Ch 50: Reborn to Raise My Husband

After Qi Beinan passed two rounds of exams in a row, although the Xiao family didn’t host a banquet, several close families still sent gifts.

The Fang family sent two wind-cured soy-sauce ducks, a basket of thirty salted duck eggs, and two bolts of fine cloth.

The Zhao family brought a complete and valuable set of scholar’s stationery—ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone—along with various snacks and fruits.

Jiang Fulang sent a basket of sweet purple grapes and two jin of plump, bright red smoked shrimp, still fatty and appealing even after drying.

In addition, a few of the village elders and some villagers who’d heard the news came by with simple gifts.

The Ping Manor side didn’t send anything. Word had it that Steward Zhu was away, and even if they’d heard Qi Beinan made the list, the best one could hope for was that Qin Niazi wouldn’t curse them behind their backs—sending gifts was out of the question.

The Xiao family was quietly relieved they hadn’t hosted a banquet. Even without one, there was still a steady stream of gentry and elders dropping by to speak with Qi Beinan.

These men were of high seniority and social standing, and when they came by, Qi Beinan had no choice but to sit and chat with them.

Xiao Yuanbao kept busy brewing tea and preparing snacks for the guests.

These old men would sit comfortably in the Xiao home, drinking tea and eating pastries, heads nodding as they talked. Some stayed for one to two hours before leaving.

Two came today, a pair tomorrow—it was quite a disruption.

Even without a banquet, there was still a constant flow of visitors. If they had set up two banquet tables, who knew how chaotic it would’ve gotten?

It took about half a month before the wave of guests finally settled.

But now that it was early May, the sun blazed down, day after day, making people sweat from head to toe.

The crops in the fields were drying up from lack of water and fertilizer, drooping and wilted—leaving everyone anxious.

At Ping Manor, Qin Niazi, usually used to comfort, failed to take precautions and caught a summer heat illness. She lay on a cooling mat all day wearing nothing but a red bellyband, groaning and complaining.

“This heat is just too much! My body’s already so full—how can I survive this summer~”

Chao Ge’er brought over a bowl of herbal medicine and placed it in front of her. “Mother, if you’re not feeling well, stop having the kitchen send over so many meat dishes and snacks. All that greasy food just sits heavy in your stomach—how can that be good?”

Last year, Qin Niazi gave birth to a plump baby boy for Steward Zhu, delighting him endlessly and earning herself even more favor.

During her pregnancy, she was fed a stream of fine delicacies. Even now, after delivering, she remained just as round.

Her face was nearly as broad as a platter.

“Your mother’s got a good appetite. A day without some meat or something savory, and I feel all restless—not to mention my limbs go weak.”

She took the medicine from Chao Ge’er, then immediately urged him to fetch some candied fruit from the box on the table and feed it to her.

Chao Ge’er watched as his mother grew fatter by the day, slouched across the couch like a big lump of flesh.

He tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t listen. Never mind how ungraceful it looked—what truly concerned him was how unhealthy it was.

Qin Niazi was always complaining about dizziness or feeling overheated.

How could this continue?

And ever since he gained a baby brother, he’d begun to feel what it was like to be left out.

Back when his mother hated women who favored sons over other children, she had always treated him well. But that was when she didn’t have a son of her own. Now that she did, she was no different from those others.

Chao Ge’er glanced at his mother and said, “Mother, did you hear? The Xiao household’s been quite lively lately.”

“What’s there to be lively about? That hunter died in the mountains—what, are they throwing a funeral feast?”

When her son had his one-month banquet, Qin Niazi had looked over the gift registry and noted that the Xiao family had sent something too.

It was just a roll of silk. Among all the fancy, expensive gifts, it was merely enough not to lose face. She hadn’t paid it much attention—it was Steward Zhu who had the gift stored in the accounting room.

Chao Ge’er said, “He doesn’t go into the mountains anymore. Didn’t he hurt his leg last year? Uncle Zhu even sent a gift to check on him.”

“Later, I heard he bought ten mu of land near the jujube slope and now tends fields in the village.”

Qin Niazi gave a vague hum. She’d tried several times to cross the Xiao family, but each time she ended up outplayed by Qi Beinan. Yet her husband insisted on maintaining relations with them.

Even her pouting and playing cute didn’t work, so she’d stopped keeping track of the Xiao family altogether.

“Mother, you spend all day in the manor—you don’t know anything that goes on outside.”

Chao Ge’er said, “This year, Qi Beinan sat for the exams and already passed the tongsheng level. He’ll be going to the prefecture for the academy exam soon!”

“What?”

Qin Niazi shot up from the bed. “That brat’s that lucky—he passed on his first try?”

“That’s right.”

Chao Ge’er said, “I’m close with Foreman Liu’s daughter. She overheard her father say that Qi Beinan placed first on both lists! If he passes the academy exam in the prefecture, he’ll be a xiucai.”

“A fifteen or sixteen-year-old xiucai—there aren’t even two like that in the whole county.”

He muttered, “Even Foreman Liu is just an old tongsheng, and everyone in the village treats him with such respect. Just goes to show how valuable education is.”

Qin Niazi caught the hint of complaint in his voice and said, “Even if we’d let Qi Beinan stay with the Xiao family, that kid’s too deep and shrewd. Even if he became a xiucai, what good would it do us? Would he treat us like your Uncle Zhu does—feeding you the best and giving you whatever you want?”

“And besides, who says he’ll definitely pass the academy exam? Didn’t Zhao Guangzong from the village chief’s family pass the tongsheng level on his first try too? Yet he still failed the academy exam.”

“My son, your Uncle Zhu has everything planned for you. In another two years, when you’re thirteen or fourteen, you’ll be sent to the main household in Jinling to work. Why bother watching the Xiao family? Even if he passes, he’ll still be stuck in some small place like Ling County.”

Chao Ge’er was getting older now, and with all his interactions with Foreman Liu’s daughter, his outlook had broadened. He no longer fully believed everything his mother said.

Watching his mother once again bring up going to the main household in Jinling, Chao Ge’er didn’t feel happy.

Right now, his mother and Uncle Zhu had eyes only for that chubby baby boy. Who knew when it would actually be his turn to go to Jinling?

Chao Ge’er didn’t respond to Qin Niazi’s chatter. He picked up two of her soiled garments and turned to leave the room.

“Tch, this ger,” Qin Niazi muttered angrily. “The older he gets, the more disobedient he becomes.”

But hearing that the Xiao family was doing so well now only made her more irritated—it made her feel like she’d really lacked foresight in the past.

Why hadn’t that bear mauling finished off Xiao Hu? And now their family was thriving again.

…

At the beginning of June, Qi Beinan was set to head to Linzhou Prefecture to prepare for the academy exam.

The journey—alternating between ox carts and donkey carts—would take three to five days. For examinees like them, who didn’t have anyone to rely on at the destination, they’d need time to find lodging and get used to the new environment in advance.

It was safer to go early.

Qi Beinan himself didn’t need any special adjusting. Back in the previous life, he had served five years in office in Linzhou alongside Xiao Yuanbao.

After Xiao Yuanbao passed away, he had returned to Linzhou many times. In old age, he’d even spent his final years in their house there.

So of course, he knew the place well.

But this trip he was going with Zhao Guangzong, who was eager to settle in early.

Qi Beinan couldn’t act too differently from other examinees either, so ten days before the exam, he departed for Linzhou.

“Is there anything you want me to bring back from the prefectural city?”

Qi Beinan was packing when he saw Xiao Yuanbao lying lazily on the table, eyes looking up at him all wilted.

He walked over and placed the back of his hand on Xiao Yuanbao’s forehead.

“I’m not sick.”

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t push his hand away, just stayed slumped over the table.

“Then why so listless?”

“It’s hot outside. Your room is shaded—I came in to cool off. Who looks lively during a midday nap anyway?”

Qi Beinan could tell the little ger was being stubborn because he didn’t want him to leave for so long.

“If you’re going to nap, go lie on the bed. You’ll drool all over the table.”

Xiao Yuanbao pouted, “When you’re gone to Linzhou, I’m sleeping on your bed, drooling all over it.”

Qi Beinan chuckled and sat beside him. “Go ahead then.”

Xiao Yuanbao pursed his lips and said nothing.

Qi Beinan patted his back. “Half a month will pass quickly. Isn’t there a banquet in between? If you keep busy, the days go faster.”

“While I’m gone, don’t slack off with your writing—ten essays in two weeks. I’ll check them when I get back.”

“I know already.”

Xiao Yuanbao said, “You’ve mentioned the homework three times now.”

When it was time to leave, both Xiao Hu and Xiao Yuanbao went to the county to see Qi Beinan off.

The Zhao couple also came to see Zhao Guangzong off.

The two families spent eight diaos of copper to rent a shared donkey cart and hired a reliable driver to take the boys to Linzhou.

While ox carts were cheaper, summer heat was brutal this year, and the bumpy ride could cause heatstroke—getting sick before the exam wouldn’t be worth the savings.

It was better to arrive early and settle in sooner.

“Head back. It’s hot out. Uncle Xiao’s still working the fields—he needs to take care of himself.”

Qi Beinan turned to Xiao Yuanbao. “Take good care of yourself while I’m gone. Don’t let anyone bully you.”

“Who would bully me?”

Xiao Yuanbao smiled.

Qi Beinan ruffled his hair, then climbed onto the donkey cart.

The cart wasn’t very big, and with both young men plus their luggage, it felt a bit cramped.

But the sturdy donkey moved swiftly along the official road. With the bamboo curtain rolled high, they caught a good breeze, and it wasn’t too stuffy.

Xiao Yuanbao and Jiang Fulang had prepared lots of food for the two of them—three or four kinds of flatbreads: vegetarian, preserved mustard greens, cured meat, and fresh pork with scallions, about six or seven of each.

There were also jars of pickled vegetables, sauces, and kimchi, plus the dried shrimp and soy-sauce duck they’d received as gifts.

If not for the hot weather, they could’ve packed even more.

They were worried the boys would suffer from lack of food on the road.

Even the driver got to enjoy the bounty—he received four dried shrimp and a soy-sauce duck leg.

Driving the cart was dull work, and chewing on the shrimp and duck meat made for a savory, satisfying snack.

“Only thing missing is some wine. If I had a bit of liquor to go with this duck and shrimp, that’d be perfect.”

The driver grinned as he said to the boys, “This is some real good drinking fare.”

Zhao Guangzong laughed and said it was all made by two cooks—how could it not taste amazing?

He handed the driver a flatbread stuffed with pickled vegetables. “Tastes great and fills you up too.”

Thanks to their generosity, the driver made good time—they reached Linzhou City in under three days.

The two of them were in luck. No sooner had they settled into an inn than a sudden downpour hit.

Zhao Guangzong rushed to shut the windows as rain and wind blew in. He wiped the rain-sweat from his brow and said to Qi Beinan:

“I’m not reading tonight. I’m going to get a full night’s sleep and start fresh tomorrow. Sitting on a donkey cart all day without even walking still wears you out.”

“Keeping your legs folded all day isn’t much better than walking. I’ll call for some hot water—wash up, soak your feet, then rest well.”

“Mm.”

Zhao Guangzong responded, then added, “Only after arriving in Linzhou did I realize how good things are back in Ling County. Inns here charge nearly double the price. Thankfully, we can add an extra bed and share a room.”

“Otherwise, if someone had to take the exams multiple times, how many families could even afford it?”

Qi Beinan also found it reasonable. At the inns in Ling County, attendants would bring hot water directly.

Here, though, if you wanted hot water, you had to pay silver. If you didn’t tip the attendant three to five copper coins, they’d ignore you. You might wait the whole night and still get nothing.

Just earlier, they had seen a fellow examinee arguing with an inn worker over this.

“That’s the prefectural city for you. Even if everything costs more, the wages are higher here too, aren’t they?”

Qi Beinan said, “Take good care of yourself, get your name on the list, and come back with the xiucai title. Once you’re earning a stipend from the state, you won’t have to reach into your parents’ pockets anymore. Life will be easier.”

Zhao Guangzong nodded. “The way you say it makes me feel like there’s a lot to look forward to.”

He looked at Qi Beinan arranging his belongings and said, “Beinan, we’re the same age, but I often feel like you’re more like my teacher—or a senior. With you around, this trip to take the exam in Linzhou feels much more reassuring.”

Qi Beinan smiled. “You’re more relaxed this time because you’ve been here before. Linzhou isn’t so unfamiliar anymore.”

“That’s true, but this is your first time in Linzhou too, and you’re not the least bit uneasy. You know to ask the inn to bring hot water, to arrange for the carter to send word home—it’s like you’re some young master from a noble family who’s seen the world. Totally unlike me the first time I came—everything looked big and crowded. I couldn’t figure anything out.”

“Don’t laugh at me, but I was sweating in my palms just trying to pick an inn. Back home, when my father said he’d come with me, I told him no one else’s parents escorted them to the exam. But when I got to Linzhou, I regretted not letting him come.”

Qi Beinan replied, “You were still young back then. For those of us from small places, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed the first time we see the prosperity of the prefectural city.”

Just then, a loud crack of thunder sounded outside.

He paused slightly—wondering if it was raining back home too, though it was a hundred li away.

On the morning of June 21st, Qi Beinan and Zhao Guangzong rose early and lined up to enter the examination hall. The academy exam, which conferred the xiucai title, was far more rigorous than the previous two exams.

This time, examinees had to stay in the exam compound overnight and would only be released after completing all three rounds.

Checks were extremely strict. Clothes were thoroughly inspected, and absolutely no written material was allowed.

Last time, Qi Beinan had been allowed to bring in his sachet after inspection. This time, they didn’t even check it—it was simply left outside.

Only after a long ordeal did the two finally make it into the exam grounds.

As they parted for their separate testing rooms, they exchanged a look of mutual encouragement.

Qi Beinan hadn’t offered Zhao Guangzong much guidance this time.

To people of the gentry class, being a tongsheng didn’t mean much.

Children of official families were essentially born with tongsheng status. With just a bit of money, they could even start their exams from the academy level.

That was why Qi Beinan had helped Zhao Guangzong through the earlier exams so he could enter the county school smoothly.

But the academy exam was different. It was a true test for gaining a formal scholarly title. In the end, Zhao Guangzong would have to figure it out on his own. If he tried to cut corners, his path ahead wouldn’t be a lasting one.

…

“Noon sun blazing, and you’re out and about—where are you off to, Bao Ge’er?”

It was midday, the sun scorching like fire. People were nearly melting under it, drenched in sweat.

Madam Qiao was returning from matchmaking errands. She hadn’t seen anyone out in the fields—yet on the village path she caught sight of a familiar figure. She hurried over—it was Xiao Yuanbao from the Xiao family.

Xiao Yuanbao wore a straw hat to shield the sun. He wiped sweat from his brow and saw Madam Qiao also dripping with sweat, her lips even chapped.

He pulled a water pouch from his basket and handed it over. “It’s jasmine tea, Madam Qiao—have a sip to moisten your throat.”

Madam Qiao accepted it without hesitation and took a long swig. The tea inside had already turned warm from the heat in the air.

Still, the sip brought clarity to her sun-dazed mind.

“This tea tastes just like what they serve at Pu Temple to pilgrims.”

“You’ve got a sharp tongue, Madam Qiao,” said Xiao Yuanbao. “My brother and Brother Zhao from the village chief’s family went to the prefectural city for the exam. Today’s the big day, so I went to the temple to light a stick of incense for them.”

“In this heat? Walking that far just to pray for your brother—how admirable. Both your brother and Zhao Guangzong are hardworking and talented. I’m sure they’ll come back with great results.”

“I’ll borrow your lucky words, then.”

“When the Zhao family boy becomes a xiucai, I’ll have to start looking for a good match for him.”

Madam Qiao mused aloud, “Wouldn’t that make a fine marriage.”

Xiao Yuanbao laughed. “Madam Qiao, you’re being biased. Why are you only looking for a match for Brother Zhao?”

Madam Qiao turned to look at him and said teasingly, “Oh? Are you upset I’m not matchmaking for your brother too?”

Xiao Yuanbao didn’t reply. What was good, he always thought of his brother first.

Naturally, that applied to marriage proposals as well.

Madam Qiao looked at Xiao Yuanbao’s expression and figured he really didn’t know anything.

Qi Beinan had always treated her politely—he wasn’t the type of person to cause trouble—so if his family hadn’t told the ger anything, she wasn’t about to make herself disliked by spilling it.

She simply teased, “Young Master Qi studies well, is thoughtful, and even better-looking than Third Zhao. A person like that is rare. You like handsome ones, don’t you? Since this madam is fond of you, of course I’d save the best for you. Why let someone else snatch him up?”

Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes went wide at that. His cheeks, already flushed from the sun, now looked completely boiled.

Although he had thought vaguely and naively about marriage before—dreaming of finding a pretty young man—he had never once thought of Qi Beinan in that way, no matter how good-looking he was.

Now with Madam Qiao saying such things, it thoroughly embarrassed him, stirring up a feeling in his chest that he couldn’t quite name.

He immediately said, “Madam Qiao, how old do you think I am? And here you are teasing me like this. Next time you pass by my house, don’t expect to be invited in for tea or pastries!”

With that, he turned and ran off, leaving her behind.

“I’m only saying it for your own good, and look—now you’re all upset.”

Madam Qiao said this, but seeing how fast Xiao Yuanbao ran off, her grin stretched even wider.

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