The fa of tily rain, in the eyes of the common folk, is even louder and dearer than among ordinary scholars.
Now, many poor farrs truly hope that Xu Qing passes the scholar examination so they can offer their land to Mr. Xu.
Only, so of them actually do not know that the amount of land and population exempt from taxes by a scholar is limited.
But that does not hinder their anticipation.
Now, during the autumn season, after the harvest, there are still things to be busied with, hence many farrs are bustling about on both sides of the official road.
They suddenly hear the sound of gongs and trumpets.
Villagers are extrely sensitive to this kind of noise.
Because it often ans that governnt officials are coming.
A visit once, hardship once.
Just like the popular folk tune goes, "soldiers hear and feel anxious, civilians hear and fear... seeing it blow one ho away, injure another, only blowing until the geese fly no more!"
But soon, so villagers see many familiar faces happily following the procession.
Curiosity couldn’t be avoided, so they boldly drew near.
Upon inquiry, they learned that this was the joyous news of Xu Gongming’s successful provincial examination.
The constables are from the Imperial Censor’s Governnt Office, and it is said that the Imperial Censor is Xu Sanyuan, oh no, Mr. Xu’s future father-in-law, surely there is no mistake!
"It’s the top scorer."
So villagers don’t know what ’top scorer’ ans, so soone explains, "The top scorer of the provincial exam is called ’top scorer’..."
The correct term is that the first rank of the provincial exam is called the top scorer.
But by directly comparing it to the top scorer, even the least knowledgeable villagers understood...
Many villagers followed, sharing in the glory.
The top scorer is from their Jiangning Prefecture.
So from Qingshui County proudly claim, "What Jiangning people, the top scorer is from Qingshui County, you neighboring Wuzhong County folks, don’t even think about joining in the joy..."
Soon, scholarly old n who love to study state that the Xu Family from Jiangning originally co from a certain village...
Alas, regarding the top scorer’s ancestral ho, indeed opinions differ widely, no one can say for sure.
Thus, in the long procession spreading the joyous news, disputes inevitably arose.
Everyone was pondering, from which village, which town does the top scorer hail.
However, once people from the neighboring counties join the excitent, the people of Qingshui County instantly shared a common enemy.
After all, you have no part in this!
...
...
"Mahjong win." Mr. Li finally scored a win at mahjong and was about to call Qing Ge’er to start the al, just making do with whatever food.
At this mont, the sound of gongs and drums, along with a suona, loudly ca from outside.
"What’s that noise?" Mr. Li casually asked.
As he began to speak, a gatekeeper ca in.
"Passed, Master..." the gatekeeper spoke incoherently.
"Passed what, I’ve just won at mahjong." Mr. Li didn’t catch on.
"Young Master Gongming... passed the... top scorer..." the gatekeeper was so excited he was almost out of breath.
"Passed." Mr. Li paused, then realized.
His hands holding the mahjong tiles trembled, asking, "Passed what..."
At this mont, soone outside was shouting hoarsely,
"Joyous news, joyous news! The esteed master Xu Huiqing ranked first in the provincial exam of South Zhili as the top scorer. The capital report repeatedly confird."
"Top scorer." Li Gongpu stood up.
Guard Wang and Guard Ma also stood up.
"Qing Ge’er, let’s hurry outside..." Li Gongpu said with a shaky voice.
Xu Qing, unhurried, spoke, "Uncle, do not rush."
He slowly adjusted his robe, thinking, "Indeed it’s the top scorer, my mont has co."
Then, Xu Qing slowly stood up.
"Let’s go."
As Xu Qing crossed the threshold, sowhat distracted, he stepped too hard on it, and with a crack, the threshold broke.
Guard Wang and Guard Ma exchanged a smile and followed imdiately.
As they left the Li Mansion, maids such as Qiu Xiang, holding baskets of copper coins, hurried over.
It turns out, Madam Zhou before leaving instructed Qiu Xiang and others to manage the household affairs and prepared the copper coins early.
Swaying the copper coins tied with red strings, very festive, Qiu Xiang and others, recalling the old lady’s orders, had already prepared the joyous copper coins days before, and as soon as the report arrived,
they hurried over with the copper coins.
Xu Qing stepped out and t the constables who ca to announce the joyous news.
These constables know that Xu Qing is the future son-in-law of the Imperial Censor Lord and now also the top scorer of South Zhili’s provincial exam; seeing him in person, they felt as if the top scorer descended from the stars, almost unbearable to look directly.
It was the surrounding villagers who clamored and begged for wedding money that sparked the lively scene again.
Qiu Xiang and the others distributed the wedding money, then figures like Guo Zhuang from the Governnt Office ca to maintain order.
Xu Qing had already instructed to prepare a continual feast in the town’s restaurants and taverns.
Once the happy news arrived, they hurriedly started.
The crowd inside and out filled the entire alleyway.
The surrounding neighbors didn’t feel disturbed but instead ca over to share in the joy.
From then on, this alley at the Li Mansion might as well be renad ’Top Scorer Alley’.
Jiangning Prefecture had produced many scholars, but a top scorer, it has been a century’s first such occasion.
That is indeed the top scorer from South Zhili.
In no ti, the County Magistrate of Qingshui County, County Magistrate Zheng, ca to congratulate.
Although there had been frictions before, now the relations between County Magistrate Zheng and Xu Qing had greatly eased.
It had to ease; after all, Xu Qing had raided his base.
For a while, city inside and out, people of all shades ca to congratulate, the town was almost as lively as during the New Year’s ti.
Whether sincerely or reluctantly, with the title of provincial exam top scorer attached, even many local gentry and powerful figures harboring resentnt towards Xu Qing, at this mont behaved courteously.
After all, Xu Qing having won the top scorer, was bound to imdiately marry the daughter of the South Zhili Inspector, this marriage was absolutely without hiccup!
At this mont, many local scholars felt greatly moved,
"Jiangning Prefecture’s scholarly aura, today reaches its zenith."
"In the two hundred years of the country, nourishing over a million scholars. A fifteen-year-old Zhili top scorer, uniquely Mister Xu of Jiangzuo."
Magistrate He, upon hearing this, was even more delighted.
Xu Qing’s direct ascent into the clouds, he would have a great ally in the future; unfortunately, not his son-in-law.
How disheartening it is that the good things and people he t in life always let Feng Xifeng have the first success.
Magistrate He was delighted, but with many regrets.
That night, the banquet was endless.
Later generations have records from a renowned scholar of Yingtian Prefecture from the provincial exams, ranked sixth, Yayuan Xie Quan noted,
"That night, fire trees and silver flowers, a spectacular sight!"
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