A huge thank you to WANGXIANNURRSE for the kofis. Enjoy the bonus chapters!

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His son had suffered a tremendous injustice. He, Doctor Zhang, was an upright man—what right did Zhou Er’s family have to insult his household like this? Did they think his family was easy to bully?

Doctor Zhang held the door latch in one hand and pulled his son with the other as they headed to Zhou Er’s house to demand justice. Three or four young men from the Zhang clan followed behind them, and the group marched toward Zhou Er’s house with fierce determination.

As they passed through the village, everyone knew exactly why they were there. Zhou Youcheng had openly told half the village that he wanted Yi-ger to be his concubine. Even if he’d passed the Xiucai examination, he shouldn’t be allowed to humiliate someone like that.

If not eight or nine out of ten households in the village, then at least seven or eight had received favors from Doctor Zhang. Who hasn’t had a headache or a fever? Doctor Zhang was honest and fair in his diagnoses and was extremely well-liked. Now that he was seeking justice, how could they stand idly by? Some eager villagers immediately followed along to help.

When the group arrived at Zhou Er’s house, Zhou Youcheng sat inside, seething with anger yet secretly gloating. Although he’d only scraped into the very last spot on the supplementary list, he was still a Xiucai—how dare those peasants look down on him? Just you wait and see!

Zhou Fang, meanwhile, had changed into her favorite dress and adorned her hair with bright red silk flowers. Now that she was the sister of a Xiucai, her status had soared. She intended to be very selective when choosing among the handsome young men—the very thought made her laugh out loud.

Meanwhile, Zhou Er and Hu Caiyun were discussing in the courtyard how to set up two banquet tables and invite relatives and friends to celebrate together. Hu Caiyun was overjoyed. “I have so many relatives on my mother’s side—my mother’s brothers, and even her own family. We’ll invite them all over. Such a momentous occasion deserves a proper celebration.”

Hu Caiyun couldn’t wait for everyone to know that her son had passed the Xiucai examination. When she went to her maternal family’s home during the New Year to borrow some money, her brothers had all refused to lend her any. Now that her son had passed the Xiucai examination, she was back in high spirits at her maternal family’s home.

Zhou Er was also thinking about who to invite. “We don’t have many relatives on the Zhou side. Let’s invite a few of the elders from our clan. We should invite your maternal relatives, but let’s skip your mother’s maternal relatives—they’re poor, and we’d have to set another table for them.”

Hu Caiyun thought it made sense. So she wouldn’t invite her mother’s relatives after all. She’d just let them know later that her son had passed the examination to become a Xiucai—then let’s see who dared to look down on her from now on!

Just as the two were discussing which relative to call, Doctor Zhang stormed over. “Zhou Er, how dare your family bully my Yi-ger!”

Just as Hu Caiyun was about to snap back, she looked up and saw a group of young men following behind Doctor Zhang. She swallowed the curse that was on the tip of her tongue, her face betraying a hint of guilt. “It’s a misunderstanding, Doctor Zhang. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

Zhou Er also hurried to smooth things over. “Doctor Zhang, it’s all a misunderstanding. What I was saying was that we’d like Yi-ger to marry into our family. If our two families were to unite in marriage, wouldn’t that be a double celebration?”

Hu Caiyun, terrified, grabbed Zhou Er’s arm. “What nonsense are you spouting!” 

Zhou Er shook her off. “You ignorant woman!”

Judging by the Zhang family’s reaction, they wouldn’t let this go easily. If his family didn’t back down, they were bound to suffer a loss. But if they managed to marry Zhang Xiaoyi into their family, Doctor Zhang had a good reputation, and last year his family had certainly made a tidy profit selling mosquito coils; they were well-off. Once Zhang Xiaoyi was married into the family, they wouldn’t have to worry about the money needed for Youcheng’s education.

Zhang Xiaoyi’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Shameless! He’d never seen such a brazen family. “Who wants to marry into your family! Father, it was Zhou Youcheng who said he wanted to take me as a concubine!”

An aunt from the Zhang family standing nearby chimed in, “Pah! Zhou Er, you’re just too shameless! You must be taking advantage of the Zhangs’ weakness. Back then, you clearly said you wanted Yi-ger to be a concubine in your household!”

Doctor Zhang couldn’t care less whether he was a Tongsheng or a Xiucai. “Where’s Zhou Youcheng? Tell him to come out!”

Zhou Youcheng had heard the commotion in the courtyard break out earlier. He’d cowered in fear and dared not come out, but he never expected Doctor Zhang to actually come looking for him. When he heard Doctor Zhang calling him out, he flinched—but then he remembered he was now a Xiucai. What could a country doctor possibly do to him?

Zhou Youcheng straightened up again, strode out of the room with his head held high, and bowed to Doctor Zhang. “Greetings, Doctor Zhang.”

Seeing Zhou Youcheng’s nonchalant demeanor, Doctor Zhang’s anger flared even more. He raised the door latch in his hand and swung it at him. “You insolent brat, how dare you!”

Zhou Youcheng was nearly knocked to his knees by the blow, but he staggered and regained his balance. “How dare you hit me! I am a Xiucai. Assaulting a Xiucai will land you in court!”

Zhou Youcheng’s words actually startled some of the crowd. Those who had been about to step forward halted in their tracks—this was a Xiucai, someone who didn’t even have to kneel before officials; they were just ordinary commoners.

Doctor Zhang was so furious that his hands were shaking. “I don’t care if you’re a Xiucai or not! Even if you were a Juren, I’d still stand up for my ger!”

With that, Doctor Zhang lunged forward again. Zhou Er and Hu Caiyun rushed to stop him, while a group of onlookers scrambled to intervene. “Hey, Zhou Er, stop hitting him! Stop it! You’re all from the same village.”

Though they claimed to be breaking up the fight, they were actually blocking Zhou Er and Hu Caiyun from getting closer, while also surrounding Zhou Youcheng in the crowd to prevent him from escaping.

Doctor Zhang’s blows rained down, forcing Zhou Youcheng to roll on the ground clutching his head, all the while spewing threats: “You dare hit me! You dare hit me! It’s clear that Zhang Xiaoyi failed to seduce me and is deliberately framing me!”

Seeing that Zhou Youcheng still dared to slander him, Doctor Zhang immediately grabbed some dirt and shoved it into his mouth. “You still dare to spout nonsense!”

Doctor Zhang, still clutching the door bolt, continued to beat Zhou Youcheng mercilessly with blow after blow. Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers rang out from outside, and Doctor Zhang finally stopped. A young boy ran by, shouting, “Gouwa, let’s go! Butcher Zhou’s son passed the Xiucai exam—they’re handing out candy!”

Zhang Xiaoyi gasped, “Father, Shen Linchuan also passed the Xiucai exam! I’m going to check it out!”

Zhang Xiaoyi ran off as soon as he finished speaking. Zhou Youcheng had just been soundly beaten by his father, and he felt he’d finally vented his anger. After all, Zhou Youcheng was just a low-ranking Xiucai who’d barely passed the exam, yet he still had the nerve to keep his eyes on him. Pah!

The crowd gathered at Zhou Er’s house began to buzz with excitement. “Shen Linchuan actually came in first place in the Xiucai exams!” 

“Doctor Zhang, come on, let’s go join the fun and soak up some of that good fortune!”

Doctor Zhang snorted coldly and turned to leave, and the crowd hurried after him. Zhou Youcheng deserved that beating—passing the Xiucai exam and then demanding that someone’s ger become his concubine was simply too arrogant.

Once everyone had left the courtyard, Hu Caiyun gasped and hurried to help the person curled up on the ground to his feet. “Youcheng, Youcheng, are you all right? That Zhang fellow actually dared to hit you! Let’s go report this to the authorities! Let the town magistrate see justice done for my family!”

Zhou Youcheng’s face was already swollen from the slaps he’d just received from Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning. Now, after being beaten by Doctor Zhang with a door bolt, his whole body was burning with pain, and his heart was filled with resentment. He was a Xiucai—how dare those men strike him!

Zhou Er was so furious that he was stomping his feet. On the day of his family’s great celebration, hadn’t the Zhang family just trampled their family’s honor into the dirt?

Hu Caiyun, seeing her precious son beaten, wanted nothing more than to tear those people to pieces. If she hadn’t been held back just now, she would have gone up there to teach that little slut Zhang Xiaoyi a proper lesson!

“Zhou Er, your son was beaten! We’re a family of Xiucai—we can’t just let this slide!”

Zhou Er was furious, too. “Call the authorities!”

Zhou Youcheng grabbed Zhou Er by the arm. “Father, we can’t do that!”

Zhou Er flung his sleeves in frustration. “You’re a Xiucai! We can’t just let this slide!”

“No, Father. If the town magistrate investigates this and it reaches the education commissioner, an inquiry might result in a black mark on my record…”

Zhou Youcheng didn’t finish his sentence—if that were to be recorded in the register, he’d be finished. Being accused of molesting a young ger and having a bad character would effectively ruin his future!

Zhou Er let out a sigh and could only grit his teeth and swallow his anger.

Zhou Fang also came out, holding up her skirt. She hadn’t dared to come out while the brawl was raging in the courtyard—as a young lady, she couldn’t very well get into a fight in front of so many people. She had some dignity left, after all.

“Father, I just heard people outside saying that Shen Linchuan passed the Xiucai exam, too. I bet those firecrackers were from his house.”

Zhou Fang’s face lit up. If that were the case, wouldn’t her status be even higher? With a brother who’d passed the Xiucai exam and a brother-in-law who’d topped the list, matchmakers would surely be lining up at her doorstep!

It was just as well that Zhou Fang didn’t mention it. Zhou Youcheng was already jealous of Shen Linchuan and had been praying with all his heart that he wouldn’t pass the exam. Having just been beaten and then hearing that Shen Linchuan had topped the exam, he was so enraged that his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Hu Caiyun gasped, “Youcheng! Youcheng! Zhou Fang, go find a doctor quickly!” Zhou Fang was also startled. “W-where am I supposed to find a doctor?”

“Go find Doctor Zhang!”

Hu Caiyun blurted out, only realizing after she spoke that they had deeply offended the Zhang family—how could they possibly treat their son now? Zhou Er, fearing the worst for his Xiucai son, let out a groan and rushed out, “I’ll go find a doctor!”

Doctor Zhang was the only physician for miles around; the nearest alternative would be to go to town to fetch a doctor, but the consultation fee in town was no small sum. With no other choice, he had no option but to go to town for a doctor.

As Zhou Er passed by the Zhou Da family’s main residence, he saw a crowd gathered inside. Today was his son’s celebration day—it should have been his family’s moment to shine, but Shen Linchuan had stolen the spotlight. Filled with resentment, he thought, “Just you wait. Once my son becomes an official, you turncoats will see what’s coming!”

Zhou Er hurried toward town, and halfway there, he ran into Zhou Da, who was returning from town. Zhou Da was driving his mule cart back with a look of joy on his face, accompanied by the man who had just brought the good news to his family!

Zhou Da let out a sigh and reined in his mule. “Second brother, Linchuan passed the exam! Did Youcheng pass too? Come over to my place for dinner tonight—let’s celebrate together.”

Zhou Er snorted. Zhou Da was doing this on purpose! He knew full well that his son Youcheng had passed, yet he asked anyway. “No need to trouble yourself, big brother. Didn’t we agree to go our separate ways? My son, Youcheng, also passed the Xiucai exam this year. Hmph!”

With that, Zhou Er flung his sleeves and walked off. This eldest brother was just out to make a spectacle of his family!

Zhou Da was completely baffled. Zhou Er’s son passing the Xiucai exam was a good thing. Although the two families had fallen out before, as the elder brother, it wouldn’t hurt to look out for Zhou Er’s family a little if he had the means. But why did Zhou Er seem so unhappy?

Wang Xiaowu urged from the side, “Father-in-law Zhou, let’s get going. Mr. Shen is the top-ranked Xiucai, while Zhou Youcheng is just the lowest-ranked Xiucai. I think his family is just jealous of yours.”

Zhou Da really hadn’t known that Zhou Youcheng had passed the exam too. He’d simply invited the second son’s family over for a meal out of kindness—who knew it would end up upsetting them? Oh well, with one Xiucai in each family, they’d just go their separate ways from now on.

Zhou Da drove his mule home, with Wang Xiaowu close behind, still chatting idly. “Old Zhou, is Zhou Youcheng’s family related to yours in any way?”

They were from the same village and shared the same surname—they might even be from the same clan. Wang Xiaowu was a layabout in the county seat, running errands and gathering information for others; he was the best-informed person around. Out of professional habit, he couldn’t help but pry.

Zhou Da didn’t hide anything; he explained the relationship between the two families and why things had soured. Wang Xiaowu was a chatty fellow, and by the time they reached their destination, he had a thorough understanding of the family dynamics. To his surprise, it turned out that Mr. Shen was actually a son-in-law by marriage to the Zhou family.

However, he wouldn’t dare look down on Shen Linchuan just because he was a son-in-law by marriage. After all, this Mr. Shen was the top scholar of the imperial examinations—even the county magistrate would show him some deference. As a mere idler, how could he possibly dare to look down on him?

Besides, his fulang was a good man—he’d even given him a tael of silver. Although he hadn’t been sent by the family to deliver the good news, they’d invited him to stay for a meal and then given him money; he remembered that favor well.

The two hurried home together. From a distance, Zhou Da could see a crowd gathered at his doorstep. Before the mule cart had even come to a complete stop, villagers swarmed around them. “Uncle Zhou is back!”

While offering their congratulations, they busily pitched in—some leading the mule, others unloading the goods. Without Zhou Da having to lift a finger, everything on the mule cart was neatly unloaded. Escorted by the crowd into the courtyard, even Zhou Da felt a bit dazed by the spectacle.

Could this be the perk of passing the imperial exams? Even he, a mere butcher, had become an honored guest. Shen Linchuan and Zhou Ning also came forward to greet him. “Father, you’re back.”

Zhou Da replied repeatedly, “Yes, I’m back, I’m back.”

“Zhou Da, you’re truly blessed. I never would have thought your family would produce a Xiucai.”

“That’s right. From now on, you’re the father of a Xiucai, and your son Ning-ger is the Xiucai’s Fulang. Good heavens, a Xiucai’s Fulang—isn’t that just like what they sing about in the operas?”

Everyone chimed in with their own comments, and Zhou Da didn’t know which one to listen to. Shen Linchuan was sweating buckets as he greeted the villagers who had come to offer their congratulations. It was already high noon, yet no one in the courtyard was in a hurry to go home and cook; they were all there to watch the commotion.

Zhou Da also broke into a cheerful laugh. He never expected his son-in-law to pass the Xiucai examination after just one more year of study. He hadn’t held out much hope—though he’d secretly hoped for the best, after all these years of failure, how could he possibly pass the moment he joined their family?

Who would have thought he’d actually pass? Even now, it still felt a bit unreal to him.

The Shen family also arrived shortly after, driving an oxcart. Shen Dage was at the wheel, and the whole family of four had come—this was indeed a joyous occasion. Though they had come in a hurry with little preparation, as soon as Shen Dasao heard that he had passed the examination to become a Xiucai, she hurried over to a neighbor’s house and grabbed two large roosters.