After offering several toasts, Chen Zhancai became somewhat tipsy and his speech began to slur.
He felt it was time to show his status. If he didn't get revenge for the humiliation he had suffered before, he feared he wouldn't be able to keep these peasants in check in the future.
He swayed as he approached the dragon prince who had once mocked him, deliberately raising his voice.
"I'm telling you, Brother Dalongzi, I remember you once said in front of a lot of people that I was a dog, that I would never pass the imperial examinations in my entire life, let alone become a scholar."
"And now, look at me! I, Chen Zhancai—no, I'm not a blockhead! I passed the imperial examination and became a Xiucai! I'm so proud of myself, I've brought glory to my ancestors!"
Da Longzi looked down on him a hundred times, but he still forced a smile and picked up his wine glass to give a perfunctory reply.
"Zhancai, you are now a respected scholar, and the Chen family is a prominent family. I am just a peasant. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
Chen Zhancai immediately became elated; the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examinations) was indeed impressive. He burst into wild laughter.
"Brother, don't worry. I, Chen Zhancai, am not a petty or narrow-minded person. You just want me to take care of you, what's that? In the future, when I rise to prominence, I will not be disappointed in any of you here. As long as you need anything, come to me and I promise I will never refuse. Come on, drink this cup."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
Grandma Chen was so happy she could hardly speak. She waved to everyone, "Today is a double celebration for my family! Everyone, eat and drink to your heart's content, don't be shy!"
"Yes, don't be shy. If you don't like mixed grain rice, you can go over there and get some sesame cakes," Old Chen added.
Old Mrs. Chen pinched his butt hard and muttered, "You silly old man, isn't it better to keep the sesame cakes for ourselves?"
Old Chen winced in pain, realizing he had said the wrong thing. He quickly called back the person who had gotten up to get the sesame cakes, "Don't go, it seems they're all gone. You should eat the mixed grain rice instead!"
"Yes, there aren't many people, so let's just eat rice!" After saying that, Old Mrs. Chen glanced at Chen Qingqing and the others at the next table, snorted coldly, and gave Chen Zhancai a wink.
Although Chen Zhancai was a little drunk, he immediately understood what Old Madam Chen meant and swayed as he walked toward the next table.
At this moment, Chen Qingqing looked at the 28 seats in front of her, feeling both amused and exasperated.
As expected of Old Lady Chen, she actually calls this kind of low-class banquet a "second-class banquet."
What a stingy son wearing a white hat! So stingy!
Wu Baoan shook his head and smiled bitterly. The Chen family was really something else. They promised a grand celebration, but in the end, it turned out to be such a meager banquet. Wasn't this just fooling people?
None of the people present showed any interest in eating.
Seeing this, Chen Zhancai quickly asked with a smile, "Oh dear, what's going on? Why aren't you eating?"
Chen Qingqing was listening to Chen Han talk about things at the academy, and didn't even lift her eyelids.
The others chatted amongst themselves, ignoring his comment, which made Chen Zhancai feel a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, at this moment, Wu Baoan raised his glass and said, "Zhancai, congratulations on passing the imperial examination. Come on, let's have a drink."
"Alright, thank you, village head. But I must offer you this toast."
Chen Zhancai walked unsteadily to Wu Baoan, raised his hand and patted him lightly on the shoulder twice.
"Security guard, I must toast you first. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to support me. Let's drink until we drop today."
"Alright, Zhancai." Wu Baoan removed Zhancai's hand from his shoulder. "You've had too much to drink, you shouldn't drink anymore."
"Who said I'm drunk? I'm perfectly clear-headed. What, are you not giving face to a poor, poor scholar like me?"
If that's the case, then you, you're not doing a proper job as the village head. Although being a scholar isn't an official position, it comes with quite a few privileges.
"While everyone's here, let me tell you about the special privileges that scholars have."
Old Mrs. Chen felt that since Chen Zhancai had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, their Chen family's social standing had changed. It was necessary to let Chen Qingqing and these peasants who toiled in the fields know that no matter how rich they were, they were nothing in front of a scholar.
She chimed in with a smile, "Yes, let my son explain to you what privileges a scholar actually has."
Chen Zhancai cleared his throat and deliberately raised his voice, drawing everyone's attention.
"What privileges do scholars have? First of all, it's their clothing. Look at my outfit from head to toe."
As he spoke, he ran his hand over his body from head to toe.
"This on your head is called a Confucian cap or a Confucian hat, and this on your body is called a 'lanshan' (a type of robe). It's the standard attire for a pure, pure scholar. No, no, but not everyone can wear it. You have to be a scholar like me to wear it. That's the first special privilege."
Secondly, there was exemption from corvée labor and taxation; I don't need to elaborate on these, as I'm sure everyone understands.
Another example is that a scholar could keep maids. You all know what a maid is—a pretty young female servant who serves others.
This maidservant has a special status; you probably wouldn't even know it if I didn't tell you. A maidservant is actually considered a concubine.
I won't go into details about what concubines are used for; I'm sure you all know the answer.
Furthermore, the meeting between a scholar and an official was a very serious matter. Whether it was a village head, a county magistrate, or any other official, the common people had to kneel and kowtow before them.
But when I see them, I don't need to bow. If I'm in a good mood, I just nod, and that's it.
If I'm in a bad mood, I won't even look at them, and they still can't say anything. That's how powerful a scholar's status is..."
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