OBS Chapter 236 Spring
Chapter 236 Spring
"Hurry, hurry, Brother Xi is opening the door."
Cheng Xi quickly took the prepared things and went to line up.
When he left, he gestured to his uncle and the others to hurry up, but Cheng Fu waved his hand and told them not to worry.
Cheng Xi turned around and listened carefully to the speech of the yamen runner at the door.
Only after Cheng Xi's back disappeared at the door did Cheng Fu turn around and leave with Wang.
"Let's go eat outside today. Let's eat the buns your mother just saw."
"Great!"
Cheng Qi smiled happily, and Wang also smiled so much that wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes.
In April in the capital, apricot blossoms bloom all over the city and the apricot list is announced.
The servants of the Bo Mansion received instructions and waited at the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites early in the morning.
When the official who announced the results came out, a large group of people waiting at the door rushed forward.
"Don't push, back off!"
A yamen runner stepped forward to block the way with a wooden stick in his hand. In the past few years, there were cases of students fighting over the imperial examination, so they had to be on guard.
After they had pasted the apricot list, they immediately dodged to the side as quickly as possible.
The guarding yamen runners could not stop the enthusiasm and excitement of the people who were looking at the list, and could only try their best to stop them.
The sharpest-eyed servant in Duan Bo's mansion spotted Cheng Xi's name at a glance. He ranked first and was extremely eye-catching and dazzling.
"He's the first one, Master Cheng is the first one, the champion!"
The servant wanted to go out happily, but he couldn't squeeze out.
"Quick, give me a hand!"
The other person waiting outside originally wanted to go up and pull him, but when he heard him say that Master Cheng was the champion, he excitedly turned around and went back to report the good news to the masters in the mansion.
"Hey, wait for me!"
The people inside stood on tiptoe and could only see the man's back, and they were so angry that they jumped up and down.
Good boy, compete with him for the reward!
When the servant returned home to report the good news, the person reporting the good news from the Ministry of Rites also went to Cheng Fu's house. Upon hearing that Cheng Xi had won the first place in the imperial examination, Old Master Cheng was so happy that he almost fainted.
For a time, the Cheng family was in chaos. Cheng Xi heard the news at Duan Bo's mansion and rushed over. He happened to meet him and asked the people around him to give some money to the official who brought the good news and respectfully sent the person away.
"I, our Cheng family has made great progress!"
I haven't been back to Hu City for more than a year. I wonder if my old family members are still there. The Cheng family has produced many talented people!
Old Master Cheng's face flushed with excitement, and he looked energetic, as if he had become several years younger.
"Mother, mother, look at how successful Xi'er has become. He passed the exam and even won first place. Do you know what a first place means?"
Cheng Fu supported Old Madam Cheng. The old lady's eyes were a little cloudy, and she nodded whenever Cheng Fu spoke.
"Did you pass the exam?"
"I passed the exam, I passed the exam."
“Yes, yes…”
"Huiyuan, it's Huiyuan, Grandmother!"
Cheng Qi leaned close to his grandmother's ear and spoke loudly.
The old lady understood, nodded, and smiled, with several of her teeth missing.
"Okay, okay, Xixi is awesome. Where is Xixi?"
"Grandma, I'm here!"
Cheng Xi did not use the official language at this time. He heard his grandmother calling him, just like when he was a child, calling him Xixi.
"Grandma, I'm here."
Cheng Xi walked forward and held his grandmother's old and mottled hand.
"Xixi, let me see, wow, how come you've grown so big?"
Old Madam Cheng was sometimes lucid and sometimes confused, and she touched Cheng Xi's shoulders and face with her hands.
Cheng Xi bent down obediently and let the old lady caress him.
"Grandma, your grandson has grown up, aren't you happy?"
Cheng Xi smiled with his eyes curved, looking at the old lady's eyes sparkling, as if filled with stars.
Old Madam Cheng looked for a long time before she recognized that it was really Xixi.
"Happiness, Xixi! Grandma bought you some cold cakes and some jujube slices that Yan'er loves at noon. Bring them back to her in the evening and tell her that Grandma bought them for her. Tomorrow, ask your mother to come see me. It feels like I haven't seen her for a long time. Tell her that I miss her."
Cheng Xi couldn't help but whimper quietly, and when he turned his head, a tear fell on the bluestone brick.
"Okay, grandma, when I get home today, I'll tell mom that grandma misses her."
Old Madam Cheng was so excited that she became like a child, and she kept talking to Cheng Xi.
Old Master Cheng was standing beside him, quietly wiping away his tears.
"Today is a good day. Come on, I'll treat you all and let's go to Hong Man Xuan for a feast!"
"Great!"
The happiest people were the two children in the family. They happily said they wanted to go home and change into their best clothes.
Wang coaxed the old lady and took the little maid back to change her clothes.
"Mom, let's change our clothes and go out to buy some delicious food for Big Sister."
The old lady nodded and said seriously, "Okay, the braised goose at the shop downstairs in Huaishu Alley is the best. Buy some and bring it over."
"Okay, let's go change clothes first. Today is a good day, Brother Xi, do you want to go?"
"Go, go find Xixi."
Cheng Xi stood there, looking a little lonely.
"Brother Xi, come quickly and let the neighbors see it."
A loud voice brought him back to reality, and his uncle pulled him over and introduced him to the neighbors.
"This is my eldest nephew, this year's champion."
"Hey, this guy is so handsome."
"Yeah, yeah, looks like he's only about twenty."
A crowd of onlookers gathered around, especially some women, their eyes shining as they looked at Cheng Xi.
Who doesn't like a handsome man with good looks, especially this kind of man? You can tell at a glance that he has the gentle and warm temperament of a scholar.
"Mr. Cheng, how old are you this year?"
"Are you married yet? My niece is beautiful..."
"Go away, Aunt Yao, you're acting like a matchmaker now."
Aunt Yao smiled brightly, without any trace of sadness.
"I'm just asking this in advance. Cheng's brother is quite charming. Who wouldn't like him?"
Everyone burst into laughter, causing Cheng Xi's face to turn red.
Cheng Fu dealt with them one by one, "My brother hasn't gotten engaged yet, so it's not good to delay him while he's studying."
"What? Okay, okay, okay, but not at noon. I'll have someone prepare a dozen tables of food tonight, and everyone can come and enjoy the feast."
"Talking about marriage, are you in such a hurry? No, no, Brother Xi still has to take the palace examination later, we can't disturb him."
Cheng Fu's mouth was almost dry from talking.
Cheng Xi took the exam this year and had no familiar classmates. He stayed at his uncle's house on weekdays and did not go out to meet other students taking the exam with him. He had to follow his uncle and respond to the neighbors at the door.
Those common people who came to join in the fun had the impression that most scholars disdained to attend such occasions, so they were still a little reserved when facing Cheng Xi.
But seeing Cheng Xi's gentle expression, he answered their questions seriously one by one, and did not show any annoyance even when being teased.
They were more willing to talk to Cheng Xi, and asked him questions out of curiosity, sometimes asking him what he ate on a daily basis, and sometimes asking him if he had any skills to teach his children at home.
It was very lively in front of the gate. Looking from afar, red paper scraps left over from firecrackers were scattered on the ground. Cheng Xi was surrounded by the people and was in great joy.