Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 182 Glorifying the Family [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

Lu Beigu, who had written home ten days ago to inform his family that he would be returning this afternoon, was quite eager to go home.

After packing his bags and bidding farewell to his teachers and classmates who were still at the state school, he took the heavy silver plaque engraved with the words "Top Scholar of Luzhou State Examination in the First Year of Jiayou" and embarked on the waterway back to Hejiang County.

The journey from Luchuan County to Hejiang County by waterway down the river takes only a few hours, less than half a day.

The mountains on both sides of the river are verdant and lush. When the boat reaches the confluence of the Anle River and the Yangtze River, the autumn water is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the sky and clouds.

The small wharf in Hejiang County is still paved with bluestone, and the Anle Creek is sparkling, but it feels a bit cooler than when I left home in the summer.

However, today, this usually quiet dock is quite different from the past.

Before Lu Beigu's boat had fully docked, the bustling noise of people on the shore could already be clearly heard.

Looking from afar, the dock was a sea of ​​black, even more crowded than when the state government posted the results!
"What's happening here?"

Lu Beigu looked puzzled.

As he drew closer, he saw the headmaster of the Hejiang County School, leading a group of school officials and some students dressed in long gowns, standing at the dock. Among them were his friends, including Zhang Sheng, whose faces were filled with pride and excitement.

Further out, countless Hejiang residents, having heard the news, rushed over, their faces filled with curiosity.

"They're here! They're here! Lu Jieyuan's ship has arrived!"

A sharp-eyed person shouted, and the crowd instantly stirred.

As soon as Lu Beigu stepped ashore, before he could even stand firmly, a deafening sound of gongs and drums suddenly erupted!

Congratulations to our county's student Lu Sheng for achieving the highest rank in the provincial examination! You have brought glory to our hometown!

Xuezheng spoke first.

The officials and students behind him also chimed in with their own chatter.

Congratulations to Lu Jieyuan!

The cheers of the people of Hejiang surged like a tide, echoing through the streams, creating a truly spectacular scene.

Lu Beigu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply: "How could I, a student, be worthy of such a warm welcome from the instructor and all the elders and fellow villagers! I am truly ashamed!"

The school official, beaming, helped him up: "No need to be so modest! You are the first county-level scholar to achieve this honor in over a decade since the 'Qingli Education Promotion' in Hejiang County! Moreover, you have won this top honor at the age of seventeen! This is a great event for education in Hejiang and an honor for the people! On behalf of the elders of Hejiang, I congratulate you, Scholar Jieyuan!"

He turned around, took a tray covered with red silk from the clerk beside him, and personally unveiled it.

Inside was a brand-new set of the Four Treasures of the Study: a fine Huzhou brush, Huizhou ink, Duan inkstone, and Chengxintang paper, all of considerable value.

"This is a small token of the county school's appreciation. We hope that the top scholar will achieve great success in Bianjing and bring back more good news!"

"I am deeply grateful for your generous gift!" Lu Beigu bowed again solemnly.

At this moment, the crowd parted to make way, and Pei Yan, along with Lu Yuchi and Lu Yanxi, and Tofu, who was still a bit timid outside but seemed to be infected by the excitement and was squatting on Pei Yan's shoulder with its head held high, finally squeezed to the front.

"Uncle!"

Lu Yuchi's clear, childlike voice pierced through the noise. She broke free from Pei Yan's hand and pounced over like a joyful little swallow, the bell on her wrist jingling.

Lu Yanxi also mustered her courage and followed closely behind her sister.

Lu Beigu squatted down and hugged the two children tightly, one in each arm.

With a meow, Tofu skillfully hopped onto Lu Beigu's shoulder, as if it had found the safest throne.

After Lu Beigu stood up, it began to use Lu Beigu's height advantage to look down at the bustling crowd below.

“Bei Gu.” Pei Yan walked up to him, her eyes already brimming with tears beneath her veil, her voice choked with barely suppressed sobs.

She didn't want to cry.

But looking at his brother-in-law, surrounded by gentry and commoners, and seeing the dazzling light on him that was so different from when he left home, he felt like he was dreaming.

Just a few months ago, they were still living in those old houses in Gulin Town, worrying about making a living.

A few months later, he had become the top scholar in the entire Luzhou, and the most celebrated scholar in the entire Hejiang County!

"Sister-in-law, I'm back."

Lu Beigu stood up, looking at the tears rolling down Pei Yan's face, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He took out the silver plaque carefully wrapped in silk and gently handed it to Pei Yan.

"This is a silver medal awarded by the prefect."

Pei Yan took the silver medal with trembling hands. Its weight and cold touch instantly brought her back to reality. This was not a dream!

The silk slipped down her arm, and in the sunlight, the large characters "Luzhou Prefecture Examination Top Scholar of the First Year of Jiayou" shone brightly, almost blinding her.

The two children stared wide-eyed, their little faces filled with admiration.

A more heated discussion immediately erupted around them.

"My God! It really is the silver medal for the top scholar!"

"Incredible! They say heroes have emerged from among the young since ancient times, and our Hejiang has produced a hero too!"

"Madam Pei is so lucky!"

A moment later, Lu Beigu said to the schoolmaster, "I have been away from home for many days. I would like to go home first to settle down and rest for a while. I will come to the county school tomorrow to thank all the teachers."

Xue Zheng nodded understandingly: "That's good. We've had a long journey, so we should go home and reunite with our families first."

The crowd parted to make way for a path into the city.

Lu Beigu held Lu Yuchi's hand with one hand and carried the still somewhat timid Lu Yanxi with the other. Pei Yan held the heavy silver medal, and Doufu squatted warily on Lu Beigu's shoulder. Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the family slowly left the dock.

The journey home has never felt so long, nor so glorious.

Along the way, people from almost every household peeked out and looked around, and many acquaintances and strangers alike offered their congratulations.

Calls of "Lu Jieyuan!" and "Jieyuan Lang!" were heard incessantly.

Finally, they returned to the house facing the street.

However, the scene before him also made Lu Beigu slightly stunned.

The place that used to have a simple sign that read "Lu's Private Kitchen" was now packed with people.

Feng Jinhua stood with her hands on her hips, directing several workers to hang a brand-new plaque in front of the door.

The three gilded characters "Jieyuan Di" shone brightly under the autumn sun, dazzling and eye-catching!
A temporary colorful tent was set up in front of the door, and neighbors gathered in layers, their faces beaming with joy.

"Lu Jieyuan is back!"

Feng Jinhua, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot them. She immediately shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with pride and joy.

She hurried up to greet him, her face filled with undisguised admiration: "Oh, my top scholar! You're finally back! Look, I rushed here as fast as I could, and managed to hang this 'Top Scholar' plaque for you before you got home! This is the first of its kind in Hejiang County! Look at it, isn't it magnificent?"

"Thank you for your trouble, Madam Feng," he said sincerely.

"Of course! Of course!" Feng Jinhua smiled broadly, her eyes practically disappearing from her teeth.

Just then, Lu Yuchi broke free from Lu Beigu's hand, pointed at the glittering plaque, tilted her little face up, and asked Pei Yan in a clear but slightly confused voice, "Mother, why is it hung so high and in such a bright place?"

Her childish voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

In an instant, all the noise fell silent.

Pei Yan squatted down, gently wiped the dust off her daughter's face, and tidied her disheveled hair. Looking at the golden plaque that read "Jieyuan Di" hanging high, and then at her younger brother-in-law who was tall and surrounded by people, tears welled up in her eyes again.

Feng Jinhua slapped her thigh and shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Light the firecrackers! Let's congratulate our Hejiang's top scholar, the young master of the Lu family!"

“Crackle!!!!”

The deafening, continuous sound of firecrackers rang out again.

Red dust flew like rain, and smoke billowed like clouds, completely igniting this autumn afternoon in Hejiang County.

Lu Beigu stood in front of his newly renovated "Jieyuan Di" gate, watching the red dust flying everywhere, listening to the deafening firecrackers and the cheers of the crowd, feeling the slight trembling of the tofu on his shoulder as it was startled and tried to remain calm, and then looking down at his nephew and niece who were nestled beside their sister-in-law, looking up at the golden plaque, their little faces full of confusion but already vaguely feeling infinite glory.

May your family be honored and your home be peaceful and tranquil.

Where my heart finds peace, there lies my home.

(End of this chapter)