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Shen Linchuan opened his eyes lazily. “It’s still early. I’m going to lie here a little longer.” “It’s not early anymore. Today is your first day of school; don’t be late.”

Shen Linchuan yawned and got up. Wearing his usual short brown robe, he first filled the family water jar with a bucket of water, then practiced a set of boxing forms with his father.

Today was Shen Linchuan’s first day at the academy, so Zhou Ning had specially boiled some eggs and fried a few golden scallion pancakes, pairing them with a bowl of refreshing loofah soup. Zhou Ning brought the meal out and called, “Shen Linchuan, Father, it’s time to eat.”

Shen Linchuan replied and helped set the food on the table. “My husband boiled all these eggs today.”

He’d brought a dozen or so chickens from the countryside. They’d been startled on the journey and hadn’t laid any eggs for the first few days after arriving. His husband had tended to them carefully, and they’d only laid a few eggs recently—it seemed he’d boiled them all at once.

Shen Linchuan felt a warm glow in his heart. Though his husband wasn’t good with words, he was always exceptionally thoughtful.

After the meal, Shen Linchuan changed into the blue-collared robe of the Bailu Academy. The robes of the Bailu Academy were exceptionally elegant, and with Shen Linchuan’s broad shoulders and long legs, cinched at the waist with a silk sash, they made him look all the more dashing and handsome.

Zhou Ning helped Shen Linchuan adjust his robes; the scholar’s robe of the Bailu Academy looked exceptionally good on him.

Shen Linchuan picked up the bookbox. “All right, I’ll be going now.”

Zhou Ning nodded. “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you out?”

“No, no need. I’m not a three-year-old child. It’s not far; I’ll be there in no time.”

Zhou Ning saw Shen Linchuan out. The sun hadn’t even risen yet; some households had just woken up and opened their gates, while sleepy-eyed children leaned against their mothers as they had their hair combed.

Shen Linchuan strode off carrying his bookbox and happened to run into Luo Qingshan from next door, who was also coming out. Luo Qingshan saw Shen Linchuan and gave him a slight bow.

“Brother Linchuan.”

“What a coincidence.”

The two walked out of the alley together. Shen Linchuan waved to his husband, then turned the corner and headed toward Bailu Academy.

Sun Fulang, hearing the commotion, craned his neck to look out. Watching Shen Linchuan and his companion walk away, he clicked his tongue. Spotting Old Lady Song coming out, he called out to her, “Old Lady Song, the newcomers are students from Bailu Academy.”

Auntie Song shot Mr. Sun a scornful glare. “What’s it to you? Mind your own business.” She slammed the door shut. Mr. Sun spat out, “You’re the one who’s a dog!”

Mr. Sun went home as well. Well, that was a surprise. He’d thought a family of country folk had moved into the alley, but it turned out to be students from Bailu Academy. Old Mrs. Song’s son had also been a scholar at Bailu Academy—he’d studied there for years without making any progress, so he’d returned home, married, and now worked as an accountant for someone else.

Now that both households on either side were home to students of the Bailu Academy, it was like rubbing salt into Old Lady Song’s wounds. Mr. Sun, relishing the spectacle, couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Shen Linchuan had also arrived at the academy by then. The new students were all finding their assigned dormitories according to their groupings, and by chance, Shen Linchuan ended up in the same dormitory as Luo Qingshan.

They were among the first to arrive. Shen Linchuan found a spot by the window and sat down, while Luo Qingshan took a seat in front of him. Just as Shen Linchuan had finished setting out his writing implements, someone called out to him from the doorway, “Linchuan! Shen Linchuan!”

Shen Linchuan looked up and saw Xu Zhifan, who was waving him out. Shen Linchuan stood up and went out. Xu Zhifan was particularly excited to see Shen Linchuan. “I saw you, so I came to find you!”

Xu Zhifan fired off a barrage of questions about where Shen Linchuan was living now. The two exchanged addresses. Xu Zhifan’s family ran a business in town, so they were certainly not short on money. The Xu family had bought him a courtyard near Bailu Academy and assigned two servants to look after him.

Xu Zhifan was overjoyed. “At last, I can get away from my father’s nagging.”

“Come on, even without Uncle Xu pushing you, the coursework at Bailu Academy is demanding—it’s not like it’ll get any easier.”

Xu Zhifan’s face fell again. “As long as I’m not among the bottom few, I’ll be fine. If I do poorly and get kicked out, my father will definitely break my legs.”

As the two stood chatting at the entrance, they heard someone greeting others loudly. “Oh, Brother Liu, it’s a pleasure to see you! Oh my, it’s Brother Song! How’s your family doing? If you need anything, just let me know—we’re all friends here.”

Shen Linchuan turned to see it was Qian Dazhi, the classmate he’d met during enrollment. He was naturally plump and fair-skinned, and now, clad in the blue-collared robe of Bailu Academy, he looked like a festive, overfilled rice dumpling.

Though Bailu Academy valued frugality, it did not restrict students’ attire. Qian Dazhi had numerous gold ornaments and jade rings clinking and clanking at his waist, and when he greeted people, some turned away in disdain.

Xu Zhifan couldn’t help but laugh. “The Qian family is a major clan in Nanling Prefecture. Their rice business is among the top in the entire prefecture. They spent a fortune to get him into Bailu Academy. His family lacks everything but money—just look at that waist, practically weighed down with gold, silver, and jewels.”

Qian Dazhi greeted everyone he saw, even occasionally plucking gold and silver ornaments from his waist to offer them away. But no one was willing to accept them; the refined scholars, their faces betraying disdain, kept their distance even further.

Qian Dazhi spotted Shen Linchuan from a distance. His eyes—already reduced to slits by the fat on his cheeks—lit up instantly, and he clattered over with a clang. Xu Zhifan whispered to Shen Linchuan, “Let’s go—that big gold ingot is coming this way!”

Shen Linchuan cleared his throat. “We mustn’t be rude.”

Xu Zhifan gave himself a light slap on the cheek. “I didn’t mean it that way. My family started out as peddlers, so I don’t look down on him. It’s just that his mannerisms make people at the academy keep their distance.”

Qian Dazhi was already shuffling over with his rotund frame. “Mr. Shen, it’s good to see you again.” 

“Mr. Qian.”

Seeing that Shen Linchuan hadn’t avoided him, Qian Dazhi grinned so widely his eyes were nearly hidden. “Have you settled in, Mr. Shen? If you don’t mind, the Qian family has a house nearby where you’re welcome to stay.”

“Thank you, Mr. Qian, but I’ve already settled in just fine.”

“If you need anything, just let me know. The Qian family is known for our generosity.”

In other words, the Qian family has more money than they know what to do with.

Qian Dazhi was just about to strike up a closer conversation with Shen Linchuan when the teachers from the various study halls arrived. Shen Linchuan thanked Qian Dazhi and went back inside.

Xu Zhifan also hurried off. “Qian Dazhi, hurry up and get out of here—the teachers are here!”

All the new scholars were housed in the same large courtyard, divided into different study halls. Qian Dazhi, with his back to the door, hadn’t seen them coming, but as soon as Xu Zhifan called out, he hurried after him—though being rather portly, he wobbled all over as he ran.

Shen Linchuan also returned to his seat. Glancing around, he saw that there were only fifteen people in their study hall, all sitting with exceptional poise as they waited for the master.

Shen Linchuan smoothed out his long robe and straightened his back. He’d been slacking off for a while now; he couldn’t afford to be complacent anymore.

That morning, they had attended one class on the classics and one on history. The teachers invited by Bailu Academy were all candidates who had passed the provincial examinations, as well as jinshi degree holders or distinguished scholars who had resigned from official posts to return to their hometowns.

Even Shen Linchuan dared not slack off for a moment throughout the morning. The instructors at Bailu Academy lectured at a rapid pace, leaving students to grasp the material on their own, yet he still gained a great deal.

The ancient bell tolled, signaling the end of the morning’s lessons. Only then did Shen Linchuan dare to breathe a sigh of relief. Truly, this was a century-old academy. He had considered himself quite diligent in Master Wang’s school before, but after these two sessions, he felt all the more inadequate. He knew he must work even harder from now on.

“In the morning, a peasant; by evening, a court official”—that was the allure of the imperial examinations, though only he knew the hardships involved.

Shen Linchuan dared not slacken his efforts in the slightest. He carefully put away the notes he’d taken during class before standing up. Luo Qingshan, who sat in front of him, turned around and asked,

“Mr. Shen, did you find the Master’s lecture easy to follow?”

Shen Linchuan smiled and shook his head. “I still need to delve deeper and study more thoroughly.”

Hearing Shen Linchuan say this, Luo Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief. “I had thought it was my own dullness that prevented me from grasping the Master’s deeper meaning.” 

“It’s the same for me. It’s only the first day; once I get used to it, it’ll be fine.”

The two set off together. Xu Zhifan was already waiting for Shen Linchuan at the gate, his face as sour as a bitter melon. As soon as he saw Shen Linchuan, he began to vent his frustrations: “I’m doomed, Shen Linchuan—wait, no, I mean I’m the one who’s doomed! That teacher’s lectures are truly profound. I’m bound to get kicked out sooner or later. What am I going to do, Shen Linchuan?”

Luo Qingshan, standing nearby, tried to console him: “I won’t lie to you, sir. This morning’s class on the Classics sounded pretty deep to me, too. It just goes to show that the sea of learning has no shores—we should be working even harder.”

Xu Zhifan gasped, “You didn’t understand it either!” Luo Qingshan shook his head. “I just felt how shallow my own knowledge is.”

Xu Zhifan let out a huge sigh of relief. “That scared me to death. I thought I was just too dumb to understand what the Master was saying.”

Shen Linchuan cleared his throat. “Mr. Luo came in second in this year’s provincial exams. He’s just being modest—don’t take him at his word.”

Xu Zhifan let out a gasp. So it was just him who found it difficult—everyone else was just being modest when they said it was hard!

Xu Zhifan’s face scrunched up again. He just hoped he wouldn’t end up among the bottom few in the preliminary exam—otherwise, he’d be kicked out!

The three of them headed to the mess hall together. Xu Zhifan and Luo Qingshan exchanged names and were now acquainted. Xu Zhifan let out a sigh. “With one of you first in the exams and the other second, I’ll have to work even harder not to slack off around you two.”

Xu Zhifan had a lively personality. Although Luo Qingshan was a bit stiff and taciturn—Xu Zhifan would have to say ten sentences before Luo Qingshan replied with just one—Xu Zhifan didn’t feel like he was being snubbed. He simply thought that a person with such great knowledge was just a bit eccentric. So what if he didn’t talk much?

Xu Zhifan found himself increasingly convinced that Shen Linchuan had the better temperament—he was humble, easygoing, and quick-witted. The fact that Xu Zhifan had managed to scrape by and pass the examination to become a scholar was entirely thanks to Shen Linchuan pulling him through.

Xu Zhifan chattered nonstop all the way there. A long line had already formed at the dining hall. Bailu Academy was divided into three tiers, roughly corresponding to first-, second-, and third-year students, each distinguished by slight variations in their blue-collared robes—easy to tell apart at a glance.

Xu Zhifan stood in the crowd, still chattering away. Spotting a familiar face, he nodded toward Shen Linchuan. “That’s Zhou Youcheng. We’re in the same dormitory.”

Shen Linchuan spotted him too. He hadn’t seen Zhou Youcheng in a while; ever since he had been beaten by Doctor Zhang, he’d reportedly stayed indoors. Seeing Zhou Youcheng again, Shen Linchuan felt he’d grown somewhat more sullen.

Zhou Youcheng looked over as well, a hint of resentment in his eyes. He glanced at Shen Linchuan before turning his head away. Xu Zhifan let out a sigh.

“What kind of look was that from Zhou Youcheng? Hmph!”

Shen Linchuan grabbed Xu Zhifan by the arm. “One day of confinement for causing a disturbance.” 

Only then did Xu Zhifan settle down. “How did you know?” 

“The rules were distributed during enrollment. Didn’t you read them?”

Xu Zhifan felt a twinge of guilt. “Since it wasn’t on the exam, of course I didn’t read it.”

Both Shen Linchuan and Luo Qingshan were state-sponsored students, so all their meals were provided by the academy. Xu Zhifan, however, had paid his own way. The food from the Bailu Academy’s kitchen looked decent, but it tended to be on the bland side—one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a bowl of clear soup made up the standard meal for state-sponsored students.

The flavors were plain and certainly couldn’t compare to the variety found in the taverns and eateries outside. The rule was “no talking while eating or sleeping,” so even though the dining hall was crowded, only hushed whispers could be heard.

Xu Zhifan muttered under his breath, “Bailu Academy sure has a lot of rules.”

Luo Qingshan sat with his back straight, eating with refined composure. “Brother Xu, please be quiet.”

Xu Zhifan grunted in acknowledgment and obediently continued eating. Being around someone so well-educated was indeed a bit stressful; Luo Qingshan was simply too strict about following the rules.

Shen Linchuan also sat properly and ate his meal. The food at Bailu Academy was actually quite good; he’d just heard Xu Zhifan say he had to pay two taels a month for meals.

A commotion arose nearby. Shen Linchuan looked up to see Qian Dazhi, tray in hand and beaming, sitting down next to a group of people. But no sooner had he settled in than the people next to him got up and left. Undeterred, Qian Dazhi moved to another spot, only to find that the people there also looked down on him and refused to sit with him.

Qian Dazhi didn’t get upset; he simply found an empty corner and began eating on his own.

Xu Zhifan whispered to Shen Linchuan, “Most people at the academy look down on Qian Dazhi’s manner. Scholars from the countryside are aloof, and those from prominent official families look down on him even more.”

“His character isn’t bad, though,” Luo Qingshan remarked.

Xu Zhifan was somewhat surprised. He had originally thought Luo Qingshan was extremely old-fashioned; scholars typically disdained associating with merchants, as merchants were ranked at the very bottom of the four social classes. He hadn’t expected Luo Qingshan to actually offer a word of praise.

Shen Linchuan also understood why Qian Dazhi had been ostracized from the very first day he arrived. He wasn’t exactly unattractive—plump and rather likable in appearance—but he was far too calculating, scrambling to make connections the moment he set foot here.

He’d heard Qian Dazhi was the young master of the Qian Family Grain Store. Though merely the heir apparent, he was the one actually running the family business—a true business whiz.

The Qian family was a prominent clan in Nanling Prefecture, but even if they had no political connections to fall back on, Qian Dazhi wouldn’t have gone around befriending students like this. He didn’t seem to be here to study; it looked more like he’d come early to make an investment.

Shen Linchuan didn’t know the full story behind the Qian family, but Qian Dazhi must have sensed something amiss, which is why he’d started making plans so early. Still, Qian Dazhi was quite clever. He knew what kind of place Bailu Academy was—though it couldn’t compare to the Imperial Academy, it had produced its fair share of successful candidates.

Shen Linchuan glanced toward the corner. Qian Dazhi immediately flashed a fawning smile. Luo Qingshan followed Shen Linchuan’s gaze and noticed the man as well, furrowing his brow slightly. “Brother Shen, this is not someone to associate with.”

Shen Linchuan nodded. “I know.”

Xu Zhifan let out a sigh. “Luo Qingshan, what do you mean by that? Do you look down on merchant families?” 

“No.”

Luo Qingshan was never one for many words; after uttering that one word, he offered no further explanation. Let Xu Zhifan think what he will—the two were, after all, merely acquaintances who exchanged polite nods.

The afternoon was devoted to the study of law and Confucianism. The weather had grown increasingly hot, and listening to the master’s constant references to “the Way” and “the Dao,” many students began to doze off.

Inside the classroom, the students sat with their backs straighter than the next, afraid to miss a single word the teacher said. By the end of the day, even Shen Linchuan was feeling a bit worn out.

After class, Shen Linchuan packed up and got ready to leave. Although Luo Qingshan didn’t say anything, he looked even more tense.

Xu Zhifan’s exhaustion was much more obvious; as they walked out the door, his steps were sluggish. He half-heartedly greeted Shen Linchuan and asked if he wanted to take a carriage. Shen Linchuan shook his head in refusal. “I’d like to take a walk.”

“Alright, then I’ll go ahead. I really can’t take it anymore.”

Shen Linchuan and Luo Qingshan walked down the mountain together. The main gate of Bailu Academy was about a li from the foot of the mountain. They walked briskly and soon reached the bottom, carrying their belongings.

As soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw a small market there growing increasingly lively. Many students were buying snacks to satisfy their cravings—there were vendors selling fried dough sticks, small wontons, steamed buns, noodles, and all sorts of pastries; the selection was quite extensive.

“Shen Linchuan.”

Shen Linchuan recognized his husband immediately. A smile lit up his face as he hurried over. “What brings you here?” “I came to pick you up.”

Shen Linchuan took the basket from Zhou Ning’s hands and held it up. Inside was a layer of white cloth and cotton padding, all clean and tidy. Shen Linchuan knew at a glance that his husband had gone out to do a little business today. “Off to sell steamed corn buns, were you?”

Zhou Ning nodded. “I’ve been hawking them all the way here, and I just happened to stop by to wait for you.”

Shen Linchuan’s heart swelled, as if a jar of honey had been overturned; all the fatigue of the day vanished the moment he saw Zhou Ning.

“Let’s walk home.”