The group of people walked towards Zhao Ce's home while beating gongs and drums.

The children in the village also followed, cheering with bright smiles.

Zhao Ce and Su Cai'er stood at the door. The couple both put on new clothes.

Hearing the sound of gongs and drums getting closer and closer, Su Cai'er couldn't help but feel the excitement on her face.

Finally, as everyone was looking forward to it, Zhao Youcai appeared in front of them with a group of people.

"Coming!"

Zhao Wenhao next to him heard the sound and quickly lit the firecrackers.

A crackling sound could not cover up the lively sound of gongs and drums.

When the group of officials approached, the leader said: "Please invite Zhao Xiucai to come forward and receive the good news."

Zhao Ce took a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "The student is Zhao Ce himself."

The official handed over the good news tied with red silk in his hand and congratulated: "Congratulations to Zhao Xiucai for first place in the three tests, winning three yuan in a row, small and medium."

"This is good news from our government. It is stamped with the seal of the Academic Affairs Master."

After Zhao Ce took it, he said politely: "Thank you very much."

"You two have worked hard. Please come in and have a cup of hot tea."

This is the scholar who is at the head of the third trial. These officials from the capital also want to be happy, so naturally they will not refuse.

After Zhao Ce led the two people in, Zhao Wenhao set off another firecracker outside the door.

Later, Zhao Youcai arranged for someone to bring a large pot of sugar water and served it to the gongs and drums players one by one.

Inside the house, Su Cai'er took Mrs. Xu and served tea to the two officials.

After the official entered the house, Su Cai'er kept a straight face and tried hard to look calm and composed.

After all, her husband is now a scholar, so she can't just keep fussing.

Zhao Ce handed over the good news in his hand, and Su Caier quickly reached out to take it.

Seeing the little girl like this, Zhao Ce couldn't help but find it a little funny, so he pinched Su Cai'er's hand to receive the good news.

Su Cai'er raised her head and glanced at him, then at the official next to her who was taking the tea from Xu's hand, and then raised the corners of her mouth at Zhao Ce.

After the two officials took the tea and took a sip, they said to Zhao Ce: "Zhao Xiucai's hometown is indeed a geomantic treasure."

"While I was waiting to set off from Fucheng, it was raining heavily."

"The rain stopped as soon as it arrived in your city."

Another also echoed: "If it were not a geomantic treasure land, how could it have given birth to a once-in-a-century talent like Zhao Xiucai?"

When Zhao Youcai and others standing nearby heard this, they all grinned happily.

The two officials said a lot of happy words, and Zhao Ce was also accompanying them.

After drinking the tea, he stood up and said, "I have to go back to meet Master Zheng and Master Fu Zun, so I won't bother you any more."

Zhao Ce took Zhao Youcai and others and sent them out.

Every official was given a heavy silver ingot as compensation for his hard work.

The two officials held the silver ingots in their hands and excused themselves in a sincere tone.

Zhao Ce smiled and said: "You two came to my house to deliver good news, so please be sure to accept it."

When the two of them saw this, they no longer shied away and accepted it happily.

For the other people who were beating gongs and drums, Zhao Youcai had already sent out red seals.

Everyone got a piece of silver wrapped in a red envelope.

After sending off the congratulatory guests, Zhao Youcai stood at the door of Zhao Ce's house and said happily: "Today we have a big celebration in Shuiqiao Village. All the folks can come and have a banquet."

"The food and wine for the banquet are being prepared in the kitchen early in the morning. After worshiping the ancestors, the banquet can begin!"

"The banquet will be held in rotation for three days. As long as you come over, you can eat!"

After Zhao Youcai finished speaking, congratulations were heard all around.

Zhao Ce smiled again and said: "Tomorrow I will also set up a running water banquet at Zuixuan Tower in the city. If you are free by then, you can also go into the city to eat!"

Although Zhao Ce felt that he was just a scholar, this battle was indeed a bit big.

But seeing the smiles of everyone in the village, I felt that this rare happy event really needed to be done in a big way.

Leaving Li and others to prepare the food, Zhao Ce followed Zhao Youcai, leading the clan uncles in the village and some relatively senior young people in the family towards the ancestral hall.

Zhao Ce walked in front holding two genealogies, and was congratulated by everyone all the way.

Zhao Wensheng and Zhao Wenhao walked beside him, with smiles on their faces, and kept returning the congratulations of others.

After arriving at the ancestral hall, Zhao Youcai signaled Zhao Ce to put the old genealogy in one place, and then opened the new genealogy.

After some worship, Zhao Youcai said with a smile: "We in Shuiqiao Village also had scholars in the past."

"Although his grades in the imperial examination were not good, this genealogy was also written by him."

"Now that you are the most promising person in our clan, it is up to you to write your name in it with your own hands."

Their genealogy in Shuiqiao Village is incomplete.

The ancestral hall is not big, just a small room.

But it doesn't matter, starting from Zhao Ce, their tribe will continue to record it.

Zhao Ce's sense of responsibility also emerged spontaneously.

He took the brush handed over by Zhao Wensheng, dipped it in ink, and wrote:

——In June of the year of Guihai, Zhao Ce, a descendant of the Zhao family, was a high school scholar and a high school scholar...

After finishing writing, Zhao Youcai held it in both hands and placed it in the position of worship.

In this way, the sacrificial part is over.

Zhao Youcai waved his hand: "Go back and prepare for the banquet!"

For these few days, he specially asked Zhao Wenhao to go to the village of Xiahe and buy two pigs to slaughter.

By the time the group returned to Zhao Ce's house, the open space at the door was already filled with tables and chairs.

Tables and chairs were moved out of every house in the village.

After Zhao Youcai said a few more festive words to everyone, the banquet began.

Bowls of food were brought out and placed directly on the table.

Everyone in Shuiqiao Village brought their own bowls and chopsticks, filled them with food and started eating.

After they finished eating, people from nearby villages came over with their own bowls and chopsticks.

There are not enough seats, and other people don't mind either.

After loading their food, many people squatted on the roadside and started eating.

While eating, he congratulated: "Thank you, Master Xiucai!"

After all, they can't eat these meals even during the Chinese New Year.

After eating and drinking, he poured the wine on the table directly into his bowl stained with oil, and drank while returning to his village.

People from nearby villages came over one after another.

Many people who had not seen the official announcement were lingering in front of Zhao Ce's house, wanting to see what this scholar was like.

When everyone was beaming with joy, suddenly an aunt wearing a red flower on her head and rouge on her face came over from a distance.

She had a beaming smile on her face and held a brightly colored handkerchief in her hand. It looked like she was dressed as a matchmaker.

She stood directly in front of Zhao Ce's house and said happily: "Congratulations to Mr. Zhao for being a high school scholar."
Chapter completed!