Chapter 105
The sky was not yet light. Zhao Ger felt his way to the kitchen in the dark and fetched a willow twig.
There were no toothbrushes, those who were more particular would rinse their mouths with water upon waking. Those who were less particular wouldn't even wash their faces in the morning.
Previously, when the family had no silver, both he and Fang Zichen had used willow twigs to clean their teeth. After they started earning silver, Fang Zichen extravagantly switched to using salt.
Although salt couldn't compare to toothpaste for leaving the mouth feeling fresh, it was better than nothing.
But Zhao Ger was still accustomed to using a willow twig.
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he returned to the kitchen, washed the pot, heated some water, and then went back to the room. He dressed Guaizai, wrapped him snugly in a thin quilt, and then carried him towards the Liu family's house.
Today was the day the examination results were to be posted, which also happened to be the market day. The streets were bound to be packed with people, jammed shoulder to shoulder. Not only was it inconvenient to bring a child, but there was also the fear of him getting lost if one's attention slipped for just a moment.
He had already spoken with Aunt Liu yesterday, asking them to look after Guaizai for the morning.
Before the sky had even begun to lighten, Fang Zichen was dragged out of bed by Zhao Ger pulling his ear.
By the time he finished washing his face, noodles were cooked.
It was a very simple bowl of noodles, made with the leftover bone broth from yesterday. A fried egg was nestled on top, along with a few vegetable leaves and a sprinkle of chopped scallions.
The flavor would have been absolutely perfect with an added spoonful of chili sauce.
But just as his hand touched the jar containing the spicy sauce, Zhao Ger swatted it away.
"Don't eat something so spicy first thing in the morning."
"Fine!" He slurped down a couple of mouthfuls, then suddenly asked, "Does Aunt Liu's family eat breakfast?"
Most families in the village only ate two meals a day.
Furthermore, they couldn't even eat their fill at lunch and dinner.
He was terribly afraid his son would go hungry.
Zhao Ger shook his head. "No." No sooner had he spoken than he saw Fang Zichen stand up.
"What are you doing?" Zhao Ger asked.
"Going to get my son back to eat breakfast, of course!" Fang Zichen said, as if it were the most natural thing.
"It's too late," Zhao Ger said, pulling him back to sit down. "The adults don't eat, but Aunt Liu will cook a little something for the two children. Don't worry, he won't go hungry."
"Oh!"
Hearing this, Fang Zichen felt reassured.
The noodle soup was just off the heat, extremely hot. Fang Zichen picked up a strand and ate it, taking small, delicate bites, more refined than a young lady from a noble family.
Zhao Ger, unable to bear the heat, slurped his down in a couple of mouthfuls and had finished long ago. Now, watching from the side, he grew anxious and urged repeatedly.
"Husband, eat a little faster! The sky is almost light!"
"So what if it's light?" Fang Zichen shrugged, speaking nonchalantly.
Zhao Ger gave him a light kick. "We need to hurry to see the results. It will be crowded if we're late."
"So what if it's crowded!" Fang Zichen said again.
He wasn't the least bit anxious.
Whether his name was on the list or not wasn't determined by how quickly he got there. Moreover, the red list wouldn't be torn down after being viewed.
It was bound to be crowded in the morning, going around noon would be fine. But clearly, the Emperor wasn't anxious, yet the eunuch was frantic.
[皇帝不急太监急 (Huángdì bù jí tàijiàn jí): lit. The emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuch is frantic; fig. A bystander is more anxious than the person involved.]
Although he was extremely unwilling, who told him to dote on his fulang, whose intimate service pleased him so well? Naturally, he could only follow his wish.
Zhao Ger was extremely anxious. He directly snatched the chopsticks from Fang Zichen's hand, put the noodles away, and locked them in the cupboard.
Fang Zichen: "..."
Zhao Ger pulled him. "If you're hungry, we can buy some steamed buns in town later! Let's go quickly!"
Fang Zichen: "..."
His mouth already felt tasteless upon waking, and he had only taken a few bites, just beginning to taste the flavor, when he was stopped from eating again.
'If you're hungry, buy buns to eat?' Then why bother cooking noodles in the first place?
Was it just for the sense of ritual?
Trying to play the role of a virtuous wife and loving mother?
He smacked his lips, he had truly eaten nothing but emptiness.
____
The results were to be posted at maoshi (5-7 AM). Before dawn, the area outside the government office was already packed solid with a circle of people.
According to standard practice, the imperial examinations should be conducted at the designated Provincial Examination Hall. However, in Fu'an Town, the Examination Hall was situated inside the government office complex. Consequently, the Dragon and Tiger Wall, where the successful candidates' red list was publicly posted, was located just outside the main gates of the government office.
On the day the results were posted, the crowd coming to see the list was huge, far exceeding the number of candidates who had taken the exam.
Among them were scholars who had brought their whole families, clutching their chests, trembling with nervousness. There were also those who didn't recognize a single character, just there to join in the excitement.
The crowd was noisy and chaotic, everyone wearing solemn expressions, as if they were debt collectors showing up at the door.
By the time Fang Zichen arrived, it was already impossible to squeeze through. He was stopped about twenty-odd meters away from the wall where the red list would be posted.
Zhao Ger stomped his feet and complained, "It's all your fault!"
Fang Zichen: "..."
Fang Zichen turned to look at Zhao Ger. He didn't understand how it was all his fault.
Although he had been a bit dawdling earlier and had misjudged the situation.
But who could have guessed that so many people would have nothing better to do so early in the morning?
He instinctively opened his mouth to retort, but then met Zhao Ger's gaze head-on.
Those beautiful, round eyes were now deep and penetrating like a cat's, stared at him unblinkingly, a cold and intense gaze filled with palpable resentment. Instantly, and for no reason he could name, a chill shot up Fang Zichen's spine.
He recognized the wisdom of avoiding a fight when the situation was against him.
After all, as long as the green mountains remain, one need not fear lack of firewood—it was better to preserve himself now for the sake of future opportunities.
[留的青山在，不怕沒柴燒 (liú de qīngshān zài, bùpà méi chái shāo): lit. As long as the green mountains remain, one need not fear lack of firewood; fig. As long as one's health or fundamental strengths are preserved, there is hope for the future.]
If Zhao Momo truly became angry, Fang Zichen, feeling weak and pitiful by comparison, knew he would be no match for him.
He stiffened his neck and agreed, "My fault, my fault. Don't be angry. Anger injures the body, it makes you die easily. Don't be angry, okay?"
Zhao Ger: "..."
He snorted, then stood on his tiptoes again, stretching his neck to peer into the distance. The crowd surged slightly ahead. Zhao Ger, caught off guard, bumped into the person next to him.
Before he could even apologize, the person shoved him back, with considerable force.
"What's wrong with you!"
Zhao Ger staggered, nearly falling, but Fang Zichen caught him in time.
"I'm sorry," Zhao Ger said, lowering his head.
Fang Zichen frowned tightly.
"Get lost!" That person looked him up and down. Seeing that he didn't seem to be from a wealthy or prestigious family, he brushed off the spot on his shoulder where Zhao Ger had touched him contemptuously and said scornfully, "Take a look at yourself. What's your status? A ger, illiterate, what business do you have joining the excitement? Is this a place someone as foul as you should be? Scram..."
"What did you say?" Fang Zichen reached out an arm, wrapped it around Zhao Ger's shoulders, pulling him closer into his embrace. He lowered his gaze, his face darkening, his eyes turning icy and sinister. "What did you just say? Have the guts to say it again, damn it."
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