A young book boy looked at the others’ reactions, finding the food hard to swallow, and sighed. “It’s already good enough to have something to fill our stomachs. Everyone just eat up. Otherwise, tomorrow we won’t have the energy to walk.”
Yu Qing reached out and patted Chong’er’s head. Chong’er turned around, saw it was him, quickly stood up, swallowed what was in her mouth, and said, “Young Master.”
Yu Qing glanced at the contents of her bowl and said calmly, “Put the bowl down and come with me.” With that, he turned and left.
Chong’er looked at the little food left in the wooden bucket, hesitated a bit, but did not dare disobey Yu Qing. She had to put down the bowl and follow him.
Yu Qing looked left and right until he stopped in front of a half-body-high earthen wall used by the soldiers for training. When Chong’er timidly arrived beside him, he reached into his clothes, pulled out an oil-paper package as if by magic, placed it on the earthen wall, and lifted his chin to signal. “Open it and take a look.”
Chong’er was doubtful but still reached out to untie it. When she opened the oil-paper package, she froze.
Inside the package was a pile of white rice, along with dishes, and in the dishes there was meat. The fragrant braised ribs looked extremely tempting.
Yu Qing said, “I brought this for you. Eat up.”
From the situation along the way, he could already tell that these book boys received the worst treatment. At the very least, it was definitely not as good as what the exam candidates like them ate. And as expected, it was not even as good as what the low-level soldiers ate. They probably just threw together the scraps and leftovers from cooking for everyone and made something casual out of it.
Chong’er was surprised. Her bright eyes stared blankly at him. She had never expected this young master to actually remember to bring food for her. She shook her head. “Young Master, you keep it for a midnight snack. I’m not hungry.”
Yu Qing scoffed. Whether she was hungry or not, he did not know, but he did know that this little servant could probably go a month without eating and still not starve to death. That one meal of spirit rice was not eaten for nothing. Just thinking about it made his heart ache. He snorted. “Hurry up. I told you to eat, so eat. Where does all this nonsense come from? Don’t make me angry.”
Chong’er was a little afraid of him. After he snapped at her, she quickly obeyed. She picked up a piece of rib with two fingers, took a bite, and the moment the soft, tender, fragrant taste hit her mouth, her nose suddenly stung badly.
How many years had it been? This was the first time someone had cared about her like this. Two crystal-clear teardrops slid down her cheeks.
Slap! Yu Qing casually smacked her on the bottom.
Chong’er’s body trembled violently. With the rib still in her mouth, her teary eyes widened, and she seemed completely stunned.
“What are you crying for? Acting like a girl. Hurry up and eat.” Yu Qing urged her.
Chong’er quickly lifted her sleeve to wipe her tears, then used both hands to stuff food into her mouth. She buried her head and ate hard, no longer able to cry.
He wondered how Ah Shiheng’s injury was recovering. Lost in thought without realising it, Yu Qing leaned against the earthen wall and gazed into the distance. Chong’er occasionally stole quiet glances at him.
The sky was dim and dark red. The two standing close could hardly see each other’s faces clearly.
After she finished eating everything, Yu Qing finally got to the main point. “You must keep a close eye on the luggage we are travelling with. Pay extra attention, understand?”
This was the real reason he had brought food to Chong’er. The twenty jin of spirit rice was still officially Xu Fei’s on the surface, and the luggage was under Chong’er’s care.
Chong’er, sucking the oil from her fingers, naturally nodded in agreement.
Yu Qing waved his hand. “Go on, go back and rest early. Build up your strength so you can travel tomorrow and also have the energy to watch the luggage properly.”
Chong’er nodded again with an “mm.”
As the two walked back one after the other, Yu Qing suddenly asked, “Where do you sleep?”
He needed to confirm this. If he wanted to check the luggage in the middle of the night, he had to know where Chong’er was located.
Chong’er pointed to a spot under the eaves. “I was assigned to sleep under that section of eaves.”
Yu Qing was stunned. “Under the eaves? That bit of eaves up there won’t even block the wind. With your body, how can you spend the night like that?”
Chong’er pointed again to the large pile of straw stacked in the drill ground. “It’s fine. They gave us straw to pad with. Later we can spread the bedding on top.”
Yu Qing frowned slightly. “Do all the book boys sleep like this?”
At this time, “book boy” was just a general term for certain people. Some candidates had even brought family members from home. The book boy role was generally not allowed for females, because it was inconvenient for women to mix in a group of men, and they were afraid of any incidents on the road that might damage the reputation of the prefecture’s scholarly atmosphere.
Chong’er pointed towards the rows of tents in the drill ground. “Some sleep in tents.”
Yu Qing was suspicious. “Then why were you assigned to sleep under the eaves? Is there any special reason? Could someone be deliberately bullying you?”
Chong’er said seriously, “Young Master, you worry too much. No one is bullying Chong’er, and there is no special reason. After the officer in charge of managing the book boys gathered everyone, he just gestured roughly like this and divided the sleeping spots in a general way.”
“So that’s how it is!” Yu Qing raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, missed, then touched his chin instead. His gaze flickered for a moment before he waved his hand. “Come on, take me to see which officer is in charge of you lot.”
Chong’er realised what he meant and quickly waved her hands. “Young Master Shiheng, it’s fine, really fine. The tents also just have straw to sleep on.”
Yu Qing gave her a cold sideways glance.
The moment she met that look, Chong’er wilted instantly. She lowered her head right away and led the way.
In the middle of several tents, a bonfire burned. A few soldiers sat around it, boiling some kind of soup to drink.
Chong’er pointed to the big-bearded soldier in the middle, then hid behind a tent, not daring to go any further.
Yu Qing strode over confidently. When he reached the bonfire, the soldiers turned one after another. Seeing his attire, they were somewhat surprised, wondering what this exam candidate was doing here.
Yu Qing scanned the group, then beckoned to the big-bearded soldier, signalling for him to follow.
The big-bearded man exchanged looks with the others, stood up slowly with a face full of doubt, but still followed. After catching up in a few steps, he gave a fake smile and said coldly, “Esteemed provincial graduate, where exactly are you taking me?” Clearly he did not take this so-called provincial graduate too seriously.
Yu Qing said nothing. He casually slung an arm over the man’s shoulder, almost forcing him to the spot behind the tent where Chong’er was. The other man had just shrugged off the arm in annoyance when Yu Qing’s open palm appeared before his eyes, revealing three pieces of broken silver, freezing him in place like a body-binding technique.
He might not recognise people, but he could not fail to recognise money. The soldier, who had just looked angry, froze, then immediately broke into a smile. “Could the esteemed provincial graduate be intending to reward me?”
Yu Qing nodded towards Chong’er. “This is my book boy. Look at his small frame. I’m afraid he’ll catch a chill sleeping outside and fall ill all the way to the capital. Not good. Along the journey, could you, sir, take a bit more care of him?”
So that was the reason. The big-bearded man acted swiftly, grabbing the broken silver into his hand at once, and laughed. “This is simple. Esteemed provincial graduate, put your mind at ease. I guarantee he won’t feel a hint of cold wind while sleeping the whole way.”
Yu Qing pointed at Chong’er again. “I heard the carriages they ride in are rotated. Most of the time they have to walk. Look at his thin arms and legs. His stamina definitely cannot compare to others. We cannot be unreasonable, right? If you could look after him a little along the way, when we reach the capital, I will certainly not treat you unfairly.”
The big-bearded man stuffed the silver into his clothes and said in a low voice, “It’s rare to meet a sensible provincial graduate like you. Unlike others who think they are already half officials and don’t put us rough fellows in their eyes. You can rest assured about your book boy. But one thing first: I cannot bend the rules on the rotating carriage rests. If I stir up public anger, I cannot bear it. But I can assign someone to watch the luggage cart and put your book boy on the luggage cart to sit. What do you think?”
“Sir, you are a straightforward man.” Yu Qing patted him on the back, which counted as agreement. He nodded towards Chong’er. “This kid has walked all day and is tired. Let him rest early.”
“No problem. I’ll handle it right away!” The big-bearded man thumped his chest and left. A piece of meat had fallen from the sky. He had inexplicably earned some money and was delighted.
Soon, a sleeping spot in one of the tents was arranged. After the straw was spread on the ground, Chong’er knelt down and crawled around, spreading out the bedding.
Once Chong’er had finished laying it out, Yu Qing, standing nearby, pointed to the luggage placed beside the sleeping spot. “Remember to keep a good watch on the luggage.”
This was the real purpose of him helping Chong’er settle everything. He was afraid the luggage would be left outside and stolen.
“Mm.” Chong’er nodded hard.
“Rest early. No need to get up. No need to see me off. I’m going.” Yu Qing stopped Chong’er, who was about to stand, glanced at the other book boys in the tent who were also busy laying out their bedding, then turned and left. After walking a few steps with his hands behind his back, he could not help muttering, “Acting like he’s really my book boy.”
There was no choice. He knew very well that Xu Fei was currently very popular and was being dragged around to socialise everywhere. How would he have time to care about how his book boy was doing now?
As for the money he had spent, it was rare generosity on his part. He did not feel the slightest heartache. After all, it was not his own money he was spending. He refused to believe that when this matter came up later, Xu Fei would have the face to make him pay for it. Spending someone else’s money to buy people’s hearts, why not be generous about it?
A slit was parted in the tent flap. Chong’er’s quietly watching eyes were lit bright by the nearby bonfire. She kept watching until the swaying, looking-around figure of Yu Qing disappeared completely. Only then did she return to her spot and lie down fully clothed.
Of course she knew her own Young Master Xu was busy and had no time for her. But she also knew that even if her own young master were not busy, he would not go to such lengths to arrange her lodging like this.
It was not that her young master was bad. It was just that she knew he would only follow the crowd and let his book boy accept the uniform arrangements. He would not go out of his way to take special care like this.
Especially something like packing food from the table and bringing it to her. Her own young master would absolutely never do something that damaged his dignity.
That meal wrapped in oil paper had really been fragrant. Even now she seemed to be able to smell that aroma. When she grabbed and ate it, it was still hot. Even now she could feel that warmth.
Fragrant and warm. With the corners of her mouth curved up, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, smiling as she slept. There was none of the sighing and exhaustion the other book boys felt after the long journey…
Early the next morning, Yu Qing found Chong’er again. After confirming the luggage was fine, he took out another oil-paper package and gave it to her, instructing, “Eat it discreetly. It won’t look good if people see. If everyone starts doing this, with hundreds of people taking portions, they will probably set rules. Then even if there is good food, you won’t get any.”
“Mm.” Chong’er nodded hard. She also understood what Yu Qing meant. It was not just this once or twice. From now on, morning and evening, he would bring food for her.