I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 54 - 43: Related Parties

Other families take exams to become scholars for fame and fortune, but Xu Qing takes the exams purely for a more stable life avoiding labor duties. The starting points are different.

"Younger Brother Xu, why are you joining the fun?"

"I’m just leading two nephews, I’m familiar with the roads to the Government Office!"

Xu Qing did not mention that this ’old helper’ also needs to take the exams for fame, thinking it was not worth talking about. He regarded it as an ordinary matter; when the opportunity arises, he would sign up, close the shop for a day during the county and provincial exams, and take the test for child student and scholar, just to get it over with.

So whenever officials come to collect various miscellaneous taxes or conscript labor, he can proudly show his scholar title.

Look, high or low, I’m still a scholar!

...

On March 1st, drizzling rain fell on the eaves and streets. Despite the weather, many scholars holding oiled-paper umbrellas, or simply running in the rain, went to the Government Office to register their name and birthplace for the exams.

Xu Qing led two young men not much younger than himself, sheltering from the rain and queuing in the hall of the Government Office.

To be honest, there were quite a few people registering for the exams today—handsome and ugly, dressed in luxurious clothes or patched garments. The youngest, with a high ponytail and only eight or nine years old, was said to be a prodigy from Shuiyuan Academy, aiming not only for child student but also scholar!

Of course, there were also old scholars past their fifties, with greying hair, still coming to take the exams.

Looking at them, one might think as long as they have breath, they’ll crawl to the examination hall!

Wu Zhiyuan stood on tiptoe to look inside, mumbling, "If I had known we would wait so long, I would have brought a book. Now we’re just waiting, isn’t it a waste of time? Haven’t we heard the saying that an inch of time is worth an inch of gold?"

Wu Wencai laughed, "It won’t make much difference, better to rest and gather spirit. Missing out on a bit of reading won’t stop you from making the list."

Xu Qing listened to their conversation, about to join in, when he heard a familiar shout from ahead.

"Brother Xu, why are you in line too? Are you also taking the exams?"

Xu Qing glanced sideways and saw Mr. Tang waving at him with a smile.

Wu Zhiyuan and Wu Wencai watched Xu Qing go over to talk to Mr. Tang from the Government Office, not knowing what they were discussing, but the relationship seemed close.

After conversing, Xu Qing returned to the hall, lowered his voice and said to the Wu brothers, "No need to queue, just follow me inside to register."

Wu Zhiyuan hesitated, "Isn’t this inappropriate?"

Wu Wencai, hearing this, elbowed his honest cousin in the side and pointed forward with his mouth.

Wu Zhiyuan followed his gaze and saw many scholars in luxurious clothes heading to the side passageway.

Those were using the fast track to obtain entry permits for the spring exams.

Xu Qing chuckled, thinking, this one honest and straightforward, the other lively; if they really became scholars, who knows what their futures might hold. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

After registering and getting their entry tickets, Xu Qing parted ways with the brothers and headed to the mortuary alone.

The three departments and six offices of the Government were under one roof, so encounters with familiar faces were inevitable.

As soon as Xu Qing finished his paperwork and walked out of the front hall, he ran into Zhao Zhonghe leading a squad of constables.

So it is said, enemies always meet along narrow paths—two adversaries meeting results in a face-off. Zhao Zhonghe’s brows immediately furrowed, resembling a hare caught in a tiger’s den, his teeth bared.

"Stop! This is the Government Office, who let you in?"

"Did you commit a crime and come to turn yourself in?"

Xu Qing held an oiled-paper umbrella, looking up at Zhao Zhonghe who was drenched and steaming.

Strong blood aura!

He could faintly perceive that Zhao’s martial cultivation was at least above the Inner Cultivation level, possibly even touching the threshold of Meridian Passage.

"Today is the registration day for the spring exams, Chief Zhao must be aware? I am one of the many students, barely a scholar, enough to be laughed at by the Chief."

Chief Zhao choked, then asked, "Registration is in the front hall, why are you heading inside?"

"Official of the Coroner’s Office Wang Lingyuan is my senior. We scholars prioritize etiquette; today I’m here, it’s only natural to greet my senior."

Xu Qing spoke calmly throughout, but Zhao Zhonghe felt his words were prickly.

Seeing his reasonable answers, Zhao Zhonghe refrained but asked the constables beside him as Xu Qing left.

"Did that boy just say I’m crude, not like them scholars?"

The constable shook his head, didn’t hear that.

"Did he say I lack manners, like a bear?"

The constable hesitated, still shook his head, saying he didn’t hear it.

Zhao Zhonghe spat, cursing, "Young fool just likes to flaunt his tongue. If I ever catch him, I’ll break him in half, let’s see if he’s still so sharp-tongued!"

Elsewhere, Xu Qing licked his canine tooth, probing with his finger.

Time to sharpen his Corpse Teeth again...

...

Outside, the drizzle continued, but inside the mortuary stayed dry and cold.

Wang Lingyuan heard Xu Qing was taking the spring exams, sighing again.

No wonder Master Liu accepted him as a disciple, such effort is not easy for ordinary people.

Xu Qing did not know Wang Lingyuan’s thoughts; he was solely focused on how to surpass the few corpses in the mortuary.

"Senior, I want to try independently reviewing the case files, examining the corpses, see if I can deduce the case details."

Wang Lingyuan pondered, then pointed at two corpses, "These two were inspected at the crime scene with Chief Zhao. You can examine them, I’ll see if your results match mine."

Hearing this, Xu Qing gleaned some information.

Recently, he had been reviewing the forensic books given by Wang Lingyuan, including Dayong’s "Wuling Scripture," which stated that in cases of severe injuries, the incapacitated should not be subjected to re-examination. For mysterious deaths or those with brutal appearances, the officials and forensic doctors must inspect together.

From Wang Lingyuan’s words, it suggested these two corpses had uneasy deaths.

Xu Qing uncovered the shrouds and was stunned seeing the faces.

These bodies were familiar; one of them was involved in private corpse sales from the Funeral Shop.

He thought the Government Office had fewer corpse deliveries recently, not realizing the one delivering bodies had died.

Examining closely, he found no wounds on the corpse.

Opening the eyelids and mouth, he worked hard but couldn’t determine the cause of death.

Could it be sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack? But it didn’t appear like it.

After some brainstorming, Xu Qing finally stood up, his expression very serious.

Indeed, compared to forensic deductions, he preferred watching the corpse’s marquee.