Chapter 125 The Pride of the Family
More than ten people came to Chengjia Village.
The head of the Cheng family stood at the front, with white hair and a long beard.
"Sixth Uncle".
Cheng Zhao bowed slightly and clasped his hands in greeting.
The head of the Cheng family, being the head of the clan, was not someone like Old Madam Cheng who would cause trouble. He stroked his beard and said sternly, "Zhao'er, you have been exceptionally intelligent since you were a child. You were personally taught by the old scholar when you were three years old. Over the years, the entire Cheng family has contributed to your tuition fees. You are the pride of the entire Cheng family village and our hope for the future. Your studies are not something you can simply stop doing just because you say so."
These harsh words left Cheng Zhao speechless.
The Cheng family had indeed put in a lot of effort for his education. He remembered that many years ago, the old scholar suggested that he go to town to study. At that time, the tuition fee in town was one tael of silver per month. His grandmother could not afford that much money, so the clan leader asked each family in the clan to contribute a few coins to make up the difference. He carried the mission of the entire clan on his shoulders.
He failed the clan leader's help and the family's trust... Fortunately, he is still young, and he can repay these debts of gratitude slowly.
Cheng Wanwan stepped forward and said calmly, "Does the fact that Clan Chief Cheng can say these words mean that the clan chief has reached a reconciliation with the son of the county magistrate of Phoenix Town and the brother-in-law of the wealthy merchant of Baiyun Town?"
Chief Cheng was completely bewildered. What did Zhao'er's schooling have to do with the son of the magistrate of Phoenix Town and the brother-in-law of a wealthy merchant in Baiyun Town?
Grandma Cheng only knew that her eldest grandson had been expelled from Nanfu Academy for cheating. Naturally, she wouldn't say that her eldest grandson had cheated. She only said that Nanfu Academy couldn't tolerate her precious grandson and hoped that the clan head could step in to find another place for Cheng Zhao to study.
The head of the Cheng family was also an educated man, though he hadn't passed the imperial examinations to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations). He had connections in the town and knew some people. He planned to take Cheng Zhao to the academy in Phoenix Town. Although it wasn't as prestigious as the Southern Academy, it could still produce a Xiucai every few years.
"Sixth Uncle, I was expelled from Nanfu Academy because the son of the magistrate of Phoenix Town and the brother-in-law of a wealthy merchant in Baiyun Town colluded to frame me. They sent people to instruct the academies in the nearby towns not to let me enroll." Cheng Zhao sneered, "In the circle of scholars, my reputation is completely ruined. No student will be willing to vouch for me unless I know a student who receives government stipends, but that is obviously impossible."
Students of the Imperial Academy were students who received food subsidies from the imperial court and were also entitled to stipends. In addition to preparing for the imperial examinations, they were also required to vouch for candidates who were eligible for the civil service examinations and sign the guarantee documents.
These people are arrogant and self-important. He has never dealt with the students who receive government stipends. Even if he did, they would never vouch for him after hearing the rumors.
Without a guarantee, one cannot participate in the imperial examination.
Chief Cheng was completely stunned.
He thought it was just a conflict between students that escalated to the headmaster's level, and that Zhao'er was expelled because she refused to back down.
How did it get involved with the county magistrate's son?
Between county magistrates, there was collusion among officials; offending one county magistrate was equivalent to offending all the county magistrates in the vicinity.
With the magistrate's son speaking, even a close student with a stipend would not personally step forward to vouch for him.
"How could this happen..." the patriarch Cheng murmured, "The Cheng family finally has a talented child, how could he be stifled..."
Old Mrs. Cheng's face turned deathly pale: "Clan leader, is there really no other way?"
Chief Cheng smiled bitterly: "Unless Zhao'er can obtain the forgiveness of the son of the magistrate of Phoenix Town."
"He coerced me into associating with him, what's wrong with me refusing?" Cheng Zhao said coldly. "I'm already afraid of power before I've even made it in school. There have been countless powerful people along the way. Am I supposed to keep bowing and scraping my way down? If I become a local official one day, how can I stand up for the people and seek justice if I'm so servile and subservient?"
The onlookers wanted to applaud; they couldn't articulate such profound truths, but they inexplicably felt inspired.
Cheng Wanwan shook her head, disapprovingly saying, "If you don't like these powerful people, then you should try to change them, instead of thinking you're sober and running away, watching coldly from the sidelines, and vehemently criticizing them."
Cheng Zhao turned his head: "Does Second Aunt mean that I should grovel and beg for the forgiveness of the young master of the Phoenix Town magistrate?"
Cheng Wanwan said slowly, "If this is the only way, then you have no choice but to do it."
In ancient times, going against power was tantamount to suicide. People should learn to bow their heads when necessary. If there is a bright and smooth road ahead, there is no need to ruin one's future because of momentary anger.
Of course, she felt that Cheng Zhao had a second option.
Grandma Cheng was heartbroken; how could she bear to see her beloved grandson kneeling before someone and begging for forgiveness?
She grasped Cheng Zhao's hand and said, "Zhao'er, you don't need to bow your head. Leave these matters to your grandmother. Your grandmother will kneel before him and beg for mercy for three days and three nights, and he will definitely let you go..."
Cheng Zhao's expression was complicated.
How could he let his grandmother, who was so old, kneel before someone else?
Furthermore, his intuition told him that even if he knelt down and begged for mercy, those people would not let him go.
Those two have already offended him terribly, and they're definitely afraid he'll come back after high school to take revenge. They won't give him any chance to rise to the top.
However, if he needed to ask for help, he could ask Magistrate Shen.
This is a road that his second aunt paved for him.
He looked at Cheng Wanwan and said, word by word, "Second Aunt, I understand. I will go to see Magistrate Shen."
Cheng Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that this kid would get stuck on this paved road and refuse to take it. Magistrate Shen had a good personality and remembered Cheng Zhao. In fact, as long as Cheng Zhao spoke up, Magistrate Shen would definitely resolve the matter... After all, Cheng Zhao was a child from Ping'an Town. If Cheng Zhao passed the imperial examination, Magistrate Shen would also be proud.
Old Mrs. Cheng clutched her chest and said, "Zhao'er, what nonsense are you talking about? Why would the magistrate summon a scholar like you..."
She'd lived to such an old age and had never even seen a county magistrate. A county magistrate was like a cloud in the sky, the sky above them, an untouchable figure, more awe-inspiring than the word "emperor"...
"The county magistrate has arrived!"
Just then, a loud voice rang out over Dahe Village.
Grandma Cheng turned her head in disbelief, and all the onlookers turned their heads as well. On the main road on the other side of the mountain, a carriage slowly came to a stop. There were four yamen runners in front of and behind the carriage, and the magistrate's pomp and circumstance were immediately apparent.
Behind the horse-drawn carriage was an oxcart, driven by Zhao Da, with the village head and his two sons on the oxcart.
This was also to accommodate the speed of the oxcart; otherwise, the horse-drawn carriage would have arrived at Dahe Village more than half an hour ago.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Magistrate Shen, dressed in official robes and wearing a black gauze hat, stepped out of the carriage. Yuan, the clerk, stood behind the magistrate, and the aura emanating from the two of them spread out.
At this moment, most of the people in Dahe Village were watching the excitement in front of Cheng Wanwan's house. As soon as the county magistrate arrived, everyone knelt down in unison.
"Greetings, His Excellency the County Magistrate!"
Everyone lay prostrate on the ground, and the only sound was the wind.
Master Yuan coughed and said, "The magistrate has come to Dahe Village to reward those who have rendered meritorious service. All villagers of Dahe Village, listen to my command—"
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