Chapter 118
Seeing Guaizai go to dig for earthworms, Zhao Ger thought for a moment, gave him a few instructions, left two steamed buns for him, and then went to the town to sell chili sauce. He returned at noon and, instead of going to gather firewood, went to the village chief's house and told Wang Damei that he wanted to buy some firewood from their family for the winter.
Chopping firerywood on the mountain was arduous labor for women and gers with little physical strength, but for the men, it was comparable to the exertion required for fieldwork. From the autumn harvest in the ninth month until the second month of the following year, the fields lay fallow with very little work to be done. Finding work in town was also difficult. Since the several young men in the family were idle, having this source of income was a welcome opportunity.
Wang Damei happily agreed.
____
Zhao Ger spent the entire afternoon making chili sauce.
During the cold winter months, the chili plants bore no fruit. He had to take advantage of the current season to produce a larger supply of chili sauce, preserving it for sale during the winter.
The He family's chilies weren't enough, so he went to buy from several other families. He was busy until evening, and only thinking that Fang Zichen would be back soon did he stop to cook dinner.
Fang Zichen was to set off for the prefectural city tomorrow. The prefectural exam consisted of three sessions, one per day. Originally, Zhao Ger wanted Fang Zichen to go a few days early, firstly to acclimatize to the environment. He had heard that some scholars fell ill from fatigue upon arriving in a new place, and since Fang Zichen was quite delicate, Zhao Ger couldn't help but worry. Secondly, with many scholars taking the exam, inns were likely to be crowded.
Fang Zichen didn't agree, saying there was no hurry, and procrastinated until today.
The prefectural city was not too far from Fu'an Town, a carriage could make the journey in a single day. Sickness from travel was often caused by an inability to adjust to a new climate, but Fu'an Town and the prefectural city were not located in vastly different regions. Zhao Ger, however, was simply being an alarmist, worrying over imaginary troubles.
"You must take care of your health in the prefectural city, and be careful on the road. I've already packed your clothes and all the necessary household registration documents for you. I made some dried meat, you can eat it on the way..." At the dinner table, Zhao Ger chattered on, while Fang Zichen kept nodding, "Mhm, mhm, mhm." "Alright, alright, I know. Don't worry."
Seeing his dismissive attitude, letting words go in one ear and out the other, Zhao Ger grew even more worried.
Two days for the round trip, three days for the exam, plus one day in advance—he would be gone for a full six days. Unlike the county exam, where they could see each other in the evenings, Zhao Ger truly couldn't bear it. The person hadn't even left yet, but his eyes were already stinging.
After dinner, they bathed and entered the room, but Guaizai wasn't inside. Zhao Ger went out to look and found him squatting in the corner of the backyard wall, crying softly.
Zhao Ger's heart sank with a thud, and he hurried over. "Guaizai..."
Guaizai looked up, his small face covered in tear stains. "Daddy~"
Zhao Ger scooped him into his arms, touched his little face, his heart aching painfully. "Why are you crying?"
Guaizai had been outside all day. When Zhao Ger returned at noon and cooked lunch, he came back to eat, still laughing and saying he had dug up many worms today with the help of his little friends, and had also pulled a lot of grass for the sheep. Zhao Ger had praised him a couple of times, and he had been delighted. After eating, he ran out to play again. When he came back in the evening, he had seemed cheerful and fine!
Zhao Ger tentatively asked, "Were you bullied by the other children?"
"No~" Guaizai shook his head and replied in a low voice.
"Then what's wrong?" Zhao Ger looked at him at eye level, his heart aching terribly. "Can you tell Daddy?"
Guaizai sniffled, pinched the hem of his clothes with both hands, and tears were about to fall again. "Father... father is leaving. Guaizai doesn't want father to go."
Zhao Ger pursed his lips, slightly surprised.
At the dinner table, he had been talking to Fang Zichen without deliberately avoiding Guaizai. Thinking about the last time Fang Zichen was away, how Guaizai had cried for his father, Zhao Ger had specifically glanced at him then. Seeing no reaction, he had thought Guaizai didn't understand. He hadn't expected...
"Be good, don't cry. Father will be back in a few days."
"Father is going for so long." Guaizai held up his hand, his six short little fingers splayed. "Guaizai won't see father for this many, this many days. Guaizai is unhappy. Guaizai doesn't want father to go. If father goes, he can't hold Guaizai to sleep at night, and then father won't be able to sleep. If he can't sleep, he will die..."
Zhao Ger's eyes also reddened. Fang Zichen, hearing the noise, came looking and found the father and son holding each other and crying. After eavesdropping for a moment, he found it utterly ridiculous.
He was going to take an exam, not to his death!
What was this all about?
Crying like this, if anyone saw them, they might think I had died!
Ah... it must be because I'm just too outstanding and my character is too sterling that my fulang and son are so heartbroken to see me go.
The more he thought about it, the more his head swelled. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and the words he spoke seemed laced with a layer of helplessness and genuine, tangible delight.
"Stop crying."
His sudden voice startled Zhao Ger and Guaizai.
Zhao Ger wiped his face, his gaze slightly evasive, somewhat embarrassed. "Why are you here?"
"If I didn't come, how would I know you were crying behind my back!" Fang Zichen laughed heartlessly, his expression somewhat smug. "Ai, having too much charm is sometimes quite troublesome."
Zhao Ger: "..."
Fang Zichen picked up Guaizai, gave him a fierce kiss, and then coaxed him, "Don't cry. How about father brings you back a little puppy?"
Guaizai clung tightly to his neck, resting on his chest, his voice soft. "Guaizai doesn't want a puppy. Guaizai only wants father."
These words were so heartwarming that Fang Zichen immediately wanted to pack his son up and take him to the exam hall. But that was clearly unrealistic.
The exam hall was a sacred and solemn place, how could it tolerate such willful behavior?
Only when one's status and power reached a formidable level could one make all rules yield. Right now, he was unknown and insignificant—if mentioned, who would know which fool he was?
Fang Zichen had to use all his charm and wits to soothe his son. After finally lulling the boy to sleep, his work was not yet done—one was settled, but another still needed his attention.
The next day, before dawn, Zhao Ger and Fang Zichen got up.
The carriage to the prefectural city departed early. Moreover, fearing that Guaizai would wake up and make a scene again, and seeing him cry would make Fang Zichen unable to leave, they had to set off early.
When they stepped out of the courtyard, they found a circle of people standing outside.
Somehow, they had gotten the news that he was leaving today and had come early to see him off.
"Fang boy, setting off now?"
Fang Zichen was a bit stunned by the large gathering. "...Yes."
"These are two red eggs I boiled, take them to eat on the road."
Not one to refuse free things, Fang Zichen unceremoniously took them and stuffed them in his pocket. "Thank you, Aunty."
Some villagers urged him to be careful on the road, while others, noticing his large bundle, asked if he had remembered to pack everything. They reminded him that the mornings and evenings were cool and told him to bring more clothes, advising him not to forget.
They were so enthusiastic that Fang Zichen was nearly overwhelmed. No one said anything like "you must test well," afraid of adding pressure to him.
The villagers were largely illiterate and had little worldly experience, but that did not mean they understood nothing.
The county exam, the prefectural exam, the academy exam, the provincial exam... with each higher level, the difficulty increased. Passing the county exam did not guarantee passing the prefectural exam. Fang Zichen ranking first in the county exam did not mean he would definitely pass the prefectural one; it only meant his chances were higher than others.
If Fang Zichen could pass, it would be an honor for their Xiaohe Village, giving them face when they went out. Regardless of whether they were relatives or had any connection, everyone sincerely hoped he would pass.
Though they were considerate and didn't say anything that might affect him, Fang Zichen still felt immense pressure.
So many people had come specifically to see him off. If he didn't pass... it would be truly embarrassing.
The two eggs in his pocket suddenly felt rather hot.
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