"Shut up already, or I'm going to turn into a robber," De'an said.
Looking at the rest of the items, De'an grew even more envious.
He was envious of the wealth and the honor, and before he knew it, he blurted out what was truly on his mind. "When will I ever pass the exam and become a scholar!"
"The Provincial Examination is the year after next. If you put in the effort, you might just pass."
"That's easy for you to say. You think it's just a matter of words?"
They chatted for a while longer before he remembered the real reason for his visit.
"So what on earth happened? Why did Gong Yuanxiu leave halfway through? I heard his face was swollen like a pig's head. When he came out, he was so busy trying to hide his shame that he wasn't watching where he was going and stumbled, giving the passersby who saw him a good laugh."
De'an hadn't seen it himself, but the mental image was hilarious.
