Chapter 312 — Examination

"Song Yan?" Her aunt stared at Dou Yan in astonishment.

"Exactly!" Dou Yan's face lit up in keen interest. "His parents are both dead, and there is no one else in the family. He spent those years with Mr. Song in Zhending—you saw it yourself—no one could be of a more honest and kind nature. If we could take him as a live-in husband, nothing could be better!"

Her aunt came back to her senses. Seeing how serious Dou Yan looked, she was torn between exasperation and amusement. "Don't tell me you decided this on the spur of the moment?"

If she admitted it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, her aunt, cautious in all things, would certainly turn her down flat.

Dou Yan denied it vehemently. "Of course not. I had this in mind all along—it is only that the Song family's foundation is too thin. You were the one who said we should find someone from a scholarly household, and Song Yan is the only fit match." With that, she pressed her aunt for a decision. "Just tell me, is it workable or not? If he pleases you, then while Mr. Song and Song Yan have not yet set out for home, I will have Yantang step forward and act as go-between. If you are not satisfied, we will think of something else." Then she muttered under her breath, "For a live-in son-in-law, isn't it best if there are as few relatives as possible in the family? And Song Yan is someone we watched grow up—we know him inside and out. Who could be a better choice?"

Since a family sought a live-in son-in-law, it was certain their own line of descent was thin. And though contracts regarding inheritance and support were always drawn up beforehand, it was all too common—as the father aged and declined, and the capable, shrewd son-in-law gradually grew in power—for him to seize the wife's family fortune and then take another wife and have children of his own. This was one important reason why families were so cautious about taking a live-in son-in-law, and why they placed such weight on the man's character.

In this respect, Song Yan's character truly left nothing to be desired.

It was only that, coming from the woman's side, it did look rather like forcing a duck onto a perch.

Her aunt hesitated.

Dou Yan herself found Song Yan more suitable the more she thought about it—not only was he handsome, but his temper was mild, he was quick and diligent with his hands, and honest to the core. When her uncle and aunt grew old, with Song Yan to care for them, they would surely live comfortably.

Seeing her waver, she hurried to say, "Whether it works or not, we have to try, don't we? Cousin is already twenty. How many more years do you plan to keep her?"

Her aunt thought it over and still chose the steady approach. "You sound them out first. If the Song family is willing, it will not be too late for us to make the proposal then."

Dou Yan gave a "mm" of assent and went off happily to the front flower hall.

Song Yan was speaking with Song Yan—the younger—at that moment: "...To think we are of the same clan! Might I ask where you are from? How old are you this year? What did your father do? Who else is in your family? Have you had any schooling?"

Mr. Song merely assumed that Song Yan was curious upon meeting someone of the same surname, and suspected nothing. The younger Song Yan was even less inclined to suspicion. He answered each question respectfully: "I am from Quzhou. I have only just come of age this year. My father was originally a xiucai who made his living teaching in a school. He fell ill and died when I was three; by the time I was seven, my mother had passed away as well, and there is no one left in the family. I followed my uncle in my studies for some years and learned a few characters."

He was modest and courteous, and Song Yan nodded to himself in approval. Then he asked, "Since you have already come of age, have you taken a courtesy name?"

"I have!" said Song Yan. "My uncle gave me the courtesy name Qianli."

Hearing this, Song Yan's smile grew even warmer. "And what books have you read in your usual studies? Have you ever sat for the examinations?"

"In my usual studies I have only read the Four Books and Five Classics with my uncle. My uncle said my level is limited—"

Song Yan knew well that the literary culture of Jiangnan was flourishing and that even an ordinary xiucai there was far harder to obtain than in the north. Moreover, Song Yan's parents had both died, and Song Yumin had taken up a teaching post in Zhending—a journey of ten thousand li from Zhending to Jiangnan, and no small expense. That was likely one reason he had never returned home to sit the exams.

"Since you are preparing to sit for the examinations, I suppose you have gained some understanding of the craft of examination essays?" he asked with a smile.

Song Yan, as was his habit, made a show of modesty. "I have only just begun to learn to write them. I can only say I have not gone too far astray."

Song Yan said, "Last time in my father-in-law's room I saw a topic: 'Knowing how to cultivate oneself, joined with the following section.' The phrase 'knowing how to cultivate oneself' I know—it is 'knowing how to cultivate oneself, one knows how to govern others; knowing how to govern others, one knows how to govern the realm, the state, and the family.' But I do not know what this 'joined with the following section' refers to?"

At this, Song Yumin, Dou Yong, and Dou Huaide, who had been watching them with smiles, could not help but wipe the smiles from their faces.

This was a "patchwork topic," which required the examination candidate to have read the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly. It was the hardest kind of topic to write on in the examination craft.

Song Yan said he did not know what the next line was, and naturally Song Yumin, Dou Yong, and Dou Huaide did not believe him. But Song Yan and the younger Song Yan had no grudge between them—what did he mean by making things so difficult for him?

Song Yumin could not help but sit up straighter.

The brothers Dou Yong and Dou Huaide exchanged a glance of surprise.

Song Yan had already smiled and said, "It is from the Zhongyong: 'In all things pertaining to the realm, the state, and the family, there are nine standards: cultivating oneself, honoring the worthy, loving one's kin, respecting the great ministers, sympathizing with the whole body of officials, treating the common people as one's children, attracting the various artisans, being gracious to men from afar, and cherishing the feudal lords.'"

He had caught the drift of it too—this Fourth Son-in-Law of the Dou family, the heir of the Yingzhen Duke's estate, meant to set him a topic and test him!

But why?

Compared with Song Yan, he was of low birth and had no scholarly honors to his name. He had nothing whatsoever to do with this noble scion—so why was the man fixing his eyes on him and refusing to let go?

Song Yan was utterly bewildered.

Then he saw Song Yan gazing at him without blinking and smiling as he said, "The principle of self-cultivation in the Zhongyong leaves nothing out in its application to governance."

For a moment Song Yan did not understand what Song Yan meant. Only after a good while did he realize that Song Yan was taking "Knowing how to cultivate oneself, joined with the following section" as his topic and composing an examination essay on it.

But why was he looking at him like that?

Song Yan muttered to himself in his heart.

Song Yan—the elder—looked at him, smiling without a word.

Only then did Song Yan suddenly understand.

Song Yan meant for him to carry on and finish the essay!

He could not help but gape.

Song Yan slowly took up his teacup, sipped lightly, and even praised it: "The silver tips are exposed—truly fine tea!"

What the Dou family was serving them today was Jiangxi Shuangjing green tea.

Song Yan could not help but break out in a sweat on his forehead, and he cast a look of appeal toward Song Yumin.