Chapter 113: The Steamed Bun Is Quite Good

After finishing the steamed buns at the Imperial Academy, the next step was to find a place to stay.

According to Cai Que’s suggestion, there were still some vacant dormitories at the Imperial Academy, and he could simply find a few empty cots for Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi. However, Zhang Yue did not want to be so troublesome, especially with Tang Jiu in tow and Huang Haoyi also having a young attendant.

Thus, Cai Que found an inn next to the Imperial Academy for them to stay temporarily. At the inn, Cai Que went in and negotiated the price, cutting it in half immediately. Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi waited outside. Zhang Yue had already sent Ma Wu home, giving him a string of coins for his travel expenses, for which Ma Wu was profusely grateful. However, after paying for the inn, most of the travel funds Zhang Yue had brought to Bianjing were already spent.

After settling things, Cai Que came out and said to the two, "The Bianjing River is bustling with the competition for the golden standard during these days, and the capital will surely be lively. But you two should not indulge in this excitement; it is better to stay in the inn and study. Once you are admitted to the Imperial Academy, you will have plenty of time for leisure later."

Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi both agreed.

Cai Que continued, "Once you are in the inn, it is best not to go out. If you need food or drink, have them brought directly to your room. Do not gossip or socialize with the riffraff."

"We can save money by not leaving the inn, but are we not allowed to even step out of our room door?"

Cai Que replied, "Indeed. Unless you need to empty your chamber pot, you should eat your meals inside as well."

Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi exchanged glances.

Cai Que squinted at them. "Are you not listening to me?"

Zhang Yue said, "We dare not ignore you. It is just that we have traveled thousands of miles; we are not ignorant people. Brother Zhizheng, there is no need to treat us like three-year-old children."

Cai Que shook his head. "It is not about being three-year-olds. Let me tell you something: just a few months ago, there was a student named Wu at our Imperial Academy. His family was wealthy, and he traveled with carriages and horses. The value of his Khitan-style saddle alone was immeasurable. One day, while out, he met a wealthy merchant who treated him with great respect, frequently bringing vegetables and fruits to the academy as gifts. One day, the merchant even invited him to his home and asked his wife to join them for a banquet. Although the student already had a wife of his own, he was so bewitched by the beauty of the merchant’s wife that he lost his senses."

"As it turned out, the merchant's wife invited this student to their house one day, claiming her husband was away. The man, blinded by lust, went to the house, only to be caught in the act by the merchant. The student’s father and his father-in-law were high-ranking officials in the current court; he dared not make a scene. In his panic, he paid hundreds of thousands of coins to hush it up. Only after many days did he learn that the woman was actually a prostitute disguised as the merchant's wife. The two were not a real couple at all; the merchant had taken the money and fled far away from Bianjing, leaving the student to fall into a severe illness."

Zhang Yue thought to himself, *Isn't this a honey trap? So it was already well-developed in our Song Dynasty.*

Huang Haoyi, meanwhile, listened until his face turned red.

Cai Que thought for a moment and said, "You are still inexperienced in the world, and Bianjing is full of all sorts of people. Study peacefully before the academy entrance exam and do not stir up trouble. You must know that the number of spots in the Imperial Academy is limited. You two were recommended by your prefecture, so you already have an advantage over others, but there have been those who failed the exam and deliberately caused mischief. A bit of scandal is enough to ruin ten years of hard study in a single moment."

Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi shivered at these words.

Cai Que put his hands behind his back and added, "Speaking of prostitutes, I will give you one more piece of advice. Aside from scholars, the most common people around our academy's examination hall are prostitutes. Remember, do not be tempted by their beauty for a moment of fun."

Zhang Yue laughed, "Brother Zhizheng, you worry too much. With the few coins we have, how could we dare to seek such entertainment?"

Cai Que smiled. "That is true, but one cannot help but have a wandering heart. If you believe me, stay inside your room for ten days. If you don't believe me, consider my words as nothing. Farewell!"

With that, Cai Que strode away with his wide sleeves fluttering.

Zhang Yue watched him leave and remarked to Huang Haoyi, "This Brother Zhizheng seems like a good man!"

Huang Haoyi replied with disbelief, "Sanlang, what are you saying? Of course, Brother Zhizheng is a good man. Otherwise, why would he go to such trouble to help us, mere acquaintances?"

Zhang Yue smiled and said nothing.

Consequently, Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi shared a room to study, and aside from emptying their chamber pot, they truly did not step outside once.

***

By the sixth day, Huang Haoyi thought, *Everything has been calm in the inn these past few days, and nothing has happened. Brother Cai was merely being protective, so perhaps he was exaggerating to keep us safe.*

*I have been cooped up in this room for six days, and I feel stifled. I’ll go downstairs for a drink. As long as I don't leave the inn, I’m not really going against Brother Cai’s advice.*

Seeing Zhang Yue "napping" again, Huang Haoyi thought that Zhang Yue was too cautious and would surely object, so he decided not to tell him. He pushed the door open and stepped out.

Downstairs, Huang Haoyi found the innkeeper and ordered a pot of wine and a fat chicken. He sat in the shop, drinking and eating heartily, occasionally chatting with others.

At this time, many prostitutes frequented the inn. These women would approach tables uninvited to sing, expecting a small tip before moving on—a practice known as "drinking accompaniment." Prostitutes were everywhere in Bianjing, in every inn, tavern, and tea house.

Huang Haoyi didn't pay much attention at first. Then, a woman walked in gracefully and sat right in front of him. She took up a zither and began to sing a lyric by Liu Yong.

*Barely past her prime, hair tied in clouds,*
*She began to learn song and dance.*
*Before the cups and at the banquet,*
*The young nobles favored her.*
*Calculated for a smile,*
*Even a thousand pieces of gold are looked upon with indifference.*
*Always fearing that the fleeting blossoms will be stolen away,*
*And the time will be spent in vain...*

Huang Haoyi originally intended to toss a few copper coins to dismiss her, but when he heard her melodious voice, he couldn't help but look up. His heart trembled. *How could there be such a beautiful woman in this world!*

After the song, the woman bowed and said, "My life is bitter, and I sing for a living. I ask the official to grant me a reward; even the smallest kindness would make me forever grateful."

Huang Haoyi’s soul had only returned halfway to his body. He didn't know how much it cost to have such a heavenly creature sing a song. He emptied his purse, placed all his money on the table, and said sheepishly, "I don't know if this is enough. If not, I can go ask a friend to borrow more."

The woman looked at Huang Haoyi and smiled brightly, taking only a few dozen copper coins. "This is quite enough."

With that, she bowed to him and rose gracefully to perform at another table. Huang Haoyi, however, stared at her, completely dazed.

When she left, he asked others about her background. He learned that her life was indeed miserable: her father was a gambler who drank and beat her mother, forcing her to sing to support them. Her mother had sung for a living in her youth, and now that she was too old, the daughter had taken over to support the family of three.

Huang Haoyi felt terribly sad. He wanted to beat up her father, yet he felt pity for the woman. A surge of heroic emotion welled up in his chest—he wanted to save her from this sea of bitterness.

Three days later, Huang Haoyi returned to the room, looking exhausted.

Zhang Yue asked, "Silang, where have you been these past few days? The exam is tomorrow. Didn't Brother Zhizheng tell us to stay in the room? You’ve been coming back and collapsing into sleep every day. It’s very strange."

Huang Haoyi slumped down and said, "Sanlang, you are truly amazing. Eight whole days without stepping out of the room."

Zhang Yue thought, *What is that? If I were back in university with a smartphone, I could go a month without getting out of bed!*

Zhang Yue asked, "Silang, what is wrong with you? You’ve been completely absent-minded these past few days! Tell me what happened."

***

Huang Haoyi smiled, remained silent for a long time, and then asked, "Sanlang, could you lend me some money?"

"Huh?" Zhang Yue was startled and looked him up and down. "What do you need money for?"

Seeing Huang Haoyi’s tired and listless expression, Zhang Yue slapped his thigh and said, "You didn't go... you should have at least told me!"

"You already know?" Huang Haoyi asked in surprise.

Zhang Yue: "???"

"It is a long story."

Huang Haoyi stopped talking. Zhang Yue asked a few more questions, but the other man had already turned his face to the wall.

On the third day was the Imperial Academy exam.

Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi packed their brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone and headed to the academy. As they walked, Zhang Yue noticed Huang Haoyi’s silence and said, "Silang, you haven't been yourself lately. The big exam is about to start, and I heard the officials overseeing the academy will meet us in person. If you look like this, how will they be pleased?"

Huang Haoyi sighed, "Since ancient times, the word 'love' has been the cause of much pain." After a pause, he added, "I understand your good intentions, Sanlang."

He managed to cheer up a bit, and Zhang Yue felt slightly relieved.

The two entered the academy gate and arrived at the main hall. Six or seven others had already gathered there—all candidates recommended by their respective prefectures. Being the elites of their home regions, they all carried an air of self-importance.

Some were gesturing and discussing the world, but Zhang Yue, not wanting to disturb them, turned to two others. He approached them just as one was chatting with his companion.

The man said with a touch of melancholy, "I didn't originally want to come to Bianjing. It’s too far from our Shu region. Does it really matter where one studies? So when the prefectural school recommended me, I was torn. I thought, going to Bianjing is too far, but if I don't go, the Imperial Academy is not bad either."

The other man held his forehead and sighed, "Same here. I didn't want to go to Bianjing either, but my relatives, teachers, and classmates kept urging me until I finally decided to make the trip. But then I thought about the cost of renting in Bianjing—you know how difficult it is to live there. How could I afford it? Then I heard the academy provides food and lodging for its students. I figured, if I can get free food and lodging, I might as well come."

The two laughed.

Zhang Yue listened to them and then looked back at Huang Haoyi, thinking, *These two are far more advanced in the art of pretense than you are.*

Huang Haoyi smiled cryptically.

The two men looked at Zhang Yue and Huang Haoyi and asked, "Why did you two come to the Imperial Academy?"

Huang Haoyi rushed forward and said, "It is shameful to admit, but I heard the steamed buns at the Imperial Academy are excellent! So I came to give it a try. I don't know if I will succeed or not."