Chapter 844: Dealing with the Liu Family

Old Master Xu was deeply shocked upon hearing this; the Gu Family truly had deep blessings. Not only did Gu Jin’an pass, but his cousins did too, along with three other brothers of the same clan.

Old Master Xu was just about to say a few congratulatory words when Liu Sheng suddenly exclaimed, asking Luo Wu, "Squad Leader Luo, did I pass?!"

Since Gu Qingtian and Gu Qingliang could pass, surely he, Liu Sheng, could too. He had started studying at the age of eight, and even though he wasn’t great, he must still be better than these peasants from the Gu Family.

As soon as he said this, everyone in the elegant room fell silent, looking at Liu Sheng with eyes that seemed to say he was an idiot... Someone like him even dared to take the county examination; he was shameless enough to ask if he passed?

Don’t you have any idea if you passed?

He couldn’t even compose a simple jingle and just relied on his family’s wealth to have a scholar vouch for him to gain the qualification to take the county examination; otherwise, he couldn’t even enter the doors of the Ritual Room.

Luo Wu didn’t want to deal with Liu Sheng and said to Gu Jin’an, "Brother An, the county examination results are out, you should hurry home. The villagers are waiting to congratulate you."

The villagers of Da Feng Village believed that the Gu Family’s business success was due to deep blessings, and it was certain that Gu Jin’an would pass. They had been preparing congratulatory gifts since yesterday, just waiting for them to return so they could bring their gifts and offer congratulations.

Gu Jin’an nodded, "Yes, it’s time to return."

He turned to Old Master Xu, "Old Xu, the villagers are all waiting for us to return. We won’t be staying for this meal, we’ll head back first."

Old Master Xu didn’t try to keep them, he just said, "Alright, another day the Xu Family will send you an invitation and entertain you properly."

Gu Jin’an congratulated Young Master Qu, saying, "Congratulations on ranking fourth, Brother Qu. I need to return to the village today, but another day, I’ll visit you to thank Scholar Qu for his recommendation."

Young Master Qu returned the courtesy with a smile, "We are fellow scholars, like brothers, Brother Gu. You don’t need to be overly courteous, hurry back."

He also needed to return home to entertain the guests who came to offer congratulations.

Gu Jin’an smiled, nodded, cupped his hands to the other examinees in the room, and then left the second-floor private room with Luo Wu and the others, heading to the third floor.

Constable Xiao Yang and a few others followed them.

Inside the room, Liu Sheng grabbed the porter and asked, "This young master is called Liu Sheng; did you see my name on the county list?"

The porter, being slick, thought for a moment and said, "Liu Sheng? It seems I saw it, but I’m not sure. If you want to know, give me a little tip, and I’ll go check it again for you."

You passed my ass; your name isn’t even on the list.

Liu Sheng immediately took out five copper coins and handed them to the porter, "Hurry up!"

The porter looked down on him; just a few copper coins, and he calls himself a young master, huh.

The porter took the money and left, but he never returned.

Old Master Xu was thoroughly disgusted with Liu Sheng and didn’t look at him. He only called Xu Liang over, "Young Liang, make sure to properly entertain these examinees for your great granduncle; I’ll head back first."

Although he felt his grandson had embarrassed the family greatly, since people were already invited, they should be entertained well, especially as they are fellow scholars; they must not be offended.

"Alright, great granduncle, leave it to me, and don’t worry," Xu Liang helped support Old Master Xu and sent him downstairs, whispering along the way, "Great granduncle, about the Liu Family..."

Old Master Xu said, "Don’t worry, I remember it. Since they dared to use our Xu Family as a tool, the Liu Family shouldn’t think they can stay in Tianfu County any longer!"

The Xu Family doesn’t lack silver; even by squeezing them out with money, they can push the Liu Family out of Tianfu County.

Xu Liang, being smart, said no more upon hearing this. After all, he was a branch family member, and since the main family’s young master had lost face today, saying too much might make him unpopular with the main family.

Xu Liang politely saw Old Master Xu off and then returned to the second-floor private room to entertain the scholars there.

Liu Sheng, being thick-skinned, didn’t leave but sat down to eat, stuffing his mouth with more food. Many people saw this and couldn’t eat anymore.

Xu Liang almost felt like vomiting watching him; eat while you can because once you finish this good meal, your Liu Family will be done for.

...

Xu Liang wasn’t speaking empty words; who was Old Master Xu? Would he just sit and watch while his grandson was used by others?

When he returned home, he called for the housekeeper, "Prepare five generous gifts and send them to the Gu Family and the Qi Family in Da Feng Village; they have five people who’ve passed the county exam."

He continued, "Include three jade pieces in the one for Gu Jin’an; he’s the top scorer of this year’s county exam and cannot be treated lightly."

Housekeeper Xu was shocked, "Five people passed the county exam? And one even became the top scorer? Oh my, that’s quite a blessing."

Old Master Xu nodded, "Those who escape calamity, after surviving great difficulties, are sure to have future blessings."

After Housekeeper Xu left, Old Master Xu called his second son and told him about Liu Sheng using Xu Zhao Ming to go against the Gu Family, "The Liu Family can’t stay; no matter what method you use, within half a month, the Liu Family Cloth Store must close down."

Xu Er assured, "Don’t worry, Father. Our family also has a cloth shop, and if we hadn’t held back, the Liu Family Cloth Store wouldn’t have lasted till now."

His father had left the Liu Family Cloth Store alone because their family already had many businesses in Tianfu County and didn’t want to stand out too much, so they left a little profit for other merchants.

Now that the Liu Family was seeking their own demise, the Xu Family naturally wouldn’t be polite anymore.

After giving these instructions, Old Master Xu also said, "Go call Brother Ming for me; I’m going to enforce the family rules!"

Xu Er was shocked. Brother Ming was his father’s most beloved grandson, whom he had doted on since he was a child, hoping that he would be successful and bring honor to the family, "Father, although Brother Ming made a mistake, it was Fatty Liu who coaxed him. He already knows his mistake and apologized to Brother Gu Jia’an. Please forgive him. Besides, Brother Ming still has to take the Prefecture Examination; if he’s injured, how can he attend?"

"How can he attend? If we don’t wake him up, even if he becomes a top scorer, it’s useless!" Old Master Xu declared, "It’s only today I realized that apart from being good at academics, he’s completely useless in everything else; he knows nothing about how to behave. Such a fool, let alone entering public service, would ruin the family business if he came back to inherit it! He has no judgment at all, easily fooled by that idiot from the Liu Family."

Old Master Xu was furious; he couldn’t swallow his anger without punishing Xu Zhao Ming severely: "Hurry, have him brought here forcibly!"

Seeing this, Xu Er had no choice but to call for Xu Zhao Ming.

Xu Zhao Ming didn’t offer any excuses; knowing Old Master Xu was going to enforce the family rules, he knelt as soon as he arrived.

Old Master Xu sneered and took the rattan wrapped in iron from the housekeeper, striking Xu Zhao Ming hard on the body.

With a loud crack, just one blow left Xu Zhao Ming with broken skin and flesh, lying on the ground.

Xu Er winced at the sight and urged, "Father, take it easy; Brother Ming is a scholar and can’t bear it."

Old Master Xu retorted angrily, "Whether he can bear it or not, he must! If I don’t wake him up today, I’ll beat you and Old San!"

Xu Er was dumbfounded; he and Old San were just Brother Ming’s uncles, why beat them? If someone should be beaten, shouldn’t it be the eldest brother?

Oh, the eldest brother isn’t here; he’s in Jinling managing the shop.