Guangshu Village, Chen Family.
The enthusiastic smile on Luo’s face faded away little by little, disappearing layer by layer like a scattering of dust.
"Is this all the rooms your family has?"
"If my daughter Jing becos your son Dalang’s wife in the future, will she still have to squeeze into the sa courtyard with her little brother-in-law?
eting each other all the ti, what does that make it?"
"Your little daughter even has a room to herself. That little girl will eventually marry off, is it worth giving her a separate room? You might as well free it up for her nephew to live in later."
"I saw that cabinet in her room is nice, and the table is still decent. Moving it to her brother’s room would be just fine."
"Oh, and I heard your family is planning to send Dalang to dig a canal?
That won’t do. If he ruins his health while digging the canal, who will his wife and children rely on in the future?"
Luo’s face turned pale, her lips trembling. Just as she was about to say "Dalang won’t dig the canal", the other person suddenly blurted out another piece.
"If you really want to dig the canal, let give you so advice, old sister, don’t waste any more money on Erlang’s education.
You should instead use it for Dalang’s betrothal gift. We’re not asking for much, just six taels of silver, and we’ll give one tael as dowry in return.
Not to be a busybody, old sister, but scholars are sothing families like ours can’t afford to support.
In the ten miles or eight villages around, even if you cross a few more mountains, old sister, just see, who else has truly raised a scholar from farming stock?
That Scholar He from Guangshu Village, he has an uncle who’s the Village Chief.
Still, it took him until he was over thirty to beco a scholar.
Old sister, don’t hope your Erlang will pass next year. Hey, if it can happen, it will happen in one try.
Failing every attempt ans limited talent... Ouch! Don’t hit..."
Luo was tongue-tied, unable to speak, but she picked up a broom beside her, unable to hold back any longer, she swung it hard at Madam Qiu.
Madam Qiu imdiately shielded her face with her hands, shouting while running: "Hey hey hey, what are you doing?
Didn’t I just say a few honest words and you’re ready to fight, where’s your sense?
Old sister, I have a good idea.
Our village has a landlord with only one little daughter, it’s not that she’s not betrothed, they just can’t bear to let her go!
It’s perfect since your Erlang struggles with his studies, why not have him marry into that Guo landlord’s family?
This way your family wouldn’t have to bear such a burden... Ouch! Luo, are you crazy?"
Smack!
Luo finally caught up with Madam Qiu, giving her a thorough beating.
The matchmaker who was watching dumbfounded finally reacted and hurriedly stepped forward to break it up.
The courtyard was filled with cries, shouts to break up the fight, with chickens and dogs running amok, in chaos.
The other woman who had accompanied for the matchmaking imdiately wanted to rush forward to help.
On the Chen family’s side, a little girl’s figure also rushed out of the house, shouting: "Mom, I’ll help you chase away these bad people!"
Luo, anxious and angry, shouted: "Go, go, go! Little girl, don’t interfere blindly."
...
The Chen family courtyard was in chaos, yet no one knew that outside Xiaowan Village, a group of oddly dressed people, whose presence clashed with the entire mountain village environnt, had arrived.
Leading the way was a carriage, outside of which sat not only the driver but also a middle-aged man dressed as a steward.
Though dressed as a steward, the middle-aged man wore silk clothes and a jade pendant, his deanor totally calm, more like a wealthy man of property than a steward.
Even more impressive was that two rows of a total of eight knife-wielding guards followed behind the carriage!
Such grandeur, truly intimidating.
Why was he said to be a steward?
As this man introduced himself, asking the villagers: "I am Cui Fu, a first-class steward of the Yunjiang Cui family, may I ask if this is Xiaowan Village of Qihe Village?"
When had the village’s people ever co into close contact with such grand people?
For a ti, they were all a little dazed, until a child hurriedly ran into the village to find the village’s well-respected elder, Elder Fang, to co forward and receive them.
The old man was hurriedly pulled out, not even having caught his breath, daring not be neglectful, he hurriedly said: "This is indeed Xiaowan Village of Qihe Village, but may I ask, what brings such a distinguished guest here?"
Steward Cui seed oblivious to Elder Fang’s unease, yet was courteous, with a smile, saying:
"I dare not claim to be a distinguished guest. I am here under the orders of my young master, to escort Chen Xu, Master Chen, to Prefecture City for the examination.
Master Chen has outstanding talent, famous throughout Yunjiang. My young master t him once and was greatly impressed.
Hearing that Master Chen lives in seclusion in the countryside, concerned about his travel difficulties, he specially sent with a carriage to co.
To escort Master Chen for a journey."
Cui Fu said this while also cupping his hands towards the villagers in salute.
At this ti, the sun was high, and most of the laborers were in the fields, only so elderly and won and children, or three to five idlers were gathered in the village’s open space chatting leisurely.
You have to admit, most of the laborers were often silent and reserved, while it was the idlers who could spread an ordinary rumor to the ends of the earth in no ti.
Yet, no matter how gossip could spread, the villagers could never have imagined such an unbelievable thing could happen.
What was ant by Master Chen being talented and famous throughout Yunjiang?
Was this the Chen Xu they knew?
No, no, when did they know soone called "Master Chen"?
The villagers almost suspected their ears were broken. Mind you, half an hour ago, they were discussing the Chen family.
They talked about the Chen family and Chen Xu, with well-inford villagers saying, "Let tell you, Chen Xu won’t pass the scholar exams.
You’d think it’s normal for common people to study hard and fail exams for years; actually, it’s not, he hasn’t even set foot in the exam hall!
Rumor has it it’s all bad luck that kept him out of the exam hall.
If it were just a lack of knowledge, we could study a few more years, hang in there and maybe get through.
But what if Heaven won’t allow it? Tut tut tut..."
Such taunting words lingered in their ears.
Who would have thought that this very Chen Xu was now being praised by the distinguished guests from Prefecture City as "famous throughout Yunjiang"!
Were they insane, or were these people across them insane?
The villagers were all left speechless, and a monkey-like idle man in the crowd blurted out, "Isn’t it just another Chen Xu with the sa na? How could it be our village’s Chen Xu!
What talent does our village’s Chen Xu have? He’s just a jinx..."
As these words were spoken, others were about to chi in.
However, Steward Cui stood as still as deep waters, with a mild smile unchanged on his face, and behind him, the eight guards suddenly drew their bright blades halfway out.
Swish!
The place fell into silence.
Steward Cui frowned, and the eight guards simultaneously sheathed their blades back.
"Such nonsense." Cui Fu cupped his hands towards the villagers, saying, "Master Chen is a true genius and refined scholar. These rough n couldn’t bear to hear anyone slandering Master Chen.
If there was any offense, I beg you not to take it to heart.
Later, I will certainly reprimand them."
No one dared to speak up; an awkward silence spread where every heart seed to drum with apprehension, chests like overgrown fields.
Finally, Elder Fang stood out once more.
Trembling, cautious, he said: "Yes, yes... but, Chen, Chen Xu is not at ho. He should be at the County School."
Cui Fu smiled and said, "No problem, if Master Chen is not at ho, we should visit and pay respects to Master Chen’s esteed parents, and bow to them."
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