Top Scholar

Chapter 399 is here again...

The Erlangtan area was brightly lit, and the banquet was still going on. The villagers were now rich but bored, and they had finally seized the opportunity to have a drink. They wouldn't stop until the middle of the night.

Halfway up the mountain, there is the Cheng Family Compound.

The proprietress and her mother were talking under the covers inside the house. Su Youcai and Cheng Xiucai were in the main room, warming wine and setting out some side dishes, drinking and chatting, with Cheng Chengcheng keeping them company and refilling their cups.

"Life is truly unpredictable," Cheng Xiucai couldn't help but sigh. "Three or four years ago, who could have imagined that our two clans would be as close as one family, and that we would become father-in-law and son-in-law?"

"Yes." Su Youcai felt very comfortable after being patted on the back by his father-in-law tonight, and after a few drinks, he gradually opened up.

"When my son Qiu suddenly said he wanted to study, I didn't have any hope at all. I only agreed to let him try because I didn't want to disappoint him. I never expected him to pass the exam and get into the academy, which made me so worried..."

"What's troubling you, brother-in-law?" Cheng Chengcheng asked.

"I'm so worried about the tuition," Su Youcai sighed. "The tuition and books cost three and a half taels of silver, and it kept me up all night. I had no choice but to go to Lanlan to collect the debt..."

The Cheng father and son secretly thought in unison, "Well done!"

Cheng Chengcheng poured wine for Su Youcai and said with a smile, "It's only been a few years? Your brother-in-law's family has undergone earth-shattering changes. They can afford to spend not just three or five taels, but thirty-five thousand."

"Don't talk nonsense! Your brother-in-law's family has big expenses, and he's not exactly flush with cash." Cheng Xiucai glared at Cheng Chengcheng, not wanting to scare his son-in-law and make him think he wanted to borrow money from him.

"However, my son-in-law has two outstanding sons, and I am now a husband myself. My future will certainly be dignified." He raised his wine cup again and smiled at Su Youcai, "We scholars don't need to live in luxury, but we must be dignified!"

“Father-in-law is right.” Su Youcai clinked glasses with him, took a long sip and sighed, “However, I would like to do something a little less dignified.”

"Do you perhaps wish to retake the exam?" Cheng Xiucai asked in surprise.

"Yes." Su Youcai nodded. Indeed, only scholars understand scholars.

"When we celebrated the baby's one-month birthday, didn't your father-in-law say that the children are all successful now, and you should take a break, enjoy your retirement, and stop causing trouble?" Cheng Chengcheng asked, puzzled.

"Am I forgetting the pain now that I'm not in the same boat?" Su Youcai said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Being carried out of the exam room was so embarrassing back then, I really never wanted to take the exam again."

"But seeing not only the children striving forward, but also my eldest brother and third brother achieving success, I can't just waste my youth and wait to die." He sighed as he spoke.

"As time went on, I became a useless person in my family's eyes. What dignity was left?"

"Which of those gentlemen in the city doesn't sit idly by every day, tending flowers, walking birds, drinking tea, and listening to music?" Cheng Chengcheng said. "Isn't that what so-called dignity is all about?"

“It’s not like that in my family,” Su Youcai shook his head and said, “Only those who are successful have dignity, and those who are unsuccessful have no dignity. The people my family despise the most are idlers and lazybones.”

As he said this, the image that flashed through his mind was his aunt's face, radiating sarcasm. When it came to putting pressure on the family, she was a true pressure cooker.

"No wonder your Su family is getting more and more prosperous every year. How could such a family tradition not prosper?" Scholar Cheng praised. "I support my son-in-law in continuing to take the exam. There is a saying that 'fifty is the age of becoming a Jinshi,' but you are only forty. You are definitely not old!"

"..." Su Youcai thought to himself, "They were talking about the Tang Dynasty. But with words like that, it's enough to get the gist." He nodded emphatically and said, "Besides, there are annual examinations at the academy, so I can't afford to slack off. I might as well work even harder, study diligently for three more years, and try again in the next grand competition!"

"Very well, come on." Scholar Cheng raised his cup happily and said, "To my son-in-law, may your ambitions never falter, and may you achieve your goals sooner or later!"

"Thank you for your support, Father-in-law." Su Youcai also happily raised his glass, finally finding his father-in-law agreeable.

"What are you going to do about your back?" Cheng Chengcheng asked.

"It's alright, it was just an accident last time, I'm all better now. At worst, I can have someone make a back brace for me to wear, just in case," Su Youcai said.

"No wonder he was able to raise two top scholars. With such a virtuous son-in-law as an example of perseverance, his two grandsons were able to work so hard without giving up!" Now, Cheng Xiucai found Su Youcai completely agreeable and even admired him more and more.

"Father-in-law, you flatter me." Su Youcai couldn't help but blush. His father-in-law had said the wrong thing. Actually, it was because his son had set a good example that he, as the father, felt embarrassed to lie down.

Brother Youcai still has too many principles; he can't bring himself to take advantage of his son with a clear conscience.

~~
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Su Tai and Su Lu, carrying offerings and flower seedlings, and shovels, went to the grave.

The journey involved traversing mountains and valleys along rugged paths. The two brothers and She Yunluo were naturally no problem. Only Huang E, who rarely even ventured far from home, was traversing such difficult mountain roads for the first time.

She refused the arranged sedan chair and insisted on walking to her mother-in-law's grave herself.

Huang E was a girl with an extremely strong character, and she kept her word, gritting her teeth and walking to the Su family's ancestral graves.

The two brothers, accompanied by their wives, first went to the graves of their ancestors to offer incense and kowtow in turn.

After paying respects to their ancestors, they arrived at a corner of the cemetery, where a tombstone stood without any inscription. Yesterday was the Cold Clothes Festival, and the clansmen had just offered sacrifices, so offerings were placed in front of the grave, and the weeds on the grave mound had been cleared away. Su Tai stood before the tombstone, his voice lowered slightly: "This is our mother's grave."

Upon hearing this, She Yunluo and Huang E became even more respectful. The two carefully took out the offerings they had brought and placed them neatly in front of the stele.

Then the two sisters-in-law took out clean handkerchiefs from their sleeves and carefully wiped the blank stele.

The two brothers then used shovels to add soil to the grave. They moved gently, adding new soil little by little to the top of the grave and filling in any depressions.

He then planted the four rhododendron seedlings he had brought in front of the grave and watered them with the water that Su Tai had carried in a sheepskin bag.

The tender green leaves swayed gently in the morning breeze, adding a touch of life to this desolate grave...

After doing all this, Su Tai lit incense and candles, and together with Su Lushe, Yunluo, and Huang E, kowtowed to his mother.

He knelt before the grave, gazing at the blank tombstone, his voice choked with emotion: "Mother, my brother and I have brought our wives to see you. Look, they're all doing well, aren't you satisfied..."

As she spoke, Su Tai began to sob, her grief overwhelming her. "My mother's life has been so hard. She was exiled with my grandfather, and after marrying into the family, disaster struck. She had to endure illness without complaint and never enjoyed a single day of happiness. Now, my brother and I have both passed the provincial examinations and are finally doing well. The family is better off now, but it has nothing to do with her anymore!"

She Yunluo quickly grasped his hand and comforted him, saying, "How can it be alright? When you become more successful in the future, you can get an imperial title for your mother-in-law, and she will be very happy in heaven."

"Yes." Su Tai nodded emphatically.

Su Lu knelt beside his second brother, silently weeping. He had no memory of this mother, yet he worshipped this tombstone as if it were his own mother…

At this moment, Huang E took out an article written on yellow paper from the basket. It was her handwritten "The Difficulty of Finding Color".

She carefully added Su Lu's article to the fire, and whispered to the leaping flames:

"Mother, I will take good care of Qiu-ge'er and not let him suffer any grievances. You can rest in peace in the afterlife."

Upon hearing this, She Yunluo quickly replied earnestly, "Mother-in-law, your daughter-in-law will take good care of Xia Ge'er and make sure he doesn't go hungry, so please don't worry!"

The mountain breeze rustled through the pine-covered hills, sounding like a mother's response.

A beautiful mallard duck flew overhead with its chicks, then spread its wings and soared into the sky, across the Chishui River, and out of the vast mountains...

~~
After visiting the graves, the three Su brothers went to visit the elders of each branch of the family, and of course, they also visited their maternal grandfather, Scholar Cheng's family.

Su Lu really wanted to visit Mr. Yangming, but the round trip would take too long, and as newlyweds, they couldn't always be out in the open. So he decided to write a letter to his teacher first and visit him later.

The next morning, the whole family went to the newly built Erlangtan Wharf, and with the help of their fellow villagers, they boarded a boat to return to Hejiang.
The return journey was smooth sailing, and we arrived at Jiangdongmen Wharf that afternoon.

After discussing it, the three brothers, Su Lu and Su Lu, decided to let their wives rest for two days before returning to their parents' home.

After resting at home for the second day, the brothers were talking with the old man when Steward Tian came running in from the front, panting, and said to Su Lu, "Young Master, Qian Ning is here again."

"Here we go again? This is never going to end!" The old man exploded in anger, pulling out his nine-section whip to give him a good whack. "We haven't settled the score from last time, and he dares to come back?!"

"Grandpa, don't worry about it." Su Man quickly pulled him aside and said, "Leave it to us."

Su Lu was wrapping betel leaf rolls for the old man. Hearing this, his movements were not affected at all. He simply said, "I know."

"This time, that guy surnamed Qian has brought an army!" Steward Tian said anxiously. "Both the front and back gates are blocked! There's nowhere to run!"

"You're quite skilled..." Upon hearing this, the old man's anger subsided considerably.

"Who said I was going to run away?" Su Lu remained calm and composed, saying, "I'm just waiting for him to come and catch me. Anyway, I was going to the capital to take the imperial examination anyway, so this will save me some travel expenses."

"Hahaha, the top scholar is really bold!" Qian Ning's cheerful laughter rang out in the courtyard.

Before the words were finished, a squad of Imperial Guards led a large contingent of soldiers in, their menacing appearance causing the servants of the mansion to scatter and flee in terror...

"Lord Commander, let's make a deal. Please don't harass my family." Su Lu smiled and said, "I promise I won't hurt myself."

Qian Ning's godsons secretly sneered upon hearing this. They thought he was trying to threaten his godfather like that? It was utterly absurd.

"Deal!" To everyone's surprise, Qian Ning breathed a sigh of relief and ordered in a deep voice, "Listen up, everyone! No one is allowed to harass the mansion. Come and go as you please! Anyone who dares to lay a hand on you, I'll chop off their claws!"

After saying that, he smiled at Su Lu and said, "Your wedding is over, the ancestral rites have been performed, and I've even visited your mother's grave. Haven't I been a good brother? Now you can finally help me write that article, right?!"

P.S. I'll revise this later, please vote with your monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)