Chapter 150: Still Needs Work

Zhou Zhi wore a solemn expression as he said, "With this much capability, your humble servant will surely pass the examination to become a Licentiate next year. Not only will I achieve that, but in the future, I shall also attain the degrees of Provincial Graduate and Metropolitan Graduate."

Kou Peihan cared for him so deeply, her heart overflowing with affection. Casting aside maidenly shyness, she had boldly declared that she would marry no one else, a gesture that had long since moved Zhou Zhi to the core and stirred his emotions deeply. At this moment, he felt compelled to display a man's confidence and ambition so that his prospective father-in-law would not look down upon him.

Zhou Zhi spoke with absolute resolve and apparent self-assurance, which greatly pleased Kou Peihan's heart. She could not help casting a sidelong glance at him, her eyes brimming with deep affection and tenderness.

Bathed in Kou Peihan's affectionate gaze, Zhou Zhi felt as though he were basking in a gentle spring breeze, his very blood practically boiling. This overbearing and willful beauty actually possessed a tender and delicate side—precisely what he had always yearned for.

"Ha! Such grandiose words!" Kou Dagang sneered coldly. "Since you put it that way, I shall make my stance clear today. If you truly pass the Licentiate examination next year, the Kou family will give my daughter's hand in marriage to you. If you fail to pass, then you need not harbor any pipe dreams like a toad wanting to eat swan meat. Our Kou family is a lineage of renown for generations; how could we allow a fellow like you to blemish it!"

Yet, he had effectively agreed to the proposal, which brought sudden and immense joy to Zhou Zhi.

In truth, Zhou Zhi was well aware that given his current writing proficiency, coupled with the evaluation and guidance bestowed upon him by the veteran Instructor Qu Renbin and Chen Guangyao, he could not claim to write the finest essays in Qingdu County, but he was quite confident in successfully passing the county-level preliminary examination, which was the first hurdle to becoming a Licentiate.

The northern region could not rival the south, where talents were as numerous as trees and the literary atmosphere flourished, making the competition to pass the Licentiate examination intensely fierce. Nonetheless, looking across the entire Baoding Prefecture, the number of scholars was by no means small, and there were many prominent scholarly clans outside Qingdu County. To smoothly clear the prefectural and regional examinations that followed the county examination, he still needed to redouble his efforts in reading and essay composition over the coming months, striving to reach even greater heights.

In a word, the future was bright, but the revolution was not yet accomplished, and comrades still needed to strive and strive again!

Suddenly, Kou Peihan parted her cherry lips slightly, her expression turning displeased as she questioned, "Zhou Zhi, instead of properly staying at home to study, why have you come to Tang County today and ended up in such a sorry state? What on earth have you been up to?"

Since her father had consented to the affair between her and Zhou Zhi, Kou Peihan's primary concern at the moment was Zhou Zhi's current predicament. In her mind, next year was the year of the imperial examinations, yet seeing Zhou Zhi wandering about aimlessly without seemingly placing any importance on his studies, she could not help but feel anxious.

Though Kou Peihan had never formally studied books, she was far from lacking in schemes. In fact, she had harbored these thoughts for a long time. Having developed deep romantic feelings for Zhou Zhi and knowing full well the disparity in social standing between the Kou and Zhou families, she had repeatedly urged Zhou Zhi during their last parting to pass the Licentiate examination as soon as possible. Once Zhou Zhi became a Licentiate, she could then discuss matters of marriage with him, and by that time, her father would no longer raise strenuous objections.

Yet she never expected that Zhou Zhi would arrive at the Kou estate prematurely and present himself before her father, which genuinely irritated Kou Peihan for a moment.

Zhou Zhi offered Kou Peihan a wry smile, reluctant to recount the full sequence of events. However, Kou Dagang chimed in with mockery, "Hanger, do not anger yourself. As a matter of fact, your father long ago saw that this rustic fellow is no proper sort. How could he ever settle down to study? Ha! This father will simply wait to see how he manages to pass the Licentiate examination next year!"

Kou Dagang's tone was laced with derision; clearly, his earlier assent to the match between Zhou Zhi and Kou Peihan was not entirely sincere. At heart, he naturally hoped that Zhou Zhi would fail to earn the Licentiate degree next year.

Kou Peihan shot Kou Dagang a sideways glance and said softly, "Father, let him speak. To Hanger's mind, he must have a reason for running about."

Such was Kou Peihan's nature: she could lose her temper and vent her anger at Zhou Zhi herself, yet she could not bear to witness others mocking or ridiculing him—not even her own father. Naturally, she took Zhou Zhi's side once more.

With the great beauty defending and supporting him in such a manner, Zhou Zhi was inexplicably moved. Only then did he cup his hands toward Kou Dagang and give a full, unvarnished account of the recent bandit disturbances in Baiyue Village, the false accusations leveled against the Zhou family, his single-handed venture into the wolf's den of the outlaws in Mount Xiaohei, his subsequent escape, his intention to seek out Chen Guangyao in Qingdu County to report the true state of affairs, and his ultimate plea for Chen Guangyao to dispatch troops to annihilate the bandits of Mount Xiaohei.

Upon hearing this, Kou Peihan let out a sigh of mixed emotions, her bright, luminous eyes turning toward Zhou Zhi once again, laden with worry.

Kou Dagang was likewise somewhat shocked by the tale. For Zhou Zhi to venture into the wolf's den alone required no small amount of daring; this narrative alone naturally engendered a measure of favorable impression toward the young man.

Kou Tong had been standing beside Kou Dagang without uttering a word. Hearing Zhou Zhi finish his account, his fierce eyes suddenly lit up. After brief deliberation, he addressed Kou Dagang, "Father, this son has also heard rumors of a band of outlaws operating around Mount Xiaohei in recent days, but I never imagined they would cause such severe trouble. Humph! These scoundrels are committing outrages right under the very noses of our Daomaguan Garrison, and they even went as far as Qingdu County to kill and pillage. Father, why not allow this son to lead the soldiers and exterminate them, thereby eliminating a public scourge!"

Kou Tong harbored a deeper motive that he did not voice in front of Zhou Zhi. In truth, the Daomaguan Thousand-Household Garrison had been established as early as the Hongwu reign. Although located within the boundaries of Baoding Prefecture, owing to its extremely strategic geographical importance, it did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Baoding Prefecture guards, but instead answered directly to the Right Chief Military Commission of Great Ming.

From this perspective, Kou Dagang, as a genuine fifth-rank thousand-household officer, held a status quite distinct from thousand-household officers in other regions.

Yet, in recent years the realm had enjoyed peace, and the military garrisons faced gradual decay. Compounded by the imperial policy of exalting civil officials and debasing military officers, the standing of Kou Dagang as a thousand-household officer had dwindled day by day, causing him endless vexation.

A hero with no arena to display his prowess!

Nevertheless, the Kou family was a renowned house after all, and Kou Dagang had never relaxed the training of his soldiers by even the slightest margin, unlike the garrisons elsewhere that had long since lost all combat capability.

Eradicating the bandits within the borders of Tang County was, strictly speaking, the responsibility of the Tang County magistrate, and had nothing to do with the Daomaguan Garrison. However, if the Daomaguan Garrison were to spontaneously wipe out the mountain brigands, it would undoubtedly be an extraordinary merit. In that case, Kou Dagang could petition the Right Chief Military Commission to claim credit and receive rewards, thereby elevating his own standing.

Thus, viewed from this angle, this presented a rare opportunity for the Kou family to establish military exploits.

How could Kou Dagang fail to grasp Kou Tong's intentions? His habitually gloomy face suddenly smoothed out, and he turned to Zhou Zhi, saying, "Young Zhou, since we of the Kou family are in Tang County, you need not go looking for Chen Guangyao. Ha! Our Kou family shall eliminate this scourge and wipe out this band of mountain thieves, which will also serve to clear your name of injustice. However, you will still need to act as our guide this time."

With no need to return to Qingdu County, the Kou family itself would eradicate Mount Xiaohei. This realization filled Zhou Zhi with boundless joy, and he hastened to say, "Since Elder Kou is willing to extend a helping hand, nothing could be better. Zhou Zhi expresses his deepest gratitude to Elder Kou!"

Ignoring Zhou Zhi, Kou Dagang straightened his expression and commanded Kou Tong, "Tong'er, return to Daomaguan immediately, select a hundred soldiers, and flatten that band of mountain thieves tonight!"

Kou Tong promptly accepted the order with a cheerful laugh.

Kou Peihan pouted her little lips and declared, "Father, I want to go too!"