Bai had set up his table outside the examination court where the shade from the east wall reached by noon. He sold clean water, dry cloths, and buns at prices marked on a board. Under the board, he kept a narrow notebook with a list of candidates who had run short of food or supplies.
“You’re making a second score board,” Yan said.
“This one has fewer arguments.”
“Does it?”
“The people who don’t pay argue less than the people who do.”
Wei had been talking since the candidates left the clinic annex. He stopped only to look at the notebook. “Then why keep a list?”
“So I know who might need another bottle before the next station. I don’t like losing sales because someone fainted before they reached me.”
“That sounds almost charitable.”
“Then I’ll add a charge for the word.”
Candidate Du approached with a practice blade wrapped in cloth. He unwound the grip and showed the split binding. The edge was dull, and the handle shifted when he pressed it.
“Can you lend me another?” he asked.
Bai did not reach for the blade. “I sell water and food, not weapons. The equipment clerk is by the north shed.”
“I asked him. My sponsor won’t pay for another blade after the movement test.”
Yan turned the grip with his thumb, careful not to touch the edge. “The binding is loose. Is the blade bent?”
“No. It’s old. I can still use it if I hold the handle tightly.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t.”
Du looked down at the blade. “I know.”
Bai took a roll of binding cloth from his supply box. “I can loan you this and the whetstone. You pay after the exam. If you don’t have the coin, return the stone and we’ll settle the cloth separately.”
“I’m not asking for charity.”
“I’m offering a loan.”
“Then write it down.”
Bai opened his book and wrote Du’s name, the binding strip, the whetstone, and the expected return. “There. Now it’s a debt with witnesses.”
“I’ll return both.”
“I believe you. The writing is for when you don’t.”
Du paid a small coin for the whetstone rental. He wrapped the binding around the hilt while Yan steadied the blade by its flat. Bai showed him how to pull the cloth tight without twisting the grip. The repair was quick. When Du tested it, the handle did not move.
“The edge still needs work,” Yan said.
“I can sharpen it.”
“Not on a court stone,” Bai said. “Use the one I lent you. It’s fine enough for practice.”
Du lifted the weapon. “That’s enough to get through the next station.”
“What is it?” Yan asked.
“A short sword exchange. One point for a clean opening, no full force.”
“Then keep your wrist steady.”
“I know how to hold a sword.”
“You know how to hold one with a loose grip. I’m saying the repair changed it.”
Du nodded, then tested the new wrap once more. “You’re right.”
Bai passed him a bottle of water. “This one is on the list. Pay me after you win a point.”
“I don’t need help.”
“You need water. I need customers. We can both survive the arrangement.”
Du took the bottle and wrote his name beside the price. “I’ll pay now.”
“You can pay later.”
“I don’t want a favor hanging over me.”
“Then pay now.” Bai crossed the credit mark out. “I’m not attached to a debt.”
The sword station began shortly after. Candidates faced a padded post and a partner from another score group. They had to take or defend a single opening. The examiner warned them that speed mattered only if they kept control of their blade.
Du was paired with a taller candidate who held a longer sword. The other boy struck first. Du stepped aside, used the flat of his blade to guide the attack past his shoulder, and placed the point against the padded vest. He did not thrust. The examiner called the point.
The taller candidate lowered his sword. “That was a good step.”
“Your reach helped me,” Du said.
“My reach usually helps me.”
“Then I’ll remember to stand closer next time.”
The examiner recorded the exchange. Du returned the whetstone to Bai. The binding cloth had taken a little sweat but remained intact.
“I won a point,” Du said.
“I heard.” Bai checked the stone for chips and put it away. “The loan is closed.”
Du started to remove the binding strip. “I can give this back.”
“It’s cloth. It has done its job.”
“Then I’ll pay for dinner.”
“Dinner is not a supply.”
“It’s food.”
“Food is a supply.”
“Then I’m buying it from you.”
“If you come to my table, I’ll charge you the marked price.”
“Fine.”
Yan joined them when the candidates cleared the court. Bai marked Du’s name on his list as settled and put the used cloth into a separate pocket. “I lent him a strip and stone. He brought the stone back. That’s a clean sale.”
“You didn’t sell the cloth,” Yan said.
“I sold the idea that he could use a safe grip.”
“You charged him for the stone.”
“The stone costs money.”
Wei came over with his bottle. “Yan bought water for me earlier.”
“I did not.”
“You set it on the table.”
“I said you’d forgotten to drink.”
“That is a form of buying.”
Bai turned to his notebook. “Two sales, one possible sale, and one argument. I’ll charge extra if you keep debating in front of customers.”
Wei set his coin down. “Then I’ll pay for another bottle.”
“You just finished one.”
“I’m planning ahead.”
Yan drank from his own bottle. “I can still beat Wei while hydrated.”
“You haven’t yet,” Wei said.
“We’ll see.”
Du pointed toward the mess tent. “I meant dinner. All of us, if you’re free after the results.”
“I’m free,” Yan said.
“I’ll close the table after the next group,” Bai said. “Then we can eat without anyone asking whether I have a spare blade.”
“You might want to stock one,” Du replied.
“I want to sell food.”
“Food doesn’t win a point.”
“It keeps the person who won one from falling over.”
Du laughed. “You can put that in the notebook.”
Bai did. The brief loan had ended with the stone back on his table, a fair exchange, and a meal promised in place of the favor Du had refused. Yan watched Du test the repaired grip one last time before joining the next line. This time the hilt stayed firm in his hand.
Wei was still talking when Yan noticed the unopened bottle at his elbow. “You’ve been discussing the trial for half an hour.”
“We’re discussing the next one.”
“You’re dry-mouthed.”
“I’m fine.”
Yan bought two bottles from Bai and set one in front of Wei. “Drink this before you start arguing with the next candidate.”
Wei looked at the bottle, then at Yan. “You bought me water?”
“You can pay for it if it offends you.”
Wei opened the bottle and drank. “It doesn’t offend me.” He placed a coin on Bai’s table. “I’ll pay for it.”
“You can pay me back,” Yan said.
“No. I bought it from Bai. Don’t make the market look like a team effort.”
“I can still beat you while hydrated.”
“You haven’t yet.”
Bai wrote both names beside the sales in his list. “Now you’re both customers. I’ll charge extra if you keep arguing in front of them.”
“You’re the one who put the bottles on the table,” Yan said.
“I was facilitating commerce.”
Du was listening from the far end. “Can I buy dinner now, before the argument gets expensive?”
“At market price,” Bai said.
“That’s what I expected.”
“Then you’ve learned something from the examination.”