The Ye family was very excited, but also extremely nervous.
The whole family got up before dawn, quickly ate breakfast, and then drove the horse-drawn carriage to Qingshui County.
It was only the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) at this time.
A large crowd had already gathered in front of the examination hall, as today was the day the results would be announced.
Sun kept her eyes fixed on the doorway. She couldn't sit still in the carriage, so she got out and paced back and forth.
With his hands clasped together, he kept bowing and chanting, "Guanyin Bodhisattva... Holy Mother... Earth God... God of Literature... Bless my son! Please help him pass his exam! I'm begging you!"
Ye Panjiu was both amused and exasperated, and regardless of religion, she bowed in worship.
This is a classic example of seeking treatment haphazardly.
Ye Ming remained calm and had already picked up a book to read again. If he passed, that would be great, and he would prepare for the prefectural examination in April.
It's normal that he didn't pass; he only returned to the academy and picked up his books again in just five months. How can he compare to those who have been studying for years?
So he remained calm, did his best, and left the rest to fate.
The rest of the Ye family looked at him with admiration; his composure was truly remarkable.
After a full half hour, the yamen runners finally banged the gong and hung up the red notice.
A large crowd surged forward, and the two constables were instantly engulfed.
"Don't push! Don't push! Listen to what I'm about to say!"
No one paid him any attention. The bailiffs quickly banged the gong again, and another bailiff drew his sword.
The crowd fell completely silent.
Anyone would be anxious about this, but the Sun family was even more anxious.
She was so anxious that she squeezed into the crowd and used all her strength to stand in front of the red list.
She looked up.
Then she stomped her feet in anger, because she couldn't read!
Hearing that the yamen runners were going to announce the list, he listened intently.
"Fan Wenjin is at the top of the list!"
A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from one spot in the crowd!
Sun's eyes widened, and her heart pounded with anticipation.
"Li Youyi, the second-place finisher!"
Another shout!
Sun stared intently at the yamen runners, like a tiger poised to pounce and hunt.
"Third-ranked scholar—Achoo!"
The yamen runner sneezed loudly.
Sun wanted nothing more than to slap him.
"Ye Ming!"
"First place in the second tier..."
Sun was stunned, as if a wooden chicken had been struck.
Hearing this, the Ye family members all rushed forward to hug Ye Ming.
"It's a success! My grandson is a scholar!!" Old Mrs. Ye exclaimed excitedly, pressing Ye Ming's head down with both hands.
Ye Erniu's eyes reddened with emotion. "I knew my son would pass. Well done!"
Ye Panjiu smiled brightly, "Ming'er is great!"
Ye Ming pointed to Sun Shi, who was weeping bitterly at the front of the crowd, and said, "Little sister, quickly bring your mother back."
Seeing his mother crying alone broke his heart.
Ye Panjiu turned her head and looked, and for some reason, seeing Sun Shi crying, she also wanted to cry.
It's not easy. The Ye family went from being so poor they couldn't even afford food and were in debt to passing the imperial examination tomorrow. It's truly not easy!
"Hengtong, could you please go and bring your second sister-in-law back?"
Heng Tong nodded, floated lightly through the crowded throng, and returned with his arm around Madam Sun.
Sun cried with tears streaming down her face, and Ye Ming quickly grabbed her hands.
"Mother, if we pass the exam tomorrow, we won't cry anymore." His voice was also a little choked up.
Having been deprived of schooling in his childhood and missing out on education for more than a decade, he has finally embarked on the path of the imperial examinations after all his hardships.
Ye Erniu took Sun's handkerchief and wiped her tears. His wife had never cried before, not even when she was dizzy from hunger. But now she was crying.
Grandma Ye waved her hand, "Second son, come on up quickly, let's go home to pay respects to our ancestors!"
This is an absolutely joyous occasion, and we must solemnly offer sacrifices to our ancestors.
Sun gradually stopped crying, feeling somewhat ashamed, "I was just crying tears of joy."
Ye Panjiu took her arm and said, "Yes, Second Sister-in-law should be happy, we should all be happy!"
After the Ye family returned home, Old Man Ye and Ye Daniu set up the incense table, while Old Lady Ye and Madam Liu placed offerings on the table and lit incense and candles.
The Ye family was poor and had no ancestral hall, only wooden ancestral tablets, which were respectfully placed on the incense table.
Just as Old Man Ye was about to lead his family in kneeling in worship, a great commotion of gongs and drums erupted outside the door.
Ye Panjiu stepped forward and opened the door.
"Great news! Congratulations on the scholar you have produced!" The yamen runner hung up the bright red congratulatory notice and handed it over.
The good news report, bearing Ye Ming's name, hometown, and other information, fluttered in the air.
Old Man Ye touched the good news with trembling hands, saying, "This should be placed with the ancestral tablet; it will bring glory to our ancestors tomorrow!"
Another bailiff laughed, "Sir, your son has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. His future is limitless!"
Old Man Ye grinned from ear to ear, and bowed to the constable with both hands clasped, saying, "Thank you for your congratulations, sir!"
Ye Panjiu took out a purse, and Sun Shi also took out one, and stuffed them into the hands of the yamen runners, saying, "You gentlemen have had a hard time making this trip."
The constables didn't refuse and accepted it with a smile.
This is a common practice; everyone rushes to deliver the good news, and usually, they'll be given some reward money.
The two brothers who went to Dujia Village to deliver the good news last year were the worst off; they didn't receive a single penny.
Later, it was these two brothers who escorted Du Pengzhi; karma is a cycle.
After seeing the yamen runners off, Ye Ming was immediately picked up by Ye Erniu.
"Ming'er, you've really made something of yourself! Dad is so proud of you!"
He hadn't done farm work in a long time, so he was much weaker and couldn't hold on any longer. Ye Lei took over.
"Your older brother is also proud of you!"
Ye Leijin couldn't hold on for long either, and finally Ye Daniu tossed him around, saying, "Well done! You'll do better tomorrow!"
As Mrs. Sun watched her son's body sway in the sunlight, the rays dancing around him, her heart swelled with joy.
Ye Ming couldn't take it anymore and shouted urgently, "Stop, stop, stop! I'm about to throw up!"
Ye Daniu was also scared, so he quickly put him down and patted him on the back, saying, "This little guy needs more training."
Old Man Ye laughed and waved his hand, "Alright, come and kneel down to pay respects to our ancestors first!"
The Ye family members stood at attention, their faces serious, yet radiating joy.
Old Man Ye was the first to kneel down, and the people behind him followed suit.
"Ye Xingchao kowtows to our ancestors, thanking them for their protection of the Ye family! Now that his grandson Ye Ming has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, bringing honor to the Ye family, I have come to tell our ancestors this!"
Old Man Ye muttered to himself, his tone exceptionally devout.
Ye Panjiu looked at the ancestral tablets on the incense table; this was the inheritance.
The incense has been burned continuously for generations.
After everyone kowtowed and offered incense, the memorial tablet was placed back on the altar in the main room.
The elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ye, would offer sacrifices every day, and the offerings were never interrupted.
“A few years ago, my son Da Yi passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. He invited people to perform for a whole day. Should we invite them?” Grandma Ye asked.
Ye Panjiu smiled and said, "Mother, it's the busy farming season now, so I guess everyone won't have much time to listen to opera. Why don't we have a feast so everyone can eat well?"
Madam Sun nodded in agreement, "Holding a banquet is much more practical than putting on a theatrical performance."
Ye Panjiu looked at Liu Shi and said, "Sister-in-law, you're tired all the time. Take a break this time. I heard that Du Shi's restaurant is doing very well. He even takes on banquets like this. Let him do it."
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