Chapter 47: A Mix-up (Two-in-One)

Old Chen's backyard.

Old Man Chen had just poured a heavy bag of soybeans into the wooden basin beside the stone mill. Exhausted, his back hunched, he leaned against the millstone, gasping for breath, as muddy sweat trickled down his deep wrinkles.

Second Aunt approached quickly, carrying a bowl of clear water, her voice laced with worry: "Father, please rest a moment and have some water."

The old man took the bowl, gulped down more than half of it, wiped his mouth, and asked, "That... that lazy brat? Is he still not up?"

He was referring to his useless younger son.

Second Aunt's eyes flickered, and she whispered, "Not yet..."

She didn't dare say more, fearing she would provoke the old man's anger again.

"Sigh!"

Old Man Chen let out a heavy sigh, his calloused hand patting the cold millstone. "Our Chen family... how did we end up with such a thing!"

His tone was filled with the exhaustion and despair of a man frustrated by a failure of character.

"Father."

Second Aunt hurriedly changed the subject, a look of sorrow spreading across her face. "By the way, Xiao Heng told me yesterday that his Blood-Qi Pills for martial arts training are almost gone again. You see..."

"What?!"

The old man snapped his head up, his brows knitting into a knot. "How long has it been? Used up again?!"

Buying medicine for Chen Heng to practice martial arts was the family's largest expense and his heaviest psychological burden.

With a bitter face and a pleading voice, Second Aunt said, "Father, you must find a way. Xiao Heng cannot afford to let his martial arts medicine be interrupted!"

"Sigh!"

Old Man Chen let out another long sigh, as if trying to exhale all the pent-up frustration in his chest. He stared blankly at the basin of golden soybeans. "I know... I'll find a way..."

But where was the way? He had already borrowed from every relative and neighbor he could reach. With old debts unpaid, where would new ones come from?

At the thought of those expensive medicinal costs, a massive stone seemed to press upon his heart, making it heavy and difficult to breathe; the lines of misery on his face deepened.

Just then, a burst of hurried, chaotic noise erupted from the front hall of the grocery shop

"Old Chen! Old Chen! Great news! Tremendous news!"

Lao He from the coffin shop practically burst through the door curtains into the backyard, his face flushed with unprecedented excitement.

Startled by the commotion, Old Man Chen instinctively asked, "Lao He? Why the rush? Whose funeral is it?"

He assumed Lao He had come to announce a death.

"Pah, pah, pah! What funeral! It's a wedding! A grand celebration!"

Lao He slapped his thigh in excitement, his voice cracking. "Your Xiao Heng! He passed! He passed the Martial Xiucai exam!"

*Clatter!*

The smoking pipe in Old Man Chen's hand fell directly to the ground with a sharp crack.

He froze in place, eyes wide, as if he hadn't understood, or perhaps as if he were stunned by the sudden news. "You... what did you say? Say it again!"

Beside him, Second Aunt's breath hitched, and then her face erupted in a glow of wild joy.

Before Lao He could speak again, the neighbors from Chaiyu坊 flooded into the small backyard like a tide, their overlapping congratulations instantly drowning out the space

"Old Man Chen! Great news! Your Xiao Heng has become a Martial Xiucai!"

"Oh, this winnowing basket is in the way, move it quickly!"

"If you need anything, just say the word! Neighbors, let's lend a hand!"

"Old Man, your hardships are over; just wait to enjoy your golden years!"

"Xiao Heng has made it! He's truly brought honor to Chaiyu坊!"

Old Man Chen was completely overwhelmed by the surging joy and the cacophony of compliments. He stood dazed, looking at the familiar, excited faces and hearing the repeated words "Martial Xiucai" and "passed," feeling his ears ring and everything around him seem surreal.

A massive sense of happiness washed over him like a warm tide, instantly drowning his previous misery, leaving him dizzy and bewildered.

Second Aunt was already ecstatic, her face flushed red, her voice raised an octave as she proudly announced to the crowd, "I knew it! I knew my Xiao Heng could do it! He's been smart and hardworking since he was a child!"

She could already see her son dressed in official robes, bringing glory to the family name.

Seeing Old Man Chen's stunned expression, Lao He laughed loudly and cupped his hands again. "Old Man Chen, great news! Truly great news! From now on, just wait to enjoy the blessings of your children and grandchildren! The good days are ahead!"

The old man finally regained a bit of composure from the massive shock. His lips trembled, wanting to say something but unable to find the words. He suddenly turned around, stumbled toward the basin of golden soybeans, and with trembling, withered hands, grabbed a large handful of beans, letting them rustle through his fingers. It was as if only this physical sensation could convince him that this sudden windfall had truly descended upon his dilapidated Chen family courtyard.

"Good! Good! Wonderful!"

Old Man Chen's withered palms shook uncontrollably, his cloudy eyes flashing with unprecedented brilliance as he burst into loud laughter.

"Heaven has eyes! The ancestors of the Chen family have blessed us! Finally... finally, a Martial Xiucai has emerged!"

Chen Heng was the grandson he had poured everything into raising; now that he had attained official status, the old man's face felt more radiant than if it were coated in oil.

Looking at the eager, envious eyes of the Chaiyu坊 neighbors filling the yard, the old man felt a surge of heat rush to his head. He stood tall, his legs feeling nimble again, and the gloom of the medicinal costs vanished instantly, making him feel twenty years younger.

"Clean up! Clean up quickly!"

The old man moved briskly, as if possessed by endless energy, busily organizing the clutter in the house.

Seeing this, Lao He hurriedly called out, "Don't just stand there, everyone! Lend a hand and help the Chen family tidy up! This is a monumental occasion!"

"Right, right, let's do it together!"

The neighbors were enthusiastic, moving clutter, sweeping, and splashing water; the small courtyard instantly became a hive of activity.

Chen Wen stumbled out from the inner room, rubbing his sleepy eyes, startled by the commotion. "Father? What... what's happening? Has a thief broken in?"

Sister Lin laughed so hard she couldn't close her mouth, interjecting, "Second Uncle Chen! Are you dreaming? Great news! Your Xiao Heng has passed the Martial Xiucai exam! The official messenger is almost at the door!"

"Passed?! Xiao Heng really passed?!"

Chen Wen's sleepiness vanished instantly. His eyes went wide, and a surge of immense joy rushed to his heart. His son's official status was his security for the rest of his life.

Retirement? No more worries!

Every wrinkle on Old Man Chen's aged face smoothed out. Looking at this usually useless son, he even found him quite agreeable for once, offering a rare compliment: "Good! You boy, you've finally done something proper for the Chen family!"

Second Aunt straightened her back, her chin held high, her face filled with undisguised triumph and pride, as if the official status were her own achievement.

Her eyes darted around, and she asked loudly with feigned concern, "By the way, Sister Lin, didn't my nephew Xiao Qing also go to take the exam? Did he have any luck?"

The question was deliberate, intended to make the crowd praise her Chen Heng even more.

The smile on Sister Lin's face froze for a moment, and she said vaguely, "I heard from Xiao Hai that it seems only one person passed..."

Second Aunt immediately raised her eyebrows and said in a condescendingly comforting tone, "Sigh, that boy Xiao Qing... his aptitude is a bit lacking, and his temperament is too restless. But it doesn't matter. Once my Xiao Heng returns, he can guide and help him for a few years; there might still be a chance."

This prompted several surrounding neighbors to nod in agreement.

Just then, Xiao Hai finally squeezed in, panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat. With a face full of smiles, he bowed toward Old Man Chen. "Old Man Chen! Congratulations! Tremendous news!"

"Good boy, thank you for your hard work."

Old Man Chen was in high spirits and signaled Second Aunt to give him some copper coins as a reward.

Second Aunt took out a few copper coins and stuffed them into Xiao Hai's hand, offering a patronizing smile. "Here, take these to share in the luck. Now, hurry and say some auspicious words to congratulate my Xiao Heng!"

Xiao Hai took the coins happily. Mimicking the style of a stage play, he proclaimed loudly, "Congratulations, Old Man Chen! Congratulations to Master Chen Qing for passing the Martial Xiucai exam! May he bring glory to his ancestors and rise step by step!"

Hearing this, Second Aunt's expression instantly soured. "Xiao Hai, I gave you money to congratulate Chen Qing?"

Xiao Hai was stunned. "Master Chen Qing passed; of course I must congratulate him."

*Master Chen Qing passed?!*

The entire Chen family backyard instantly fell into a suffocating silence.

Even the sound of breathing was audible.

All busy movements ceased.

The smiles on the neighbors' faces froze into expressions of bewilderment and disbelief, their gazes turning in unison toward Old Man Chen and Second Aunt.

The flush on Old Man Chen's face faded visibly; his joyful smile seemed frozen on his face, leaving only stiffness and confusion.

His lips trembled, and a "he-he" sound came from his throat, but he could not utter a single word.

Second Aunt's expression was even more dramatic, shifting instantly from a triumphant red to a shocked pale, then from pale to a humiliated, ashen green, and finally to a dark, liver-like purple.

She felt a surge of hot blood rush to her head, her ears ringing; she wished she could dig a hole and crawl into it right then and there!

"Xiao... Xiao Hai!"

Lao He was the first to react. He grabbed Xiao Hai's arm, his voice cracking. "Did you see wrong? Or did you mix them up? The one who passed is Chen Heng! Chen Heng!"

Xiao Hai was intimidated by the reaction, arguing in confusion and grievance, "No... no, I didn't! I saw it clearly! The list said 'Chen Qing,' from Yazi Bay! I was afraid my eyes were playing tricks on me, so I specifically asked several people nearby, and they all said it was Master Chen Qing!"

His mind was naturally slow; how could he understand the intricacies of social maneuvering?

He only knew that Old Man Chen's grandson was Chen Heng, but he hadn't realized that the one who passed the Martial Xiucai was another grandson, Chen Qing, who lived on a broken boat!

*Boom!*

Xiao Hai's definitive answer was like a final hammer blow, completely shattering the dream that had just risen in the Chen family household.

They had it wrong!

The one who passed the Martial Xiucai was not the highly anticipated Chen Heng, but the forgotten Chen Qing on the broken boat in Yazi Bay.

"Whoosh—!"

After a brief silence came an uncontrollable commotion and whispering.

The way the neighbors looked at Old Man Chen and Second Aunt became incredibly complex—sympathy, surprise, embarrassment, and even... a hint of unspeakable mockery.

Second Aunt felt as if countless needles were pricking her face, a burning pain; those few copper coins she had given out became the most stinging mockery.

She jerked her head away, not daring to look at anyone.

Old Man Chen seemed to have lost all his strength instantly. His straight back hunched once more, and his hollow eyes stared at the smoking pipe on the ground; he looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

He never imagined that the Chen family would indeed produce a Martial Xiucai, but that it would happen in a way that dealt him such a resounding slap in the face.

"Ahem..." Lao He cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice dry as he tried to smooth things over. "That is... everyone, disperse, disperse. Let the old man... have some peace."

The neighbors of Chaiyu坊 woke from their trance and scattered like birds and beasts, walking hurriedly as if fleeing an embarrassing vortex.

But the low murmurs drifted back on the wind like cold needles, piercing Old Man Chen's ears

"Sigh, Old Man Chen... too biased..."

"Isn't that the truth? If only they had been a bit kinder to that mother and son in Yazi Bay..."

"I heard that child lives on a broken boat, never knowing if his next meal is coming..."

Xiao Hai, however, was completely oblivious. Clutching the copper coins, he happily followed the crowd away.

In the blink of an eye, the once noisy and festive Chen family backyard, which had been packed tight, was left with nothing but a mess and a chilling emptiness.

Old Man Chen stood dazed beside the basin of golden soybeans. His withered hand unconsciously grabbed a handful of beans, letting them rustle through his fingers, as if the "fortune" he had just grasped had also slipped away.

The rare warm sunlight spilled onto the murky waters of Yazi Bay, casting a deceptive, fleeting golden glow.

"He passed! He really passed! Martial Xiucai! Chen Qing passed the Martial Xiucai exam!"

The messenger's voice was hoarse from shouting as he ran barefoot along the muddy pier, as if the victory belonged to him.

The news was like a drop of water hitting hot oil, instantly exploding.

The entire Yazi Bay was like a disturbed hornet's nest, boiling over in an instant!

The curtains of the dilapidated shacks and broken boats were thrown open, and on faces that had been numb and weathered for years, there was only shock and disbelief.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The crisp, loud sound of gongs approached from a distance, drowning out all the noise.

Two officials in black uniforms with red plumes in their hats arrived with heads held high, led by a minor clerk carrying a vermilion wooden tray.

They carried an air of arrogance, their steps deliberate and dignified, clashing with the decay of this slum.

"A report of victory—Chen Qing of Yazi Bay, Gaolin County, has passed the Martial Xiucai exam of this county, ranking seventh on the C-list! Congratulations to Master Chen! Congratulations to Master Chen!"

The clerk drew out the words, his voice loud and resonant, penetrating every corner.

The crowd erupted with a "buzz," followed by a deathly silence, leaving only heavy breathing and suppressed gasps.

All eyes focused on that broken boat.

Han's hunched back straightened instantly. She gripped the cabin door, her lips trembling violently as tears surged forth, rolling down her cheeks.

The clerk stood at the narrow bow, quietly waiting for the reaction of the mother of this newly appointed Xiucai.

Han jolted, startled from the massive shock.

A great sense of panic and unprecedented awe seized her. She hurriedly bent down to perform a formal kowtow, her voice trembling with sobs: "Thank... thank you for your trouble, officials! This woman... this woman..."

"Oh, heavens! Do not offend us with such formality, Madam! You must not!"

The arrogance on the clerk's face instantly turned into a fawning smile, his waist bending lower than a tax collector's.

He respectfully presented the bright red report with both hands. "Master Chen is a young talent who has soared to the heavens; his future is limitless! We have come specifically to bring the good news and share in Master Chen's luck!"

Only then did the surrounding neighbors wake from their dream.

"My goodness, Ah Qing really passed! A Martial Xiucai! Our Yazi Bay has produced a Xiucai!"

Uncle Gao's beard shook with excitement as he was the first to drop to his knees toward Han. "Kowtowing to Old Madam Chen! You have finally made it!"

His kneeling was like a falling domino.

On the pier and on the adjacent boats, people knelt one after another... the elders and neighbors who had watched Chen Qing grow up now had faces mixed with unbelievable awe, envy, and a sense of shared pride.

"Master Xiucai! Auntie Han, you've finally made it!"

Auntie Cuihua had the loudest voice, her tone thick with tears and immense excitement. "I told you, Ah Qing was extraordinary from the start!"

As she spoke, she secretly pinched her thigh, fearing she was dreaming.

Er'ya's heart felt as if it were being squeezed tight and then suddenly released, leaving a hollow sense of shock.

In the blink of an eye, he had become the high-and-mighty 'Master Chen'?

Even the wealthy Merchant Zhao, whom she served, had to bow to a Xiucai.

Han finally caught her breath. Wiping her tears, her voice was choked but carried an unprecedented strength: "Congratulations to all! Congratulations to all the neighbors! Please, officials, come in and sit!"

In her flurry of movement, she rushed back into the cabin and emerged a moment later with a coarse earthenware bowl, filled to the brim with snowy white, steaming wheat porridge.

She offered it to the officials with trembling hands. "Officials, you have worked hard. Please... please have something first..."

Looking at the bowl of white porridge, the clerk showed no disdain; instead, he accepted it with a wide smile. "Oh! Thank you for your generosity, Madam! This bowl of 'fortune porridge' smells wonderful; we must certainly share in the great luck of your household!"

The official cleared his throat and announced loudly, "By imperial grace! Since Master Chen has passed the Xiucai exam, your household is exempt from poll taxes and corvée labor for the next two years! From then on, your land tax shall be permanently reduced to only forty percent! This is the vast benevolence of the Emperor, benefiting the scholarly class!"

Hearing this, everyone present was filled with envy.

Fishermen like them had been crushed by taxes, labor, and ritual offerings their entire lives.

Han's heart was a whirlwind of emotions. She fumbled in her bosom for a small, heavy cloth bag she kept close to her skin and handed it trembling to the lead clerk. "Officials, it is a small token of our gratitude... please have some tea."

The silver inside was what Chen Qing had left for her.

The clerk took the bag, weighed it in his hand, and his smile became even more brilliant, almost overflowing. "Madam is too kind, too kind! We wish Master Chen a brilliant future and hope he passes the Martial Examination soon! We shall take our leave and return another day to pay our respects to the Master and Madam!"

With that, leading the two officials amidst the awe-struck gazes of the neighbors and the lingering commotion, he departed with great satisfaction, the sound of gongs echoing behind him.

(End of Chapter)