Chapter 68: Do You Own This County Town?

People are just like that.

Subconsciously, everyone loves to be skeptical.

Although Cheng An's title as a "prodigy" was indeed somewhat embellished, there is still that old saying: "An exam you don't get caught cheating on is an exam you didn't cheat on!"

Unhappy?

What are you going to do about it?

Cheng An walked straight ahead, keeping his eyes forward.

Yet inwardly, he couldn't help but offer a bitter smile.

Ah!

This favor he owed...

It was simply too much to ever repay!

Even using just his toes to think, he knew that these seemingly casual remarks must have been deliberately stirred up behind the scenes by someone, and that person was none other than Wang Shan!

That old man might be a bit too utilitarian, but his character was passable.

At least he could still be considered "clear on gratitude and grudges," and he always repaid a favor!

Don't underestimate this trait.

In official circles, officials who could truly achieve the four words "settle both debts of gratitude and enmity" were truly few and far between, while those who turned on others and refused to recognize them were countless!

Not to mention this time during the "Pilgrimage Festival."

To help elevate his name and reputation, Wang Shan had truly gone to painstaking lengths!

Regardless of how much personal interest was involved, the man had indeed genuinely helped him. This was a favor that not only had to be repaid, but also kept firmly in mind.

After the palanquin-carrying dance concluded.

The crowd returned to the ancestral hall one after another, followed by the ritual of "sending off the deities."

Several elders smilingly untied the garments from the bodies of the "little immortals," first placing them on the incense table to bow in reverence, and then respectfully dressing the divine statues back in them.

With this...

The sacrificial ceremony was officially concluded!

However, the lively atmosphere did not diminish because of this.

According to past custom, the "Wenquxing" of the Pilgrimage Festival was the true protagonist, at which time the scholars would gather together to appreciate poems and literary essays.

To put it plainly...

It was all for the sake of making a name for oneself!

The square outside the ancestral hall was packed with people.

Several old pedants walked gracefully forward and took their seats on the high platform.

The scholars gathered below instantly grew excited, each rubbing their palms and flexing their fists, hoping to catch the eye of one of the pedants.

And thereby vault over the dragon's gate!

"There are quite a few people this year!"

"I heard that many scholars from other counties have also come to join in the fun."

Several old pedants chatted in low voices with smiles.

"Hah!"

"With the government stepping in to build momentum, how could it not be lively?"

One of the pedants smiled faintly: "I hadn't noticed it before, but this Wang Shan is actually quite well-versed in the ways of public opinion. It's just that such an unseemly display of eagerness looks rather unsightly."

Making a name for oneself is a good thing.

Yet whenever someone makes a name for themselves, others are left in obscurity.

You, Wang Shan, want to build momentum for your own people—that is understandable enough. But Pinggu County's resources are limited; surely you cannot expect to monopolize them all yourself, can you?

"It's good to publicize things a bit."

Qi Benshan smiled to smooth things over.

He glanced at Cheng An down below the stage, and said with a trace of deep meaning: "In recent years, our Pinggu County has seen a withered crop of talent. If that kid truly has the ability, what harm is there in us giving him a push?"

With his prestige in Pinggu County, few people dared to contradict him on ordinary days.

Yet this time, someone remarked: "I'm just afraid that in the end, it will all turn out to be 'scooping water with a bamboo basket—an empty effort'! Besides, is that Wang Shan a benevolent character?"

The tree planted by someone else.

Why should you be the one to pluck the fruit?

"Hah."

Qi Benshan let out a soft laugh and said nothing more.

Some people were narrow-minded by nature and could least bear to see others gain power. In their dictionaries, there was no such thing as a "win-win" outcome; they only ever knew how to monopolize everything.

"The prodigy!"

"Cheng An is here..."

Someone shouted out.

Subconsciously, the crowd cleared a path.

Cheng An hurried over.

A look of innocence and obedience hung on his face.

Then, he bowed respectfully and said, "This junior Cheng An pays his respects to all the elders!"

"Hehe."

"Good!"

The several old pedants all nodded and smiled.

Qi Benshan glanced at him and said with a smile: "Now that you are a scholar of the lowest rank, and furthermore a member of our Pinggu County's scholarly community, on this auspicious occasion of the Pilgrimage Festival, have you prepared anything?"

This could be considered opening the stage for him.

It also carried the implication of holding him in high regard...

The scholars below turned green with envy.

That was Qi Benshan himself!

With him stepping forward to endorse you, would you ever have to fear lacking a future?

Especially with Wang Shan's deliberate propaganda, the scholars at this moment were even more brimming with fighting spirit, almost looking ready to step on Cheng An's shoulders to climb to the top.

However, Cheng An had seen far too many scenes like this in his past life.

And he understood that saying even better...

Mediocrity is never envied!

However much praise you enjoy, that is the exact amount of hostility you must endure.

He feigned deep thought for a moment.

Then suddenly, he raised his head and laughed:
"There is a reason for fine silk and brocade,
You gentlemen need raise no cloud of doubt;
The county's thanksgiving brings many a temple fair,
And year after year, I play the deity's part throughout!"

It was a very simple doggerel.

It could hardly even be considered a qualified piece of poetry.

Yet being able to casually toss it off in a rush demonstrated the talent expected of a prodigy, without being so excessively sharp as to invite universal hostility.

"Haha!"

"This poem is rather interesting..."

The several pedants could not help but smile.

No one expected an eight-year-old child to deliver stunning masterpieces every single time.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be a prodigy; he would be a monster!

Yet someone was unwilling to let it go.

"Quite mediocre!"

"Aside from matching the tonal meters, this poem is utterly devoid of artistic conception."

A faint laugh drifted down from the high platform.

Huh?

Cheng An looked up in stunned silence.

Staring at the old man on the high platform, doubts began to churn in his heart.

Wasn't this supposed to be a piece of theater?

How was the script arranged?

Wang Shan's public relations skills were truly subpar!

With such an important role, hadn't they discussed it in advance?

"Are you unconvinced?"

"No..."

Before Cheng An could speak.

The old man's tone suddenly turned icy: "A prodigy or a genius! Since you are studying, you should be earnest and diligent, rather than squandering your time on that tiny bit of talent."

What a venomous tongue!

These words were practically shouting that Cheng An possessed an undeserved reputation.

The crowd felt a sudden chill in their hearts.

Could this person have a grudge against Cheng An?

They were all from the same county, after all; why stoop to public targeting on an occasion like this? Furthermore, Cheng An was no ordinary scholar anymore!

He bore the reputation of a prodigy.

Once the label of "undeserved reputation" spread outward,

It would be the entire literary circle of Pinggu County that lost face!

What kind of deep grudge was this?

Was this meant to turn Cheng An into the public enemy of all the scholars in the county?

"Brother Zhuze!"

"He is just a child; why be so harsh?"

Qi Benshan looked over with displeasure.

"Since when does studying need to be divided by age?"

Zhuze retorted unceremoniously: "Right is right, and wrong is wrong! If the likes of us simply indulge him blindly, we will only be harming him instead!"

"You..."

Qi Benshan was so angry he was momentarily speechless.

Given his status.

No matter how displeased he was, he could not truly tear off his face and argue tooth and nail.

Yet someone else could!

"Who says Cheng An isn't capable?"

"Then what about you? Are you capable?!"

Swish!

Everyone turned their heads in unison.

Only to see a pretty, vibrant little girl standing amidst the crowd.

With her chin tilted up, she cried out loudly: "You are decades old, yet you bully a little child in public! Are people like you even fit to be a teacher of others?"

*Hiss!*

Everyone present drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

Whose child was this young girl?

She was utterly ferocious!

You had to realize...

Any single person pulled at random from those on the stage belonged to the most prestigious scholarly families in the region; even Zhou Heng would have to treat them with utmost politeness if he came!

And you dared to scold her?

Yet Cheng An burst into laughter.

With a few quick jogs, he arrived beside the two sisters.

"Why did the two of you come?"

"What?"

"Is this county town opened by your family?"

Gu Xiaoyue was as willful and cute as ever. Curling her lips, she said, "If I want to come, I'll come. Did I need your permission? Are you the county magistrate?"