"They are coming, they are coming."

"It’s the government officials."

The shouts from outside reached the ancestral hall.

Mr. Gu got excited and stood up abruptly.

Tong Huaqiong gave Jingzhe a push and said, "Go quickly, go receive the congratulatory message."

Mrs. Jia also gave Gu Ruinian a push and said, "Hurry, hurry."

Jingzhe stood there dumbfounded, while Gu Dahuan, Gu Taohua, and Gu Fengnian rushed out ahead.

Gu Ruinian felt an increasing urge to escape, but Mrs. Jia held him tightly by the hand, making it impossible for him to get away.

The commotion outside grew louder, and Tong Huaqiong pulled Jingzhe out of the ancestral hall.

Outside, a large crowd surged from the entrance of the village, including villagers joining in the excitement, official announcers, and a group of civilian messengers.

The civilian messengers ran even faster than the official ones, eager to bring the good news first to the examinee’s family, thereby earning a reward in silver, a win-win situation.

Moreover, it was a grand spectacle, with music and performances. In areas known for academic excellence, Scholars emerged every year, and upon the announcement of results, there were even lion dances and stilt walkers to celebrate.

In Yan Guan Town, a Scholar emerged only every few years, preventing such events from becoming an industry chain, so there were only drums and trumpets to add to the excitement.

"Isn’t that County Magistrate Liu?" Chen Sufen pointed to the official announcer and said to Tong Huaqiong.

Indeed, it was County Magistrate Liu.

County Magistrate Liu had originally arrived in a sedan chair, but when he reached the village entrance, he got off and walked at the front of the group.

Thus, Chen Sufen quickly spotted County Magistrate Liu.

What could warrant a county magistrate personally announcing the good news? If it were merely a Scholar, it wouldn’t be worth it, unless it was the top scorer.

Tong Huaqiong became excited, thinking that history was repeating itself, and Jingzhe was the top scorer in all of Ning City.

"County Magistrate Liu came personally." The clan leader’s beard trembled with excitement.

Upon hearing that County Magistrate Liu had arrived, Mr. Gu was overwhelmed with excitement.

It surely required both grandsons to become Scholars for the local authority to personally deliver such good news. Mr. Gu straightened his back and turned to call for Gu Ruinian.

Even though both grandsons becoming Scholars was a source of pride, he still hoped that Gu Ruinian would be the one to gain recognition in front of County Magistrate Liu.

Gu Ruinian took a deep breath and went to Mr. Gu’s side.

In his heart, he prayed to all the gods.

Gu Ruinian had never been so superstitious as he was at that moment.

Upon hearing that County Magistrate Liu had arrived, Gu Ruinian’s sense of luck inflated, thinking the same as Mr. Gu, surely both he and Jingzhe had become Scholars, warranting County Magistrate Liu’s personal visit to Qinghe Bay.

It seemed his strategy during the exam of writing shockingly bold essays had succeeded.

"Greetings, Lord Liu." Tong Huaqiong stepped forward to greet County Magistrate Liu.

"Aunt Tong, I’ve come to bring you good news." County Magistrate Liu was delighted to see Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong was the Sui Feng Village Lady. As a local authority, to show friendliness, he continued to address her as Aunt Tong.

Upon hearing County Magistrate Liu say this, Tong Huaqiong felt a wave of happiness wash over her; the top scorer position was secured.

"Greetings, Lord Liu."

"A humble citizen greets Lord Liu."

The clan leader led the Gu family to pay respect to County Magistrate Liu, and Mr. Gu gleefully stood at the front and center.

Jingzhe and Gu Ruinian advanced together to salute County Magistrate Liu.

County Magistrate Liu, with a cheerful smile, asked everyone to dispense with formalities.

His gaze lingered on Jingzhe.

This was the Jingzhe who had brought glory to all of Pingchuan County by defeating all of Ning City’s students and achieving the top spot — at such a young age, remarkable and handsome.

Before he arrived, his mother hinted to him that such a promising and good-looking young man should not be taken by others, but should be matched with their family. Though the Liu family didn’t deserve such an excellent son-in-law, cousin Lu Zhaozhao would be a suitable match, and he should take the opportunity to propose the idea to Lu Zhaozhao.

Being gazed at by County Magistrate Liu made Jingzhe’s heart skip a beat, a bit excited, perhaps his mother had guessed correctly.

"Jingzhe not only became a Scholar this time but also the top scorer. Congratulations, Aunt Tong."

One of the officials behind came forward with a red silk congratulatory report and handed it to County Magistrate Liu.

County Magistrate Liu opened it, smiled, and handed it to Tong Huaqiong, who read it and then gave it to Jingzhe.

Jingzhe’s hands were trembling.

He knew he had done well in the exam and had considered the possibility of becoming the top scorer, but actually holding the results felt like a dream, unreal.

"Congratulations, congratulations."

"Congratulations, Aunt Tong, congratulations on getting the top scorer."

Tong Huaqiong and a bunch of young ones were elated, with Gu Dahuan and Gu Taohua happily giving silver to the announcers, while Liu Yueer and Tong Pandi handed out fruits and celebratory candies to the crowd.

The crowd was in uproar.

Wasn’t it supposed to be Gu Ruinian who became the top scorer, how did it become Jingzhe?

The faces at the old house were especially sour.

Mrs. Jia even wanted to ask County Magistrate Liu if he had misread the name on the congratulatory report.

Gu Ruinian clenched both hands tightly, aside from him, he could accept anyone else being the top scorer, except Jingzhe.

County Magistrate Liu praised Jingzhe with a few words and encouraged him to keep up the good work.

Jingzhe thanked him steadily.

After their initial disappointment, the folks at the old house thought capturing a Scholar title without getting the top score was still good for Gu Ruinian.

After all, having had an accident before the exam, affecting his performance was normal.

The people at the old house were all waiting for County Magistrate Liu to give them Gu Ruinian’s congratulatory message.

But County Magistrate Liu didn’t go to retrieve a second report.

Gu Ruinian realized he had lost his bet, his luck vanished, leaving him pale.

"Old sir, your grandson becoming the top scorer is not just an honor for the Gu family, but also for our Pingchuan County."

Seeing Mr. Gu’s eager eyes on him, County Magistrate Liu, upon inquiry, learned that Mr. Gu was the top scorer’s grandfather and praised him a bit.

Mr. Gu accepted the praise happily, but couldn’t help asking, "Lord Liu, where is my little grandson Gu Ruinian’s congratulatory message?"

County Magistrate Liu: "..."

There was a sudden silence among the crowd.

Gu Ruinian’s face grew increasingly pale, it was all over.

Tong Huaqiong, seeing County Magistrate Liu was puzzled, explained, "This time, besides Jingzhe, my nephew Gu Ruinian also participated in the exam; my father-in-law only saw Jingzhe’s congratulatory message and wondered if Gu Ruinian’s had been overlooked?"

County Magistrate Liu looked over at the reporting officials.

There were three Scholars from Pingchuan County this time, one from the county town, two from Yan Guan Town, one was the top scorer Jingzhe, the other was Jingzhe’s classmate Meng Yanping; he didn’t recall a Gu Ruinian.

One of the officials replied, "Your honor, there is no congratulatory message for Gu Ruinian."

The rest of the Gu family at the old house were stunned, and Mrs. Jia felt the world spinning around her.

The crowd erupted in discussion.

"Ruinian didn’t pass?"

"No way, wasn’t he supposed to be the top scorer?"

"You heard him bragging; mischievous since childhood, and somehow luckily becoming a child student, he dared to dream of being a Scholar."

"The top scorer is clearly Jingzhe."

The villagers’ discussions reached Mr. Gu’s ears unfiltered.

Mr. Gu steadied himself and tremblingly asked, "Could there be a mistake? My Ruinian studies better than Jingzhe. Back then, the scholarly administrator even praised his child student paper, it’s impossible for Jingzhe to have become a Scholar while he didn’t."

County Magistrate Liu was at a loss for words.

The official said, "Old sir, the names on the congratulatory reports are recorded correctly. It’s not possible for Jingzhe to be a Scholar and not Ruinian. For this time, Pingchuan County has three Scholars. One from the county town, two from Yan Guan Town—one is the top scorer Jingzhe, the other is his classmate Meng Yanping. I do not recall a Gu Ruinian." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The official thought that if it weren’t for the fact that Mr. Gu was the Sui Feng Village Lady’s father-in-law, he would have retorted already.

What does he mean, does he think they are concealing the results?

Mr. Gu was unwilling to accept this result.