Chapter 114 - 113: Delivering the Announcement
Chapter 114: Chapter 113: Delivering the Announcement
The news spread like wildfire back to the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall.
The disciples in the hall were all incredibly excited, their training shouts a few notches louder than usual.
Only Wu Qiquan’s face turned shades of green and white the moment he heard the news.
He clenched his fists so tightly his nails nearly pierced his palms, his eyes burning with disbelief and jealousy.
He had thought that by siding with the Jiang Family, he was already a cut above the rest. He never imagined that the junior brother he once looked down upon would quietly become a Martial Scholar—and the top scorer at that.
It felt like a hard slap across the face, leaving a fiery, stinging pain.
...
In the crowd, a disciple from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall made out the name on the list, then frantically pushed his way out of the throng and took off running toward his martial arts hall.
Inside Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall, the atmosphere was quite cordial.
Chen Li had made a special trip today, bringing his second son, Shouye, to visit Master Li Weikun.
After taking two doses of the Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup, Shouye had quickly reached Blood Refining Perfection. Chen Li had come this time to formally discuss the marriage between their two children with Li Weikun.
The two parties had just taken their seats as host and guest. They were sipping tea and beginning to discuss the marriage arrangements.
"Master..."
Suddenly, a disciple rushed in.
"What’s all the panic for?" Li Weikun’s expression chilled as he admonished, "You must remain composed no matter what."
"Yes, yes, Master..."
The disciple bringing the news was panting for breath. After acknowledging his master, he said excitedly, "Master, Uncle Chen, wonderful news! Shouye’s older brother, Chen Shouheng, has won first place in the County Examination!"
The moment he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
The hand Li Weikun was using to hold his teacup froze, and a hint of astonishment flashed across his face.
At his side, Chen Shouye asked excitedly, "Is it true? My brother... he took first place?"
"It’s absolutely true! The announcement has been posted on the spirit wall of the County Magistrate’s Office!"
The messenger disciple nodded repeatedly.
"Wonderful news indeed!"
Li Weikun smiled, turned to Chen Li, and cupped his hands in congratulations. "Brother Chen, congratulations! Your worthy son Shouheng is a dragon among men. He can surely look forward to becoming an Advanced Scholar in the future!"
Chen Li’s expression was calm, but a barely perceptible flicker of gratification and pride flashed in his eyes.
He set down his teacup and gave a slight nod in return. "Master Li, you flatter me. It was merely a stroke of luck."
"Brother Chen, you are too modest."
A rare note of warmth crept into Li Weikun’s voice. He inwardly thought with relief, ’Agreeing to let Jinru be with Shouye was truly a wise move.’
He glanced at Chen Shouye with even more gratification. ’Shouye trains hard, and his aptitude seems quite good. He reached Blood Refining Perfection in less than a year. With time, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to pass the Martial Examination before he’s thirty-five; he might even have a chance at becoming an Advanced Scholar. As long as he passes the examination, my next generation will be able to truly establish a firm foothold in Lingxi.’
Li Weikun paused, as if remembering something, and added, "Brother Chen, with your worthy son Shouheng winning first place, the County Magistrate’s Office will soon send people to your home to deliver the official announcement and post the happy news, as is customary. This is a major event and cannot be delayed. You and Shouye should hurry back to prepare."
Chen Li readily agreed, standing up. "In that case, Shouye and I will take our leave. We will come to visit again another day."
Li Weikun personally escorted the father and son to the main gate of the martial arts hall.
Watching the backs of Chen Li and Shouye as they rode away, Li Weikun gave a low-voiced order to a disciple beside him: "Go have Jinru prepare a generous gift for me—the best one we have. Tomorrow, I will personally visit the Chen Mansion in Lingxi Village to offer my congratulations."
"Yes, Master!" the disciple replied respectfully and hurried away.
...
Soon, Chen Li and Shouye returned to their home in Lingxi and told their family the joyous news of Shouheng winning first place.
"Really? Shouheng passed the examination to become a Martial Scholar, and he’s the top scorer?"
Mrs. Chen was so overjoyed she nearly lost her footing, and her daughter-in-law, Song Ying, quickly steadied her.
"Big Brother is amazing!"
Chen Shouyue clapped her hands and jumped for joy, her little face flushed red with excitement.
Song Ying’s eyes also glistened with tears, her joy overflowing. "The ancestors are watching over us, the ancestors are watching over us!"
The entire Chen Mansion was immersed in jubilation.
Before the joyous atmosphere could even settle, the deafening sound of gongs and drums erupted from the village entrance.
"Master, the Officials delivering the good news are here!"
A long-term worker came running to report.
Chen Li adjusted his clothes and cap, leading his family out the main gate to greet them.
A delegation of officials led by County Magistrate Zhang Heming had all arrived. Government constables formed a ceremonial guard, gongs and drums roared, and banners fluttered in the wind. The scene was extremely grand.
Villagers from miles around had heard the news and rushed over, packing the area outside the Chen Mansion so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through. Every face was filled with envy and amazement.
"This humble commoner greets the County Magistrate."
Chen Li was stunned. He never expected Zhang Heming to come in person.
"Village Chief Chen, congratulations! Congratulations!"
Zhang Heming’s face was wreathed in an enthusiastic smile. His polite and humble attitude made him seem like a completely different person from before.
He unfurled a document in front of everyone and announced in a clear voice, "Chen Shouheng of Lingxi Village, Jingshan County, for his outstanding Martial Arts, has bravely seized the first-place title in this year’s Liyang County Examination for Martial Scholars! He brings glory to our county and is hereby rewarded! As is customary, the Chen Family is exempt from the Land Tax and corvée labor for the next three years."
When he finished speaking, an even greater wave of gasps and envious murmurs erupted from the crowd of assembled neighbors.
To be exempt from three years of taxes and labor was an immense blessing for families who depended on their fields for a living.
Song Ying, Mrs. Chen, and the others had never seen the County Magistrate act so courteously. They were overwhelmed by the favor and thanked him profusely.
Chen Li’s expression remained calm as he accepted the honor and reward with composure, cupping his hands in return. "Thank you, County Magistrate. Thank you, my lords. My son was merely lucky; it is all thanks to the grace and cultivation of the Court."
Zhang Heming, smiling, chatted happily with Chen Li as if they were the closest of friends.
As the ceremony neared its end, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, and the government constables took a short rest.
Zhang Heming took a step forward, leaned closer to Chen Li, and lowered his voice. "Village Chief Chen, I came today not only to offer congratulations but also to discuss... a small matter of official business. I wonder if we might speak in your study?"
A flicker moved in Chen Li’s eyes, but his face remained impassive. He turned to the side and gestured. "County Magistrate, please."
The two entered Chen Li’s study, one after the other.
The door closed, leaving only the two of them in the study. The atmosphere suddenly grew delicate.
The enthusiastic smile on Zhang Heming’s face slowly faded. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly cupped his hands solemnly toward Chen Li. "Brother Chen, there are no outsiders here today, so I will get straight to the point. I came today first to congratulate you, and second... to apologize."
Chen Li feigned surprise and said hastily, "County Magistrate, your words are too much for me! What crime could you possibly have committed?"
Zhang Heming let out a long sigh, a helpless look on his face. "Brother Chen, you are a discerning man. Why pretend not to understand? The matter from last year... It was indeed I who intentionally made things difficult for you. But in this matter, I was also caught in the middle, in a difficult position."
Seeing Chen Li remain silent, he continued, "Brother Chen, perhaps you are unaware. The Court has had difficulty collecting commercial taxes in Jiangnan, and the deficit is quite large. So, the higher-ups want to implement a trial policy of converting rice paddies to mulberry fields in four counties across Liyang and Xijiang Prefectures... and Jingshan is one of them."
"Converting rice paddies to mulberry fields?"
Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly.
A memory suddenly flashed through his mind.