Yu Huishui looked at the bandit with thick eyebrows and big eyes in front of him, who was clamoring to take him away, and thought this was much more troublesome than missing an exam due to discovering his true identity.
“Huishui! It’s time for us to hit the road!”
Outside, the cold wind howled. A girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, rubbed her hands together, pushed open the door curtain with her head, and slipped into the room.
In the corner of the room squatted a young man, wearing a white cotton jacket, looking sneaky. This was clearly a study room, yet he had piled a heap of charcoal in the brazier in the corner, using a hook to poke at a few blackened round balls.
Xiao Tan immediately jumped in place a few times, her eyebrows raised: “Huishui! What are you eating!”
Yu Huishui was startled by her, and the hook in his hand clattered into the brazier, sending up a shower of sparks.
Seeing Xiao Tan reaching out to grab the brazier, Yu Huishui quickly stood up to stop her, his fair face showing rare anxiety: “Hey! Don’t touch it! This is a brazier, don’t you want your hands? You’ll get burned!”
Indeed, that was the case. As a maid, Xiao Tan couldn’t go against her master’s wishes, so she had to put the brazier back. Yu Huishui squatted down, using two delicate fingers to pick up a blackened sweet potato, slowly rubbing it.
“What road are you talking about? You little girl, your words are getting more and more ominous. Where are we going?”
As Yu Huishui spoke, he handed the soft sweet potato to her. Xiao Tan took it, pinched it with two fingers, revealing the orange-yellow flesh inside.
She took a bite, savoring it with a child’s usual satisfaction, quickly finishing the yellow flesh before continuing.
“To the Capital City.”
Yu Huishui instinctively scratched his face, leaving a black mark on his pale, delicate skin, looking somewhat cute.
“Why are we going to the Capital City?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Xiao Tan clapped her hands, confidently putting her hands on her hips: “To let you take the imperial examination and become a top scholar!”
The half piece of sweet potato in Yu Huishui’s hand slipped and fell onto his jacket. Xiao Tan opened her mouth to shout, but Yu Huishui beat her to it.
“We’re going to the Capital City just like that?”
Fu Ming, who had just lifted the curtain and poked his head in, was startled by this shout, stumbling backward. The person following him stepped on his foot, yelped, and cursed as they retreated.
“What’s wrong with our great scholar?”
In the harsh winter weather, even in the Central Plains, it was bitterly cold. Fu Ming was dressed in thick layers, wrapped tightly in a cotton jacket and a cloak, looking like a bear cub standing on two legs, almost unrecognizable.
“Let me in!” came a voice urging from outside. Only then did Fu Ming step aside, allowing Fu Cong to squeeze in.
“Big brother, second brother.”
Yu Huishui quickly stood up, the sweet potato on his jacket plopping to the ground, leaving a yellow stain.
Standing before him were the two young masters of the Fu family. The eldest was Fu Cong, and the second was Fu Ming. Yu Huishui used to be their study companion, but now he was their sworn brother.
Clever, clever, Cong is the elder brother, Ming is the younger brother. Unfortunately, they bore the surname Fu. Fu Cong and Fu Ming had a deep aversion to the Four Books and Five Classics, letting it in one ear and out the other, with some things even coming out of the other ear.
Old Master Fu knew well that his two sons were not cut out for studying. They spent their days climbing trees, playing with weapons, and if you took apart their bones, you could spell out the word: playboy.
So Old Master Fu didn’t expect them to become top scholars. As long as Fu Ming and Fu Cong were upright and could read and write, he wasn’t worried about having no one to inherit the family business.
However, although he didn’t think his sons were good at studying, he believed Yu Huishui was a natural talent for it.
Yu Huishui came to the Fu family at the age of four or five, three or four years younger than the Fu brothers. Yet, he learned to read and write quickly and had a photographic memory. By the age of eight, he could already compose poetry.
Fu Cong and Fu Ming treated him like a real brother, providing him with rare books and writing materials. They even persuaded their father to adopt Yu Huishui as a foster son during Old Master Fu’s fiftieth birthday.
Old Master Fu appreciated him, and from then on, Yu Huishui followed the normal examination system, participating in the county examination and becoming the first scholar in the Fu family. He then took the provincial examination and became a recommended scholar.
After passing the metropolitan examination, he was only seventeen that year.
In the blink of an eye, three years had passed, and the Fu family was about to take him to the Capital City for the palace examination.
Yu Huishui knew well that most scholars studied hard for years just to go to the Capital City to take the imperial examination and gain fame.
The Fu family valued him and gave him the opportunity to turn his life around. He remembered this kindness in his heart and was determined to repay it when the time was right.
The palace examination was actually held in the spring of the following year. However, according to local customs, those going to the Capital City for the examination would usually go a month or so in advance to get used to the local environment and avoid falling ill and missing the exam.
Fu Cong and Fu Ming were also going along. The Fu family had a large business and dealings in the Capital City. Old Master Fu wanted his two sons to accompany the goods convoy to the Capital City, partly for Yu Huishui’s safety on the road and partly to give them more experience.
“Don’t listen to Xiao Tan’s nonsense.”
This was the Central Plains, where it rarely snowed. For some reason, a north wind had recently brought a light snowfall, catching the cold-averse Fu Ming off guard. He was wrapped up so tightly that even his face was hidden, with only his eyes showing.
“If you pass, you pass. If not, we’ll come back home and continue studying. It’s not like you’ll starve.”
Fu Cong was sturdy, dressed more decently than Fu Ming. He asked Xiao Tan to fetch a new set of clothes for Yu Huishui, then helped him take off his outer garment, treating him like a real younger brother.
“Big brother is right. You’re still young, with plenty of opportunities. No need to be nervous.”
Xiao Tan brought a blue and white embroidered velvet jacket, washed a cloth with hot water, and wiped Yu Huishui’s hands. In no time, he was clean and tidy again.
Fu Ming saw that Yu Huishui’s hair was still loose, rolled up his sleeves, and quickly tied it into a neat bun with a hairband, showing great care.
“Father wants to see you, probably to give you some last-minute advice before the exam.” Fu Cong patted his shoulder and gave him a firm pat on the back: “Stand up straight! Look lively!”
The slap was strong, and Yu Huishui’s thin frame almost fell apart. He grimaced, straightening his back and arms.
He had never been fond of eating and was picky, resulting in a frail build that couldn’t match the robust Fu Cong and Fu Ming, who were like martial seedlings.
As Madam Fu would say, when Fu Cong and Fu Ming were growing, they would even pull up grass from flower beds to eat, and chew on chopsticks during meals.
Yu Huishui looked at the two brothers, who were a head taller than him, and compared himself, realizing how small and pitiful he seemed.
The group, dressed warmly, headed to the front hall. The Fu family wasn’t the wealthiest, but they were well-off, with a significant business in the Central Plains. The front hall connected to the back courtyard, featuring white walls, black tiles, green bamboo, and pine trees, a typical water town garden scene.
“Father! I’ve brought Huishui over!”
Before the servants could announce them, Fu Cong pushed open the door with a bang, startling Old Master Fu and Madam Fu inside.
“So reckless, you’re not a child anymore!”
Madam Fu was startled, patting her chest and scolding her rough-mannered eldest son.
“You brat!” Old Master Fu feigned anger and scolded.
“Take your brother to check the goods in the back. It’s your first time going to the Capital City, and you have to handle everything yourself! Understand?”
This trip, from personnel to goods, was entirely handled by Fu Cong and Fu Ming, truly a first for them.
After sending Fu Cong and Fu Ming away, Old Master Fu and Madam Fu quickly invited Yu Huishui to sit down. The servants brought hot tea and snacks, and the three of them sat together, clearly having private matters to discuss.
Old Master Fu took a sip of hot tea, his round face full of warmth.
“Huishui, the exam is in the spring, and we’re thinking of sending you to the Capital City to stay for a month or so, to get used to it in advance.”
“You don’t need to worry about money. We’ve already made arrangements, and everything is prepared, including a tutor waiting for you there, so your studies won’t be delayed.”
“That’s wonderful, truly wonderful.”
Madam Fu’s face was full of joy, her eyes crinkling with happiness.
“Recently, everything has been going well, a good omen indeed.”
Seeing the confusion on Yu Huishui’s face, Madam Fu nudged in his direction, covering her mouth with a smile: “The second girl from the Chen family came to discuss marriage with you.”
The Chen family was a family of civil officials, and their daughters were also educated, studying at the same private school as the Fu family.
Yu Huishui remembered the girl, who always sat near him during study sessions, whispering and giggling with other girls.
The smile on Yu Huishui’s lips dimmed for a moment, but he quickly smiled again, politely declining: “Madam, I have neither family background nor fame, it’s really…”
“Don’t say such things.”
Madam Fu’s eyebrows shot up, showing a fierce expression: “Since you’ve drunk our Fu family’s tea, you’re a son of the Fu family! I don’t want to hear about having no family background.”
She pretended to scold him, then seriously worried: “Is it some servant with a loose tongue? Tell me, and I’ll kick them out.”
“Huishui.”
Old Master Fu spoke earnestly: “We’re not forcing you to marry. If you don’t like this match, we’ll refuse it for you. Since we took you as a foster son, we naturally treat you as our own.”
“Your big brother and second brother aren’t cut out for studying. We’ve been merchants for generations, and the path to officialdom is narrow. To put it bluntly, if you achieve fame, we hope you’ll help us.”
Yu Huishui couldn’t bear such a heavy responsibility and quickly stood up, bowing politely: “Master, it’s my duty, there’s no need to talk about helping.”
“Sit down!”
Old Master Fu was also troubled by his politeness. Yu Huishui was good in every way, but always so courteous and humble, which created a sense of distance.
Yu Huishui obediently sat down.
Madam Fu and Old Master Fu exchanged glances, feeling a bit helpless with Yu Huishui.
“You’ve been smart since you were young. Besides providing for your needs, there’s not much else we can do.”
Madam Fu sighed, breaking the silence first: “Thanks to Fu Cong and Fu Ming being close to you, otherwise, how could we face your parents’ trust?”
“… Parents?” The word was unexpected, and Yu Huishui thought he misheard, hesitating for a moment before repeating: “My parents?”
“We never told you because we feared you were too young to handle it.”
“But with this marriage proposal, we know you’re of age, and some things need to be told.”
Old Master Fu looked at him with pity, recounting the old story.
The disappearance of the Yu family was a small tragedy in the political upheaval, a tiny fragment not even recorded in history, resulting in the loss of the entire Yu family.
At that time, Yu Huishui, still an infant, was smuggled out by a family servant, disguised as a servant’s child, secretly sent down the Huai Shui River, and after a few years, entrusted to Old Master Fu’s family.
Since then, Yu Huishui had been a study companion in the Fu family, with no ties to the disgraced Yu family.
Listening to Old Master Fu’s words, Yu Huishui felt empty inside, as if hearing about someone else’s tragedy.
He had no blood relatives because they were all falsely accused and killed.
He had no enemies because the instigators had long been dealt with by the court.
This matter, sealed in the hearts of the Fu family for twenty years, was explained clearly over a few cups of tea. The three sat in silence for a long time until Madam Fu moved first.
This kind and warm-hearted woman stood up, tears in her eyes, and took Yu Huishui’s hands.
“Child, I understand. You’ve never felt part of this family. You’re thoughtful, always watching our expressions to act. I, Guo Xiulan, swear by the heavens and the earth, whether you pass the exams or not, we’ll always take care of you.”
It wasn’t surprising that Madam Fu was emotional. She was a close friend of Yu Huishui’s mother, and every time she saw Yu Huishui’s face, which resembled his mother’s, it pained her deeply.
Old Master Fu quickly pulled her away. The couple had always been loving, and Old Master Fu knew her temperament, coaxing her back to her seat.
They all knew this couldn’t be rushed, and Yu Huishui needed time to accept this reality. Old Master Fu decided to dismiss everyone, letting them return to their courtyards.
Snow began to fall again in the courtyard, the scattered snowflakes swirling with the cold wind, landing under Yu Huishui’s eyes.
This lost and forlorn look couldn’t be taken to the Capital City.
Yu Huishui thought, touching the wetness under his eyes.
It would surely delay the imperial examination.