Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

In autumn, a joyous occasion occurred in the Zhang family. Zhang Chengwen participated in the autumn imperial examination and achieved the top rank of Jieyuan (the highest degree in the provincial examination). When the news reached them, the county magistrate personally visited the Zhang family with congratulatory gifts. Over the next two weeks, local gentry and scholars came one after another to congratulate Zhang Chengwen, all hoping to establish a connection with this sixteen-year-old scholar.

Matchmakers from all around were practically wearing down the Zhang family's doorstep. Several of the young ladies were quite eligible, and Mrs. Liu was very interested. However, considering her son's studies, she discussed it with her husband and decided that there was no need to rush the engagement; they could wait a little longer.

"When my fourth son was young, an old monk predicted that he should not marry too early. I dare not delay your young lady." With this statement, Madam Liu rejected all the families that came to propose marriage.

People at that time believed in fate, so they naturally dared not disbelieve the old monk's words. Besides, the reason given was one that saved face for both sides; although they had refused outright, no family would be angry with the Zhang family for it. A sixty-year-old scholar who had passed the imperial examination was nothing special, but how many people throughout history had passed it at the age of sixteen?

Before winter arrived, Xia Yu's family moved into their new house. To celebrate the completion of the house, Zhang Youtie planned to hold a housewarming ceremony and invite some relatives and friends to a housewarming party.

Zhang Youtie originally intended to invite only some friends who had business dealings with his family, such as Manager Liu and Master Zhao of Zuixiaolou, Manager Qin of Shenfu, Manager Jin Duoduo of Haoyunlai in town who is also a half-owner, his sworn brother Pork Dragon and his family, Sister Wu who sells fish and her family, and Manager Wang from the county magistrate's mansion.

Zhao Youting of Baiweilou and Li Chengye of Meiweiju were also invited. After the two of them went to the Shen residence to see Master Shen and Madam Shen, Madam Shen agreed to let Zhang Youtie sell shrimp to these two families this spring.

All of these people had a personal relationship with Zhang Youtie or had business dealings with him.

In addition, the house's designer, Master Qian, and his apprentices will also be invited, as will the dozen or so master craftsmen who work here.

Aside from the people in the old house, the only relatives she had were Liu's maternal relatives and the villagers.

After the list was drawn up, Xia Yu looked it over and reminded her father. They should also send an invitation to Master Shen, as well as to Grand Tutor Li and Master Li from the local school. These people were all acquaintances because of Chang Yun, and it seemed inappropriate not to invite them.

After carefully considering his daughter's words, Zhang Youtie felt that she made a lot of sense. So he asked Zhang Chengwen to help him write a few formal invitations, which he then had Uncle Ma deliver to each of them.

The next day, they sent a reply, indicating that they would definitely come that day.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time to move.

Early in the morning, Zhang Youtie ordered his men to set off a large string of firecrackers in front of the mansion at the chosen time.

After the firecrackers, villagers came to offer their congratulations, and no one arrived empty-handed. Some brought dozens of eggs, a basket of vegetables, a few pounds of flour, or even a live chicken. Generally speaking, depending on their own circumstances, everyone brought some kind of gift.

This year, because of the Zhang family's success, everyone in the village earned some money, so many people prepared some monetary gifts in addition to bringing presents. This was unexpected for Zhang Youtie, because in the past, when someone in the village built a new house, people would just bring some food and visit, without giving monetary gifts.

Zhang Youtie was initially reluctant to accept the gifts, but the villagers were very generous. Few in the Zhang family were literate, so Uncle Ma was assigned to help Zhang Youtie greet the guests. Changyun was off playing with his friends from the village, and no one knew where they were. Just as they sent someone to the old house to fetch Zhang Chengwen, Boss Jin from Haoyunlou arrived with his son, Jin Shanshan.

“Brother Zhang, this is my son. He’s not good at writing, but he can still write a few words. If you don’t mind, Brother Zhang, please let him write for you.”

"Mr. Jin, you're too kind. May I ask if you are Young Master Jin, who studied at Bailu Academy with Chengwen?" Zhang Youtie asked, looking at Jin Shanshan, who was handsome and dressed in a brocade robe.

"Greetings, Third Brother. I am Jin Shanshan, who studied at Bailu Academy with Chengwen." The young master bowed to Zhang Youtie. Although he had a degree, he addressed Zhang Youtie as Third Brother from Chengwen's perspective.

No sooner had he finished speaking than his father slapped him on the back of the head.

"You brat, don't you know your place in the family? How can you call him 'Third Brother'? Call him 'Uncle'!" Jin Duoduo was very unhappy that his son called Zhang Youtie "Third Brother." Wasn't that putting them in the same generation?

"Dad, Chengwen and I are classmates. I call him brother and uncle, so how should we address each other?" Jin Shanshan complained, rubbing her head where her father had hit her.

“Nephew, if you don’t mind, you can call me Fourth Uncle from now on…” Zhang Chengwen appeared behind the group at some point and spoke up to help Jin Shanshan out of the predicament.

Jin Shanshan turned her head in disbelief, looking at the very serious expression on Zhang Chengwen's face.

"Brother Chengwen, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, his father slapped him on the head again.

"You brat, call me Fourth Uncle..."

After disciplining his son, Jin Duoduo was about to kneel before Zhang Chengwen, but Zhang Chengwen stopped him.

"Those who have come today are all our own people, so let's not bother with those empty formalities."

Seeing Jin Duoduo like this, the people of Zhangjia Village finally realized what was happening. Yes, Zhang Chengwen was no longer a commoner; he had obtained the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and these ordinary people had to bow to him when they saw him.

Not one person realized this, so they all knelt down in unison. They didn't know if it was right to bow to the scholar in this way, but they just followed what others did.

Seeing this, Zhang Chengwen quickly helped the people around him up one by one, saying...

"Get up, gentlemen and elders, please get up quickly." He then gestured to Zhang Youtie and Jin Shanshan, who were standing ramrod straight, to help them up.

After finally helping everyone up, Zhang Chengwen said to Zhang Youtie

"Third Brother, leave the bookkeeping at the gate to me and 'Nephew Jin Xian'. You two go ahead and get busy."

Hearing his arrangement, Zhang Youtie didn't find anything inappropriate and personally led Boss Jin into the house. He then seated him in a pre-arranged spot and had Zhao Mancang's ten-year-old son serve tea and water. Once everything was arranged, he came out to greet the guest.

As noon approached, guests from the county town began to arrive one after another. Each table was arranged according to status, ensuring that villagers would never sit at the same table as the restaurant owner. That would be awkward, as one person would talk about crops in the fields while the other discussed the restaurant's business.

At the table where Grand Tutor Li, Master Shen, and Master Li were seated, Old Master Zhang was accompanied by Zhang Chengwen and Changyun, and little Shen Luo was also present.

Zhang Youtie arranged for them to stay in a small, private flower room, which was not as lively as the outside, but it was just right for the group.

The meal lasted until late afternoon, and both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely. Meanwhile, the villagers witnessed firsthand the connections of the Zhang family; even the county magistrate's steward paled in comparison. Last time, when Master Shen accompanied the county magistrate, the villagers had clearly seen how the magistrate treated Master Shen with great courtesy, even addressing him respectfully as "Uncle." But the white-haired old man who came today commanded such deference from Master Shen, suggesting he was no ordinary person.

After the housewarming banquet, the villagers who previously had some reservations about the Zhang family, or rather, the Zhang Youtie family, were now filled with awe. Leaving aside Zhang Chengwen, even Zhang Youtie, whom they used to call a shrimp seller, was someone these ordinary people couldn't afford to offend.