Chapter 218 A Lineage Inherited
"They're back! They're back! Master and Young Master are back!"
At the main gate of Shengyuan, Shuyan, who was eagerly waiting, saw three carriages approaching from afar. A familiar face appeared out of the window of the first carriage; it was Li Tian waving to him.
"Quickly, quickly take out the firecrackers, light them, and then go to the shop to inform the master and mistress!"
As Shuyan walked quickly outside, she called out to Shuqi and the others who had come over after hearing the noise.
Soon, the crackling sound of firecrackers rang out continuously, attracting the attention of the surrounding people who all looked towards Shengyuan.
"Judging by this commotion, it must be Xu Jieyuan returning."
“There are three carriages parked by the roadside; they should be Xu Jieyuan’s carriages.”
"Come on, let's go and share in the joy! This is the top scorer in the provincial examination in the entire Dongjiang Prefecture. Scholar Xu has really brought honor to Qingzhou!"
People from all directions flocked towards Shengyuan, and the originally wide road suddenly became crowded.
As soon as Sheng An stepped off the carriage, he was startled by the dense crowd and instinctively took two steps back: "Why are there so many people?"
"I don't know."
Xu Jinnian also found it strange, completely unaware that these people were coming for him.
Just then, an excited voice came from behind: "An'an, An'an, Jin Nian—"
When Sheng An heard her grandmother's voice, she turned around and was immediately embraced.
A sweet smile appeared on her face as she hugged the elderly woman, whose eyes were moist and whose voice was trembling slightly: "Grandma, we're back!"
"She's lost weight, my granddaughter has lost weight..."
Grandma Sheng looked lovingly at her granddaughter whom she hadn't seen for over a month, gently stroking her face with her withered hand, and repeatedly muttering that her granddaughter had lost weight.
Grandpa Sheng and Xu Chenglin, who were a step behind, walked over and watched with smiles as the grandfather and grandson hugged each other affectionately.
Xu Jinnian greeted the two elders: "Grandpa, Dad."
Grandpa Sheng smiled and said "Ah," looking at his grandson-in-law with satisfaction in every way, once again feeling fortunate that he had chosen the right husband for his granddaughter.
Xu Chenglin patted his son on the shoulder: "Good lad, you've really made your old man proud!"
Dongjiang Prefecture only produces one top scholar every three years, this is truly a great source of pride!
Two days ago, as soon as the news of this kid passing the imperial examination with top honors spread, people who knew him and those who didn't came to his door to congratulate him. Even the gentry of Qingzhou sent people to deliver congratulatory gifts.
Sending congratulatory gifts is one thing, but sending women is another.
He could hear what they were up to even through two layers of his stomach!
Hmph, that brat and An'an have a great relationship, and that brat has already told him that he only wants to spend his life with An'an as his wife.
He wasn't a cruel father-in-law who tormented his daughters-in-law; he told them to go back to where they came from on the spot.
However, there's no need to tell An'an about such upsetting things, lest she overthink things.
The family, separated for over a month, reunited, and the atmosphere was wonderful.
The people who came to share in the joy waited for a while before finally getting a chance to speak with Xu Jinnian. They showered him with praise, practically showering him with compliments.
Xu Jinnian responded to everyone in a gentle manner, and as always, he did not act arrogantly or condescendingly because of his changed status, which made everyone present have a better impression of him.
Finally, Xu Chenglin stepped forward and said that the couple had traveled a long way and needed to go inside to rest. Only then did everyone reluctantly watch as Xu Jinnian, surrounded by the crowd, walked into Shengyuan.
Shuqi and the others left after putting down their luggage, leaving only the family of five in the hall of the small building.
The three elders inquired about the couple's daily life in Nanjing and were relieved to know that they were taking good care of themselves and had not suffered any hardship.
Sheng An bought them a lot of gifts, opened the box specifically for storing gifts, and took them out one by one and placed them on the table.
"You silly child, you bought Grandma gold bracelets and gold rings again. Grandma can't wear them all on both hands!"
Grandma Sheng opened the exquisite gift box and lifted the bright red silk cloth to see a pair of heavy gold bracelets and gold rings. Her wrinkles deepened, and she scolded her granddaughter for buying too much.
"Put away the old ones, and we'll wear the new ones."
Sheng An picked up a gold bracelet and personally put it on Grandma Sheng's wrist, admiring it against the light: "How beautiful and prosperous you are! Grandma will definitely be the most enviable old lady on the street!"
Grandma Sheng stroked the "Fu" character on the bracelet, her eyes narrowing into slits as she smiled: "Don't flaunt your wealth, or thieves will covet it."
In recent years, Sheng An has bought a lot of gold jewelry for the old lady, including more than a dozen gold bracelets of various kinds, as well as quite a few gold rings and chains.
Grandma Sheng is a low-key person and doesn't wear her jewelry out much. She keeps all her gold jewelry in a box and takes it out to look at it every now and then.
The immense satisfaction derived from being surrounded by a sea of golden yellow is something that clothing and shoes simply cannot match.
Sheng An also bought gifts for her grandfather and father-in-law, including fine tea and wine according to their preferences, as well as clothes and shoes for the season, all of which were the most fashionable styles in Nanjing.
Grandpa Sheng and Xu Chenglin were very happy, and they went back to their room to change into the clothes to show Sheng An and the others.
After the gifts were distributed, the family sat down and chatted.
Xu Chenglin said to his son, "The clan chief's son came yesterday, asking when you're coming back. I reckon he'll come again in the next couple of days."
Xu Jinnian nodded: "I suppose they want to open an ancestral hall to worship their ancestors."
Xu Chenglin rubbed his hands excitedly: "Definitely! We'll all go back then!"
How can I see the disgusting faces of the Xu family if I don't go back?
Thinking of this, Xu Chenglin asked, "What's going on with Xu Laosan? The patriarch's son was vague the other day and told me to ask you directly."
Xu Jinnian did not hide anything and told him about how Xu Laosan had spread rumors in Jinling in an attempt to ruin his reputation and get the government to strip him of his academic titles.
"That inhuman old dog!"
Xu Chenglin slammed his fist on the table in anger and began to curse, but before he could finish, he remembered his daughter-in-law was still there, so he quickly swallowed his curses, though his face remained grim.
"I thought he was just a stupid idiot, but I never expected him to be so vicious as to try to ruin your future. People like him deserve to die in the mine!"
Worried that her old man might get sick from anger, Xu Jin patted his back gently and comforted him, saying, "He has already been punished, and even if he comes back alive, his life won't be easy."
Xu Chenglin was still furious, and it took him a while to calm down: "He'd better die in the mine, or I'll make him regret coming back alive!"
After saying that, he asked, "Xu Huaining also passed the exam. Has he come back yet?"
Xu Jin pressed her fingertips together, a faint smile playing on her lips: "My leg was broken, I can't come back for now."
Seeing his son's somewhat eerie smile, Xu Chenglin guessed that it was him. He quickly looked into his son's eyes and asked, "Was it him who instructed Xu Laosan to spread the rumors?"
Before Xu Jinnian could answer, he cursed again: "Like father, like son! A rat's son knows how to dig a hole. This little scoundrel is indeed a descendant of his father!"
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