When the head of the escort agency delivered the letter to Song Jinzhao's house, Old Man Song was in the courtyard chopping wood.
Fearing that the house would easily fall into disrepair if left unoccupied for too long, Old Man Song and Old Lady Song had simply moved in back in June, rather than having to thoroughly clean the whole place top to bottom every few days.
Carrying a chest, the escort leader stood at the door and called out, "Is Song Youshui home?"
Old Man Song looked up and stood. "That's me. What's the matter?"
The escort leader set the chest down on the stone table. "These are the things your granddaughter asked me to bring back from Anyang Prefecture, along with this letter."
Old Man Song opened the chest and took a look, finding several sets of new clothes inside—both thin and thick—as well as several pairs of new shoes.
Hearing the voices, Old Lady Song walked out of the kitchen. Seeing the items in the chest, her eyes filled with smiles.
"Last year's clothes are still perfectly fine. Why did this girl buy so much again?"
Old Man Song couldn't read. He opened the letter but couldn't understand it. Over the past few days, the village chief had repeatedly mentioned the provincial exams. Could it be that Qiming had passed and become a Juren?
Seeing his brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly, Old Lady Song spoke up, "Don't tear the letter. We'll know what it says when Yongnian and the others get back."
Old Man Song folded the letter, clutched it in his hand, and walked out. "I can't wait. I'm going to find the village chief right now."
Second Song and his wife, their trouser legs covered in mud, bumped into him head-on, their faces carrying a trace of urgency.
"Father, I saw the people from the escort agency coming over. Did Jinzhao send things back?"
The couple had just returned from the fields and happened to run into the escort leader leaving on horseback. Few families in the village had connections with escort agency caravans. They stopped him to ask, and sure enough, it was related to Song Jinzhao.
Seeing the large wooden chest sitting on the stone table, Second Aunt Song leaned her head over to take a look.
My goodness, it was full of new clothes and new shoes. The sleeves even had embroidery, though the colors looked quite old-fashioned.
Pleasantly surprised, she looked up and asked Old Lady Song, "Mother, did Jinzhao send someone to bring all these back?"
Seeing that their attention was entirely on the chest, Old Man Song sighed and closed the lid. "These are all things Jinzhao sent for me and your mother."
With a signaling glance, Old Lady Song moved the chest into the room and then locked all the doors.
Seeing them locking the doors, Second Song thought the two elders were guarding against him and said in dissatisfaction, "Why lock the doors? Now there won't be any airflow."
Old Man Song pinched the letter and explained, "Yongnian and Yaozu aren't home. Your mother and I are going to the village chief's house to have your Uncle Mancang see what's written in the letter."
Second Song: "You can wait for Yaozu to come back to read it."
Old Lady Song shot him a glance. "It's only noon. Your father can't wait."
The couple exchanged a look. They also wanted to know what was written in the letter, so they followed along.
Passing by the old house, they picked up another person. Elder Aunt Song had to look after the children and couldn't come out, so Oldest Song tagged along to the village chief's house.
When the five of them reached the door, they found quite a few people standing in the courtyard. Aside from Song Mancang's family, the neighbors from both sides were surprisingly all there.
"What's going on? Why is everyone so happy?" Old Man Song asked in confusion.
Song Mancang, his hair disheveled, rushed up and threw his arms around Old Man Song. "Brother, my Gaoli also passed the exam and became a Juren! Our village suddenly has two Juren masters. Smoke is rising from our ancestral graves; it must be a blessing from the ancestors!"
Old Man Song, having been sprayed with spit, pushed Song Mancang away. His eyes carried a trace of uncertainty. "My Qiming passed and became a Juren?"
Song Mancang froze. "You didn't know? My Gaoli said he's going to the capital with Jinzhao and the others. Your Qiming definitely passed too."
The gazes of the other two families in the courtyard instantly focused on Old Man Song and his group.
More than one Juren master? Song Qiming passed as well?
Old Man Song blankly held up the letter. "I didn't know yet. Village Chief, help me read what's written in this letter."
Song Mancang didn't hesitate at all. He quickly took the letter and began to read.
"Grandfather, Qiming performed exceptionally well in the provincial exam and successfully achieved the title of Jieyuan. The spring exams are approaching, so we will set off for the capital in a few days. I'm afraid we won't be able to return home until the spring exams end next year. Inside the chest are gifts bought for you and Grandmother, and as for the rent for this year's autumn harvest, there is no need to..."
It took quite a while to read the letter, as Song Jinzhao had mentioned several things at once. Everyone in the courtyard heard it loud and clear. Song Mancang's hands started trembling from the very first sentence, and his voice sounded a bit breathless.
After finishing the letter, he stood motionless for a long time, until Old Man Song gave him a nudge.
"Village Chief, what is a Jieyuan?"
Song Mancang turned his stiff neck. He reached out, gripped Old Man Song's shoulders, and replied, "Jieyuan is the first place in the provincial exams. Brother, your Qiming is incredible."
To think it was first place! Gaoli had said he passed in last place, so he never expected Song Qiming to be first. With this result, he would definitely be able to pass the spring exams next year and become a Jinshi.
Old Man Song's lineage was truly going to strike it rich and rise to prominence. Their Song Village was about to produce a government official.
