That morning, in the side room, Liu Yuanzhou was locked in battle with Third Master over the chessboard.
"Check! Haha, Second Child, your general is doomed this time." Third Master clapped his hands and laughed heartily.
Liu Yuanzhou stared at the board without moving for a long while, his brows tightly furrowed as he racked his brains for a way to break the deadlock.
"You lad are still too impetuous. Chess is about looking three moves ahead for every move you make—you can't just chase a moment's pleasure." Third Master lectured him cheerfully.
Liu Yuanzhou gave a bitter smile. "Third Master, that was a sneak attack. It doesn't count. I want to take back my move."
"That won't do." Third Master shook his head and swept his hands across the board, muddling up the pieces.
"Second Child, your brother is free! Come stroll around town with me." Liu Yuanzhi pushed open the door and barged in. Seeing the two playing chess, he added, "Grandpa, come with us."
Third Master shook his head and said with a chuckle, "These old bones of mine can't keep up with the steps of young fellows like you. Take Second Child around properly. He's been here for days and still hasn't had a good look at Yan Province City."
Liu Yuanzhi patted his chest. "Leave it to me."
After helping gather the chess pieces into their bag, Liu Yuanzhou stood and asked his cousin, "Why do you have time today? Don't you need to study?"
He had been in the city for four days already and had long wanted to go out for a look, but he was unfamiliar with the place and did not know where to go. Now that his cousin wanted to take him out, he was deeply tempted, yet he feared delaying Liu Yuanzhi's studies and making his aunt unhappy.
Liu Yuanzhi said, "Don't worry. The Empress Dowager gave us the day off today, so we can go out and have fun without a care." He had been locked in his room studying all day and was nearly suffocating from boredom.
Only then did Liu Yuanzhou relax. He took half a tael of broken silver from his bundle, and the two prepared to head out.
"Where do you want to go?"
"How would I know? I'll follow your lead."
"Mm, then we'll climb Treasure Pagoda Mountain first, then Green Peak Mountain, and afterward stroll around the city. I'll let you experience the city's dazzling, riotous world."
Having settled their itinerary for the day, the two left the alley and arrived at North Main Street.
Since it was still early, few of the shops along the street had opened their doors. Yet all kinds of stalls had already been set up, cries of vendors rang without cease, and pedestrians streamed back and forth. It was already quite lively.
Liu Yuanzhi hailed a mule cart and told the driver to take them to Treasure Pagoda Mountain. The two climbed aboard and settled in.
Liu Yuanzhou asked curiously, "We have to take a cart there?"
Liu Yuanzhi countered, "It's more than ten li away. If we don't take a cart, are we supposed to walk?"
Liu Yuanzhou shrugged and did not pursue the subject.
Was more than ten li really that far? Liu Yuanzhou watched his cousin lean comfortably against the cart canopy, carrying himself with leisurely elegance, and could only think that his cousin was truly rich. The fare of a dozen or so copper coins was several months' worth of pocket money for him back in the village.
Little did he know that Liu Yuanzhi's heart was aching over the expense as well. He was merely gritting his teeth to save face.
Each harbored his own thoughts, and they rode in silence. Before long, they reached the foot of Treasure Pagoda Mountain.
Treasure Pagoda Mountain loomed grandly beside the Shi River. At its foot stood a gatehouse arch, its plaque bearing the three vigorous characters: "Treasure Pagoda Mountain." Beyond the gatehouse was a flight of steps leading to the summit, winding and twisting, with pine trees and cypress trees planted thickly on either side.
The two got down from the cart, passed through the archway, and climbed the mountain steps, admiring the scenery along the way. There were also scattered groups of travelers on the path, some going up and some coming down.
When they reached a pavilion halfway up the mountain, Liu Yuanzhi was already slightly out of breath. Liu Yuanzhou sympathized with him and suggested they rest awhile, so the two entered the pavilion and leaned against the railing.
At that moment, three more people entered the pavilion. Seeing that someone was already there, they went to the other side and leaned against the railing as they looked downhill.
Suddenly, one of them said, "Alas, Yan Province City will sooner or later become the private estate of some sect. How lamentable, how tragic!"
"Yes. A scholar was beaten in the street—and one who had passed the Xiucai examination at that. Yet our Magistrate simply let the matter slide. Not only did he release the assailant, he even rebuked the victim. What kind of world is this?" another took up the thread, his tone full of grief and indignation.
"Brother Qingyuan, Brother Bao Ding, please mind your words in public," the third man advised quietly.
"Hmph! I, Li Qingyuan, would dare say this even to the Magistrate's face. At worst, he can strip me of my Xiucai title. I'll go home and farm." The first man spoke sharply.
"Exactly. Feng Yun, you're just too timid," the other said.
"Alas, how could I not be indignant? But what good is there in complaining, no matter how much? We might as well read more and write a few more essays in the current style. Then our chances in next year's provincial examination will grow by another measure." Feng Yun gave a bitter smile.
All three had earned their Xiucai titles in the previous examination. Their temperaments matched, and they had become friends. Their hearts had been knotted by that incident, so they had come out to clear their minds. They had not expected that, though the scenery here was fine, it would instead stir Qingyuan and Bao Ding's fury even further.
Feng Yun was extremely depressed at the moment and could only change the subject to talk about other matters.
Liu Yuanzhou and Liu Yuanzhi had quietly left the pavilion while Feng Yun was speaking.
"Brother, was the sect they mentioned Yan Province Academy?" After they had gone some distance, Liu Yuanzhou suddenly asked.
"Uh, I don't know. But I did hear that last month, a martial instructor from Yan Province Academy severely injured a Xiucai. After that, the matter was simply dropped."
Naturally, Liu Yuanzhou sided with the martial instructor from Yan Province Academy. By now, he had already regarded himself as one of the academy. Perhaps that Xiucai had done something to wrong the instructor—otherwise, why would the instructor have beaten him? Liu Yuanzhou's thoughts ran wild, and before he knew it, the two had reached the summit.
There stood a pagoda, towering like a colossal pillar holding up the heavens, stabbing straight into the sky. Beneath it was a platform encircled by railings. Looking out from there, one could take in all of Yan Province City at a glance.
The two walked to the railing and gazed into the distance. Beneath their feet lay a ten-thousand-zhang precipice, while the Shi River coiled like a jade belt and the distant city spread fully before their eyes. A mountain breeze swept past, setting the green trees across the mountain rustling in unison. Both of them felt their hearts open and their spirits refreshed.
After enjoying the view for a while, Liu Yuanzhi took Liu Yuanzhou to climb the pagoda, only to be told it was under repair and that idlers were not permitted inside. The two had no choice but to give up and descend the mountain with a trace of regret.
By the time they reached the halfway pavilion, the three men were gone. At the foot of the mountain, however, there were far more people: scholars in Confucian robes walking in groups of three or five, wealthy young masters in brocade leading their families and servants, and even young women chatting and laughing as they passed by.
Liu Yuanzhi swallowed the pain and hired another mule cart, which carried the two of them to the foot of Green Peak Mountain.
Green Peak Mountain was much higher than Treasure Pagoda Mountain. It too had winding steps leading to the summit, while lush pines and cypress trees blanketed the mountain, broken here and there by earthen-yellow cliffs.
The two climbed the steps. Considering his cousin's stamina, Liu Yuanzhi deliberately slowed his pace. After roughly half an hour, they finally reached the summit.
At the summit stood a Taoist temple. The two wandered through it, visiting halls for the Jade Emperor, the Supreme Lord, Guanyin, the Goddess Who Bestows Children, and more. The temple was quite large, with many visitors and worshippers offering incense.
Liu Yuanzhou and Liu Yuanzhi lit several sticks of incense in the Jade Emperor Hall, solemnly kowtowed several times, and made their wishes. Liu Yuanzhi prayed to pass the Prefecture Exam, while Liu Yuanzhou wished for his family's safety and for himself to successfully reach Entry Level.
After burning the incense, the two descended Green Peak Mountain. It was already past midday when they rode straight into the city.
They abandoned the cart and continued on foot. Before long, they arrived at a market—this was the South Gate Market Liu Yuanzhi had mentioned. It was mealtime, and the market was packed with people, bustling beyond compare.
Liu Yuanzhi tugged Liu Yuanzhou by the sleeve, pushed through the crowd, and went straight to a stall selling Cold Skin Noodles.
"Uncle Ma, two bowls of rolled noodles, two meat-filled flatbreads, and two bowls of pumpkin porridge!" Liu Yuanzhi shouted to the busy owner behind the stall.
The owner was a man in his forties, with a full beard and an exceptionally large build. The apron tied around his waist barely covered his belly, making for a somewhat comical sight.
"Little Zhi, is that you? All right, just wait a moment." Uncle Ma glanced up at Liu Yuanzhi before lowering his head to continue working. Clearly, he knew Liu Yuanzhi.
"Uncle Ma, this is my cousin, Liu Yuanzhou. I brought him specially to try the Cold Skin Noodles you make." Liu Yuanzhi pointed at Liu Yuanzhou as he spoke.
"Hello, little brother. Just call me Old Ma. I'll season yours in a moment. Do you eat chili?" Uncle Ma looked Liu Yuanzhou over and asked with a smile.
Liu Yuanzhou hurriedly said, "Uncle Ma, please use less chili. I can't eat spicy food." He did not dare presumptuously call the man Old Ma.
Just then, some diners finished their meals and left. Liu Yuanzhi quickly claimed two seats. The two sat down and waited a little longer before Uncle Ma prepared two bowls of Cold Skin Noodles and brought them over.
The porcelain bowls were snow-white, and the noodles glistened red with oil, dotted with several strips of emerald cucumber and cilantro leaves. Liu Yuanzhi's appetite was instantly aroused.
After one bite, the fragrant, spicy, and sour flavors were perfectly balanced, while the noodles were springy and chewy. It suited Liu Yuanzhi's taste perfectly. He praised, "This is the best bowl of Cold Skin Noodles I've ever had." He meant it sincerely; it was not empty flattery for the owner.
Uncle Ma said with a beaming smile, "If it tastes good, come eat here often. Here, have another meat-filled flatbread. Today's meal is on me." As he spoke, he handed one over, and Liu Yuanzhi quickly accepted it.
Liu Yuanzhi said with a smile, "Uncle Ma's Cold Skin Noodles are the finest thing at South Gate Market. Many guests from West Capital Prefecture come here just for them."
After finishing the Cold Skin Noodles and meat-filled flatbreads, then drinking a big bowl of pumpkin porridge, Liu Yuanzhou was about sixty percent full. Still, he was too embarrassed to order another serving.
After the meal, Liu Yuanzhou hurriedly took out a dozen or so copper coins to settle the bill. Uncle Ma waved his hand. "No need to pay. I said this meal was my treat."
Liu Yuanzhou looked at his cousin, who said, "Since Uncle Ma is treating us, we won't stand on ceremony. Next time, we'll treat Uncle Ma to wine."
Liu Yuanzhou put the money away.
"Get lost. As if I care for your wine." Uncle Ma laughed and cursed.
The two stood, giving up their seats to the people waiting in line behind them, and were about to leave.
Suddenly, they heard someone say with a laugh, "Hehe, isn't this the Xiucai gentleman? Why are you here eating for free again?"
Before you continue