"Aunt Tong, congratulations, congratulations."

Just as County Magistrate Liu was about to shift the conversation to Gu Jingzhe’s marriage, his words were interrupted by Ergouzi, who brought the hired workers from the field to toast Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong stood up, smiling, and finished her drink in one gulp.

"Congratulations, young Scholar, congratulations."

Naturally, they couldn’t miss toasting Gu Jingzhe, today’s main character.

"Jingzhe, you’re the first Scholar from our village, and also the top scorer. You should drink from a big bowl," Ergouzi said with a cheeky grin.

Gu Jingzhe wasn’t accustomed to drinking, and upon hearing about the big bowl, he said, "Brother Ergou, spare me, my drinking capacity isn’t great."

Ergouzi replied, "This is just the beginning; you need to practice drinking. In the future, when you become a Champion Scholar, you’ll need to drink a vat. Right, Aunt Tong?"

The people around joined in the teasing.

Gu Jingzhe blushed and waved his hand, saying, "I don’t dare to dream of becoming a Champion Scholar."

Even if he had the capability, Gu Jingzhe wouldn’t boast in front of so many people, as Gu Ruinian’s lessons were deeply ingrained in him.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Jingzhe is still young. Let’s save this drink for when he goes to the capital to take the imperial exam and gets his name on the golden list. There’ll be plenty of occasions for drinking with you all."

Tong Huaqiong shielded Gu Jingzhe from the toasts.

In modern society, Gu Jingzhe would be considered a minor at fifteen, too young for drinking.

Fortunately, the alcohol of this era is mild, like sweet water, and drinking a bit wouldn’t harm one’s mind or lead to addiction.

But he couldn’t drink indiscriminately; otherwise, Gu Jingzhe wouldn’t bear the village’s enthusiastic toasts.

Upon hearing Tong Huaqiong, the crowd instead turned to toast Mr. Gu, praising him for having such a fine grandson.

Some even dared to toast County Magistrate Liu.

After all, it’s not common to dine in the same courtyard with the County Magistrate.

Gu Jingzhe breathed a sigh of relief and asked Tong Huaqiong apologetically, "Mother, why do you tell people that I will certainly get my name on the golden list in the future?"

Tong Huaqiong waved her hand and said, "You’re truly remarkable! Being the top scorer among so many students in the entire city, isn’t that impressive enough? In the future imperial exam, who else could get their name on the golden list if not you?"

Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t tell Gu Jingzhe to keep striving; she had been a student and achieved good grades, and most disliked others giving encouraging words when she was happy.

Listening to her words, Gu Jingzhe secretly resolved to study even harder at Wanliu Academy, determined to shine at the imperial exam.

Gu Jingzhe’s celebratory feast was lively and bustling.

The villagers thought that with an outstanding scholar like Gu Jingzhe, they would have someone to rely on when stepping out, so admiration and pride outweighed jealousy, and praises and congratulations flooded towards Tong Huaqiong and Gu Jingzhe.

It didn’t cost a thing.

Tong Huaqiong joyfully celebrated with the villagers.

Mr. Gu felt somewhat uneasy.

At the old house, only he and Gu Honglian came to the feast; the others were too dejected and embarrassed to attend because of Gu Ruinian’s exam failure.

Especially when villagers toasted Mr. Gu and praised Gu Jingzhe, they would symbolically comfort Mr. Gu about Gu Ruinian, which made Mr. Gu feel even worse.

Initially, he hoped both his family members would become Scholars; now with only one, he felt the limelight was somewhat dimmed.

Nonetheless, being able to sit at the same table with the County Magistrate did bring Mr. Gu a bit of consolation.

"Isn’t that Yaojia?"

Tong Huaqiong heard Chen Sufen speaking at the next table and looked towards the gate, seeing Gu Yaojia loitering at the entrance.

Today, the private school was on holiday, and the kids gathered in Tong Huaqiong’s courtyard to eat sweets, joining the adults at the feast during mealtime.

Gu Yaojia usually bragged to the village children about his second uncle becoming a Scholar; as a result of the exam failure, he was taunted by several kids for lying today.

He followed Mrs. Wei home but was drawn to Tong Huaqiong’s gate by the aroma of meat and pastries.

Knowing the strained relations between the two families, he dared not enter but stood at the gate sucking his fingers, showing a face filled with longing.

He wanted to eat meat, pastries, and sweets.

"Yaozu, go and invite Yaojia in for a meal," Tong Huaqiong said.

In Tong Huaqiong’s mind, there’s no need to involve children in adult matters.

Just like in her past life, her mother and aunt didn’t get along, but it didn’t affect her good relations with her cousin, nor prevent her aunt from spoiling her and her mother from slipping her cousin some money.

Moreover, the second house’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wei, had no conflict with her and would politely greet her as aunt when they crossed paths.

Therefore, Tong Huaqiong didn’t mind Gu Yaojia, the child, coming in for a meal.

Yaozu was busy eating fruit, so Man Er went to the gate to bring Yaojia to the table, setting a chair beside Xiao Long for Yaojia to sit.

Gu Taohua handed Yaojia a pair of chopsticks, and Chen Sufen placed meat dishes in his bowl.

Famished, Yaojia buried his whole face in the bowl, stuffing meat into his mouth desperately.

Mr. Gu sighed as he watched his great-grandson’s greedy behavior.

"Eat slowly, there’s more," Chen Sufen patting Gu Yaojia’s back.

Tong Huaqiong smirked internally; even though the old house wasn’t rich, it wouldn’t deprive a mouthful of food, especially since Tong Huaqiong sent meals to the two elders every day—those meals shouldn’t leave Yaojia hungry even if shared.

It was just that oily and juicy meats went into Gu Ruinian’s greedy stomach.

She’d heard from Gu Dahuan sending meals multiple times about Gu Ruinian eating alone. For an adult to eat alone in front of a child eyeing him, Gu Ruinian had quite the nerves.

Gu Jingzhe’s celebratory feast continued until late afternoon.

After finishing their meals, the villagers helped clean the courtyard, organized tables and chairs, and divided the remaining dishes using bowls and basins brought from home.

Soon, the courtyard emptied.

Tong Huaqiong muttered to herself, wondering why County Magistrate Liu hadn’t left yet.

So Tong Huaqiong instructed Liu Yueer to serve tea, and Mr. Gu stayed, as well.

Mr. Gu had his own plans; while drinking, he heard from a Government Official that the county needed officials with simple requirements: literacy, strength, and the ability to bind prisoners.

Though not formal roles at the government office, it paid two taels of silver a month, and he aimed to build connections with County Magistrate Liu to see if he could have his grandson Gu Fengnian work there, adding to the family’s income.

"Lord Liu..." Mr. Gu hesitated to speak after sitting for a while.

"Lord Liu, do you have any words of wisdom to share with Jingzhe?"

Whenever Mr. Gu spoke, trouble wasn’t far behind, and Tong Huaqiong interrupted Mr. Gu’s words.

County Magistrate Liu took a sip of tea and replied, "Indeed, I do."

Otherwise, he wouldn’t sit there for so long without moving.

Having Mr. Gu present didn’t bother him, as he was Gu Jingzhe’s grandfather, unaware of Tong Huaqiong’s strained relationship with the old man.

County Magistrate Liu recalled when his mother had proposed the union of Gu Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao, which Tong Huaqiong tactfully declined stating Jingzhe was merely a child student. This time, if Tong Huaqiong had any intention of refusal, Mr. Gu could mediate, ensuring the situation remained flexible.

"Jingzhe, is there a young lady you admire?" County Magistrate Liu asked directly.

Gu Jingzhe’s face flushed red to the tips of his ears.

Tong Huaqiong inwardly scoffed; County Magistrate Liu’s straightforwardness disproved the notion that ancient people were uptight.