Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 78 First Encounter, Secret Power Struggle, Three Autumns Deep, Tea Drinking in the Bright Hall

"If only my sister were a boy, I wouldn't be stuck in this private school... Every day when I come home, I have to be scolded by my father."

"If you were born a girl, you wouldn't say that."

“When did I say my sister had it easy?” The student who spoke earlier couldn’t stand it anymore and hurriedly spoke up to defend himself, “I meant that my sister is clearly a few times smarter than me. If she could study, she would probably achieve more than me.”

"If it weren't for these years of delay, Mr. Cheng would definitely have achieved more than me." The same words, spoken by different people, naturally convey different qualities: genuine naivety versus deliberate flattery.

Cheng Heng was sitting opposite the person who had spoken, holding a cup of jasmine tea in his hand, but he couldn't taste much of the fragrance.

"How can you trust my abilities so much on our first meeting, Brother Zhang?" In just a few words, Cheng Heng had already confirmed that the man before him was one of his targets on this trip, the beloved of Ling Xiao, a courtesan. "I just heard that you have already become a disciple of a famous teacher, Brother Zhang, so passing the imperial examination must be a sure thing!"

"Oh, not at all... It's just luck that I happened to meet my current teacher."

The shop assistant brought over some dried fruit, but neither of them reached for it. Instead, Cheng Heng politely picked up the teapot and refilled their empty teacups.

When nervous, people unconsciously use various small gestures to cover up their emotions; otherwise, the water in the teacup wouldn't have been emptied so quickly between two people who weren't even thirsty...

Zhang Shuwen is very eloquent, but Cheng Heng's mind is naturally suited for the stage, and he can always react to things much faster than others: "I have an old friend who told me that luck is also a part of a person's strength."

"I just learned that Brother Zhang and I are from the same hometown. As the saying goes, at home you rely on your brothers, and when you're away from home you rely on your fellow townsmen. I am fortunate to have met Brother Zhang, and I hope that Brother Zhang will help me out in the future." The most sincere test is the truth, and Cheng Heng did not hide the fact that everyone has something they naturally want.

“My family is poor, and I barely make a living by teaching. I have never seen such a grand scene before.”

It's easier for someone with experience to feign composure than for someone who lacks confidence to pretend to be confident and composed. Cheng Heng carefully held the porcelain cup in his hands and took small sips.

“When my brother and I both pass the exam in the future, these things will be nothing more than minor matters.” Zhang Shuwen clearly had no doubt about whether he would pass the exam.

As Ling Xiao also acknowledged, although no one could prove whether Zhang Shuwen would change his mind in the future—Zhang Shuwen was capable; not only was passing the imperial examination possible, but he could even be among the top three. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been accepted as a disciple by a famous teacher as soon as he entered the capital.

"Brother Zhang, don't talk about small or big scenes. I've never loved you at all."

"But I do have a girl I admire back home. If I succeed in the imperial examination and return home in glory, I hope she will still be married to someone else." As Cheng Heng spoke, a somewhat blurry image inexplicably surfaced in his mind, and his originally fake emotions became three parts real.

Zhang Shuwen didn't show any disdain for Cheng Heng's somewhat unseemly appearance. He simply raised his hand and added water to the teacup that the latter had only drunk less than a third of. "Brother, did you tell that girl that you would definitely wait for you?"

"This...this is...I..."

“That’s it. But how will that girl know your feelings?” Zhang Shuwen appeared before Cheng Heng as if he were a love expert.

"Then I'll write her a letter right now."

Although he said this, Cheng Heng felt a certain contempt for Zhang Shuwen. A courtesan had borrowed money from everyone she knew for him, and he had made all those promises, but who knew if he would change his mind? The day he did change his mind would just be a waste of this young woman's prime years.

What a fine "tell her to wait"! Waiting and waiting, is she waiting for news that you've already married a young lady from a prominent family? The more Cheng Heng thought about it, the more resentful he became. He tried hard to suppress his emotions, picked up the cup in front of him, and took another sip.

"Brother Zhang is so knowledgeable..." Cheng Heng gave a meaningful smile, "Could it be that Brother Zhang also has such romantic escapades?"

"I wonder if Brother Zhang has a wife in his hometown?"

Zhang Shuwen's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal: "Yes."

To Cheng Heng's surprise, Zhang Shuwen not only admitted it, but also told Cheng Heng in detail about her past with Ling Xiao.

"Back then, I was young and ignorant. Frequenting brothels was a scandalous and immoral act, and to outsiders, it was naturally a disgrace to the family." Zhang Shuwen simply greeted Cheng Heng this time without refilling his teacup. He seemed to be getting thirsty from talking and drank two cups of tea by himself.

"Back then, we partied every night and spent so much money... How could I possibly ask my family for help? Just the rules at home would probably beat me half to death."

Cheng Heng smiled and thought to himself: These rules were originally meant to help our children and grandchildren understand reason. If it's really about verbal abuse and violence, wouldn't it be better not to have this child in the first place?
"Fortunately, Ling Xiao did not forget our rare bond. She went to great lengths to give me all the money she had saved over the years, which allowed me to have a place to live."

"And now, as I go to Beijing to take the imperial examination... she has remained chaste for me. I will never forget such kindness."

As the saying goes, "Every country has its laws, and every family has its rules." In an era when national laws could not be fully implemented like the laws of later generations, village covenants and family rules, regardless of their drawbacks, largely restrained some illegal behaviors. They were used as tools by those in power, but in Zhang Shuwen's case, they even became a reasonable excuse for him to ask his sweetheart to raise money for him.

"Brother Zhang is indeed very thoughtful." It's so easy to say nice things. Didn't Zhang Xie in "Zhang Xie the Top Scholar" say the same thing? Cheng Heng has always been skeptical of such "confident" statements.

"Where."

"I can only hope to return home in glory. Even if my family objects, I will redeem Lingxiao and take him directly to my new post."

What a joke! Who will be the one to use their family's "cold-bloodedness" as an excuse for breaking their vow? Cheng Heng rolled his eyes inwardly, but when facing Zhang Shuwen, he simply picked up the teapot beside him and refilled the latter's teacup: "Brother Zhang, please continue. I am quite curious about how you and Miss Lingxiao met and became acquainted?"

"Are there really women in these brothels who are so devoted to love?"

“If she remains devoted, I will not betray her.” Zhang Shuwen did not rush to answer Cheng Heng’s previous questions, but instead was eager to express that he would never betray her.

Those unaware might assume Zhang Shuwen knew Cheng Hengtong; Ling Xiao could be considered an acquaintance. Faced with Zhang Shuwen's "swearing," Cheng Hengtong remained noncommittal, simply smiling and cupping his hands in greeting: "Brother Zhang is right."

“Since you want to know the story between me and Ling Xiao, I will tell you.”

"that time……"

The story Zhang Shuwen told was rather cliché in Cheng Heng's eyes. The most famous girls in the brothel were so rare that even a fortune couldn't buy a single meeting, and Zhang Shuwen was naturally the one who spent a fortune—only to find that money alone couldn't win a girl over; what he wanted was a dashing and charming woman with a sincere heart.

What kind of good people can someone who frequents brothels for so long be? Zhang Shuwen didn't think the women in those brothels could understand anything true!
One side, two sides... and I discovered that she was different from everyone else.

Having squandered his fortune, it was too late for regrets. The destitute Zhang Shuwen, however, was taken to heart by Ling Xiao, who devised plans for him and urged him to go to the capital to take the imperial examination…

“Okay…” Cheng Heng almost blurted out, “What a cliché story,” but fortunately, before the words left his mouth, he managed to change the subject, “What a truly sincere woman.”

The two sat for a while longer, until the tea in the teapot had become tasteless. Finally, Cheng Heng's hands and eyes came to the dried fruit in front of him.

He picked one up, about to take a big bite, when he was bitten on the pit that hadn't been cleaned properly—the dried fruit here, like the tea, wasn't exactly high-quality. Or perhaps the waiter was just treating him differently based on his status, or maybe Zhang Shuwen was intentionally being hospitable but didn't really take Cheng Heng seriously.

In short, this dried fruit was terribly unpalatable. Cheng Heng couldn't eat it and wanted to leave, but then he felt he should make Zhang Shuwen bleed from all that sweet talk.

Although Zhang Shuwen has not yet passed the imperial examination, he has already established himself in the capital. Redeeming Ling Xiao is not a big deal, but he should at least repay the money that girl borrowed for him!
He talked a good game, but actually did nothing. Cheng Heng felt increasingly disgusted with the man before him.

“Brother Qian has already paid. My teacher has something to discuss with me, so I’ll be leaving now.” Fortunately, Zhang Shuwen didn’t intend for Cheng Heng to pay. If they both pass the exam in the future, this would be a good connection. “Brother, you’ve had a long journey and should rest a bit. Why don’t you stay a little longer?”

They stood up and bowed, thus bidding each other farewell. As for meeting again in the examination hall in the future, no one knew what kind of scene it would be.

With Zhang Shuwen gone, Cheng Heng's tense nerves, which had been strained during his probing, finally relaxed. He put the last few tea leaves, still faintly flavored, into his mouth and reached out to grab the dried fruit in front of him.

The moment he put it in his mouth, Cheng Heng regretted it.

After sitting in his chair for a long time, Cheng Heng finally stood up, walked through the not-so-dense crowd, and went outside—the dry air carried a bit of a chill, and Cheng Heng then realized that it was already late autumn in the capital.

Having basked in the warmth of his hometown for too long, Cheng Heng realized his current predicament and didn't know how to get through this cold winter—no heating, no air conditioning, and no phone to play on in a warm bed.

Cheng Heng wanted to go home, but he didn't know how... so he could only stay here and remain as Cheng Jianwei.

"What about that Cheng Jianwei? Is there any chance he'll pass the exam?" Liu's father seemed to have remembered something and threw this question at his daughter early in the morning. "Since he and that Yin Yunshan are old acquaintances, he must be a frequenter of brothels. How can he be a teacher at a private school?"

"I heard that the two of them knew each other since childhood."

"Known from childhood?"

Liu Jiao'an was glad that her father didn't pay attention to the ordinary people around him at that time. Otherwise, if he had connected Cheng Jianwei with "Yin Yunshanren", he would have inevitably thought of the butler. If fatherly love had always existed silently like this, Liu Jiao'an felt that her suspicion of her father was really unfilial.

"Yes."

"Hmph!" Father Liu was probably still blaming Yin Yunshan, that good-for-nothing boy, for stealing his daughter and breaking her heart. Whenever that name was mentioned, he couldn't help but feel angry.

But Liu's father still couldn't help but bring it up, and sometimes even Liu Jiao'an couldn't figure out what her father was thinking.

"Alright, stop thinking about them. None of them are good people!"

"What scholars? They're nothing but heartless scoundrels with sweet words!"

Liu Jiao'an wanted to remind her father that his words seemed to have also offended her. However, a moment later, her thoughts were disrupted by Guan Yin's words, and she could no longer recall that fleeting thought.

“Jiao’an, do you know that we had a saying back then, that is, the thing that old fathers and mothers are most afraid of is their daughters being deceived by yellow-haired men... Think about it, the kind who are ignorant and incompetent and have dyed their hair all sorts of colors.”

"Of course, back in our day, there was nothing wrong with dyeing your hair; it was a personal preference. But in the eyes of parents, it was mostly a synonym for being lazy and uneducated." Guan Yin was right; in the eyes of most parents, dyeing hair was still a sign of being idle and not doing proper work.

“In your father’s eyes, Tongtong is like this… Actually, from the perspective of an old father, it’s normal for him to target her again and again.”

"If a person can't even protect himself and has a bad life, how can he talk about protecting the people around him?" Guan Yin's words lingered in Liu Jiao'an's ears, and she was also thinking about how much sincerity her father had in his dealings with people, and how much of what he said was just the "nice talk" of a scholar.
"So one of our teachers said that there's a reason for raising daughters well, because that way girls won't be easily deceived by sweet talk and small favors." After revealing his identity, Guan Yin talked a lot with Liu Jiao'an when San Heng couldn't see him.

“Your father has always spoiled you, and now you’ve still run off with that blond kid… If I were in his shoes, I would also be furious with that blond kid, wishing he were dead so I could bring my daughter back safe and sound.”

Guan Yin said these things to Liu Jiao'an not to ease the relationship between the latter and Liu's father, but simply to avoid the speculations made by several people affecting Liu Jiao'an's analysis. However, at this moment, it has become a source of trivial emotions that are troubling Liu Jiao'an.

"Alright, now that you're back, your father will continue to take good care of you. From now on... you must never go with people like that again!"

Liu's father spoke sincerely, and Liu Jiao'an's face inexplicably felt wet and cold upon hearing it.

"Don't cry, it's because your father didn't explain it to you." Father Liu reached out and wiped away his daughter's tears. "Tell your father what you want to eat, and your father will have someone prepare it for you."