Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 50: The Crows Bring Congratulations, He Returns Home in Glory
The long list, with each name neatly written on it, represents a change in fate.

Chen Jin's name was ranked eleventh, which wasn't a high ranking, but he still passed.

It's good that I won...

For a long time, the imperial examination system seemed like a curse, hanging over his head.

From initial high spirits to gradually becoming disbelieving, and then to despondency... Over the past ten years, I have tasted all kinds of emotions, and all sorts of feelings have been suppressed in my heart, which has become an unsolvable obsession.

Even after Kui Xing appeared to him, and he learned swordsmanship and practiced qi cultivation, this obsession still lingered in his heart.

Now that I have passed the exam and obtained the title of Xiucai, it is like a silted-up river channel has finally been dredged open, allowing the pent-up water to flow out.

It is neither a gushing spring nor a raging torrent, but simply flows gently.

Therefore, his expression remained calm, and he did not display any strong emotions.

"I'm hit! I'm hit!"

The one who went mad was none other than Wang Fu beside him. His eyes widened, and when he saw his name listed twenty-third, he jumped three feet high and roared at the top of his lungs.

The surrounding crowd, like crows, all turned their heads to look, filled with envy, and then continued to crane their necks to search for their own names on the list.

"Brother Chen, we've all won."

Wang Fu hugged Chen Jin tightly and burst into tears.

Chen Jin was somewhat saddened by his words and comforted him, saying, "Brother Wang, it's time to go back and hold a banquet to celebrate."

"Yes! Let's go together to my house."

The two squeezed through the crowd, boarded the carriage, and returned to the Wang family.

Wang Yuanshan and his wife, along with Wang Fu's wife and children, had been eagerly waiting at home. Upon hearing that they had won, they cheered with joy.

Wang Yuanshan immediately ordered the kitchen to slaughter chickens and sheep and prepare a grand feast.

Now that Wang Fu has passed the imperial examination and Chen Jin has also passed, their status and relationship have changed dramatically. The two have been upgraded from "classmates" to "fellow graduates," and their relationship has taken a big step forward. They now address each other as "elder brother."

The Wang family's attitude towards Chen Jin also changed drastically, treating him as an honored guest. This was because Wang Fu had always emphasized that his enlightenment and return to the right path were largely due to Chen Jin's teachings and example.

Chen Jin did not take credit for this, but instead thanked Wang Fu for his generosity in lending him the books, from which he benefited greatly.

Wang Yuanshan appreciated Chen Jin's humble attitude even more, realizing he had truly misunderstood him before. He only regretted not having a daughter; otherwise, a marriage between them would surely have been a beautiful story.

Wang Fu then sent someone to invite Shi Qifeng to join the celebration.

This gathering was truly filled with relatives and friends, toasting and enjoying themselves immensely.

After the drinking session, they returned home.

Back at the sword shop, Shi Qifeng began tidying up the carriage, knowing that Chen Jin would definitely come home to share the good news.

Datang Township is Mr. [Name]'s true home turf.

Chen Jin returned to his room in the backyard to pack his things. With a flapping sound, the figure of Xiao Ci, the red-eyed crow, appeared on the windowsill.

A while ago, it told Chen Jin that it needed to go back to the mountains. And that flight lasted for more than a month.

The so-called "big mountain" is the place where the woodcutter discovered the crow's large nest.

Xiao Ci is going back to find her relatives.

Chen Jin naturally wouldn't stop him from doing so. In fact, the relationship between him and the other party was rather complicated. They weren't master and servant, nor were they bound by contract; rather, it was more like a teacher-student relationship.

Now that it has returned, Chen Jin asked, "Xiao Ci, have you found any clues?"

Xiao Ci shook her head, her mood slightly downcast, and said, "No, we can't even find that big nest. I'm starting to wonder if the woodcutter lied to me." Chen Jin couldn't say anything about this, so he could only comfort her, "It's alright, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future, you can look for it slowly."

Xiao Ci hummed in agreement, then suddenly asked, "Sir, do you not like me coming back at this time?"

Chen Jin was taken aback: "What makes you say that?"

"Because I am a crow! Crows symbolize bad luck, and today is the joyous day of your passing the imperial examination. My appearance will spoil the auspicious omen. Alas, it's all my fault for being in such a hurry to come and congratulate you, forgetting that my status is inappropriate."

"Hehe, it's okay, I don't believe in those things."

Chen Jin laughed and said, "Besides, the idea that crows have an ominous connotation is a later interpretation. In the past, crows were auspicious symbols, and there are even records of the divine bird Golden Crow, which could also serve as a harbinger of good news. Ultimately, whether something is auspicious or inauspicious depends on people's likes and dislikes, and there is no single standard."

"Really?"

Xiao Ci became happy.

Chen Jin said earnestly, "Isn't that right? I've been studying and reviewing my lessons with you all the time. If it were really an unlucky day, how could I have passed the imperial examination and become a scholar? In fact, it must be because of your auspicious blessing that my luck has turned around."

Xiao Ci was overjoyed: "Sir, you are so kind."

Chen Jin said, "I'm going home now, and I'll probably stay in the countryside for a while. Do you want to come with me?"

Xiao Ci was eager to try, but after thinking about it, she said, "I won't go. I heard that a new official has taken office in the county. I'll go and find out what valuable information I can get."

It was a clever crow, fully aware that although the gentleman was reasonable, understanding, and showed no discrimination, the villagers, including the gentleman's family, held a deep-seated prejudice that made it difficult to welcome its arrival.

Chen Jin pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright then."

The red-eyed crow immediately folded its wings as if making a gesture of respect, and loudly congratulated the crow: "Caw caw, Xiao Ci congratulates you, sir! Congratulations! You are a man of great talent and learning, having passed the county-level exam, the provincial-level exam, and achieved the triple crown!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jin couldn't help but laugh, his face beaming with joy.

……

The carriage left the city and headed straight for Datang Township. When it arrived at the village entrance, it saw a large, densely packed crowd.

Standing at the very front, aren't those my uncles and the others?

It turned out that they had already received the news that Chen Jin had passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. They figured out the time and went to wait outside the village entrance.

The villagers, of course, wouldn't miss such a scene, and they spontaneously gathered together, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Datang Township has a shallow cultural heritage; to date, the best person it has produced is a scholar.

Including Chen Jin, there are only two in total, namely Chen Jin and his son.

For the villagers, passing the imperial examination and obtaining the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) was considered a true triumphant return home.

Chen Jin got out of the car, cupped his hands in greeting to express his gratitude. Shi Qifeng had already prepared the wedding money, reached into his cloth bag, grabbed a handful of copper coins, and turned them into a rain of money.

"Scholar, you're so generous!"

Congratulations, Scholar Chen!

The villagers were overjoyed and rushed to collect the copper coins.

Actually, the amount of money isn't much; if each person finds it, it's only three or five coins. The key is that this money is considered auspicious, carrying good fortune and talent. Taking it home to keep, or placing it under a pillow, or stringing it together for children to wear, can bring good luck and destiny to the family.

Chen Yuan stood upright, his face flushed, and he and his son Chen Zhi each stood on one side, clearing a path for Chen Jin and escorting him all the way back to the gate of their home.

　Thank you to reader "Yingjun" for the generous donation!

　　It feels like this book really doesn't have many opportunities for exposure and traffic generation, which is disheartening!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)