Chapter 35: Given by my wife

There were still half a month left before the provincial examination.

Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue stood at the village entrance, both carrying small bundles on their backs.

Standing before them was the village chief's family.

"Is the village chief really not going to give it a try this time?" Xiao Mo asked.

The village chief was also a *Xiucai* (scholar), so he was naturally eligible to take the provincial exam.

"Forget it, forget it," the village chief shook his head. "I am already fifty years old; there is no need to go through such trouble. Even if I went to take the exam, it would just be a waste of travel expenses. It would be better to buy Ying'er some beautiful clothes. Xiao Mo, you study hard; we will wait for your good news."

"It is alright even if you don't pass. Look at your village chief—he has been taking exams for decades without ever passing. As long as you want to take them, you can continue in the future. If all else fails, you can open a private school like your village chief; it's enough to scrape by for a living," Auntie Chen said to Xiao Mo.

Although Auntie Chen was a woman, she knew that some people could study until they died without ever becoming a *Juren* (recommended scholar).

For instance, her own husband.

"I understand, Auntie Chen. I will simply do my best," Xiao Mo nodded with a smile.

"As long as you know. Just don't go looking for death if you don't do well; you still owe my family a lot of dry rations."

Auntie Chen rolled her eyes at Xiao Mo, then pulled Bai Ruxue aside, whispered some instructions to her, and handed her a face veil.

Half an incense stick later, Xiao Mo bowed in farewell and boarded the carriage.

Bai Ruxue drove the carriage, carrying Xiao Mo toward the prefectural capital.

"Did Auntie Chen say anything to you?" Xiao Mo asked, sitting beside Bai Ruxue.

"Auntie Chen said that I am too beautiful and that there are many profligate sons of wealthy families in the county town, so I might run into trouble. She told me to be careful, to wear my veil once we enter the city, and never to leave your side," Bai Ruxue said truthfully.

"Mm," Xiao Mo nodded.

Auntie Chen's concerns were indeed reasonable.

With his current status as a mere *Xiucai*, he truly did not have enough influence to protect her.

However, if something were to happen, Bai Ruxue likely wouldn't be in danger.

Perhaps even she didn't realize that she was already a cultivator of the Dragon Gate Realm.

If she took one more step forward, she would form a Golden Core.

Her cultivation talent was as exaggerated as Jiang Qingyi's.

So, it would be a miracle if an ordinary profligate son didn't get devoured by her.

It was just...

Xiao Mo glanced at the side profile of the young woman.

Qingyi was decisive and ruthless; she would never let herself suffer a loss.

But as a demon, Bai Ruxue was far too kind.

This was both a blessing and a curse.

Six days later, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue entered the prefectural capital of Jiangnan Zhou.

"Tanghulu for sale! Tanghulu... Tanghulu for two coins a stick!"

"Please come in, honored guest!"

"Will you be stopping for a meal or staying the night?"

"Young master, it has been a long time since you last visited; I have missed you dearly!"

As soon as they entered the city, the cries of street vendors and various trades rose one after another, with pedestrians coming and going on both sides of the streets.

There were scholars in green robes.

There were young masters from wealthy families.

There were young women leading small, toddling girls by the hand.

Looking at everything in the prefectural capital, Bai Ruxue's eyes suddenly lit up.

Coming from the mountains, the place Bai Ruxue visited most was the stone bridge village at the foot of the mountain; she had never even entered Qingshan City, let alone a prefectural capital.

After parking the carriage, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue to find an inn.

There were special prices for *Xiucai* participating in the provincial exams, so it wasn't overly expensive.

After putting down their luggage, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue for a walk through the streets of the capital, observing the prosperity of the human race.

Bai Ruxue looked left and right.

Everything in the city was incredibly novel to the young girl.

"Xiao Mo, I want to eat Tanghulu!" Bai Ruxue's fair, delicate hand gripped Xiao Mo's wrist and shook it.

Xiao Mo gave two coins and bought a stick of Tanghulu. Bai Ruxue slightly lifted her veil and took a bite.

The sweetness that first hit her mouth made her eyes brighten.

But with the next bite, the sourness of the hawthorns made her eyes squint.

The old man selling the Tanghulu was momentarily dazed.

He had never seen such a beautiful woman.

Bai Ruxue continued walking while eating the hawthorns, occasionally holding the stick up to Xiao Mo's mouth: "Xiao Mo, you eat some too."

Xiao Mo shook his head, indicating he didn't like Tanghulu.

Bai Ruxue didn't understand; clearly, Tanghulu was quite delicious.

"Buns for sale! Buns for sale!"

From one side of the street, the cries of a bun vendor drifted over.

Xiao Mo couldn't help but stop in his tracks and look toward the bun shop.

"Xiao Mo, do you want to eat buns? I'll go buy some for you," Bai Ruxue said.

"No," Xiao Mo shook his head. "I just thought of someone."

"Someone?" Bai Ruxue asked curiously.

"It's nothing." Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head, continuing forward.

Bai Ruxue didn't take it to heart.

As they passed the Yunyan Pavilion, Bai Ruxue saw women dressed in revealing clothing pulling men into the building, practically clinging to them.

Bai Ruxue asked curiously, "Xiao Mo, what kind of place is that? Why are those women dressed so lightly and pulling men inside?"

Xiao Mo took a glance and explained, "That is a brothel."

"What is a brothel?"

"A brothel is... is a place for matters between men and women."

"Matters between men and women? What kind of matters? You are a man and I am a woman, so can we do that too?"

"..."

"Xiao Mo, tell me, tell me..."

"Don't ask so many questions, you're just a young girl," Xiao Mo lightly tapped Bai Ruxue on the head.

Bai Ruxue rubbed her head and pouted, muttering, "I am clearly a grown woman!"

However, she wasn't truly angry. She continued walking forward, pulling on Xiao Mo's wrist. "Xiao Mo."

"What is it?"

"In the future, when it comes to those 'matters between men and women,' you have to find me~"

Xiao Mo's brow twitched, unsure of how to respond.

For the next few days, Xiao Mo stayed in the inn room reading.

Although the streets were lively, Bai Ruxue found it quite boring without Xiao Mo's company.

Soon, the provincial exam began.

Xiao Mo had to go to the examination hall.

"The provincial exam in the State of Qi lasts for three days. During these three days, Miss Bai, remember not to wander around, understood?"

Before leaving, Xiao Mo instructed Bai Ruxue.

"Don't worry, I'm very obedient. Xiao Mo, you must do well in your exam~ It's okay if you don't pass; Auntie Chen said only the Star of Literature can pass the *Juren* exam, and you aren't the Star of Literature."

"I really thank you for that," Xiao Mo tapped her head. "I'm off."

Xiao Mo turned and entered the examination hall.

Before entering, a body search was required. The minor official searched Xiao Mo's body quite vigorously.

Xiao Mo felt that the man was either being extremely thorough or was from the Sichuan region.

"What is this?" The official looked at the snake scale on Xiao Mo's chest.

"An amulet."

Xiao Mo turned his head and glanced at the young girl who was constantly gazing toward the entrance from outside the courtyard.

"My lady gave it to me."