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During this period, there were quite a few students coming in for studies.
In addition, with students preparing for the prefectural examination in April, Meng Ziting and Zhang Wenbin were kept incredibly busy.
Song Jingyun was also occupied.
Busy studying and socializing.
Having topped the county exam, villagers frequently came by to offer their congratulations.
Initially, Jiang Mixia intended to handle all these matters on behalf of Song Jingyun, but considering his path towards the imperial examinations, social interactions would be inevitable in the future.
Early exposure to these matters would be beneficial.
Furthermore, Song Jingyun seemed to adapt very well in this world, handling many things independently.
He appeared to have a knack for dealing with these situations, greeting visitors with a smile and sending them off with even more smiles.
Due to the influx of visitors, the household received various gifts.
Vegetables, meats, eggs, fresh fish…
With an abundance of food at home, Jiang Mixia and Liu Shi organized a cooking team to prepare meals and provide some extra income for the workers at the workshop and kiln.
Every day, large pots simmered with a variety of dishes, filling the air with a lingering aroma.
The scent even made Jiang Chunbao’s eyes water.
When he passed the county exam, there was no one visiting their home with gifts.
Moreover, passing the county exam was seen as a basic achievement, dealing with straightforward questions. It wasn’t considered a remarkable feat; the real skill lay in achieving higher titles like Tongsheng or Xiucai.
Determined to excel, Jiang Chunbao resolved to study diligently, aiming to shine in the upcoming prefectural exam and prove himself as a dedicated scholar, earning respect from everyone.
—
As days passed by, they swiftly reached mid-March.
With the spring blossoms, lush greenery, and birds chirping, the surroundings flourished with vitality.
The prefectural exam was scheduled for April 12th.
Similar to the county exam, registration procedures needed prior preparation requiring a visit to the prefectural city for registration.
Considering the opportunity to explore the city, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun decided to head to the prefectural city in advance and stay there for a while.
Jiang Mixia began packing the items they would need for their stay in the prefectural city.
“These are some of your favorite snacks; we should bring them along.”
“These teacups are ones you use regularly; should we take them too?”
“Yes, this quilt is newly made, neither too thick nor too thin, perfect for spring. I’ll bundle it up for you.”
“I made some noodles as you mentioned last time, added eggs and alkaline water to make them chewy. Let’s bring some of those as well…”
Looking at the several large baskets packed and realizing that even a carriage wouldn’t fit everything, Jiang Mixia felt the weight of a parent’s love for the first time.
“Mother, we don’t need so much stuff,” Jiang Mixia watched as Liu Shi continued packing, quickly intervening. “Song Jingyun and I will be away for at most a couple of months. We won’t be renting a courtyard; just staying at an inn where everything we need will be provided. We only need to bring a couple of changes of clothes.”
“If there’s anything essential, we can buy it directly in the prefectural city.”
With a well-lined purse, Jiang Mixia felt confident and unafraid, no matter where they went.
“Indeed, no need to bring so much. It’s not like they we’re going away for a long time,” Jiang Youcheng chimed in. “Taking so many things might give others the wrong impression. Song Jingyun is going for an exam, and he’ll likely meet many classmates and scholars from other academies.”
Maintaining a certain level of decorum was necessary to avoid being looked down upon as coming from a backward village.
After Jiang Mixia and Jiang Youcheng’s persuasion, Liu Shi, worried about Song Jingyun’s reputation, reluctantly unpacked most of the items, but insisted they take some of the noodles along.
“The water and noodles made at home, have a little now and then when you’re in a distant place, to avoid any digestive issues,” Liu Shi advised.
Different places have different environments, and it’s common to experience some adjustment issues. Bringing along some familiar items from home wouldn’t hurt.
Even with just two large bags of noodles, it wasn’t much weight, but it was a gesture from Liu Shi that Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun graciously accepted.
With heartfelt gazes from Liu Shi, Jiang Youcheng, Jiang Zhengxin, and many others in the village bidding them farewell, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun boarded the carriage and set off towards Taisong Prefecture.
Under the bright sunshine and the endless spring scenery, they could see lush farmlands, robust trees, verdant grasslands, butterflies fluttering, and birds singing melodiously along the road through the carriage windows.
Having only traveled to the county town, tea gardens, and rural estates, this journey to the prefectural city was a first for Jiang Mixia.
The thought of experiencing a more bustling city in this era filled Jiang Mixia with a sense of relaxation and joy.
Song Jingyun shared the same sentiments, displaying even more excitement than Jiang Mixia.
“Wife, look, there’s a river over there, quite wide.”
“Wife, there are apricot trees by the roadside.”
“Wife, look at all those sheep over there…”
From the moment they hit the main road, Song Jingyun’s chatter never ceased, like a chirping sparrow.
Since the household had become busy and Song Jingyun had resumed his studies, his free time had become scarce, making these moments of leisure even more precious.
It could be said that Jiang Mixia hadn’t seen Song Jingyun so cheerful in a long time.
Seeing her husband happy brought a sense of contentment to Jiang Mixia, who readily joined in his excitement.
The coachman, a young man in his twenties, couldn’t help but scratch his head at Song Jingyun’s enthusiasm.
When they had just departed from the village, he had overheard that Song Jingyun was heading to the prefectural city for an exam.
Knowing he was going for an exam meant he was a scholar.
However, the coachman had never encountered a scholar who displayed such exuberance. Typically, scholars he’d seen were reserved and serious, unlike Song Jingyun, who was excited like a child, displaying a side rarely seen in ordinary scholars.
Quite extraordinary indeed, the coachman thought to himself.
Having driven carriages for many years, Zhou Erhe understood that the key to this profession was to speak sparingly and keep a tight lip. Thus, he kept all his questions to himself, refraining from uttering a word.
The journey from Jiang’s village to Taisong Prefecture would take two days, with an overnight stay for lodging in Liyang County (fictional).
Li Yang County was similar in size to Fengyang County where Jiang’s village was located, and the county town was bustling, much like Fengyang County.
Zhou Erhe frequently drove carriages and had passed through Liyang County before. He helped Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun find an old-established inn in the county town called Yue Lai Inn.
Yue Lai Inn was spacious, with two deluxe guest rooms available at the moment.
After a busy time, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun, accompanied by Zhou Erhe, settled in and ordered some food at the inn.
Once they had eaten and rested, Zhou Erhe attended to the horses while Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun prepared to take a stroll outside.