Chapter 131: Injuried

The academy entrance exam questions were still based primarily on the Four Books and Five Classics, testing essays, poetry, and policy arguments.

The sources of the questions remained unchanged, as did the content tested, but the format had shifted somewhat.

Da Fu, as usual, recorded the questions and clearly noticed that the academy exam was more difficult than the preliminary test.

Previously, the questions were straightforward; reading them at a glance made it obvious what was being asked—if you knew the answer, you answered it; if not, you didn’t.

But this time, the questions were lengthy and highly misleading, requiring one to extract precisely what the examiner was intending to test. The very first step was to analyze the question carefully.

If one misunderstood the question, then no matter how profound the content was, it would be completely off track.

Da Fu concentrated deeply, well aware that no matter how things changed, the essence remained the same. He unraveled the layers bit by bit, gradually clearing the fog and extracting the core of the question before starting to answer.

Though this was his first time participating in the academy exam, Uncle Wu had already told him a lot about the exam’s nature. Facing these more difficult questions, his mindset remained calm and composed, avoiding any panic.

He answered the questions with careful detail and diligence. He had originally thought that the three days locked inside the examination room would be agonizing, but to his surprise, time passed quickly, and he barely noticed the hardship.

The academy exam naturally involved more questions, mostly focused on essays rather than poetry, unlike the preliminary test which often required completing the next line of a poem after being given the first.

Da Fu spent the days writing nonstop and was too exhausted at night to do anything but lightly nap after finishing his answers. Even in his dreams, the exam questions and essays filled his mind.

On the third day, he submitted his answers neatly. Only when he left the examination compound did he feel his entire body was weary and aching.

During those days in the examination room, his mind had been fully focused on the test, and he hadn’t noticed any physical discomfort.

Though his body was stiff and sore, once he stepped out of the examination compound and breathed in the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers outside, with the gentle autumn breeze, his body immediately relaxed a great deal.

“Da Fu, over here!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Da Fu looked up and saw Kang He standing beside a carriage. A Wang hurried over, taking the bookcase and bedding from his hands.

Da Fu relaxed his limbs and quickly walked over: “Father.”

Kang He looked at his son running toward him and couldn’t help but reach out to pat the back of his head. “Are you tired?”

Da Fu shook his head. “A bit inside the examination room, but now that I’m outside and can take a breath, I feel much more comfortable.”

He raised his head slightly, feeling especially happy to see his family after the exam. But as he got closer, he noticed the dark shadows under Kang He’s eyes and the stubble on his chin—it was clear he hadn’t shaved last night.

Seeing this, Da Fu’s brow furrowed slightly. He thought to himself: he had only been in the examination compound for three days, so why was Father so worried-looking? When his little uncle went to the capital for over half a month, Father hadn’t looked like this when he came home. His heart couldn’t help but wonder.

He turned his head, waiting for little Fu to come running, but after a while, there was no sign of him. He asked, “Where are Little Uncle and Brother? Could they still be at the martial arts school?”

He calculated that Little Uncle shouldn’t have classes this afternoon, so little Fu should definitely have come to fetch him. Yet only Kang He was here, which surprised him a little.

“They’re at home.”

Kang He’s brow tightened slightly as he placed a hand on Da Fu’s shoulder. “Come, let’s get into the carriage first.”

Da Fu noticed that although Kang He still looked calm on the surface, his expression was off somehow. His heart tightened, and he grabbed Kang He’s hand. “Did something happen?”

Seeing Da Fu’s anxious expression, Kang He comforted him, “Don’t worry, it’s not serious.”

Knowing he couldn’t hide anything from the boy, he told him, “Yesterday, Little Fu went riding at the martial arts school. The horse suddenly got spooked and threw him off. That’s why he didn’t come to fetch you. Little Uncle is at home watching over him.”

Da Fu almost stood up abruptly in the carriage when he heard this, then realized he was still seated and sat back down.

His face was anxious and his heart tense, firing off a string of questions: “Was it a big horse or a small one? Was the fall serious? Did the doctor check him?”

Kang He sighed. “He was riding a big horse when he fell. It wasn’t too severe, just some scrapes on his arms and legs, and some bruising to his bones. The doctor came to the martial arts school yesterday to examine him and told him to take good care during recovery.”

Though reassured by Kang He’s words, Da Fu’s heart wouldn’t settle. He felt his father was downplaying things to comfort him.

He clenched his fists and furrowed his brow tightly. Though he knew his younger brother loved practicing with swords and spears and was bound to get hurt sometimes, actually hearing about the injury brought on a completely different feeling.

Just three days ago, his brother was lively and energetic, seeing him off at the entrance of the academy. And now, in such a short time, he had been hurt.

Unable to bear waiting for news without seeing him, Da Fu leaned out of the carriage to urge the driver to hurry faster and faster.

Upon arriving home, he ran inside.

“Little Uncle, I didn’t mean to scare the horse or anything. It’s not its fault I fell; I just lost my balance. But I’m fine, just a few scrapes. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

“I’m not in pain. If I was, I wouldn’t be able to run three laps around the garden.”

Fan Jing watched the little one on the bed babbling nonstop, his brow tightening as he pressed the boy back down.

“You’re already lying on the bed, but still talking so much? Not a bit honest.”

Fan Jing hadn’t slept all night. He straightened the quilt over Little Fu, seeing the child’s complexion paler than usual. He said nothing, but his heart was heavy.

Softly, he asked, “Do you want some water?”

“I’m not thirsty.”

Little Fu blinked, then said, “Father, why haven’t you come back yet? You’ve been gone to pick up Brother for an hour. Don’t get lost.”

Da Fu was already at the door, hearing Little Fu’s voice, and his heart finally relaxed a bit.

Hearing this, he walked inside. “If I got lost, how could I watch over the mischievous kid who got hurt?”

Seeing Da Fu return, Little Fu’s face brightened and he happily called out, “Brother!”

Da Fu quickly went to sit by the bed. Seeing Little Fu’s lips and face pale, he gently lifted the thin quilt to look. The boy’s left arm and right knee were wrapped in bandages.

There was a faint medicinal scent.

He pressed his lips tightly and furrowed his brow, carefully covering Little Fu back up.

At a time like this, he couldn’t bear to scold him even a little. He gently stroked his soft hair. “Does it hurt?”

Little Fu glanced at Fan Jing beside him and Kang He who had just entered, shaking his head. Then he looked back at Da Fu. “It doesn’t hurt. It only hurt a bit when the doctor bandaged me yesterday. Now it’s almost healed.”

“Brother, did your exams tire you out these past few days?”

Da Fu exhaled softly. “Always talking nonsense. What doctor’s magic healing? It was just one bandaging, and you think you’re healed.”

“Even if I was tired from exams, that would be better than being hurt.”

The family stayed inside the room with Little Fu for a while, chatting. The atmosphere was relatively warm. But after a short time, the little one started yawning, saying he was sleepy.

Da Fu held his hand a little longer and stayed with him until he really fell asleep. Then he said he would return to the academy to freshen up.

Seeing Kang He and Fan Jing’s expressions were still not good, he urged them to return to their rooms and rest. If they were too tired or ill, it wouldn’t be good for Little Fu to see.

Kang He then led Fan Jing back inside.

Da Fu, seeing the state of his family, felt uneasy. He called A Wang over and carefully told him the doctor’s diagnosis again.

Hearing that it was really just superficial skin wounds and no broken bones, he finally felt a little relieved.

No wonder Father and Little Uncle were so worried—Little Fu had been doted on at home since he was young, rarely suffering even minor injuries. This was the first serious wound he’d had, so of course they were anxious.

“Why don’t you try to sleep a bit? You didn’t sleep a wink last night. If you keep going like this, how can your body handle it? No matter how strong you are now, you’re not in your teens or twenties anymore.”

Kang He saw Fan Jing sitting by the window, one hand resting on the table, staring blankly to one side. His eyes were dull, and his brows were full of remorse and guilt.

Seeing this, Kang He’s heart ached.

He approached, squatted down, and stroked Fan Jing’s brow. “The injury isn’t serious. You’re just too nervous. The kid will only think it’s a bigger deal than it is.”

Fan Jing looked up at Kang He. “I shouldn’t have let him go to the martial arts school. At his age, it’s too easy to get hurt.”

“Kids always bump and bruise themselves growing up. You can’t blame yourself for this. Think about how many injuries you had before—you came through just fine.”

“He’s not like me.”

Fan Jing’s brow tightened.

“If he’d been watched more carefully, he wouldn’t have fallen.”

Yesterday, when he left the classroom, he saw Little Fu lying on the ground, barely moving. The horse was still pacing nearby, and it was terrifying to think what could have happened if it had gone wild again.

Kang He felt heavy-hearted hearing this and sympathized with Fan Jing.

He put an arm around him and patted his back. “It’s my fault, too. I was the one who agreed to let Little Fu go to the martial arts school.”

Fan Jing said nothing, sinking deeper into his thoughts, unwilling to be comforted.

Kang He coaxed him for a while. Perhaps from a sleepless night and inner worries, Fan Jing leaned on Kang He and, frowning, drifted into a light sleep.

Once he heard his breathing steady, Kang He quietly lifted him onto the bed and stayed with him for a while.

When Little Fu woke, he opened his big round eyes and saw his brother sitting on the stool beside the bed, flipping through a book.

The room was very quiet, with only him staying by his side.

“Awake? Hungry? Brother will call for something to eat for you.”

Da Fu, hearing the slight movement, looked up at the bed and saw Little Fu’s bright eyes open. He quickly put down his book and went over.

He had planned to visit Uncle Wu to share some exam insights today, but his thoughts were fixed on Little Fu. He told A Wang to inform Uncle Wu he’d come in a few days instead.

Looking at his brother in front of him, alone in the room, Little Fu scrunched his nose and his big eyes clouded with tears. Pitifully, he said, “I’m not hungry, but my arm hurts and woke me up.”

Da Fu saw the watery eyes and red nose, so pitiful.

Since he’d grown up, he rarely saw this little brother cry. If he was crying, it really must hurt.

Da Fu’s heart ached, twisting into a knot. “Then Brother will blow on it for you.”

Little Fu made a soft sound in agreement and let Da Fu blow on his arm.

“You were so stubborn before, telling Father and Little Uncle it didn’t hurt. Now you admit it does.”

Little Fu pouted. “If I told Father and Little Uncle I was in pain, they’d never let me go to the martial arts school again. And if they forbid me from riding horses, what would I do?”

Da Fu pinched his nose. “You don’t remember the pain at all. Even now, you’re still worrying about that.”

“Then if Father and Little Uncle forbid Brother from touching books, wouldn’t Brother be worried too?”

Little Fu lifted his leg. “This side hurts a lot, my knee. I can’t even bend it.”

Da Fu couldn’t understand where he came up with all these twisted ideas. “You’re really hopeless.”

Little Fu sniffled, tears blurring his eyes. He wiped them roughly, stared at the canopy, and squinted slightly. “Even though it hurts a bit, only by getting hurt can you grow into a real big kid. Every scar becomes a mark of growth!”

“Now I’m a big kid with scars! Brother, after today, I’ll be completely different!”

Da Fu looked at his tear-streaked little brother and suddenly felt a surge of energy, as if he himself had been injured.

He shook his head and thought, no wonder the saying goes that literary and martial skills don’t mix. Who knows what’s on that boy’s mind.

“Since you’re already so tough, how can I not blow on it?”

Little Fu immediately spoiled the effect, pleading, “Blow some more, just a bit more. It still hurts. When Father and Little Uncle come, I can’t be all whiny. I’m not a spoiled little kid.”

Outside the door, Kang He and Fan Jing exchanged looks, hearing the brothers’ conversation.

Their feelings were indescribable. They clearly remembered that when Little Fu fell, he didn’t hit his head.

Because of this injury, the family didn’t tell the elders at home, not wanting to worry them.

Autumn was a busy time for farm work, and if Grandfather Fan and Chen Sanfang knew their beloved son was hurt, they’d surely be anxious.

Only Da Fu had taken some time to visit home and check on the two younger ones without raising suspicion.

Da Fu also sent A Wang to buy a parrot and hung it in Little Fu’s room to keep him entertained while recovering, to prevent the restless boy from trying to get out of bed.

Having the parrot to play with calmed him down somewhat.

Midway through the waiting period after the academy exam, Shi Wu also came to visit Little Fu a few times, always bringing some curious trinkets.

During the waiting time for the results after this academy exam, the family’s thoughts were mostly on Little Fu.

Even Da Fu’s usual anxious mood about waiting for the results had faded.

Before he knew it, nearly two days and nights had passed, and half a month had flown by. In the blink of an eye, the day the results would be announced had arrived.