148: Chapter 148 Asking for Money

Song Zhiran was momentarily taken aback by what he heard.

He asked with a smile, "Brother Jiang, is it your wife who manages the household?!"

"Yes, my wife is good at making money." Jiang Xun's tone was natural, showing no shame in the matter. "So it's only normal for her to manage the house."

Even if Jiang Xun wanted to manage it, he would need the ability to do so!

Fortunately, White Fox Jiu hadn't said he was a matrilocal husband; otherwise, his assertiveness last night would have bordered on insubordination.

Song Zhiran nodded, showing no sign of disdain. He remarked, "Since the Empress ascended the throne, there have been many households in our Great Tang of the Central Domain where women manage the Family."

"In fact, I envy Brother Jiang for having such good fortune."

Jiang Xun took a sip of tea and said with a bitter smile, "Then I wish for Brother Song to find such a good match in the future as well."

Song Zhiran laughed even louder. "Then I'll take Brother Jiang's auspicious words to heart."

After getting to know each other...

The more the two talked, the more they hit it off.

From local officials to the centralization of power, and then to the Empress's elegance, they spoke freely as if they were long-time friends.

Jiang Xun hadn't chatted with a normal person in a long time and actually felt a sense of nostalgia.

Ever since meeting Jiang Hongling at Musong Mountain, he had been in a state of constant tension.

This often left Jiang Xun feeling a deep sense of exhaustion.

Song Zhiran's appearance allowed him to briefly forget those matters.

The conversation grew deeper.

He gradually began to relax.

He was no longer as guarded as he had been at the start.

Since Song Zhiran wanted to become an official, the topic naturally shifted to the Empress.

Jiang Xun was also happy to lead the conversation.

"Are you saying the Empress was able to ascend to immortality through the Incense of the masses?" he asked in surprise.

"Indeed!" Song Zhiran's face was filled with reverence. "According to historical records, the Central Domain was in dire straits back then. We Mortals were like pigs, dogs, and weeds, at the mercy of the slaughter by ten thousand devils."

"It was the Empress who heard the cries of the people, and it was the Empress who led our resistance. She bore the faith of the masses right here in the Imperial Capital, attaining the Dao through Incense. In three steps, she ascended to immortality, dominated the Central Domain, and struck down all those Devil Heads..."

"Brother Song's understanding is truly profound," Jiang Xun praised with a nod.

"Of course!"

Song Zhiran spoke with great enthusiasm, drinking several cups of tea in succession to moisten his throat.

But he still hadn't said enough.

He continued, "I have studied that period of history extensively."

"It's just that the current Empress has gradually retreated behind the scenes, giving some treacherous ministers an opportunity..."

Jiang Xun listened quietly.

He suddenly recalled when he first met Su Jinhe; she had the same expression when speaking of the Empress.

Talking incessantly.

But this also reflected, from another angle, how high Li Shutang's prestige was among the common people.

She had almost become a myth to be worshipped.

Jiang Xun hadn't expected the ideological stories he had instilled in her during the game to have such a profound impact.

Spreading the concepts of nation and Dynasty so widely.

Song Zhiran felt a bit embarrassed for talking too much; after all, everything he said could be found in history books.

Anyone who had read books would know these things.

Jiang Xun was well-educated and surely knew them, yet he still listened intently to his rambling and showing off, which was truly considerate of him.

Song Zhiran said firmly, "So my dream is to pass the exams to the Imperial Capital and serve the Empress."

"To let the glory of our Great Tang shine upon the Five Domains!"

Jiang Xun clapped his hands and said, "Brother Song has a grand ambition."

"Once I pass the Autumn Examination this year," Song Zhiran smiled, "I will head to the capital."

"When the time comes..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a crisp sound of giggling came from nearby.

"Brother—"

A girl of fifteen or sixteen poked her head out from behind the moon gate.

"You're talking big again."

She had two small buns tied on her head, a round face, and features that were forty to fifty percent similar to Song Zhiran's, but more vibrant and agile, like a green sprout freshly washed by rain.

"Zhixia? Why are you here?" Song Zhiran's brow furrowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

Song Zhixia skipped into the flower hall. Her gaze circled Jiang Xun once before landing on her brother's face, her lips curling into a mischievous arc.

"Why can't I come? Mother asked me to ask you, are you still going to the Autumn Examination this year?"

Song Zhiran picked up his teacup and did not look at her.

"Yes."

"Going?" Song Zhixia's voice rose a few notches as she deliberately said while covering her mouth, "Brother, you've already taken it three times. Are you still going?"

Song Zhiran's hand paused.

He had clearly been poked in a sore spot.

The teacup stopped at his lips for a moment before he set it down. "When I said 'go', I meant for you to go away."

His tone was somewhat impatient.

Song Zhiran sighed.

This sister of his was good in every way, except she was a bit annoying and loved to knock him down.

Song Zhixia walked over to Song Zhiran and patted his shoulder. "Brother, don't be so petty!"

"Zhixia, there's a guest here."

"What about the guest?" Song Zhixia looked at Jiang Xun and tilted her head. "This must be the Young Master Jiang who recited poetry last night, right? I've heard about it; the poetry was written truly well."

"But Brother," she turned back to look at Song Zhiran, "even if the best poetry in the world were placed before you, you still wouldn't pass."

Song Zhiran's expression changed.

His fingers gripped the teacup, but he still tried to maintain his dignity.

"Zhixia, that's enough."

"I'm not finished yet." Song Zhixia took two steps forward and stood before her brother, hands on her hips. "Brother, stop dreaming."

"That Autumn Exam hall—you've gone in three times and come out three times. Which time weren't you dejected?"

"Father kindly offered to help pull some strings for you, but you wouldn't take it. You even blamed him for meddling."

Song Zhixia was small, but she truly spared no feelings in her words. "You said you'd rely on true ability, but where is your ability now? Haven't you realized the truth about yourself yet?"

The flower hall fell silent.

Three words appeared in Jiang Xun's mind: "Bratty little girl."

Song Zhiran lowered his head, staring at the tea in his cup.

The green tea reflected his face, showing embarrassment, anger, and the sharp pain of having a wound torn open by someone closest to him.

Song Zhixia hadn't come earlier or later; she chose to say these things right in front of the guest he had invited.

She was clearly acting on their father's orders.

Jiang Xun sat to the side without speaking. This was a matter between siblings; he shouldn't interfere.

"You're right," Song Zhiran suddenly spoke.

Song Zhixia was stunned for a moment.

"I have no ability; I can't pass." Song Zhiran looked up at his sister. "I admit it. But if I were to pass by cheating or using connections, I would despise myself for the rest of my life."

Song Zhixia's mouth opened slightly; she was starting to regret it.

Her regret was replaced by a sense of guilt.

"Brother, I didn't mean it like that..."

"I know." Song Zhiran picked up his teacup and drained the cold tea in one gulp. "You're worried for me. But besides this path, I don't know which other one I can take."

He set down the cup and looked at Jiang Xun, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I've made a fool of myself in front of Brother Jiang."

Jiang Xun shook his head.

"Brother Song," he said with certainty, "I actually think that someone who dares to take the exam a fourth time after failing three times has more courage than those who pass on their first try."

Song Zhiran looked at him, the light in his eyes brightening slightly.

Song Zhixia also looked at Jiang Xun with a complex expression.

She bit her lip and suddenly walked up to her brother, leaned down, and gave his forehead a light flick.

"Fine, take the exam." Her voice softened, carrying a sort of begrudging tenderness. "But if you don't pass this time, you'd better honestly find a job within the Family and stop dreaming."

Song Zhiran raised his hand to rub his flicked forehead, his lips curling into a smile.

"Alright."

Song Zhixia straightened up, glanced at Jiang Xun without a word, then turned and ran off.

Her small figure passed through the moon gate and vanished into the courtyard.

The flower hall returned to silence.

Song Zhiran poured another cup of tea for Jiang Xun.

"My younger sister is young and doesn't know the weight of her words. Please don't laugh at us, Brother Jiang."

Jiang Xun took the teacup.

"She is quite right."

Song Zhiran was startled.

"Those who dream big often go further than those who don't dare to dream," Jiang Xun said. "It's just that they have to endure more hardships along the way."

Song Zhiran looked at him for a long time and then smiled. There was no bitterness in that smile, only a faint sense of relief at being understood.

"Brother Jiang is right."

The two raised their teacups and clinked them together.

The tea was warm and slightly bitter upon entry.

...

By the time Jiang Xun left the Song Manor, the sun was directly overhead.

Song Zhiran wanted to keep him for lunch, but Jiang Xun declined.

His excuse was, "My wife will be angry if I return late."

Hearing this, Song Zhiran didn't try to make him stay any longer; after all, it was a woman managing the household.

Before parting, he asked, "Shall we go to the Empress Temple outside the city to pay our respects together later?"

Clearly, Song Zhiran's enthusiasm for their meeting had not yet waned.

Since coming to Lean County, he had encountered nothing but ignorant people who only pretended to be refined.

But meeting someone truly talented like Jiang Xun made him immensely happy.

Jiang Xun replied, "I'll certainly go if I have the time."

Then the two went their separate ways.

He walked very slowly on the way back.

With the Autumn Examination approaching, students from all over were rushing there.

According to the background White Fox Jiu had fabricated for him, he was a scholar who had encountered mountain bandits on his way to the capital for the exams.

Since he was a scholar, he should at least have the status of a Xiucai.

But he didn't.

He had no documents issued by the county school, no records in the government files—nothing at all.

He was a person without an identity who had appeared out of thin air.

He suspected that fox probably hadn't thought that far ahead.

Jiang Xun's footsteps paused at the thought.

When White Fox Jiu made up the story for him, she probably didn't expect him to participate in the Autumn Examination.

Or rather, she had no intention of letting him leave Lean County at all.

He continued forward.

Soon, he returned to the wine shop.

The door curtain of the Shili Xiang Tavern hung down, swaying in the wind.

Chun Cui stood at the door, attending to a group of guests coming and going.

Seeing Jiang Xun, she immediately patted the dust off her skirt and ran over.

"Young Master is back."

"Yes." Jiang Xun nodded. "Where is the shopkeeper?"

"She's in the back room doing the accounts," Chun Cui said.

Jiang Xun lifted the curtain and walked through the front hall.

Tao Fu was behind the counter pouring wine for a customer; he grinned at him but didn't speak.

The back room door was slightly ajar, and the click-clack of abacus beads could be heard from inside.

Jiang Xun pushed the door open and entered.

White Fox Jiu was sitting at the table with several account books spread out before her.

She was turning pages with one hand and flicking the abacus with the other, her movements rapid. A cup of tea sat on the table, already cold, with a ring of tea stain on the rim.

Today she wore a pale blueBeizi(beizi jacket), her hair held up by a wooden hairpin, revealing a section of her fair neck.

Hearing the door open, she looked up and asked, "What did Young Master Song want with you?"

Jiang Xun sat across from her and said naturally, "We chatted about the Autumn Examination."

White Fox Jiu's hand stopped on the abacus.

"Autumn Examination?" She lowered her head and continued with the abacus. "You're going?"

"I want to go," Jiang Xun said. "Young Master Song said that with my talent, passing the Juren exam shouldn't be difficult."

White Fox Jiu didn't say anything.

The abacus beads danced under her fingertips, making crisp sounds.

Click-clack, click-clack, like a small rainstorm.

It felt like she was still sulking about last night.

Jiang Xun waited for a moment, and seeing no reaction, he spoke again:

"I have a question, though."

"What question?"

"Since I'm a scholar, why don't I even have the status of a Xiucai?" he asked directly.

Jiang Xun knew White Fox Jiu must have some plan, but that plan required him to truly have amnesia.

Now, he was proactively exposing some flaws.

This was to reasonably doubt the authenticity of White Fox Jiu's identity as his wife.

But he couldn't doubt her too much.

To prevent her from turning hostile.

White Fox Jiu's fingers stopped in mid-air.

The abacus went silent again.

White Fox Jiu set down the account book and looked up at Jiang Xun.

Her expression didn't change; she still had that gentle look with a faint smile.

"You didn't pay the County Magistrate, so you couldn't get the Xiucai degree."

Jiang Xun frowned.

"Pay money?"

How did this fox know about this? Logically, she shouldn't care about such things.

"Yes." White Fox Jiu lowered her head again and turned a page of the account book. "That's just how the world is."

"If you want to be a Xiucai, you have to send gifts to the County Magistrate first. Our Family didn't have the money, so we didn't send any. And you were unwilling to beg others, so the matter was dropped."

Her explanation was seamless.

The tone was flat, the details specific, and she even added a personality trait like 'you were unwilling to beg others'.

After refining Ximen Shu's Divine Soul, she naturally knew many of Lean County's unsavory secrets.

For example, that a Xiucai degree could be bought with money.

Jiang Xun said, "But if I don't even have a Xiucai degree, why would I go to the capital for the exams? And how would I encounter mountain bandits?"

"You were the one who said that even without the status of a Xiucai, you would still go to the capital," White Fox Jiu chuckled. "Because a person with talent will not be buried."

Jiang Xun felt a headache; did that sound like something he would say?

Now that he supposedly had amnesia, whatever he had said or done was whatever this fox spirit claimed.

"And now?" he asked.

"Now what?"

"If I want a Xiucai status," Jiang Xun said firmly, "how much money do I need to send?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to take the Autumn Examination," Jiang Xun said. "Without a Xiucai degree, I can't even enter the examination hall."

White Fox Jiu put down the abacus and folded her hands on the table.

Her posture was very upright, her back straight, and her chin slightly raised.

"One hundred taels," she said.

"One hundred taels?!" Jiang Xun feigned shock. Although he had already known, he had to show astonishment at the figure.

After all, he was currently a Mortal.

One hundred taels was enough for an ordinary Family to live on for ten years.

"Yes. Between the gift for the County Magistrate and the grease for the yamen, one hundred taels should be about enough."

Jiang Xun fell silent for a moment.

"Can our Family afford it?"

White Fox Jiu didn't answer immediately.

She lowered her eyes to the worn-out account book on the table, her lips slightly pursed.

"We can't," she said.

"There's no money in the accounts."

Jiang Xun poured himself a cup of tea, picked it up, and took a sip.

"Our shop's daily business is good; how can there be no money?"

"The business is good, but we just took over this shop, and we haven't earned back the capital yet."

White Fox Jiu paused and added, "And the medicine you drink costs several taels per dose."

"After all these days, our savings are almost gone."

Jiang Xun remained silent.

He knew progress wouldn't be that easy, but he just wanted to send a signal.

A signal that he wanted to go out.

"Husband, do you know why I don't want you to go?" White Fox Jiu spoke again.

"Why?"

"Because it's too chaotic outside."

She kept her head lowered. "Your body has just recovered. If something happens on the road again... what would I do?"