History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 120 Erzhu Rong Meets Zhao Zhi
Registrar Gou had been waiting for a while. He listened carefully to the purpose of the visit and then searched carefully. "There is no exam paper by Zhang Wenzhi, but there is one written by another female teacher, Zhang Jiniang."

Xue Zhixiao grew impatient again and angrily retorted, "Are you deaf? What use would I have for someone else's writing?"

"Ouch—" Yuan Zhi cried out in surprise, and hurriedly grabbed Xue Zhixiao's wrist and pulled him away, but it was too late. Chief Clerk Gou threw a bunch of things at them, and Yuan Zhi and Xue Zhixiao were hit on the back.

Clerk Gou, still furious, chased after him, one hand on his hip and the other pointing, yelling, "You son of a bitch, didn't you want Zhang Wenzhi's article? You didn't explain yourself clearly before blaming me? Someone like you, making one mistake after another, breaking your wrist is too lenient; you should break your foul mouth into eight pieces too! And you, Yuanzhi, I've put up with you for too long. I get five dou of rice a month, but you make me do ten hu of work..."

Yuan Zhi vented his anger on the courtyard wall, poking it twice, and said to Xue Zhixiao, "It's my fault. I didn't explain it clearly to him earlier. He thought you, like Yuan Fan and the others, were concerned about the upcoming joint examination in Pingcheng, so he assumed that other people's answers were acceptable. Actually, what you wanted was Zhang Wenzhi's handwriting. Give me half a day more, and I'll definitely give it to you before noon tomorrow. Also, the registrar's rudeness is my rudeness. I'll find an excuse to call Zhang Wenzhi to the government office as well, how about that?"

"That's wonderful!" Xue Zhixiao clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Thank you, Governor Yuan!"

It was late afternoon at the Wei Academy.

The afternoon session of the joint entrance examination has begun.

Wei Jing, Wu Ji, Qu Rong, and other underachievers were all eliminated after the morning exams were graded. Wei Jing and Wu Ji went to take a nap at the old man in charge of cleaning the Confucius Courtyard. They had made a plan with Wei Mao to go to Yingju Bookstore to read "interesting books" after the exams.

Qu Rong was disheartened and didn't know where to go. He didn't want to go home. If he went back now, his father would find out that he hadn't done well on the exam, and the neighbors would beat him again.

What you fear most is what will happen to you!
"Qu Rong—"

He turned around in alarm—it was his father! How could his father be here at the school?
Mr. Qu came to the school specifically to find his son. In fact, he had followed his son several times and discovered that Qu Rong pretended to go to school but was actually skipping classes to go to the bookstores on Zhuji Street. So the day before yesterday, after Qu Rong left, he found two scrolls of paper under his son's bedding. He had a literate scholar look at them and found that they were not poems, but strange tales that would most delay his studies!
"Everyone else is taking the exam inside, why did you come out?" Father Qu already knew the reason, but still wanted his son to say it himself.

"Father, please don't hit me here, okay?"

Mr. Qu's anger flared up instantly: "I'm asking you a question! Everyone else is taking exams, what are you doing here?"

"Sister?" Qu Rong lied, making his father turn around. He ran away quickly, looking back at his father who couldn't catch up and almost fell into the ditch after twisting his ankle. He didn't feel sorry for him, but only found it funny. "I'll indulge myself one more time today, just one more time! I'll read as many strange tales as I want. Starting tomorrow, I'll study hard. Master Du, I won't let you down."

Zhuji Street, Dongcheng District.

Erzhu Rong was already tired of exploring the West City. Starting tomorrow, he would be confined to the academy to study. He had heard that the East City market was the most bustling, so he came here with the tutor to stroll around.

The more Erzhu Rong wandered around, the more his little face twisted in distress: "Why are all these shops bookstores and flower shops?"

"Young Master, please allow me half an hour. I never dared to dream of so many places selling books before." The book-buying teacher was truly excited. Xiu Rongchuan has beautiful mountains, rivers, trees, and flowers, but the books for reading all have to wait for the chieftain to bring them back when he goes to pay homage to the emperor.

"Hmph, I'll give you an hour, is that enough?"

"That's enough." Erzhu's people were used to freedom, and when they were in high spirits, they would laugh loudly no matter where they were.

Zhao Zhi was disturbed by the noise and looked over, her gaze shifting downwards... It looked like Chief Erzhu's child?
Despite his young age, Erzhu Rong was very alert and noticed that Zhao Zhi was looking at him differently than the passersby. "What are you looking at? Look again and I'll smash your eyes!"

Zhao Zhi approached, but before she could utter a word of reprimand, Erzhu Maiti attacked first. He used half a pair of scissors as a weapon, the tips spinning like phantoms between his fingers as he extended his arm. "Stop, lady..."

Before he could utter the word "step," Zhao Zhi grabbed his arm. "Oh?" Erzhu Mai Ti protested, swinging his other hand at him. "Oh dear, I give up, I give up! Strong lady, loosen your grip a bit, I'm a scholar, I still have to write."

Zhao Zhisong took the scissors and warned, "If you don't have the ability to subdue others, don't commit violence on the streets of Pingcheng."

Erzhu Rong admired those who could fight the most, and replied in a childish voice, "We'll remember, we won't do it again."

Then, out of curiosity, he followed Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi didn't care about being followed by Erzhu's son. She stopped opposite Yingju Bookstore, took a deep breath, and was about to go over when Erzhu Rong spoke up, "If you have any trouble, let him help you." His chubby little hand pointed to Erzhu Mai Ti.

The latter forced a smile: "Yes, I can help the strong woman."

"Alright, give the book in this cloth bag to the owner of this bookstore and tell him that you want twenty... one pine soot ink stick. If you want less than one, don't give him the book."

Erzhu Maiti's eyes widened in disbelief. He tossed the cloth bag in his hand; it was surprisingly light. How could it have been exchanged for so much top-grade ink? "What books are they? Can I take a look?"

"After you accept this, you may browse freely in the bookstore."

Stingy! Erzhu carried the young master in one arm and a book bag in the other as he entered Yingju Bookstore.

Zhao Zhi shook her head. She was not afraid to charge into battle, but she really didn't know how to talk about selling such embarrassing supernatural tales.

In this respect, she is not as good as her husband.

Her husband said that their daughter would have to go to Luoyang in two years at most. Their daughter was so young, and she wanted to make a name for herself in the capital. How could they not go with her? But Luoyang was truly a place where every inch of land was precious. She and Wei Yin were not afraid of poverty, so how could they bear to let their daughter suffer hardship in her ideal studies? Furthermore, the more outstanding their daughter was, the more dowry they would have to accumulate. So her husband came up with an idea to make money by hiding descriptions of erotic scenes in supernatural tales.

Wei Yin's use of the pseudonym "Island Barbarians Without Roots" was also purposeful. In case the authorities investigated, at least he would appear to be a patriot who hated the enemy, thus avoiding imprisonment. The fact that such stories were only sold through Yingju Bookstore was even more purposeful, since it was the Wei clan's property. If the authorities found out, he could first claim that Wei Qingbin had instructed him, and then drag that brat Wei Mao into it.

Erzhu Rong and his companion emerged, having obtained twenty-one pine soot inks.

Zhao Zhi told the two of them to go first. She observed that no one came out of the bookstore to follow them, so she felt relieved. She went ahead to find them and gave them a piece of pine soot ink as payment.

Even in Xiurongchuan, pine soot ink is a rare and precious commodity.

"My name is Erzhu Rong. I study at Cui Academy. Will I ever see you again?" Erzhu Rong tugged at Zhao Zhi's sleeve and shook it, appearing innocent and naive.

"Study hard, and we'll meet again someday." Zhao Zhi returned the half-pair of scissors to Erzhu to buy his homework, and strode away.

Erzhu Rong watched her retreating figure thoughtfully. Her firm steps were so graceful, just like that archer from the Divine Archery Guard.

(End of this chapter)