CHAPTER 1048: CHAPTER 1047: DELIVERING THE LETTER

Upon reaching Qilidun, I loudly asked at the village entrance where Old Master Scholar Song’s house was. The village entrance was the exact place where men and women gathered to gossip when they had nothing else to do.

These days, since it wasn’t yet time to harvest the autumn crops, everyone was relatively free, and they were all gathered at the village entrance chatting idly. Hearing this news, it was like a pot of water had suddenly boiled over.

Someone boldly asked, "Which Old Master Scholar Song?"

The messenger said, "Song Family’s Master Song, whose name is Song Chongjin, ranked third Yayuan in the provincial exam."

The bit about names and stuff wasn’t understood well by everyone, but they heard the surname Song and the name Chongjin, and even a fool would know that this meant Song Chongjin had become a Graduate.

This was, after all, the first Old Master Graduate in all these years in Qilidun!

Immediately, a bunch of women surrounded the messenger, bombarding him with questions. The smarter ones broke away first to report to the Lizheng.

When the Lizheng heard the news and rushed to the Wang Family, the Wang Family was nearly bursting at the seams.

Wang Yongfu and his brothers felt like they were in a dream, still dazed. Over the years, they had always heard Wang Yongan talk about taking the Graduate exam, but after so many years, he still hadn’t passed. Everyone thought that if even someone as smart as Wang Yongan hadn’t passed, then a person would need to be unbelievably smart to pass the Graduate exam, right?

Although Song Chongjin had passed the Scholar exam, he was usually quiet and used to be a hunter. Not many believed he could pass the Graduate exam on his first try.

Hearing it suddenly, they couldn’t believe their ears.

It was Liu Xiaoqiao who first came to her senses. Although she didn’t know how difficult the Graduate exam was, she knew this was a messenger bringing joyous news and couldn’t be left unrewarded.

She just wasn’t sure how much to give. Too much would hurt, too little might offend Old Master Graduate’s dignity.

After hesitating for a long time, she gritted her teeth and took out one tael of silver to give to the messenger.

Looking at the silver ingot, the messenger was immediately overjoyed. He had thought that getting a reward of a few hundred coins from the countryside would be quite good.

Unexpectedly, the relative of the Old Master Graduate was so generous to give a whole tael of silver. Right away, he was all smiles, overflowing with compliments without holding back.

Even Liu Xiaoqiao, who initially felt the pinch of spending the silver, felt it was worth it in the end.

When the messenger left, people were still unwilling to disperse until the Lizheng stepped in and sent unrelated people home.

He left behind the Wang Family, along with the arriving Song Family, Li Family, and Wang Family Clan Leader to discuss the upcoming matters.

The messenger had said that Song Chongjin would return as soon as they finished handling matters in the county town.

The fact that Qilidun had an Old Master Graduate was immense joy for the entire village, requiring a grand banquet, at least a three-day flowing banquet to match the status of an Old Master Graduate.

Wang Yongfu and his brothers had never experienced such an event, so they just nodded at whatever the Lizheng said, their minds still in a haze.

The Wang Family Clan Leader was grinning from ear to ear. Since Song Chongjin was their Wang Family’s son-in-law, boasting about it in the future would bring prestige to the Wang Family.

Only the Song Family Clan Leader was full of regret. If only they had known that Song Chongjin would have such glorious days, they would never have allowed the Song Family to treat him that way in the past.

If not for that, it would have been the Song Family basking in glory now. They would be relatives of the Old Master Graduate, walking with more confidence than others.

But now, they’re worried about Song Chongjin returning for revenge instead of hoping for his support.

Song Chongjin wouldn’t even need to say a word; just hinting at dissatisfaction with the Song Family would have many rushing to stand up for him.

Thinking of this, they wanted to redeem themselves and earnestly please Song Chongjin, imploring him to spare the Song Family.

So, even more enthusiastic than the Wang Family Clan Leader, the Song Family Clan Leader immediately agreed to the Lizheng’s proposal, proactively offering anything the Song Family had for free if needed.

As soon as the Song Family Clan Leader said this, everyone’s attention turned to him. The Wang Family brothers were still too dazed to understand the meaning of these words, but the Lizheng and the other Clan Leaders were old foxes and easily discerned the Song Family Clan Leader’s intentions.

Could they let the Song Family monopolize such a good opportunity to curry favor with the Old Master Graduate?

Immediately, they all stated that their families were the same, providing whatever needed, and would ensure the banquet was grand and joyous, guaranteeing satisfaction for the Old Master Graduate.

The Song Family Clan Leader secretly cursed in his heart but outwardly still fought for it.

They nearly got into a fight over it until the Lizheng mediated the arrangement by dividing the responsibilities among the three major families, each taking care of their own family members’ banquet. With no one gaining an advantage, they reluctantly agreed.

Initially, there was talk of selecting a few villagers to stand by in town and greet the Old Master Graduate with grandeur when he returned.

However, it was Wang Yonggui who regained his senses first, saying it was absurd. Their own brother-in-law, their own Old Master Graduate, of course, they should greet him themselves! Having village people do it, who did they take them for?

The Wang Family brothers gradually began to see sense and firmly refused the Lizheng’s proposal.

The Lizheng, with no choice and no desire to offend the Wang Family, had to agree.

Once the Lizheng and others left, the Wang Family brothers closed their doors to discuss matters. Now that their brother-in-law was an Old Master Graduate, the Wang Family business would surely have backing. The Wang Family’s status had risen, and in the future, arranging marriages for their children would be easier.

At this point, Liu Xiaoqiao glanced at Jindou, feeling it was a pity. If only the news of his success had come a few days later, so many good families would have lined up to marry their daughters to Jindou.

Now, though, his engagement was fixed with that girl from the whole family, leaving uncertainty about whether the marriage could continue.

After the brothers finished reveling, they decided Wang Yongping would go to town to bring them back, while everyone else remained to prepare.

They needed to carefully clean Song Chongjin’s courtyard and Wang Yongzhu’s courtyard, washing and airing the bedding thoroughly.

They even paused their mountain goods business entirely, waiting with full devotion for Song Chongjin’s return.

The Lizheng had people stationed at the village entrance every day, watching for the Wang Family’s carriage to quickly report back.

And so, even before the carriage reached the village entrance, several youngsters sprinted back while shouting, "The Old Master Graduate is back—The Old Master Graduate is back—"

When the carriage reached the village entrance, it was surrounded by almost all the villagers who could make it, gathered on both sides to watch the spectacle.

The Lizheng and several Clan Leaders stood at the forefront.

With such a turnout, there was no way Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu could sit still. They quickly had Wang Yongping drive the carriage back, helping Old Granny Zhang off the carriage.

After exchanging pleasantries with the Lizheng and the Clan Leaders, the Lizheng respectfully invited Song Chongjin to lead the way.

Song Chongjin politely declined several times, steadying the Lizheng’s arm and moving forward together, trailed by the Clan Leaders, as they marched grandly into the village.

The men surrounded Song Chongjin and his group, while the women naturally gathered around Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang, chattering all at once, with many offering congratulations and well-wishes, and some not hesitating to offer flattery...