Chapter 236 Never Ending
After hearing what Old Lady Chen said, Chen Qingqing felt funny.
Chen Zhancai was just a poor scholar who passed the imperial examination. What's so great about that?
He just read a few more books and could write a few words, but people really thought he was a big shot and showed off so much.
If I could pass the imperial examination one day, I would be so proud of myself!
Chen Qingqing didn't want to waste any more time, so she said to Lin, "Mom, Xiaoyu and I will go back first."
"Qing girl, wait a minute. There is still a lot of work to do at home. I don't want to stay here and listen to them arguing. I am too tired." Lin's face was also full of annoyance.
Chen Han also stood up and said, "Mom, I haven't finished the homework the teacher gave me yet, so I'll go back with you."
Seeing the three people about to leave, the village head's wife hurriedly stood up and stopped them.
"Qing girl, don't leave yet. We all live in the same village and we'll see each other sooner or later. It would be inappropriate to leave now. Just give Chen Zhancai some face.
After so many years, he finally passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. It has brought honor to our village and is a good thing.
Think about it, he is a successful student and may become an official in the future. If you make enemies with him now, you may not be sure that he will make things difficult for you in the future.
Just listen to me and sit for a while to join in the fun."
"Auntie, I walk upright and sit upright, and I am not afraid of the villains who are successful."
"I know you're not afraid, but I still have to cook when I get home. Just bear with it and make do with a bite. Just think of it as spending time with me."
"Okay then, I'll listen to you." Chen Qingqing sighed helplessly.
Lin also felt that what the headwoman said was reasonable and it was indeed inappropriate to leave at this time. She nodded and sat down again.
When the villagers heard what Old Lady Chen said, they immediately started to complain.
"Auntie, everyone in the village knows your son has passed the imperial examination. Let's stop talking about those boring things and start eating!"
"Yes, we haven't had breakfast yet. We are just waiting to have a big meal at the scholar's house. If we don't have a meal soon, I will starve."
"Who said it wasn't? It's already noon, and my stomach has been growling for a long time. Hurry up and serve the 28-course meal you carefully prepared so that we can have a big meal."
......
Old Lady Chen raised her hand slightly, signaling for everyone to be quiet. "Everyone, please don't be anxious. We must go through the necessary formalities. I'll let you eat as much as you want. Now, I'd like to invite my son, a scholar, to speak a few words."
Chen Zhancai raised his chin proudly, glanced at everyone, then cleared his throat before speaking.
"My dear neighbors, I, Chen, have studied hard for ten years, no, no, no, I have studied hard for more than thirty years, and finally achieved the title of scholar.
The County Magistrate was originally going to come personally to congratulate the wedding banquet today, but I know that the County Magistrate is very busy and would not dare to bother with mobilizing a large number of people. I made all kinds of excuses, so the County Magistrate did not come to congratulate... "
Just as she was saying this, Old Lady Chen couldn't help but interrupt, "What's the matter with you being a genius? The county magistrate even came to our house to congratulate you? This is such an honorable thing, it can't be obtained even by begging, how can you refuse it?"
"Mom, don't interrupt!" Chen Zhancai glared at her fiercely and said in a low voice, "I'm just talking nonsense to flatter myself. What are you doing here? Get out of here."
"So that's what's going on. I thought it was true!" Old Mrs. Chen shut up angrily and quickly stepped aside.
Chen Zhancai cleared his throat again and continued,
"I, Chen, can achieve what I have today thanks to the blessings of my ancestors, the support of my parents, and my own unremitting study day and night.
Back then, I studied by lamplight at night, getting up before dawn to study. It was like hanging my head on the beam and piercing my thigh with a needle.
In the summer when mosquitoes are rampant, I soak my legs in a bucket of water just to keep my mind focused;
In the cold winter, my hands and feet were frozen stiff, so I stood up and walked around, and after a little relief, I buried myself in my books again.
In those years, my family was poor and we had no money to buy candles, so I recited the Four Books and Five Classics by moonlight.
Every night when the moon is low, I silently review what I have learned, reviewing what I have learned in the past to gain new insights, striving to integrate and grasp everything I have learned.
Day after day, year after year, I have never slacked off...
My classmates laughed at me for being too crazy and only knowing how to study. Little did they know that nothing is difficult in the world as long as you are willing to climb.
Finally, my hard work paid off, and I finally made my mark in the imperial examinations and achieved fame..."
The more Chen Zhancai spoke, the more excited he became, and the more excited he became, the more he kept talking. He was talking with saliva flying everywhere, and he was so engrossed in it that he couldn't stop at all.
Half an incense stick of time had passed, and he was still talking non-stop, with no intention of stopping at all.
At this time, the villagers sitting at the table were already starving.
One little child couldn't help but tug at his mother's clothes, "Mom, I'm so hungry. When will the scholar finish his story?"
"Don't be anxious, kid. If you hold on a little longer, you should be done soon." The child's mother comforted him softly.
Dalongzi, who was standing by, couldn't sit still any longer and stood up and shouted, "Master Xiucai, you've been talking for almost an incense stick of time. That's enough. Let's start the meal!"
The villagers had already been dissatisfied with this voice and they all echoed it.
"Yeah, come on, we're all exhausted from listening to you. You should take a break too!"
"That's right, you sage, you talk more than my wife can sew the soles of my shoes. It makes our heads hurt. Why don't you set up the banquet first, and we'll eat while you listen to you? That would be fine, right?"
"That's right, if this doesn't stop, we'll leave!"
Hearing the villagers' discussions, Old Lady Chen also felt that her son was being too slow, so she stepped forward to smooth things over. "Don't worry, everyone, it will be done soon, it will be done soon."
As she spoke, she looked at Chen Zhancai and said, "Son, that's enough. If we talk for a while longer, it will be time for dinner."
"Yes, my husband, the villagers are all hungry, so let's start the meal first!" Liu Fengjiao also stepped forward to persuade.
Chen Zhancai still felt a little unsatisfied, but he also realized that he had indeed been talking for too long, so he nodded and said, "Okay, let's stop here for now."
"Then let's start the meal right away." Old Mrs. Chen heaved a sigh of relief and turned to leave when Chen Zhancai called her back.
"Mom, please wait a moment."
"What's wrong, son? What happened again?"
"You forgot, didn't I say I would announce a surprise in public at the banquet?"
"Oh~~ Look at my memory, how could I have forgotten this." Old Mrs. Chen grinned, "Son, what's the surprise? Tell me quickly and make me happy."
Liu Fengjiao was also full of anticipation, thinking that this surprise must be related to her.
"Husband, don't hide the surprise from me."
"Don't worry, you'll know in a moment."
.......
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