Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 106 Meeting

He shouted as he patted his chest.

"From now on, we won't have to pay heavy taxes to the county government when we farm."

These words delighted the people of the clan.

"Oh!!! It's tax-free, no more taxes to pay."

"Shouye, you've raised an exceptionally good son."

The scene was bustling with noise.

Seeing this, Lu Deshou's eyes were filled with relief and excitement.

Then, he turned to the villagers who had gathered around and said loudly:

"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment and listen to what the old man has to say."

The clan chief's voice was authoritative: "Chuanzi is a thoughtful child. He just achieved great success and returned home with gifts for everyone."

"In our Lu Family Village, friendship is the most important thing. But it is precisely at times like these that we must not break the rules or lose our manners."

The clan chief looked at the young men whose eyes were shining and laughed, scolding them, "Look at you all, so useless. Chuanzi is now a scholar. According to custom, when he returns to his hometown, he must first settle down and then visit each household according to seniority and rank."

"What kind of logic is it for everyone to crowd around the village entrance and rob things? Everyone, go home and wait. Once Chuanzi has caught his breath, he will naturally come to visit you all."

The clan chief spoke, and the proposal was immediately approved by everyone.

The villagers valued reciprocity and respect for elders and juniors, especially since Lu Chuan was now a scholar. Everyone smiled and nodded in agreement, then spontaneously dispersed to go home and sweep their courtyards, eagerly awaiting his arrival.

After finally getting the oxcart back to his own yard, Lu Chuan didn't even have time to drink a sip of hot tea before heading out with his bundle, accompanied by his father.

Since we were going to make a visit, we naturally had to start with the oldest and most respected person in the village.

The first family was that of clan leader Lu Deshou.

When Lu Chuan arrived at the clan chief's house, the old clan chief was sitting in the main room waiting for him.

"Nephew Lu Chuan pays his respects to the clan chief."

As soon as Lu Chuan entered, he respectfully handed over two boxes of almond shortbread and pine nut candy that he had brought back from the prefectural city.

In the village, it was considered a rare sight.

The clan chief nodded repeatedly and said, "Good child, it's kind of you that even now that you're a master, you still think of this old man."

"Uncle, please enjoy this pastry with some Shaoxing wine tonight. The Lu family is so fortunate to have produced such a kind and righteous prodigy as you. Our ancestors can rest in peace in the afterlife."

After bidding farewell to the clan chief, Lu Chuan hurried past several houses before arriving at his sixth uncle's courtyard.

"Sixth Uncle, Chuan'er has come to see you."

As soon as Lu Chuan entered, he placed two bolts of fine cotton cloth on the wooden table.

"This fabric is thick and of good quality, from the cloth shops in the prefectural city."

"Sixth Uncle, winter is just around the corner. You should use this cloth to make two new coats, stuff them with new cotton, and you won't feel cold in the winter anymore."

Uncle Liu's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Finally, Lu Chuan arrived at his seventh uncle's house.

Lu Chuan was initially taught by his seventh uncle, one word at a time.

Upon entering the main room, Lu Chuan saw that his seventh uncle had cleaned the house spotlessly and was sitting there upright, but his eyes were fixed on Lu Chuan's blue robe, unable to look away.

Lu Chuan strode forward and took a wooden box out of his bundle.

"Seventh Uncle, I know that you have always loved studying the classics. This is a set of 'Collected Annotations on the Four Books and Five Classics' that I specially found in the prefectural city. It also contains explanations copied by great scholars. I am offering this as a token of my appreciation to you, Seventh Uncle."

However, Uncle Qi didn't even glance at this unique set of annotations.

The old man's hand slowly touched Lu Chuan's clothes.

"Qingjin, it really is Qingjin."

Uncle Qi touched the hem of the garment, tears welling up in his eyes.

He touched it while crying.

"God, my life has been worthwhile, truly worthwhile."

He looked at Lu Chuan and said, "Chuanzi, you don't know, this blue robe is what this old man has always dreamed of."

"I started my studies at the age of fourteen. I stayed up so long in the examination hall that my hair turned white, but in the end, my knowledge was still insufficient, and I remained a mere child prodigy for the rest of my life."

"Today, the old man finally saw with his own eyes the young man of the Lu family wearing this outfit."

Seeing his mentor crying uncontrollably, Lu Chuan sighed inwardly. He didn't say much, but simply bent down slightly, letting the old man hold him, thus fulfilling his obsession.

By the time Lu Chuan finished visiting the last family, it was completely dark.

At this moment, in the wooden house of the old clan chief Lu Deshou, several oil lamps illuminated the main room.

The village's most senior elders, along with Lu Shouye, were all summoned for an overnight meeting.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lu Deshou announced, "Shouye, Chuanzi is a promising young man who has brought great honor to our Lu family."

"Everyone was in high spirits during the day, but I asked everyone to go home first so that we could set the rules for tonight."

"Our Lu family has never produced a scholar, let alone Chuanzi who came in second place. Tomorrow morning, listen to my command, open the ancestral hall, and worship our ancestors."

"This is not only a major event for our village, but also a rare event for the surrounding area."

"Not only will the entire village be there, but we'll also send invitations to the neighboring villages so we can celebrate together."

Upon hearing that such a grand event was to be held, the clan elder in charge of weddings and funerals made some plans in his mind.

"De Shou, opening the ancestral hall to worship our ancestors and inviting the surrounding neighbors to celebrate together will require dozens of tables of banquet."

"What should we do about the procurement? What do we need to buy tomorrow? We need to have a general idea of ​​how much it will cost."

Upon hearing this, Lu Deshou glared and declared with boundless pride, "What to buy? Is that even a question?! This time, we must hold a grand and spectacular event!"

He instructed, "Shouye, tomorrow morning, take two quick-handed men to buy half a pig, and then have the village women go door to door to collect twenty chickens."

"Uncle, what about the fish? At a banquet, the tradition of 'abundance year after year' is essential," someone reminded him from the side.

Upon hearing this, Lu Deshou burst into laughter and scolded, "Your brain is really stuffed with donkey dung! Why buy fish? You don't need to waste money on fish; just go catch some from the nearby pond."

"Tomorrow at daybreak, take the young men from the village who can swim, along with fishing nets and buckets, and head straight into those big ponds behind our village."

Upon hearing this, the men in the room rubbed their hands together excitedly.

"Alright, Uncle, just you wait and see. If I don't turn the pond upside down by tomorrow morning, I'll change my name."

"Half a pig, twenty chickens, and a basket full of fish."

"My God, we've never had such a lavish banquet in our lives."