After a few casual words, Wu Baoan got to the point, "Zhanshan, as you probably already know, Chen Zhancai has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. His family is preparing a grand banquet in three days and would like to invite..."
"It's like a dung beetle crawling into a stalk, not knowing its own weight or capacity." Before Wu Baoan could finish speaking, Chen Zhanshan interrupted, "The family is so poor, yet they still want to hold a big celebration. They are really overestimating themselves."
Lin glared at him reproachfully, "That's their business, why are you meddling in it?"
"You're right. I don't care about this mess. Let them do whatever they want. Sooner or later, they'll be the ones who suffer."
Although Chen Zhanshan said this, he was furious inside.
He was still very happy for Chen Zhanneng, who passed the imperial examination at the county level. After all, the Chen family's efforts for him over the years had not been in vain.
As long as he studies diligently and passes the imperial examination, he will achieve great success.
Surprisingly, even before achieving academic success, he had already become arrogant and wanted to hold a lavish banquet.
It's obvious he's just showing off and wants to be superior to everyone else in the village.
As the saying goes, arrogance brings no good, and a mad dog is nothing but a pile of shit. I guess he'll stay like this for the rest of his life and never amount to anything.
Chen Qingqing couldn't help but laugh out loud and said, "Dad, Mom, we should live our own lives. We should just focus on doing our own thing. It's none of our business to worry about other people's affairs, and it's not worth getting upset about."
“Qingya, you’re right. They want to show off and make money off the opportunity. We won’t give them that chance.” Chen Zhanshan nodded heavily.
Lin agreed wholeheartedly, "Yes, let whoever wants to go, we definitely won't go. It would be so embarrassing if no one showed up."
Wu Baoan shook his head and smiled, "You're all wrong. The whole village has already agreed to attend the banquet."
"No way, Chen Zhancai doesn't usually interact with the villagers. He always acts arrogantly when he sees them. Who would support him?" Chen Zhanshan said with an incredulous expression.
Wu Baoan cleared his throat and said with a smile, "Zhanshan, I came here specifically to inform you to attend the banquet. It's only right and proper that you go and congratulate him. Even if Chen Zhancai is arrogant, he has now passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. It's different from before. The villagers all know to give him face. You can't lose face, can you?"
"Let whoever wants to talk, I'm not going to bother with this bastard." Chen Zhanshan refused without hesitation; he genuinely didn't want to see Chen Zhancai's arrogant and ugly face.
Lin shook her head and smiled, saying tactfully, "Village head, we really don't have time. The sugar mill can't be left unattended, so we won't be participating."
Seeing her parents' strong sense of justice and hatred for evil, Chen Qingqing silently gave them a thumbs up.
But the whole village went. If they didn't go, wouldn't they become the subject of gossip?
As the saying goes, it's better to offend a gentleman than a petty person. Going through the motions to satisfy Chen Zhancai's vanity isn't that difficult.
Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse Wu Baoan's personal invitation.
Thinking of this, Chen Qingqing smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, since everyone in the village is going, it would be strange if we didn't go. Let's go!"
"This..." Chen Zhanshan frowned, looking at Lin Shi with a troubled expression, "Xiumei, what do you mean?"
“Honey, our family was kicked out by the old family. Now that Chen Zhancai has passed the imperial examination and asked the village head to invite us over, I think they are just trying to show off to us. I don’t care whether you go or not, but I definitely won’t go.”
Wu Baoan sighed softly, "To be honest, I also oppose the Zhan family's extravagant celebration this time, but it is a great joy that our village can produce a scholar."
They want to host a banquet for the villagers, and as the village head, it's my responsibility to help organize it. Since everyone in the village has agreed to attend, it wouldn't be right to leave out your family. After all, we see each other all the time. Could you please, for my sake, make an exception for us this once?
Lin recalled the past and her eyes immediately reddened. "Village head, it's not that I don't want to give you face, it's just that Chen Zhancai is too arrogant. They just want to establish their authority in front of my family and show off. I'm not going because I don't want to give them that opportunity."
Wu Baoan looked troubled, but still forced himself to persuade him, "That's how it is, but you should think about it carefully. Although being a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination) is not an official position, it is still considered to have achieved some degree of fame. Whether he's showing off or being arrogant, he has indeed gained local renown. I think you should leave now."
Chen Qingqing also chimed in, "Mom, let's just listen to Uncle Village Head. Let's just go through the motions. If he wants to show off, let him show off!"
"But, Qing girl..."
Chen Zhanshan was about to object when Chen Qingqing interrupted him, saying, "Dad, we're all from the same village, let's go!"
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Chen Zhanshan nodded in agreement.
Seeing that the matter had been settled, Wu Baoan got up to say goodbye, "Alright, it's settled then, I'll head back now."
After seeing Wu Baoan off, Madam Lin frowned, somewhat puzzled. "Qing'er," she said, "those people in the next yard are all cunning and malicious. We should keep our distance and not get involved in their troubles."
“Yes, Qingya, your mother is right. Now that Chen Zhancai has gone from dung beetle to cicada, he has risen to the top in one step. He will definitely be extremely arrogant, and it will be disgusting to look at. We should not go.” Chen Zhanshan also spoke his mind.
Chen Qingqing shook her head and smiled, "Father, Mother, what you said is true, but even if we don't want to go, we have to give the village head some face. If we really refuse, it will seem like we are too petty."
Chen Zhanshan thought about it and agreed, so he stopped objecting.
The day of the banquet arrived in the blink of an eye. The Chen family courtyard was brightly decorated and bustling with activity.
Chen Zhancai was already dressed in a new outfit, wearing a round-necked jade-colored robe and a square headscarf, looking every bit the refined scholar.
He couldn't help but ask Liu Fengjiao, who was standing beside him, "Wife, what do you think of my outfit?"
“My husband is very handsome, and he looks even more elegant in this outfit, but…” Liu Fengjiao said, resting her chin on her hand, frowning as she looked him up and down, muttering, “But it seems like something is missing.”
"What's missing?" Chen Zhancai was taken aback. He spun around a few times and then slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory! I also felt something was missing, but I just couldn't remember. Luckily, my wife reminded me, or I would have made a fool of myself."
After saying that, he hurriedly rummaged through his chest and cabinets and pulled out a folding fan, then opened it with a 'snap'. "Wife, take another look. Doesn't she look more elegant and graceful now?"
"Yes, yes, yes, it just needs a fan. It would look much more refined with one." Liu Fengjiao nodded repeatedly...
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