Chapter 1178: Are You Going on a Secret Rendezvous?

The Xu Family’s daughter-in-law heard this, gritted her teeth, and asked, "How about 500 copper coins, Squad Leader Luo?"

With 500 copper coins, she could beg her mother-in-law for them. As long as Fu Shou could touch Scholar Gu’s head for some good luck, her mother-in-law wouldn’t be too distressed over the 500 copper coins.

Luo Wu had a headache. Was he bargaining with them?

"Tangzi, clear the way!" With a swift motion, Luo Wu sheathed his sword and ordered the government officials, glancing at the women with children who were ready to pounce at any moment. His stare made them retreat two steps.

Wow, this kid from the Luo Family is too fierce. Being so fierce, isn’t he afraid of scaring his wife? I heard his wife is Scholar Gu’s sister, timid as a mosquito.

"Please make way, fellow villagers. These are orders from Lord County Magistrate. Everyone should mind their wallets and don’t do anything reckless." Constable Xiao Tang and ten officials cleared a path with sticks, keeping the villagers at bay on both sides.

The villagers were afraid of officials, so after hearing Constable Xiao Tang’s words, and seeing Luo Wu’s expression, they recalled Mrs. Niu and her ilk’s fate and dared not entangle any further, retreating to the roadside.

Seeing this, Gu Jin’an and his companions finally opened the door and came out.

"It’s Scholar Gu, our Jianghuai’s Small Three-Yuan Scholar!"

The villagers got excited upon seeing Gu Jin’an and tried to be friendly: "Good Brother An, we aunts have watched you grow up since childhood, our relationship is not shallow. How about coming over and touching my child’s head?"

No way.

Gu Jin’an bowed to them, smiling: "Dear fellow villagers, uncles, and aunts, Good Brother An thanks everyone for your love, but I just returned from the Prefecture and I want to hurry home to see my family. It’s getting late, everyone should head back. Tomorrow, everyone can come to Gu’s Restaurant for a meal and receive ten cents, as a token of gratitude from Good Brother An!"

Although ten cents isn’t much, it’s free, and free money is not to be left unclaimed.

After hearing this, everyone looked at the officials and realized their children couldn’t touch Gu Jin’an’s head, so they sensibly gave up and started congratulating Gu Jin’an: "Scholar Gu, you’ve brought great honor to our Qingfu Town this time! Everyone is saying you’re the first Small Three-Yuan Scholar of He’an Prefecture. What is this Small Three-Yuan Scholar? Is it better than the top scorer?"

"...Um, a bit better than the top scorer." Gu Jin’an was helpless; they were so excited yet didn’t even know what a Small Three-Yuan Scholar was.

"Thank you for your kindness, fellow villagers. We will take our leave first." Gu Jin’an clasped his hands and climbed onto the mule cart. Under Luo Wu and the officials’ lead, they headed for Da Feng Village.

Thanks to Luo Wu leading the officials to clear the way, if it weren’t for the presence of people from the government, Gu Jin’an and his companions wouldn’t have been able to return to the village smoothly. People crowded the road from Qingfu Town to Da Feng Village; many learned Gu Jin’an had returned and waited by the roadside to get close to this Small Three-Yuan Scholar.

Originally, Gu Dexing felt envious, but after traveling along the way, as he wiped off sweat, he said to Qi Kangming: "Luckily, we have Good Brother An to shield us; otherwise, we’d be the ones suffering."

The village women are too formidable; he couldn’t handle them.

Qi Kangming laughed: "You’re happy too early. Once we get back to the village, we’ll be surrounded by villagers again."

Qi Kangming was right. When their mule cart finally reached the village, the whole village came out to welcome them, even bringing out the big drums usually used only during New Year or ancestor worship.

He Dayuan was thundering the big drum, and the sound of drums, copper gongs, and suona echoed throughout Da Feng Village.

Gu Jin’an felt a headache coming. Even Uncle Dayuan joined in the commotion? This is endless.

But Gu Jin’an and his two companions, being younger, didn’t dare to say anything. They could only get off the carriage and chat with the villagers, getting their hair ruffled by the village kids and their originally clean clothes turned filthy.

They overcame numerous obstacles, finally returning home after dark, with Gu Jin’an almost collapsing.

Gu Jinli and Luo Huiniang climbed the fence and watched it all from above, almost laughing themselves to death. They only came down to greet them after Gu Jin’an and the others entered the house.

Several families, having good relations, gathered at Gu Jinli’s house to have dinner together and discuss plans for a running banquet.

Gu Daya also brought Qi Kangping and Mo Qinzi’s child. Qi Kangming was very curious. Seeing his own mother holding the baby, he immediately came over, saying: "Mom, is this my elder brother’s child? Has a name been given? What’s it called?"

Gu Daya smiled until her eyes turned into slits and said, "This is your elder brother’s child. No name yet, it’s just being called Big Brother’s Boy now. Come hold your nephew, you’re an uncle now."

"Sure." Qi Kangming was delighted to get close to the first junior in the family and accepted the baby, learning how to hold Big Brother’s Boy under Gu Daya’s guidance.

But the place was too noisy, waking up Big Brother’s Boy. Upon waking and seeing a dark face, he started crying loudly.

Uh, Qi Kangming got scared and quickly handed the baby back to Gu Daya: "Let mom hold him, Big Brother’s Boy doesn’t seem to like me."

Third Grandma laughed upon hearing this: "He’s so young, what does he know about liking or disliking? The lights in this house aren’t bright enough, and as a child, he can’t see you clearly and doesn’t know who you are, that’s why he’s crying."

Upon hearing this, Qi Kangming suddenly understood. Looking at Qi Kangping standing aside, he took out a longevity lock bought in the Prefecture and handed it to Qi Kangping: "Congratulations on being a dad, brother. This is a gift for your son."

Qi Kangping accepted the longevity lock and chuckled dumbly: "Congratulations to you too for becoming a Scholar, brother. I always knew you’d make something of yourself. The Li Family can’t hold you down."

Qi Kangming smiled, saying: "I could focus on my studies because you became accomplished."

His elder brother had developed his capabilities significantly over the years. If he were still naive and easy to deceive, he couldn’t have taken so much time away from the family for exams, let alone have time for studies.

"Stop talking, when are we eating? I’m starving." Mrs. Chen, seeing everyone gathered around Big Brother’s Boy, was rubbing her stomach and asking out of hunger.

"What’s the rush? We’ll eat now." Third Grandma and Mrs. Cui invited everyone to the dining room.

There were already six tables filled with food in the dining room, with an abundance of dishes, most of which were Gu Jin’an’s favorites. Mrs. Cui and Gu Jinxiu made sure to prepare many of his beloved dishes.

Seeing the dishes on the table, Gu Jin’an felt deeply warmed. It’s great to be home.

The families ate a meal together and discussed the running banquet planned for the ninth day.

After the discussion, Third Grandma looked at Gu Jin’an and his companions, sympathetically saying: "Good Brother An and the others just returned from the Prefecture, they must be exhausted. Let them wash up and rest."

Upon hearing this, everyone saw that Gu Jin’an and the others indeed looked tired and dispersed quickly.

Gu Jinli wisely didn’t bother to chat with Gu Jin’an and let him rest, planning to tell him about the recent events at home the next day.

But the following day, he saw Gu Jin’an dressed exquisitely and ready to go out, preparing a gift.

"Big brother, where are you going?" Gu Jinli asked.

Brother Cheng replied: "Big brother is going to visit the teacher’s family, it was decided yesterday."

"So urgent? I thought big brother would wait until after the running banquet." Gu Jinli, looking at the luxurious and elegant brocade robe on Gu Jin’an, was puzzled and pointed at his clothes: "Didn’t you say there’s no need to dress so well in the countryside? Why are you wearing this robe today? And you’ve pinned a jade hairpin on your head and a jade pendant on your waist. You’re just going to Master Ouyang’s Family, we are all familiar. Aren’t you dressed too grandly? People who don’t know might think you’re going for a rendezvous."