Chapter 533, Old Man

Song Chunxue never imagined that she and the children would become so famous.

It turned out that the news of Sanwa passing the imperial examination had spread throughout Tingli and the surrounding villages. People they met along the way couldn't help but ask questions when they saw so many carriages and so many people.

When strangers heard that they were from the Jiang family of Lijiazhuangzi, they immediately guessed their identities and insisted on seeing what Jiang Yexun, who had passed the imperial examination, looked like.

People you meet on the road are either pulling donkeys, carts, or carrying buckets of manure. Even the most taciturn person will ask a few questions when they pass by.

People always feel an inexplicable urge to confide in strangers, and are more kind and trusting towards them than with acquaintances.

The closer they got to home, the more people recognized them. Even those who had been beaten by Song Chunxue for gossiping before congratulated them with smiles on their faces.

Therefore, they traveled very slowly along the way, and by the time they entered Lijiazhuangzi, it was already past 11 PM.

Surprisingly, when the carriage arrived at the gate of the eldest son's house, the people from the estate were already waiting there.

"Oh, you're finally back! I heard that Sanwa passed the imperial examination. Congratulations!"

"Incredible! The shepherd boy who never changed his ways has actually passed the imperial examination! He's really doing us a favor. The Jiang family is truly blessed."

Song Chunxue led Sanwa to the villagers and made him greet them, letting them ask him all sorts of questions.

One should not forget one's roots, especially in front of fellow villagers. Song Chunxue was afraid that Sanwa would get impatient with her pestering him, so she gave him a heads-up beforehand.

Fortunately, Sanwa was not impatient at all. Instead, he invited everyone into the courtyard, put the snacks and guokui he had brought on a plate, and told everyone to help themselves.

But no one really moved; they just grabbed one for their own child, warmly inquired about the Jiang siblings' well-being, and praised their child for resembling their parents, having round eyes, and being well-behaved and clever.

The Jiang brothers unloaded the items from the carriage and put them all in the kitchen and storeroom.

Upon learning that one of them was an outsider who had come to help them, and that the children all called him Uncle Xie, the people present speculated and whispered among themselves whether he was one of Lord Xie's men.

Before long, more and more people came to the manor, some helping out, others offering compliments, and the courtyard was almost overflowing.

Even some people from other villages came. Seeing the Jiang family busy preparing, and learning that the date for the banquet had not yet been set, everyone suggested that it be the day after tomorrow.

Tomorrow is too rushed, and many relatives won't be able to make it.

While shopping, Xie Dongxie and Li Mengchun suggested that, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and send two people to invite Song Chunxue's family.

Tomorrow, since it's on my way, I'll go to my ancestors' graves to burn paper money as an offering. But I can't just burn the paper randomly; I need to find a geomancer to write the memorial text.

Given that so many people have arrived in such a short time, the meat and vegetables they brought are not enough. We'll need to steam more buns and rolls tomorrow.

No one had eaten lunch, and the children were hungry and sleepy, making a lot of noise.

Song Chunxue watched her child and grandson running around busily and wanted to help, but everyone stopped her.

“Let the young people help out. You are an elder, and you came back for Sanwa. You and your son can sit here and chat with us old folks. My son and your son went to school together and were classmates. Let them make the arrangements. You can rest for a while.”

Li Dazui stopped him, saying, "Your children are all so successful, why do you still worry so much? Actually, they are all very sensible and know how to manage their own families. Don't try to do everything yourself."

He's right, but Song Chunxue is a mother, and this habit is hard to change.

They say they don't want to care about this or that, but when they see it, they can't help but stand up.

She sat down on the steps again, saying, "How can a mother so easily say she shouldn't abandon her child?"

"By the way, how much wheat did you plant this year?"

Farmers are most concerned about grain and celestial phenomena, and they chatted happily about them.

The third child was surrounded by his elders, answering their questions.

Because Mulan was heavily pregnant, she sat down to feed her child and then went back to her room to rest.

As daughters-in-law, Xu Dahong and Tian Qi consciously put on aprons and started tidying up. They cooked some food casually, ate a few bites, and then started cleaning up. Jiang Hongying kneaded and fermented the dough, and borrowed some yeast from someone else when they didn't have enough.

On this day, Jiang Yeming's family was even more lively than the previous two happy events. People who wanted to see the third child came from all over the country, because they all wanted to see what a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) looked like.

The fourth brother and the second brother discussed it and decided that someone should go to the village tomorrow to buy some more wine and meat, so that they wouldn't run out of food like when the third brother got married. This place is not like the street, where they can't buy food in time.

The next day, the Jiang family was shocked again.

April is the busy time for weeding, but the people in the village are not busy, and someone from each household comes to help the Jiang family.

Even the Cheng family, who had once caused such a huge uproar, came from every household in the village. Old Man Cheng, leaning on a cane, came with his grandson, which surprised Song Chunxue.

At that time, Song Chunxue was peeling garlic and picking vegetables in the yard.

"Third child's mother is amazing! She actually managed to find out a scholar who passed the imperial examination. That's incredible!"

Before I even stepped into the courtyard, Old Man Cheng's voice had already reached me.

Song Chunxue looked towards the doorway. Old Man Cheng still maintained his imposing manner, stepping across the threshold first with his apricot wood lion-head cane.

A pair of bright, defiant eyes looked first at Song Chunxue.

Even though he was saying congratulatory words, Song Chunxue could tell that he still looked down on him.

Old Man Cheng was a strong-willed man his whole life and not one to easily give in to fate.

He was a pitiful man, having lost both of his sons, yet apart from his legs and feet, his face showed no signs of aging.

He was a pitiful man, a parent outliving their child, and Song Chunxue couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

"You've arrived, sir. Please come in and sit down. What kind of tea would you like?" Song Chunxue asked casually. "Black tea or green tea?"

Supported by his grandson, Old Man Cheng sat down on the steps of the north room. Several younger men stood up and moved to another spot with him.

He was considered one of the older people in the village; most of the others his age had passed away.

Thinking of this, Song Chunxue felt a chill run down her spine.

I overheard people chatting these past few days and learned that several of the older brothers and sisters who used to play with my sister have passed away in recent years.

Most of them died of illness.

People who are constantly hungry and unable to afford medical care may find themselves dying from a simple cold when the seasons change and the grass withers.

Old Man Cheng slowly sat down, leaning on his cane. "Black tea, please."

He coughed, and his beard, unlike the others, was clean and free of dirt.

Li Dazui laughed and said, "Uncle Cheng looks quite healthy."

Old Man Cheng was much older than them and was considered their elder.

After all, the eldest son of the Cheng family is only a few years younger than Song Chunxue.

Old Cheng snorted, "What's the use of being sturdy? Sanwa's mother seems like a completely different person. She looks taller. Having money makes you look younger."

He looked at Xie Dong, who was in the main house discussing something with Sanwa and the eldest brother, and was holding a calligraphy brush in his hand, with a meaningful expression.

"Have you found someone to accompany you all these years?"