Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

When the family returned from the fields in the evening, the sky was full of stars, and everyone wanted to do more work while the weather was still cool.

"Grandpa, if you want to work a little longer tomorrow night, have my dad drive the oxcart back and bring the food to the fields to eat," Xia Yu said, handing a damp towel to Grandpa Zhang.

"Today we're just leveling the field, and we're relying entirely on the oxen, so they can't leave. When it's time to actually harvest the wheat tomorrow, you should prepare your meals early, and we'll eat dinner in the fields."

"Okay, I understand."

Two or three days passed like this, with Xia Yu and Qiu Yu in charge of cooking each day, and Qing He only responsible for tending the fire. When it was time to harvest the wheat, five-year-old Dong Yu was also taken to the field by Liu Shi to carry a small basket and pick up the wheat ears. Everyone in the family except Zhang Chengwen and Zhang Changyun was busy.

That day, Xia Yu and Qiu Yu were washing vegetables for lunch in the yard when they suddenly heard the sound of a demon outside.

"Hey, second sister, why do I think I hear the voice of a Rakshasa outside?"

"It seems so, I heard it too. I wonder what's going on."

As the two sisters were talking, they heard a little child outside the courtyard shouting, "This is the place! This is the place!"

"It seems like they've come to our house." Xia Yu wiped her hands on her clothes, stood up, and walked with Qiu Yu towards the gate. At this time, several little boys who had gathered outside to watch the commotion had already gathered.

"Good news!" shouted a man dressed as a yamen runner outside.

"Young Master Zhang Chengwen has achieved first place in the provincial examination."

"Qiuyu, hurry to the fields and call Grandpa and Grandma, our fourth uncle passed the exam!" Xia Yu said to Qiuyu with delight after hearing what the messenger was saying.

She said to the three messengers, "Gentlemen, please come inside, have some water and rest. My master will be back soon."

The three messengers, upon hearing the good news, discovered that only two young girls were home; there were no adults. They had no choice but to follow Xia Yu into the courtyard. Qinghe, in the kitchen, also overheard people saying her fourth brother had passed the exam, but she dared not speak to anyone outside, so she remained silent in the kitchen, leaving the task of receiving the guests to Xia Yu.

As Xia Yu ushered the group into the house, one of them waved his hand and said...

“This courtyard is nice. We’ll sit at the stone table for a while. You go about your business, little girl.”

"I'm sorry to have been so disrespectful to you gentlemen," Xia Yu said politely. He then went to the kitchen, took out the only set of rough porcelain teaware in the house, washed it clean, poured in a pot of cold boiled water, and carried the pot and several cups out together.

"There's no tea at home, and it's hot. Please have some plain water to soothe your throats." As she spoke, Xia Yu poured several glasses of plain water and handed them to the servants with both hands.

The reporters noticed that although she was young, she was very polite and spoke with a dignified yet respectful manner, which was quite endearing. Besides, in those days, ordinary families wouldn't have expensive things like tea; the fact that this young girl remembered to bring them plain water to quench their thirst showed how thoughtful she was.

As the group was drinking water, a commotion arose outside. It turned out that Qiu Yu had called everyone back from the fields.

Several men jumped down from the oxcart. Old Master Zhang, seeing the group sitting in the courtyard, was speechless with excitement. The messengers, quick to notice, announced loudly, "Congratulations! Congratulations! Your young master, Zhang Chengwen, has achieved first place in the provincial examination! We've come to deliver the good news. Congratulations! Your young master is truly a literary genius descended from heaven! Our county hasn't had a top scholar in many years!" He meant it; Ming'an County hadn't produced a single top scholar in the past decade. This was different from an ordinary scholar; perhaps in another two years, he would become a successful candidate in the provincial examination.

"Thank you for making the trip in this sweltering heat, gentlemen. Please come inside, gentlemen, have a seat." After his initial excitement, Old Master Zhang finally found his voice and hurriedly ushered the group inside.

"No, no, we have other official business to attend to. Please keep the good news safe, sir, we're leaving now." One of them said, handing a rolled-up package to Mr. Zhang with both hands.

"Oh, how can you leave so soon? At least let this old man serve you a cup of tea." After saying that, he turned to Liu behind him and whispered, "What are you still standing there for? What about the things I asked you to prepare? Take them out now."

"Yes, yes, I'll go get it now. You can talk to the adults for a bit."

The people who came to deliver the good news exchanged a subtle glance, pretending not to know what the old lady had gone into the house for, and began exchanging pleasantries with Old Master Zhang.

"Grandpa, your courtyard is beautifully built. It's square and flat, a place blessed with outstanding people and prosperous descendants."

"Oh, I never imagined you, sir, were also skilled in geomancy?" Old Master Zhang was filled with admiration upon hearing the official's assessment that his courtyard was blessed with outstanding people and prosperous descendants. His own family had four sons and three grandsons—indeed, their descendants were thriving. And indeed, his courtyard truly deserved to be called a blessed place; otherwise, how could it have produced an academician?

"Hmm, I know a little bit, a little bit." The man smiled and looked at the large group of people standing behind Old Master Zhang, and said modestly.

"You're too modest, sir. What you said about my family's situation is quite accurate." The old man took it as him being modest.

The crowd standing in the courtyard were speechless.

The old man must be so happy he's gone mad. With so many people standing there, anyone who isn't blind can tell that his family is very large.

Soon, Liu came out of the house, holding several red envelopes in her hand, and handed them to Old Master Zhang.

"You gentlemen have worked hard. Here are a few copper coins for you to have some tea." As he spoke, Old Master Zhang stuffed a red envelope into each of their pockets.

"Oh, oh, how can we accept this? This is our duty..." the group said, feigning refusal.

"You're too kind, sir. It's hot, and you've come all this way. I should have invited you to stay for a meal, but our humble abode is poorly furnished. I hope you won't refuse these few copper coins," said Old Master Zhang politely.

"Well, since the old man says so, we shall respectfully comply," said the messenger, who was quite knowledgeable in geomancy.

"That's how it should be, that's how it should be."

"We have official business to attend to, so we'll be leaving now. Please wait a moment," the man said, stuffing the red envelope into his pocket before clasping his hands in farewell to the Zhang family.

The Zhang family watched the messengers ride away before returning to their own courtyard.

The commotion was quite loud, and even the women from the neighboring houses who were cooking at home came to watch the excitement. Those who were on good terms with the Zhang family naturally came up to congratulate Liu, while others who weren't on good terms muttered a few sarcastic remarks, but ultimately dared not say them out loud, for fear that they would be overheard and reach the ears of the Zhang family.

After everyone outside had finally left, only the Zhang family remained in the courtyard. The old man looked at his sons standing in front of him and said happily, "Your fourth brother did very well in the exam. He's the top scorer!"

After wiping away her tears, she said to Liu, "Let's kill two chickens. We're happy today, so let's kill two chickens tonight to celebrate. Let's give Changyuan some money and have the children buy some wine. We'll have a good meal together tonight."

"Hey, I'll go catch chickens right now." Liu was overjoyed and called Changyuan Chunyu to go catch chickens with her.

The old man looked at his sons and daughters-in-law and said, "Tell your mother and daughters-in-law to prepare at home. We'll go and tidy up the work in the field, and come back early to eat chicken."