Chapter 43

And Lin Yanzhao, Hou Zhongshu, and the others had no intention of staying here any longer. The three of them ran towards the village school with all their might.

Upon entering the village, they had not yet reached the school gate, but already saw lanterns hung and a gathering of villagers.

Seeing Lin Yanzhao and the others, someone shouted from a distance, "The learned scholar's favorite disciples have returned."

Hearing this, the three were very pleased. The villagers immediately made way for them.

Zhang Haoyuan and the others walked into the gate with a look of pride. In front of the usual lecture hall, the announcement board had already been hung up, which read, 'Congratulations to the respected gentleman Lin Chengyi, who has been selected as the top scholar in the first year of the Wanli era in Min County by the Fujian educational inspector Hu.'

"Really, it's true!" Zhang Haoyuan laughed heartily.

Hou Zhongshu also said, "That's great, my teacher is the top scholar in the preliminary examination!"

Lin Yanzhao, infected by the festive atmosphere, felt a few tears welling up in his eyes.

"Where is the teacher?" Zhang Haoyuan couldn't help but ask.

In the hall, Zhang Zongjia and Lin Chengyi's mother were talking to the announcement bearers and the old master. Seeing her son, she immediately stood up and laughed, saying to Zhang Haoyuan, "Why are you so late, and you're covered in mud?"

Zhang Haoyuan replied, "We saw someone fall into the water, so we all went to save them, and we managed to rescue them." Zhang Haoyuan lightly glossed over the fact that they had gone to the river to catch clams.

Zhang Zongjia was delighted and said, "Well done."

The old master also said to Zhang Zongjia, "Lin's disciples are truly enthusiastic."

The announcement bearer asked, "Yes, we've been talking for so long, but where is Mr. Lin? We would like to congratulate him in person."

Zhang Zongjia smiled and said, "Mr. Lin doesn't live here now, but he has sent a message to me. After attending the flower banquet hosted by the educational inspector, he will return to the village for a few days. Don't worry, your reward will not be lacking." The announcement bearer was slightly disappointed not to see Lin Chengyi, but he was relieved to know he would receive a reward.

As they were talking, Zhang Songming ran over with a large red invitation, saying, "The scholar Xie from the village has come to congratulate the teacher."

Zhang Zongjia and Zhang Xiang both stood up. Lin Chengyi's mother, hearing that a scholar had come, also struggled to her feet despite her frailty. The announcement bearer did not dare to remain seated.

Zhang Zongjia smiled and said, "The main person is not here yet."

"That's fine, it's a good opportunity to get closer," Zhang Xiang said with a faint smile, but his face was also radiant.

Soon, a sedan chair arrived at the school gate. The curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged man wearing a black cap and a round-necked robe stepped out.

This middle-aged man was very well-off, with a ruddy and radiant complexion, exuding an air of nobility. Lin Yanzhao knew the difference between a poor scholar and a wealthy scholar. At the level of a scholar, one was completely free from poverty. Although Lin Chengyi had only become a scholar, it was not usual for Xie to visit in person, but since Lin Chengyi was the top scholar personally selected by the educational inspector, he was far above an ordinary scholar.

The villagers all stepped aside, bowing and saying, "Mr. Xie!"

In response to the villagers' enthusiasm, Xie merely nodded. Zhang Xiang and Zhang Zongjia went out to greet him. Zhang Xiang and Zhang Zongjia bowed, and Xie returned the bow to Zhang Xiang, while Zhang Zongjia gave a half-bow.

Zhang Xiang said, "It is a great honor for Mr. Xie to visit the village school. Unfortunately, the teacher is not here, only the old lady is in the hall!"

Xie smiled and said, "No problem, it's good to meet the old lady."

Xie then went forward to pay his respects to the old lady, who hurriedly stepped aside, saying she was not worthy.

Xie said to Zhang Xiang, "Since Mr. Lin is not here, I will come back another day to visit him."

Zhang Xiang and Zhang Zongjia said, "We dare not, Mr. Lin will visit you in person another day."

Xie smiled and said, "That's fine. Since Mr. Lin has just entered the school, he must be short of money. As fellow villagers, I will present him with twenty taels of silver as a token of my respect."

As he spoke, a servant presented a silver ingot.

Twenty taels of silver! The villagers all drew in a sharp breath.

Zhang Xiang and Zhang Zongjia smiled and accepted the silver on behalf of Lin Chengyi. The villagers looked at the silver with envy, wishing it were theirs.

The news of Lin Chengyi becoming a scholar spread throughout Hongtang village. The village school teacher becoming the top scholar was enough to keep the village women talking for three days and three nights.

Stimulated by the twenty taels of silver, the students of the village school suffered. When they returned home, their families lectured them on the importance of studying, making their ears grow calluses.

After a few days, Lin Chengyi finally returned to Hongtang village. The village immediately became lively.

Neighboring villagers, whether they knew Lin Chengyi or not, all came.

In front of the Hongtang village school, a long line formed, with everyone busy giving gifts. Families with children studying at the school presented white money and silver coins, while those without children in the school brought eggs, white wine, rice, flour, and dried goods.

For Hongtang village, it had been a long time since a scholar had emerged. In the eyes of the villagers, scholars were highly respected. In case of disputes, they had to deal with the government through the scholars. For ordinary families, scholars were also invited to help write couplets and memorial accounts for weddings, funerals, and festivals.

These were all matters that required the help of scholars. Building a good relationship with them now would be useful in the future. The villagers were shrewd and came early to establish connections. After becoming a scholar, Lin Chengyi was in high spirits, less reserved and more open, and he chatted and laughed with the villagers who came to congratulate him.

Lin Chengyi decided to hold a banquet to thank the villagers for their gifts.

Thus, a village banquet was set up in the ancestral hall, with tents and stoves. The village invited the most famous chefs from the surrounding areas.

This village banquet was not as elaborate as the one when the educational inspector Hu visited, but the villagers valued simplicity and abundance. The dishes were served one after another, and the bowls were large and the portions generous, ensuring everyone was well-fed. According to local customs, there must be leftovers after the meal, which the villagers would take home, known as "taking the wine pack."

The wine pack was shared with family members, bringing joy to the children at home. This showed the host's hospitality, and if there were no leftovers, others would say the host was stingy.

Lin Yanzhao and his disciples were also invited to the table.

Dishes like boiled shrimp, steamed crabs, and old wine stewed clams were served one after another.

The banquet was a continuous flow of dishes, and the children, who were usually considerate of their classmates, became less restrained when Lin Chengyi glanced at them from the main table.

However, the children were not so formal, and after a while, they became more relaxed. Hou Zhongshu directly broke open a crab leg and started gnawing on it, while Lin Yanzhao slowly peeled a shrimp, removed the vein, dipped it in vinegar, and ate it.

These were pristine, pollution-free river shrimp, which were not fishy but very sweet. The large clams, stewed with old wine, were even more delicious. The children were all enjoying themselves.

Lin Chengyi looked at them but said nothing.

At the main table, Zhang Xiang smiled and said to Lin Chengyi, "After becoming a scholar, it would be inconvenient and unseemly for you to continue living in the village school with your mother. I have taken the liberty of preparing a two-story residence for you at the eastern end of the village, and I have also found a servant to take care of you and your mother. You can focus on your studies for the provincial examination in two years and occasionally come to the school to guide the children. What do you think?"

Lin Yanzhao nodded, thinking this was excellent. With Lin Chengyi, the top scholar, as his mentor, his chances of passing the county and provincial examinations would be much higher.

However, Lin Chengyi stood up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Zhang, but the clan has already made arrangements. My mother and I plan to move back to our old home soon."

Everyone looked disappointed.

Zhang Xiang laughed and asked, "I didn't know you had this arrangement. We have been together for so long, but I didn't know where your hometown is. May I ask where it is?"

"My hometown is in Lianpu Village, Kaihua, Dongxiang, Chongshan."

"Chongshan Dongxiang, isn't that inside the city gate?" someone said, but noticed the surprised looks of others.

Hearing this, those who understood the implications put down their chopsticks.

Lin Yanzhao also put down his chopsticks. Although he did not know the situation, he could see the reactions of others. Hou Zhongshu, however, was still unaware and was gnawing on a crab leg.

Zhang Xiang, with a surprised look, asked, "Lianpu? So you are a descendant of the Lianpu Lin clan?"

Seeing the villagers' reactions, Lin Chengyi quickly said, "Please don't misunderstand. I am just a branch of the Donglin clan, and there are over a thousand descendants like me. I am insignificant. However, after becoming a scholar, the clan elders heard the news and allocated twenty acres of clan land to me, and arranged for me to move back to the old home. They also arranged a marriage for me, so I am sorry to disappoint Mr. Zhang."

"No problem! No problem!" Zhang Zongjia and the village elders shook their heads. The elder said, "I am ashamed that I did not know you were from the Lianpu Lin clan. It is a great honor for our village to have a descendant of a noble family teaching here."

"I am ashamed, I am ashamed."

Hou Zhongshu, hearing this, asked Lin Yanzhao, "What is the Lianpu Lin clan? Why are Zhang Haoyuan's father and the others so respectful?"