Chapter 232: Chapter 100: His Jealousy (Part 2)

Xu Su Ying pointed at De’an’s nose, ready to scold him. But then she remembered—he *had* passed the Child Examination, so she should at least give him a pleasant look.

So she lowered her hand and swallowed the curses on the tip of her tongue.

But Zhao Jing was still Xu Su Ying’s favorite. She turned to him and said, "My dear boy, you really did become the top student! That’s incredible. A seventeen-year-old top student—you’re the first in all of Qingshui County."

Zhao Jing smiled and said modestly, "Mother, I was just lucky."

"What do you mean, lucky? This is pure talent. Keep it up, Jing. If you place first in the Prefecture and College Examinations too, you’ll achieve the ’minor triple crown’ for us."

Chen De’an ribbed his mother, "Before he’d even passed the county exam, all you wanted was for Jing to pass. When Jing placed first in a few rounds, you started hoping he’d be the top student. Now that he’s come home as the top student, you’re already aiming for the minor triple crown. Mother, you’ve really taken the saying ’give an inch, take a mile’ to heart."

Having reached the end of her patience, Xu Su Ying didn’t hold back and slapped her son.

"Ever since you became a Student, you’re getting too big for your britches."

"Ouch! Ah, that feels much better. That’s more like it! Mother, you should talk to me like this from now on. When you’re all nice and gentle, it gives me the creeps."

Xu Su Ying snapped at De’an, "You’re just a wild boar that can’t appreciate fine bran."

De’an cackled. "Mother, you call that fine bran? At best, it’s a handful of coarse grain."

The mother and son continued their chaotic back-and-forth for another moment before finally settling down.

Inevitably, the conversation turned to the Prefecture and College Examinations.

Passing the county exam didn’t automatically make one a Scholar.

At most, passing the county exam granted one the status of a Student, which was essentially just an admission ticket to the Prefecture Examination.

Only by passing both the Prefecture and College Examinations could one earn the title of Scholar.

The entire process, from the county exam to the prefecture exam and finally the college exam, involved roughly eleven separate tests. This alone was a testament to the difficulty of becoming a Scholar.

But not continuing was out of the question. The status of a Student was not a formal rank; it didn’t exempt one from labor conscription, grant the privilege of not having to bow before officials, or entitle one to the grain and silver stipends distributed by the court.

If one became a Student and went no further, all the years of expenses would have been for nothing.

Only by becoming a Scholar could one enjoy tangible benefits, allowing one’s family to share in the glory and making it possible to finally recoup the investment.

Of course, Zhao Jing planned to take the upcoming Prefecture and College Examinations, as did De’an.

However, the Prefecture Examination wouldn’t be held until April, and it was not yet mid-February. There was still plenty of time.

The first thing to do was return to the Zhao Village to share the good news with everyone and offer incense to their ancestors.

"It’s too late to arrange it for today. We’ll all go back together tomorrow."

Zhao Jing, of course, had no reason to disagree.

Xu Su Ying added, "But I’m afraid you two won’t be able to stay in the village for long."

"First, the County Magistrate is sure to host a celebratory banquet for all the new Students. As the top student of the county, Jing’s attendance is essential—he can’t be absent even if others are."

"Second, you can’t just lock yourselves away to study. You need to socialize."

"The other Students who passed with you will be valuable connections in the future. Whether you ever need to call on them or not, it’s never a bad idea to befriend one or two who are of good character and share your interests."

"Third, the Prefecture Examination is in April, which means you’ll have to leave by mid-March at the latest. You’ll need time to settle in at the Prefecture, get acclimated, and even inquire about the examiners’ preferences. None of that can be done in a day or two."

"It’s already mid-February, and in the meantime, there will be banquets to attend and trips to the county government to collect official documents, travel permits, and so on. You can’t handle any of that from the village."

"Perhaps after all that is taken care of, Jing might be able to return to the Zhao Village for a few days before leaving for the Prefecture."

"But on this trip, you won’t be able to stay. You’ll have to come right back with us."

As Xu Su Ying grew more animated, she suddenly remembered they should buy some incense, candles, and joss paper on their way back tomorrow, so Zhao Jing could burn them as an offering to Mr. Zhao.

Mr. Zhao, in the afterlife, would surely be bursting with pride if he could see how outstanding his son has become.

She added that they should buy some for the Chen family’s ancestors as well.

After all, Chen Song’s grandmother had personally raised him for several years. She had been a good woman; even on her deathbed, she had repeatedly urged her son to take good care of Chen Song.

And though Chen Dachang had failed to do so, that wasn’t his mother’s fault. The old woman deserved to hear the good news, so they should tell her.

Furthermore, since her own biological grandson had made something of himself, they also had to inform De’an’s own grandmother.

Listening to his mother’s last few remarks, Chen De’an couldn’t help but grimace.

’It’ll be a miracle if Great-Grandmother is happy about this tomorrow,’ he thought. ’My own grandmother, though, she’ll probably be thrilled.’

’If I’m not mistaken, Li Cun is definitely taking his mother to the Zhao Village to break off the engagement—this afternoon at the earliest, tomorrow morning at the latest.’