Chapter 67: Uncle, why are you still alive?

There are quite a few wealthy people in Pinggu County.

As for someone who could actually command and dispatch bailiffs, that was truly a rare sight indeed!

Although these scoundrels wandering the streets lacked any great skills, their ability to read people was razor-sharp!

Every single pampered young master of any repute in the city.

They all knew.

Yet only Cheng An...

Could it be that this was some young scion of a noble family from out of town?

Otherwise, who else could possibly order the bailiffs around?

Regardless of the situation, one thing was certain...

They had kicked a massive iron plate!

The burly man wisely chose to yield without hesitation.

He hurriedly bowed in salute, forced a flattering smile, and said, "I had no idea I was standing in the presence of a distinguished personage. This humble wretch has committed numerous offenses, and I beseech the young master to forgive my transgression!"

The peddler was even more terrified.

He never could have imagined that on his very first 'transaction,' he would provoke such a 'bigwig'!

"Spare my life, young master!"

He dropped to his knees with a heavy thud, trembling as he stammered, "It wasn't that this humble one deliberately intended to make things difficult for you; it was..."

"Someone instigated me to do this!"

"Who?"

Bailiff Lin's tone turned slightly cold.

Although he and Cheng An shared no deep friendship, his current duty was protection. Naturally, he could not let any potential danger slip by!

"Cheng Dahai!"

"Who?"

Cheng An's eyes bulged in shock, his expression even more exaggerated than the peddler's!

Cheng Dahai was actually in the county seat?

Did this bastard not know he was already wanted by the yamen?

Not daring to waste any breath, the peddler hurriedly explained, "It really was Cheng Dahai! He gave me fifty coins and told me to..."

"Eh? Where did he go?"

As he spoke.

The peddler looked around in all directions, then cursed in anger, "Damn it, the bastard ran off!"

"How do you know him?"

"This..."

The peddler hesitated slightly.

"Unwilling to talk?"

Bailiff Lin sneered, "That's easy to fix! Once we get to the county office, this lord has plenty of ways to make you open your mouth!"

"Spare me, official!"

Daring not to hesitate any longer, the peddler blurted out, "This humble one has no relation to Cheng Dahai. It's just that a few days ago, I helped him sell some 'goods'."

"Goods?"

"That is to say... a woman..."

The peddler glanced cautiously at Bailiff Lin's expression and continued, "A few days ago, Cheng Dahai entrusted someone to bring over a woman in her early thirties. Seeing that the woman had decent looks, I gave him five strings of cash for her."

"Is this considered human trafficking?"

Cheng An frowned slightly.

He knew who the woman the peddler mentioned was, and his disgust for Cheng Dahai deepened even further.

Damn it!

This beast truly had a heart of stone!

Not only had he abandoned his aging mother and his lawful wife, but in the end, he had even sold his concubine!

No wonder they say you're destined for great things, you scoundrel!

***

"No..."

"This humble one did not engage in trafficking!"

The peddler waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Cheng Dahai came to me of his own accord, and he even signed a written contract."

With a written contract, it did not count as human trafficking!

After all, people selling their own sons and daughters were not uncommon in this day and age; if the authorities were to strictly investigate every case by the letter of the law, there probably wouldn't be many people left standing in Pinggu County.

A cold light flickered in Cheng An's eyes.

"Then do you know where he can be found?"

"I do!"

Following the address provided by the peddler, the group arrived at a small inn in the west of the city.

It was a pity.

Cheng Dahai had checked out less than half an hour ago!

***

The next day.

Wang Shan specially sent someone in advance to deliver the costume for portraying Wenchang, the deity of literature.

"Look at this craftsmanship..."

Holding the brocade robe in his hands, Cheng An caressed it admiringly. "Must have been very expensive, right?"

"Haha!"

The bailiff chuckled and said, "The Pilgrimage Festival is a grand occasion, how could we dare to be perfunctory?"

Cheng An slipped into it in a few swift motions.

Ah!

Indeed, clothes make the man, just as saddles make the horse.

Once he put on this attire, even he himself couldn't help feeling a momentary daze.

Was he really transformed into the God of Literature just like that?

Yet, if there truly were immortals in this world, what would they actually look like?

Making their way all the way to the west of the city.

Since it was a festival dedicated to worshipping the deities, the very first step was to offer sacrifices to the ancestors!

Here, not only were past sages and worthies of Pinggu County from hundreds of years enshrined, but there were also numerous spirit tablets of various deities.

The common folk were mostly ignorant and superstitious.

Living in hardship with nowhere to voice their grievances, they had no choice but to pin all their hopes upon the deities.

Before long.

The actors portraying the other deities also filed in one after another.

They were all children around eight or nine years old, their faces beaming with smiles and looking rather excited.

"Families of the children!"

A matron could not help hurrying in to urge them, "Have you all finished changing? The auspicious hour is almost here!"

"All set!"

The heavy doors of the ancestral hall slowly swung open.

Cheng An walked at the very front dressed in full regalia as Wenchang, followed closely by seven or eight 'little immortals.'

"Welcome the holy sage!"

"May the heavens bless us, and protect Pinggu County with favorable weather and national peace and security in the coming year!"

"..."

Several elders walked at the very front.

The pilgrimage procession set off from the ancestral hall, making its way toward the city gates.

The surrounding crowds instantly quieted down.

The townspeople spontaneously lined both sides of the road and then bowed piously in reverence.

Over a thousand people kowtowing together!

The scene was grand and awe-inspiring, and everyone was immersed in the solemn atmosphere.

***

Cheng An could not help turning solemn as well.

Walking at the very front, his hands clasped over his jade belt, his expression was exceptionally grave.

The procession slowly reached the outskirts of the city.

After a series of rituals, the 'pilgrimage' ceremony came to a successful conclusion.

What followed next was the carnival celebration.

As Cheng An walked back toward the city, many people around him began to whisper and discuss animatedly.

"Did you see that?"

"He is that child prodigy of Pinggu County who was granted a special exception for the supplementary examination!"

"And he's also the youngest licentiate in the entire Yaozhou Prefecture!"

"A true incarnation of the God of Literature descending to the mortal realm!"

Some visitors from out of town couldn't help casting sidelong glances.

"Hoo!"

"Just how old is he? And he's already passed the imperial examinations to become a licentiate?"

Listening to the discussions around him, Cheng An walked straight ahead with eyes fixed forward, smiling bitterly to himself.

Alas...

This debt of human favor is simply impossible to repay!

Those remarks might seem casual.

Yet he knew very well that this must be the result of Wang Shan pulling strings behind the scenes!

If nothing unexpected happened...

After today, the name Cheng An would ring throughout Yaozhou Prefecture! This would also smoothly lay a solid foundation for his imperial examinations three years down the line.

***

Upon returning to the ancestral hall.

Many scholars had gathered in groups, chatting and laughing together, occasionally composing a poem on the spot that won rounds of warm applause.

Just as Cheng An had changed back into his regular clothes and arrived, he ran into Qi Benshan and several other locally renowned elderly scholars.

He hastily cupped his hands in respect and said, "This student pays respects to all the esteemed scholars!"

"Come..."

"Let this old man make introductions for everyone!"

Qi Benshan beckoned to him with a kindly smile and introduced him to the gathering: "This young Mr. Cheng is the 'child prodigy of Pinggu County'—Cheng An, whom this old man mentioned to you all earlier!"

"You flatter this junior too much, Elder Qi!"

Cheng An wore a look of deferential awe as he said, "In the presence of so many venerable elders, how could this junior dare to accept the title of 'Mr.'?"

"Haha!"

Qi Benshan laughed dismissively and continued, "It has been quite a while; have you been diligent in your studies lately? As it happens, since everyone is gathered here today, this old man shall test your learning."

"..."

Cheng An was momentarily speechless.

My dear master, must 'acting for show' be so blunt nowadays?

Not even a single piece of foreshadowing?

None of the scholars present were fools.

Seeing this, they all exchanged amused, teasing smiles.

Yet beneath those ridicules, a trace of jealousy was undoubtedly mixed in.

"What?"

"Have you not been studying diligently lately?"

Seeing him remain silent, Qi Benshan assumed he was unprepared and immediately stepped in to smooth things over.