in remote, impoverished counties— assistant magistrate or county instructor.”

Dai Fu murmured: “Assistant magistrate and county instructor are still good positions…”

His lifelong dream was to become a county instructor.

A county instructor is the head of education in a region. Xue Shao’s uncle-grandfather was called Instructor Gong because he served as county instructor in many places and excelled at it— he could truly be said to have taught countless students.

Xue Shao himself thought being a county instructor was enough, but the “Xue Wen” who wanted to enter the Feng family would surely find it insufficient.

Xue Shao strictly adhered to his persona.

Pan Yun stepped out after settling the bill, and the three immediately bid farewell to Huang Quan and his brother.

When they returned to their rented courtyard, the sun had set, its lingering glow falling across the bustling yard and adding warmth to the noisy space.

As soon as they pushed open the door, a sea of bare skin rushed into view— Xue Shao was startled and immediately stepped in front of Pan Yun.

Xi Jin also hurriedly spread his arms to shield Pan Yun.

Pan Yun silently pushed Xi Jin aside, then pushed Xue Shao aside too, and calmly surveyed the men bare-chested, scrubbing clothes in the courtyard.

Some wore only shorts, drenched from head to toe, holding wooden buckets; just as Pan Yun and the others entered, they were dousing themselves with cold water before the evening chill set in.

Seeing a young girl appear suddenly, they didn’t even try to hide— instead, they stared up and down— and burst into startled cries, dropping their buckets to clutch their crotches and scramble frantically into their rooms.

Pan Yun watched them run off, then turned to the men laughing and mocking them.

The laughter slowly died down; the men avoided her gaze, reaching for their short shirts to pull them on.

Pan Yun turned to Xue Shao, who looked utterly speechless, and said: “What’s the big deal? In summer, the schoolmates at the academy all jump into the river to bathe. We’d wash clothes on the bank— I’ve seen even more exposed than this.”

Xue Shao: “...Don’t the academy masters intervene?”

Pan Yun: “They don’t care. Long Hushan is a Zhengyi Daoist sect— they can marry and have children. Most of the female disciples don’t want to marry; they’re all striving to transcend worldly attachments. The masters are desperate for them to find partners— why would they interfere?”

Xue Shao had no reply.

It was precisely this atmosphere of the academy and Long Hushan that prevented Pan Yun from developing the rigid gender norms of this era.

The three passed through the courtyard to their rooms.

Only after the two doors shut did the men in the courtyard stir, and soon two of them flanked the landlord: “Tai Ge, who are they? They don’t look like people who’d live in a place like ours.”

“What do you mean ‘a place like ours’?” the landlord grumbled. “What’s wrong with our place? We’ve got a courtyard and a well— even Shunlai Inn can’t match it!”

He swept his gaze over them, shoved the two men aside, and snapped angrily: “Look at you all— look at what you’ve turned my courtyard into! I’ve told you a hundred times: bathe at the bathhouse. Is my newly repaired bathhouse just for decoration? You insist on washing here, soaking everything— if you scare off my tenants, I’ll hold you all responsible.”

A low voice muttered: “You look down on people…”

The landlord heard it and jumped up: “Who said that? Step forward!”

No one stepped forward; chaos erupted in the courtyard.

Once the landlord calmed down, they asked: “Who are those three? The man and woman leading them— they don’t look like ordinary folks. The man’s a scholar— is the woman some noble lady?”

The landlord grumbled: “Have you ever seen a noble lady stay in a place like mine?”

“Didn’t you just say your place was great?”

“Shut up. I can say that— you can’t. You’ve been working for years— don’t you understand even basic social graces?” The landlord scolded them, then added: “Don’t care who they are. Once they’re tenants, they’re guests. Behave yourselves. Don’t bully them. I rely on these four main rooms for income— if you drive them away, I’ll take back the whole courtyard.”

Everyone fell silent.

The landlord charged low rent. Though they slept on communal beds, as he said, the place had a courtyard and a well— the living conditions were genuinely good.

Such rent could only be found in slums, where there was no clean courtyard and you had to queue three streets away just to fetch well water.

They all knew the landlord’s own house was near Piaoxiang Pavilion, tucked deep in an alley— but if he truly wanted tenants, he could easily find long-term renters.

It was less hassle, better for the property, and more profitable.

The reason he didn’t do that was to give them a place to stay.

Though they never said it aloud, they all truly appreciated this kindness— that’s why they called him Tai Ge.

To save his new business from failing, they grumbled as they pulled on their shirts, some even picked up brooms to sweep the courtyard water into the gutters and cleaned the entire yard.

Others began tidying up the scattered belongings.

Even the freshly wrung-out clothes were taken down from the drying racks and carried indoors.

The landlord stood with hands on hips, scolding them: “You only move when I scold you— anyone would think I’m your father, not your landlord. Why take those wet clothes inside? Leave them out! If I catch you bringing them in, I’ll make you regret it. Don’t you know the weather’s turning cold? The northern winds could blow down any moment, and with sea breezes rolling in, keeping wet clothes indoors— do you want to grow mushrooms?”

Pan Yun leaned against the doorframe, watching the landlord berate his tenants with great amusement.

By the time the sun, like a runny egg, sank below the horizon, the entire courtyard had been transformed.

Only then did the landlord notice Pan Yun and Xue Shao leaning by the door, smiling warmly as he approached: “Have you had your evening meal? Would you like to eat at my place? My wife’s fish is the best— caught fresh by my younger brother from the river. Delicious and cheap.”

Pan Yun asked: “Can you grill fish?”

The landlord’s eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously: “Of course! My younger brother’s grilled fish is legendary. Would you like some?”

“How many do you have? Grill them all,” Pan Yun smiled. “Today I startled your brothers— this grilled fish is my apology.”

The landlord’s gaze flickered; he turned and shouted to the stunned men: “What are you all standing there for? The lady’s treating you to grilled fish— don’t you thank her?”

The simple laborers hesitated, then said: “Won’t that be too expensive? We just saw you without clothes— we didn’t lose any flesh. No need, really…”

“No need?” the landlord glared. “You don’t need it— I do!”

The landlord ignored them and turned back to Pan Yun with a beaming smile: “Miss, there are thirty-eight people here. Ten per table, one fish per table— that’s at least four fish. You’re treating them to four?”

“How many do you have?”

The landlord beamed: “If you say you want them, I can get you any number.”

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow: “How heavy is one fish?”

“The smallest is at least three catties. The big ones? Seven or eight catties.”

Pan Yun said: “Then bring thirteen.”

The landlord nearly fainted with joy, shouted an affirmative, and spun away.

A young man in a short jacket, its back patched with a large mend, hurried after him: “Tai Ge, you’re really going to make it for them? Are you getting tricked, or are they tricking you? They’re living in your place— how could they afford thirteen grilled fish?”

“What do you know?” The landlord didn’t push him off; instead, he grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the next courtyard. “That’s a talented man. You know the Piaoxiang Pavilion poetry contest? That guest Xue just won first prize.”

“What? First prize? Then he’s the Star of Literature!”

The landlord: “Isn’t he just that? A stranger who arrived in Chaozhou and won first prize on his first day. You should’ve seen Sun Hanwen’s face turn green— hahaha…”

The young man murmured: “First prize is sixty-six taels— that’s enough to live on for a lifetime…”

“Live a lifetime? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think everyone’s life is as simple as yours— just fill your belly? He’s a scholar. Sixty-six taels? A mere gesture for him. But yes, treating everyone to fish is easily within reach. Hurry up— come help me prepare the fish.”

When they reached the landlord’s neighboring courtyard, the young man glanced into the cracked basin where the fish were kept and sighed: “Tai Ge, there are only three fish in the basin.”

The landlord already had money in hand and was heading out: “Don’t worry. Fish will be back soon. Help Xiao Qi kill and fry these, and the rest will arrive shortly.”

“Shortly” meant immediately.

The landlord hurried three steps at a time, quickly found the fishmonger’s house in the dim light, pushed open the gate, and called: “Da You, what fish do you have left unsold today?”

A family of five, eating by a dim lamp in the main room, rose with bowls in hand. Seeing the landlord, they grumbled: “How do you know we didn’t sell out?”

“Do you think I don’t know you? Today Piaoxiang Pavilion held a poetry contest— a top-tier establishment. They prepared meat and fish in advance. So many wealthy people flocked there— meat and fish must’ve been hard to sell today. I told you to check daily market trends before buying fish, but you never listen…”

Da You’s wife, Zhang Ahua, immediately set down her bowl and stepped forward: “Tai Ge is right. I told him this morning to buy less, but he wouldn’t listen. Said if he didn’t have fish, customers wouldn’t come back. Look— so much left. If we keep them till tomorrow, who knows how many will survive?”

The landlord peered in, rolled up his sleeves, and flipped through the fish piled beneath others. Seeing they were all large, he nodded satisfied: “Fine. I’ll take all except these three carp.”

Da You put down his bowl and stepped forward curiously: “Tai Ge, you struck it rich?”

“Rich? No. Today a generous tenant moved into my courtyard. He has good fortune, so he’s treating everyone to grilled fish. Quickly weigh these fish for me. And since you’re selling me so many at once, you two better clean them for me.”

Hearing they could offload their leftovers, Da You and his wife were thrilled. Not only would they clean the fish— they’d grill them too. They immediately told the children to stop eating and fetch water, then pulled the fish out, strung them on straw, and weighed them.

After calculating the price, Da You grabbed one fish and slammed it on the ground, then began gutting it.

The landlord returned carrying a large wooden tub; behind him followed Da You, carrying another.

The fish were cleaned and ready— just rinse, fry, and grill.

The landlord’s younger brother-in-law was about twelve, living with his sister in his brother-in-law’s home, and an expert at grilling fish.

In the neighboring courtyard, Pan Yun and Xue Shao learned not only that he grilled fish well, but that he caught them well too.

“That boy’s fearless. A water sprite— he dives into any wave, no matter how big. Luckily, pirates have vanished— otherwise, he’d make a formidable sailor.”

Since Pan Yun was hosting and Xue Shao was a scholar, the two looked clean-cut and approachable.

Especially Pan Yun.

At first they thought her beautiful; then they thought she looked like their mother. And as the moon emerged from the clouds, under its light, the resemblance grew stronger.

So around the two of them, they answered every question without hesitation.

While the landlord went to buy fish, Pan Yun and Xue Shao learned his entire life story.

It was said that in his youth, the landlord had once gone to sea.

“He was from a village. They say he found treasure at sea— a bushel of pearls. After selling them, he bought two courtyards in Chaozhou, a shop, and dozens of acres of land. Otherwise, he’d be carrying sacks like us.”

They sighed with envy: “If only we’d gone to sea back then.”

“Wasn’t the sea closed then? How could anyone leave?”

“If you’re determined, it’s not hard. Wait for a gap in the navy’s patrol, dive in, and swim out— as long as you’ve got strength, you can make it.”

“Swim out?” Pan Yun fell silent for a moment, then said: “He deserves this money.” (End of chapter)