◎Results Released◎
Waking early the next morning, Ping’an was in high spirits, still immersed in the beautiful dream of his father failing the Xiang Examination.
After the night rain, the sky was clear as if washed clean, and fallen leaves piled up in the courtyard.
Though Frost’s Descent had passed, Ping’an still enjoyed running around barefoot. Chen Yan had to remind him to wear socks and shoes at least ten to twenty times a day, yet the moment he looked away, the socks would vanish again.
Chen Yan ordered A Xiang to fetch a needle and thread, then grabbed Ping’an, intending to sew his socks to his trouser legs.
“Dad, you don’t often do needlework—please don’t prick me!” Ping’an cried out, but he dared not move a muscle.
It wasn’t that Chen Yan didn’t often do needlework; he had never done it at all. Still, he was quite satisfied with his stitches—crooked and uneven, yet densely packed.
After sewing one foot, he moved on to the other.
Chen Shou rushed in, slightly out of breath: “Master, Master! Today is the day the results are released. The County Yamen has sent someone to the provincial capital to check the rankings. They specially notified us that Sun Zhixian will personally visit the homes of the successful candidates to offer congratulations, so please wait patiently.”
Chen Yan glanced up at the calendar and realized it was already the tenth day of the ninth month.
Ping’an had tried to sneak away but was caught and brought back.
Chen Shou watched Chen Yan’s actions with confusion and suggested, “Master, since you’ve never used a needle and thread before, why not let my wife help you sew them?”
Chen Yan was adamant: “No need.”
Just as he was getting into the rhythm of sewing, sudden sounds of gongs and drums erupted outside—the congratulatory procession had indeed arrived.
Chen Laoye and Zhao Shi, already dressed in their finest, stood eagerly at the main gate. They saw yamen runners in red uniforms and black boots, beating gongs as they approached from the northern end of Chen Family Alley.
Clan relatives set aside their tasks and crowded at their own doorways, craning their necks to watch.
“They’re here, they’re here! Where is A Yan?!” Chen Laoye exclaimed excitedly.
Chen Shou wiped the sweat from his forehead, stammering and unable to speak. How could he possibly announce in front of so many people that the master was sewing his son’s trousers?
As they spoke, the yamen runners stopped in front of the Chen residence and loudly proclaimed: “Joyful tidings! The esteemed Chen Laoye, named Yan, has achieved first place in the Xiang Examination, earning the title of Jie Yuan! The Capital Gazette announces his success in the Huang Jia!”
Instantly, the entire Chen Family Alley erupted in excitement. Neighbors swarmed toward the Chen family’s gate to congratulate Chen Laoye and Zhao Shi, while hundreds of onlookers followed the congratulatory procession, clogging the alley until it was packed solid.
In the study, despite the firecrackers, gongs, and drums outside, Ping’an heard his father’s ranking loud and clear.
Chen Yan remained calm, slowly picking up a small pair of scissors from the desk, snipping the final thread, and carefully putting away the needle and thread. He glanced at the wall full of books, exhaled slowly, and took Ping’an’s hand to go outside.
Ping’an squinted as the bright light stung his eyes. Before he could process the devastating news, he already looked dazed.
“What’s wrong with An Ge’er?” Zhao Shi asked excitedly, pulling Ping’an close. The child looked on the verge of tears.
Ping’an muttered vaguely: “Absurdity upon absurdity, one farce after another.”
Chen Laoye leaned in to listen and translated: “Ah, he says, ‘Ten years of bitter study, one hardship after another.'”
Zhao Shi wiped tears from the corner of her eye: “An Ge’er is so thoughtful, feeling for his father. Your father’s bitterness has finally turned to sweetness.”
Ping’an nodded in resignation. Fine, fine—his father’s bitterness had turned to sweetness, but the whole family’s suffering was just around the corner.
Just then, Master Luo from the County Yamen, holding the County Magistrate’s Visiting Card, pushed through the crowd and squeezed his way in: “The County Magistrate has come personally to congratulate Jie Yuan Gong!”
The sound of gongs clearing the way echoed from the alley entrance, followed by ceremonial guards. Magistrate Sun’s official green sedan chair squeezed into the bustling narrow lane. Dressed in his blue round-collared official robe, he beamed with delight, appearing exceptionally amiable.
Old Master Chen immediately went outside to greet him, and moments later, Chen Yan also hurried to the main gate.
Magistrate Sun promptly steadied Old Master Chen, warmly grasping his arm: “Just now while reviewing the Roll of Successful Candidates, I discovered that Scholar Zhao, the Chief Examiner who selected Yan Zhang, was the same examiner who passed me in the Imperial Examination years ago. Henceforth, Yan Zhang should address me as senior brother, and I ought to call you honored uncle.”
Old Master Chen’s mind couldn’t immediately unravel such complex social connections, so he simply nodded with a constant smile. Still, he understood the magistrate addressing him as “honored uncle” was a gesture of condescending courtesy – he wouldn’t dare actually presume to call the magistrate “nephew” in return.
Ping’an didn’t push forward. Being so young, he wasn’t required to formally greet important guests visiting the household. He simply watched from the crowd as the county magistrate addressed his father like family.
This Magistrate Sun didn’t appear particularly clever, though he did have good judgment. Ping’an wondered whether he’d been implicated later during the purge of treacherous officials.
Magistrate Sun, who privately considered himself quite discerning, accidentally met Ping’an’s gaze. For some reason, he saw what looked like pity in the four-or-five-year-old child’s eyes…
A moment later, the enthusiastic Old Master Chen ushered Magistrate Sun into the main hall to take the seat of honor, while the spacious front courtyard began serving dishes.
Confident in his son’s abilities, Old Master Chen had made preparations well in advance. The three best restaurants in Shengyang County had jointly catered the Chen family banquet. As usual, no cooking was done at home – food and drink flowed in continuously. With a son like Chen Yan and a father like Old Master Chen, hosting grand banquets for guests was commonplace, though this occasion was unprecedented: three consecutive days of feasting, hundreds of strings of firecrackers purchased, planned to entertain at least a thousand people.
Ping’an dreaded these occasions most. Being dragged around to greet people was bad enough, but certain relatives who all looked alike would inevitably pull him aside to play “guess who I am.” When he finally returned to his parents, he couldn’t help complaining.
“I held you when you were still wearing split pants!” Ping’an shook his head dramatically, perfectly imitating the relatives’ mannerisms.
His parents were amused but quickly pulled him to sit between them, cautioning him not to be overheard.
“I really haven’t worn split pants for a long time,” Ping’an argued.
“Indeed,” Lin Yuebai soothed, “our Ping’an is already a big boy.”
Ping’an asked quietly: “Mother, if the Xiang Examination attracts so many people, wouldn’t the courtyard burst if someone passes the imperial examination?”
Lin Yuebai smiled: “If one truly becomes a palace graduate, there might not be more people than now.”
Ping’an looked puzzled: “Why?”
“Because if you want to get close to someone, it’s best to do so before they’ve gained influence.” On such matters, even if he didn’t fully understand, Lin Yuebai rarely treated him like a child.
“Hmm,” Ping’an nodded seriously, “so we should make friends with people before they become powerful.”
Lin Yuebai added: “Making friends is another matter entirely.”
Ping’an pressed: “What other matter?”
“Let your father explain.” Lin Yuebai looked at Chen Yan: “Mother’s knowledge doesn’t compare to even one-tenth of Father’s.”
Chen Yan smiled wryly – she was still holding a grudge.
Ping’an shook Chen Yan’s arm: “Father, what other matter?”
Chen Yan said, “One must be cautious when making friends. Confucius spoke of three beneficial types of friends: those who are straightforward, forgiving, and knowledgeable. These are the principles of friendship.”
Ping’an turned to his mother instead. “I can’t understand what Father is saying. Mother’s knowledge is much better.”
After speaking, he shot Chen Yan a look of exasperation, as if lamenting his father’s inadequacy. He truly worried himself sick over this disappointing dad.
Lin Yuebai also cast a challenging glance at Chen Yan.
Chen Yan frowned slightly in mock annoyance. “What are you looking at? Shouldn’t the child be allowed to speak the truth?”
Lin Yuebai was finally amused by the father-son duo’s coordinated act.
Returning to the earlier topic, she said, “Let me give you an example, Mother. Suppose you made a mistake, and instead of pointing it out, your friend made excuses for you. What would you do?”
Ping’an thought for a long while, then said with utmost seriousness, “He’d be comforting me.”
Chen Yan burned his mouth on a sip of hot tea. Setting down the cup, he told him, “Such a friend would blur your sense of right and wrong.”
“If I already know I’ve done wrong, and he doesn’t comfort me, should he just keep scolding me instead?” Ping’an shook his head decisively. “I don’t want that kind of friend.”
Lin Yuebai: …
“Alright, that was a poor example from Mother.” Lin Yuebai continued, “Then suppose you’ve reached school age, but your friend is shallow and ignorant, advising you not to study or improve yourself. What would you do?”
Ping’an asked cautiously, “Does he know how to fight crickets?”
Lin Yuebai said, “Yes.”
Ping’an smiled. “Then I’ll just fight crickets with him and not go to school together.”
Lin Yuebai: Hiss—
That wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
“What if a friend urged you into danger, telling you that if you didn’t dare, you’d be a coward? What would you do?”
Ping’an said, “It depends on the situation. If it’s easy enough, I wouldn’t want him to look down on me.”
His biological parents nearly choked.
Just as they were about to continue reasoning with him, they saw Chen Laoye approaching. He called Chen Yan to go toast guests at the front, while Lin Yuebai needed to return to attending the female guests. Ping’an was promptly taken away by his grandfather.
The front courtyard was unusually lively, with people raising glasses in cheerful toasts, laughing and chatting merrily as they recounted their close relationships with Chen Yan—for instance, how someone had held A Yan when he still wore open-crotch pants, and so on.
With no idle adults or spare space for children to run around, Chen Laoye also urged Ping’an to get closer to the two cousins brought by Second Granduncle.
“An Ge’er has no uncles or brothers of his own, so he should naturally interact more with cousins from other branches,” Chen Laoye said.
Second Granduncle’s grandsons, Chen Pingji and Chen Pingxin, aged ten and seven respectively, were at that universally annoying age. Spoiled by their parents and grandparents, they were particularly unruly.
They were ringleaders in skipping school and frontline fighters in brawls. Moreover, a year ago, Chen Pingji had bullied him. Back then, Ping’an was too young to fight back, and with Cousin Uncle Chen Lang being biased and protective, Chen Pingji had faced no punishment.
“I’m not going,” Ping’an firmly refused.
Although he’d been trying to act mischievous lately, he had no desire to play with genuine troublemakers. Now that he had made friends with A Man and Xiao Fulu, he wanted even less to do with them.
Just as he thought to take Aji to Third Granduncle’s residence, he saw the two troublemakers picking up numerous dud firecrackers from the ground. They broke one open, lit it, and threw it into Aji’s little wooden doghouse.
Dogs, with their sensitive hearing and smell, are terrified of firecrackers.
The dud firecracker sputtered with sparks, frightening Aji into fleeing in panic. The two troublemakers responded with a burst of unpleasant, mocking laughter.
Ping’an thumped the dining table with a “thud” and called out, “Aji.”
Aji immediately bounded over, placing its front paws on Ping’an’s lap. Ping’an stroked its round canine head, inspected its fur, then pulled out a secretly stashed chicken leg, tearing it into strips to feed the dog.
After finishing the entire chicken leg, he wiped his small hands clean and left the table with A Man, Xiao Fulu, and Aji.
“Where are you going?” Chen Laoye asked.
“I want to spend more time with my cousin!”