Chapter 35: Given by My Wife
There were still half a month until the provincial examination.
Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue stood at the village entrance, both carrying small bundles.
In front of them was the Village Chief's family.
"Village Chief, are you really not going to try this time?" Xiao Mo asked the Village Chief.
The Village Chief was also a scholar, so he could naturally participate in the provincial examination.
"Forget it, forget it." The Village Chief shook his head. "I'm already fifty years old, so I won't bother. Even if I go to take the exam, it would just be a waste of travel expenses. It's better to buy some nice clothes for Ying'er. Xiao Mo, study hard, we'll wait for your good news."
"It's fine if you don't pass. Look at your Village Chief, he's been taking exams for decades and hasn't passed once. As long as you want to take it, you can continue to take it in the future. If it really doesn't work out, you can open a private school like your Village Chief and just barely make a living."
Chen Yi said to Xiao Mo.
Although Chen Yi was a woman, she knew that some people studied until they died without becoming a Provincial Graduate.
For example, her husband.
"I know, Chen Yi, I'll just do my best." Xiao Mo smiled and nodded.
"It's good that you know. Don't go seeking death if you don't do well on the exam. You still owe my family a lot of dry rations."
Chen Yi rolled her eyes at Xiao Mo, then pulled Bai Ruxue over, seemingly instructing her on something, before handing her a face cloth.
Half an incense stick later, Xiao Mo cupped his hands in farewell and got into the carriage.
Bai Ruxue drove the carriage, taking Xiao Mo to the prefectural city.
"Did Chen Yi say anything to you?" Xiao Mo asked, sitting beside Bai Ruxue.
"Chen Yi said that I'm too beautiful and there are many scions in the county town, so I might attract a lot of trouble. So she told me to be careful, to definitely wear a face cloth once we enter the city, and never to leave your side," Bai Ruxue said truthfully.
"Hmm." Xiao Mo nodded.
What Chen Yi considered was indeed reasonable.
His current identity as a scholar was indeed not enough to protect her.
However, if something happened, Bai Ruxue should also be fine.
Perhaps Bai Ruxue herself didn't know that she was already a Cultivator of the Dragon Gate Realm.
If she took another step forward, she would form a Golden Core.
Her cultivation talent was as exaggerated as Jiang Qingyi's.
So, it would be good if ordinary scions weren't devoured by her.
It's just...
Xiao Mo glanced at the woman's profile.
Qingyi was decisive and wouldn't let herself suffer any losses.
But as a demon, she was too kind.
This was a good thing, and also a bad thing.
Six days later, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue entered the prefectural city of Jiangnan Prefecture.
"Candied hawthorns for sale! Candied hawthorns! Two coins a skewer!"
"Please come in, esteemed guest."
"Esteemed guest, are you stopping for a meal or staying the night?"
"Young Master, you haven't been here in so long, I've missed you so much."
Upon entering the prefectural city, the shouts of vendors and various trades echoed one after another, and pedestrians came and went on both sides of the street.
There were scholars in green robes.
There were Young Masters from wealthy families.
There were young women leading little girls with braided hair.
Looking at everything in the prefectural city, Bai Ruxue's eyes suddenly lit up.
Coming from the mountains, the most frequent place Bai Ruxue had visited was Shiqiao Village at the foot of the mountain. She had never even entered Qingshan City, let alone a prefectural city.
After storing the carriage, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue to find an inn.
Scholars participating in the provincial examination had a special price for staying at inns, and it wasn't too expensive.
After putting down their luggage, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue to walk on the streets of the prefectural city, observing the prosperity of the Human Race.
Bai Ruxue looked here and there.
Everything in the city was very new to the young girl.
"Xiao Mo, I want to eat candied hawthorns!" Bai Ruxue's fair, tender hand grasped Xiao Mo's wrist and shook it.
Xiao Mo gave two coins and bought a skewer of candied hawthorns. Bai Ruxue slightly lifted her veil and took a bite.
The initial sweetness in her mouth made the girl's eyes light up.
However, after one bite, the sourness of the hawthorn made her eyes narrow.
The old man selling candied hawthorns was also stunned.
He had never seen such a beautiful woman.
Bai Ruxue walked forward, eating the hawthorn, occasionally holding the candied hawthorn to Xiao Mo's face: "Xiao Mo, you eat some too."
Xiao Mo shook his head, indicating that he didn't like to eat candied hawthorns.
Bai Ruxue didn't understand, the candied hawthorns were clearly quite delicious.
"Buns for sale! Buns for sale!"
On one side of the street, the shouts for buns could be heard.
Xiao Mo couldn't help but stop and look at the bun shop.
"Xiao Mo, do you want to eat buns? Then I'll go buy them for you," Bai Ruxue said.
"No." Xiao Mo shook his head. "I just remembered someone."
"Someone?" Bai Ruxue asked curiously.
"It's nothing." Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head, continuing to walk forward.
Bai Ruxue didn't pay it any mind either.
Passing by Yunyan Pavilion, Bai Ruxue saw those lightly dressed women pulling men into the building, practically sticking to them.
Bai Ruxue asked curiously: "Xiao Mo, what kind of place is that? Why are those women dressed so sparsely and pulling men inside?"
Xiao Mo glanced at it and explained: "That's a brothel."
"What is a brothel?"
"A brothel is... it's a place for matters between men and women."
"Matters between men and women? What kind of matters are those? You're a man, I'm a woman, so can we do that too?"
"..."
"Xiao Mo, tell me, tell me..."
"Little girl, don't ask too many questions." Xiao Molightly tapped Bai Ruxue's head.
Bai Ruxue rubbed her head, pouted her small mouth and mumbled: "I'm clearly a big girl!"
However, Bai Ruxue wasn't annoyed. She continued to walk forward, pulling Xiao Mo's wrist: "Xiao Mo."
"What's wrong?"
"In the future, for these matters between men and women, you have to find me, okay?"
Xiao Mo's eyebrow twitched, unsure how to respond.
For the next few days, Xiao Mo studied in his inn room.
Although the street was lively, without Xiao Moaccompanying her, Bai Ruxue also found it uninteresting.
Soon, the provincial examination began.
Xiao Mo was going to the examination hall to take the exam.
"The Qi provincial examination will last for three days. During these three days, Bai Guniang must 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 on the exam! It's okay if you don't do well, Chen Yi said that only the God of Literature can pass the Provincial Graduate exam, and you're not the God of Literature."
"I really thank you for that." Xiao Mo tapped Bai Ruxue's head. "I'm going."
Xiao Mo turned and entered the examination hall.
Before entering the examination hall, a body search was required. The petty official vigorously patted and felt Xiao Mo's body.
Xiao Mo felt that he was either being diligent or was from Sichuan and Chongqing.
"What is this?" The petty official looked at the snake scale on Xiao Mo's chest.
"A protective talisman."
Xiao Mo turned his head and glanced at the young girl who was still looking out from outside the examination hall.
"My wife gave it to me."