Gaoling Village
"It’s so early, and that magpie has been chirping nonstop in the branches. I wonder what good news today will bring." Gu Sanbu looked up at the tree again, his voice full of anticipation.
"Father, it’s probably just a tired magpie stopping here to rest. What kind of good news could possibly happen in a poor, remote place like ours?" Dai Ling was clearing the soil in a corner of the courtyard, preparing to plant the wild orchids Gu Shulin had dug up from the hillside.
"That’s not necessarily true. Since we settled here, life has been tiring, but at least there’s hope for the future. Isn’t that good news in itself?"
Gu Sanbu beckoned his grandson, Gu Yi, over. "Yi, you’re six this year, right?"
Gu Yi said, "Grandpa, I’m already seven."
"Is that so?" Gu Sanbu patted his grandson’s head. "You’ve suffered a lot with us these past few years. Do you want to attend a private school?"
Gu Yi lowered his head, but quickly looked up with a smile. "Grandpa, I’ve learned a lot from my father. I’m already more than halfway through the *Thousand Character Classic*."
Gu Sanbu stroked his beard and nodded cheerfully. "Good. But your father is only a child student at best. If you really want to learn well, you need to study under a great master. Once the farm work is done, I’ll have your father ask around the area and see if there are any private schools nearby. We can’t let this be delayed."
Dai Ling straightened up in surprise. "Father, are you serious?"
Gu Sanbu said, "Of course I am. If it weren’t for the drought, our Yi would have started school long ago. If our family had held so official rank back then, we wouldn’t have ended up in this state."
Dai Ling secretly pursed her lips. ’My father-in-law is just daydreaming.’ On their journey, they had seen plenty of Scholars who were also fleeing the disaster.
It was just that those Scholars had so wealth, so they were able to leave a step ahead of everyone else in their horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts.
"Clan Leader, sothing incredible has happened! Big news!" Gu Kaishan burst in without even knocking.
Gu Sanbu’s expression changed, and he shot to his feet. "What happened?"
"Good news! Great news!" Gu Kaishan jumped up and down in the courtyard. "Our nephew, Seventh, passed the Scholar exam! A Governnt Official from the county seat just ca to announce it! They say he even ca in first place! What do you call that? The... head sothing?"
"That’s called being the top scorer," Gu Sanbu’s voice trembled. "You’re not mistaken? It’s really Lao Gouqi?"
"It’s absolutely true! How would I dare lie about sothing this huge? If you don’t believe , go see for yourself at the village entrance. The governnt officials are standing outside Seventh’s house right now. The young couple isn’t back yet, so everyone sent to get you to take charge."
Gu Sanbu left his grandson’s side and strode outside. "Have you notified Dashishi and the others?"
Gu Kaishan replied, "He’s been notified. Heizi already went to get him."
The old man laughed as he walked. "Good, good. This official rank ca at the perfect ti."
’The village was newly established. Although the Gu family made up the majority, there were other families who had been incorporated later. These people were now banding together, trying to contend for the position of village head.’
’Now that Ancient Wen Heng had earned the title of Scholar, and as the top scorer no less, those people would have to quiet down.’
Before they even reached the village entrance, they saw Gu Dashishi and Li Cuicui running toward them in a hurry.
"Dashishi, you’ve raised a fine son!"
Gu Dashishi’s face was full of smug satisfaction. "This kid really made us proud. He brought honor to the family without a peep."
Gu Sanbu knew Gu Dashishi’s character all too well. He led the way, hurrying toward the village entrance. "Have you prepared the reward money?"
"Reward money?" Gu Dashishi stopped in his tracks. "Why do we have to give reward money?"
Gu Kaishan said, "Brother Dash, don’t you even understand basic social etiquette? The Lord Officers ca all this way. You have to give them sothing for their trouble. Besides, with such great news, they’ll want a token for good luck. You can’t be stingy with this."
Li Cuicui felt her pockets, and her expression instantly turned sour. "We really didn’t prepare any. I’ll go back and get it."
She turned to leave but was stopped by Gu Sanbu. "I have two silver coins here. Take them and use them for now. You can pay back later."
"What? Silver coins?" Gu Dashishi cried out again, causing everyone present to frown in disapproval.
Even Liu Heizi, who usually didn’t concern himself with such matters, stared at Gu Dashishi in disbelief.
Sensing everyone’s displeasure, Gu Dashishi finally mumbled, "A few copper coins should be enough. Giving silver coins for just one trip, isn’t that a bit much?"
But Li Cuicui snatched the silver coins. "Thank you, Third Uncle. I’ll bring them to your house later."
Gu Dashishi started to speak again but was silenced by a fierce glare from Li Cuicui. "If you don’t know what you’re doing, then shut your mouth! If you dare ruin this wonderful day, I’ll make sure no one has an easy ti of it."
Recalling his wife’s past "glorious achievents," Gu Dashishi didn’t dare challenge her. He could only shrink his neck and quietly follow behind the group.
Outside their house at the village entrance, Ancient Wen Heng and his wife were not ho, so the crowd could only wait, blocking the main gate.
"They’re here!" soone with sharp eyes spotted the approaching group and shouted, as if their leader had finally arrived.
"Didn’t Seventh give you the key to his house?" Gu Sanbu glanced at the closed courtyard gate and turned to ask.
Gu Dashishi said, "Who knows? They didn’t say anything when they left, and it’s not like we could just ask them for it."
Li Cuicui yanked Gu Dashishi behind her to stop him from embarrassing himself further. "Lords," she said to the officials, "the young couple moved to the city to focus on their studies. Why don’t you co to our house to rest for a bit?"
"You are Scholar Gu’s parents?" one of the governnt officials asked. Once confird, he presented the victory announcent with both hands. "Congratulations. Your son is this examination’s top scorer. The Lord County Magistrate specifically sent us to deliver the good news."
Li Cuicui accepted the announcent with trembling hands, not forgetting to press the broken silver she had been clutching into the official’s hand. "Thank you, thank you. We’ve troubled you, Brother Officer."
"Since the good news has been delivered, we can return to report. Farewell." Seeing the broken silver in his hand, the governnt official’s smile beca even more sincere. ’It wasn’t easy getting this assignnt, but it looks like the trip was worth it.’
Gu Sanbu excitedly opened the announcent and shouted repeatedly, "Open the ancestral hall! Open the ancestral hall!"
Everyone fell silent. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to open the ancestral hall.
Gu Sanbu suddenly shed two streams of tears. "I have failed our ancestors!"
Just then, Gu Shulin ca over and supported the old man. "Father, we can rebuild. We can build our own Gu Family Ancestral Hall right here."
"That’s right! We’ll rebuild the ancestral hall! I, Gu Kaishan, may be unruly, but I’m willing to do my part. Whether it’s donating Silver, people, or labor, I will do so without hesitation!"
"You rascal, always showing off," Gu Datian slapped him on the back. "This is a major event for the Gu family! Everyone, young and old, will do their best. Am I right, everyone?"
"That’s right! Count in!"
"..."
User Comments
0 comments from readers