Chapter 3: Clan Kin

Early the next morning, more than two hours before the results were to be posted, Mr. Gao was already waiting at the entrance of the county school.

This time, Mr. Gao squeezed his way to the very front. When he saw the third name on the list was Li Xuedong, he burst into laughter on the spot.

Third in the entire county!

This was an unprecedented achievement for the Gao Family Academy!

The top scholar of the county was the second young master of the prestigious Hong family. At that moment, there were already arrangements being made to invite the top ten scholars for a gathering and a celebratory feast, treating them as peers of the same academic year.

Li Xuedong would not dare to claim such a status as a peer. Fortunately, he didn't have to step forward; Mr. Gao had already turned the invitation away on his behalf.

He had seen with his own eyes how Xuedong had been exhausted to the point of collapse for two consecutive days. With the prefectural exams coming up in April, Xuedong needed to rush home to rest properly; he could not be bothered with any external affairs!

Mr. Gao took Li Xuedong to the county magistrate's office to express their gratitude to Magistrate Huang. After receiving a long bout of heartfelt concern and instructions from the magistrate, they left the office. Li Jinzhu pushed Li Xuedong in a cart, and the four siblings, along with Mr. Gao and the others, left the city to head home.

Upon reaching Gaocun Market, Mr. Gao took his two students and headed home, while the four Li siblings continued their journey.

Gaocun Market was still seven or eight *li* away from Xiaolizhuang.

As the sky grew dim, the four of them quickened their pace.

Just after passing Lijia Village, darkness fell completely. Li Yuzhu pulled out a staff and held it protectively by Li Xuedong's side.

Not long after, seven or eight stones whistled through the air toward them, followed by a group of adolescents charging out with clubs.

Li Xiaonan covered her head with her arms and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Li Xuefu is a murderer! Li Xuefu from Xiaolizhuang is a murderer! Li Xuefu is a murderer!"

"You're talking nonsense! Don't scream! Shut up!" Li Xuefu, who was leading the charge, panicked.

Following closely behind him was Li Xueshou, a dim-witted boy. He lunged past Li Xuefu toward Li Xuedong, only to be struck by Li Yuzhu's staff, letting out a miserable cry as he collapsed to the ground.

"Our clubs are wrapped in iron! We'll beat you to death!" the eldest sister, Li Jinzhu, shouted with a fierce expression, swinging her camphor wood staff through the air.

Li Yuzhu's face was flushed red; she gritted her teeth and swung her staff relentlessly.

"I'm coming! Big Sister! A'nan! I'm coming!" From not far away, the urgent screams of the third sister, Li Yinzhu, rang out.

Li Xiaonan continued her frantic screaming, "Li Xuefu is a murderer! Li Wencai from Xiaolizhuang is a murderer, eating the inheritance of the dead!"

All five Li siblings were actually present. Movement had already begun in the nearby village. The leader, Li Xuefu, panicked. "You're talking nonsense! Stop screaming! Let's go! Move!"

The seven or eight adolescents turned tail and fled in a scramble.

Li Jinzhu handed the staff to Li Yuzhu and pushed the wheelbarrow, running even faster than the group of boys.

It was too dark; they had to get home as quickly as possible.

………………………………

The next morning, Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu hurried Li Xuedong and Li Xiaonan back to the Gao Family Academy in Gaojia Village.

Li Xuefu and Li Xueshou certainly wouldn't dare come to Gaojia Village to commit violence or murder; Li Xuedong was much safer at the academy than at home.

Under the pretext of looking after her brother, Li Xiaonan stayed at the academy to attend classes.

Mr. Gao spent an entire lesson praising Li Xuedong from every angle.

First, he praised Xuedong's diligence—that he never went out to play, which everyone could see! Then, he spoke of how meaning reveals itself through repeated reading, using Xuedong as living proof! Finally, he transitioned from Xuedong's initial unease to his character, praising his lack of arrogance, his composure, and his humility.

Mr. Gao's praise for Li Xuedong was so grand it felt as though it could float across the entire Gaojia Village.

At dinner, Mr. Gao called Li Xuedong over to eat with them and spoke of the prefectural exams.

"In these imperial examinations, besides merit, one must also consider luck and timing. In my view, you are currently in your season of good fortune. You must go and take this prefectural exam.

"It is over a hundred *li* from here to Pingjiang Prefecture. Since your constitution is weak, it is best to go two or three days early to rest well before the exam. After the exam, you will likely need a day of rest before you can make the return trip. This means the round trip will take nearly ten days, which will cost quite a bit of copper.

"You and your eldest sister must visit your Li clan and find the Clan Head. Ask the clan to provide this money; it is something the clan ought to provide. Once you have achieved academic distinction, the benefits from the clan will be immense."

Li Xuedong nodded as he listened.

Going to the clan to see if they could secure travel funds was also his eldest sister's intention.

Li Xiaonan went back to Xiaolizhuang to deliver the message. Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu rushed to Gaocun Market to pick up Li Xuedong and headed to Lijia Village to find the Li Clan Head, Uncle Li.

Uncle Li was in the ancestral hall, discussing the arrangements for the Qingming Festival sacrifices with several clan elders.

Li Jinzhu pulled Li Xuedong into the ancestral hall. Meeting Uncle Li's annoyed gaze, she hurriedly offered a conciliatory smile: "I am the eldest daughter of Li Wenshan from the 'Wen' generation of Xiaolizhuang. This is my brother. In this year's county exam, my brother placed third. Mr. Gao says my brother is capable of passing the prefectural exam. I have brought my brother..."

"Is your brother a mute?" Uncle Li interrupted her.

"No... please, listen," Li Jinzhu said, shrinking back and nudging Li Xuedong forward.

"My teacher, Mr. Gao of Gaocun Market, and the County Magistrate both say I can attempt the prefectural exam. Pingjiang Prefecture is far, and the round trip takes nearly ten days. My family is poor," Li Xuedong said, becoming flustered by the sideways glances and the blatant disdain from Uncle Li and the elders.

"Go back first. This is a major matter; we must discuss it," Uncle Li said, waving them away with a glance from Li Xuedong to Li Jinzhu.

"Yes," Li Xuedong immediately bowed his head and turned to leave.

Li Jinzhu wanted to say something, but seeing that the Clan Head and the elders had all turned their heads away, she swallowed her words. She exited the ancestral hall, helped Li Xuedong onto the cart, and pushed it back, dejected.

After the Clan Head and the elders finished discussing the Qingming arrangements, they drank half a cup of tea. Uncle Li frowned and said, "Speak up. What about that one from the 'Wen' generation?"

"He's from our branch, in the same village as my third son. The third son often mentions this family—they had to have four daughters before they finally had this boy. They raised him too delicately; he's sick every other day. Growing up, it's said he's hardly ever walked anywhere; his sisters always pushed him in a small cart. His father worked himself to death just to pamper him," Elder Li Wenxi said.

"That won't do. Studying is hard physical labor. An exam can last seven or eight days. Can a constitution like that endure it? No matter how smart he is, it's useless," another elder said, shaking his head repeatedly.

He was most against pampering children; it never ended well!

"Our Li family has had county top scorers before, haven't we? For that top scorer, the former Clan Head treated him so well, but later... sigh! He achieved nothing!" another elder said, shaking his head in grief.

Their Li family had held the first and second positions in the county before. The clan provided them with fine food, drink, and the best brushes and ink, yet not a single one had ever passed the prefectural exam. What a waste of copper!

"These past few years, no one has had much to spare," another elder added.

"In the future, it would be best to set a rule: at least pass the *Xiucai* (licentiate) exam before the clan provides funds," another elder suggested.

"Mhm. Let it be that, then. We'll see after he passes the *Xiucai*," Uncle Li said, settling the matter once he saw everyone was in agreement.

***

A note on *New Times*.

The sole purpose of writing *New Times* was to practice my writing.

From the beginning until the near-final draft, I wrote and discarded over a million words. I was constantly communicating with Paopao, rewriting over and over again.

I suddenly decided to use *New Times* as practice because I had another opportunity to work with Paopao.

Since I started writing, my lowest and most difficult period was while writing *My Noble Wife*. I was near despair, but I love storytelling so much that I couldn't bear to let it go, so I decided to write another book.

When I was preparing *The Divine Doctor*, it was handed over to Paopao. After I added her on Q, her first words were: "Your biggest problem is that your sense of language is off."

I began correcting my sense of language, over and over, more times than I can count. Half a month later, Paopao said: "That's it. That's the feeling. Keep it up."

After that, my editor was changed quickly.

While *The Divine Doctor* didn't perform well during serialization, it helped me regain my confidence. When I was preparing my next book, I hesitated and sent an email to Paopao, asking if she could look at my opening.

I sent three story outlines in the email: *Jintong*, *Shenghua*, and *Mosang*.

Paopao's reply was quick and detailed. She analyzed the three openings and character settings, giving advice: *Jintong* had the most immersive opening; *Shenghua* was somewhat plain but steady; *Mosang* had a wuxia feel and required a spectacular opening.

Those are the three books with my best performance.

Last year, when I had the chance to work with Paopao again, I immediately went to write this realistic short novel, *New Times*. In half a year, the earnings were immense, and all those results are contained within this book, *A'nan*.

*New Times* has concluded. I hope *A'nan* can bring everyone another period of pleasant time.

Love you all!

(End of Chapter)