Chapter 72: Reactions in the Village Upon Hearing the News

As soon as they entered the Li Family Village, their grand procession immediately caught the attention of the elders gathered at the village entrance, chatting away.

"Why do I hear the sound of drums and gongs? I haven't heard of any family celebrating a wedding today!"

No sooner had the words left their lips than they saw men dressed as government officers, led by several dignified-looking middle-aged men.

The villagers, though uncertain of the occasion, could tell from such a spectacle that something good was about to happen in their village.

At the head of the group, a government officer held aloft a striking announcement scroll, the words "Congratulations on Passing the Imperial Exam" gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. Behind him, his colleagues beat drums and gongs in jubilation.

A crowd of children ran after the procession, delighting in the excitement.

Within the village, people whispered to one another, "Uncle Third, aren't you literate? What does that say?"

The man addressed as Uncle Third suddenly slapped his thigh in excitement, "It says congratulations on passing the exam! Someone from our village has become a scholar!"

"What?!"

"Could it be Da Ping's son, Su? He's the only one from our village who took the exam this year."

"Come on, let's follow them!"

Following the officers, the villagers trailed behind to the doorway of Li Da Ping’s house, their faces alight with envy and astonishment. "It really is Su, Da Ping's son! I remember the fortune teller saying the boy was born to study, and it seems he was right."

"Didn't you say Da Ping's family was foolish for believing that fortune teller?"

"Come now, when did I ever say that?"

The officers stopped at Li Su's door. The leading officer took a deep breath and shouted, "Is the Li family present? Congratulations! Young Master Li Su has passed the imperial exam for scholars, and has placed first in the county, prefectural, and academy examinations—winning the Lesser Triple Crown!"

Inside the courtyard, hurried footsteps sounded.

"Did you hear that?"

"I did! Little Fourth has passed the imperial exam—and even the Triple Crown!" Li Zhengyi exclaimed, so excited he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

"You all go out and greet the officers; I'll go change my clothes. As the mother of Little Fourth, I can't lose face for him," Feng Cuicui said, hurrying to her room and grabbing the jar where she kept money as she went.

She had heard it was customary to reward the officers who brought such glad tidings.

Currently, it was Li Zhengqiang and Dong Fangfang who managed the business in the county town. Dong Fangfang, feeling almost fully recovered, had insisted Feng Cuicui stay home while she went to the shop with Li Zhengqiang.

Feng Cuicui had thought that, should Little Fourth pass the exam and the officers come to announce it, it was only right for her as his mother to be at home, so she hadn’t argued to go help in town.

Seeing Feng Cuicui disappear into the house, Li Da Ping and Li Zhengyi exchanged uncertain glances.

Li Da Ping thought to himself—he wanted to change his clothes too!

But they couldn't let the officers wait forever at the door. Straightening his clothes and taking a deep breath, Li Da Ping went to open the door.

Li Zhengyi and Jiang Yu quickly followed, nerves fluttering in their chests—they couldn’t miss such a moment.

Li Da Ping stammered, "Officer, is it true? Has my son, Little Fourth, really passed the imperial exam?"

The lead officer handed over the congratulatory letter. "It’s absolutely true! And he’s won the Triple Crown as well—the very first in Ningxin County’s history."

Li Da Ping and Li Zhengyi gasped. Little Fourth had truly done them proud.

The onlookers were astonished. "The county’s very first Triple Crown? My word, Da Ping’s son is really something!"

"This must be a star descended from the heavens—no other village for miles around has ever had such an honor."

"I always said that boy was clever. I knew he’d amount to something."

"If my own kids had even a tenth of his talent, I’d offer incense every day."

"Which direction did Da Ping’s family pray to for a son like that? I’ll have to ask so I can do the same."

At that moment, Feng Cuicui emerged, dressed neatly and looking spirited.

The crowd was taken aback. Was this really Da Ping's wife?

Even the officers thought to themselves—no wonder a family that could raise a Triple Crown scholar was a little different from the rest.

Feng Cuicui thought to herself that this outfit, made from cloth Little Fourth had bought her, had finally found its occasion. She’d been reluctant to wear it before, but now it served its purpose.

Smiling warmly, she enthusiastically handed out reward money to each officer, not the least bit reluctant.

For the first time, spending money brought her nothing but joy.

The rest of the Li family, watching Feng Cuicui manage everything with such ease, were filled with admiration. In truth, Feng Cuicui had run the shop in the county for some time, and her bearing had changed significantly.

Just then, Magistrate Li stepped forth. "Is Scholar Li not yet returned home? I am the magistrate of Ningxin County, and this is a small token of my esteem. I hope Scholar Li will continue to excel in the upcoming provincial and metropolitan exams."

A yamen attendant carried something forward, covered with a red cloth so none could see what was inside.

The crowd was even more surprised. They never expected the magistrate himself to appear—he must think very highly of this young man.

Feng Cuicui was flustered but honored. "Magistrate, Little Fourth has not yet returned. Thank you so much!"

The magistrate exchanged a few more words before he and the officers departed. Then the commotion at the Li family gate grew even livelier. Everyone, no longer holding back their voices, praised Li Su to the skies.

Yet not a single person thought any of it was exaggeration.

Grandfather and Grandmother Li soon arrived, and even the village head hurried over from his home, moving with an energy that belied his age.

When Grandfather Li arrived and saw the crowd blocking the entrance, everyone instinctively cleared a path for him.

He strode in and fixed his gaze on the plaque. “So Su has passed the scholar’s exam?”

Li Da Ping nodded vigorously. "Father, Little Fourth has even won the Triple Crown! Do you know what that means? It means he took first place in the county, prefectural, and academy exams, all in a row!"

He’d only just learned this himself from the officers and the magistrate.

Feng Cuicui added, “Father, Mother, this is the first time in our county anyone has won the Triple Crown. The magistrate himself even came to congratulate us.”

She felt her face glowing with pride. All those who’d once gossiped that their family was foolish to spend so much on Little Fourth’s studies, or who’d bad-mouthed him, now looked at her with envy and admiration.

Grandfather Li’s face blossomed with joy. “Good, good! Our Su has really brought honor to the family. Do you know when he’ll be home?”

“Now that the results are out, he should already be on his way, but it may take a few days to get back,” Feng Cuicui guessed.

“When Su gets home, we’ll host a grand banquet. If there’s not enough money, I’ll cover the rest!” Grandfather Li declared.

Feng Cuicui quickly replied, “Of course we’ll have a banquet, but how could we let you pay, Father? As his parents, it’s our duty. I don’t begrudge a single coin spent on this.”

At that moment, the village head arrived, nearly running out of his shoes. His youngest son could barely keep up behind him, wondering to himself—hadn’t Father just said his legs were bothering him lately?