Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

When Xia Yu and the others arrived home, they could see that the roadside was full of horse-drawn carriages from a long distance away from the Zhang family's house.

"These are all people who have come to celebrate the master becoming a baron," Aunt Ma explained to Xia Yu.

"Hmm, I didn't expect so many people to come?" Xia Yu murmured, looking at the long line of carriages outside.

"Of course there are more people. Officials from Ming'an County, scholars, and wealthy gentry from the surrounding area have all come." Aunt Ma smiled, her face beaming with pride.

As they were talking, the carriage stopped in front of the Zhang family mansion.

Da Niu and Shi Jiu jumped off the carriage first, then turned around to help Aunt Ma and Xia Yu.

Several servants were sitting at the gate. Seeing that their carriage had returned so early today, one of the older servants hurriedly sent someone inside to announce their arrival.

"Quickly go in and tell them the news! The young lady and the others are back!"

"Hey!" The servant glanced at the two people who jumped off the carriage and hurriedly ran into the courtyard to report the news.

The remaining people all came up and bowed to Li Taifu, Zhang Chengwen, Xia Yu and the others.

Just as the group stood still, they heard a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps. Judging from the sound alone, they knew that there were quite a few people coming, and they were walking very fast.

Soon, Xia Yu and the others saw a large group of people pouring out of the gate.

Xia Yu immediately spotted her parents and brother. The old man, Madam Liu, her aunts, her uncles… the entire Zhang family had arrived.

Just as Xia Yu was about to speak to them, she saw Liu's gaze sweep across her face before turning to the people standing behind her.

"Grandma, what are you looking at?" Xia Yu couldn't help but ask when she saw her eyes searching back and forth in the crowd.

"Xiaxia, where's your fourth uncle? Didn't he say he was coming back with you?"

Hearing Liu's words, Xia Yu turned her head and looked at her fourth uncle behind her with a strange expression.

But then he saw his fourth uncle standing among the servants with his head down. Plus, the color of his clothes today was somewhat similar to the servants', so with his head down, he was really hard to recognize at first glance.

"Fourth Uncle, stop teasing my grandma and come out quickly!" Xia Yu looked at her fourth uncle hiding in the crowd. She never realized before that the older he got, the more mischievous he became.

Seeing that his whereabouts had been exposed by his niece, the dark-skinned Zhang Chengwen had no choice but to straighten up and look at Old Master Zhang and Madam Liu.

"Father, Mother, your child is here."

Liu squinted at her son, who was so different from the one she remembered, and after a moment she suddenly slapped her thigh.

"Ah, ah, it really is Fourth Brother. Old man, our Fourth Brother is back. Fourth Brother, you're finally back! Your mother has missed you so much!"

Looking at his mother, whose hair had turned white, Zhang Chengwen's eyes welled up with tears. He lifted his clothes and knelt down before his parents.

"Father and Mother, please accept this bow from your unfilial child!"

"Son, get up, get up, let your mother take a good look at you." Liu couldn't bear to see her son kneeling on the ground like this, and hurriedly tried to help him up.

Changyun followed behind the crowd and saw Li Taifu and his sister standing there. He squeezed out from the side, quickly walked up to Li Taifu, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.

"Teacher, I have passed the prefectural examination."

"Good, Changyuan. I knew that with your talent, you would have no problem passing the prefectural examination." Although it was not unexpected, the teacher was still very gratified that his student had achieved such results.

"Prepare well for next year's provincial examination. Although you are talented, there are always people better than you, and there is always something beyond your reach. Do not be arrogant. Only by passing the provincial examination will you obtain the title of Xiucai and be considered to have stepped into the door of the imperial examination."

"Yes, I understand. I will definitely study hard and prepare for next year's exam."

Zhang Youtie also saw Grand Tutor Li, and he and Liu went over to greet him and speak with him.

Over there, the Zhang family members quickly moved aside the moment Zhang Chengwen knelt down. Now that Zhang Chengwen was an official of the imperial court, only his parents and the newly appointed baron were qualified to receive his grand ceremony. No one else was qualified.

"Fourth brother, get up, let's go inside and talk," Zhang Youjin said.

"Eldest brother, second brother, these past few years while I've been away, our parents have relied entirely on your care. Thank you for your hard work!" Zhang Chengwen looked at his brothers with deep gratitude.

"We're all brothers, no need for formalities!" Zhang Youjin said, patting his brother on the shoulder. Only after his fourth brother became an official did he understand the benefits of having someone in the family holding a high-ranking position in the court. For one thing, since his fourth brother became an official, his braised meat business had improved significantly. And no one dared to cause trouble for their shop anymore.

“Yes, they are our parents too. Isn’t it only right that we take care of them?” Zhang Youyin chimed in.

"Let's go inside and talk, don't stand here, there are still some old guests inside!" Madam Liu said with a smile to her brothers who were talking intimately.

"Oh, right, right, I'm getting senile too. Luckily, Changyun's mother reminded me. Let's hurry inside. Today is your third brother's big day; all the important people in the county have come. Fourth brother, you go in and help greet the guests." Hearing Liu's words, Old Master Zhang remembered that they were having a banquet at home today, and the guests were all waiting inside. Now that everyone in the family had come out, leaving the guests alone was hardly proper hospitality.

"Grand Tutor, please don't be offended. I haven't seen this old son of mine for many years and I've really missed him terribly. When I suddenly saw him today, I couldn't control my emotions and lost my composure for a moment." Only then did Old Master Zhang finally see Grand Tutor Li, and he hurriedly came over to bow and invite him into the house.

“Brother, this is only human nature. I envy you for having so many filial children and grandchildren. How could I possibly find it strange?” Grand Tutor Li took Old Master Zhang’s arm and led him inside, saying as they walked.

The group entered the house in a lively atmosphere. Zhang Youtie arranged for Zhang Chengwen to sit at the county magistrate's table as a guest. Coincidentally, Zhang Chengwen and the current magistrate of Ming'an County were from the same cohort, which gave them plenty to talk about. The others at the table chimed in, making for a lively scene. Upon learning that Zhang Chengwen could stay at their home for a while, they even invited him to their residence.

The Zhang family had a lively and joyful day, and after seeing all the guests off, they finally had a chance to sit down and talk together in the evening.