“Clang clang clang—BOOM! Clang clang clang—BOOM!”
The sound of gongs and drums grew clearer and clearer, heading straight toward the Lin family courtyard.
Lin Dahe was the first to slip away from the dinner table, unwilling even to put down the rice bowl still in his hands. Right after him, Little Liu set down her chopsticks and said to Old Madam Lin, “Mother, I’ll go see what’s happening outside.”
As soon as Eldest Aunt left, the other adults and children also rushed toward the courtyard gate like a gust of wind.
Because her legs were too short, by the time Lin Sui’an slid off her stool, only she and her grandparents remained in the main hall.
“Lin family! Is Master Lin Xiyong of Peach Blossom Village at home?”
A loud, official-sounding voice exploded outside the gate alongside the crashing gongs.
Before the voice had even finished speaking, two government messengers dressed in dark blue jackets with red silk belts around their waists had already entered the courtyard.
The lean man in front had a glowing red face. He held up a scroll tied with red silk in one hand and a small bronze gong in the other. Behind him, the sturdier man beat vigorously on a small cowhide drum, his face plastered with a cheerful grin.
“Good news! Wonderful news!”
The lean messenger’s voice rang loud and clear, echoing through the entire courtyard and drawing neighbors from all around.
“Congratulations to Master Lin Xiyong of this honored household for placing sixteenth in the county examination, gaining admission to the county academy, and, by approval of the magistrate himself, being officially recorded as a licentiate scholar! May further success follow upon success, and may your name soon shine upon the golden榜!”
The words “licentiate scholar”—a xiucai degree holder—struck everyone like thunder.
A scholar.
Lin Xiyong had become a scholar.
That young man who had studied bitterly for over ten years had truly passed.
Old Man Lin and Old Madam Lin, who had emerged later, clung to each other while wiping away tears.
Meanwhile, little spectator Lin Sui’an could see nothing but legs wherever she looked. She kept tugging at her mother’s clothes, hoping to be picked up to watch the excitement, but her mother never noticed—Tian Guihua herself was busy secretly wiping tears from her eyes.
Little Liu was the first to recover her senses. She clasped her hands together and bowed frantically toward the sky.
“Blessings from the Bodhisattvas! Ancestors showing their power! Fourth Brother really passed!”
At once, Old Madam Lin stopped crying and hurriedly joined in.
“Blessings from all the gods! Ancestors showing their favor…”
The neighbors had already crowded around the courtyard entrance. Their chatter boiled over like bubbling water.
“Oh my heavens! Xiyong passed the scholar exam!”
“I always said that child would make it. He’s such a steady boy.”
“Amazing! Truly amazing! Another scholar has come out of our village!”
“The village chief’s eldest son only became a scholar at thirty-two. Lin Xiyong is really impressive.”
“Watch your mouth! How can you say things like that?”
“They’re all impressive, all impressive! Peach Blossom Village truly produces talented people!”
“Look at Old Man Lin—he’s so overjoyed he can’t even speak!”
“Congratulations! Congratulations!”
Seeing that the family was too emotional to respond, the lean messenger smiled even wider and skillfully handed the red-silk document into the trembling hands of the stunned Old Man Lin.
The other messenger promptly beat the drum again while the gong rang once more, spreading the joyous news farther and louder.
“Old sir, congratulations! Please accept the announcement and grant us a lucky reward!” the messenger reminded cheerfully.
Only then did Old Man Lin seem to wake from a dream.
With hands rough as tree bark, trembling uncontrollably, he carefully accepted the red silk announcement as though it weighed a thousand pounds.
He recognized only a few characters, but among them stood out the bold words “Lin Xiyong” and the bright red official seal.
“Reward them—they’ve worked hard!”
Sharp-eyed Lin Sanyong had already run into the house and returned with two silver ingots worth two taels each, along with two hundred copper coins wrapped in a pouch.
“A little token for tea money! Share in the good fortune!”
The messengers weighed the heavy reward in their hands, their smiles blooming even brighter. Auspicious phrases poured from them endlessly.
“Many thanks for Master Lin’s generous reward! May Scholar Lin soar straight into the clouds, passing every examination in succession! Next year may he become a juren, then a jinshi, bringing glory to his ancestors!”
After the officials left, the neighbors all flooded into the main hall.
No adult had any mood left for supper.
Li Xue and Tian Guihua cleared the food into the kitchen and arranged for the children to eat there, while Little Liu hurried off to boil water for tea.
Old Man Lin and Lin Sanyong stayed behind to entertain the villagers.
The hall buzzed with noise. Joy nearly lifted the roof itself. The echoes of the congratulatory gong still seemed to linger in the beams overhead as endless congratulations filled the room.
Then suddenly, the crowd at the entrance quieted.
People instinctively stepped aside, opening a path.
Village Chief Wang Shouren slowly strode in with measured dignity.
He wore a brand-new indigo silk robe, his hair combed flawlessly neat. His chin tilted slightly upward, carrying a restrained air utterly out of place in the humble farmhouse hall. Behind him followed several respected village elders.
“Brother Lin, what tremendous joyous news!”
Village Chief Wang’s voice boomed with his usual official tone. His face wore a perfectly appropriate smile, though the smile never truly reached the depths of his eyes.
The noisy room instantly fell silent.
Everyone’s attention gathered upon the village’s most authoritative figure.
Old Man Lin hurried forward through the crowd, bowing repeatedly.
“Village Chief Wang, for you to come personally truly honors this humble old man!”
“Oh, Xiyong is a promising child. He’s brought glory upon our village. As village chief, how could I possibly not come?”
Wang Shouren waved dismissively, his gaze casually sweeping over the announcement laid atop the kang table.
His eyes paused briefly upon the name “Lin Xiyong.”
Three years ago, his own eldest son, Wang Bojun, had also earned the scholar degree—and with a ranking even higher than this one, if he remembered correctly.
Back then, his household had certainly been lively as well, but somehow… not quite as crowded and thunderously celebratory as the Lin family today.
A faint, fleeting trace of displeasure flashed through his heart before being concealed beneath a deeper smile.
He stepped closer to the announcement and pretended to examine it carefully. Stroking his neatly trimmed beard, he spoke slowly, though every word carried clearly throughout the room.
“Mm. Very good. Xiyong has always appeared calm and steady—a proper seedling for scholarship. To enter the county academy and gain the rank of licentiate scholar is a blessing for the family and an honor for our entire village.”
His tone carried a sort of lofty approval, as though Lin Xiyong’s achievement had long been expected—perhaps even subtly aided by him.
“It’s all thanks to our ancestors’ blessings… and also thanks to your care, Village Chief, and the village’s support.”
Old Man Lin was clearly not skilled at flattery. After struggling for quite a while, that was all he managed to say.
Wang Shouren nodded slightly, accepting the compliment.
He signaled someone behind him, who stepped forward carrying a long box wrapped in red cloth.
“A small gift, hardly worth mentioning. It’s a fine Duan inkstone, suitable for Xiyong’s studies and calligraphy. Now that he has entered the county academy, he must work even harder and not disgrace this scholarly title.”
Secretly, Wang Shouren felt rather pleased with himself. The gift was both expensive and perfectly appropriate.
“Oh my, this is far too valuable! We can’t possibly accept it, Village Chief!” Old Madam Lin waved her hands frantically, clearly overwhelmed.
“It is entirely fitting.”
Wang Shouren firmly pressed the box into Old Man Lin’s hands, leaving no room for refusal.
“When Bojun entered the academy years ago, he too understood the importance of proper brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Now that Xiyong is also a scholar, he may be considered among the same scholarly circles as Bojun. They should encourage each other in the future.”
Though the words sounded encouraging, they subtly reminded everyone of one thing:
The Wang family remained the true scholarly household of the village.
His son Wang Bojun had been the first scholar—the senior figure.
Wang Shouren swept his gaze across the packed hall, seeing the unconcealed envy in everyone’s eyes.
That uncomfortable feeling of being overshadowed quietly resurfaced again.
He cleared his throat and raised his voice.
“Well then, on such a joyous day, everyone should share in the good fortune! Brother Lin, make sure to prepare properly—we’re all waiting to drink the banquet wine of your family’s new scholar!”
With that, he maintained the impeccable official smile befitting a village chief, clasped his hands politely toward the Lin elders, and departed with his entourage beneath the respectful gazes of the crowd.
As he stepped out of the courtyard, he unconsciously straightened his already immaculate collar, as though brushing away the overly earthy, overpowering joy of the Lin household clinging to him.
Only then did he lift his back proudly straight and stride away in his usual measured pace toward his own far grander residence.