Chapter 80: 80 Old Friends
On the fourth day at dusk, the examination ended.
Fen Ling arrived early in the morning and stood guard the entire day. All other examinees had trickled out, but there was no sign of Xiao Liulang. This made him uneasy.
Just as he was contemplating asking those inside about his friend, he saw Xiao Liulang emerge, his expression icy.
Fen Lin hurried to meet him and found his face pale. “What happened?” he asked. “Are you feeling unwell? Or did the exam go poorly?”
“Nothing.” Xiao Liulang said dismissively.
Fen Lin gathered from the sound of his voice that it was not a health issue. “I overheard some of the students who finished saying that this test was especially difficult. Don’t get discouraged; you may have done better than they did!”
“Let’s return to the Inn.” Xiao Liulang turned and headed towards the Inn.
Fen Ling hesitated, at a loss for words.
He felt like he had never seen Xiao Liulang , so cold that it made people hesitate to approach him. He felt an intimidating aura radiating off Xiao Liulang, as if he might do something terrifying any moment.
“Li…Liulang, wait for me!”
Despite his fear, Fen Ling gritted his teeth and chased after him.
Now he no longer addressed him as Brother Xiao, although he was actually older than Xiao Liulang. Using “Brother Xiao” stemmed from Xiao Liulang saving him and was merely a respectful address.
But after spending New Year’s Eve together, their bond had strengthened. Continuing to use “Brother Xiao” would seem too distant!
Xiao Liulang was moving slowly with his crutch, so Fen Lin quickly caught up.
The two men continued on their way to the Inn.
As they were passing a tea house, two middle-aged men dressed in splendid attire stepped out. One of them glanced at Xiao Liulang absentmindedly and initially paid him no mind. However, after a moment, he seemed to realize something and turned his head to look at Xiao Liulang again.
At this time, Xiao Liulang and Fen Lin had crossed the road and were on their way to the inn on the opposite side.
The man’s gaze trailed Xiao Liulang, all the way until he disappeared around the corner.
“Master Zhuang, what’s wrong? Did you spot someone you know? Want me to greet them for you?”
The one who asked was the Governor of Pingcheng, family name Luo.
Zhuang Xianzhi shook his head: “No need, he’s not someone I know. There’s just a slight resemblance.”
The young master is already dead. He had personally excavated the young master’s body from the ruins of Guozijian, the body charred beyond recognition by fire. That ghastly sight was one he would never forget, no matter how much time had passed.
Perhaps, it wasn’t that they even looked alike, he could just be seeing things.
In the six nations across the world, another individual with the looks and talent of the young master was impossible to find.
“Shall I confirm it for you?” Governor Luo offered, noticing Master Zhuang seemed quite interested in the man he had mistaken.
Zhuang Xianzhi shook his head again, “No need. That old friend of mine is dead.”
“Ah…” If the man was dead, then confirmation was not necessary.
Xiao Liulang and Fen Lin returned to the Inn, just as they entered, they heard a voice shout: “Fen Dunzi!”
Fen Lin’s hair stood on end!
Shadows of a childhood bully flashed before his eyes!
He wasn’t the same old Dunzi anymore!
He… he had lost weight!
Looking up, Fen Lin saw a young scholar energetically descend the stairs, he approached Fen Lin with a smile on his face, “It really is you, Fen Dunzi! You’ve changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you! Wait, who’s this?”
The young man’s gaze landed on Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang was breathtaking, even more so than a woman, one could not help but take a second look at him. Frankly speaking, and speaking without fear of Fen Lin punching him, it was Xiao Liulang who first caught the young scholar’s attention, followed by Fen Lin standing beside him.
Fen Lin recognized the young man after a moment, “Du Ruohan?”
The young man laughed, patting Fen Lin on the shoulder, “It’s me!”
“It really is you!” Fen Lin laughed, then turned to Xiao Liulang to introduce him. “Liulang, do you remember him? Little Du! We three used to attend a private school together!”
The young man turned to Xiao Liulang in disbelief, then said to Fen Lin, “You must be mistaken? He’s not Xiao Liulang!”
Fen Lin stated confidently, “I’m not mistaken! It is Liulang!”
The young man skeptically looked at Xiao Liulang, “That… Xiaoliu who moved away after living for a year?”
Fen Lin said, “Yes! It’s him! He moved away less than two years before your family also moved. By my calculations, we three haven’t seen each other for ten years.”
The young man was still doubtful that the person before him was Xiao Liulang.
He questioned Fen Lin, “I can recognize you, why can’t I recognize him?”
In fact, Fen Lin didn’t recognize Xiao Liulang at first glance either. He only knew it was his childhood neighbor from seeing Xiao Liulang’s travel pass. Furthermore, since Xiao Liulang had saved his life, he no longer had any doubts about Xiao Liulang’s identity.
As for the fact that Xiao Liulang couldn’t remember the past, that was quite normal! Ten years had passed since he moved away at not quite seven years old, and what could a six-or-seven-year-old child remember?
“That kid, he was very timid when he was small, always hiding behind his mother.”
Xiao Liulang went upstairs first. The young man and Fen Lin followed behind, whispering quietly. The one speaking was the young man.
“Liulang is different now! He’s brave! He even saved me!” Fen Lin said.
“He is different…” The young man took a glance at Xiao Liulang’s receding back, and always felt an air of a Capital City young master about him, an air that was hard to notice for those who had not been exposed to it before.
“What happened to his leg?” There was no good opportunity for the young man to ask this question in front of Xiao Liulang earlier
“He got injured saving me about half a year ago, and is now in treatment.” Having finished saying this, feeling guilty, Fen Lin asked, “By the way, where did you go after moving away?”
“I went to Capital City.” the young man said.
Fen Lin’s eyes widened: “You actually went to Capital City?”
That was the place Fen Lin dreamed of going, but the defenses in Capital City were strict. For civilians like them, unless they were trying for an examination, there was no way to get a pass to Capital City.
The young man chuckled and said: “My aunt works as a concubine in Capital City. She brought our whole family there. Now, do you still envy me?”
The young man laughed loudly: “Just kidding, let’s go!”
The three had dinner together, and from the young man’s conversation, Fen Lin learned that he was currently studying at a well-known academy in the Capital City. He had passed the preliminary exam two years ago and planned on taking the provincial examination this August. This trip was to increase his exposure to the world and expand his experience.
Throughout the process, only the young man and Fen Lin conversed, Xiao Liulang hardly spoke and seemed not to want to interact.
“The kid wasn’t before…” After Xiao Liulang returned to his room, the young man pulled Fen Lin aside and whispered.
In a light voice, Fen Lin said: “His mother and older brother have passed away. He’s had a tough time these years.”
“Oh.” The young man didn’t say anything else. After a while, he changed the subject, “You’re also taking the exam this year, right? I’ll wait for you in Capital City!”
Fen Lin thought for a moment and said, “Liulang and I will take it together.”
The young man smirked: “How do you know he can pass? That kid isn’t smart, don’t you remember how often he was scolded by the tutor?”
Even if he didn’t remember Xiao Liulang’s appearance as a child, the young man didn’t forget Xiao Liulang’s embarrassing moments. Xiao Liulang wasn’t stupid, he was just slower in responsiveness than others. People like that can be hard-working, but they struggle in studies.
Fen Lin seriously said: “Liulang has changed now, he was first in the county exam. This time… although the topic was difficult, I believe he can pass the preliminary exam.”
The young man chuckled sarcastically: “Let’s bet, he won’t pass.”
Fen Lin decisively kicked him out!
No one can look down on Xiao Liulang, even his childhood friends aren’t allowed to!
The young man was chased out of the inn, feeling bored. He lost the mood to wander around and returned to the Governor’s Mansion in boredom.
The guards of the Governor’s Mansion saw him and respectfully opened the door for him.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was stopped in his tracks by a stern scolding: “Where have you been? Coming back so late!”
The young man turned around grinning nervously, smiled and said, “Hello, Uncle. Weren’t you going to mark exam papers? You finished so quickly?”
Zhuang, the governor, said sternly: “Don’t change the subject! I’m asking you, where have you been?”
The young man forced a laugh and said: “I ran into two old neighbors from Song County, so we chatted for a while. Dinner… I had dinner with them as well.
With a cold voice, Governor Zhuang spoke: “You think I would believe you just because you say so? Did you do something inappropriate again? I promised your aunt to take you out, not to let you idle around! Someone! Lock him in his room! Without my permission, he’s not allowed to step a foot outside!”
The young man cried out: “I didn’t! Uncle! I really went to meet friends! They are staying at the Yue Lai Inn! One is named Fen Lin! And the other is Xiao Liulang! Xiao Liulang is a candidate for this year’s exam! He just finished answering the eccentric question you set! His face turned green from the difficulty! If you don’t believe me, send someone to check!”