History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 56 Working Together, Squeeze!

"Please stay here, everyone. Although I will no longer be in Pingcheng, my name will live on here forever!" Changsun Wuzhuo set off for Pingzhou today, and Xi Jiao, Zhou Tai and other friends, as well as his cousins ​​Changsun Chu, Fuming and others, all came to see him off.

His journey requires him to cross the two states of Yan and You, a long and arduous one. Is he really going to go back and get a good night's sleep and leave the next day?

Xi Jiao and Zhou Tai already knew their partner's bad character, so they quickly pulled out a long tripwire.

Changsun Wuzhu chuckled twice and called to his cousin Changsun Chu, instructing him: "You must study hard from now on. Think about it, whether you study or not, you have to sit there and listen. So why not listen?"

It really was time to part ways. Changsun Chu repeatedly agreed, then cried sadly. Just as he was about to wipe his nose haphazardly, Changsun Wuzhuo kicked him away. He then called his cousin Changsun Fuming over and asked, "Brother, have you been practicing reciting poems for a while now?"

Last month, in the joint examination for the *Erya*, Changsun Fuming ranked last and was suspended from school. He then used connections to get into the Cui Academy to study the *Classic of Poetry*. If he still doesn't do well in the *Classic of Poetry*, he can return to his clan to study the *Erya* again after a year.

Changsun Fuming put his hands in his pockets and said, "Okay. Don't cause trouble on the road, and don't eat wild animals. Be sure to send a message back after you get to Pingzhou."

"I wish my elder brother and all of you success in your studies!"

Horse hooves kicked up dust, yellow clouds floated, and Changsun Wuzhuo's entourage gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Changsun Fuming wiped away his tears and burst into a heroic song: "Lacking flowing fire, breaking off clothes, one strike will surely be unleashed, two strikes will be devastating..."

Zhou Tai couldn't understand it at all, so he asked Xi Jiao, "Is this a poem from the Book of Songs?"

Xi Jiao explained: "The poem should be... In July, the fire star moves westward; in September, clothes are given out; on the first day, the wind howls; on the second day, the chill is intense."

Zhou Tai: "Sigh, if his ear isn't treated, he'll have to start studying the Analects next month."

When everyone returned to the city gate, the name "Wu Zhuo" that Changsun Wu Zhuo had secretly carved on the city wall had already been scraped off by the guards.

Two days later, the line of carriages and horses from other places entering the city at each gate stretched as far as the eye could see. To prevent unrest and the infiltration of spies, the government began to restrict the caravans. Merchants who could not enter the city and were unwilling to leave set up stalls and tents outside the city, forming a bustling and prosperous market.

Soaring day and night, ten days of March have passed.

After class at noon today, Du Ling announced that tomorrow would be a day off, and then reminded everyone: "The joint examination is the day after tomorrow, the Spring Examination of the Fourteenth Year. Pay special attention to the Spring Examination, as this is the first major joint examination since the new school regulations were issued! You all should not be too playful at home, and remember to review your studies at all times. Wei Yao, you should also not be arrogant because of temporary results, and none of you disciples should fail to see your own progress just because of temporary mediocre results. Alright, school dismissed."

After watching Mr. Du leave, the students immediately invited their friends to join them, as if hot oil had been poured into a rat's nest.

Wei Jiezhi called out, "Who wants to go to the market outside the city?"

Wei Jian: "I have to go to the North City; I have a fight scheduled with someone."

"I'm not helping you this time." Wu Ji waved his hand dismissively. "The rest of us have to go to Zhuji Street."

Zhuji Street is the east-west street where Yingju Bookstore and Dongyue Ink House are located. "Ji" means book box, and "Zhuji" is a homophone for "rising step by step".

The "little mice" howled and ran out of the schoolhouse, leaving only Qu Rong in the room. He looked through the walls, chasing the noise away, and gradually, it became quiet.

Nobody wants to play with him? Humph, he doesn't care!

Unfolding the poem, he thought of all the encouragement from Master Du and decided to study for another hour before going home.

"Qu Rong?" Du Ling had a daily habit of checking the courtyard. Seeing a disciple still there, his small face showing unease and stubbornness, Du Ling instantly felt that this boy was like his younger self. "Come with me, eat first, and I'll tutor you after you finish."

"Yes!" Qu Rong burst into tears. So this is what it feels like to be cared for by the Master. It's wonderful. On the wide street, Wei Mao led the way, followed by his fellow disciples Wei Yao, Wei Jing, Wei Zhen, Wei Puti, and Wu Jichao, heading towards Yingju Bookstore.

The bouncy boys sang along with Wei Yao: "The fire star moves westward in July, clothes are given out in September, the spring sun shines brightly, and orioles sing..."

The more excited the children were, the more they swung their bags.

Wow—how come this street is so crowded in just one day!
Wei Jing and Wu Ji were even more excited, shouting, "Charge!"

They certainly couldn't squeeze through on their own, so a dozen strong servants surrounded them from all sides, and Wei Mao and his men protected Wei Yao and Wei Zhen in the middle.

They shouted the slogan they had set along the way: "Work together!"

Squeeze in!!
Wei Yao was too thin and soon felt like her feet were about to leave the ground. In a panic, Wei Mao grabbed her arm and used his own body to resist the force of the impact, shouting to her, "Don't worry, I'll protect you!"

When they finally arrived at Yingju Bookstore, Xi Jiao, Zhou Tai, Yuan Heng, Yuan Yu, and others also came to the street. Xi Jiao and his group had brought even more servants, including one who walked with a limp. This servant was Fei Ming, Xi Jiao's attendant. Two days ago, Fei Ming had accidentally knocked over a copper candle, and a spark had scorched the hole in the painting. Coincidentally, it had burned the "silkworm cocoon man" that inspired Xi Jiao to strive for excellence.

At that time, Xi Jiao almost crippled the stupid servant's leg. Fei Ming dared not hate his master, but the despicable person had to blame someone to feel better. Wei Yao thus once again suffered the undeserved blame.

Inside Yingju Bookstore, servants prepared crucian carp soup, honey water, rice cakes adorned with various flower petals, and pickles made by Yongning Temple. The children chatted and laughed, while Wei Yao and Zhen, fellow students, leaned out the window, gazing at the scenery, their honey water in hand.

Wei Jing leaned over and said, "I heard about the student you praised the other day for his bright eyes."

Wei Zhen pretended to pull his ear: "Speak up!"

"Haha, you're getting anxious, really anxious. Let me tell you, his surname is Bu, his name is Bu Yanzhen, he also studies the Book of Poetry, and he has always been the top student in their school's joint examination. But... you know." Wei Jing pouted. It's already very difficult for ordinary private schools to get access to the unified question bank for the joint examination. Those who rank in the top three don't have the opportunity to go to a prestigious school to listen to lectures by famous teachers.

When Wei Yao heard the surname "Bu," she breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't "Wang." As she turned her gaze back to look at the people on the street, she met Yuan Yu's eyes, who was looking up at her.

Yuan Yu was young and short, and was always carried on the shoulders of a strong slave. After looking at the crowd for a long time, he felt a little nauseous, so he looked up and examined the pavilions on both sides.

Xi Jiao saw Yuan Yu beckoning upwards, and when she looked in that direction, she only saw an empty window.

Before long, the soldiers arrived and began to cordon off the street, making way for oxcarts to pass. A peddler shouted particularly loudly: "Scented sachets... rattan sachets... scented sachets..."

The sound had barely passed the bookstore when an even louder commotion arose, accompanied by the joyful screams of children. Wei Jing exclaimed, "I want to go down and see! It's a game of pitch-pot with prizes! And more!"

With each call, little heads crowded around the window. And indeed, there was more—a double arrow piercing the clouds as a gift!

Wei Jing and Wu Ji ran downstairs.

Wei Yao had left the window earlier because she didn't want to see a certain person. Hearing Wei Jing and Wu Ji talking outside, she looked around the street in front of the bookstore again.

A very burly young man shot an arrow into the sky, then nocked it and fired the second arrow after the first. With a "click," the two arrows collided.

The young man clasped his hands and looked around: "I am Niu Dalang. Is there anyone who dares to accept the challenge? If you defeat me, this fine bow will be a gift!"

Grass market: a type of ancient market.

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(End of this chapter)