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Grandpa Liu stood up, leaning against the jujube tree in the yard; his legs felt a little weak.

When they reached the front yard, the official was standing in the main room. He had a fair complexion, wore a black robe, and was holding a notice tied with red silk in his hands.

Liu Laogen's throat tightened, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Sir..."

Did my little one really win?

The official laughed and said, "Sir, how could this be fake?"

Congratulations! Your son has truly become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), ranking 40th in the provincial examination. His future is bright!

Liu Laogen's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

He rummaged in his pocket for a while, then pulled out a tael of silver and stuffed it into the officer's hand: "Thank you for coming all this way, sir. Please keep this silver for a cup of tea."

The official took the silver and poured out a string of auspicious words, making Liu Laogen's beard bristle.

After the officials left, the village head led the villagers in, and the main room was immediately packed with people.

Old Zhang from the village patted him on the shoulder and said, "Lao Gen, your Liu family has finally risen again!"

Upon hearing these words, Liu Laogen felt a lump in his throat and almost burst into tears.

Yes, his wife and daughter died recently, and his granddaughter was dumped and became someone else's concubine.

They had already lost all face in the village.

His spine hadn't straightened up in a long time.

Now that their fourth son has passed the imperial examination, who will dare to look down on them?

When Liu Tianbao came out of the inner room, he had changed into a new outfit: a blue silk robe with a neatly tied belt.

He was already quite handsome, and now the gloomy look of frustration between his brows had dissipated, revealing a bit of the air of an official.

The villagers clasped their hands in congratulations, and he nodded with a smile, responding to each one with a composure that seemed to come from years of practice.

"Fellow villagers," Liu Tianbao cleared his throat, and the room quieted down, "Tianbao's success today is largely thanks to the support of you all over the years."

"I passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, and the court rewarded me with silver. I was thinking of hosting a banquet to treat the whole village to a good meal, as a small token of my appreciation."

A cheer immediately erupted from below.

Some people exclaimed, "The scholar is so magnanimous!" while others were relieved that they hadn't offended Liu Tianbao.

Liu Laogen nodded repeatedly from the side: "It's our pleasure!"

We absolutely must invite them!

The whole village is coming; not a single one can be missing!

His voice was loud and clear, as if he had suddenly become twenty years younger.

As the village head, Chen Shuigen had to go forward to congratulate Liu Tianbao, since Liu Tianbao was the only scholar in the village and had brought honor to Xinghua Village.

As a village head, he commands respect from others.

After the villagers gradually dispersed, Liu Tianbao spoke privately with the village head, his smile fading slightly.

"Uncle Village Head, please have some tea."

There's something I'd like to ask you.

A polite formality is still necessary.

"Tianbao, what's wrong?"

The village headman couldn't figure out what kind of help Liu Tianbao needed from him.

"When you go back later, please ask you to pass on a message to my elder brother."

I invited their whole family to the banquet.

Although they were unkind to our family, my elder brother and sister-in-law also ignored my father.

But now that I've passed the imperial examination, I can't afford to stoop to his level.

I am his younger brother, and I must show him the proper respect.

The village head opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally nodded and replied, "Tianbao, I will pass on your message, but I can't guarantee whether Da Niu will come. I have something to do at home, so I'll head back now."

Chen Shuigen put down his teacup, his voice neither cold nor indifferent.

Just now, when I looked into Liu Tianbao's eyes, there was clearly a coldness in them. Where was the brotherly affection?

He knew that Liu Tianbao was using the banquet as an opportunity to humiliate Da Niu's family.

But he knew he couldn't persuade him otherwise.

He couldn't refute the face of the scholar-official.

So after leaving the Liu family's old house, he turned around and went straight to Tao'er's house.

When they arrived at Tao'er's house, the village headman told them about Liu Tianbao passing the imperial examination, holding a banquet, and inviting them to the feast.

Finally, he lowered his voice and said, "Da Niu, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart: you'd better not go to this banquet."

That child, Tianbao...

She's still holding a grudge about what happened before; your visit won't end well.

Liu Daniu squatted on the threshold, smoking his pipe, and remained silent for a long time.

His wife, Zhang, came out of the kitchen, her apron covered in flour, but her eyes were red: "Uncle Village Head, we know he has ill intentions."

But... but he's a scholar now, if we don't go, he definitely won't let it go!

The village head shook his head, gave a few more instructions, and then left.

The courtyard quieted down, with only the crackling of firewood in the stove.

Liu Daniu tapped his pipe: "Just the two of us."

Tao'er and her siblings stayed behind.

His voice was muffled. "Even if he humiliates us in front of the whole village, we'll just have to put up with it."

We can't let the children be embarrassed too.

Zhang Su'e wiped her eyes and nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Tao'er came out of the house, followed by her two older brothers.

They walked up to their parents.

Tao'er spoke up directly: "Father, Mother, you can't go. Liu Tianbao is clearly up to no good!"

So what if Liu Tianbao passed the imperial examination and became a scholar?

Is he going to eat us up?

He can offer us drinks, we can choose not to go, what can he do to us?

Liu Daniu frowned. "Tao'er, isn't it a bit inappropriate not to go?"

Tao'er looked at her father and continued, "It's true that he is a scholar who passed the imperial examination, but the imperial court did not stipulate that the whole village must attend a banquet hosted by a scholar."

Dad, Mom, if you go, he'll say some nasty things in front of so many people, how can you face them?

My brothers and I are staying at home, so you shouldn't go either.

Let him be angry if he wants; we don't owe him anything.

He wouldn't dare do anything to us!

The two older brothers nodded in agreement, supporting their younger sister's decision.

Why should they have to go to dinner just because he tells them to? They're not his dogs.

The eldest son, Liu Tiezhu, said, "Father, Tao'er is right."

Our family has no connection with the old house anymore, so why do we have to go?

Go and suffer the insults or get scolded?

That bastard Liu Tianbao is no good person at all!

He's just looking for an opportunity to get revenge on us.

Liu Daniu looked at his children, sighed, and slammed his pipe on the ground: "Tao'er is right, so... let's not go."

Let Liu Tianbao hold a grudge if he wants; we have a clear conscience.

On the day of the banquet, the Liu family's old house was as lively as a wedding.

A colorful tent was set up at the entrance of the village, with more than 30 tables and chairs set up, and chicken, duck, fish and meat were sold at continuously increasing prices.

Several wealthy merchants from the town arrived, each bringing gifts: silk, silver ingots, and calligraphy and paintings, which were displayed one by one in the main hall for people to see.

The teacher from the county school also came, shook Liu Tianbao's hand, and said many encouraging words.

Liu Tianbao wore a dark blue brocade robe with floral patterns, and a fine jade pendant hung at his waist. He moved around the banquet, offering toasts with a beaming smile.

But his eyes were always on the guests.

The entire village was sitting there, but Liu Daniu's family was nowhere to be seen.

His smile gradually stiffened, and his hand, which was offering a toast, slowed down.

Wei noticed and quietly tugged at his sleeve, which brought him back to his senses, and he continued chatting and laughing with the wealthy merchants.

As the sun began to set, the guests gradually dispersed.

After seeing off the last wealthy businessman, Liu Tianbao stood in the empty courtyard, and the smile on his face finally crumbled.

He stood up and suddenly kicked the bench next to him. The bench flew out, hit the wall, and broke with a crack.

"Why shouldn't they come!"

Liu Tianbao's eyes were bloodshot.

I passed the imperial examination and became a scholar!

Even the most important people in the county have come, even the county school teacher has come, why shouldn't these few peasants come!

Madam Wei quickly closed the door, came over and pulled him back: "Tianbao, don't be angry, if you don't want to come, you don't have to..."

Let's take a look at the congratulatory gifts we received today!

"What do you know!"

Liu Tianbao shook off her hand and kicked the table again, causing it to tip over and shatter the dishes on the floor.

"I'm going to show them today!"

Let them know who the most respectable person in this village is!

How dare they not come!

"That good-for-nothing Liu Daniu, how dare he disrespect me!"

Wei tried to persuade him a few times, but seeing that he was getting angrier and angrier, she simply stopped trying and stood aside watching him vent his anger.

Liu Tianbao circled the main room twice, then suddenly stopped and gave a vicious laugh: "Fine, you're not coming, huh?"

Two weeks later, when my appointment letter arrives, I'll make them kneel down and beg me.

His eyes gleamed with a venomous light, for he knew that the people Liu Tao'er had taken in were enough to exile or behead their entire family.

Old Master Liu was already drunk and was helped into the house by Liu Sanniu.

Liu Sanniu and his wife also went back inside. Although they were envious of the congratulatory gifts, they didn't dare to provoke Liu Tianbao when they saw him get angry.