Chapter 108: Making a Grand Vow and Hosting a Lavish Feast

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After weeping bitterly in the middle of the street, Song Mu helped Song Liangda to one side. Servants from the Kong family came over to tend to him. Song Mu set down his luggage and returned to the procession, which was now making its way north toward the city wall under the escort of the constables.

Naturally, upon returning to the county seat, they also had to pay their respects. Song Mu and the other talented scholars were to climb the Northern City Wall and ascend the Literary Pavilion, where they would bow before the accomplished scholars of Shiyang County and offer them solace.

Following Jin Changwu, Song Mu and the others climbed the Northern City Wall. Once there, everyone composed themselves, then slowly advanced as an official beside them read aloud the appropriate text.

Beneath the Literary Pavilion stood an enormous bronze stele, its surface engraved with an essay by Song Wenrong.

Jin Changwu bowed and cupped his hands before it. The licentiates behind him followed suit, advancing step by step, bowing and cupping their hands each time.

When they reached the front of the Literary Pavilion, minor officials distributed porcelain bowls to every licentiate. Each bowl was filled with clear wine. At Jin Changwu’s loud cry, everyone poured the wine onto the ground.

Afterward, the licentiates came forward one by one to pay their respects. Song Mu was first. Having finished his solemn bow, he stood to one side and gazed out across the surroundings from atop the newly heightened Northern City Wall.

The present-day county seat of Shiyang had been swiftly rebuilt after the previous attack. The walls had also been raised considerably, giving the place the appearance of a city from one of the wealthier regions.

Song Mu could even see that the county school in the distance seemed to have changed. A wooden pavilion, still awaiting its coat of paint, had been completed atop the school buildings.

Once the ceremonies were over, Jin Changwu did not keep them there. He merely reminded them of the evening banquet and allowed everyone to return home.

After all, each licentiate still had to go home and pay respects to his ancestors.

Song Mu hurried down from the wall, bade farewell to Jin Changwu and Master Xun, and learned from the Kong family servants beneath the wall that his Second Uncle had already returned home. He then said goodbye to several of his fellow students and hastened back.

Before long, Song Mu arrived at the alley where the Song family residence stood. At that moment, the place was extraordinarily lively.

A great many commoners had crowded into the alley, each edging forward through the throng. Several richly dressed households had even brought gifts and were pushing their way inside.

Song Mu could not help but stare in astonishment. Just then, a voice sounded beside him.

“Nephew Song, you’re back?”

At the sound of the voice, everyone nearby turned to look. Song Mu followed it to its source and saw Uncle Lin Bo. He immediately smiled and cupped his hands.

“Yes, Uncle Lin. The magistrate told us to return home and reunite with our families.”

As soon as he said this, the people around them surged forward, creating quite a commotion.

They all looked at Song Mu, sizing up this newly minted licentiate, their faces blooming with delight.

“So this is the Licentiate Gentleman!”

“You just arrived and don’t know the whole story. He isn’t merely a Licentiate Gentleman—he’s the top-ranked candidate! Do you know what that means? First among all the licentiates!”

“Exactly! In another couple of years, he may well become a provincial graduate. Then we’ll have to call him Provincial Graduate Sir!”

Several men spoke up, while the women beside them gazed at Song Mu with shining eyes. They rushed forward, bowing to him and asking excitedly,

“How old are you this year, Licentiate Gentleman? What are your birth date and hour?”

“My daughter is at the flower of her youth. She has been reading and writing since childhood—she would make the perfect wife for you!”

“Bah, Aunt Ma, stop spouting nonsense. The Licentiate Gentleman has a limitless future ahead of him. Why would he ever take a fancy to your little girl?”

Several middle-aged women chattered over one another as they pressed forward. Song Mu had nowhere left to retreat, and their flecks of spittle nearly sprayed across his face.

He could only smile helplessly and cup his hands to those around him. Fortunately, Uncle Lin Bo was quick to act. He seized Song Mu and pulled him into his own courtyard.

“Everyone, settle down! The Licentiate Gentleman still has to return home and pay respects to his ancestors. Once he’s finished, there will be plenty of time to talk!”

After calling this out, Uncle Lin hurriedly shut the courtyard gate, then pointed toward the wall beside them.

“Nephew, hurry home. Your Second Uncle prepared the incense table long ago. He’s been waiting for you!”

“Thank you, Uncle Lin.”

Song Mu nodded gratefully, then turned and climbed onto the stack of firewood beside the wall.

He vaulted over and dropped into his own courtyard. Several people were seated there, and Song Mu glanced over them one by one. They appeared to be relatives connected to his family by marriage or blood.

When they saw Song Mu, dressed in a licentiate’s robes, vault over from the side, they cried out in surprise. One or two even rose to speak with him. Song Mu merely gave them a slight bow before heading toward the main room.

Inside, his Second Uncle had already burned incense and arranged the offerings. When Song Mu arrived, Madam Zhu took him by the hand and led him inside.

Several portraits hung on the walls of the main room, while a row of ancestral tablets stood on the altar table. Song Liangda had already risen and pulled Song Mu down to kneel before them.

Song Mu respectfully kowtowed and offered incense. Then he looked toward the portraits.

Song Liangda’s eyes were still somewhat red, but he helped explain them to Song Mu.

“The one in the center is the founder of our Song family, the first ever to pass the metropolitan examination—Song Xingzhi. The second is our ancestor Song Wenrong. And the last is Song Kedi, the final metropolitan graduate our family produced…”

Song Mu’s heart trembled when he heard those names. Looking closely, he saw that all three men had broad, dignified faces suffused with authority. Each wore a red robe, and against the vermilion background, they appeared even more spirited and commanding.

Beside him, Song Liangda shook his head with a sigh.

“Our Song family has lasted seventeen generations. Originally, every generation had its portrait, all painted by renowned masters. But when your great-grandfather returned from Yuzhang Prefecture, he brought back only these. The rest remained in the ancestral hall there.”

“But that ancestral hall is now occupied by villains. No portraits of your great-grandfather, grandfather, or father were left behind before their deaths, and none of them could be hung in our Song family ancestral hall.”

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As he spoke, Song Liangda’s expression grew even more emotional.

“It’s all because your Second Uncle was useless. I couldn’t even reclaim our ancestral hall.”

Song Mu pressed his lips together and carefully studied the portraits and ancestral tablets before him. At that moment, he silently made a great vow.

From this day forward, he would work even harder and ensure that these portraits were once again hung in the ancestral hall.

As for the matter of that so-called abandoned son seizing the family’s rightful inheritance, he would also seek justice and fulfill his father’s final wish.

After finishing, Song Liangda offered a stick of incense, then led Song Mu outside. Once they had tidied themselves, he said to him,

“Enough of that for now. Today you’ve returned home and brought glory to the family!”

As he spoke, a commotion arose in the courtyard. Someone shouted loudly,

“Second Master Song, we’ve brought all the equipment! Come out and tell us what to do!”

Song Mu listened in confusion, but Song Liangda had already gone outside. He gave two hearty laughs and addressed the three burly men standing in the courtyard.

“We’re holding a grand feast today! We’ll set it up right here in the alley, from one end to the other, so all our neighbors can share in the good fortune!”

“Good!”

A chorus of cheers immediately rang out around them. Several familiar households came over to help. Song Liangda counted out some silver, gave Song Mu a brief instruction, and went out to purchase meat and vegetables.

Madam Zhu had already become so busy that she was nowhere to be seen. Song Mu stood at the entrance to the main room with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the lively bustle of ordinary human life. A warm current flowed through his heart.

This world, which had once felt so strange to him, had now completely entered his heart.

As the neighbors and townspeople streamed into the courtyard, Song Mu composed himself, smiled, and stepped forward to welcome them.

That day, the little courtyard and the alley outside were filled with boundless merriment.

…

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