Chapter 633: The Imperial Examination Family-Building System (42)

On the actual day the results were posted, the gatekeeper saw Xiaohu standing on tiptoe and craning his neck in the crowd, waiting for the list to be put up. He beckoned to him, "What is your master's surname and given name? I'll take a look for you first; with your height, even if the list is posted, you won't be able to see it even if you jump."

Xiaohu squeezed up to the gatekeeper, cupped his hands in a proper manner, and said happily, "Then thank you, sir! My master is named Song Yanqing, the 'yan' from inkstone, and the 'qing' from clear breeze and bright moon."

The gatekeeper let out an "Oh my," and widened his eyes in shock: "The Top Scorer of this year's cohort is actually your master?"

"What does Top Scorer mean?"

"Haha! You little page boy are quite interesting! Top Scorer means the top name! The first place among the Provincial Graduates this year!"

"!!!"

Xiaohu was so surprised that his mouth could fit a large duck egg.

"Madam— Young Master—"

"Young Master passed, he passed!"

Xiaohu squeezed out of the crowd in high spirits, found his madam and young master, and couldn't wait to report the good news: "Top—Top Scorer! That means the top name! Young Master took first place!"

Xie Yang had already heard the report from the Main System as soon as the draft list came out, so she was not as excited as Xiaohu, but she was certainly happy. She smiled at Song Yanqing: "Congratulations, husband, for taking the top spot!"

Song Yanqing coughed lightly: "Did Xiaohu see it clearly?"

Xiaohu patted his chest: "Young Master, rest assured! Before the list was posted, the gatekeeper sir asked me for your name. After I told him, he was shocked and said it was Top Scorer. I wasn't at ease, so after the list was posted, I squeezed to the front and compared it carefully; it is indeed first place, no mistake! Young Master, you really did take the top spot!"

At this time, other candidates and their family members who had finished reading the list squeezed out of the crowd, talking to each other:

"Did you all see the Top Scorer? His name is Song Yanqing, from the Qingfeng City County School; he is actually not a talent from the Provincial Capital's official academy!"

"I stayed at the Laifu Inn with Provincial Graduate Song; I heard this is his first time taking the Provincial Examination."

"Really? To take the top spot on his first attempt! How impressive!"

Well! No need to confirm further!

Xie Yang and Song Yanqing looked at each other and laughed joyfully.

"Lao San! Song Laosan!"

The village chief came to the door, beaming with joy, to report the good news:

"Your Yanqing has passed! The village head sent someone to say that the news-bearers from the Provincial Capital have ridden at full speed to the County, and the County Magistrate has organized a news-bearing team to come and report the good news in person! I heard it's the top name, called something 'Yuan'!"

"Top Scorer?"

"Yes, yes, yes! That's the one! Hurry, hurry! The news-bearing team has already reached the village entrance; do you hear the gongs and drums? Why aren't you tidying up and preparing some tea and snacks to entertain them properly! Do you have any good tea leaves? If not, go to my house and take some!"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll call my wife to prepare it together right now!"

Song Zhisheng was so excited that he was walking with his left foot and left hand moving together.

Top Scorer! First place in the Provincial Examination! Oh my heavens! Has the smoke from his family's ancestral grave turned blue?

It wasn't just the Song family third branch that was excited; which family in Qinghe Village wasn't?

This was an exam where all the scholars of the entire province gathered to participate, and Er Lang of the Song family actually brought back the top spot? What a great blessing this must be! The Song family's ancestral grave... no! The entire village's ancestral grave must have turned blue!

In the future, when people talk about it, the top Provincial Graduate of the entire province came from Qinghe Village; this glory, tsk tsk!

Thus, regardless of age or gender, as long as they weren't so sick or disabled that they couldn't get out of bed or leave the ground, everyone swarmed to the Song house to offer congratulations and watch the excitement!

During this time, the news-bearing team, dressed in red and holding yellow flags, beat gongs and drums along the way until they reached the gate of the Song family third branch.

The County Magistrate followed behind in a soft sedan chair, but when they reached the village entrance, he specifically got out of the sedan chair, stroked his beard, and walked with a swagger, looking absolutely radiant.

He was also a product of the imperial examinations, so he naturally knew that the Provincial Examination stage of the current dynasty was the most difficult. In an ordinary small county, being able to produce one Provincial Graduate every three years was already catching up to the national average. He had thought that during his tenure in Qingfeng City, his political achievements in this regard would likely end up as a big duck egg.

Unexpectedly, a poor scholar from the small Qinghe Village was so capable! First, he was the top of the Imperial Examination, and now he was the top of the Provincial Examination!

When this term ends, there is hope for a promotion!

"Your honorable master, Song Yanqing, has placed first in this year's Provincial Examination as a Provincial Graduate. Congratulations on embarking on an official career and bringing honor to your ancestors!"

The news was announced for a mile, and heard for ten miles.

As the news-bearer read the official report, the Xie Rong family, who had arrived upon hearing the news, were equally beaming.

"Congratulations, in-laws!"

"Congratulations to you too!"

Not one of the Xie family members came empty-handed. Some brought firecrackers, and as soon as the news-bearer finished reading the report, they immediately hung up the string of firecrackers and set them off with a crackle; others brought congratulatory money and candies. The money was a tip for the news-bearers, and the candies were distributed to the fellow villagers so everyone could share in the joy.

Song Zhisheng hadn't expected his in-laws to be so thoughtful and thanked Xie Rong excitedly.

Xie Rong laughed heartily: "A son-in-law is half a son. Yanqing being able to pass the Provincial Examination is a happy event for your family, and it is equally a happy event for my Xie family!"

"That's right, that's right!" Fang Shi held Lin Shi's hand and said with a beaming smile, "Now that your son-in-law has placed as Top Scorer, you, my in-law, can just wait to enjoy the blessings."

Lin Shi was smiling so wide she couldn't close her mouth: "Yanqing's success today is inseparable from you, in-laws! If it weren't for my daughter-in-law... how could Yanqing have today! In-law, rest assured, no matter if he becomes an official in the future or how high an official he becomes, Yang Er will always be my only daughter-in-law!"

This was giving the Xie family a reassurance.

Xie Rong and Fang Shi looked at each other, the smiles in their eyes deepening.

This is very good!

They were truly afraid that their son-in-law would pass the Provincial Examination, and as the top candidate at that, and become arrogant and have higher standards, looking down on their daughter. Regardless of how long their in-law's words could be guaranteed, at least they were useful for now.

Sigh! They used to hope for their son-in-law to pass, but now that he really had, they felt a sense of trepidation, fearing that he might have a change of heart and grow tired of their daughter. It was truly difficult on both sides!

"By the way! Has the son-in-law not returned yet?"

"Not yet! The messenger rode at full speed to report the good news; Yanqing and the others will likely arrive tomorrow or the day after. I just don't know if they are taking the waterway or the land route."

"Then when I go back, I will have Kuidong and his three brothers take turns going to the wharf and the official road every day."

"Good, good, good, thank you for your trouble, in-law!"

The family had guessed correctly; the carriage of Xie Yang and her party did indeed arrive two days later.

With Song Yanqing's arrival home, even more people came to offer congratulations. Not only from the village, but people from the neighboring villages and towns heard the news and ran over to watch the excitement. They wanted to see what the Provincial Graduate who took the top spot actually looked like.

Seeing him, many people with unmarried daughters of appropriate age regretted it immensely: How could there be such a handsome and young Provincial Graduate in this world? Oh my! It really was a bargain for Xie Tuhu's daughter!

When the County Magistrate of the neighboring county heard about it, he actually threatened to betroth his daughter, who was still waiting to be married, to Song Yanqing, and promised countless dowries.

As for Song Yanqing already having a wife? That was easy to handle; just divorce her! She was just the daughter of a butcher from a small town, with no power or influence. If they went to Jingcheng and were asked about the wife's background, answering "a butcher's daughter" would be so embarrassing! How could it compare to the face of a County Magistrate's daughter?