Chapter 47: The Eldest Brother’s Preparation

Only seven days remained until the prefectural examination.

The air within the academy felt as if it had thickened, every step taken with careful, tense caution.

Wang Daniu noticed the pressure weighing on his younger brother.

In recent days, after Wang Mingyuan left for the academy, Wang Daniu had also set out early. Unlike usual, when he had no pressing tasks and helped at the butcher shop in the East Market, now he moved about mysteriously, his whereabouts unknown.

Whenever Wang Mingyuan asked, he’d just grin sheepishly, scratch his head, and say, “Just going out for a walk, to get some fresh air.”

But his eyes would dart away.

Absorbed in his studies, Wang Mingyuan didn’t think much of it. His elder brother was new to Chang’an and unfamiliar with the city; perhaps he was just wandering nearby or helping someone slaughter pigs elsewhere.

After reminding his brother to stay safe, he plunged back into his books.

One day, Wang Mingyuan returned early, hoping to review his lessons one last time.

As soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw Wang Daniu rubbing his hands together, pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

His dark face was flushed scarlet, sweat beading on his forehead, his demeanor restless and hesitant.

“Big brother? What’s wrong?” Wang Mingyuan asked, setting down his book box, puzzled.

Startled upon seeing him, Wang Daniu seemed to make up his mind suddenly. He stamped his foot hard, then strode a few steps over, his voice trembling with excitement and nerves:

“Sa…Sa-lang! I…I haven’t been to the butcher shop these past few days!”

“I know, you said you were just out for a walk,” Wang Mingyuan said, more confused.

“Not just a walk!” Wang Daniu waved his hands anxiously, his face redder than ever.

“I…I went… to find out some information for you!”

“Information? What kind?” Wang Mingyuan blinked in surprise.

Taking a deep breath, summoning all his courage, Wang Daniu lowered his voice and whispered conspiratorially:

“I… I want to be like your friend Li Mao from that county town last time! He helped you gather information before the county exam!

I figured there must be some tricks for the prefectural exam too!

So… I thought I’d try to find out something for you! See what the prefect likes, what he dislikes!

Maybe… just maybe, it’ll help?”

Wang Mingyuan was stunned.

His big brother—usually so honest and shy even around strangers—in this unfamiliar city of Chang’an, had gone to spy on the prefect’s preferences?

That was surely harder than slaughtering a hundred pigs.

“Big brother, you…” Wang Mingyuan was at a loss for words, feeling both warmth and a sting in his heart.

But Wang Daniu mistook the silence for reproach and hurriedly explained, stumbling over his words:

“I… I know I’m not good with words!

I know! I’m not like those scholars who can speak so well… I just hid near the back gate of the prefect’s office, watching the officials coming and going, and… and the servants from wealthy families going out to buy vegetables…”

He swallowed hard, a mix of frustration and disappointment on his face:

“I… I stayed there for days, too scared to ask directly… Until yesterday, I overheard two women dressed in silk chatting. They were from the prefect’s household…

They said… the prefect’s third concubine… likes to wear rose-red silk dresses… and that the prefect himself praised how beautiful they looked…”

Wang Daniu’s voice trailed off, growing softer and his face redder, mumbling almost inaudibly:

“I… I thought… since the prefect likes his concubine to wear that color… maybe he likes others to wear it too?

So… I was thinking… Sa-lang, for your exam tomorrow…

Maybe you should wear a rose-red… uh… long gown? Perhaps… if the prefect sees it… he might like you more? Favor you… a little more?”

He glanced at Wang Mingyuan quickly, then looked down again.

In truth, Wang Daniu wasn’t sure if that color was even appropriate. But he had passed by a large tavern where many rich young scholars wore bright-colored long gowns. So maybe rose-red wasn’t too outlandish.

Those rich lads, however, were all slick and flashy, nothing like the obedient and sensible Sa-lang.

Wang Daniu rubbed the corner of his clothes anxiously with his rough hands, his dark face full of nervousness and embarrassment, and added softly:

“I only found out this much after days of trying. I’m just too clumsy with words… I couldn’t help much…”

Seeing his brother like this, Wang Mingyuan first felt a bit amused.

A rose-red long gown? What kind of propriety was that?

Which serious scholar would wear such a color to an exam?

The prefect liking his concubine to wear it was one thing, but liking a candidate to wear it was quite another.

Yet that fleeting amusement was soon drowned by a wave of emotion.

Before his eyes appeared the image of his burly brother, like an iron tower, awkwardly crouching on an unfamiliar street corner near the prefect’s back gate.

Straining his ears, nervously watching every passerby, clumsily trying to catch any scrap of gossip that might be useful…

All for such a nearly absurd “tip.”

That clumsiness, that perseverance, that sincere willingness to do something so out of his element, all for his younger brother…

Wang Mingyuan’s heart felt gripped tightly by some invisible force, aching and swelling, his eyes suddenly warm with tears.

He took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in his throat. Stepping forward, he gave his brother’s strong arm a firm pat.

His voice trembled slightly but was full of gratitude: “Big brother! Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

Wang Daniu looked up sharply, hope shining in his eyes.

“Then… the gown… If we order it now, it might still be in time. I’ll go place the order right away! There’s a tailor’s shop just down the alley to the left of the gate. It should still be open!”

He was about to hurry out.

Wang Mingyuan quickly shook his head, grabbing his brother’s arm with a sincere smile:

“No need to make the gown!

Rose-red… cough cough… isn’t really suitable for a man to wear to an exam.

Besides, these days, the instructor Liu at the academy has already told us many precautions for the prefectural exam—what to pay attention to, what to prepare. Everything’s been explained clearly!

I forgot to tell you, so you worried for nothing and went to all that trouble! I’m sorry, big brother!”

He paused, looking into his brother’s eyes seriously:

“Big brother, the information you gathered, even if it might not be useful… your intention means more than anything! I know you did it out of love for me!”

Hearing this, the tension Wang Daniu had felt about the tailor’s shop closing soon eased.

He exhaled deeply. “We’re family. No need to say sorry! It’s only right I try to help you.”

“Ah,” he slapped his thigh, “I was just worried that a rose-red gown alone might not be enough, so I was going to ask the tailor to make matching rose-red boots, an inner shirt, and even a coordinating handkerchief. If the prefect didn’t like you after all that, I’d be at a loss. I was worried it wouldn’t be ready in time…”

He scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly:

“Looks like I worried for nothing! The tutors at the academy must know everything! Good thing I didn’t make a mess of things… better not cause trouble! Heh heh…”

Seeing his big brother’s honest, satisfied smile, Wang Mingyuan smiled in return.

He hooked his arm through his brother’s (though he really wanted to put it around his shoulder, but couldn’t reach), giving it a hearty shake:

“Come on, big brother, let’s have a good meal tonight! I’ll buy a few bowls of Wu’s famous mutton soup from the alley, and you make a few of your best flatbreads—extra oil! Only if I’m full can I have the strength to take the exam!”

“All right! As much as you want!” Wang Daniu responded loudly, his smile brighter than ever, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He strode eagerly toward the kitchen, full of energy.

The sunset’s last glow bathed the small courtyard, casting a warm golden edge around the two brothers’ figures.