Fang Xin arrived at the gate and saw that the small courtyard was bustling with people. His mother, He Shi, was anxiously waiting for him. As soon as she saw him enter, before she could say anything, those three delightful individuals shouted: "Master, you passed! You passed! Tenth place on the first list!"

  Xiang Gong was originally a title for the prime minister, but at this time, anyone who had passed the imperial examination could be called Xiang Gong, and then they just shouted demanding rewards.

  Someone said: "First put on the green shirt for your husband!"

  Fang Xin hastily went in, took off his coarse linen robe, but did not wear the silk blue shirt awarded to him, and instead wore a blue shirt made by his mother He Shi. As soon as he came out, everyone cheered.

  "From a young age, he looked like a husband!" said some neighbors.

  The reporter didn't care about that, seeing him come out, he handed over a stack of things, although it was only a middle school graduate, but there were several good things inside.

  Firstly, it was the household registration documents for becoming a scholar-official, from then on Fang Xiang would no longer be restricted as a commoner and could freely travel to various parts of the empire without needing an official permit. To put this into perspective, ordinary people needed an official pass to visit relatives outside their county, and all labor services and taxes were exempted for them.

  An imperial sword, only those with the title of scholar or above are allowed to wear it. Ordinary people holding weapons is a serious crime. Of course, this is actually an unsharpened sword, after all, how many scholars these days truly know martial arts? A sharpened sword might end up hurting themselves.

  There is also a set of green shirts, which will be issued by the imperial court every year.

  Finally, there was also a deed for 15 mu of good land. Finally, there were also some congratulatory money given by the local magistrate, with good intentions. Only one or two taels.

  Although he had only passed the imperial examination as a xiucai, this still represented officialdom and imperial favor; there was no need to bring out the incense table, Fang Xin knelt on the ground, thanking him for his kindness, and when he stood up, he became a xiucai.

  After waking up Fang, he took out a tray of money, neither too much nor too little. It was exactly ten taels. He said, "You've worked hard, just take some lucky money."

  Ten taels, can't be considered very generous, but it's not bad either. Especially when looking at Fang's family like this, the three of them burst out laughing. They thanked him repeatedly, lit firecrackers and then left.

  After the commotion, Fang Xin suddenly realized that his mother, He Shi, was overjoyed and exhausted. He said: "Everyone from our village and neighborhood, my family doesn't have any relatives to rely on, we've always relied on everyone's help. This time, let's just gather together and use some food, but since Mother is tired, these things will still depend on everyone to do."

  "Sir, what are you saying? This is how it should be. Madam, please rest!" The neighbor hastily said, of course, this "madam" didn't mean wife, but was a respectful title for He Shi.

  Fang Xing estimated the number of people. Seeing that there were also a dozen or so households nearby, he decided to invite thirty households and found someone with whom he had a good relationship, saying: "Let's do it then. Let's set up a banquet."

  Thirty thousand. Compared to the price of goods, it's already 300,000 yuan. This is a considerable number, and there's more than enough, so the neighbors agreed in one voice, and everyone bought vegetables, cooked, and set up tables.

  After arriving home, he asked his mother, He Shi, to sit on a chair. Fang Xin then knelt down: "Mother, you have suffered for many years."

  Madam He looked at her son with tears in her eyes, seeing that he was wearing a blue shirt and had an extraordinary appearance. She couldn't help but feel overjoyed, and before she knew it, tears began to fall as she said: "I remember when your father passed away, you were only nine years old. Your father moved here without any relatives, and at that time, we didn't know how to make a living. We endured hardships just thinking about your future. Today, you've become a top scholar at the age of fifteen. If your father's spirit is still with us, I can finally be worthy of him."

  As she spoke, Madame He burst into tears.

  "My daughter, there are still many good days ahead of you, and you won't have to do these things anymore." Fang Xin said with the most important words.

  "It's also true that my son is now a scholar, how can I do these things that sweep away the literary gate? The government gave you 15 mu of land, just south of the city, quickly bring it to me for a closer look." Mother He was considering her son with all her heart, feeling that she couldn't give him a bad reputation, so she said.

  Fang Xian saw her agree and felt at ease in his heart, only fearing that Old Mother would continue to work hard, with her body, this was not a long-term plan, so he took the land deed over.

  His mother, Mrs. He, also recognized a few characters and took them to look at carefully, looking at the official seal on top, and said with satisfaction: "The fields there, even if I don't work, can still get one stone of rice rent per mu per year, fifteen mu, I really don't have to do anything, and you can get married too."

  The key is that these fields are tax-free. The letter below also says a few more words, describing the prospects and saying: "Mother, you're tired, take a rest, I still have to go to another place."

  "Oh, where is it?"

  "The education officer and the county magistrate can be visited tomorrow, but the new students will go to pay their respects. However, since the assistant magistrate is the child's new teacher, they must visit him first thing in the morning. The child paid his respects and returned home after lunch."

  "It's right to pay respects to the teacher, hurry up and go!"

  At this time, it was not early, Fang Xin took out 50 taels of silver and prepared to buy some things. When he took them, he suddenly had a move in his heart, took out several things except for the jade seal, and wanted to go and check - although Shen Fu didn't care about these small gifts, but becoming an apprentice still needed basic etiquette, and besides, going back, relying on Shen Fu, wasn't it just a few times more polite?

  But it's not necessary to say more, now Shen Fu also knows the situation of his family, speaking of 50 taels, it is already very good and just right.

  And then there's the Shenfu Tongzhi, Shen Danyan, who is also paying attention to the list. Although during the examination and even when the single was taken, he couldn't know or interfere, but once the list came out, he would naturally be the first to know, including the fact that Zhang Gong felt too young and was suppressed to tenth place on the first list.

  So he was waiting in the government office this morning, as if he had received a message from Fang Xinkui, and should have come to pay his respects this morning.

  "Old master, why is it like this?" However, Madame Sun smiled. She came from a big family and had a broad vision. Seeing that he was drinking tea but kept waiting, she naturally said: "Is this young man really so important?"

  "This child is not bad, only 15 years old, and his demeanor is extraordinary. You know that not only did he get the first place in this exam, but also the officials from the capital who came to administer the exam couldn't stop praising him. If it weren't for the chief examiner, Zhang, thinking that this child was too young and might become arrogant and waste his talent, he would have been ranked even higher. And before the exam, someone even spoke up for him, which shows that as long as he wasn't completely terrible, he was guaranteed to pass. Do you know who it is?"

  "Who is it?"

  "It's Lord Lu!"

  "Which Lord Lu? Could it be?" The lady took a sharp breath in surprise.

  "It's true, I've been feeling depressed myself. How did this child manage to meet such a noble person and be recognized by him? So I don't dare to slack off. This child is like a return to my family, in the future I'm afraid it won't be his power that shelters my family, but rather my family relying on his blessings!"

  "It seems that old master wants to wait a bit, after the red envelope is delivered to the door, there will be some unavoidable things, it looks like lunch will have to wait too!" said the lady.

  "It doesn't matter if he comes later!"

  Just then, a report came from outside: "Newly appointed scholar Li Rui has arrived to pay his respects to the teacher."

  "It's coming so fast!" The lady only said one sentence: "Congratulations, sir."

  So quickly, of course, is a sign that news has arrived, which fully demonstrates Fang Xin's respect and sincerity.

  Tongzhi Shen Danyan immediately arrived at the main hall and invited Li Rui to enter, but saw a young man wearing a green robe, with an elegant demeanor, calm and composed, with a radiant aura. He must be the one. As soon as he entered the main hall, he immediately knelt down and paid his respects: "Student Li Rui pays his respects to his teacher, wishing his teacher longevity."

  "Alright, alright, get up. You've done well this time." Seeing that he was still holding a gift, he said, "Your family has always been poor and I've known that all along. What's the point of bringing gifts? When you come to my place, don't be polite."

  He believed it, but then said: "The teacher's words, the student's achievements today are still due to the teacher's guidance. Moreover, other teachers may not accept this, but Teacher must accept it!"

  As he spoke, he took out an ancient inkstone.

  Looking at it, Shen Danian found it somewhat strange. He took it and examined it carefully. The inkstone seemed simple but had a faint red line on it, and inside, there was a hint of qilin. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly changed color: "Could this be the Red Line Qilin Inkstone?"

  "It's really the red-line qilin inkstone made in the previous dynasty. Today, as a student who has just passed the imperial examination and become a xiucai, I naturally want to pay my respects to my teacher. My teacher's kindness is heavy, but I have nothing to repay him with. As I was thinking about what gift to get on the street, I suddenly saw this inkstone, and it was as if good fortune had arrived in my heart. I bought it and went to the appraisal building, and indeed it turned out to be a red-line qilin inkstone. This is heaven's way of rewarding me, specially bestowing it upon me. My teacher truly has great good fortune!"

  Hongxian Qilin Inkstone, although not the rarest thing, is said to be able to calm the fragrance of books and doors in one's home. Only three hundred were made in the previous dynasty, most of which are stored by the powerful, making this gift even more valuable.

  Tongzhi Shen Dan was suddenly in a difficult position, wanting to give up but absolutely refusing to do so. If he accepted it, it would be too heavy a burden. He sighed and said: "You've just passed the imperial examination as a xiucai, and you've received this inkstone. It seems that from now on, you will have great good fortune!"

  Fang Xinxin sneered in his heart, this was because Yu Ruyi had secretly suppressed the aura of good fortune, which was actually a blessing for this body. However, he said: "Not too early or too late, it just so happens that it appeared when the students were searching for objects to offer as gifts. This is not the students' good fortune, but rather the teacher's good fortune!"

  This sounds good, and thinking about it is indeed true. Not too early or too late, today's birth, if it were any other object, no matter how precious, Shen Danian wouldn't have put his heart into it. However, this object has a legendary story that with just one stroke of the brush, it can ensure the literary elegance of the family. This is truly important for the family. Seeing the movement behind the screen, he knew that even the lady had been moved. At this point, he let out a sigh and said: "Alright, you also have good intentions, so I'll accept it as my master."

  He said, and ordered it to be done, that a grand ceremony would be held at noon today to pay respects to the ancestors, and all the important people in the clan were invited to attend.