The Blessed

Ling Jingxuan nodded and then ordered with a deep voice. He didn't want an unbelievable one. Although he had the imperial edict and the plaque rewarded by His Majesty and the new magistrate wouldn’t dare make trouble for him if it was really an unreasonable one, after all, His Majesty was watching every move of his, some unbelievable one usually had no brains, so it should be better prepared that he made clear of the other side’s background first.

"Yes."

Hearing that, Old Song respectfully backed out, and then those servants and maids took turns to come up with their congratulations. Ling Chenglong and his wife were so overjoyed that they both kept saying ‘you’ll get a reward!’ So, only half the afternoon, news that both Ling Jinghan and Ling Chenggui got listed as xiucai and Ling Jinghan even ranked the first place as linsheng spread through the whole village. Even those who seldom had connections with them, including a lot of rich people and squires, some even brought heavy lavish gifts. Ling Jingxuan didn’t want entertain them, so he asked his parents to socialize. With Lady Zheng, Lady Lan and Ling Yun there, he was not worried about them. But before hiding in his own room, he specially ordered that whoever it was and whatever heavy gifts they brought, they should all say no. Ling Chenglong and his wife were not that kind of greedy person, plus Ling Jingxuan said this was accumulating some good official reputation for Jinghan, of course they’d never have some other thoughts. So those who tried to claim relations with them all arrived in high spirits but returned with a sour face.

"Really? Jinghan got listed as linsheng?"

In the old xiucai’s home, hearing that Ling Jinghan got listed as a linsheng, Ling Qiyun, who had been out of shape due to the torture of his illness, abruptly opened his eyes, with his face written with excitement. Has his grandson really gotten listed as a linsheng title?

"Hmm, grandpa, my second uncle’s son Uncle Chenggui also got listed as a xiucai. Now everyone in the village knows it.”

Ling Jinghong who was waiting on by the side said indifferently. If one looked carefully, deep in his eyes hid some kind of joyful feeling, it was just that he didn’t know how to express it. Last time when his parents went to Yuehua Manor to make a scene, he had been completely disappointed with them and this family. After he served the old man until he went to another world, he also planned to leave.

"Really? The whole village knows..."

Hearing that, the old man instantly got sagged. Everyone knew now but they didn’t inform him. It seemed that they had really disappointed and would never acknowledge them. Now, this family was already not like a family. After he passed away, maybe his big son and third son’s life would be even harder.

Thinking about this, the old man suddenly made a decision. He opened his eyes and said to Ling Jinghong, "Tomorrow, after Jinghan comes back, you go to Yuehua Manor to find Chenglong, tell him I’m dying and I want to see them for the last time. Ask him to take Jinghan to see me.”

He knew that his body had already been emptied and may never wake up again after he fell asleep. For his future generations, he had to sell his old face one more time, which was also one of the reasons why he didn’t let Ling Jingxuan come. In his view, the heart knot between him and his second son was on him, for he still bore the grudge about him throwing him out of the family that year. So it was nearly impossible trying to convince him.

"Grandpa, you..."

Ling Jinghong had been with him since childhood. How could he not know his thoughts? Originally he was trying to persuade him, but as the words came to the mouth, he swallowed it down. As the only soft spot of this family, what could he do? He only wished that his grandpa wouldn’t overreach himself.

On the other side, as the old lady who was ill in bed heard that Ling Jinghan got a xiucai title, she instantly vomited blood on spot, then looked like she got dementia, even so, she was still cursing Ling Jingxuan and his family, from which one could see how much she hated them.

Several nearby villages hadn’t had a xiucai for a long time, and now Ling Village got two at a time, and one of them was even the first place—a linsheng! Those villagers were so happy. The next day when Ling Jinghan and Ling Chenggui came back, the village head and the old patriarch went to the village entrance to welcome them in person. Ling Jinghan who didn’t want to meet them had to get off the carriage.

"Jinghan, Chenggui, congratulations! You really earn face for our Ling Village."

The moment he saw them, the old patriarch walked to their side at a fast pace, with a bright smile on that chrysanthemum-like wrinkled face, like those two were his own grandsons. Ling Chenggui was a bit shy and only said hi to the old patriarch, blushing, while Ling Jinghan only nodded as a reply with both hands behind his back.

"You both getting listed as a xiucai is a huge even to our village. Come on! Let’s go talk about how to do the open-air banquet. It’s been a long time our village hasn’t been so glorious! The open-air banquet has to at least last for three to five days and let those people of nearby villages all come to see our two young xiucai!”

Like not noticing Ling Jinghan’s impatience, the old patriarch pulled them enthusiastically, those villagers who came with him and the village head also nodded approvingly. In the countryside, any family that had one getting listed as a xiucai or a tongsheng should give people a big treat to let people share their joys. Last year when Ling Jinghan got listed as a tongsheng, he should have treated people. Pity that Ling Jingxuan said he still needed to prepare for the xiucai exams, thinking that it was really not long before the provincial exams, they couldn’t say anything. But this time, not only Jinghan, even Ling Chenggui who got listed as a tongsheng the year before not was a xiucai too. Then they’d have no excuse this time, right? But…

"Sorry, about the open-air banquet thing, I have to talk to my parents and big brother. I really appreciate your good intentions. You know, I have been outside for a few days. My parents should be worried, So, excuse me.”

Ignoring their excitement, Ling Jinghan pulled his hand back from the old clan patriarch. After a few simple words, he, Yuan Shaoqi and Song Shuisheng climbed into the carriage again. And Old Song was also a smart one. Before those people could react, with a swing of his whip, the carriage quickly drove toward the big road they had built and soon disappeared in their eyes.

The old patriarch’s face couldn’t get more distorted. And the village head and those villagers also felt indescribable bitterness in the heart. As the saying goes, don't despise someone at his/her cruel twist of fate. When that thing happened to Ling Jingxuan, no one stood out to speak for them. When Lady Wang got set up by Ling Chenghua, the fact was there, they only turned a blind eye against their conscience, let alone how they badmouthed their whole family behind their back. Now that they got super rich and Ling Jinghan got listed as a xiucai, no wonder he’d show them his face.