My Wife Gave It to Me

There were still half a month until the Provincial Examination.

Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue stood at the village entrance, each carrying a small bundle.

Before them stood the Village Chief and his family.

"Village Chief, are you really not going to give it a try this time?" Xiao Mo asked him.

The Village Chief was a Talented Scholar too, so naturally, he could take the Provincial Examination.

"Forget it, forget it." The Village Chief shook his head. "I'm already fifty years old. There's no need to put myself through that. Even if I went to take the exam, it'd only be a waste of travel money. I might as well buy Ying'er a few nice dresses instead. Xiao Mo, do your best. We'll be waiting for good news."

"It's all right if you don't pass. Look at your Village Chief—he's taken the exam for decades and still hasn't passed. As long as you want to keep trying, you can take it again in the future. And if all else fails, just open a private school like your Village Chief and scrape together a living."

Aunt Chen said this to Xiao Mo.

Though Aunt Chen was only a woman, she knew that some people took the exam until they died without ever becoming a Juren.

Her own husband, for example.

"I know, Aunt Chen. I'll just do my best." Xiao Mo smiled and nodded.

"Good. Just don't go trying to kill yourself if you don't pass. You still owe my family plenty of dried food."

Aunt Chen rolled her eyes at Xiao Mo, then pulled Bai Ruxue aside. She seemed to give her a few instructions before handing her a face veil.

Half an incense stick later, Xiao Mo cupped his hands in farewell and climbed into the carriage.

Bai Ruxue drove the carriage, taking Xiao Mo to the prefectural capital.

"Did Aunt Chen say anything to you?" Xiao Mo asked, sitting beside Bai Ruxue.

"Aunt Chen said I'm too pretty, and there are lots of rich young troublemakers in the county seat. I might attract all kinds of trouble, so she told me to be careful. Once we're in the city, I have to wear the veil and never leave your side," Bai Ruxue answered honestly.

"Mm." Xiao Mo nodded.

Aunt Chen's concerns were well-founded.

With only the status of a Talented Scholar, he wasn't enough to protect her.

Still, even if trouble came, Bai Ruxue probably wouldn't be harmed.

Perhaps Bai Ruxue herself didn't even know that she was already a cultivator in the Dragon Gate Realm.

One more step forward, and she would form a Golden Core.

Her cultivation talent was just as astonishing as Jiang Qingyi's.

So it would be lucky if ordinary rich young troublemakers weren't swallowed by her.

But...

Xiao Mo glanced at the woman's profile.

Qingyi was decisive and ruthless; she wouldn't let anyone take advantage of her.

But Bai Ruxue was far too kind for a demon.

That was both a good thing and a bad thing.

Six days later, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue arrived at the prefectural capital of Jiangnan.

"Sugar-coated haws! Sugar-coated haws! Two coins a skewer!"

"Come on in, honored guests!"

"Are you stopping for a meal or a room?"

"Sir, it's been so long since you last came by. I've missed you terribly!"

As soon as they entered the prefectural city, cries from vendors and people of all trades rose and fell in a lively chorus. Pedestrians streamed along both sides of the street.

There were scholars in blue robes.

There were young masters from wealthy families.

There were young women leading little girls with their hair in tufts.

Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up as she took in everything in the prefectural capital.

Having come from the mountains, Bai Ruxue had gone no farther than Shiqiao Village at the foot of the mountain. She had never even been to Qingshan City, much less a prefectural capital.

After leaving the carriage at a stable, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue to find an inn.

Talented Scholars taking the Provincial Examination had a special rate at inns, and it wasn't too expensive.

After putting down their luggage, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue along the city streets to see the bustle of the human world.

Bai Ruxue looked here and there.

Everything in the city was new to the young woman.

"Xiao Mo, I want sugar-coated haws!" Bai Ruxue said, giving Xiao Mo's wrist a little shake with her soft, fair hand.

Xiao Mo paid two coins and bought a skewer. Bai Ruxue lifted her veil slightly and took a bite.

The sweetness on her tongue made the woman's eyes light up.

But when she bit down, the sour hawthorn made her squint.

The old man selling sugar-coated haws was stunned too.

He had never seen such a beautiful woman.

Bai Ruxue walked along eating hawthorn, occasionally holding the skewer out to Xiao Mo. "Xiao Mo, you should have some too."

Xiao Mo shook his head, showing that he didn't like sugar-coated haws.

Bai Ruxue didn't understand. Sugar-coated haws were so tasty.

"Steamed buns for sale! Steamed buns!"

The cries of a vendor selling buns came from one side of the street.

Xiao Mo couldn't help stopping and looking toward the bun shop.

"Xiao Mo, do you want a bun? I'll go buy you one," Bai Ruxue said.

"No." Xiao Mo shook his head. "I just thought of someone."

"Someone?" Bai Ruxue asked curiously.

"It's nothing." Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head, then continued walking.

Bai Ruxue didn't dwell on it.

When they passed Cloudmist Pavilion, Bai Ruxue watched the scantily clad women pulling men inside, practically pressing themselves against them.

Curious, Bai Ruxue asked, "Xiao Mo, what kind of place is that? Why are those women wearing so little and pulling men inside?"

Xiao Mo glanced over and explained, "That's a brothel."

"What's a brothel?"

"It's... it's a place for relations between men and women."

"Relations between men and women? What does that mean? You're a man, and I'm a woman. Can we do it too?"

"..."

"Xiao Mo, tell me, tell me."

"Little girls shouldn't ask so many questions." Xiao Mo lightly tapped Bai Ruxue on the head.

Bai Ruxue rubbed her head and pouted, muttering, "I'm a grown woman!"

But she wasn't upset. She continued walking and tugged Xiao Mo by the wrist. "Xiao Mo."

"What is it?"

"In the future, if you want to do those things between men and women, come to me, okay~"

Xiao Mo's brow twitched. He didn't know what to say.

Over the next few days, Xiao Mo studied in his inn room.

The streets were lively, but without Xiao Mo beside her, Bai Ruxue didn't find them very interesting.

Soon, the Provincial Examination began.

Xiao Mo was going to take the exam at the examination compound.

"The Qi Kingdom's Provincial Examination lasts three days. During that time, Miss Bai, you mustn't wander off. Understand?"

Before leaving, Xiao Mo reminded Bai Ruxue.

"Don't worry, I'm very obedient. Xiao Mo, do your best! It's fine if you don't pass. Aunt Chen said only Wen Qu Star can pass the Juren exam, and you're not Wen Qu Star."

"Thanks a lot," Xiao Mo said, tapping Bai Ruxue on the head. "I'm off."

Xiao Mo turned and entered the examination compound.

Before entering, he had to be searched. The clerk felt him up and down, thoroughly.

Xiao Mo wondered whether the man was just being diligent or if he came from Sichuan.

"What's this?" The clerk looked at the snake scale on Xiao Mo's chest.

"A protective talisman."

Xiao Mo turned his head and glanced at the young woman gazing toward him from outside the compound.

"My wife gave it to me."