Day 3

[summercomfort]

The maid and her lamp grew fainter as she headed down the hallway, so Li Tan lit the light by his bed and took out a book to study. He already knew the words to this Wang Anshi treatise by heart, so he barely needed the visual guide, but running his eyes over the words helped his mind explore possible essay topics that the examiner might ask. Only a month until the exams at the capital. He couldn't believe he had made it this far -- he passed the prefecture and province examinations by a hair, but he passed. What he needed was more time to study, but he couldn't focus on the words anymore. It had been a long day of travel, and the tapping noises in the courtyard were quite distracting.

He blew out the light and laid awake in the dark listening to the tapping. Sometimes he wondered if he was doing the right thing. After all, he did not want for wealth or social status. Even if he passed, it might be several years before he got a prefecture-level post. And then what? Could he do enough in a prefecture?

The tapping noises ceased, but a moment later, there were two light thuds on the roof. Li Tan looked toward the moonlit window just as a shadow flickered into the courtyard and then spoke in a light, clear voice: "All right, I'm done running. Let's decide it once and for all, right here."

Without a word, a larger shadow landed directly in front of Li Tan's window.

And screamed in pain.

Li Tan sighed and sat up in bed. Obviously he wasn't getting any sleep tonight.

Comments

[nendil.livejournal.com]

I think it's "did not want for wealth" or "was not wanting for wealth". :)

Is this (going to be) part of a bigger piece?

[summercomfort]

Ah, yes, thanks! Fixed it.

As for what's coming next... ::shrug:: Have no clue. I may get bored after a few days of this and do something else. The goal is merely to create something every day.