Front hall, private room.
Ma Xuncai found the number plate for the room, pushed the door open, and walked inside. At once, he spotted Lu Chang'sheng seated in the place of honor.
A flicker of surprise crossed his heart.
Ever since Lu Chang'sheng stopped trading with him before the New Year, everyone had been holed up indoors, buried in their studies for this year's imperial exam, and hardly set foot outside. So, they'd barely seen one another in all this time.
Now, seeing him here, the boy was still just shy of manhood, but there was a subtle ease, an unfathomable composure in how he carried himself. If you ignored his tender face, no one would guess he was just eleven or twelve years old.
"Ma!"
A greeting snapped Ma Xuncai out of his distraction.
Only then did he notice several scholars of about his own age seated around the room.
"Zhang!"
