Chapter 48: The Female Enko

Though her appearance was plain, she carried an air of quiet elegance that made one immediately sense her kind and gentle nature.

“What would Madam like to eat?”

Zhang Rou smiled softly, “I enjoy whatever Brother Lin and Xi’er prepare. Just make something simple.”

Lin Feng said, “Why not use what’s on hand? There’s a river here, so surely there are fish. I’ll make fish soup for Madam.”

Zhang Yuan asked, “Brother, what shall we eat?”

“Let’s have grilled fish.”

“Great! I’ll catch the fish!” Zhang Yuan rolled up his trousers, took off his shoes, and stepped into the river, with Liu Xi following him into the water.

Tian Xi’er and Xiao Die gathered firewood and set up the stove.

Liu Ruofu and Lin Feng walked to the riverbank, taking in the late spring scenery. Liu Ruofu asked, “Brother Lin, did you go to Jiangcheng solely for business?”

“Yes. Having silver in hand gives one confidence.”

Liu Ruofu paused slightly. “If anyone else had said what you just did, I would disdain them. But I know you are no unscrupulous merchant. You are extraordinary. Zhang Yuan told me you are a scholar with official rank and the ability to serve the great Chu kingdom. If you wish, I can recommend you to my mentor. Perhaps you could secure a modest official post.”

Lin Feng smiled. “Thank you, Lord Liu, for your esteem. But everyone has their own aspirations. The affairs of the kingdom and court require learned and upright men like you. I am a wanderer at heart and prefer freedom.”

“Brother Lin, how could you be a wanderer?”

“That’s because you don’t know me. If I entered officialdom, I would surely draw the enmity of those with agendas and be ousted sooner or later.”

Liu Ruofu sighed. “I suppose you fear being entangled in court intrigues?”

“That is part of it,” Lin Feng admitted.

“In truth, officialdom is not always so treacherous. With justice in your heart, everything can be resolved.”

Lin Feng thought to himself that this was because Liu held a low official rank. The higher one climbs, the more enemies one faces. Relying on justice alone to be invincible was nonsense.

“Very well. Since you have no such ambition for now, I won’t press it. Perhaps you will change your mind in the future. But I suggest you keep studying. Once you obtain a degree, even if you don’t enter officialdom, it will greatly benefit your business. The court favors scholars.”

That was an idea.

Lin Feng smiled, “I haven’t studied for ten years, and I’ve long forgotten all the books I read.”

“Brother Lin may not know about Chu’s new imperial examination policies. The kingdom, founded over thirty years ago, lacks talent in many areas. Thus, the new exams will be more inclusive, testing various kinds of abilities. I’ve heard that this year, many prefectures even opened special exams for women.”

“What? Women can take the imperial exams?”

That was truly different from the ancient world he knew, where women were praised for having no talent as a virtue.

“What’s strange about it? The newly crowned emperor of Xichuan is a woman! Half of her ministers are women.”

Was Xichuan a kingdom ruled by women?

Lin Feng felt a strange longing.

“Chu has so few men due to wars that women taking the exams is a necessity.”

“Does this include forced marriages?”

“Yes. Forced marriage is one method, but it applies to men as well. Men of marriageable age must wed.”

Liu Ruofu said, “In short, I recommend you take the exam. If you become a juren, it will surely benefit you and your family.”

Lin Feng smiled, “Perhaps I’ll give it a try.”

He could participate; it wasn’t like he’d lose anything.

“If you want to join but have been out of study for a while, you can enter a Jiangcheng academy. Having a teacher explain things is better than studying alone. What I know about the exams comes mostly from colleagues at the academy, apart from official decrees.”

Lin Feng asked, “Can I just enter the academy?”

“Do you have your xiucai certificate, the document issued by the Imperial Academy of Chu?”

“No.”

Lin Feng thought it was probably in his study, which he hadn’t visited in a long time.

“That’s fine. I can write a letter of recommendation for you. I know a teacher at Yiyun Academy in Jiangcheng. He’s my classmate and also a juren. I’ll write him a letter of guarantee.”

“Has he not entered officialdom?”

Liu Ruofu smiled. “For juren like us, without patronage, it’s difficult to obtain office. There are few juren in counties or villages, but across Chu there are countless, all waiting for appointments that may never come.”

“I see.”

At that moment, Liu Xi shouted, “I’ve caught a fish!”

Lin Feng said, “Lord Liu, I’ll make fish soup for Madam now.”

“Brother Lin, don’t be so formal in the future. Let’s call each other brothers. Besides, I’m no longer a local magistrate.”

Lin Feng naturally refused to be so formal. “Very well, I’ll call you Brother Liu from now on. I’ll go make fish soup for Sister-in-law.”

“I’ll learn from you too, so I can cook for Madam in the future.”

Liu Ruofu truly cared for his wife.

Lin Feng’s method of making fish soup differed from the ancients; removing the innards, scales, and fishy odor was essential, or the soup would reek.

Then he lightly fried the fish on both sides until golden, poured in boiling hot water, and simmered it over high heat. The soup was whiter than milk.

Zhang Rou sipped it with relish.

Liu Ruofu praised, “Brother Lin’s cooking is excellent. It seems you intend to open a restaurant in Jiangcheng?”

“Food is the foundation of the people. If the dishes are good, it should sustain a living,” Lin Feng said.

Liu Ruofu nodded, “Indeed. But your medical skills are also impressive. If you opened a clinic, I believe it would do well.”

Lin Feng smiled, “My medical knowledge is quite limited, mostly in detoxification and emergency care. I’m not skilled with common illnesses.”

That was the truth. In his past life, his master had taught him mostly life-saving techniques for emergencies.

“Saving lives on the battlefield is the highest form of medicine. Armies always lack doctors like you. If you joined the military...”

Damn! Liu Ruofu was at it again—first the imperial exams, now the military service. When would it end?

“I hear from my brother that your swordsmanship and poetry are also excellent,” Zhang Rou said with a gentle smile. “A true scholar-warrior.”

Liu Ruofu added, “The last case I handled before leaving Luping Town was solved by Brother Lin.”

“Fish’s here!” Zhang Yuan returned, carrying two large fish.

Lin Feng breathed a long sigh of relief inwardly and said, “I’ll clean the fish now and grill them for you later.”

He had no interest in matters of letters or martial arts. Quietly making a fortune was the only true way.