In the small county town, Wang Qingchen, Li Yuntai, and Liu Hao were discussing the trip to the provincial capital.

"Shouldn't we head to the provincial capital a bit earlier? For one, we’re not familiar with the place, and leaving sooner would give us time to get acquainted. Also, if anything were to happen on the road, leaving early ensures we won't miss the provincial examination, right?" Liu Hao suggested.

Wang Qingchen nodded, quite agreeing with Liu Hao's reasoning. They had worked hard for so long precisely for a good ranking in the provincial examination; missing it due to some unforeseen circumstance would be infuriating.

"You're right; we need to prepare early to avoid any unexpected issues along the way. Moreover, once we reach the capital, we still need to find lodging. Going earlier will let us secure better accommodations," Wang Qingchen stated.

"But isn't it a bit too soon now?" Li Yuntai asked doubtfully.

"Oh, no, not at all. Think about it, once we arrive in the provincial capital, we’ll need a period to adjust. If we arrive late, and then suffer from maladjustment or something similar, how will we manage the examination hall?" Liu Hao reasoned.

Although Li Yuntai understood the logic in Liu Hao's words, he still felt it was a little early. However, since Wang Qingchen also agreed, he had no strong objection.

"Alright, then we’ll head over early! But, should we inform Zhao Cheng and Qi Jintang? We are usually quite familiar with them, and it feels a bit improper if we leave for the capital without inviting them along!" Li Yuntai remarked.

"Of course. It would be improper if we slipped away on our own. Let's ask Zhao Cheng if he wants to go with us, and you two can go ask Qi Jintang for his opinion!" Liu Hao instructed.

Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai nodded, and the three then split up to carry out their tasks.

After hearing Liu Hao, Zhao Cheng had the same question as Li Yuntai: "You’re leaving for the provincial capital this early?"

"Yes, leaving early allows us more time for preparation, doesn't it? You really should come with us; we can look out for each other on the journey," Liu Hao pressed.

Zhao Cheng couldn't decide immediately. He was considering that his mother was currently with him, and he couldn't just leave her behind to go to the provincial capital alone. It would be best if he went with his mother. However, if they left this early, he wasn't sure if the money he had would cover both of their expenses in the city. If it wasn't enough, what would they do? They might not even afford a place to stay, let alone participate in the provincial examination.

Liu Hao noticed Zhao Cheng's hesitation but couldn't grasp the reason behind it. So, he repeated the arguments he used to persuade Li Yuntai, hoping to convince Zhao Cheng to join them. Having company would mean mutual support on the road, which would certainly be much safer and more convenient than traveling alone.

Zhao Cheng naturally understood Liu Hao's good intentions, but he still had to seriously consider the issue of money; without funds, nothing could be accomplished.

Thus, Zhao Cheng said, "Let me go back and discuss it with my mother first. Can I give you an answer tomorrow?"

Although Liu Hao couldn't fully comprehend Zhao Cheng's hesitation, he didn't press for an immediate answer, responding resignedly, "Fine, but don't forget to let me know your decision tomorrow!"

With that, Liu Hao didn't linger and returned.

After Liu Hao left, Zhao Cheng turned and went back into his room. Inside, Madame Huang was busy with her needlework. Seeing Zhao Cheng enter, she set down her work and asked, "Liu Hao was just here, wasn't he? Discussing the trip to the provincial capital?"

Since Liu Hao and Zhao Cheng had only spoken in the outer room, Zhao Cheng expected his mother to have overheard their conversation and was not surprised.

Zhao Cheng nodded, "Yes. They plan to leave for the provincial capital in a few days. He came to ask if I wanted to go with them."

Madame Huang paused, then inquired, "I didn't hear you agree. Are you worried about whether the money will be enough?"

Faced with his mother's perceptive gaze, Zhao Cheng could only nod. Then, as if realizing something, he added, "Mother, there isn't much benefit to going that early, anyway. Going a bit later won't make a difference."

Hearing her son, Madame Huang shook her head. "You don't need to lie to your mother. Liu Hao and the others must have a good reason for wanting to leave for the provincial capital so early. Why else would they rush things? Alas, it's all because your mother is useless. Since we came to this county town, I haven't earned much, and we spend quite a bit every day. If I were more capable, Cheng'er wouldn't be facing such difficulty now."

Listening to his mother blame herself, Zhao Cheng quickly shook his head. "Mother, please don't say that. Your son knows you've worked so hard all these years for me. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to suffer like this. It's all because I am useless!"

Madame Huang affectionately stroked her son's head. "For you, your mother fears no hardship. But what I fear is being unable to help you in any way. You should have had a brilliant future; it is your mother who has held you back!"

"Mother, please don't speak that way. In my eyes, the provincial examination and future prospects mean less than you do. I studied so hard back then precisely because I wanted to give you a better life. Now that I've only made things harder for you, if I had known, I wouldn't have pursued my studies," Zhao Cheng confessed.

"Nonsense! How could you not study? My greatest wish is for my son to achieve success and live a good life, not to suffer as you have with me. If you say things like that, what am I supposed to do!" Madame Huang became distressed listening to him.

Zhao Cheng felt a deep pang of sorrow hearing his mother's words. "Mother, please don't be sad. Rest assured, your son will certainly make something of himself in the future."

"Very well then, go to the provincial capital with Liu Hao and the others this time!" Madame Huang conceded.

"What about you, Mother?" Zhao Cheng asked.

Madame Huang smiled. "You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine by myself here. I'll just wait here for your return."

"No, if we go, we go together. I won't feel at ease leaving you here alone. We must go together!" Zhao Cheng insisted.

Madame Huang certainly wanted to accompany her son, but the money they had was insufficient for both of them to manage in the provincial capital. Madame Huang sighed, "Cheng'er, you should understand some things. We don't have enough money for both of us to travel there. So, I've thought it over—I'll wait here for you. What do you think?"

Zhao Cheng lowered his head, silent. In that moment, he utterly despised himself—hating his own uselessness, unable to earn money for the household, and constantly burdening his mother. Thinking this, Zhao Cheng doubted, for the first time, whether his initial decision to pursue scholarly study had been right or wrong.

Meanwhile, after Liu Hao returned, he found Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai had not yet come back. When they finally did, Liu Hao looked at them and asked with a hint of disappointment, "Is Qi Jintang coming with us to the provincial capital?"

Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai nodded. "Yes, he agreed to go with us. How did it go with Zhao Cheng?"

"Ah, don't even mention it," Liu Hao said dejectedly. "I spent ages explaining all the benefits of going early, but Zhao Cheng wouldn't commit to joining us. He said he needed to discuss it with his mother first. What is there to discuss about this?"

Wang Qingchen considered it for a moment and found some understanding for Zhao Cheng, while simultaneously blaming himself for not considering things thoroughly earlier. "Let it go. He must have his own difficulties. Let's give him time to think it over!"

Saying this, the three returned to their respective rooms to see if there was anything they needed to pack.

The next day, the three of them—Wang Qingchen, Li Yuntai, and Liu Hao—went to the County School together. Just as Wang Qingchen had predicted, Zhao Cheng declined to travel with them, saying he would depart some time later.

Liu Hao was somewhat annoyed by this and said nothing more.

Wang Qingchen, however, used the excuse of trying to persuade Zhao Cheng to pull him aside into a corner. After ensuring no one was around, he quietly asked, "Zhao Cheng, are you facing some difficulty?"

Zhao Cheng was first surprised by Wang Qingchen's actions, and upon hearing the question, he immediately tensed up, replying stiffly, "No!"

Even though Zhao Cheng's family circumstances were not ideal, he possessed his own pride. He would not allow himself to bow his head or show weakness to others, so he kept the issue of insufficient funds to himself.

Wang Qingchen sensed a bit of the truth and tried to persuade him further. "Your mother must really wish for us all to go together, right? It would be safer with mutual support on the road. Besides, if we all travel together, we can discuss any academic problems. Even once we reach the provincial capital, if we live together, no one would dare bully us, don't you agree?"

Zhao Cheng knew Wang Qingchen was right; he simply kept his head down and offered no rebuttal.

Wang Qingchen didn't press the matter further. Instead, he pulled a purse from his inner robes and handed it to Zhao Cheng. "I figured you might be short on silver. There is some money in here, enough for your mother's and your expenses in the provincial capital. Take it! I know you won't accept anything from me without a reason, so consider this an advance loan. When you have money later, you must pay me back, understood?"

Zhao Cheng made no move, so Wang Qingchen simply placed the purse into his robes. "A grown man shouldn't act like a timid woman!"

With that, Wang Qingchen departed, leaving behind a deeply contemplative Zhao Cheng.