Chapter 46: Chapter 46: The Slap
On the afternoon the Martial Scholar examination ended.
Fang Yue checked out of the woodshed room at the inn, preparing to return to Da Liushu Village.
After all, checking out a day early would save him a few silver coins.
Besides, he had already finished the exam and secured the title of Martial Scholar, so there was no need to wait for the public announcement tomorrow.
After leaving the inn, Fang Yue headed toward Zhang Boyang’s mansion.
It took him no more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick to reach the Zhang Mansion.
However, Zhang Boyang was out. Fang Yue explained his purpose to the butler, asking him to inform Zhang Boyang of his departure, and then prepared to leave the Zhang Family estate.
Just as he reached the entrance, Zhang Shu walked in from outside, a young woman by her side.
"Fang Yue, what are you still doing here? Are you leaving without waiting for the announcement tomorrow? Did you fail the exam?"
"Heh, I knew you were a toad lusting after swan meat. We both trained in martial arts for just over a year, but you couldn’t pass while someone else could. That’s the difference! A country bumpkin is always a country bumpkin!"
Zhang Shu assumed Fang Yue was leaving today because he had failed and was too ashamed to remain in Xiahe County Town.
She immediately began to mock him, showing him no respect whatsoever.
’A poor boy from the countryside who’s only practiced martial arts for a little over a year? How could he possibly pass?’
’He’s not even waiting for the announcement and is in a rush to go back. He must have failed and is too embarrassed to stay.’
At this thought, the smirk on Zhang Shu’s face widened.
The young woman beside her also looked at Fang Yue with curiosity.
’So this is the country boy my friend was talking about. His clothes are so plain, they even have patches.’
’Just as I thought, a peasant from the sticks. A poor wretch who could never be presented in high society.’
Contempt and displeasure immediately appeared on her pretty face, and she joined in the mockery.
"You’re Fang Yue, right? I don’t care what tricks you used to make Mr. Zhang consider taking you in as a live-in son-in-law, but I advise you not to get any delusional ideas."
Hearing this, Fang Yue couldn’t help but rub his nose.
"Since it has come to this, please trouble Senior Sister Zhang to inform your father that I will not be visiting again."
Since Zhang Shu had spoken so bluntly, it was naturally inappropriate for him to stay, and he wouldn’t be able to visit in the future either.
If not for the respect he had for Zhang Boyang, who had taken great care of him, he would have taught Zhang Shu a lesson long ago.
"Heh. And you," Fang Yue added, smiling at Zhang Shu’s friend. "You should watch your mouth. Remember the saying: disaster stems from careless words."
Fang Yue then ignored her ugly expression and turned and left.
"How dare he! Despicable! A man like that truly has no breeding. He deserves to fail!"
The young woman beside Zhang Shu stomped her foot, saying indignantly.
She would never admit that she had been frightened by his gaze when that country bumpkin stared at her just now.
"That’s right, he definitely failed!" Zhang Shu, having come back to her senses, was also filled with vexation.
’I was the one mocking him for being a toad lusting after swan meat, so how did it turn around to make me look like the one who can’t appreciate a good thing?’
’It’s just so infuriating!’
Meanwhile, after leaving the Zhang Family, Fang Yue departed from the county town and set out on the road home.
It was already getting late, so he needed to hurry to the next village to find a place to stay for the night.
~~~~~~
「The next day.」
In the center of the county town, in the plaza before the main entrance of the Xiahe County Magistrate’s Office.
Amidst the clamor of gongs and drums, the main gates of the County Magistrate’s Office opened.
Four government constables in bright red uniforms emerged, blowing on suonas and surrounding a Military Officer who carried the announcement list.
They walked straight to the side of the County Magistrate’s Office and hung the large, red announcement list on the wall.
It was a list made of red silk, upon which fifty names were neatly written.
Aside from a single name in the center, the other forty-nine names were arranged around it like stars orbiting the moon.
The characters were large enough for even those standing far away to see.
The crowd immediately erupted.
Among them were many candidates who had just taken the exam yesterday and already knew they had become Martial Scholars. Still, seeing the results publicly posted for all to see, while the crowd cheered and showered them with endless praise, was a refreshing and invigorating experience.
On the second floor of an inn next to the plaza, Zhang Shu leaned against the railing, gazing at the crowd below.
Evidently, despite having insisted yesterday that Fang Yue would definitely fail, a part of her was still worried.
’What if that guy actually passed? What if the impossible happened?!’
So, she had dragged her friend here first thing in the morning.
"Shu’Er, that man definitely failed. Otherwise, why would he have left yesterday without even daring to look at the list?" her friend said dismissively.
"Of course. With Wang around, there’s no way he could have passed." Zhang Shu didn’t reply, but instead gave a self-deprecating smile.
’To be safe, I even intentionally-yet-unintentionally let Wang Teng know that my father was planning to marry me off to Fang Yue.’
’Knowing Wang Teng’s personality, he would certainly have done something to Fang Yue.’
’In that case, Fang Yue was guaranteed to fail.’
’So, what was I even worried about? Coming here today was completely pointless!’
"Miss, bad news! It’s terrible! That Fang Yue... he passed!"
A moment later, a young woman who looked like a maid ran breathlessly up the stairs and spoke to Zhang Shu in a panic.
"What did you say? Are you sure you saw correctly? That’s impossible, how could he have passed?" Zhang Shu’s expression changed instantly. She grabbed the maid by the shoulders, her face a mask of disbelief.
Her voice was shrill and harsh, laced with disbelief and panic. She didn’t even realize that she was now fraught with anxiety.
But in the end, she argued stubbornly, "So what if he passed? What’s so great about a mere Martial Scholar? It’s not a real official or even a clerk. He’s still a good-for-nothing!"
SLAP—
At that moment, a crisp, loud sound echoed through the inn.
Immediately after,
Zhang Boyang appeared beside Zhang Shu, whose cheek quickly began to swell.
"You look down on a Martial Scholar? I can’t believe I raised a daughter like you! You’ll be the death of me!"
Zhang Shu was stunned. She didn’t even feel the fiery sting on her cheek as she stood there, frozen.
After a long moment, she finally came to her senses. Cupping her face, she said through her tears:
"Father, you hit me! You actually hit me for some irrelevant country bumpkin!"
Zhang Boyang snorted coldly. Usually, whenever Zhang Shu cried, he would soften.
But today, he was truly enraged. He had returned home and heard from the butler what had happened—how Zhang Shu had insulted Fang Yue yesterday afternoon.
He had been furious, because he saw great potential in Fang Yue.
His opinion wouldn’t have changed whether Fang Yue passed the Martial Scholar examination this time or not. Besides, he had already heard from an acquaintance at the County Magistrate’s Office that Fang Yue had, in fact, passed!
And with his Talent, attaining the next rank of Martial Scholar would be no problem at all. He might even have the potential to go further.
He had arranged to betroth Zhang Shu to him for her own good, but he never expected his daughter to completely disregard his painstaking efforts.
"Take the young miss back home! Don’t let her continue to make a spectacle of herself here!"
