It felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck right above the heads of Oldest Song and Second Song and his wife. A blinding light exploded before their eyes, making it impossible to open them.
A Juren! He really passed the provincial exam to become a Juren! And so quickly, taking first place no less—they couldn't even dare to imagine it.
Was it really that easy to pass the provincial exam? Their own son hadn't even managed to pass the entry-level exams, yet their nephew was already a Juren!
Old Man Song's legs gave out, causing him to stumble back two steps. His right hand hurriedly grabbed Old Lady Song's arm to steady himself, his clouded eyes bursting with a dazzling light.
He took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself, raised his head, and asked, his voice panting slightly, "He went to the capital?"
The village chief nodded. "Yes, my Gaoli went along with him. They said they needed to leave enough time to prepare for the spring imperial examination and would return after it's over. By now, they've probably been on the road for six or seven days."
Old Man Song clutched the letter tightly as he returned home. He slumped heavily into a chair, still not entirely recovered from the shock.
Second Song crossed his arms and complained, "Such a huge matter and Qiming didn't even come back for a visit. It wouldn't have been too late to wait another two months before heading to the capital."
Second Aunt Song pursed her lips, feeling exceptionally dissatisfied in her heart.
He had already passed the provincial exam, yet he only sent back such a meager amount of things. Aside from the two elders, the rest of them, his aunts and uncles, got absolutely nothing. He clearly had no respect for them at all. It was simply too much.
Old Man Song looked up, glaring sharply at Second Song. "What if he freezes and ruins his health traveling to the capital in the dead of winter? The spring exam is in February. It's better to go early to avoid falling ill from the change in climate, and it gives him more time to study."
Sitting to the side, Old Lady Song nodded in agreement. "That's right, a round trip would take more than half a month. The exam is much more important."
"Old man, we should tell Third Song such wonderful news. I'll go get the paper money."
Old Man Song clenched his fists, nodding as he stood up. "Yes, we must tell Third Song. We'll go right now."
Watching his parents busy themselves, Oldest Song prepared to head home to call Elder Aunt Song to go with them.
On the way back, thinking of Song Yongnian who was still studying at the private school, he felt an empty void in his heart. It felt as though there was a vast distance between them, something he could never quite reach or grasp, leaving him feeling unsettled.
In front of the graves at the foot of the mountain, looking out at the mounds scattered in the distance, only the tombstone of Third Song and his wife was made of high-quality bluestone. Even the area right in front of the tombstone was paved with stone bricks, covering a large space.
Old Man Song squatted in front of the tombstone, pouring wine into a cup. "Third Song, Qiming has become a Juren. When he becomes a high-ranking official in the future, you'll be the father of a nobleman. Our Song family finally has a worthy successor."
The flames in the clay basin burned higher and higher. The yellow firelight danced in the wind, as if someone had truly come to visit.
Lying in bed that night, Second Aunt Song couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
She opened her eyes, rolled over, and said to Second Song, "Jinzhao said in her letter that the silver from selling this year's village rent doesn't need to be sent to Anyang Prefecture anymore. She told your parents to keep it for themselves. What do you think about that?"
After Old Man Song forcefully took back the land rented by the second branch last year, the fourteen acres belonging to the third branch were now rented out, half to the eldest branch and half to Tudan's family. It was almost time to harvest the rice. Based on this year's yield, there would be at least seven or eight taels of silver.
Second Song opened his eyes and turned his head away. "What can we do? Even if we wanted it, Father wouldn't give it to us. He's getting more and more impatient with me. Even if he gave it to Big Brother, he wouldn't give it to me."
Second Aunt Song kicked Second Song in the calf. "Why are you so useless? What do your parents need so much money for at their age? Jinzhao buys everything for them anyway. That money should be spent on the younger generation. Think of a way! If the eldest branch asks for it first, you won't even have a place to cry."
"I'm even worried that Father won't collect Big Brother's rent this year. Half of it saved up is worth several taels of silver."
Second Song sat up instantly. The moonlight shone on his face, his expression somewhat dark and heavy.
"You're right. Before, when the silver from the sold grain had to be given to Jinzhao, Big Brother had no choice but to pay. Now that it's all being left for Father and Mother, if he doesn't want to give it to them, they definitely won't force him. We're losing out big time."
Second Aunt Song sat up too. "And I'm worried it won't just be this year. Maybe Jinzhao won't even want the rent for those fourteen acres in the future. She's a Township Princess now, her business in the city is so big, and Qiming just became a Juren. She definitely doesn't care about this little bit of money anymore."
Thinking of this, Second Aunt Song began to sigh again. "The third branch has struck it rich. Who knows how wonderful their lives will be from now on. Meanwhile, we elders still have to work in the fields. Just a little bit leaking through their fingers would be enough for us to enjoy a life of ease."
"If we had known, we should have taken those children in to raise right after the third brother and his wife died. Then things wouldn't have turned out like this."
Second Song lay back down on his pillow. "Agreeing to adopt her to bring good luck wasn't my idea alone. Who knew Jinzhao would be so capable? Not only can she make money, but she also supported Qiming through his studies. It's too late to dwell on the past now!"
Even though Song Qiming and Song Gaoli hadn't returned, Old Man Song and Song Mancang still hosted a banquet at home while the news was hot. They were determined to let all their relatives and friends know that their grandsons were now esteemed Juren.
They even opened the village ancestral hall. As the elders, Song Mancang and Old Man Song entered the inner hall to offer sacrifices to the ancestors on behalf of Song Gaoli and Song Qiming.
For nearly half a month, the entire Song Family Village gossiped about Song Qiming and Song Gaoli passing the provincial exam, constantly discussing whether they would be able to pass the metropolitan exam and become high-ranking officials.
