Scholar Liu Pays a Visit

Martial Scholar?

A Xiucai lord!

Fang Mu's second son, that little Zhi'er, had become a Xiucai lord?

Every Fang Clan Member present who heard those words felt their minds turn to mush from the shock.

But they quickly came to their senses.

Hadn't they just been "pressuring" Fang Mu's family like this? Wouldn't that mean they had offended a Xiucai lord?

If the Xiucai lord decided to make trouble for them, what would they do then?

"Really? My Zhi'er truly became a Xiucai?"

Fang Yue's family was equally stunned. Only Chen Shi immediately recovered, her face breaking into a smile as she questioned the yamen runner who had come bearing the good news.

"Madam is correct. Your family's Fang Yue placed highly in Xiahe County's Martial Scholar Imperial Examination. He is now a genuine Xiucai lord," the yamen runner patiently explained.

Even though the woman before him was merely a simply dressed village wife, the sort of countrywoman who would normally tremble with fear and treat him with utmost respect at the sight of him, allowing him to bark orders at her as he pleased—when had he ever given such people a pleasant expression?

But things were different now. Her son had become a Martial Scholar. He had truly turned his life around and become a lord.

Moreover, given the Imperial Court's regard for martial masters, although a Martial Scholar was only a Xiucai, he already had one foot in officialdom, just like a Civil Martial Candidate.

If his family had sufficient influence, it was not impossible for him to seek out some minor official post.

Thus, although he ordinarily stood above common farmers and would beat and curse them at the slightest provocation,

before Fang Yue's family now, he was nearly bowing and scraping.

"Also, this is the land tax your family paid this year. County Magistrate had it returned to Master Fang. To make things easier, it was exchanged for silver. Once one becomes a Martial Scholar, one is naturally exempt from taxes."

Then one of the yamen runners handed a money pouch to Chen Shi.

The clinking of silver within instantly sent the surrounding Fang Clan Members into shock once more.

This time, not only had the yamen runners come to their village without collecting taxes—they had even come to deliver money!

Th-this was all because Fang Mu's second son had become a Xiucai lord?

Those yamen runners who ate people alive without even spitting out the bones were actually fawning over them like this?

For a time, the Fang Clan Members around them were hit by one unbelievable event after another, their mouths gaping wide enough to stuff several eggs into.

Chen Shi took the money and estimated that there were a full sixteen or seventeen taels of silver.

If they truly did the calculations, it was even a little more than the land tax their family had paid this year. Not only did they no longer need to pay taxes this year, they had actually come out ahead.

"Hehe, you gentlemen have worked hard. You came such a long way to bring news to our family. This is a small token of appreciation, so please do not stand on ceremony."

Chuckling, Chen Shi took out some copper coins and loose Silver Beans from her person and gave them to the yamen runners who had brought the news.

It was not much, worth around two taels of silver.

After accepting the money and offering another round of flattering words, the yamen runners took their leave.

"Clan Elder Fang Suo, look at the mess my home is in. If Zhi'er comes back and the house is still such a mess, wouldn't that disgrace my Zhi'er?"

Once Chen Shi had regained her senses, she immediately picked up the broom in the courtyard and put on a show of cleaning up. Naturally, she intended to drive away the Fang Clan Members gathered at her doorstep.

Earlier, she had not dared to make too much trouble with the clan, afraid that if relations completely broke down, her two sons and daughter would have difficult lives in the future.

But now, she no longer needed to worry.

No matter how vast heaven and earth might be, nothing was more important now than tidying up the house and waiting for the "Xiucai lord" to return.

"A Xiucai? Even Scholar Liu is courteous when he sees this old man."

Seeing Chen Shi begin to drive people away—especially when even he, a Fang Clan Elder, was being chased off—

Fang Suo immediately grew angry. With a cold snort, he said, "How can your family be so rude? Anyone who didn't know better would think your Zhi'er had become a Juren lord!"

"A Xiucai, a Xiucai is not even an official yet!"

This was him leaning on his age and status. As a Fang Clan Elder, Fang Suo held a lofty position within the great Fang clan of Daliushu Village.

He felt that even Scholar Liu treated him with great courtesy, and he also understood some matters concerning the Imperial Examination.

For instance, a Civil Scholar could only exempt his family from taxes and continue taking the examination for Juren.

And for another, a Civil Scholar could not become an official. If he failed to pass the Juren examination in the future, then that would be the end of it; at most, he could become a teacher or something of the sort.

Though he would be respected, his importance in the village was far inferior to Fang Suo's as a Clan Elder.

Thus, Chen Shi's blunt attempt to drive people away made Fang Suo feel that he had lost a great deal of face.

Even a Xiucai of the Fang Family had to respect him, a Clan Elder!

As for the other Fang Clan Members, they did not have Fang Suo's confidence.

Especially those who had received favors from Fang Yue's family—terror showed on their faces, and their bodies trembled. They had offended a Xiucai lord's family.

Would Master Fang deal with them in the future?

As for the others, those who had not spoken or had not pressured the Fang Family too much, they too regretted coming here. Their families were not truly unable to survive.

Why had they come here at all, hoping to gain a little petty advantage, only to end up offending someone?

And Fang Suo, the Clan Elder, even appeared determined to continue making a "scene."

They did not dare offend Xiucai Fang's family, but neither did they dare offend Fang Suo. For a moment, they could neither leave nor stay.

"Clan Elder, step aside. I need to sweep here! If you look down on my Zhi'er, then don't stay here. Why haven't you left already?"

As Chen Shi spoke, she swept the rubbish toward Fang Suo's feet.

"You!"

Fang Suo was so angered by Chen Shi at this point that he immediately prepared to open his mouth and berate her.

But just then,

another commotion arose beyond the crowd.

"Master Liu is paying a visit. Those in front, make way."

Before Steward Liu appeared, his voice arrived first.

Then, with several servants clearing the path, a carriage came to a halt before Fang Yue's home.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Your Fang Yue has placed highly and become a Martial Scholar. This is the pride of our Daliushu Village!"

A gentle voice rang out. Dressed in silk and satin, the man appeared exceptionally wealthy amid the farmers around him, all clad in coarse hemp clothing.

This man was Liu Dezhen, the current head of the Liu landlord family. Although this Juren lord of the Liu Family usually lived in Xiahe County Town,

he had recently returned because of the tax troubles. Some people in Daliushu Village wished to make Land Donations to his family.

This was a major matter, and the Liu Family members in the village did not dare make the decision themselves, so Master Liu had returned.

Yet as a Juren lord, he had stayed at home all this while and rarely showed himself.

No one had expected him to come to Fang Yue's home today.

And he had come to congratulate Fang Yue on passing the Martial Scholar examination.

He was a Juren lord, while the other party was merely a Xiucai.

Why was a Juren lord visiting the Fang Family?

The Fang Clan Members nearby were once again struck dumb with shock.

"This is just a small token of appreciation, a trifling gift, not worthy of respect."

Scholar Liu continued with a smile. At his words, several servants behind him immediately carried over some gifts.

More than a dozen bolts of silk, a large chest of pastries and fruit, and five jars of wine.

All of them were fine things that ordinary country farmers would never even see in their daily lives.

In terms of value, they were worth at least fifty taels of silver.

What a grand gesture. Scholar Liu had truly made a grand gesture.

"Hehe, did you people also hear about Xiucai Fang and come intending to make Land Donations?"