Yushui Village, the Gao Family Residence.

Previously, Shen Huaizhi had simply pushed the door open whenever he came by. Since the private school was located right inside the house, the Gao family’s courtyard gate was left open year-round, locked only at night. But today was different; Shen Huaizhi and Lin Yue made a point of knocking on the door.

Shen Huaizhi stopped at the gate and called out, “Senior Brother Gao, are you home? I’ve come to visit the teacher.”

In just a moment, hurried footsteps echoed from within the courtyard. The door was opened by Gao Jingye, the son of Old Xiucai Gao. “Junior Brother, Brother Yue, come on in.”

Gao Jingye stepped aside to let them in, then bowed his hands to Shen Huaizhi and said, “I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you on passing the Xiucai examination, Junior Brother. Please accept my congratulations now.”

Gao Jingye’s son, Gao Chengwang, had also taken the provincial exam this time. Since he did not pass, he returned home the day before yesterday after seeing the results posted. As a result, the Gao family learned early on of the good news that Shen Huaizhi had passed the examination to become a Xiucai.

Shen Huaizhi bowed in return. “Thank you, Senior Brother. I came today specifically to visit the teacher and share the good news. I hope the teacher is in good health?”

Upon hearing this, Gao Jingye let out a long sigh, then chuckled softly. “He wasn’t feeling too well a few days ago, but since hearing that you passed the Xiucai examination, he’s been feeling much better these past couple of days. He can even eat a whole bowl of rice for a meal now.”

Concern flashed across Shen Huaizhi’s face, and his pace quickened slightly.

He had expected to go to the main hall, but to his surprise, Gao Jingye led the two of them directly into Old Xiucai Gao’s bedroom. The room was dim; the faded bed curtains had lost their original color, and the entire room seemed shrouded in shadow, with a heavy darkness weighing down on the white-haired old man lying on the bed.

Shen Huaizhi paused and said softly, “Master, it’s Huaizhi. I’ve come to see you.”

There was no response from the bed. After a moment, Shen Huaizhi remembered that his teacher’s hearing had long since deteriorated. He raised his voice and called out again. Finally, the old man on the bed slowly turned his head slightly.

“It’s Huaizhi, isn’t it? Your junior classmate told me you passed the Xiucai examination. Good, good… cough, cough…”

Gao Jingye hurried forward to help Old Xiucai Gao sit up, then placed a pillow behind him before stepping back to reveal Shen Huaizhi standing behind him.

When Shen Huaizhi and Lin Yue set out, in addition to gifts, they had specifically brought the Xiucai’s indigo robe with a bird-on-a-perch design. The Xiucai robes issued by Wuzhou Prefecture had remained unchanged for decades. Several prefects had come and gone, yet the attire had remained unchanged. The moment it was brought out, Old Xiucai Gao recognized it immediately.

Rarely showing such enthusiasm, he smiled warmly and said, “Quick, quick, put it on so I can see. After all these years of running this private school, we’ve finally produced a Xiucai.”

“Look, Master, it’s exactly the same as yours.” Shen Huaizhi didn’t take off his own clothes but simply slipped the new robe over them. As he put it on, he deliberately took a step forward so that Old Xiucai Gao could see clearly.

Although he had known the news for some time, seeing his disciple don the outfit with his own eyes filled Old Xiucai Gao with immense joy. A rare flush of color returned to his cheeks. “My own set has long since faded. It looks much better on a young man.”

It wasn’t long before Old Xiucai Gao began to visibly lose his vigor. He knew his health was failing, but his heart remained at peace. He was already a rare centenarian among the nearby villages, and now that his disciple had passed the Xiucai examination, fulfilling his lifelong wish, he truly had no regrets left in this life

It was time to go and join his wife.

He beckoned to Shen Huaizhi, then raised his hand to touch the brim of Shen Huaizhi’s hat, speaking slowly and deliberately: “You have talent. It’s a pity your teacher is so unworthy—after teaching you for so many years, I’ve achieved nothing. At least you’ve passed now, so I haven’t failed my student. If you ever have the chance in the future, you must, absolutely must, go to the prefectural capital. Only there are renowned masters. I look forward to the day you pass the provincial examination.””

Shen Huaizhi’s eyes welled up with tears, and he repeatedly assured him, “Master, please rest assured. You must take good care of yourself. I’ll come back to tell you the news of my success in the provincial examination.”

Old Xiucai Gao patted him on the shoulder: “You’re a man of substance—why are you acting like this? I believe in you. I also have a bit of a personal motive: your senior classmate didn’t make it, but your junior classmate Gao has a modicum of talent. I imagine in another ten or so years, he’ll have his day of passing the exams as well. If you have the time, please offer him some guidance.”

Lin Yue immediately handed the book he’d brought to Shen Huaizhi, who in turn passed it to Old Xiucai Gao. “This is a copy of *Shiwen* I bought in the provincial capital. The one I brought for my junior brother is my handwritten copy. Rest assured, Master, my junior and I will support one another.”

Running his fingers over the brand-new book in his hands, Old Xiucai Gao felt a pang of guilt. He really shouldn’t have brought this up on such a joyous occasion—it only added pressure to Huaizhi.

He glanced at Gao Jingye, then at Gao Chengwang, who had slipped in unnoticed from behind, before finally turning his gaze to Shen Huaizhi. “This is good. If they turn out to be good-for-nothings, you needn’t concern yourself with them. If you get along, visit often; if not, let it be—don’t put yourself through unnecessary trouble.”

Shen Huaizhi and the Gao family—father and son—spoke in unison: “Teacher/Father/Grandfather, rest assured.” Old Xiucai Gao gave them one last, deep look, then waved his hand to dismiss them.

As soon as they stepped out of the room, Gao Chengwang bowed to Shen Huaizhi and said, “Thank you, junior brother. I’ve taken your things without permission.” 

Shen Huaizhi shook his head. “What are you saying, senior brother? We’re fellow disciples—there’s no need for such formalities.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Gao Jingye spoke up: “Your senior brother Zhao came by yesterday as well. Since Father’s health is failing, your junior brother Gao and I can no longer continue running the private school. Your senior brother Zhao plans to go to the county academy—do you have any plans of your own?”

Shen Huaizhi fell silent for a moment. A thought flashed through his mind, but he ultimately kept it to himself, saying only, “I might go to the prefectural academy a year before the provincial exams. For now, I have no other plans.”

“Very well. I’ll be waiting for the good news of your success in the provincial exams three years from now.”

Shen Huaizhi looked troubled; when it came to the provincial exams, he really had no confidence at all. “Then I’ll take your word for it, Senior Brother. Three years might be a bit of a stretch. Let’s say six years.”

“Hahaha, I actually think three years is plenty,” Gao Jingye said. “My wife is cooking. Why don’t you and Yue have dinner with us at home today?”

Shen Huaizhi shook his head in refusal. “Thank you, Senior Brother, but my in-laws have invited us to dinner today. Xiao Yue and I had already made preparations before leaving, so it would be difficult to decline. We’ll come another time.”

“That’s fine. After all, our two households are right next door. Next time you come back, you must come over for a meal. Come on, come on—since you’re already here, you’ve got to have a cup of tea.”

“Senior Brother, your kindness is overwhelming. I’ll accept your invitation.”

Lin Yue and Shen Huaizhi stayed at the Gao residence for another half-hour or so, until smoke began rising from more and more households in the village, before they took their leave.

The Lin family kitchen was a hive of activity. Zhou Wenlan was kneading dough on the table to prepare steamed wheat rice, Lin Yang sat by the stove tending the fire, and Lin Yuan was fileting fish at the doorway. From the pot on the left wafted the aroma of chicken stewed with chestnuts, while on the right, a pot of freshly cooked rice was simmering.

As soon as Lin Yue stepped into the courtyard, he jogged over to the kitchen, circled the stove once, and when he turned back, Lin Yang had already poured him a cup of hot tea.

“Wow, why are you being so helpful today?”

Lin Yang ignored him. Only after handing the other cup of tea to Shen Huaizhi did he turn back and say, “Brother, what are you talking about? I’ve always been this hardworking, haven’t I?”

Since it was a rare visit, Lin Yue didn’t press the issue. He walked over to the corner of the room and handed out the gifts he’d brought that morning one by one, then found a plate to arrange the mooncakes on. “Dad, Mom, you have to try these. I think the mooncakes I made this year taste even better. There are also a few made by my little brother—they’re delicious too.”

Zhou Wenlan wasn’t sure whether to scold him for wasting money or for snacking before dinner, but in the end, considering they hadn’t seen each other in months, she forced herself to hold back. “Save them for later. Dinner will be ready soon. If you eat mooncakes now, you won’t have room for your meal.”

“I know, Mom. It’s just one little piece—how could that stop me from eating dinner?” Lin Yue picked up a piece and shoved it into his mother’s mouth. She playfully smacked his hand, and he turned away satisfied, offering a piece to Lin Yang and then feeding one to his father, who was busy at the door. Only then did he roll up his sleeves to help with dinner.

“All right, go play somewhere else. Take Huai-zhi for a walk outside. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready,” Zhou Wenlan said.

“Alright, I’ll be heading out then.” Lin Yue blinked twice, folded his arms behind his back, circled around one more time, and then went outside with Shen Huaizhi.

“Come on, let’s go check out my room.”

It was Shen Huaizhi’s first time entering Lin Yue’s bedroom. During his last visit, he’d stayed in the main hall and the kitchen the whole time and hadn’t had a chance to look inside. As they reached the doorway, he suddenly felt a bit nervous. He stood there, took a couple of deep breaths, and then stepped inside.

The bedroom, which had been unoccupied for so long, was still clean and tidy. The bedding was still on the bed, though covered with a layer of dust-proof burlap. Afraid he might start crying, Lin Yue kept talking to Shen Huaizhi. “Are you hungry? Let’s have dinner before we head back tonight.”

Shen Huaizhi lowered his voice slightly and said gently, “I’m not hungry. I’ll do whatever you say. The two villages aren’t far apart; we can wait until the sun sets before heading back. We’ll come back at the end of the year and stay a few more days.”

“Sounds good. Then we’ll come after the New Year.”

They hadn’t been talking long when Lin Yang came running over. “Brother, Brother Shen, dinner’s ready!”

At the Lin family’s dinner table that evening, as always, the dishes were all Lin Yue’s favorites. The family took turns serving him food, and even after he was full, his bowl remained full. In the end, Shen Huaizhi helped him finish some of it.

That afternoon, Lin Yue refused to stay home and insisted on dragging Shen Huaizhi with him to the rice paddies to harvest the rice. They harvested most of the field that afternoon, and Lin Yue even cooked dinner.

By the time the two returned home, dusk had fallen, and the three members of the Shen family were still bustling about in the kitchen.

The ancestral hall ceremony was scheduled for tomorrow, so incense, candles, and joss paper all had to be prepared in advance. Not only that, but they had also brought out their finest clothes. Seeing Lin Yue and Shen Huai-zhi return, Song Xunchun urged them, “There’s still hot water on the stove. You two should wash up and get some rest early—we’ve got a lot to do tomorrow.”

Lin Yue scratched his head. “We’re sorry we got back so late.”

“Not at all, not at all. If it weren’t for tomorrow’s plans, you should have stayed a couple more days this time. Your in-laws must have missed you too,” Song Xunchun said. “Next time you go back, stay a few extra days. There’s nothing urgent here at home.”

Lin Yue replied with a smile, “Thank you, Mother. I’ll go wash up now.”

“Go ahead. Remember to get Ming’er’s clothes ready too, so we won’t be rushing around tomorrow morning.”

The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, Linshui Village came alive with activity.

Opening the ancestral hall is a major event for the entire village, and having a Xiucai in the village is also a blessing for the whole community. 

To put it simply, weddings and funerals presided over by a Xiucai are always more grand. In some places, having a Xiucai in the village even makes it easier for the young people there to find marriage partners. So, aside from those who were at odds with the Shen family, most of the people in Linshui Village were delighted.

If outsiders were happy, the family members were all the more so. Lin Yue and his companion had returned late last night and hadn’t noticed, but when they woke up this morning, they found the entire courtyard had been completely transformed. The clutter in the corners had vanished, and not only that, but the vegetable patch and the chicken coop had been tidied up spotlessly—it was even more festive than during the New Year.

Just after breakfast, Shen Guangchu arrived. “Huaizhi, are you ready?” Shen Huaizhi nodded. “Uncle Guang, don’t worry. I’m all set.”

It wasn’t the first time Shen Guangchu had seen this Xiucai robe, but it looked remarkably good on Shen Huaizhi. He smiled. “That’s good. We’ll head straight to the ancestral hall later. There are two drummers and gong players in the village—let’s make some noise and have a good time.”

Before long, the Shen family had packed their things and set out. Not only had they changed into new clothes, but Song Xunchun, Lin Yue, and Shen Lingzhi were also wearing jewelry: silver hairpins and silk flowers in their hair, silver bracelets on their wrists, and brand-new sashes hanging from their waists.

The entrance to the Linshui Village ancestral hall was bustling with activity—the sounds of gongs and drums, chatter, and laughter filled the air. As soon as the Shen family arrived, the commotion grew even louder.

“They’re here! They’re here! They’re finally here!”