Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 163: Ancestors Bless the Nephew, Not the Uncle
When leaving the Li family, it was around four or five in the afternoon. Zhu Ping’an went to visit his mentor’s house again, but there was still no one there. It seemed that his mentor wouldn’t be coming back in the short term.
The autumn air was refreshing, though it was slightly warm. The flowers and plants under the sun seemed a bit lifeless. However, the crops in the fields, in contrast, were growing strong, bearing heavy fruits, and basking in the sunlight, striving to ripen.
Walking along the countryside path, Zhu Ping’an occasionally greeted the neighbors in the fields. Complimenting their crops for growing well made the neighbors happy for a long time.
As he neared home, he saw his mother, Chen, chatting with a group of aunties. His mother, with a face full of excitement, was telling them something, and the aunties all looked envious.
“Hey, isn’t that your Ping’an?” one of the women said when she spotted Zhu Ping’an.
Then Chen turned her head, saw Zhu Ping’an, and waved for him to come over.
Zhu Ping’an took a couple of quick steps forward, first calling out “Mother,” and then greeting the other aunties around.
“Zhi’er, come here and tell your mother again what being a linsheng is good for. I always forget,” Chen said, her face full of pride.
His mother really did enjoy this, didn’t she?
Since his mother enjoyed showing it off so much, Zhu Ping’an naturally cooperated. He explained once again, in plain language, the privileges of a linsheng—a stipendiary shengyuan. He embellished a few points slightly, but his mother loved every word.
“Just wait and enjoy life, the way your Ping’an is, so smart, he’ll definitely become an official in the future!” The aunties all expressed their admiration for Chen, praising Zhu Ping’an’s intelligence.
“He’s not really that smart, just hardworking. Every time I get up to cook, I can see him in the yard reading books and practicing calligraphy…”
Chen said this, but her face was filled with pride in her son.
Chen had never been especially fond of gossiping with the village women, but lately she was always happy to join them. Whatever the topic, she would somehow steer the conversation back to her second son and bask in everyone’s envy. It could keep her cheerful for the rest of the day.
After enjoying everyone’s various expressions of admiration, Chen reluctantly went home with Zhu Ping’an. On the way, the smile never left her face. She was beaming, as if she had become ten years younger.
When Zhu Ping’an and his mother returned home, no one else was back yet. As usual, his father was busy driving the ox cart between town and the mountain villages, while his older brother had gone into the mountains to prepare for the flowing banquet three days later. Chen started making dinner, and Zhu Ping’an returned to his room to copy the books he had borrowed from the Li family.
Everything was in order and running smoothly.
The first to return home was Zhu Ping’an’s older brother, Zhu Pingchuan, who had gone into the mountains. This time, it seemed like his haul was much larger than usual, as his basket was full, and he was also holding two plump rabbits in his hands.
Not long after, Zhu Ping’an’s father returned. After driving the cart into the yard, he unloaded the meat buns, fruits, and other items he had bought in town.
Dinner was warm and comforting, with an unmistakable sense of family love in the air.
It was so good to be home.
Zhu Ping’an couldn’t help but sigh in appreciation.
Good to be home?
Not everyone shared that sentiment. For instance, Zhu Ping’an’s uncle, Zhu Shouren, who had been traveling back all day and had just arrived home after dark, didn’t think so. Home? How could it compare to the bustling, glamorous Qinhuai River?
The Qinhuai River was so much better. There, he was admired for his charm and elegance, unlike now, when he had to sneak back home.
And why did he have to sneak home? All because of his nephew. On Zhu Ping’an’s first attempt at the Children’s Examination, the boy had passed the county examination, then the prefectural examination, and finally the academy examination, taking first place as anshou and becoming a shengyuan/xiucai. Zhu Shouren, meanwhile, had studied for decades and sat examinations again and again, yet still failed to become a xiucai. How could he not feel humiliated when a thirteen-year-old nephew had overtaken him?
It wasn’t so bad when he was away, but the closer he got to home, the more embarrassed he felt. That’s why he waited until it was dark, when fewer people were around and it was harder for others to recognize him, to sneak into the village.
Ah, the ancestors blessed the nephew, not the uncle.
Before the exam, he had consulted a fortune-teller, who said that the ancestors were watching over the Zhu family and that his success was almost certain. Yet, in the end, his nephew beat him. Perhaps he should find a feng shui master to check things out; it always felt like the second branch of the family was somehow hindering the first branch, suppressing his fortune.
While Zhu Shouren was lost in thought, he quietly snuck towards the Zhu family’s old house.
Luckily, at this time, everyone was at home eating or resting, and there was no one on the street, allowing Zhu Shouren to arrive at the old house undisturbed.
He stood at the Zhu family’s old house for a while, collecting his thoughts and emotions before gently pushing open the door.
Dinner had already ended at the old house. Old Master Zhu sat in the courtyard enjoying the cool evening air beneath the stars. These past few days, his feelings had been mixed. He was delighted that his young grandson had passed the academy examination, become a xiucai, and taken first place as anshou; yet he was distressed that his eldest son had failed again. Deep down, Old Master Zhu had always wanted most of all to see his eldest son succeed. If honors could be exchanged, he might almost have traded his grandson’s success for his eldest son’s.
Old Master Zhu also worried about his eldest son. His little grandson had been home for two days, but why hadn’t his eldest son returned yet? Was there any trouble on the road?
Just as Old Master Zhu was thinking about his eldest son, he heard the door creak open, and someone walked in.
The figure looked familiar.
Before Old Master Zhu could get a better look, the person came forward, knelt down, and let out a loud cry.
“Father, I’m unworthy… I failed again, boo-hoo… I left home in early February to prepare, studying from morning until night without rest. As a tongsheng I didn’t need to retake the county or prefectural examinations, but I never stopped studying. I even guided Ping’an through the county and prefectural examinations. But alas, my luck was poor. I didn’t fall ill sooner or later—it happened right before the academy examination. I feared my body wouldn’t hold up and I wouldn’t be able to bring honor to the family, so I concentrated on teaching Ping’an instead. He didn’t disappoint me. But I was still ill when the academy examination came, and I failed. I’m unworthy, Father.”
Zhu Shouren knelt on the ground, hugging Old Master Zhu’s legs, crying with genuine sorrow.
So Ping’an had become a xiucai thanks to his eldest uncle’s guidance. No wonder! The faint disappointment Old Master Zhu had felt toward his eldest son immediately vanished after hearing this heartfelt account.
“Ping’an has been home for two days already. Why did it take you so long to return?” Old Master Zhu couldn’t help but ask.
“I was walking to save money. I traveled day and night…”
Zhu Shouren, holding onto Old Master Zhu’s legs, sniveled and spoke earnestly.
Old Master Zhu took Zhu Shouren’s story completely at face value. His eldest son had supposedly walked day and night to save money and ease the family’s burden, returning only after dark; the thought moved Old Master Zhu to tears.