A Martial Scholar?

A Scholar Master!

Fang Mu’s second son, that little Zhi’Er, has become a Scholar Master?

All the Fang Clan Members present who heard this felt their minds go blank with shock.

But they quickly came to their senses.

’Just now, we were pressuring Fang Mu’s family like that. Doesn’t this mean we’ve offended a Scholar Master?’

’If the Scholar Master decides to cause trouble for us, what are we going to do?’

"Is it true? My Zhi’Er really became a Scholar?"

Fang Yue’s family was equally stunned, but Ms. Chen was the first to recover. A wide smile spread across her face as she questioned the constable who had brought the good news.

"That’s right, ma’am. Your family’s Fang Yue has passed the Martial Scholar examinations in our Xiahe County. He’s a true Scholar Master now," the constable explained patiently.

Even though he was speaking to a plainly dressed village woman. Normally, any other woman from the countryside would be trembling and deferential before him, letting him order them around as he pleased, never once receiving a kind look.

But things were different now. Her son had become a Martial Scholar, completely turning their fortunes around and making him a master.

Moreover, given the imperial court’s emphasis on Martial Masters, one shouldn’t underestimate a Martial Scholar just because he was a Scholar. He was already like a Civil Scholar, with one foot in the door of officialdom.

If his family had connections, it wasn’t impossible for him to secure an official post.

Therefore, despite usually acting high and mighty in front of common farmers, often scolding or beating them at will...

...when facing Fang Yue’s family now, he was practically bowing and scraping.

"Also, this is the land tax your family paid this year. The County Magistrate ordered it returned to Master Fang, but for convenience, it’s been converted into silver coins. Now that he’s a Martial Scholar, he’s naturally exempt from taxes."

Then, one of the constables handed a money pouch to Ms. Chen.

The jingle of silver coins immediately sent another wave of shock through the surrounding Fang Clan Members.

This time, the government constables came to their village not to collect taxes, but to give money!

Is... is all this because Fang Mu’s second son became a Scholar Master?

’These bloodsucking constables are actually fawning over them like this?’

The series of events, each more unbelievable than the last, left the surrounding Fang Clan Members utterly dumbfounded, their jaws hanging open wide enough to stuff several eggs inside.

Ms. Chen took the money, estimating it to be a good sixteen or seventeen taels of silver. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

When she thought about it, this was even more than the land tax they had paid this year. Not only did they not have to pay taxes, but they actually came out ahead.

"Hehe, thank you all for your hard work, coming all this way to bring us the news. This is a small token of our appreciation, please don’t be modest."

Ms. Chen chuckled, pulling out some copper coins and loose silver coins from her clothes and giving them to the constables who brought the news.

It wasn’t a large amount, about two taels of silver in total.

The constables accepted the money, offered a few more words of flattery, and then took their leave.

"Elder Fang Suo, look at this mess. If Zhi’Er comes home and the house is still in this state, it’ll be an embarrassment to him."

Having collected herself, Ms. Chen immediately grabbed a broom from the courtyard and began to sweep, clearly intending to drive away the Fang Clan Members gathered at her door.

Before, she hadn’t dared to openly clash with the clan, afraid that if they fell out, life would become difficult for her two sons and daughter.

But now, she didn’t have to worry anymore.

Right now, nothing was more important than tidying up the house to welcome home the ’Scholar Master’.

"A Scholar? Even Scholar Liu is polite when he sees me."

Seeing Ms. Chen start to shoo people away, especially him, a Fang Family Elder...

Fang Suo felt a flash of anger and snorted coldly. "How can your family be so rude! Anyone who didn’t know better would think your Zhi’Er had become a Scholar Master!"

"A Scholar isn’t even considered an official!"

This was him pulling rank. As a Fang Family Elder, Fang Suo held a high position within the large Fang clan of Da Liushu Village.

He felt that even Scholar Liu was very polite to him, and he also knew a thing or two about the imperial examinations.

For example, a Civil Scholar could, in practice, only get his family tax exemption and continue studying to take the exam to become a Scholar.

Furthermore, a Civil Scholar cannot hold office. If he fails to become a Scholar in the future, he’s really not much of anything, at most becoming a schoolteacher or the like.

Though he’d be respected, his influence in the village would be far less than that of a clan elder like himself.

Therefore, Mrs. Fang Chen’s impolite attempt to drive him away made Fang Suo feel a great loss of face.

’A Scholar of the Fang Family must still respect me, the clan elder!’

As for the other Fang Clan Members, they weren’t nearly as bold as Fang Suo.

Especially the few who had previously received favors from Fang Yue’s family; their faces were filled with terror, and their bodies trembled. They had offended the family of a Scholar Master.

’In the future, will Master Fang come after them?’

As for the rest, those who hadn’t spoken up or hadn’t pressured the Fang family too much, they were also filled with regret. ’Why did I even come here? It’s not like my family is actually on the verge of starvation.’

’Why did I have to come here, hoping to gain some small advantage? I never thought I’d end up offending someone important.’

What’s more, it looked like Elder Fang Suo was determined to keep causing a scene.

They didn’t dare offend Scholar Fang’s family, but they also didn’t dare offend Fang Suo. For a moment, they were caught, not knowing whether to stay or go.

"Move aside, Elder. I need to sweep here! If you look down on my Zhi’Er, then don’t stay here. Why aren’t you leaving?"

As Ms. Chen spoke, she swept the trash right in front of Fang Suo.

"You!"

Fang Suo was now thoroughly incensed by Ms. Chen and was about to lash out with a reprimand.

But just at that moment...

...another commotion erupted from the edge of the crowd.

"Master Liu is visiting! Make way, people in the front!"

Steward Liu’s voice rang out before he even arrived.

Then, a horse-drawn carriage, its path cleared by several household servants, arrived at the entrance of Fang Yue’s home.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Your family’s Fang Yue has passed the examinations and become a Martial Scholar. This is the pride of our Da Liushu Village!"

A gentle voice spoke. Dressed in silk and satin, the speaker looked incredibly distinguished amidst the surrounding farmers clad in coarse linen.

This man was none other than Liu Dezhen, the current Patriarch of Landlord Liu’s family. Normally, this Scholar Master from the Liu family lived in Xiahe County Town.

But recently, due to issues with tax riots, some people in Da Liushu Village wanted to commend their lands to his family.

This was a major affair, and the Liu Family members in the village didn’t dare make the decision, so Master Liu had returned.

But as a Scholar Master, he had been staying at home and rarely made public appearances.

It was a surprise to see him arrive at Fang Yue’s home today.

And he was here to congratulate Fang Yue on becoming a Martial Scholar.

He was a Scholar Master, while the other was just a Scholar.

Why would a Scholar Master come to visit the Fang family!

Once again, the hearts of the surrounding Fang Clan Members were seized with shock.

"This is just a small token of my esteem, a trifling gesture."

Scholar Liu continued with a chuckle, and as he spoke, the household servants behind him immediately came forward carrying gifts.

Over a dozen bolts of silk, a large box of pastries and fruits, and five jars of wine.

All of these were fine goods that the country farmers would normally never even get to see.

In terms of value, they were worth at least fifty taels of silver or more.

Such a grand gesture. Scholar Liu was truly being generous.

"Hehe, are you people also here because you heard about Scholar Fang and are preparing to commend your land to him?"