Chapter 47: First Place in the Provincial Examination
County Magistrate Chen now regards Pei Changfeng as a precious treasure. He is the top scorer in the provincial examination and may even become one of the top three in the future. Any one of them will be a great honor for their small county!
It is not uncommon for a small place to have a top scholar, but what is rare is Pei Changfeng. County Magistrate Chen is very optimistic about him!
"Have the results been announced?" Pei Changfeng showed a look of sudden enlightenment, "I'm sorry, I haven't checked the list yet."
"I've already checked it for you, Pei Jieyuan. You are really capable."
The villagers were whispering to each other, "What is Jieyuan? What is Yuan?"
"What happened to Master Pei? I heard he passed the exam to become the highest level scholar. When did he take the exam? That's weird. Isn't his leg broken?"
The village chief hurried over after receiving the news. When he learned that Pei Changfeng had won the title of Jieyuan, he felt as if he had been hit by a huge pie. Their village had produced a Jieyuan?
Pei Changfeng welcomed everyone into the house. The village chief was a little restrained when he saw County Magistrate Chen, but when he thought that Pei Changfeng was from their village and he was the village chief, he became more relaxed and said to County Magistrate Chen with a smile, "Did Changfeng really pass the exam and become the Liyuan?"
"It's absolutely true." County Magistrate Chen had the gate closed to block the sight of other people in the village. He praised Pei Changfeng without hesitation, "This child has a strong character and will definitely have a bright future."
"Yeah, who would have thought," the village chief looked at Pei Changfeng, "You kid, you do great things quietly, you scare me."
"I haven't studied for a long time, and I just wanted to give it a try. Maybe it was because the weather was too weird this year, but I actually passed the exam," Pei Changfeng said modestly, "It was all just luck."
"In life, in fact, at the end of life, we find that luck is the most important thing," County Magistrate Chen patted Pei Changfeng on the shoulder, "You should prepare well for the examination next year. It would be best if you can enter the palace examination and bring honor to our county!"
"If it's more, I won't be polite with you. This is 100 taels of silver. It's a reward from the county for you. It's not just for you. Other candidates who pass the imperial examination also receive 50 taels of silver." After saying that, County Magistrate Chen looked at Pei Changfeng and sighed, "Jieyuan, our county hasn't produced one in many years. No, it's never produced one."
At this moment, he only thought that Pei Changfeng was a genius, and he couldn't help but start dreaming that Pei Changfeng would win three prizes in a row and he would also benefit from it.
County Magistrate Chen still had something to say to Pei Changfeng, but because the village chief was there, he didn't say much. He asked someone to invite Pei Changfeng to a banquet in the county later, and he left first so as not to prevent the villagers from congratulating him.
As soon as the county magistrate left, the villagers gathered around him and started talking. Su Wanwan and Xingzhou couldn't even bring stools to the villagers.
"Changfeng, when did you take the exam? Will you continue to teach in the future?"
"You are so smart. Our village is honored. Other villages don't even have a scholar!"
"That's good. We are neighbors now. I can find a wife for my son."
Pei Changfeng patiently answered the villagers' questions one by one, and only let the villagers leave when the village chief saw that it was almost afternoon.
After the villagers left, the village chief looked at Pei Changfeng with satisfaction, "That's good. Your parents will be happy for you if they are still alive."
Pei Changfeng bowed to the village chief and said, "Thank you for taking care of me during this time."
"We are from the same village, so we don't talk about this." The village chief took out twenty taels of silver from his chest and handed it to him. "This is not a reward given to you by our villagers. I see other villages also give twenty taels to candidates. Our village cannot lose."
When a juren comes out of the village, the county will also give rewards to the village. Pei Changfeng knows that the money is the kindness of the village chief. If he does not accept it, it means that he does not accept this favor.
He took the silver and bowed to the village chief.
The news that Pei Village had a top scholar spread quickly. Widow Liu came crying and handed Su Chaochao to Su Wanwan. "That's great, my daughter. Tomorrow you and Changfeng will go to burn incense for your father and make him happy."
Su Wanwan glanced at Pei Changfeng and said, "Okay."
In the afternoon, a horse-drawn carriage from the county came to pick up Pei Changfeng to go to the restaurant for a banquet.
Those who came were all prominent figures in the county. Pei Changfeng was not good at drinking, and he also needed to take care of his legs, so he did not drink.
County Magistrate Chen sat next to Pei Changfeng and handed him a key before leaving. "This is a gift from the county. It's not big. If you want to live here, you can. If not, just leave it here."
"I can't accept this," Pei Changfeng pushed the key back. "I appreciate your kindness, but the yards in the county are not cheap. I won't accept it without merit. Please take it back."
He declined, and the county magistrate did not force him. After Pei Changfeng left, he sighed, burped, and remembered that he still had things to do, so he went to do his work.
Today was a busy day. When Pei Changfeng got off the car with his lunch box, Su Wanwan came out of the house to greet him, "Husband, you're back!"
Then came Hu Qi, Widow Liu, Su Chaochao, and Xiaoxiao.
This once deserted yard suddenly became lively and full of people.
It was clear that not long ago, Pei Changfeng was lying here like a dead man.
"Why aren't you sleeping so late?" After thanking the bailiff who sent him there, Pei Changfeng walked straight towards Su Wanwan, "Are you all waiting for me?"
Su Wanwan nodded, and Widow Liu smiled, "If not you, who else can I wait for?"
Su Chaochao, Hu Qi, and Xiao Xiao were drooling as they smelled the food in the food box. "What smells so good?"
Pei Changfeng handed the food box to Su Chaochao. Su Chaochao ran to the table and opened it. She saw a big pork elbow in braised sauce on the first layer!
Su Chaochao wiped her saliva and looked at the second layer. It was a whole beggar's chicken wrapped in lotus leaves!
When I looked at it for the third time, I saw that there were two plates of snacks, one was shortbread, and the other was milky white almond cake. I could tell at a glance that they were specially brought for Su Wanwan.
Su Wanwan took an almond cake and ate it, her eyes curved and she was in a very good mood.
Widow Liu is now the mother-in-law of a scholar. She is so glorious. She went to boil water for Pei Changfeng to take a bath, and said cheerfully: "Everyone envies me. With such a son-in-law, I can also enjoy the happiness."
Su Chaochao chewed on the chicken leg with oil dripping from her mouth and said, "Yes! I'll enjoy the happiness too!"
Hu Qi poked his head and said, "You are such a clever kid, why are you enjoying such a good life at such a young age?"
The courtyard was filled with laughter.
At the same time, Zhou Lingshan was sitting in the room with a decadent look on his face, and next to him was Zhou Chanyue who also had a desperate look on his face.
Zhou Chanyue is getting married tomorrow, to a scholar in the county, but... she could have married Pei Changfeng and become the wife of a juren.
She burst into tears, feeling angry and anxious, not knowing how things had come to this point.
Zhou Lingshan looked at his broken palm, suddenly yelled, and then smashed everything in the room to pieces.
Why, why Pei Changfeng was so high-spirited, but he has fallen to this point!
There was a knock on the courtyard door. Zhou Chanyue wiped her tears and went to open the door, only to see a group of soldiers coming in. They arrested Zhou Lingshan without saying a word.
"Why are you arresting me?" A trace of panic flashed across Zhou Lingshan's eyes.
It was Xiong Yayi again. He shook out a confession form and said, "You two are really like family."
This was the signature that Pei Changfeng asked Zhou Lingshan to sign that night.
"No," Zhou Lingshan denied, "I didn't sign this, it's not this, listen to my explanation!"
"If you have anything to say, go to the prison and talk about it," the yamen runner Xiong glanced at Zhou Chanyue and ordered Zhou Lingshan to be taken away.
After Zhou Lingshan left, Zhou Chanyue suddenly fell to the ground with an expression that looked like he was half laughing and half crying.
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At night, when she lay down on the bed, Su Wanwan leaned in Pei Changfeng's arms and said, "Husband, why do I feel like all this is a dream?"
Pei Changfeng gently pinched her waist and asked, "Does it hurt?"
Su Wanwan twisted her waist and laughed, "Haha, it's itchy!"
Pei Changfeng turned over and pressed her down, kissed her lips, and the two of them began to kiss each other.
After an unknown amount of time spent kissing, Su Wanwan thought that everything was over, but Pei Changfeng began to kiss her face and ears. She felt a little strange and very hot, but her husband smelled so good that she didn't want to move, and the kiss was so comfortable.
She squinted her eyes and enjoyed it. When Pei Changfeng pinched her, her beautiful eyes suddenly widened, "Husband, husband..."
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