Scholar Lin from the Lin family passed the examination.
This news excited the entire village.
Xiucai and Juren are completely different. Firstly, Juren has the qualifications to hold an official position, even though it may be a low-ranking one, it’s still an official position.
(TNote: In the county examination, those who have passed the test are enrolled into school are called Shengyuan or Xiucai. Only those who were qualified for the Xiucai could attend the formal Imperial Examination. Those whod passed the first level provincial examination were called Juren. The second level is called an academy examination, and the third level is called the palace examination, where those who are the top 3 would be given high positions by the Emperor.)
Secondly, the fields under the na of a Juren were exempt from taxes. Therefore, whenever soone in the clan beca a Juren, all the clan mbers’ fields were registered under their na to avoid taxes legally.
There’s a saying that goes like this, ‘It’s better to offend ten scholars than to offend one Juren.’
Because scholars only had a good reputation, while Juren could accomplish many things.
According to the regulations of Ye Country, a Juren could receive their own grain ration from the local governnt every year. This was a tangible benefit. It could be said that from a scholar to a Juren, it’s a direct ascent from a small dilapidated house to a brick house.
Ever since the news of Scholar Lin passing the Juren examination ca out, the door of the third family of the Lin house was nearly trampled down. People ca to build relationships, inquire about what books the Juren read, and even brought their own children to ask if they could beco disciples.
The last ti Mother Lin had experienced such a scene was when Lin Shiheng passed the Xiucai examination. At that ti, he was young, and everyone said her son was a prodigy. Such a young age and had already passed the scholar examination, he would have a great future. It caused a crowd of people to co to their house to observe and they received gifts for good luck.
At that ti, Mother Lin was at a loss and didn’t know what to do. But this ti, she had experience. She imdiately boiled hot water to entertain the guests who ca to the house. Li Lanlan also followed her, busy attending to them.
This ti, there were many more people coming to give gifts compared to when Lin Shiheng passed the scholar examination. And the gifts were even more valuable. Their son hadn’t co back yet, and Mother Lin didn’t know what to do. Father Lin, who was still lying in bed, said they couldn’t accept them.
Everyone knew that gifts were given for favors. What if Shiheng didn’t have that ability? Also, those who gave gifts without asking for favors, goodwill was worth more than favors.
Li Lanlan also thought that her father-in-law was right. If soone gives you a gift without any conditions, would you refuse if they co to ask for help next ti?
Mother Lin had always been indecisive. Seeing her husband and daughter-in-law both saying they couldn’t accept valuable gifts from strangers, she imdiately told those who ca to give gifts that her son wasn’t ho and her husband was bedridden. As an ignorant woman, she didn’t dare to accept these valuable things and so on.
The heads of those families who ca to give gifts also wanted to establish a good relationship. In the future, if they encountered any difficulties, they could seek help from the Lin family. Seeing that the Lin family refused, they didn’t expect such insight from an old woman in a rural household.
They secretly admired and left, while the villagers who ca to congratulate them were full of envy.
The fact that the Lin family didn’t accept so many valuable gifts indicated that they had truly beco prosperous.
Standing in her own yard, the eldest daughter-in-law stretched her neck to watch the commotion, her eyes turning red with envy.
So many good things!
Why is my mother-in-law so foolish!
She doesn't want them, but she could have given those things to us!
Who would reject gifts that are handed to them on a silver platter?
She wanted to shout a few words in front of Mother Lin, but she didn’t dare.
She was already scared when she found out that Lin Shiheng knew the scribe at the governnt office. Now that Lin Shiheng was on his way to becoming an official, she felt even more powerless.
But she was unwilling!
If we hadn't split the family, and her younger brother-in-law beca an official, wouldn't he take care of his older brother?!
Now, after the family split, they offended the mother-in-law and the third younger brother. Even the younger brother’s wife had a strained relationship with her. Her hopes of sharing in the benefits seed to be in vain.
They had initially thought that splitting the family would free them from those burdens. Their own family was full of strong laborers, and they could live a good life. But now, not only were their own lives getting worse, but the neighboring third family was flourishing. It was difficult not to feel upset.
The eldest daughter-in-law felt a deep sense of discomfort and regret. She wished she could go back to the ti when the family was splitting and cling to her mother-in-law’s thigh.
But now, it was too late to say anything.
She knew she had offended the third family greatly and didn’t dare to show her face. Afraid that Mother Lin would be angry with her, she clumsily found the eldest son, who was smoking at the back door.
“Husband, there's too many people in the third family, and they’re overwheld. You should go and help.”
The eldest son furrowed his brows, remaining silent.
Everyone in the village knew that he had abandoned his biological father and didn't support the elderly. Now that the third family had beco prosperous because of Lin Shiheng, if he went to help, what would he beco?
The eldest daughter-in-law could tell what Lin Da was thinking. She softened her tone, “Don’t overthink it. We need to consider our grandchildren’s future. Now that the third family has beco powerful, they should at least support their nephews and grand-nephews. Otherwise, people would criticize him, won’t they? You need to adjust your attitude. After all, you're her biological son. She will definitely forgive you.”
The eldest son took a deep drag from his pipe.
Yes, Mother has a soft temperant, and she would surely forgive . If my younger brother beca an official, people in positions of power were always concerned about their reputation. As long as I could win over Mother, even if my younger brother didn't want to take care of , he would have to.
After thinking it through, Lin Da stood up and headed towards the third household.
Mother Lin was happily listening to flattery while smiling widely. She had never been this happy before, but just then her unfilial son arrived.
Her face imdiately turned sour, “What are you doing here? Get out!”
“Mother."
The eldest son called out, “I see that you’re busy and thought I could help you.”
“No need!”
Mother Lin sneered, “You must have seen that Shiheng had achieved sothing and wanted to bask in his glory? You listen, when we divided the family, you said it yourself, you have no relations with the third family anymore. Even if Shiheng becos a high-ranking official now, it has nothing to do with you!”
Lin Da wanted to say sothing more, but Li Lanlan realized the situation wasn’t right and had already entered the house.
Inside the house, Father Lin was lying on the bed, surrounded by a group of elders chatting with him. Despite the pain from illness, he wore a relieved expression.
In his sixties, he should have been laid to rest long ago, but fate was stubborn. Not only did he survive severe injuries, but Shiheng also brought in a skilled doctor who, overti, helped him regain sensation in his legs.
The thought of being able to walk on the ground again, to work for his son, and perhaps even witness Shiheng's child being born, filled Father Lin with renewed vigor.
Now, with the elders praising him, his spirits soared even higher.
When Li Lanlan cautiously inford him about the incident of his eldest son, Lin Da, coming over, Father Lin, who had previously appeared listless, imdiately widened his eyes in anger.
“Tell him to get lost!! Tell him I said it! If he dares to co to the third household again, this old man will accuse him of being unfilial!”
Before, he could overlook the fact that both his sons wanted him dead out of fatherly love. But now, the situation was different. Shiheng had achieved success and needed a good reputation. Those two sons were raised by him. Without exaggeration, he knew every detail of their lives, even the tis they needed to go to the bathroom.
For the sake of money, they were willing to abandon their own father, let alone Shiheng, their own younger brother.
When Shiheng was younger, he never expected this child, despite his academic achievents, to support him and their mother in their old age. But when things went wrong, it was only this youngest child who stood by him and his wife without wavering.
Previously, during the difficult tis of the third family, Lin Da never set foot inside. Now that there were so many people in the yard, he was offering help. Wasn't it just to gain favor in front of the villagers, to show that he cared for his younger brother and was a good person?
Bah! I won’t let this hypocrite have his way!
The elders of the clan were all inside the house. They saw Father Lin, who had been smiling and had a healthy complexion just monts ago, turn pale with anger. Imdiately, one of the older ones stepped forward and said, “Don’t get upset. I’ll scold him on your behalf.”
When Father Lin was injured and Mother Lin grew old, it was the eldest son’s responsibility to take care of them. But instead, he directly passed on the responsibility to his youngest brother, who was unmarried at the ti. The villagers didn’t hesitate to gossip about him. However, everyone was facing difficulties themselves and had enough troubles of their own, they weren’t willing to ddle in other people’s affairs.
But things were different now. Lin Shiheng had passed the imperial examination, which ant he was half an official. It was crucial to please him now, as there might not be another opportunity like this in the future.
The elders were shrewd individuals. They scolded Lin’s eldest son thoroughly when they went outside, almost making him question his own existence.
And when he heard that Father Lin intended to accuse him of being unfilial, his already unpleasant expression imdiately turned sour.
The charge of being unfilial was enough to land him in prison for the rest of his life, and he didn’t want that.
Lin Da was defeated. Lin Er Quietly observing from his own yard, if his elder brother truly succeeded, he contemplated the possibility of joining him. Lin Er also returned to his own room.
They went back to their houses feeling frustrated and angry.
If we hadn't split the family and angered our parents, we would surely benefit from Third Brother's success!
Both of them weren’t good people, imdiately blaming their own wives for everything.
They were convinced that it was their wives who instigated it, otherwise how could they have been unfilial to their parents?
The eldest and second daughters-in-law were unwilling to back down. If it wasn’t for their husbands bringing it up in the first place, would they have stepped forward to take the bla? When there were benefits, it was because of their husbands’ competence, but when there were troubles, it was their fault. How could things be like that?
These two couples, who weren’t necessarily affectionate but had a certain level of understanding, were now engaged in a fierce quarrel, almost resorting to physical violence.
On the other hand, news of Li’s son-in-law passing the imperial examination reached the ears of Widow Zhang.
Before Li Lanlan got married, she had often coaxed Father Li to give her and her son the family’s grain and wealth. However, at that ti, she only wanted to use Father Li and didn’t consider developing anything with this man, who was much older than her.
But now, things were different. His son-in-law had beco an imperial scholar.
Perhaps he could beco an official in the future!
Moreover, Father Li treated her so well. Who knows, he might have liked her for a long ti. If she married him, he would definitely treat her even better in the future.
So, on a rainy night, Father Li stayed overnight at Widow Zhang’s house to help, and after drinking so alcohol, he ended up appearing disheveled on Widow Zhang’s bed the next day.
With Widow Zhang crying, causing a scene, and threatening to commit suicide, he promptly proposed marriage.
This widower, who had been single for almost half his life, finally bid farewell to his bachelorhood thanks to his son-in-law.
Facing this imperial scholar’s father-in-law, Widow Zhang used every trick in the book to serve him, and soon enough, Father Li beca enthralled in her tender embrace.
Soon, Lin Shiheng ca back.
On the sa day, Widow Zhang urged Father Li to go and talk to his son-in-law, hoping to get so benefits if possible.
After all, he was an imperial scholar. How could he not have a lot of money? Even if he leaked out a small amount, it would be enough for them to enjoy for a long ti.
Father Li carried so money with him and obediently went.
Widow Zhang eagerly awaited his return.
He ca back...
With empty pockets.
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