Chapter 161: 161. Chapter 161: My Son is a Scholar

161. Chapter 161: My Son is a Scholar

"Jiang, my son is now a scholar; even the County Magistrate has to show him three parts of respect! It's already giving you face that I didn't make you kneel to my son. You, this cheap woman, actually dare to be so disrespectful to him!"

Li Family Old Woman could not suppress her explosive temper at seeing Jiang Wei act so arrogantly before her. She immediately began to curse angrily in front of everyone, "I advise you to be sensible and quickly set out the food and invite us in! Otherwise, when I spread the word that you offended a scholar, let's see if you can still keep your reputation!"

Listening to Li Family Old Woman's shameless words, Jiang Xiaoxiao could almost not help but snort with laughter.

Even the County Magistrate has to show three parts of respect? Is this Li Family Old Woman overestimating her son too much?

He is just a lowly scholar, not even qualified to be an official; how can he be mentioned in the same breath as the County Magistrate who governs the entire county? This Li Family Old Woman must be having a hysterical episode!

Just as Jiang Xiaoxiao was about to open her mouth to strike back, Jiang Wei suddenly spoke up: "You want to sit at the table and eat? Fine. Dagang, go to the kitchen, move that empty table out, and set it up for them."

Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at Jiang Wei in surprise, not knowing what twisted idea her mother had come up with to actually agree to let the Li family sit at the table to eat.

The Li Zheng hurriedly gave his youngest son a wink, signaling him to go quickly.

Li Shoude is a scholar now; these mud-legged villagers dare not offend him. Since Xiaoxiao's mother is willing to turn hostility into friendship and invite them to eat, he naturally approves.

Liu Dahong moved with agility, went to the kitchen, and brought out a table, placing it right at the courtyard entrance—a very exclusionary spot.

The table was left over from the old house; it was dilapidated, short, and small, with many oil stains on the surface that couldn't be washed off. It looked very unclean and was usually used for stacking miscellaneous items.

Today, in order to show off in front of the villagers, Li Shoude had dressed up specifically. He wore a brand-new long gown, a square headcloth on his head, and boots he usually couldn't bear to wear on his feet. He looked every bit the part of a scholar.

Therefore, as soon as he saw this table, he was immediately displeased: "Third Sister-in-law, I am, after all, a person with the merit of a scholar. You would have me eat at such a dirty table?"

"If you don't want to eat, then don't. No one is forcing you to the table." Jiang Xiaoxiao, relying on her young age, muttered unhappily.

This Li Shoude really takes an inch and asks for a mile; does he really think he's some great scholar Lord?

Others might not know how he obtained this scholar merit, but she, who has read the original work, knows it very clearly. Don't think that something obtained through filthy means is foolproof!

"Li Er Ya, how are you speaking! Is this how your mother taught you!"

Li Shoude had been flattered by his family for the past few days and had become somewhat carried away. He immediately put on the airs of an elder to lecture her, "My Li family can now be considered a scholarly family. You are so young yet you dare to talk back to your elders; don't go out and disgrace the Li family's reputation later!"

"Heh, does your Li family even have a reputation to speak of?" Jiang Xiaoxiao retorted mercilessly. The mess that had happened in the Li family over the past few months had spread throughout the village. He still has the nerve to call himself a scholarly family; where does he get the face?

Jiang Wei swept a sharp gaze over the Li family and said coldly: "I have already had people set up the table for you. If you continue to pester and stir up trouble, I don't care if you are a scholar; I will immediately find people to throw you out!"

Li Family Old Woman felt Jiang Wei's gaze, which was as cold as an ice blade, and her neck subconsciously shrank.

She glanced at the food set on the table—it was a richness she had never seen before—and her eyes immediately widened.

Good heavens, cabbage stewed with pork, Mapo Tofu, egg-stuffed pancakes... these are good things you can't even eat during the New Year. This little cheap woman Jiang Shi is too generous!

Li Family Old Woman instantly forgot the purpose of this visit and hurriedly pulled Li Family Old Man to sit down. Making a scene, brawling, and taking advantage of others were her specialties. Even if there were a matter of heaven-shattering importance, she had to stuff this meal into her stomach first!

Li Family Old Man looked at the dishes on the table and couldn't stop swallowing his saliva either.

Without much hesitation, the old couple of the Li family, like starving ghosts reincarnated, hunched over the table and began to gorge themselves. Their table manners were even messier and uglier than those of a two- or three-year-old child.

Li Shoude's expression was somewhat ugly; he still felt that this table was unworthy of his current status and stood there, slow to take his seat.

Li Family Old Woman had no idea what he was thinking. She used her own greasy, dirty hands to pull him down to sit and stuffed a pork bone she had half-gnawed into his bowl, "Son, eat quickly, don't let the Jiang family get the benefit!"

At this moment, a petite woman behind Li Shoude covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, her face showing disgust.

Previously, with Li Shoude blocking the way, everyone hadn't noticed that the Lao Li family had brought a woman along. Now that Li Shoude sat down, the woman's appearance and figure were suddenly revealed. That water-red peony-patterned Ruqun and the purple tassels slanted in her hair dazzled the villagers.

Jiang Xiaoxiao recognized at a glance that this woman was the one she had seen in town, Yun Ying.

"Yo, I say, Old Man Li, how come you bring an outsider along to sponge a meal when coming to someone else's house to eat?" Someone immediately couldn't help but speak up.

Li Family Old Man paused, a piece of fatty meat still in his mouth. In the moment of his daze, the fatty meat fell onto the table.

He stammered: "I, I... this, this is actually someone Shoude brought back from the state..."

"Didn't your Shoude go to town to take the examinations? If he was going to bring someone back, he should have brought a fellow student. How could he bring back such a delicate woman?" Everyone laughed.

Actually, everyone knew Yun Ying's identity, but since Li Family Old Woman hadn't made it clear, they weren't about to expose it. After all, Li Shoude is already a scholar now, and no one wants to offend him.

"So what if he brought a woman back? My son is a scholar, naturally there are plenty of women who want to be with him." Li Family Old Woman reached out, picked up the fatty meat Li Family Old Man had dropped on the table, and stuffed it into her own mouth, not saying a single sentence without mentioning that her son is a scholar.

Yun Ying watched Li Family Old Woman gulp down that piece of fatty meat, a flash of disgust in her eyes, but she suppressed it in an instant. Smiling, she introduced herself: "This humble one is from Xuzhou, named Yun Ying. I first met Shoude in Xuzhou, and it was love at first sight..."

When she said the last few words, she even looked at Li Shoude with a bashful expression.

Jiang Xiaoxiao silently shook off the goosebumps on her body. Now she finally understood why the old couple of the Li family suddenly appeared here today. Besides the intention to show off that Li Shoude had passed the entry-level imperial exam, it was probably also caused by this Yun Ying...

"I say, Old Li family, your family really has good fortune. Not only did your son pass the entry-level imperial exam, but he also brought back such a pretty little wife. Your son will surely have great accomplishments in the future!"

The flattering words of the crowd instantly made Li Shoude straighten his back. He enjoyed the villagers' praise very much. ===== CHAPTER 162 =====