eurekapd Chapter 349 Returning Home
Chapter 349 Returning Home
Chapter 349 Returning Home
After reading the letter, Chen Xuan couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. He knew all too well that behind these so-called efforts to maintain relationships, there might be all sorts of complex thoughts and calculations hidden. However, faced with such an invitation, he really found it difficult to refuse. After all, the friendship between classmates still needed to be maintained, not to mention that he would inevitably have some interaction with these people in his future career.
Moreover, he had already refused Lu Yi once before, and if he refused again, people would probably think he was too cold-hearted. Besides, these people would become his colleagues in the future, and maintaining good relationships would definitely be beneficial to his future career. With this in mind, Chen Xuan decided not to refuse anymore and turned to beckon Deng Zhou to go to the First Restaurant of Qin together.
When they stepped into the First Building of the Great Qin Dynasty, the scene before them overwhelmed Chen Xuan. The hall was bustling with people, with many students chatting in small groups or leaning against windows in deep thought. Among these people were the best performers in this year's imperial examination, and there were many faces that Chen Xuan recognized or had only seen once before.
Chen Xuan greeted everyone with a smile and polite manner. However, Deng Zhou remained as calm as ever. He quietly walked to a corner, sat down, picked up his wine glass, and quietly savored the wine, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.
As the top scholar in this year's imperial examination, Chen Xuan undoubtedly became the focus of everyone's attention. After the banquet began, people flocked around him, vying to toast him. In an instant, all kinds of praise poured down on Chen Xuan like a tidal wave: "Brother Chen is truly talented!" "The top scholar's article is astonishing!" Faced with these words, whether sincere or flattering, Chen Xuan always responded with a humble smile, accepting each cup of fine wine without hesitation.
As time went on, Chen Xuan gradually felt dizzy, but he still forced himself to keep up with the crowd. However, the alcohol eventually took its toll, and before long, Chen Xuan was completely intoxicated by the lively yet illusory atmosphere, eventually losing consciousness and collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, stinging Chen Xuan's head and making it throb with pain. He struggled to sit up, feeling weak all over and his head still spinning. He glanced at Deng Zhou's bed; it was empty. It seemed Deng Zhou had already left. Chen Xuan staggered out of bed, quickly washed up, grabbed his luggage, and headed outside.
Time waits for no one. Chen Xuan knew that his home was quite far from Xianyang, and to complete the round trip within a month would be an extremely tight schedule, allowing no delays or postponements whatsoever. He longed to bring his father, mother, and younger siblings to live with him in Xianyang.
Considering the long journey with his family, traveling by carriage was undoubtedly the safest and most comfortable option. However, the slow speed of a carriage would inevitably greatly extend the return trip. Chen Xuan, enduring the splitting headache from the alcohol, gritted his teeth, mounted his horse, raised the whip, and set off on the road leading home.
Along the way, Chen Xuan felt himself swaying and staggering. The scenery flashed by like a slideshow, but he couldn't appreciate it. Every step felt like walking on cotton. The discomfort almost caused Chen Xuan to fall off his horse several times. But when he thought of his family waiting anxiously at home, he mustered his strength and urged the horse to quicken its pace.
Along the way, Chen Xuan encountered many students also heading home, some traveling in groups and others alone. Upon seeing them, Chen Xuan simply nodded in acknowledgment.
After several days of travel, Chen Xuan finally caught a glimpse of the familiar and dear outline of his hometown on the distant horizon. At that moment, a warm current, like a spring breeze, swept through his heart, and all his fatigue seemed to be dispelled by this warmth, instantly easing his burdens.
He excitedly brandished the whip he gripped tightly, shouting loudly, and his steed galloped away like an arrow released from a bow. The sound of hooves echoed through the sky, raising clouds of dust. Before long, Chen Xuan arrived at the village entrance. He nimbly dismounted, his movements fluid and graceful, showcasing his masterful horsemanship.
After standing still, Chen Xuan looked up and saw several familiar figures under the ancient tree at the village entrance. Weren't they his family members whom he had been longing for day and night? His parents, along with his younger brother and sister, were eagerly waiting, their faces beaming with anticipation.
Seeing Chen Xuan return, his family's eyes were filled with surprise and joy. Chen Xuan quickly went to greet them and embraced his loved ones tightly. At that moment, all the hardships turned into tears of happiness.
The house was still the same as always, with familiar furnishings and familiar smells. Chen Xuan sat with his family, recounting his experiences in Xianyang, the hardships of the imperial examinations, and the joy of passing. His father beamed with joy, while his sister silently shed tears, a mixture of heartache and happiness.
The day after Chen Xuan returned, relatives came to visit one after another. They already knew that Chen Xuan had become the top scholar in the imperial examination and wanted to share in the joy or see if they could gain anything from it.
As soon as the relatives entered, they surrounded Chen Xuan, showering him with congratulations. Some grabbed his arms tightly, as if afraid he would run away; others pressed themselves so close they almost touched his face. Chen Xuan's initial joy gradually turned into a bit of a struggle, and his smile became somewhat stiff from maintaining it for so long.
Some of these relatives, leading their young, ignorant children who couldn't even read a single word, hurriedly came to Chen Xuan, their faces full of eager anticipation, looking at him expectantly, hoping to receive even a few precious words of guidance from him.
When Chen Xuan's gaze fell upon these children, he couldn't help but feel helpless and troubled. Faced with this group of children who couldn't read a single character, he truly didn't know where to begin to provide effective guidance. After a moment of contemplation, he could only gently shake his head and say in a gentle yet earnest tone, "Children, your most important task right now is to learn to read and write. Only by studying hard will you have the opportunity to participate in the imperial examinations and seek fame and fortune in the future. If you can't even study well, then this path is impossible!"
Upon hearing Chen Xuan's words, several relatives who had been full of expectations were immediately doused with cold water and fell silent. However, there are always some quick-witted and resourceful people in the crowd. Seeing that asking Chen Xuan to guide the child's studies seemed to be a dead end, someone immediately changed their approach, enthusiastically stepping forward with a beaming smile and saying, "Oh dear, Chen Xuan, you're of marriageable age now. I happen to know quite a few nice girls. How about I help you find a match?"