Chapter 14 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

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

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As the carriage rumbled along toward the inn, they passed a teahouse, and Wu Bai asked the driver to stop.

 

Turning to Xiao Zimo, he invited him with a soft smile, "Would you care to join me for a cup of tea, Xiao gongzi?"

 

Xiao Zimo, thrilled by the invitation, readily agreed. They entered the teahouse and took a private room on the second floor.

 

After the server brought tea and left, Wu Bai, seated across from Xiao Zimo, gazed out the window, listening to the storyteller downstairs. Casually, he began, "It seems fate has brought us together, but we haven't properly introduced ourselves. And with how you helped me today, I feel I owe you my gratitude."

 

After a pause, Wu Bai continued, "My name is Wu Bai. I'm fifteen, from Xingfeng Village in Nanping Town, Qinghuai County, and I'm yet unmarried."

 

Hearing Wu Bai's introduction sent a warm rush through Xiao Zimo's heart. He wondered if Wu Bai was subtly hinting at something, but a glance at Wu Bai's calm expression showed he seemed unaware of the impact of his words.

 

Suppressing a self-mocking smile, Xiao Zimo introduced himself as well. "I am Xiao Zimo. I come from the capital, where my parents live, along with my siblings."

 

"Oh?" Wu Bai raised a brow, smiling slightly. "You didn't mention whether you are married, Xiao gongzi. Could it be that you are already wedded and thus avoid the topic?"

 

When Xiao Zimo hesitated to disclose his marital status, Wu Bai's heart tightened. Clutching his teacup, he resolved to ask directly, deciding that if Xiao Zimo truly had a family in this life, he would not pursue him, even if he had been his husband in his past life.

 

Startled, Xiao Zimo quickly clarified, "No, I am not married, but…"

 

"But what?" Wu Bai relaxed his grip on the teacup and pressed for more.

 

"But," Xiao Zimo explained, a bit embarrassed, "my elders have arranged a match for me and are urging me to return for the wedding." He looked away, unable to meet Wu Bai's gaze.

 

He felt a pang of guilt. Although his family had already chosen a spouse for him, here he was, allowing himself to grow close to another.

 

"Believe me, Bai ger, it's not what I want. I don't wish to marry him—that's why I ran off to Lizhou Prefecture. And now, after meeting you, I feel it was all meant to be. The person I actually wish to marry is you."

 

Wu Bai's expression softened, and he asked, "Won't your family oppose you marrying someone like me?"

 

"Don't worry," Xiao Zimo promised, "I'll handle everything. I won't let you suffer any injustice."

 

With their hearts laid bare, they continued talking for a while longer until Xiao Zimo, reluctantly, took Wu Bai back.

 

When Wu Bai returned to the small courtyard by carriage, there were already quite a few people gathered there. Many had seen him arrive, and once the carriage departed, most of them swarmed over, eager to find out who had brought him back. Naturally, Father Wu and his second brother were also among them.

 

However, Wu Bai wasn't inclined to share his personal matters with others. He turned to his father and brother, saying, "Father, Second Brother, come with me. I have something to tell you in private." With that, he headed toward his room.

 

Father Wu and Wu Kang'an exchanged glances and followed him inside.

 

The other people in the courtyard, sensing that Wu Bai did not want to reveal anything to them, wisely dispersed. To them, Wu Bai's personal affairs were of little importance. What truly mattered was the upcoming prefectural exam.

 

Once inside, Wu Bai closed the door, then pulled out the sixty taels of silver he'd earned and handed them to his father.

 

Father Wu stared at the silver in shock, as if it were a hot coal, and asked anxiously, "Bai ger, where did you get all this silver?"

 

Wu Kang'an, his second brother, looked equally concerned.

 

Wu Bai quickly explained, "Father, Second Brother, don't worry. I earned it honestly. Remember the jewelry designs you saw me drawing yesterday? I sold them."

 

"But weren't you just drawing those for fun? How did they end up fetching this much?" Father Wu's expression was a mix of surprise and disbelief.

 

Wu Kang'an, who had known the designs could sell, hadn't imagined they'd be worth so much. "Where did you sell them?" he asked.

 

"To the jade shop we visited the other day. They deal in jewelry as well," Wu Bai replied honestly.

 

"The jade shop?" Wu Kang'an repeated, then suddenly recalled something and asked, with urgency, "Was the man who brought you back today that Xiao Zimo?"

 

Though he phrased it as a question, his tone was almost certain.

 

Since his brother had guessed correctly, Wu Bai saw no need to hide the truth and admitted, "Yes, it was him."

 

"Xiao gongzi? Why would he bring you back?" Father Wu asked, confused.

 

"Why else? He must have taken a liking to our little ger," Wu Kang'an replied with a resigned sigh.

 

Wu Bai's father looked doubtful. "That can't be! Xiao gongzi seems to be from a wealthy family. Why would he be interested in our Bai ger?" He wasn't blind, after all!

 

Wu Bai: "..." Father, am I not your precious little ger?

 

Just when Wu Bai thought his father's remark was disheartening enough, his second brother added, "Of course he doesn't genuinely like Bai ger. He probably thinks Bai ger is too naive and plans to deceive him both in heart and body, only to abandon him afterward."

 

"But Xiao gongzi doesn't seem like that kind of person!" Father Wu commented, a bit surprised.

 

"Exactly! I can guarantee that Xiao Zimo isn't that type of person," Wu Bai declared confidently.

 

"Look at him!" Wu Kang'an exclaimed, frustrated. "Our little ger has only met Xiao Zimo twice, and he already trusts him so blindly. Those noblemen often have many tricks up their sleeves, they're skilled at this kind of manipulation. Father, you must keep an eye on Bai ger from now on. Don't let him see Xiao Zimo again. If Xiao Zimo deceives Bai ger into doing something foolish, how will you explain it to Mother?"

 

Since Wu Kang'an needed to focus on his upcoming exams, he entrusted their father with the task of watching over Wu Bai.

 

Agreeing that his son's concerns weren't unwarranted, Father Wu promised to be vigilant.

 

As a result, Wu Bai didn't have another chance to meet with Xiao Zimo alone again until Wu Kang'an's prefectural exam was over.

 

Although Wu Bai believed that Xiao Zimo would never harm him, his father and brother didn't share his confidence. However, Wu Bai held no resentment because he knew they were acting out of concern for him. He firmly believed that even if they were separated for now, they would ultimately be together.

 

...

 

While waiting with his father and brother on the second floor of the inn for the exam results to be posted, Wu Bai received a letter.

 

The letter was from Xiao Zimo, who explained that he had returned to the imperial capital, because his father had fallen ill, requiring him to leave abruptly. Unable to bid Wu Bai farewell in person, he entrusted this letter to be delivered to him. In it, Xiao Zimo promised that he would resolve his arranged marriage and asked Wu Bai to wait for him.

 

Wu Bai trusted Xiao Zimo's words and believed he would do everything necessary to come back for him.

 

Watching his younger brother smiling happily at the letter, Wu Kang'an felt a pang of regret. Perhaps he shouldn't have brought his innocent little brother to the provincial capital; now his pure-hearted rabbit was being swept away by a cunning wolf.

 

Meanwhile, their father was leaning out the window, craning his neck, hoping to catch sight of the messenger bearing good news.

 

Prefectural exam results were usually posted at noon, so his anticipation was premature. Rather than return to their courtyard, they decided to be a little extravagant and ordered some food at the inn to continue waiting.

 

Soon after noon, the exam results were posted, and the city erupted with excitement. Everyone began discussing the new scholars who had passed.

 

Nearby private rooms were also full, and they could hear conversations drifting over from the next room.

 

"I bet Han Feiyu made the list."

 

"And Wei Cheng, I'm sure he topped it this time."

 

"No, no, this time the top spot should belong to Wu Xingwen. He's a prodigy—passed the exams for becoming a tongsheng at eight and is only ten now. Even his teacher says he has the knowledge to pass the juren* exam. Being the top of this exam should be easy for him."

 

[T/N: Scholar ranking from the lowest: 童生 (tóngshēng), 秀才 (xiùcái), 举人 (jùrén), 进士 (jìnshì).]

 

"Not likely. The top scorer should be Wei Cheng. He was mentored by a distinguished official from the Hanlin Academy who returned to his hometown from the capital to retire. Wu Xingwen may be talented, but he's still too young and lacks such a mentor. He might make the top three, but against Wei Cheng, he doesn't stand a chance."

 

"Haha, you all have good points."

 

"Look, someone's coming in to announce the results! I wonder which of our esteemed gentlemen here has had the honor of passing. Today's meal will be on them!"

 

"Sheng Zijin from Qinghe Village, Muyuan County—is Sheng Zijin here?" a loud voice called from downstairs.

 

"Here, here!" Sheng Zijin called out hurriedly.

 

"Congratulations, Brother Sheng!" a group of people swarmed around him, showering him with compliments.

 

"Look, here comes another announcer."

 

"It should be Brother Tang's turn this time!"

 

"Yes, it's Brother Tang! Congratulations!"

 

"Next should be Brother Li, right? He's the most knowledgeable among us—my early congratulations."

 

"Oh, not at all, haha…"

 

"Unbelievable, it's really Brother Li! My predictions are spot on today!"

 

"Wait, look! Another announcer is coming in. But who is it this time, placing even higher than Brother Li?"

 

As the announcers typically started from the lowest rank and called names in ascending order, those called later would rank higher.

 

Curiosity piqued, they heard the announcer below call out, "Wu Kang'an from Xingfeng Village, Qinghuai County—who is Wu Kang'an?"

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