Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 87

Those who pass the Spring Examination are so proud that they gallop on horseback to take in all the sights of Chang’an in a single day. In fact, those who pass the Autumn Examination are no different.

Before they even return home, invitations from various families flood in like snowflakes. Some address them as classmates, others as brothers—everyone trying to forge a connection in any way possible.

When the three newly titled juren return from the prefecture together, the villagers line the streets to welcome them. After all, a Juren has the potential to be appointed as an official, possibly even a county magistrate. If that happens, the people of their village can enter the county town with pride.

Yang Yicheng rides an ox cart to the village entrance, where he sees his father, mother, and brothers standing at the front, with the other villagers gathered behind them. Without hesitation, he gets off the cart and kneels before the village chief.

“I have finally lived up to everyone’s expectations and achieved something. Thank you, my parents, brothers, and fellow villagers, for waiting here. I feel truly embarrassed—it should be me visiting each of your homes instead.”

Hearing these words, the villagers feel warmth in their hearts. The village chief has raised a fine student. Even after becoming a scholar, Yang Yicheng remains humble and respectful.

The village chief hurriedly helps him up and prepares to pay the fare. However, the ox cart driver firmly refuses. “Today, I’m blessed with the chance to transport a Juren back to the village. This is an occasion for joy—how could I accept payment?”

“Brother, please take it. We won’t feel at ease otherwise,” Yang Yicheng insists.

The driver hesitates, then scratches his head with a grin. “Well, if you insist, I have a small request. If it doesn’t work, just take it as a joke.”

“Please, go ahead,” Yang Yicheng encourages.

“My wife gave birth to a baby boy two days ago—white, plump, and beautiful. People say he’s blessed. I want him to have a proper name, but I’m afraid I’ll choose poorly. Would you be willing to name him for me, Juren Master?”

“What is your surname?”

“My surname is Liu. There’s no tradition of a family naming pattern in my household, so you can pick any name you see fit.”

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Yicheng says, “May he be gentle in his dealings with others and act with integrity and righteousness, embodying the virtues of a true gentleman. Let’s call him Liu Heguang.” (‘He’ means harmony, Guang means brightness.)

“To be kind to others and upright in conduct—what a great name! Thank you, Juren Master. This means more to me than anything!” The driver bows repeatedly in gratitude before leaving.

Seeing this, the other villagers swell with pride. This scholar is one of their own! It’s an honor to have a Juren in their village. Some families expecting children even make up their minds to ask the Juren Master for names in the future.

Zhang Shu helps Li Mujin sit on a large rock at the village entrance, taking in the excitement. Their child will be born soon, and with this auspicious blessing, perhaps they, too, will become scholars one day. They need to earn good money now so they can send their children to Mo’s Academy in the future.

The entire village cheers as they escort their Juren Master home, the joyous atmosphere rivaling that of the New Year.

Meanwhile, in Hanyang Village, another newly titled Juren, Zhang wenjie, sits on an ox cart, waving arrogantly at the villagers who have come to greet him, watching as they follow the cart.

Upon arriving home, he immediately calls for Zhang Yun to come out and pay the fare. Zhang Yun, clad in patched clothing, her face pale and thin, retrieves over twenty copper coins from her pouch and places them in the driver’s hand. She sighs inwardly—her husband will have to eat fewer eggs again.

The driver accepts the money but then asks, “Are you a servant in Juren Master’s household? He must be a very dignified and imposing man, right?”

Zhang Yun flushes with embarrassment. “I… I am his wife!”

The driver looks stunned for a moment before scoffing. “How could Juren Master have married someone like you? Don’t make me laugh. You look like a house servant, yet you’re claiming to be his wife? That’s bold!”

Zhang Yun’s chest tightens with emotion, and tears well in her eyes. Seeing this, the driver hastily leaves, fearing that others will say he bullied a Juren’s servant. After all, one must always consider the master before striking the dog.

Tears streaming down her face, Zhang Yun enters the house, only to be met with harsh scolding.

“Crying again? All you do is cry! My son just returned home, and you’re already bringing bad luck upon him?”

“Mother-in-law… the driver just said I was my husband’s servant…” Zhang Yun whispers.

“Let him say whatever he wants! Haven’t I taught you that?” Zhang Wenjie replies. “But it’s true—your clothes are much too shabby. Go change into something better!”

Zhang Yun looks at Zhang Wenjie in shock. He used to praise her for her traditional appearance. Why is he calling her ugly now?

But she has always obeyed her husband’s words. Without question, she returns to her room, changes into her best clothing, and dresses her two daughters in clean outfits as well.

Zhang Wenjie’s gaze softens. As the saying goes, a wife who has shared one’s hardships should not be abandoned. He has no intention of divorcing Zhang Yun—after all, she has worked hard for the entire family. But now that he has achieved success, taking a couple of concubines seems only natural.

Just earlier, his mother had taken him to see the extravagant gifts sent by flatterers. The whole room is filled with them, with silver alone totaling thirty or forty taels.

Ten years of hard study have finally paid off, bringing him fame and prestige. This newfound status stirs Zhang Wenjie’s ambition—if he can rise to an official position, then all his past hardships will be worth it.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shu has no idea that his uncle has passed the exam. He has never paid much attention to such things, and even if he had known, it wouldn’t have mattered. He has no interest in currying favor with Zhang Wenjie. Pleasing the village chief’s son would be far more rewarding.

At least Yang Yicheng carries himself with dignity, unlike Zhang Wenjie. Zhang Shu has never liked his so-called uncle. Since childhood, he has barely seen the man, and the few times he has, Zhang Wenjie has looked down on his family.

Right now, Zhang Shu is busy planting potatoes. Most villagers have planted theirs earlier, right after the autumn harvest, but he chooses to wait.

As he returns from the fields, he runs into the village chief, who invites his family to a banquet the next day. The village chief’s extended family is large, so the feast will be held on the threshing ground, with seventy or eighty tables set up. The Zhang family eagerly agrees—after all, passing the imperial examination is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most.

The September sun is warm and pleasant. As everyone gathers for the banquet, the exhaustion of the past few days melts away. Zhang Shu and Laiwang’s family share a table, one of the many that guests have to set up themselves.

The table is already laid with a plate of peanuts, a plate of melon seeds, a stack of dates, and a stack of Zhuangyuan cakes. These are cold dishes meant to be enjoyed before the hot dishes are served.

Some tables have strict elders who won’t let the children touch the food right away, making them wait until the banquet ends before taking some home in cloth bags. But at Zhang Shu’s table, most of the snacks are already gone. Dabao, in particular, has hoarded a pile in front of him, drawing envious glances from the other children.

Dabao isn’t the type to share much, but he does give two dates to a younger girl. Aside from that, he keeps the rest to himself.

The hot dishes are delayed since Yang Yicheng and his teachers and classmates haven’t arrived yet. As the honored guests, the meal won’t begin until they are present.

At the village entrance, Yang Yicheng greets his guests. Before long, he returns with a group of men in long robes, their scholarly demeanor setting them apart. As they walk, they speak in refined language that the villagers barely understand, making everyone feel somewhat self-conscious.

Watching Yang Yicheng seamlessly blend in with these scholars, the villagers suddenly realize—he is no longer just one of them. A golden phoenix has truly flown out of their mountain village. Though he is still a kind person, it’s clear that they can no longer treat him as they once had.

Several of Yang Yicheng’s esteemed teachers take their seats, along with his father, some relatives involved in grain collection, and a few neighboring village heads. Yang Yicheng sits with his classmates, including Yan Fusheng, his senior and close friend.

Curiously, Zhang Wenjie—who also passes the exam this year—is neither invited nor mentioned in their conversations.

A string of bright red firecrackers is laid out in front of the threshing ground. Yang Yicheng’s brother lights them with a stick of incense, and the sharp crackling fills the air.

Zhang Shu and Li Mujin instinctively reach out to cover each other’s ears, a habit formed since childhood. They exchange smiles, a silent warmth passing between them.

Nearby, He Yue covers Dabao’s ears, while Laiwang covers He Yue’s. To Yu Xiaoliu, a lone observer, their playful gestures are oddly heartwarming.

As the firecrackers die down, the hot dishes are finally served. The young men of the village call out the festive dish names as they bring them to the tables.

“Magpie Climbs the Branch!”—a roasted chicken adorned with pine branches.

“Name on the Gold List!”—a plate of golden corn kernels.

“Takes the Lead!”—a steamed turtle.

“Wins the Laurel in the Palace of The Moon!”—osmanthus lotus seed lily soup.

Every dish carries an auspicious meaning. Even a dish called “Lucky Star Shining High” is present.

For the villagers, sharing a meal with these learned scholars is an honor. They unconsciously adjust their manners, even the roughest men becoming more refined in their movements.

The banquet is truly grand, unlike anything seen before. The presence of turtle dishes alone sets it apart from other celebrations.

In reality, the cost isn’t as high as one might expect. Yang Yicheng himself covers most of it. Each newly passed scholar receives a reward of 30 taels from the government, plus another 50 taels from the county magistrate. Additionally, Mo Family Academy awards its two successful students 20 taels each. In total, they earn 100 taels simply for passing the examination!

Back when Yang Yicheng studied alone in the county, his education had been a financial strain. His brothers and sisters-in-law had even grumbled about it. However, the village chief, a strong-willed man, had kept their complaints in check. Now that Yang Yicheng has achieved success, all those unspoken resentments vanish without a trace.

Watching all this, Zhang Shu feels even more determined to make money. Only by securing his family’s prosperity can his children receive the best education. They might not necessarily bring glory to the Zhang family name, but at the very least, they will never be looked down upon when they step outside their home.