Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 72 ancestor worship

"How many generations has our Lu Family Village been poor? It's only with great difficulty that such a prodigy as Chuan'er has emerged. This is a blessing from heaven. If we, the elders, are unwilling to part with a few copper coins, how will we face our ancestors in the afterlife?"

"As you can see, Chuan'er brought back ten taels of official silver. That's pure, white silver, a gift personally bestowed by the county magistrate. But have you ever wondered why the county magistrate gave so much? Besides valuing Chuan'er's talent, it's also because he knows that every step of his future path will be paved with money."

This ten taels of silver is a special fund.

"Once you pass the prefectural examination and become a student, you'll have to go to the provincial capital to take the provincial examination, which will cost even more. The expenses will only increase year by year, with each stage becoming more expensive than the last."

He stood up abruptly and said, word by word, "So even if the whole village has to tighten their belts, we will still support Chuan'er."

"De Shou, what do you mean...?" an elder asked hesitantly.

"What I mean is, this year's profits from the ancestral hall's public fields, after deducting enough for planting grain, should all be converted into cash." Lu Deshou waved his hand decisively. "Furthermore, pass on my message to each household: from today onwards, if any family has any surplus grain or money, lend it to the public first. We need to save up some money for Chuan'er."

The ancestral hall froze for a moment.

Lu Deshou's words were like iron, striking the hearts of these old men.

The elders looked at each other, and finally clenched their fists.

"Alright, let's do as De Shou says."

The two elders, who had been silent all along, suddenly slapped their thighs and stood up: "We've been frustrated for so many years, and it's hard to even find a promising student. Now that Chuan'er has taken the top spot in the imperial examination, he's the star of literature in our village. Even if we only drink a bowl of thin soup a day, we old folks will still push Chuan'er to the top."

"I agree!"

Another elder, with white hair and beard, nodded in agreement, slamming his cane on the ground: "Use all the proceeds from the public fields. I will personally visit each branch of the family later. If any family dares to hoard their money at this time, I'll tear down their roof beams. This is a matter of honoring our ancestors. Anyone who dares to shirk responsibility is a sinner of the Lu family."

Looking at these old brothers who would argue fiercely over a couple of coins, Lu Deshou couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"Alright, since everyone has agreed, then it's settled. Dehuang, you'll be in charge of keeping the accounts, and every penny must be accounted for clearly."

"Fifth brother, go and contact the grain merchants in the neighboring village. While the grain price is still relatively stable, convert the income from the public fields into cash. From today onwards, our entire Lu family village will focus on producing a scholar."

Inside the ancestral hall, everyone stood up.

......

The next morning, Lu Chuan got up and read as usual.

In the courtyard, things piled up more and more.

The aunt had just put down a basket of red-headed eggs when the fifth son's wife handed over a bag of sun-dried red dates, muttering, "These dates are good for replenishing qi and blood. Chuan'er needs to concentrate while reading, so having one in his mouth is very nourishing."

Looking at the villagers filling the courtyard, Lu Chuan felt as if something was blocking his heart.

He knew that in the homes of these farmers who were so frugal with even salt, a piece of cured meat or a few pounds of flour might be the result of six months or even a year of saving.

Looking at the items scattered on the ground, Lu's mother was at a loss: "Folks, this won't do. You yourselves aren't well-off either. Take these back for your children to eat."

"Sister-in-law, you're being too polite." The aunt held Lu's mother's hand, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Our village has produced a top scholar; it's a blessing for the whole village. If Chuan'er can advance further, we can all hold our heads high. These things are for Chuan'er to nourish his body. If you refuse them, you're looking down on us poor brothers."

"That's right, the top scholar is the Lu family's literary star, what's a little bit of food from us?" Everyone chimed in enthusiastically.

Lu Chuan stood on the threshold, looking at those simple and honest faces.

It allowed him to experience a different kind of warmth beyond the heavy burden of the imperial examinations.

Instead of his usual polite formalities, he stepped forward and solemnly accepted the two cabbages offered by an old man.

"Since it's from your kind intentions, Uncle and Aunt, I, Lu Chuan, will accept it." He stopped and bowed deeply to everyone in the courtyard. "I, Lu Chuan, will never forget your kindness!"

Upon hearing the words "live up to expectations," the villagers' faces lit up with the brightest smiles.

In their eyes, a promise from the chief judge was more valuable than any gold or silver treasure.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the ancestral hall opened its doors wide.

All the men and women in the village, young and old, even the laziest young men, changed into their best clothes early today, tied their hair up, and stood in a row on the open ground outside the ancestral hall.

Lu Deshou, dressed in a neat blue cloth gown, stood solemnly guarding the door.

"Chuan'er, come here."

He saw Lu Chuan approaching from afar, and a warm expression appeared on his face.

She personally walked down the steps and took Lu Chuan's hand.

Today, Lu Chuan was wearing a new plain blue shirt.

His black hair was tied up high, his eyes were clear and reserved, and his every move already hinted at the demeanor of a scholar.

"The chief scholar enters the ancestral hall—!"

Lu Deshou shouted.

Lu Chuan took a deep breath and, under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people in the village, steadily crossed the heavy threshold that symbolized the clan's laws.

Inside the ancestral hall, sandalwood incense swirls and smoke rises in the air.

Directly in front, densely packed, are the ancestral tablets of the Lu family.

Lu Deshou lit three sticks of thick incense and bowed respectfully.

"To the ancestors of the Lu family, your unworthy descendant Deshou leads the younger generation of the clan in paying homage today."

Lu Deshou steadily raised the thick incense stick above his head, first bowing deeply before the main seat in the center, and then solemnly inserting it into the incense burner.

Following that, the clan elders also stepped forward one by one.

As the last long incense stick stood firmly in place.

Lu Deshou then turned around, took out three more incense sticks from the incense holder, and lit them on the candle flame.

He looked at Lu Chuan kneeling on the prayer mat.

"Chuan'er, come now, it's your turn to personally report the good news to the ancestors and ask for their protection, so that your path to the imperial examination will be safe and sound, and you will rise to great heights."

Lu Deshou handed the burning incense stick to Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan straightened up and took the incense stick.

He held the incense sticks in both hands and raised them high above his head.

"Lu Chuan, a descendant of the Lu family, achieved the top score in the county examination and has come here to comfort his ancestor."

He knelt down, his voice firm, "Chuan'er knows that this humble achievement is the result of the entire clan's elders and uncles tightening their belts and doing their utmost to support me. Today, I swear before the spirit tablet that when I go to the prefectural examination, I will do my utmost to uphold the Lu family's reputation and live up to the high expectations of my fellow villagers."