Hearing what Old Mrs. Chen said, Chen Qingqing found it amusing.
Chen Zhancai was just a poor scholar who passed the imperial examination; what's so great about him?
He's just someone who's read a few more books and can write a few words, yet people actually treat him like someone important and act so arrogantly.
If he ever passed the imperial examination, he'd be so proud of himself!
Not wanting to waste any more time, Chen Qingqing said to Lin Shi, who was standing to the side, "Mother, Xiaoyu and I are going back first."
"Qing'er, wait a minute. There's still a lot of work to do at home. I'm not going to listen to their bickering. I'm already exhausted." Madam Lin's face was also full of annoyance.
Chen Han also stood up. "Mother, I haven't finished the homework the teacher assigned. I'll go back with you too."
Seeing the three about to leave, the village head's wife quickly got up and stopped them.
"Qingya, don't leave yet. We all live in the same village and we'll run into each other all the time. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to leave now. Please give Chen Zhancai some face."
After so many years, he finally passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, which brought honor to our village and is a good thing.
Think about it, if he succeeds in his studies and becomes an official in the future, and you two have made enemies of him now, who knows if he will make things difficult for you in the future.
"Just listen to me, sit a little longer and join in the fun."
“Auntie, I am upright and honest, and I have no fear of those who have gained power.”
"Auntie knows you're not afraid, but if we go back now we'll have to cook again. Just bear with it, make do with whatever you can, and keep Auntie company, okay?"
"Alright then, I'll do as you say." Chen Qingqing sighed helplessly.
Madam Lin also felt that what the village head's wife said made sense and that it was indeed inappropriate to leave at this time, so she nodded and sat down again.
Upon hearing what Old Lady Chen said, the villagers immediately erupted in discontent, each beginning to complain.
"Auntie, everyone in the village knows your son passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. Let's stop with the boring stuff and start eating!"
"Yes, we didn't eat breakfast. We're just waiting to have a big meal at the scholar's house. If the feast doesn't start soon, I'll be starving."
"Who says otherwise? It's already noon, and my stomach is already growling. Hurry up and bring out the elaborate feast you've prepared so we can have a good meal."
......
Old Mrs. Chen raised her hand slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet. "Everyone, please don't rush. We have to go through the formalities. You can eat as much as you want in a bit. Now, let's invite my son, the scholar, to say a few words."
Chen Zhancai arrogantly raised his chin, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, before clearing his throat and speaking.
"My fellow neighbors, I, Chen, have studied diligently for ten years—no, no, more than thirty years—and finally obtained the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)."
The county magistrate originally intended to personally attend today's celebratory banquet to offer his congratulations, but knowing full well how busy he is, I dared not trouble him and made all sorts of excuses, which is why he did not come to offer his congratulations..."
Just as she finished speaking, Old Mrs. Chen couldn't help but interrupt, "Zhancai, what's going on? The county magistrate is even coming to our house to congratulate you? Such a prestigious event is something we can only dream of, how can you turn it down!"
"Mother, don't interrupt!" Chen Zhancai glared at her fiercely and said in a low voice, "I'm just talking nonsense to glorify myself. What are you doing here? Go away."
"So that's what happened. I thought it was true!" Old Mrs. Chen shut her mouth in embarrassment and quickly stepped aside.
Chen Zhancai cleared his throat again and then spoke.
"I, Chen, owe my success today to the blessings of my ancestors, the support of my parents, and my own persistent day and night studies."
Back then, I studied late into the night, getting up before dawn every day to read. You could say it was like hanging my head from the rafters and pricking my thigh with an awl – truly a life of rigorous study.
In the summer, when mosquitoes are rampant, I soak my legs in a bucket of water to keep myself focused.
In the dead of winter, when my hands and feet were numb with cold, I would get up and walk around to warm them up a bit before burying myself back in my books.
In those years, my family was poor and we couldn't afford candles, so I would read the Four Books and Five Classics by moonlight.
On nights when the moon is hidden, I silently recite what I have learned in the past, reviewing what I have learned to gain new insights, striving to achieve a thorough understanding...
Day after day, year after year, I have never slackened in the slightest...
My classmates laughed at me for being too foolish, only knowing how to study by rote. Little did they know that nothing in this world is difficult if you put your mind to it.
Finally, as the saying goes, "Heaven rewards those who persevere," and I finally distinguished myself in the imperial examinations, earning fame and success...
Chen Zhancai became more and more excited as he spoke, and the more excited he became, the more he talked on and on, spitting as he spoke, completely oblivious to his surroundings, and he simply couldn't stop.
Half an incense stick's time had passed, and he was still talking incessantly, showing no sign of stopping.
Meanwhile, the villagers sitting at the table were already starving.
A little boy couldn't help but tug at his mother's clothes, "Mom, I'm so hungry, when will the scholar finish speaking?"
"Don't worry, child, just hang in there a little longer, you should be done soon," the mother comforted him softly.
The eldest son of the dragon couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and shouted, "Scholar, you've been talking for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. That's enough, let's start eating!"
This shout, which had already stirred up discontent among the villagers, drew their agreement.
"Yeah, that's enough. We're all exhausted from listening to you. You should take a break too!"
"That's right! Your words, you saint, are longer than the hemp thread my wife uses to sew shoe soles. They give us a headache. Why don't you set up the banquet first, and we can eat while you talk? Is that alright?"
"That's right, if this keeps going on and on, we're leaving!"
Hearing the villagers' comments, Old Mrs. Chen also felt that her son was being too slow, so she quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, saying, "Don't worry, everyone, it'll be done soon, it'll be done soon."
As she spoke, she looked at Chen Zhancai and said, "Son, that's enough. If we keep talking, it'll be time for dinner."
“Yes, husband, the villagers are all hungry. Let’s start the feast first!” Liu Fengjiao also stepped forward to persuade.
Chen Zhancai was still somewhat reluctant to stop, but he realized that he had indeed talked for too long, so he had to nod and say, "Okay, let's stop here for now."
"Then let's begin the feast immediately." Old Mrs. Chen breathed a sigh of relief, turned to leave, but was called back by Chen Zhancai.
"Mother, wait a moment."
"What's wrong, son? What happened again?"
"Have you forgotten? Didn't I say I would announce a surprise to everyone at the banquet?"
"Oh dear~~ How could I forget that?" Old Mrs. Chen grinned. "Son, what surprise is it? Tell me quickly, so your mother can be happy."
Liu Fengjiao was also full of anticipation, believing that this surprise must be related to her.
"My lord, what surprise is it? Don't keep it a secret from me."
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."
......
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