With a light, happy step, Bai Ruxue came running down from Sheshan and back into the village.
But the moment she set foot in the village, a crowd of aunties and older wives swarmed around her.
"Ruxue, congratulations! Your Xiao Mo passed the juren exam!"
"Ruxue, from now on you'll be a juren's wife!"
"Once Xiao Mo becomes a great official, you mustn't let him forget all of us aunties and grannies!"
The aunties all talked over one another.
Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up. "Xiao Mo really passed?" she asked, delighted.
"Of course he did! Not only did he pass, he's something called a xieyuan—first place! Even the county magistrate came!"
"Ruxue, you should have seen how polite the magistrate was to Xiao Mo. Usually it's everyone else being that polite to the magistrate!"
"Brother Mo really is the Star of Literature descended to earth!"
Listening to the aunties and grannies heap praise on Xiao Mo, Bai Ruxue felt a sweet glow spread through her heart.
As for what passing the juren exam actually meant, Bai Ruxue had no idea.
But she did know that what Xiao Mo had set out to do, he had done, and that he must be happy.
If Xiao Mo was happy, then she was happy too.
Just as Bai Ruxue was about to run home to cook him something nice and properly celebrate, the Widow Wang from the north end of the village caught sight of her and came hurrying over:
"Ruxue, it's terrible! The magistrate is arranging a match for Xiao Mo—he wants to marry his own daughter to him!"
"Eh?" All the aunties froze at once.
Aunt Chen was the first to recover. "What kind of nonsense are you talking? Where did you hear that rumor?"
"Rumor? Nothing of the sort!" Widow Wang slapped her thigh. "I was just walking past Brother Mo's courtyard, and I heard it with my own ears!"
"This..."
"Ruxue, don't fret. For all we know, Wang Mei misheard."
"That's right, Ruxue. You've looked after Xiao Mo so well—there's no way he'd let you down."
Everyone rushed to comfort Bai Ruxue.
How well Bai Ruxue cared for Xiao Mo was something everyone had seen with their own eyes.
"That's what you all say, but she is the magistrate's daughter, after all... If I were Brother Mo..." Just then, a young married woman muttered off to the side.
But she had barely gotten half the words out before the others glared her into silence.
"Aunt Chen, Auntie Wang, I... I'm fine..." Bai Ruxue smiled faintly. "Xiao Mo passed the juren exam. I ought to be happy. I'll go cook for him and celebrate."
Bai Ruxue gave everyone a small smile, then started walking on.
But watching that girl's slightly forlorn back, everyone could tell she was anything but fine.
But what could be done about a thing like that?
Ruxue really was pretty, but in the end she was only a girl from an ordinary family.
What man could possibly turn down the magistrate's daughter?
Bai Ruxue walked the road home.
She didn't know what it was she was feeling.
Her head just felt all tangled up.
Naturally, she knew what getting married meant.
Getting married meant a man and a woman being together, never to be parted.
"If Xiao Mo marries another woman, then does that mean I have to leave Xiao Mo?"
"Will Xiao Mo agree to what the magistrate wants?"
"Will Xiao Mo... not want me anymore..."
The more she thought, the more tangled her thoughts became.
Just as Bai Ruxue was about to reach the courtyard, she saw Xiao Mo taking his leave of a man in official robes.
Bai Ruxue hastily ducked behind a rock.
Seeing the two of them talking so merrily, Bai Ruxue's heart gave a lurch.
Could Xiao Mo have already agreed to marry his daughter?
Only after the magistrate had gone did Bai Ruxue slowly stand up and return to the courtyard.
"Ruxue, you're back."
"Mm."
"I've got good news—I passed the juren exam."
"Mm... mm."
"Ruxue, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Xiao Mo asked, seeing that she kept her head down.
"N-no... nothing's wrong... I... I'll go cook for you... I'll make you a proper celebration today." Bai Ruxue shook her head and ran into the kitchen.
A little under an hour later, Bai Ruxue came out carrying the food.
Xiao Mo looked at that mouthwatering chicken, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, and couldn't wait to take a bite—which nearly killed him with salt.
"Xiao Mo, what is it?" Bai Ruxue hurriedly poured him a cup of water.
"Try it yourself." Xiao Mo picked out a piece for her.
Bai Ruxue took one bite, and her face turned green.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
Bai Ruxue hastily spat the chicken out.
"Um... my hand slipped and I put in too much salt. Xiao Mo, try this instead." Bai Ruxue put a leafy green in his bowl.
Xiao Mo took a bite of the greens, and his expression turned equally complicated. "Ruxue, did you forget to put any salt on these greens?"
"Huh? Then try this one." Bai Ruxue added a piece of rabbit meat.
"This rabbit meat is way too sour!" Xiao Mo was starting to cave. "How much vinegar did you put in?"
"I... I'll go make it again." Bai Ruxue ran back to the kitchen.
Her second attempt at the meal turned out fine, thankfully.
But as Bai Ruxue ate, she looked like her soul had wandered off; she shoveled plain rice into her mouth bite after bite and forgot all about the dishes.
While washing the dishes, she broke two plates...
While hanging the laundry, she lifted a garment onto the pole, then took it off the pole and put it back in the basin.
Over and over.
While sweeping the courtyard, she swept the same spot again and again...
Xiao Mo was certain something was weighing on her mind.
That night, after dinner, Bai Ruxue didn't go back to her room to sleep. She just sat in the courtyard, looking up at the stars.
Xiao Mo came out of his room, picked up a book, and lightly tapped Bai Ruxue on the head with it.
Bai Ruxue jumped, then shot him a pouty glare with her peach-blossom eyes. "You scared me! What was that for..."
"I should be the one asking what that was for. You've been listless all day. Out with it—what happened?" Xiao Mo asked, putting on a stern face.
"I... I didn't..." Bai Ruxue turned her little head away.
"Really? Nothing?"
"Really nothing!"
"If it's nothing, then never mind. Sigh..." Xiao Mo heaved a sigh. "And here I thought I mattered to you, that you'd tell me everything. Seems I was only fooling myself."
Just as Xiao Mo turned away in disappointment to go back inside, Bai Ruxue gently caught the hem of his robe.
The girl kept her head down and said softly, "It's not... it's not like that..."
"Then why won't you tell me?"
"I... I..." Bai Ruxue faltered, words failing her, her head nearly buried in her chest.
Xiao Mo wasn't in a hurry. He simply waited for her answer.
"Xiao Mo." The girl seemed to summon all the courage she had, lifted her head, and asked nervously, "The magistrate wants to marry his daughter to you, doesn't he?"
"How do you know that?" Xiao Mo was startled for a moment.
"I... I heard it!" Bai Ruxue's eyes wavered. "Are you going to marry her?"
"Does Miss Bai think I should marry her?"
Bai Ruxue lowered her head again and fell silent, her small hand still gently kneading the hem of his robe.
A long while later, the girl's voice came as faint as the evening breeze: "I... I don't want you to marry her..."
"Silly girl."
Xiao Mo pinched her soft white cheek.
"Then I won't."