Before they knew it, the day of Xiao Liulang's test had arrived.
Gu Jiao got up early, prepared the dough, steamed a batch of solid white steamed buns, and also made a pot of mushroom soup.
The mushrooms were collected from the mountain. The ones picked the first time had already been consumed, and the remaining ones which were recently picked were to be sold at the market later that day.
She also picked some fungus, but fresh fungus was toxic and could only be consumed after it was dried in the sun.
While waiting for the rice to cook, she went inside the house and took her medicine.
Her wounds on the wrist and back of her head were better now, and she was almost done with her oral medication. The ointment, however, was still more than half a tube left.
Meanwhile, Xiao Liulang had gotten up too.
Gu Jiao knew that he had been up late reading, but she let him sleep in and hadn't anticipated him to get up so early.
Gu Jiao set the table and served him half a bowl of mushroom soup, afraid he might need to use the restroom during the examination, so she didn't fill the bowl to the brim.
Nevertheless, she could not shake off the feeling that Xiao Liulang was giving her a bit of a reproachful look.
The test would take a whole day, so Gu Jiao packed him a bag with steamed buns and water.
She hesitated for a while, and then, as if struck by a thought, she added ten copper plates to the bag.
Xiao Liulang watched as she tucked the copper plates into the bag, his expression undecipherable, and he said nothing.
Handing him the bag, Gu Jiao said, "I paid for the wagon already, and I gave them instructions to drop you off near the academy."
"Hmm." Xiao Liulang responded, taking the bag from her and, leaning on his crutch, walked out the door.
Watching his limping figure, Gu Jiao resisted the urge to accompany him to the edge of the village. Probably, he wouldn't have been keen on that idea either.
When Xiao Liulang reached the village entrance, Uncle Luo's ox cart was already waiting under the pagoda tree. Many villagers, all going to sell hen eggs and produce from their homes, sat in the cart.
The villagers greeted him with a smile when they saw him.
Xiao Liulang was a scholarly man, seemingly cold on the outside but without airs on the inside. Anyone who wanted to send or reply to letters had him in mind. Gu Dashun was also educated, but he spent his days at the private school and evenings studying at home, so people rarely bothered him.
There was one last seat left on the ox cart, which was probably reserved for him.
Just as Xiao Liulang was about to board the cart, a figure darted in front of him, blocking his way.
The figure held the ox cart with one hand and used the other to assist another person climbing onto the cart, "Dashun, hurry up!"
It was Zhou Family of the Gu household, mother and son.
Ms Zhou made sure that Xiao Liulang had absolutely no opportunity to get onto the cart.
An old lady on the cart said, "Auntie Zhou, Liulang was here first!"
Gu Dashun who was climbing into the ox cart froze in his maneuver.
He turned his face and glanced at Xiao Liulang, his gaze crossing over his mother's.
Xiao Liulang, with his cold manner and indifferent expression, met his gaze.
Zhou dismissed the comment nonchalantly, saying, "My son Dashun is going to take the exam! What difference does it make who came first? Does he think he can delay my son's exam by being here first?"
The villagers knew Gu Dashun was promising. He had passed the county examination not long ago, which made him a scholar, who was not required to kneel before the county official in greeting.
Although Xiao Liulang was a good fellow, he wasn't as important as Gu Dashun's future.
If Gu Dashun were ever to make something of himself, not only would he bring honor to the Gu family, but he would also shine his light onto the whole of Qingquan Village.
Everyone became silent at that comment.
"That..." Uncle Luo began uncomfortably, "Liulang is also going for an exam."
Gu Jiao had explained everything clearly to Uncle Luo the previous evening. Xiao Liulang was attending an exam at an academy. Because of his difficulty moving, she had asked him to deliver Xiao Liulang safely to the exam site. For that, she gave him an extra two copper plates.
Uncle Luo puzzled at the change in behavior of Gu Jiao, who was not on good terms with Xiao Liulang. The silly little girl spoke and acted as if she were a different person.
But before he had the chance to ask her anything, she had left.
Upon hearing that Xiao Liulang was also going to take an exam, Zhou ignored it. To her, how could Xiao Liulang's exam be compared to her son's?
Gu Dashun, though somewhat surprised, looked at Xiao Liulang and asked, "You... are you also going to Tianxiang Academy?"
"Hmm." Xiao Liulang responded indifferently.
Xiao Liulang had been a student when he arrived at the village. At that time, Gu Dashun was also a student, but then Gu Dashun went on to become a scholar, while Xiao Liulang was still a student. Therefore, Gu Dashun didn't think highly of Xiao Liulang anymore.
"You haven't gone to the private school for half a year..." Gu Dashun shook his head.
His meaning was quite apparent; Xiao Liulang had no chance of passing the examination.
Uncle Luo, who was planning to persuade one of the villagers to give up their seat for Xiao Liulang, swallowed his words.
There was no point in making a fuss if Xiao Liulang couldn't pass the exam.
Uncle Luo took out his money pouch.
It would cost two copper plates to visit the market, three plates to go a little further, and Gu Jiao had given two extra, a total of five copper plates.
While Uncle Luo was counting the money to return to Xiao Liulang, Gu Dashun, pushed by his mother, was struggling to get onto the ox cart.
However, before he could even take a seat, a small feeble hand shot out from behind him, gripped the back of his tunic, and pulled him off the cart!
Gu Dashun, two years older than Xiao Liulang and already nineteen, was pulled so abruptly that he almost fell on the ground.
Zhou was startled and immediately tried to help Gu Dashun.
"Who's that!"
She turned around, shouting in anger.
There she saw a skinny little figure of Gu Jiao along with the villagers.
Gu Jiao's eyes were calmly cold, emanating an untamed chill.
Everyone fell silent.
"Gu Jiao, are you mad?" Zhou was upset to see that it was her who dared to act up.
"Take your copper plates back." Gu Jiao didn't pay attention to Zhou; instead, she looked at Uncle Luo whose hand was still extended and furrowed her brows. "I had already reserved the cart last night; if you intend to back out now, it's fine, but return everyone the fare."
"What do you mean?" Zhou asked.
"It means exactly what it sounds like. If Xiao Liulang can't get on the cart today, then no one gets on the cart." Gu Jiao said.
"By what authority?" One of the women huffed.
Slowly taking out her sickle from behind her back, Gu Jiao replied, "The authority of being mad?"
Everyone, taken aback by the sight of the weapon, paled.
Zhou, who wanted to rush up and grab Gu Jiao's hair, was also too scared to step forward now.
A mad person... A mad person really could do anything.
But Gu Jiao was not friendly towards Xiao Liulang in the past, so why would she stand up for him against the Gu household, who she was close to?
Not only were the villagers swirling in doubts but even Xiao Liulang had a trace of surprise in his eyes.
"Those of you who wish to involve elder Gu should hurry and do so now." Gu Jiao nonchalantly commented, cleaning her shiny sickle.
Zhou actually considered doing that.
However, she was stopped by Gu Dashun.
There's no reasoning with a mad person, but if the examination was delayed because of this, it wouldn't be good.
Even though Xiao Liulang would also miss his exam, he wouldn't pass anyway. So his missing the exam didn't matter; this was not the case for him.
In the end, Uncle Luo found a solution; he had Zhou buy a villager's seat on the cart in exchange for his vegetables; the villager then gave up his spot for Gu Dashun.
Gu Jiao didn't mind who Gu Dashun had purchased the seat from.
However, to prevent any mishap en route, Gu Jiao decided to accompany them carrying her sickle.
There were no more seats left on the cart for her.
She, with her small and skinny body, walked over ten miles on foot to ensure that Xiao Liulang safely reached the examination venue.