Chapter 243: The Privileges of Scholars

After Chen Zhancai toasted, he felt a little drunk and his speech became slurred.

He felt that the time had come to show his status. If he didn't get revenge for the humiliation he had suffered before, he would not be able to control this group of peasants in the future.

He staggered closer to Dalongzi, who had once mocked him, and raised his voice deliberately.

"Brother Dalongzi, I remember you used to call me a dog in front of many people. I said I would never be able to pass the exam to become a scholar.

How is it now? I, Chen, Chen Zhancai, am not a blockhead. I passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. So glorious, so glorious! I have brought honor to my family! "

Dalongzi looked down on him in his heart, but he still forced a smile on his face and picked up the wine glass to deal with him.

"Zhancai, you are now a scholar respected by everyone, and the Chen family is a wealthy family. I am just a peasant. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

Chen Zhancai suddenly became elated. His status as a scholar was indeed quite good. He laughed wildly.

"Don't worry, brother. I, Chen Zhancai, am by no means a petty or narrow-minded person. I just want you to take care of me. That's nothing! When I become very successful, I will not let anyone here despair. As long as you need help, I promise that I will not refuse. Come, let's drink this cup."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Old Mrs. Chen was so happy that her mouth almost drooped. She waved to everyone, "Today is a double celebration for my family. Everyone, eat and drink to your heart's content. Don't be shy!"

"Yes, don't be polite. If you don't like whole grain rice, you can go over there and get some sesame cakes." Old man Chen also reminded.

Old Lady Chen pinched his butt hard and cursed in a low voice, "You silly old man, why don't you keep the sesame cakes for us to eat? They're delicious!"

Old Man Chen grimaced in pain, realizing he had said the wrong thing. He quickly called back the person who was about to get the sesame cake, "Don't go. It looks like they're all gone. You should just eat the mixed grain rice!"

"Yes, there are not many in total, so let's just eat some rice!" After saying that, Old Mrs. Chen glanced at Chen Qingqing and others at the next table, snorted coldly, and winked at Chen Zhancai.

Although Chen Zhancai was a little drunk, he immediately understood what Old Lady Chen meant and walked towards the next table, swaying his body.

At this moment, Chen Qingqing looked at the twenty-eight seats in front of her, feeling a bit helpless.

As expected of Old Lady Chen, she actually called this unpresentable banquet "Er Ba Xi".

What a stingy son wearing a white hat, so stingy,

Wu Baoan also shook his head and smiled bitterly. The Chen family was really something. They promised a grand wedding, but in the end it turned out to be such a shabby banquet. This was just a lie!

No one present wanted to eat.

Seeing this, Chen Zhancai hurriedly asked with a smile, "Hey, what's going on? Why aren't you eating?"

Chen Qingqing was listening to Chen Han talking about things in the academy without even raising her eyelids.

The other people were also chatting with each other and no one paid any attention to him, which made Chen Zhancai feel a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, at this time, Wu Baoan raised his glass and said, "Zhancai, congratulations on passing the imperial examination. Come, let's have a drink."

"Okay, thank you, Li Zheng, but I have to toast you with this wine."

Chen Zhancai walked up to Wu Baoan with unsteady steps, raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder, patting him twice.

"Brother Security, I have to toast you with this glass of wine first. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come and support me. Let's get drunk today."

"Alright, Zhancai." Wu Baoan took away his hand from his shoulder. "You've had too much to drink. You'd better stop drinking."

"Who said I was drunk? I'm very clear-headed. What's the matter? You don't want to give a poor scholar like me face?

If that's the case, then it's not right for you to be the head of the village. Although a scholar is not an important official position, it has many privileges.

While everyone is here, I will tell you what special privileges scholars have.

Old Mrs. Chen felt that since Chen Zhancai had passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, the status of their Chen family had changed. It was necessary to let Chen Qingqing and these peasants who made a living from farming know that no matter how rich they were, they were nothing in front of a scholar.

She laughed and chimed in. "Yes, let my son explain to you exactly what privileges a scholar has."

Chen Zhancai cleared his throat and deliberately raised his voice, attracting everyone's attention.

"What privileges do scholars have? First of all, it's about clothing. Look at how I'm dressed from head to toe."

As he said this, he stroked his body from head to toe with his hands.

"The thing on your head is called a Confucian cap, also called a Confucian cap, and the thing on your body is called a robe. It's the standard outfit for a pure scholar. No, no, but not everyone can wear it. You have to be a scholar like me to wear it. This is the first special privilege.

Secondly, they are exempt from corvee labor and taxation. I don’t need to say much about these, I’m sure everyone understands.

The same thing is that scholars can keep slaves. You should all know that slaves are pretty little maids who serve people.

This maid is famous. If I don't tell you, you definitely don't know that a maid is actually a concubine.

I won’t say much about what a concubine is used for. I’m sure you all know what it is.

The next thing is that when a scholar meets an official, this is a big deal. The common people have to kneel down and kowtow to the official, no matter whether it is the bao, baozhang, or the county magistrate.

But I don't need to greet them when I see them. If I'm in a good mood, I just nod my head and that's it.

If I’m feeling down, I won’t even look at them, and they won’t be able to say anything. Is the status of a scholar so powerful…”

Hearing what he said, the villagers could not help but whisper.

"Chen Zhancai is so boastful for drinking cat urine. His family is so poor that they can barely get enough food, yet he still wants to keep a maid."

"That's right. Look how arrogant he is. He can hardly walk in these tattered clothes."

"Does the scholar really have so many privileges? Is what he said true?"

"It should be true. I've heard that a scholar's status is very important. Officials have to be polite when they see him."

"Oh, no wonder he's good at bragging, he really has the ability."

"That's right. So, we should flatter them when we should, and flatter them when we should. If they pass the imperial examination in the future, we may not be able to benefit from it, but it will definitely not do any harm."

"Yes, yes, you are right. Hurry up and flatter the emperor."

"Zhancai, you have been different from other children in the village since you were young. Back then, I said you would be a promising child in the future. Look how accurate my words were."

"Who says it's not? Being a talented person is really powerful. Being a scholar is really awesome!"

"Master, the scholar looks so handsome in this robe. He will surely win first place in the imperial examination."

"In my opinion, the scholar might be the future county magistrate!"

......

After hearing these flattering words, Chen Zhancai became even more complacent. He smiled and raised his hand to press it down, signaling everyone to be quiet first.

"Everyone, listen to me first. Where were we just now?"

"Speaking of the status of a scholar, that's how impressive it is."

Someone in the crowd reminded...