Chapter 167

No one knew how Wang Min’er had persuaded Tang Xiuping after returning, but before the Tang family could take a hardline approach to force her to go to Dongshan, Wang Min’er herself suggested leaving for Dongshan after September. The Tang family agreed to this.

This news was conveyed by Wang Min’er’s maternal aunt, Madam Zhou, which brought a sigh of relief to Wang Yuan’er. She understood priorities and reasoning much better than hearing others repeat logic to her a hundred times.

Life went smoothly. Since the grand opening of the large tofu fermentation workshop, Wang Yuan’er has been running back and forth between the workshop and home almost daily. Her days were busy yet fulfilling. The family’s smaller business, on the other hand, was mostly handed over to Wang Qing’er and Wang Chun’er to manage, along with household chores. The sisters worked together harmoniously, making their lives increasingly orderly and promising.

The grand workshop’s opening showcased Song San’s clever business strategies. Orders from various places poured in one after another, quickly establishing the brand of Jinwang’s (*) fermented tofu and seizing the initial market advantage. This made Wang Yuan’er exceedingly happy. Good business meant substantial dividends, further expanding her capital for investing in merchant ships.

(*) Previously, the author mentioned it was Jinhe, but now it was Jinwang, so I’ll just follow the raw.

As September drew close and the weather grew colder, Changle Town suddenly became lively because the military imperial examination was about to begin.

Throughout history, the military imperial examination was held to select military talents. Those who registered to participate included individuals from impoverished families, wandering knights from the wilderness, and members of wealthy and noble families. The idea was to master martial arts and serve the imperial family. As for who could pass through numerous trials and emerge as the top martial arts champion, it all depended on their abilities.

Whether to gain fame, truly serve the country, or bring glory to their ancestors, many people participated in this examination. As a central hub for travel to the capital, Changle Town naturally became lively. It wasn’t uncommon to see people walking around town carrying swords.

With the influx of people, the town naturally became bustling. Various taverns, tea houses, inns, boatyards, and flower shops employed various strategies to attract customers. Some shopkeepers even offered free services to those with registration slips for the examination, hoping to build goodwill and connections for the future.

“In the past, scholars traveling to the capital for exams often had benefactors who provided financial assistance, hoping to earn their gratitude. Now, in our Changle Town, this den of wealth, don’t we also have such benefactors?” said Madam Lu, the shopkeeper’s wife, whispering to Wang Yuan’er with a mischievous smile.

She didn’t seem to consider that Wang Yuan’er was still an unmarried young lady!

Wang Yuan’er couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. How had gossip ended up at her doorstep? It was entirely inappropriate.

Still, she understood what Madam Lu, the shopkeeper’s wife, was talking about. Throughout history, there have always been people who wanted to emulate Lü Buwei’s strategy of “investing in rare goods.” Even the courtesans in brothels were known to sponsor impoverished scholars traveling to the capital for exams.

She had even heard a little anecdote: a courtesan would give silver to every scholar she met, explaining that by casting a wide net, even if one or two—or even a hundred—failed, as long as one succeeded, she might become the wife of a top scholar and escape her bitter life.

Of course, such stories were passed around as gossip. Even if someone did succeed, how many would actually fulfill their promises? And besides, these weren’t respectable families to begin with!

“I can’t believe you’re gossiping about this with an unmarried young lady. Aren’t you ashamed?” Shugen’s wife, carrying her child, arrived at Wang Yuan’er’s shop and spat at Madam Lu.

Madam Lu looked a bit embarrassed. “We’re just simple country folk. Why make such a fuss?” Clearly feeling awkward, she quickly found an excuse to leave.

Shugen’s wife clicked her tongue and said, “That woman just can’t keep her mouth shut. You’d better not chat with her too much. If you’re not careful, she’ll twist your words and spread them around.”

Wang Yuan’er smiled and said, “I don’t have much to talk about with her. But, Sister Shugen, what brings you here?”

“Give me some dried bean curd with chili. The weather’s a bit dull, and I want something spicy to liven it up,” Shugen’s wife said, pointing to the dried bean curd on Wang Yuan’er’s stall.

Wang Yuan’er quickly obliged, measuring the bean curd while listening to her speak.

“With the military imperial examination starting, our town has become lively. Lots of people coming and going—it’s even caught the eyes of some young girls,” Shugen’s wife remarked thoughtfully. “Anyone with some martial arts skill is big and burly, and some are even good-looking. It’s got some people thinking—just the other day, I saw the daughter of the Jia family from the west of town pulling and tugging on a man with a sword near the woods.”

Wang Yuan’er was stunned. “Really? That happened?”

“How could it not?” Shugen’s wife huffed, lowering her voice. “You shouldn’t be offended by me, but we women must protect our reputations. Don’t listen to Madam Lu’s nonsense about ‘investing in rare goods.’ If you’re not careful, you’ll fall for it. How many men, especially those with some skill, are truly good? Once they’ve tasted the sweetness, they won’t even remember who you are.”

Her words were a roundabout way of warning Wang Yuan’er not to be deceived.

“That man is heading to the imperial examination. His background is unknown, and his destination is uncertain. Whether he succeeds or not, if someone is deceived, there’s no way to track him down,” Shugen’s wife sighed.

Wang Yuan’er nodded in agreement. “That’s true. Thank you for the reminder, Sister Shugen. I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”

“Oh, look at me. You’ve always been sensible and decisive—you’re certainly not someone who would act foolishly. Otherwise, how could you manage a big business?” Shugen’s wife said, slapping her forehead. Feeling a sudden warmth on her back, her child began crying. “Oh dear, the little one wet herself again. I need to go home and change her diaper.”

Wang Yuan’er quickly handed over the measured dried bean curd and added two braised eggs. “Take these back for the kids to enjoy.”

Shugen’s wife tried to refuse but eventually accepted after a few attempts. She paid and left, thanking Wang Yuan’er profusely.

Wang Yuan’er pursed her lips and later shared some indirect advice with her sisters, prompting Wang Qing’er to complain loudly that she was becoming increasingly long-winded.

As the days of the military imperial examination arrived, the bustling atmosphere in Changle Town gradually quieted down. About half a month later, news spread of the incident Sister Shugen had mentioned—the daughter of the Jia family had been impregnated by a man participating in the examination. When the Jia family tried to find him, he was nowhere to be found. The tragic result was that the Jia family’s daughter drowned herself in the river that very day, taking two lives with her. But that’s a story for another time.

The military imperial examination’s grandeur wasn’t something Wang Yuan’er and her group in Changle Town could witness directly. However, announcements about who passed several rounds and advanced in the ranking were posted publicly in towns and counties.

After September passed, on October 3rd, the first martial arts champion was chosen under the new emperor’s reign. Bai Ziqing, a young man from the renowned Bai family of military generals in the capital, was appointed as an imperial guardsman who carried swords before the emperor. The second-place winner was a wandering knight, Zhao Sheng, a disciple of Wudang Sect in the martial arts world, who declined all official positions. The third-place winner, known as the “tan hua,” or third highest scorer, was an unknown figure named Zhuo Fan from the wilderness.

It is said that Zhuo Fan, a young man in his early twenties, was born in a poor village in Lingnan Province. Growing up in poverty, he inherited a love for martial arts from his father’s influence and learned many techniques. Later, he studied diligently under a martial arts master and honed his skills. Over time, his martial prowess improved remarkably. Whether using a decorated spear, knife, or sword, Zhuo Fan excelled, especially in his mastery of blade techniques.

Despite his humble origins, Zhuo Fan wielded a hundred-pound broadsword as if it were a kitchen knife. What amazed people most was his youthful appearance—handsome, slender, and delicate like a scholarly young man—yet he was a prodigy with the broadsword. Thus, he earned the title of “tan hua.”

“People say that during the palace examination, Zhuo Fan’s movements with the hundred-pound broadsword looked like a dance—graceful, mesmerizing, with the sound of the blade and the shine of its cold gleam. At one moment, it resembled a dragon diving underwater, man and blade as one, rolling like crashing waves. At another, it seemed like a roc spreading its wings, soaring into the sky, as if it would pierce the heavens. Even the emperor applauded in approval, bestowing him the title of ‘tan hua’ and granting him an official position.”

“That’s not even the big deal. I heard that during the martial champion’s celebratory parade, the young ladies threw countless embroidered pouches and flower garlands at Zhuo Fan. Many noble families even saw him as an ideal son-in-law, but he declined them all, saying he wanted to establish his career before starting a family.”

“And that’s why, whether it’s a literary or martial imperial examination, passing it means a chance to rise to prominence and wealth.”

In the tea house, many people were discussing the results of the military examination. Surprisingly, the topic of interest wasn’t the martial champion but the unknown “tan hua.”

The martial champion, coming from a family of military generals, was unquestionably deserving of his title. What was truly remarkable, however, was the “tan hua” who came from a poor background and even refused marriage proposals from noble families.

Wang Yuan’er had also heard about this hot topic. However, because in her previous life, the examinations held were civil ones (not martial), she had no idea who Zhuo Fan was. Still, whatever his background, it had nothing to do with her. She didn’t know him, so she was content to simply enjoy the buzz.

Meanwhile, with the martial examination concluded, Wang Min’er was finally preparing to leave Changle Town and move to the Dongshan estate.

With the Tang family’s permission, Wang Min’er returned to the Wang household once more to bid farewell to her family. Madam Zhang held her hand, tears and snot streaming down her face, filled with reluctance to let her go.

“Alright, Mother, it’s just a few months’ stay, isn’t it? Once I’ve given birth to the little young master, the Third Master Tang will take me back, and we’ll see each other again,” Wang Min’er said, also feeling reluctant but knowing she had no choice. She had already noticed the subtle change in the way the Old Madam Tang and the Third Madam Tang looked at her.

Wang Yuan’er sighed when she heard this. Wang Min’er was too optimistic—who knew if she would ever return?

However, if she didn’t come back and chose instead to live quietly at the estate, taking care of her child without vying or competing, at least her life would be spared. In that sense, it wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

But would Wang Min’er be content with that? She would rather die than live a simple and uneventful life at the estate, away from Tang Xiuping. She was only fifteen or sixteen—how could she settle for such a life? Even if she was willing, would Miss Rong, who was set to marry into the Tang family, tolerate Wang Min’er, a mere maid who had given birth to a child and stolen Tang Xiuping’s attention before her?

Wang Yuan’er pressed her lips together as she met Wang Min’er’s gaze. In the end, all she could offer was a blessing.