My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Today, you must be fully drunk as we bid farewell

It was early autumn, the scorching summer had departed, and the cool autumn wind blew from north to south. On cue, an autumn rain arrived, fine and persistent, like thousands of flying needles entering the water, causing ripples to spread in circles.

At the southern dock of Yu State City, people were coming and going; it was still bustling.

The Great Yan’s scholarly examination was imminent, and the scholarly examination of Jiangnan Dao was being held in Lijiang City, so Zhou Xianming had to take a boat to Lijiang City to participate.

An Jing, Han Wenxin, and Li Fuzhou, the three of them arrived at the dock to see Zhou Xianming off.

Zhou Xianming looked at them, brimming with confidence, “This time at the examination, I will certainly return as the top scorer.”

“Where does this old man get his confidence from? Could it be from the Oiran?”

Dressed in a constable uniform, Han Wenxin, gripping a saber in one hand and digging his nose with the other, was full of doubt.

All these days, Zhou Xianming had been nothing but frequenting music halls; he hadn’t seen him seriously studying, and yet he dared to participate in the scholarly examination?

Could it be that Zhou Xianming secretly studied while lying on the bellies of women?

“How rude! I’m only thirty-two this year, exactly the age for a man to stand firm.”

Zhou Xianming huffed coldly, flicking his sleeves, yet he secretly cursed in his heart: Vulgar martial artists, simple limbs, simple minds, always resorting to physical actions. There’s a saying: ‘A gentleman uses his mouth and not his fists.’ I will not stoop to your level for now.”

“You’re not young anymore, and you still need my sister-in-law to support you financially, and you have the nerve to talk about standing firm at thirty?”

Han Wenxin burst into laughter upon hearing that, “Some people stand firm at thirty, but there are also those who fall at thirty, the former refers to me, and the latter must be referring to you, old Zhou, right?”

Thirty and falling!?

Upon hearing Han Wenxin’s words, Zhou Xianming nearly passed out from anger.

Bad luck!

Such bad luck!

He shouldn’t have let this martial artist come today, such bad luck!

“Alright, Brother Han.”

An Jing, seeing Zhou Xianming too angry to speak, couldn’t help but laugh, “After all, Mr. Zhou is about to take his examination, we should say some auspicious words.”

He knew well that Zhou Xianming had some tricks up his sleeve; perhaps he could really rank high in the examination. However, above the scholarly examination, there were still the imperial and palace examinations, which were key for a career.

Zhou Xianming, hearing this, nodded greatly, “Little An the doctor speaks nicely, unlike those crude martial artists, which is so infuriating.”

An Jing took out a sheet of paper, seriously saying, “By the way, Mr. Zhou, about the silver you borrowed yesterday, including the previous two times, it totals twenty-one taels. If you pass, remember to pay it back in full. If you don’t pass, as you’ve said yourself, you’ll have to labor as a horse or an ox to repay. My wife and I calculated last night that it would take a year and two months to repay it all.”

Zhou Xianming: “…..”

“The passenger ship heading for Lijiang City is about to depart. Those heading to Lijiang City better get on the ship now. If you miss it, you will have to wait until tomorrow.”

Just then, a clear voice came from the ferry crossing.

Shadows moved on both sides, all carrying bundles and bags, hurrying toward the passenger ship.

“Little An the doctor, I must be going now. We can talk about this matter when I return.”

Zhou Xianming quickly coughed lightly, then turned to Li Fuzhou, saying, “Mr. Li, I take my leave.”

Li Fuzhou spoke somewhat sadly, “With this farewell, who knows when we can listen to music in the music halls again.”

“Ah.”

Zhou Xianming sighed upon hearing this, “Wait for me to return, San Ye. The largest pleasure boat in Yu State City will be at your disposal. The madam there is very generous, she’ll definitely make you satisfied.”

“Good, if she’s generous, that’s great.” Li Fuzhou’s eyes lit up.

The two’s eyes lingered with reluctance to part, showing a deep and meaningful friendship.

It’s no wonder they enjoyed the music halls together; their bond was indeed strong.

An Jing spoke from the side, not too kindly, “The scholarly examination takes six days, the travel four days, plus some leisure time and the announcement of results, it’s only about twenty days in total, there’s no need for such sentiments.”

Zhou Xianming, carrying his pack, boarded the passenger ship, looking down at the three sending him off on the dock, feeling a surge of emotions.

“Everyone, it’s getting cold, head back now.”

This time at the scholarly examination, with so many people ‘concerned’ about him coming to see him off, he had to rank high to impress Miss Li Yue.

Li Fuzhou’s passenger boat floated, and he couldn’t help but say, “After the rain clears and the north wind chills, the path by the Yu River and Wushan is difficult. Today, as we send you off, let’s drink to our heart’s content, for tomorrow, remembering this journey will be long and winding.”

“What a splendid poem, Mr. Li is immensely talented!” Zhou Xianming’s eyes sparkled, and his heart felt warm.

“Excellent!”

Unable to resist, Han Wenxin clapped his hands in approval at the side.

“You understand this poem?”

An Jing raised an eyebrow.

Han Wenxin’s literacy was just enough to scrape by; he had barely passed the standard of being literate. How could he possibly critique poetry now?

Noticing An Jing’s look, Han Wenxin immediately chuckled and said, “Any poem that I don’t understand, I regard as good.”

From a young age, whenever he read ancient poetry, he had discerned a principle, that if he found the verses convoluted and obscure, others would undoubtedly praise them highly, and this recognition was etched deep into his bones.

“Such a boy is unteachable,” Li Fuzhou glanced at Han Wenxin and sighed helplessly, feeling as if his poetry was pearls cast before swine.

An Jing, also feeling a touch of sadness, said, “Let me compose a poem to bid Mr. Zhou farewell.”

Upon hearing this, everyone perked up their ears, with Zhou Xianming feeling so moved that tears brimmed in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, An Jing hesitated for a long while then said, “The wind howls, the Yu River chills, a valiant man leaves and shall not return….”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming staggered, nearly losing his footing and falling off the boat.

“Quick! Start the boat!”

Li Fuzhou: “….”

Han Wenxin: “….”

This statement was clear and understandable, and he got it.

The three of them stood and watched as the passenger boat sailed away, with Zhou Xianming on board continually waving to them.

“That old man’s arms must be about to fall off from all that waving,”

Han Wenxin muttered as he watched the increasingly smaller speck in the distance.

“He’s gone now; it’s time for me to go make some visits,” An Jing stretched his limbs.

Today, besides seeing Zhou Xianming off, he also needed to make some visits in Mazi Lane to the west of the city.

“Sir, are you sure you don’t need this old man to assist you?”

Li Fuzhou asked from the side.

It had been agreed beforehand that Li Fuzhou was just there to see Zhou Xianming off.

“No need, I used to do it alone.”

An Jing waved his hand.

He always felt Li Fuzhou was a spy planted by Zhao Qingmei, though he hadn’t done anything, it was still somewhat uncomfortable to have to always guard against him.

After all, this old man had once said he wanted to eat off him for a lifetime.

“Very well, Sir, I’ll head back first then,”

Li Fuzhou bowed, ready to head back to Jishi Hall.

“Brother An, is Tan Yun at home?” Han Wenxin’s eyes lit up slightly, his hands twitched.

“She is,” An Jing nodded.

“Got it, you go on with your business, Brother,”

Hearing this, Han Wenxin hurriedly caught up to Li Fuzhou, “Wait for me, Elder, the city isn’t very safe recently, I’ll escort you back.”

“This kid,”

An Jing couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the sight, then he headed towards Mazi Lane in the west of the city.

……