Chapter 10 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

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Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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The entire Wu family gathered around Wu Kang'an, helping him pack for his departure to the provincial capital.

 

Just then, there was a knock at the courtyard door.

 

Wu fulang went to answer it and found Dong Heng standing there. He was puzzled—why had Dong Heng come to their home?

 

Fortunately, Dong Heng didn't keep him wondering for long. He said, "Auntie, I have something I'd like to discuss with your family. May I come in?"

 

Although Wu Kang'an had cut ties with Dong Heng as friends, only Wu Bai knew about it. The rest of the Wu family had no issues with Dong Heng. He was a respectable young man in the village, and the Wu and Dong families had never had any quarrels or grudges, so naturally, Wu fulang did not turn him away.

 

As the family watched Dong Heng enter, they glanced at Wu fulang, their faces curious as if asking why he had come.

 

Wu fulang also wasn't sure what business Dong Heng had with their family, but now that he'd been invited in, he addressed him directly, "Dong family's boy, you mentioned at the door that you had something to say. Now that we're all here, go ahead."

 

Hearing her words, everyone in the Wu family looked expectantly at Dong Heng, waiting to hear what he had to say.

 

Wu Kang'an, in particular, was eager to see what Dong Heng was up to. He recalled having cut ties with him, and hadn't expected Dong Heng to show up at his house. If his family weren't all here, he might have gone over to give Dong Heng a piece of his mind.

 

Dong Heng gave a respectful bow to Father Wu before speaking. "Uncle, I understand you're busy preparing for Wu Erge's* upcoming journey to the provincial capital. Since I've been to the capital before and know my way around, as well as some of the dos and don'ts for the prefectural exam, I thought I'd come by today to offer my assistance."

 

[T/N: Erge - Second brother.]

 

Upon hearing this, Father Wu was not particularly pleased. He was well beyond his youth, old enough to understand that unsolicited kindness often came with strings attached. So he didn't respond immediately to Dong Heng's offer.

 

Wu Erge's fulang, however, reacted differently. The moment he heard that Dong Heng was willing to help his husband, his face lit up with a smile. After all, if his husband passed the exam with Dong Heng's help, he would gain the title of a scholar's husband.

 

He beamed, saying, "That would be wonderful! We can't accompany him to the capital, and none of us have been there before, so we were indeed worried. Dong Heng, you're truly a kind and helpful young man…"

 

But before he could finish, Father Wu cut in bluntly, "What do you want in return?"

 

His words made Wu Erfulang* pause. That's right, he thought, who would help others without expecting something in return? Besides, if Wu Kang'an didn't pass the exam, Dong Heng would remain the only xiucai in the village.

 

[T/N: Wu Erfulang - Second brother's fulang.]

 

Dong Heng hadn't expected Father Wu to address his intentions so directly. He had merely wanted to use this opportunity to strengthen his relationship with the Wu family. Now that his motives were called into question, denying them would only make him seem insincere.

 

Thinking quickly, Dong Heng decided to reveal his true intentions, hoping that honesty would reflect well on him.

 

Looking slightly bashful, he glanced quickly at Wu Bai before saying, "Uncle, I simply wanted you to give me a chance."

 

He left the specifics unsaid, but his earlier glances had made it clear to the entire Wu family what kind of "chance" he was after.

 

Understanding his meaning, Wu Erfulang was immediately pleased. To him, this was a small matter—agreeing to it was no big deal. Dong Heng was the village's only xiucai, so even if Wu Bai did marry him, it wouldn't be a poor match. And after all, Dong Heng had only asked for a chance.

 

Wu Bai, however, remembered enough from the original host's previous life to know that Dong Heng's true intention was to use the Wu family's resources to continue his education and eventually pursue an official position.

 

The Wu family wasn't likely to help him without reason, so the moment Dong Heng arrived, Wu Bai knew he still targeted him. Thus, he wasn't particularly surprised by Dong Heng's proposal.

 

Unlike the others' silence, Wu Kang'an reacted sharply. His face darkened, and he said sternly, "Absolutely not. I don't agree."

 

Seeing his strong reaction, the others quickly discarded their momentary indecision. Since Wu Kang'an didn't want Dong Heng's help, they had no desire to risk upsetting him right before the exam, lest it impact his performance.

 

Dong Heng, who had been gauging the expressions of Father Wu and the others, thought he was close to winning them over—only for Wu Kang'an to step in and reject him flatly. His face fell instantly, and with a flare of temper, he flung his sleeve and stormed out of the Wu household.

 

The village head and his fulang exchanged a relieved look as they watched him leave. They silently thanked their lucky stars that they hadn't arranged for their youngest son to marry Dong Heng. With his temperament, their beloved son would likely have suffered if he married him.

 

While most in the family weren't disappointed by Dong Heng's departure, the only one who seemed downcast was Wu Erfulang. In his view, Dong Heng's help would have greatly increased Wu Kang'an's chances of passing the exam. But since Wu Kang'an had driven him off, he didn't dare voice his disappointment and kept it to himself.

 

Suddenly, he recalled something his mother had mentioned before.

 

Near his family's village was a temple reputed to be very efficacious. Previously, someone in the village had a gravely ill mother who didn't improve despite various treatments. In desperation, the man went to this temple to pray for the Bodhisattva's blessing*, and the very next day, his mother's health began to improve. In another instance, a wife who had been unable to conceive after marriage also prayed there, and soon after, she became pregnant and eventually gave birth to twins.

 

[T/N: In Mahayana Buddhism, when people pray for the Bodhisattva's blessing, they are typically seeking guidance, protection, compassion, and assistance on their spiritual journey. Bodhisattvas are considered compassionate beings who have vowed to help all sentient beings attain enlightenment, and their blessings are often believed to aid in overcoming suffering, gaining wisdom, and progressing on the path to awakening.

The term "Bodhisattva" comes from two Sanskrit words: bodhi (meaning "awakening" or "enlightenment") and sattva (meaning "being" or "person").]

 

This thought gave Wu Erfulang a burst of urgency. He hurried to his bedroom and quickly packed his bags. His plan was to return to his family village the day after Wu Kang'an set out, and while he was there, he'd make a trip to the temple to pray for Wu Kang'an's success in the exam.

 

The others didn't know what he was thinking and assumed he was simply helping Wu Kang'an pack. Preoccupied with their own tasks, they didn't pay him much mind.

 

Meanwhile, Wu Bai, thinking about how to support Wu Kang'an's advancement, decided he would accompany him to the provincial capital.

 

The capital was bustling, full of wealthy people with business opportunities. Wu Bai intended to share some of the money-making ideas in his head with the locals. That way, whether or not Wu Kang'an passed the exam, the Wu family would have the means to continue funding his studies.

 

Over lunch, Wu Bai brought up his wish to accompany Wu Kang'an to the capital.

 

Though he was the most cherished child in the family, his parents were stunned by this request.

 

Their immediate reaction? An emphatic refusal.

 

"No way!"

 

Seeing their resolute stance, even his two older brothers and sisters-in-law gave him disapproving looks, as if he'd spoken some nonsense. Wu Bai couldn't help feeling a little frustrated.

 

But he quickly devised a plan: he would employ every bit of charm he had, wheedling and pleading relentlessly.

 

As their beloved youngest, the family could hardly resist him when he put on such an adorable act. Reluctantly, they agreed—on one condition: Father Wu would accompany both Wu Bai and Wu Kang'an to the provincial capital. Partly to keep an eye on his precious ger, and partly to support Wu Kang'an through his exam.

 

In fact, Father Wu had long harbored concerns for his son but, constrained by conventional thinking, had never considered going to the provincial capital with him.

 

But inspired by Wu Bai's suggestion, he realized he could accompany his son as well, not only to provide support but also to ease his own worries by knowing his son's situation firsthand.

 

Even though his son had assured him that academy teachers and fellow students would be with him, Father Wu couldn't shake the anxiety that came with having his child travel far from home. Going with them to the provincial capital felt like the only way to truly ease his mind.

 

Having decided to go, Father Wu wasted no time. After lunch, he made another trip to town and spent some silver to rent a carriage.

 

The provincial capital was quite a distance away, and unlike an ox cart with just a flat board and some benches, a carriage could offer both privacy and cover. Given that he would be traveling with his youngest son, it was the better choice.

 

When he returned with the carriage, Wu fulang had already prepared provisions for the journey with the help of their two daughters-in-law and Wu Bai.

 

Taking advantage of the moment, they loaded the carriage with everything they'd need for the trip to avoid delays the next morning.

 

In the village, even an ox cart was a rarity, let alone a horse-drawn carriage.

 

Thus, as soon as the village head drove the carriage back, word spread, and curious villagers gathered around his home to get a closer look.

 

Someone called out, "Village head, what's all this?"

 

Before he could answer, another spoke up, "I'll bet the village head has come into some money and bought himself a carriage."

 

"What a handsome horse! So lively and strong!"

 

"Hey, why are you loading the carriage with all those things?"

 

"Village head, are you moving to town?"

 

"Moving to town? Did you buy a house there?"

 

"Well, I'd move to town too if I bought a place there."

 

"Village head, how much was the house? Are you selling your place here? How much would you take?"

 

Seeing the villagers' speculations getting out of hand, the village head quickly put an end to it. "Everyone, listen! We haven't bought a house in town, nor are we moving. My second son is going to the provincial capital to take the prefectural exam, so we've rented this carriage to help him carry his things. We're packing right now and don't have time to host visitors, so please, everyone, head on home!"

 

In the crowd, Dong fulang's heart grew complicated at the news. He recalled his son telling him that Wu Kang'an's academic abilities were weak at best, and passing even the tongsheng exam was already impressive for him. Yet now, he was going to the capital to take the prefectural exam.

 

If Wu Kang'an passed, his son would no longer be the sole xiucai in the village. This thought soured his mood, and he left with the dispersing crowd.

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