As we approached our house, we could see Chen Qingqing's newly built three-story house in the distance.
The dramatic changes in the eldest son's family had already driven Chen Zhancai mad with jealousy.
He thought that passing the imperial examination would make him a legend in Nanshan Village and a respected person, but he never expected that all his glory would be overshadowed by that brat Chen Qingqing.
At this moment, he felt nothing but hatred towards the eldest son's family. He hated them for being heartless and ungrateful, for not helping him after making money, and for not caring about his parents. They were simply inhuman beasts.
He even felt that the division of the family property was a trap set by the eldest son's family. That brat wasn't as clever as she is now. She must have been hiding her true abilities in order to break free from the constraints of the old house. She was really cunning.
A sinister smile flashed across Chen Zhancai's lips. What good is money or a large house if it's worthless in the face of power?
He will definitely work hard in the provincial examination this autumn and strive to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination).
By then, he could become a low-ranking official like a county magistrate, and killing these powerless peasants would be a piece of cake...
Hearing the villagers' flattering words behind him, Chen Zhancai felt elated. He felt it was necessary to let those short-sighted people from the eldest branch of the family who didn't know how to protect him know, so that they would regret their past actions.
If they had obediently let Chen Qingqing marry Butcher Li back then, and now that he has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, wouldn't they have benefited from it?
Even if they are green with envy right now, I can never forgive them.
Liu Fengjiao's haggard face was filled with undisguised joy. To let the main branch of the family know that she was the wife of a scholar, she started shouting loudly even before she reached the gate.
"Father, Father, come out quickly! Zhancai has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar."
At this moment, Old Man Chen was sitting in the house, smoking his pipe with a worried expression, anxious about the future.
After paying taxes last autumn, there was very little grain left, and the food we ate after the New Year got worse day by day.
Every day at mealtimes, he would smell the aroma of food wafting from the neighbor's yard, which made him incredibly hungry.
Now he has to go up the mountain to collect firewood almost every day, and with the daily diet of bran, he feels weak all over and dizzy when he walks.
I miss the days when I didn't kick the eldest son out. He used to be a capable man who would do odd jobs in town every now and then. Although he didn't earn much, he could still treat himself to a meal of white flour buns from time to time.
Now he's like an old donkey on a millstone, doing nothing but work all day long.
Just as he was lamenting his bad luck, he suddenly heard someone shout, "Zhancai has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar!"
He leaped from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) to the ground and rushed to the front door.
Seeing Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zhancai and the others walk in, his cloudy old eyes lit up, and he said in a trembling voice, "Third son's wife, what did you just say?"
"Father, Zhancai has passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)." Liu Fengjiao's face was beaming with joy.
As Sun was carrying a basin of water out of the house, she heard Liu Fengjiao's words, her hand trembled, and the wooden basin fell to the ground with a "clatter," splashing water all over the floor.
Her face first showed disbelief, then ecstatic joy. "Really? Zhan Cai really passed the imperial examination?"
Sun was so excited that her voice changed, "Zhanliang, come out quickly! Zhancai has passed the exam! He's become a Xiucai!"
Overjoyed, she wept. Over the years, she had exhausted all her resources to support Chen Zhancai's education. Now that her wish had come true, how could she not be ecstatic?
She sold the family's best four mu of land, and she's still worried about this year's harvest. She's been trying to discuss dividing the family property with Chen Zhanliang these past few days, but he just won't agree.
Now things are looking up. After all the hardships, Chen Zhancai has finally passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations). This year's taxes will be waived, and his eldest son's corvée labor will also be exempted.
Hearing the shouts, Chen Zhanliang rushed out of the house and grabbed Chen Zhancai's arm with trembling hands.
"Zhancai, you really passed the exam?"
Chen Zhancai proudly raised his head, "Second brother, it's true, I didn't let you down!"
Chen Zhanliang's eyes welled up with tears. "Good, good! I knew my brother was going to amount to something. All these years of longing have finally come true!"
"Yes, our Chen family has finally produced a scholar! Let's see who dares to look down on us now!"
Old Chen was so moved that tears streamed down his face. Without saying a word, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Thank God! My son has finally passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. Our Chen family has finally made something of itself and brought honor to our ancestors!"
Seeing this, Old Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Alright, get up quickly. Can't you see there are people outside the courtyard? Crying and wailing like that, don't you feel ashamed? You are a proper scholar's father now, watch your words and actions. Don't be like before, with that thick Northeastern accent the moment you open your mouth."
"Old woman, you're right. I was too hasty."
Old Chen quickly stood up, wiped away his tears, and grinned.
“From now on, I’ll be the scholar’s father, and you’ll be the scholar’s mother. Our family will be a scholar’s family. From now on, we’ll be very important people in the village. We can no longer use terms like ‘you,’ ‘me,’ ‘what’ or ‘what’. We have to use ‘you,’ ‘I,’ ‘what’ or ‘what’.
Grandma Chen glared at him and said, "Look at you, so smug. There's no need for that. If you overdo it and then don't know how to talk properly, it'll be troublesome."
"Yes, yes, I was just saying that. It's true that being too particular about words is awkward."
As soon as he finished speaking, the group burst into laughter.
Back inside, Old Man Chen hurriedly instructed Sun, "Second son's wife, Zhancai passing the imperial examination is a great joy. Go and call Dabao back quickly so our family can celebrate together."
"Okay, I'll go right away." All of Sun's worries vanished, and she turned and left the house.
Old Chen rubbed his hands together with joy and craned his neck to look outside. "Old woman, look, it seems like everyone in our village has come. We have such a happy occasion in our family, we have to show our support. If people find fault with us, it won't sound good if word gets out."
"Oh dear, look at my memory, how could I forget this? Go quickly and give them more reward money."
These words stunned Old Man Chen. "Old woman, you're overjoyed. I'm penniless. You want me to go and scatter dirt for others?"
Grandma Chen then realized what was going on and quickly gave an awkward smile, "We're a little short on cash lately, so let's forget about the reward!"
Chen Zhancai quickly chimed in, "Mother, what you're saying isn't right. Our family is different now than before. I'm a scholar now, and my reputation is more important than my life. Besides, life is short, and we have to go through the formalities we need to go through, and we can't skimp on the money we need to spend."
Old Mrs. Chen looked worried. "Zhancai, I understand what you're saying, but you should also know that our family is now penniless, even if the God of Wealth turns his back on us. I'm willing but powerless to help!"
"After years of hard study, you finally passed the imperial examination and became scholars, but you can't even afford the reward money. People will laugh their heads off if they hear this. It's a disgrace." Chen Zhancai said with a dark face.
......
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
