The village chief had brought a ox cart, saying he would take Fang Zichen to town. Guaizai was still asleep and couldn't be left unattended, so Zhao Ger couldn't see Fang Zichen off. With the crowd surrounding them and all his warnings and advice already given the day before, Zhao Ger could only watch Fang Zichen silently. He saw him heave his bundle onto the cart and prepare to climb up. But then Fang Zichen stopped, looked back and found Zhao Ger. In three quick strides, he closed the distance between them.
"What..." Before he could finish, Zhao Ger was pulled into Fang Zichen's embrace. The force was so great that Zhao Ger's nerves stood on end. Fang Zichen planted a kiss on his forehead.
This action was quite bold. Accompanied by gasps, everyone's eyes gathered on them. Aunt Liu looked at Zhao Ger's flushed face, momentarily at a loss for words.
Fang Zichen let go, looked at his reddened face, couldn't resist pinching it, and said in a tender tone, "I'm leaving."
Zhao Ger felt as if needles were pricking his back, his heart pounding wildly, his scalp numb, and the roots of his ears burning. He kept his eyes downcast, not daring to look up. "Mhm."
Fang Zichen said, "Don't miss me."
Zhao Ger, flustered with embarrassment, replied, "Mhm!"
"Damn, you actually said 'mhm'?" Fang Zichen's eyes widened, displeased. "I tell you not to miss me and you really won't? How heartless! Am I still your beloved little husband or not?"
Zhao Ger met his dark, accusing eyes and was jolted back to his senses. Afraid he might spout more shocking nonsense, Zhao Ger frowned. "You... are you going or not? If not, I'll hit you!"
Fang Zichen: "..."
Fang Zichen swiftly jumped onto the ox cart and urgently urged the village chief to leave quickly.
Seeing his hurried manner, truly afraid Zhao Ger might actually strike, the feeling of parting in Zhao Ger's heart vanished without a trace.
There were carriages at the city gate that operated as hired transport. Carriages were more expensive than ox carts, but also relatively faster. Fang Zichen looked around for a while. One horse driver said his carriage already had five passengers and they were looking for one more to depart. Fang Zichen immediately got on.
The carriage interior was packed full, people squeezed together. The space was small, legs and feet couldn't stretch out. Two scholars were sitting inside, likely also going for the exam. They were still holding books, regardless of their actual knowledge, their posture had the style of top students. The others, judging by their attire, were probably going to the prefectural city for business. They were all strangers. After exchanging a few greetings, some slept, some read, and some lifted the curtain to look at the scenery.
Only Fang Zichen was idle.
The journey from Fu'an Town to Fucheng passed through Anyang Town. In the afternoon, they arrived in the town, and the carriage stopped, saying it was for everyone to rest and recuperate, somewhat like a modern long-distance rest stop.
Fang Zichen held his waist as he got off, his entire backside was numb and devoid of sensation.
The town had roads paved with blue bricks, clean and flat. Outside the town were the bumpy, potholed dirt roads. The relentless jolting and swaying of the carriage had left Fang Zichen feeling thoroughly unwell.
The others went to find something to eat, while only Fang Zichen squatted by the carriage.
His stomach was churning, but he couldn't vomit. If he were an older man, the violent jolting of the carriage might have been the death of him.
The driver took a bundle of hay from the top of the carriage to feed the horse, stroking its neck as he did.
Those in his line of work cherished their old partners who helped earn silver immensely. They would rather go hungry themselves than let the horse lack.
The driver himself appeared to be quite elderly. Watching the man remain completely unbothered by the rough journey, Fang Zichen felt a distinct pang of sour envy.
In the evening, as they approached the prefectural city, Fang Zichen suddenly called for a stop and told the driver he wouldn't ride further.
He truly couldn't take it anymore.
If he rode any further, he'd die before reaching the prefectural city. What exam would there be to take then?
Fang Zichen bent over, one hand clutching his stomach, the other trembling as he reached out towards the driver.
The driver was baffled.
"Refund me six copper coins," Fang Zichen managed, his voice weak and breathless.
Since he hadn't completed the full journey to the prefectural city, having disembarked partway, so some money should be refunded.
The driver: "..."
When looking for passengers in the morning, he had seen Fang Zichen wandering around and asked where he was going. Fang Zichen said to the prefectural city. The driver casually asked if he was going for business. Fang Zichen shook his head and said, "No! I'm going for the exam!"
He was a scholar!
Having toiled in the fields, he understood the sweat behind every grain of rice. Having labored moving bricks, he knew the true value of each hard-earned coin.
Six copper coins can buy three meat buns!
Meat buns are delicious!
Fang Zichen extended his hand further towards the stunned driver. "Hurry up!"
Scholars valued face the most. The driver hadn't expected the other to be so 'petty,' demanding a refund for not riding the full way himself. If it were anyone else, he might have spat in disdain. But a scholar was not to be offended.
Right now, the person had no status or position, but thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—who knew if the other might rise to prominence one day?
[三十年河东，三十年河西 (sānshí nián hédōng, sānshí nián héxī): lit. thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; fig. fortunes change over time, and roles may be reversed.]
The driver felt contempt inwardly but smiled outwardly, refunded the money, and even offered a few words of advice.
Walking on two legs was slow, and darkness fell quickly. The driver mentioned there was a dilapidated temple at the foot of Niuhu Mountain, not far from where they were, where he could take shelter and rest.
Fang Zichen went to sit by the roadside for a while. By the time he caught his breath, it was almost dark, so he headed towards Niuhu Mountain.
By the time he found the dilapidated temple, night had fallen completely.
A faint, flickering light escaped from a small window, suggesting the place was already occupied.
The temple looked dilapidated but could barely shield from wind and rain. Occasionally, passers-by came here to rest.
Fang Zichen entered. A fire burned in the center of the temple, but the light was still somewhat dim. On the left side, a young man leaned against the wall, eyes closed, unsure if he was resting with his eyes closed or asleep.
Fang Zichen paid him no mind and went to sit on the other side.
His bundle contained the food he had packed.
Prepared by Zhao Ger before he left.
There were a few pancakes and some lean meat fried until golden brown. This stuff tasted similar to beef jerky, Fang Zichen quite liked it. He hadn't eaten at noon and was now so hungry his chest felt stuck to his back. He ate more than half in one go.
Without tissues or water, his hands were a bit greasy. He couldn't bring himself to use his clothes as a rag. After a moment's consideration, he glanced around and then, imitating Guaizai, simply licked his fingers clean.
After eating and drinking his fill, it was time to sleep. But now Fang Zichen felt something was wrong, as if someone was lurking in the shadows watching him, sending chills down his spine.
His eyes carefully scanned the dim interior of the dilapidated temple. He had closed the temple door behind him when he entered. Besides the person opposite, there wasn't even a ghost.
As he closed his eyes and prepared to lie down, the feeling grew stronger, even to the point of being impossible to ignore.
The temple was empty apart from some dry grass and firewood, there was nowhere to hide. Fang Zichen got up and looked around, then finally walked softly towards that person.
He crept closer, then slowly lowered himself into a crouch... and found himself staring directly into the other man's eyes. The stranger greeted him with a sinister smile.
Fang Zichen: "..."
The person he thought was asleep actually wasn't, but had been staring at him with open eyes all along. How terrifying!
In that moment, he couldn't say how others might have felt, but a distinct chill crawled down his own spine.
Here he was, a handsome scholar traveling to the examinations, alone in a crumbling temple nestled in desolate mountains and wild plains.
The more he thought about it, the more the pieces fell into a deeply unsettling pattern.
Wasn't this the exact setting for those classic tales?
Beautiful female ghosts, enchanting fox spirits, all wanting to suck a man's vitality.
Fang Zichen's heart pounded. Originally not afraid of ghosts, but thinking about it, he frightened himself first.
"You... are you human or a ghost?"
The other person chuckled, "You guess?"
Guess your ass.
Just as Fang Zichen was about to grab a weapon, the other suddenly grabbed his head and pressed it against his chest.
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