Tong Huaqiong looked over at Gu Ruinian.

Gu Ruinian’s face alternated between pale and red.

At this moment, he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

"Aunt Tong, Jingzhe has become the case head, a role model for our clan’s brothers. Shouldn’t you host a few tables?"

It was Gu Daqiang who said this.

Gu Daqiang was overjoyed.

Mr. Gu had forcefully taken back the land, capitulating under pressure. Now seeing Mr. Gu’s family so disappointed, he couldn’t be happier.

Gu Ruinian had connived with Mr. Gu to seize his wheat, concocting reasoning to accuse him of ingratitude. He couldn’t win against Gu Ruinian and wished he could put him in a sack and give him a beating.

Now, Gu Ruinian didn’t even qualify as a scholar, let alone the case head, while Gu Daqiang felt as refreshed as drinking a bowl of iced water on a hot day.

Gu Daqiang loudly congratulated Gu Jingzhe, leading the way as the atmosphere maker.

"So many students throughout Ning City, Jingzhe has managed to take the case head. Everyone, take a moment to appreciate the significance of this," Gu Daqiang said to everyone. "Do you think Aunt Tong should throw a banquet?"

"Yes, she should, definitely."

With Gu Daqiang leading, the bringers of good news and the villagers surrounded Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe, echoing calls for a banquet, not missing a chance to shower praises on Gu Jingzhe.

"Surely, a banquet is necessary."

Tong Huaqiong, surrounded by compliments, was overjoyed, ordering Gu Dahuan and Gu Taohua to distribute the prepared lucky money to everyone. The cakes, candies, and seeds had already been shared once and found wanting, but fortunately, Su Chengmin had sensibly brought additional supplies from home.

The bringers of good news pinched the money envelopes, feeling their trip had not been in vain; Manager Tong was indeed generous.

"When our case head becomes a scholar, we’ll bring good news again," said the bringers of delight, offering auspicious words.

Tong Huaqiong replied, "Thank you for your kind words."

Having had cakes, candies, and seeds, and with the prospect of more celebration feasts, the villagers happily surrounded the freshly minted scholar with congratulations.

"This is just a scholar now. There will be scholars, jinshi in the future. Mother-in-law, just wait for Jingzhe to bring you wave after wave of good news," said Mrs. Zhao to Tong Huaqiong joyfully.

Gu Jingzhe getting the case head delighted Mrs. Zhao deeply; with Jingzhe’s promising future, her daughter and son-in-law would also benefit.

The village chief, excitedly, led villagers to set up tables and benches and buy drinks and dishes.

Tong Huaqiong wanted to host a banquet, and as village chief, he must assist in the arrangements.

As village chief, he felt honored, for Gu Jingzhe represented the villagers of Qinghe Bay. Having a case head from Qinghe Bay added distinction to him as well.

Having a scholar in the village could bring numerous benefits.

For example, if disputes arose between villages, Gu Jingzhe could directly submit legal documents to the county authorities.

Tong Huaqiong was high-spirited, while Mr. Gu’s family appeared increasingly desolate by contrast.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu felt thoroughly beaten down, feeling quite sour amid the villagers’ congratulations. It would have been much better if it were Gu Ruinian who had become a scholar.

Gu Youtian had stormed off when County Magistrate Liu said Gu Ruinian’s name was not listed.

He had placed great hopes on his youngest son, promising the clan that once his son became a scholar, he would use the clan’s silver for business. Now his son failed the examination, and no one would dare lend him silver.

More importantly, he was utterly disgraced.

Having come back from failed business ventures in the south, he already faced much gossip behind his back. The only way he maintained a dignified front was due to everyone anticipating Gu Ruinian’s success as a scholar.

With Gu Ruinian’s dreams shattered, how could he ever face going out now?

Gu Youtian harbored ever-deepening resentment towards his youngest son for initially joining the escort agency which led to the downfall of his southern business, and now guaranteeing success as a scholar only to lose face.

Had his youngest son not been so certain of his chances as a scholar, he wouldn’t have been so embarrassed.

Gu Ruinian watched everyone surrounding Gu Jingzhe, seething with jealousy.

The case head should have been his, the glory should have been his. He felt robbed of his fortune by Gu Jingzhe; everything had been fine in the south - how could misfortunes abound in Qinghe Bay linked to his grandaunt’s family?

He now suspected that everything that happened in the county was engineered by Gu Jingzhe’s grandaunt together with Tianxiang Building and Young Master Xie San.

"You see this... Ruinian... you really did me in..." Gujia Clan Leader said to Gu Ruinian.

If it hadn’t been for Gu Ruinian repeatedly asserting he would succeed as a scholar and case head, how would he have completely alienated Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe?

Now that Gujia had a case head, it was supposed to be him, the clan leader, gaining prestige before County Magistrate Liu, yet the village chief had stolen the spotlight.

Mrs. Jia defended her son, saying, "This isn’t Ruinian’s fault. He was injured after being thrown from the carriage before the exam, affecting his performance."

The clan leader sneered, "Now you say that, yet why didn’t Ruinian mention it earlier? Asked if he could pass as a scholar, he affirmed he could."

The face of the Gu family had been completely embarrassed by him.

Gu Ruinian feigned composure, stating, "Clan Leader Grandpa, you can’t judge me based on a single success or failure. This time, the accident truly affected my performance. Under normal circumstances, I would surely succeed as a scholar. Don’t underestimate young poverty; wait for my triumph as case head next time."

Before the clan leader could respond, Gu Ruinian’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Wei, scoffed coldly, remarking, "Younger brother-in-law, stop making excuses. What if you fail next time? Then must there be another next time, and another one after that? Will you really take as long as the government officer said, testing until you’re seventy or eighty?"

She truly couldn’t stand Gu Ruinian.

All good food and drink had been shared with him, but using studies as an excuse not to work was infuriating, and she accepted he could become a scholar. The crux was, he hadn’t achieved it.

What’s his plan? Just let the whole family tighten their belts to support him continuing to test, until when?

From Mrs. Wei’s perspective, Gu Ruinian as a child student, literate and competent in accounting, should seek a job as an accountant to earn money.

Having said her piece, Mrs. Wei turned and walked away.

Gu Ruinian, hit by her words, turned red and white.

Mrs. Jia was also infuriated.

Infuriated by Mrs. Wei.

Gu Honglian cast a sideways glance at Gu Ruinian; the new clothes Gu Ruinian wore exchanged for a silver bracelet from his mother, a bracelet promised to accompany her dowry.

If Gu Ruinian became a scholar, she would accept it.

Now that he hadn’t, Gu Honglian was angry, feeling she had wasted a bracelet.

"Ruinian, you truly are useless,"

Gu Honglian jabbed at Gu Ruinian before swiftly moving to Tong Huaqiong’s side.

Even if it meant putting on a warm face instead of the cold shoulder of her sister-in-law, she was willing; at least she’d get to enjoy the banquet.

After the lively feasting at the ancestral hall, Tong Huaqiong invited County Magistrate Liu to her home, and County Magistrate Liu gladly accepted, as he was inclined to mediate for Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao.

"Old Sir, Madam, please join us," County Magistrate Liu beckoned to Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu.

With the County Magistrate’s invitation, Mr. Gu’s mood slightly improved.

After all, Gu Jingzhe was still his grandson, and as a case head outsider would attribute acclaim to him.

"Ruinian."

Mr. Gu, worried about Gu Ruinian’s sadness, turned to comfort him.

"Ruinian, it’s alright not to succeed this time. You’re still young; we can try again next year."

Gu Ruinian’s heart bled as he smiled at Mr. Gu while approaching Gu Jingzhe and Tong Huaqiong.