CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 105: BRINGING GOOD NEWS HOME_2

After Shi Fengju finished lunch at the restaurant, Sang Yufei hired a carriage, cupped his hands to say goodbye, and returned first, still wearing his square scarf and a semi-new, not old indigo gown.

Upon hearing that his younger brother had returned from taking the exams in Hangzhou, Sang Hong and Mrs. Fang were both overjoyed and came out to welcome him, discussing the situation after being parted from each other.

"Take a good rest at home for two days! The news should arrive in a few days too! It’s okay, coming back is what matters. Even if you didn’t pass, there’s always next time! You’re only nineteen this year, still young! Think of it as gaining some experience and practice on the field!" Sang Hong said with a smile.

"Yes! It’s good that you are back! The most important thing is your safety! One day you will pass the exam, and even if you don’t, coming back to farm is not bad either!" Mrs. Fang said with a laugh.

"Hey, what are you saying!" Sang Hong felt a bit defensive; Mrs. Fang’s words were almost the same as what he thought deep down, but he felt somewhat unhappy hearing her say it out loud.

Not to be outdone, Mrs. Fang glared back at him, straightly saying: "What’s wrong with saying it like that? There’s nothing wrong with it! Isn’t life just like that? We all need to eat and dress and live our days; we can’t just stick to one path forever! Third brother, don’t you agree?"

Hearing his brother and sister-in-law quarrel after a long time felt intimate and warm for Sang Yufei, and he couldn’t help but glance at his older brother and nod with a smile: "Sister-in-law is right; that’s exactly the point!"

"Exactly!" Mrs. Fang snorted and said: "See, the third brother understands!"

Sang Yufei couldn’t help but laugh and thought he should hurry up and share the good news with his brother and sister-in-law, as they truly cared about him. It wasn’t right to keep them in the dark!

The words felt like a thousand pounds as they reached his lips. He cleared his throat and coughed twice, then stood up, cupped his hands and bowed deeply to his brother and sister-in-law: "Brother, sister-in-law! I’ve passed the rural examination and obtained the Xie Yuan title! I haven’t dishonored the guidance you both gave me! Thank you for your care over these past years!"

Tears welled up in the eyes of Sang Yufei as he knelt down.

Sang Hong and Mrs. Fang were stunned for a moment, looking at each other.

Seeing Sang Yufei’s serious demeanor, they knew he wouldn’t lie, and their hearts couldn’t help but start pounding. Sang Hong stared and muttered, "Passed? Obtained Xie Yuan? Really passed?"

"Yes, brother! Really passed!" Sang Yufei laughed, his eyes shining brightly.

"Good, good, this is really great! Today, I must burn three sticks of incense for Master and Grandma so they too can be happy!" Mrs. Fang said as she squinted in joy, pushing Sang Hong: "Quick, help him up, what are you standing around for!"

"Get up, get up! No need for this!" Sang Hong, as if waking from a dream, hurried to help Sang Yufei up. Passing the scholar degree allowed meeting officials without kneeling, but achieving Xie Yuan meant being a person of status locally; even the county magistrate had to greet with cupped hands.

"Is this news accurate? Where did you hear it from? Not that, I mean, I just think, just—" Sang Hong was so excited that he was somewhat incoherent, because he cared too much, he dared not believe it outright.

"I saw it with my own eyes, it’s definitely true! I only came back after the results were posted!" Sang Yufei explained how Shi Fengju had arranged for someone to take care of him and how he stayed a night at the Shi family’s house.

Sang Hong and Mrs. Fang were deeply moved and endlessly grateful and full of praise for Shi Fengju.

"Our Sang family has finally made a breakthrough! Good, good, so good! Second brother, I knew, you wouldn’t let us down..." Sang Hong’s eyes also became misty, and his face bore a smile that he couldn’t stop—his expression was even happier than if he himself had passed.

"Big brother! This is all thanks to you and sister-in-law!" Sang Yufei gratefully smiled, "Brother, do you know? I ranked first and became Xie Yuan!"

"What!" Sang Hong and Mrs. Fang’s eyes widened again in shock, their lips parted as if their fiercely beating hearts would leap out, their breathing suddenly quickened.

"Xie Yuan? First place! You, you really passed as Xie Yuan?" Sang Hong stared at Sang Yufei and nervously asked. He couldn’t help but press his hand against his chest; oh god, it was too thrilling! If this news was true, he might not be able to handle it, but if his brother said this was just to tease him, he wouldn’t be able to handle that either!

"Really, really! How could I joke about something so big!" Sang Yufei smiled, glanced at his brother, and couldn’t help but step forward to gently shake his arm, "Big brother, hold steady, it’s really just that simple..."

"Nonsense!" Sang Hong spread a wide grin and finally regained some lucidity, patting his arm hard, laughing: "Xiaofei, you did beautifully, really great! Our father in heaven can also rest in peace!"

"Yes, yes! You’ve really fought for our family’s honor, I’d like to see who dares to mock us now!" Mrs. Fang said proudly and let out a deep sigh of relief. From a family of scholars, their father had only achieved the scholar degree in his lifetime, and the older brother had passed as a scholar over a decade ago with no further progress. Many people were waiting to see what would happen with Sang Yufei’s attempt at the rural examination!

Now it’s good, now it’s all good!

"Oh no!" Mrs. Fang suddenly slapped her thigh and cried out in alarm.

"What are you talking about, woman!" Sang Hong frowned at Mrs. Fang.

But Mrs. Fang boldly glared back at him and said to Sang Yufei: "What about uncle and aunt..."

"Oh, right, right!" Sang Hong said as he was about to get up, laughing jovially: "I’ll go tell uncle and aunt right away, let them be happy too, hehe!"

"You stay right there!"

"Brother, wait a minute!"

Mrs. Fang and Sang Yufei simultaneously grabbed Sang Hong.