Chapter 273: A Great Joyous Occasion

Chapter 273: Chapter 273: A Great Joyous Occasion

Ji Huan was only halfway there when she ran into another person coming to deliver the news.

"Wan, quick, quick..." Hu Ximei pointed toward the village entrance, completely out of breath.

Ji Huan cut her off with a laugh. "I know. Dacheng already told me."

Hu Ximei, still panting, anxiously grabbed her hand and started running. "Let’s hurry! Half the village has gone to watch the excitement!"

They could see a large crowd from a distance even before they reached the village entrance.

"Wow! How majestic!"

Hu Ximei had never seen such a spectacle. She stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded.

It wasn’t just her; this was a first for Ji Huan, too.

From ancient times to the present, having one’s name on the golden list of successful exam candidates has always been one of life’s greatest joys. Although becoming a Scholar was still a long way from that ultimate honor, it was already a remarkable achievement.

To encourage aspiring scholars and broaden the event’s influence, after the results were released, the government would not only post the public list but also arrange for special messengers to deliver a "joyful report" to the homes of successful students. This was called "announcing the joy," and it was the equivalent of delivering an "acceptance letter."

Compared to this, the acceptance letters of later generations, delivered by courier or by the universities themselves, might be just as glamorous, but their actual significance paled in comparison.

Similarly, the acceptance letter for the prefectural exam was still different from the one for a true Advanced Scholar.

For the villagers, however, it was a once-in-a-lifetime sight. In their eyes, this was practically an imperial edict.

The messengers announcing the good news were all dressed in official uniforms and mounted on tall horses, followed by a band of suona players.

They set off firecrackers and played music along the way, a boisterous and magnificent procession.

With colorful flags held high and banners fluttering in the wind, it was no wonder the villagers knew about it before the procession even entered the village.

’Still...’ Ji Huan knew these occasions were usually grand, ’but isn’t this a little *too* grand?’

While she was still lost in thought, the procession had already headed toward the west side of the village.

The villagers swarmed after them, with some shouting, "They’ve struck it rich! Struck it rich! The Ji Family has really struck it rich this time!"

Hu Ximei had been clapping along with the crowd, but now her excitement slowly faded.

Everyone had left, leaving only her and Ji Huan standing there.

"Sister Wan..." Hu Ximei looked in the direction the crowd had gone, her voice uncertain. "But isn’t the Scholar..."

Ji Huan’s heart was also filled with bewildered suspicion.

Her gaze shifted to the road leading into the village, but she saw no other announcement party.

’Could it be that Ji Liantang passed, but Song Jing failed?’

Although Ji Liantang was a man of little virtue, he did have some scholarly talent; otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a child student in his teens. Though he had wasted his time since then, it wasn’t entirely impossible for him to pass the Scholar exam.

What she found strange was Song Jing. It made no sense that Ji Liantang could pass while Song Jing was eliminated.

"Come on, let’s go watch the excitement too." Ji Huan led Hu Ximei to follow the main crowd.

Long before the announcers entered the village, someone had already run to the Ji Family’s home to inform them.

For the past few days, the entire Ji household had been buzzing with excitement. Everyone stayed at home, not daring to go anywhere.

The courtyard had been freshly swept, and everyone, young and old, had changed into new clothes and shoes. They hadn’t been this meticulous even for the New Year, all in anticipation of this very day.

Finally, the day had come.

The whole family gathered at the main gate. Aunt Kang was so overjoyed she didn’t know what to do. She wanted to go to the village entrance to welcome them but was pulled back by Ji Qingshan.

"There’s no need. You must get used to your new status quickly. In the future, the Fourth will be on equal footing with the County Magistrate. As his parents, we absolutely cannot bring him shame. What would it look like, running out to greet a few bailiffs?"

Hearing this, Aunt Kang thought it made sense. She gave up the idea of welcoming them and clasped her hands in front of her, tilting her chin up so high the back of her head was nearly parallel to the ground.

The posture was a bit tiring, but to put on the full airs of a Scholar’s mother, she’d endure it!

Ji Qingshan turned his head and asked Mrs. Zhu, "Are the tables and chairs in the main hall clean?"

Mrs. Zhu stepped forward with a grin. "Father, everything is spotless. I didn’t even miss the table legs. I scrubbed off a whole layer of the red lacquer!"

Ji Qingshan frowned, thinking this daughter-in-law of his truly had no tact.

On a joyous day, "chipping the lacquer"... isn’t that like chipping away at the joy?

He was displeased. On any other day, he might have let it slide, but today it was absolutely intolerable.

Just as he was about to scold Mrs. Zhu, he heard the sound of gongs and drums. Looking up in the direction of the noise, he saw five horses galloping straight toward them.

They’re here! They’re really here!

Ji Qingshan’s heart leaped into his throat. Forgetting all about Mrs. Zhu and the lacquer, he straightened his clothes, placed one hand behind his back, and stroked his beard with the other. At first glance, he really did have the air of a venerable old master.

It was just that the hand behind his back was trembling uncontrollably with excitement.

The five men dismounted as they approached. The leader called out in a loud voice, "Have the master of the house come out! Congratulations on passing the exam!"

That shout made Ji Qingshan’s heart tremble three times over.

Unable to keep up the pretense any longer, he hurried forward, bowed, and cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

"My humble son is still in the county seat and has not yet returned. You officials have had a long and arduous journey. Why not come inside for a cup of tea..."

"Heavens!"

Ji Qingshan was only halfway through his sentence when he was interrupted by the sudden cry.

Seeing the officials who announced the results with her own eyes, Aunt Kang went mad with joy and fainted dead away. Thankfully, Ji Lianhuai was there to catch her. He patted her chest and pinched her philtrum until she slowly came to.

Aunt Kang cried "Heavens!", slapped her thighs several times, and then burst into a cackling laugh, her gums showing.

"Oh, heavens! You’ve finally opened your eyes! Queen Mother, the Bodhisattva Guanyin, Doumu Yuanjun, the Kitchen God, Old Mr. Kong, the Earth Spirit, you haven’t enjoyed my family’s incense for nothing!"

Aunt Kang shouted as she kowtowed continuously in all four directions.

This was real worship—kneeling and kowtowing, the sound of her head hitting the ground echoing with loud THUDS.

Ji Qingshan’s face darkened. He felt Aunt Kang was being far too agitated, which was a bit embarrassing, and she was stealing his thunder.

The officials, however, looked as if this was a common sight.

"It’s fine. On a joyous occasion like this, it’s a good thing she hasn’t gone completely mad on the spot."

But Aunt Kang wasn’t far from it.

After paying respects to all the various deities, she scrambled up from the ground, planted her hands on her hips, and shouted triumphantly to the onlookers:

"Did you all hear that? My fourth son passed the exam to become a Scholar! The very first Scholar in our Dafeng Village!"

The villagers jostled and shoved, surrounding the Ji Family’s gate so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through. At this moment, who would still find Aunt Kang’s behavior obnoxious? Those who came to congratulate congratulated, and those who came to curry favor did just that.

"Of course! Your fourth son has been smart since he was little. Why else would everyone say he’s a reincarnated Scholar?"

"Aiyo, the Ji Family’s ancestral graves must be emitting green smoke! Aunt Kang, from now on you’re a Scholar’s mother. Does that make you an official’s wife?"

"I don’t think a Scholar counts as an official, but it’s still very impressive..."

"The Ji Family must have accumulated good karma for eight lifetimes to have such incredible fortune!"

The leading official added with a chuckle, "It’s more than that. He’s also the ’Anshou,’ the top-ranked candidate in the prefectural exam!"

A collective gasp went through the crowd, followed by another wave of compliments, interspersed with murmurs of envy and sighs of wonder.

In that moment, one could see all the different facets of human nature.

Ji Huan had just assumed Ji the Fourth had gotten ridiculously lucky, but when she heard he was the top-ranked candidate, things started to feel strange.

Forget the Ji Family’s ancestral graves emitting green smoke—even if you burned the entire ancestral graveyard to a crisp, there was no way Ji Liantang could have come out as the top-ranked candidate.

’There’s definitely something fishy going on!’

’Could it be... cheating?!’