Chapter 49: Chapter 47: Oolong

In the Chen Family’s backyard.

Elder Chen had just emptied a heavy sack of soybeans into the wooden basin beside the stone mill. Bent with exhaustion, he leaned on the millstone, panting heavily as grimy sweat trickled down his deep wrinkles.

His second son’s wife hurried over with a bowl of clear water, her voice laced with concern. “Father, please rest. Here, drink some water.”

Elder Chen took the bowl and GULP, GULP, downed more than half of it. Wiping his mouth, he asked, “That… that lazy bum? He’s still not up?”

He was referring to his disappointing younger son.

Her eyes darted nervously before she whispered, “Not… not yet…”

She didn’t dare say more, afraid of angering the old man again.

“Hah!”

Elder Chen let out a heavy sigh and slapped his calloused hand against the cold millstone. “The Chen Family… how did we end up with a creature like that!”

His voice was filled with the weary despair of someone whose hopes have been dashed.

“Father.”

His daughter-in-law quickly changed the subject, her face etched with worry. “By the way, Xiaoheng told me yesterday… he’s almost out of the Blood Qi Pills he uses for training. So…”

“What?!”

Elder Chen’s head snapped up, his brow twisting into a knot. “It’s only been a short while! They’re gone already?!”

Buying the pills for Chen Heng’s martial arts training was the family’s biggest expense and his heaviest burden.

His daughter-in-law wore a pained expression, her voice pleading, “Father, you have to think of something! Xiaoheng’s training pills… we absolutely cannot let him run out!”

“Hah…”

Elder Chen let out another long sigh, as if trying to expel all the frustration from his chest. He stared blankly at the basin of gleaming yellow soybeans. “I know… I’ll figure something out…”

’But what’s the solution? I’ve already borrowed from every relative and neighbor I can. The old debts are still unpaid, so how can I take on new ones?’

The thought of the expensive pills weighed on Elder Chen’s heart like a giant stone, so heavy he could barely breathe. The worried lines on his face deepened.

Just then, a flurry of hurried, chaotic sounds came from the front of the general store:

“Old Chen! Old Chen! Great news! Incredible news!”

Old He from the coffin shop practically burst through the door curtain and into the backyard, his face flushed with an unprecedented excitement.

Startled by the commotion, Elder Chen asked instinctively, “Old He? What’s all the panic… Who’s having a funeral now?”

He thought Old He had come to report a death.

“Pah, pah, pah! Not a funeral! A celebration! Incredible news!”

Old He was so excited he slapped his thigh, his voice cracking. “Your Xiaoheng! He passed! He’s become a Martial Scholar!”

“CLANG!”

The pipe in Elder Chen’s hand fell to the ground with a sharp ring.

He froze on the spot, his eyes wide, as if he hadn’t understood or had been stunned senseless by the sudden news. “You… what did you say? Say it again?!”

Beside him, his daughter-in-law’s breath caught in her throat, and then her face erupted in a blaze of ecstatic joy.

Before Old He could speak again, the neighbors from Chaiyu Square had already poured into the small backyard like a tide. A babble of congratulations instantly flooded the tiny space:

“Elder Chen! Congratulations! Your Xiaoheng has become a Martial Scholar!”

“Hey now, this basket is in the way. Quick, let’s tidy up!”

“If you need anything, sir, just say the word! We neighbors will all lend a hand!”

“Elder Chen, your hard times are over! Now you can just wait to enjoy a life of ease!”

“Xiaoheng’s made it! He’s really brought honor to our Chaiyu Square!”

…

Elder Chen was completely stunned by the overwhelming joy and the chorus of compliments. He stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the familiar, excited faces. As he heard the words “Martial Scholar” and “passed” over and over, his ears began to ring, and the scene before him felt unreal.

An immense feeling of happiness washed over him like a warm tide, instantly drowning the sorrow from moments before, leaving him dizzy and at a loss for what to do.

His daughter-in-law was already ecstatic. Her face was flushed red with excitement, and her voice rose an octave as she proudly declared to the crowd, “I knew it! I knew my Xiaoheng would pass! He’s been smart and hardworking since he was a boy!”

It was as if she could already see her son in the robes of his new station, bringing glory to their family name.

Seeing Elder Chen’s dumbfounded expression, Old He laughed loudly and cupped his hands in another salute. “Elder Chen, congratulations! Truly, congratulations! From now on, you can look forward to a comfortable life supported by your children and grandchildren! The good days are ahead!”

Elder Chen finally recovered a little from the massive shock. His lips trembled; he wanted to say something but couldn’t make a sound. Instead, he spun around abruptly and staggered toward the basin of gleaming yellow soybeans. His withered, trembling hand scooped up a large handful, only to let them rustle through his fingers. It was as if only this tangible sensation could convince him that this incredible fortune had truly descended upon his dilapidated Chen Family Courtyard.

“Good! Good! This is wonderful!”

Elder Chen’s withered hands trembled uncontrollably. His cloudy old eyes shone with an unprecedented light as he burst into loud laughter.

“The heavens have eyes! Our ancestors are smiling down on us! The Chen Family… we finally have a Martial Scholar!”

Chen Heng was the grandson he had poured his everything into raising. Now that he had achieved this official rank, the old man’s face was beaming with pride.

Looking at the eager, envious eyes of his Chaiyu Square neighbors crowding around him, Elder Chen felt a rush of heat to his head. His back straightened and his legs felt nimble again. The gloom that had plagued him over the cost of the pills vanished in an instant. He felt twenty years younger.

“Tidy up! Quick, tidy up!”

Elder Chen’s movements were suddenly brisk, as if he had boundless energy, and he began bustling about, clearing away the clutter.

Seeing this, Old He quickly called out, “Everyone, don’t just stand there! Lend a hand and help the Chen Family tidy up! This is a truly joyous occasion!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep