Chapter 378 The smug Cheng Family Village
The carriage moved very slowly.
We arrived in Ping'an County in the afternoon, and then slowly drove towards Dahe Village.
With Wei Hongying massaging her along the way, Cheng Wanwan felt much more comfortable, but as soon as she reached the village road, she quickly changed to a more comfortable sitting position.
The main road in Ping'an County is a dirt road, but once you get to the village, it becomes a bumpy, muddy road. The horse-drawn carriage bounces along the way, making people even more dizzy.
However, to her surprise, the muddy road had been widened and turned into an official road. Without a doubt, it must have been the work of Lord Wu to allow coal to be transported out more quickly, which would have made things much easier for their Dahe Village.
Cheng Wanwan lifted the carriage curtain and admired the scenery of Dahe Village.
In just half a month, it has become March, with grass growing and birds singing. The trees on the mountains are lush and green, the rice seedlings in the fields are growing strong, and the farmers are working in the fields, creating a thriving scene.
As the carriage drew closer to Dahe Village, it gradually came into view of the coal hill. A long row of houses had been built there, with the government office in the middle and the houses on the east and west sides, which were probably for the officials. All of them were blue brick and tile houses, and the whole row of them looked very grand.
Many men were working on the coal hill, seemingly repairing the mine shafts, busy as bees.
Not far from the coal hill, Cheng Wanwan saw many piglets and lambs. She couldn't help but smile. It seemed that Manager Yan had moved to Dahe Village and bought many pigs and sheep to raise. These little guys looked to be in good spirits. She hoped they would grow up healthy and that the soap workshop would rely on them for raw materials in the future.
Cheng Wanwan watched the changes in Dahe Village along the way, and slowly walked to the entrance of the village.
"It's Grandma Mountain back!"
"Oh, Auntie Shan, get off the bus quickly! I haven't seen you for half a month, I've missed you so much!"
"Go back and tell those children in the mountains. They've been listless lately because they miss their mother."
"..."
The villagers greeted her warmly, so Cheng Wanwan had to get off the carriage early.
She had just stepped down, lifting her skirt, when a small cannonball rushed over and flew straight into her arms.
"Mother, I miss you so much..."
Zhao Sidan's voice was muffled as he clung tightly to Cheng Wanwan, as if afraid his mother would suddenly disappear.
Cheng Wanwan patted his head: "Isn't Mom back now? You're such a big boy now, aren't you afraid people will laugh at you..."
Zhao Sidan sniffed and quickly changed the subject: "Where are my cousin, Zheng Ge, and Yu Xiong? I haven't congratulated them yet."
Cheng Wanwan and her group didn't return until the afternoon, but the official from Huzhou who was in charge of delivering the good news came to Dahe Village early in the morning. Everyone in the village knew that Yu Zhan had passed the preliminary examination. The village head casually asked about it and found out that Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng had both passed the county-level examination. Everyone was waiting to congratulate them.
"Cough cough!"
Shen Zheng got out of a car behind him, unfolded a paper fan, and slowly strolled over.
Behind him followed Cheng Zhao and Yu Zhan. All three had the air of scholars, and they looked quite pleasing to the eye as they walked over together.
The village head was the first to walk over, laughing heartily as he said, "Our Dahe Village is a place of outstanding people and abundant resources. We have actually produced two scholars! Hahaha, and Xiao Zhan has also become a student of the first level of the imperial examination. The three of you have brought good fortune and talent to our Dahe Village. I believe that in the future, more and more scholars will emerge from Dahe Village!"
"Zhao Lizheng really knows how to pat himself on the back. Cheng Zhao is clearly from my Chengjia Village. What does he have to do with your Dahe Village?"
A discordant voice rang out.
The crowd gathered at the village entrance looked in the direction of the sound and saw a large group of people appear on the village road. Leading them were Cheng Lizheng and the head of the Cheng family, followed by a large group of Cheng family members.
"Zhao'er!" Old Madam Cheng rushed over and grabbed Cheng Zhao's hand. Her face was full of joy. "The messenger said you passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. He also said you came in first place in the provincial examination. Is that true?"
Old Man Cheng said with a stern face, "Could what the officials say be false? Our Cheng family's eldest grandson is just that outstanding!"
Sister-in-law Cheng kept touching Cheng Zhao's arm: "My son is really amazing. He's the top scholar among all the candidates. The official even said that the prefect hosted a banquet for Zhao'er. Is that true?"
Cheng Zhao immediately clarified, "The Prefect was hosting a banquet for all the students taking the imperial examinations, not just me."
"In short, our Zhao'er has met the Prefect, and he is the most promising child in our Cheng Family Village!" Old Mrs. Cheng said with a beaming smile. "Let's go home and offer incense to our ancestors. Tomorrow, our Cheng family will host a grand banquet for our neighbors, and we'll definitely have a spectacular and lively event!"
She took Cheng Zhao's hand and was about to leave.
Cheng Zhao quickly broke free: "Grandma, Grandpa, Sixth Uncle, and all uncles and elders, please wait a moment. I just returned from Huzhou and haven't thanked my teacher yet. I'll be right back."
His achievements are inextricably linked to Master Yu, so how could he leave without saying goodbye?
Shen Zheng put his arm around Cheng Zhao's shoulder: "Come on, let's go together."
Yu Zhan followed behind the two of them, walking together toward Master Yu's residence.
After Cheng Zhao left, the people of Chengjia Village were still standing at the village entrance. There were more than a dozen of them, and anyone who didn't know better would think that a fight had broken out.
Zhao, the village head, smiled and said, "Village head Cheng, clan chief Cheng, why don't you come into the village and sit for a while?"
Cheng Lizheng waved his hand, putting on airs: "There's no need to sit. I'm in a hurry to get back. I still have to hold the ancestral worship ceremony at the ancestral hall. I can't afford to be late."
Zhao Lizheng twitched his lips and tsk tsk, already showing off... Well, it is indeed worth showing off. In their Dahe Village, there is not a single proper student who has passed the imperial examination, let alone a scholar who has passed the county-level examination... Who knows how many years it will take for Si Dan to pass the county-level examination.
"Our Cheng family is hosting a banquet tomorrow. If Zhao Lizheng has time, you can come and have a drink." Old Mrs. Cheng was in high spirits because of the happy occasion, and her brows were no longer as mean as before. She looked up at Cheng Wanwan and said in a calm voice, "You are Zhao'er's second aunt, and Zhao'er has always been close to you. You must come and have a drink tomorrow."
Cheng Wanwan's lips curved into a smile: "Yes, of course I'll go."
Zhao'er's celebratory drink was something she truly deserved; she had to go and see what the commotion was about.
After thanking Master Yu, Cheng Zhao walked towards the village entrance, then got into the carriage and took out the bundle he had brought to Huzhou.
Seeing that he was about to leave, Old Mrs. Cheng breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
Actually, before coming to Dahe Village, she had no confidence at all. She was afraid that Zhao'er would not want to return to Chengjia Village, so she called so many people from the clan to come together, putting pressure on Zhao'er in an invisible way.
Fortunately, Zhao'er wasn't so heartless and cold-hearted. He was still willing to return to Chengjia Village, which meant he was still willing to acknowledge his relatives in the Cheng family.
Cheng Zhao walked up to Cheng Wanwan with her bundle on her back and said, "Second Aunt, I'm going back now. I'll come back after I've finished dealing with things at the Cheng family."
Cheng Wanwan nodded: "Be careful on the road."
The Cheng family members surrounded Cheng Zhao and left in high spirits.
Shen Zheng stroked his chin and said, "My father and grandmother are probably getting impatient at home, Auntie, I'll head back first."
Cheng Wanwan nodded and watched Afu and Shen Zheng leave.
At this moment, Zhao Dashan and Zhao Sanniu also came over. The two of them led the carriage and reported to Cheng Wanwan what had happened during this period, and walked towards their own door.
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