At the hour of the dragon on the sixth day of the second month in the third year of Shengping, Liu Shangzhi came to Chen Family Cove to invite Chen Caozhi to travel with him to Wu Commandery. At last year's literary gathering on Qiyun Mountain, Attendant Quan had selected Liu Shangzhi for the ninth rank, and he too needed to attend the ranking assessment conducted by Yangzhou's Grand Zhongzheng in Wu Commandery in the third month. Moreover, Liu Shangzhi was already twenty; once he received his ninth-rank exemption certificate, he could seek office. He hoped to secure a subordinate post in Lu Na's governor's office, then, after gaining a few years of experience, seek a position as chief or magistrate of one of the commandery's counties. To this end, he practiced calligraphy diligently. His specialty was the Han clerical script of the Ritual Vessels Stele, and since the ninth month of last year, he had also begun copying Lu Ji's cursive-script Pingfu Tie-to cater to Lu Na's tastes.
Liu Shangzhi's companions were the same as last year: Old Bao the driver, A Jiao the maid, and A Lin the sturdy servant. Chen Caozhi still had Ran Sheng and Lai De with him. This time, Xiao Chan was not so eager to accompany young Master Caozhi; she merely held Run'er's hand and saw him off, going stretch after stretch of the road.
Chen Xian, Clan Chief, Lai Fu, and Jing Nu accompanied them all the way to Maple Forest Ferry, offering earnest reminders. Only after watching Chen Caozhi, Liu Shangzhi, and their party cross the river did they turn back.
Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi arrived at the Ding Clan Villa. Ding Chunqiu had finished packing two days earlier and treated the seven masters and servants in Chen's and Liu's