Chapter 78: The Difference between North and South
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
To Yan Xiu, Fang Zhengzhi always had his own way of looking at things.
Yan Xiu spoke very little, almost reaching the point where every word was gold. Furthermore, bounded by culture, abiding by etiquette, every word and action, every smile and fury, were determined by rules.
Fang Zhengzhi was different. He never bothered about these rules and viewpoints whenever he did things.
Everything he did followed two words...
Free spirit!
He laughed as he pleased, ate as he pleased, the only thing he controlled was the happiness and anger in his heart.
These two people should belong in two completely different worlds. But, Fang Zhengzhi felt that Yan Xiu and him had something common deep in their blood.
That was rebellion.
Treating each word as gold, from an outsider's point of view, as a form of personality. However, after some careful thought, how was this not a form of rebellion against conventional thought!
It was still a month away from the capital examination.
The time seemed to be ample, but in reality, it was very rushed. After all, from the Huai An County to the River of Trust Capital, even with wild galloping on horseback, it required at least half a month of time.
As such, after passing the county examination, in order to conserve their time and energy, most examinees would directly make their way to the River of Trust Capital.
Fang Zhengzhi felt about in his pockets for a few silver notes, and decided there would be time to make a trip back to the village, enjoy a meal at home, have a good sleep and then journey to the River of Trust Capital.
Anyway, he had his own horse, and could do as he pleased.
…
As Fang Zhengzhi rode the Silver Scale Horse and wildly galloped back to the village, the Congratulatory Team had finally followed the path and arrived at the entrance of the Southern Mountain Village.
Previous Village Chief Meng Bai's hands trembled as he placed the cigar into his mouth. Staring at the Congratulary Team passing by, he sighed deeply.
After the county examination, Li Huer and Meng Jiangshan had returned to the village.
As such, news of Fang Zhengzhi attaining Double Roll Champion in the county Law of Dao examination had landed like a bomb on the Southern Mountain Village a day ago.
The villagers of the Southern Mountain Village finally exploded.
They held back for eight years, all for the only hope of the Law of Dao examination.
But now?
A person who hadn't even entered the Hall of Dao snatching away this hope the Southern Mountain Village held for eight years just like that. Furthermore, this person was initially from the Southern Mountain Village!"
How could they not rage, how could they not rage?
Double Roll Champion! Even the villagers that lived far away from the county knew that this represented. That was supposed to be the glory of the Southern Mountain Village, but now, it was completely unrelated to the Southern Mountain Village at all.
The raging villagers naturally needed somewhere for them to vent their frustration. Due to the Li family having Li Zhuangshi, who was on the way to the capital examination, they temporarily avoided this disaster.
However, previous Village Chief Meng Bai couldn't escape.
Then, many matters were raised and emotions were expressed. For example, When Fang Zhengzhi was able to draw out the Rock Formation Illustration, why did some people still remain blind?
Or: Fang Houde had contributed so selflessly to the Southern Mountain Village, why did some people still remain blind?
In the end, the spearhead still pointed at the truth of the matter. Such a good child, all because he was smart, being exiled from the village by some certain blind people.
As a result, these years, the Southern Mountain Village's situation got worse each day, while the Northern Mountain Village became more prosperous with each passing day.
As he heard the tongues wagging in the discussions, and faced with such relentless accusations, Meng Bai only had one thought. Why hadn't he died yet?
The Congratulatory Team finally mercilessly went pass the village entrance of the Southern Mountain Village, and quickly made their way towards the Northern Mountain Village. Meng Bai suddenly felt that he couldn't hold back the emotions he had restrained for eight years anymore.
"Wa!" A mouthful of blood spurt out.
Staring at the Congratulatory Team disappearing into the distance, Meng Bai's body began to tremble intensely. A few drops of tears appeared in his already turbid eyes, and the cigar in his hands fell to the ground.
"Houde, Zhengzhi, Xuelian… I… I… regret so much, I am so sorry! I was blind, I was really blind…"
…
In contrast to the Southern Mountain Village, two rows of people had already been neatly queuing at the entrance of the Northern Mountain Village.
Village Chief Zhang Yangping rubbed his hands intensely, and stood at the front of the row with a face filled with anticipation. Beside him also stood Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian.
Fang Houde's face was filled with a silly smile, while Qin Xuelian seemed rather anxious.
"This is indeed impressive! I heard Fang Zhengzhi attained Double Roll Champion! A Double Roll Champion hadn't appeared in the Huai An County for dozens of years!"
"That's right, I knew this child has potential the second I set my eyes on him. When he decided to participate in the Law of Dao examination, I was the first one to support him!"
"Support? I remember that you were saying, if Fang Zhengzhi really could pass the Law of Dao examination, you will finish eating the entire patch of pumpkin you owned?"
"What nonsense! I am famous for my accuracy in reading people! Cough cough… what I said was, if Fang Zhengzhi could pass the Law of Dao examination, I will donate the entire patch of pumpkins I own to the village for a celebratory feast!"
"I see!"
"Mum, what is a Double Roll Champion?" A five-year-old boy biting on a chicken leg, his mouth filled with oil, gazed at the woman, her arms akimbo, in front of him with wide eyes.
"This… Double Roll Champion, is something only a very powerful, very powerful character can become!"
"When I grow up, I also want to become a Double Roll Champion!"
…
As the villagers discussed spiritedly, a group of black dots began to slowly appear in the distance. Gradually, the black dots grew bigger, and the red silk clothes and black official robes of the Congratulatory Team began to appear.
"It's here, it's finally here!"
"Quick, let's go!" Zhang Yangping instantly became excited. Ever since they received news of Fang Zhengzhi attaining Double Roll Champion from the Northern Mountain Village, he had been standing guard at the village entrance with the villagers.
Double Roll Champion, this was definitely the happiest occasion ever since the beginning of the Northern Mountain Village.
Not only the Northern Mountain Village, even villages from all around sent their congratulations. Even the village head of a few villagers specially discussed with Zhang Yangping about forming an alliance.
"Good… News…" As the Congratulatory Team arrived at the village entrance, they began to announce.
"Congratulations Fang Zhengzhi of the Northern Mountain Village, topping the Huai An County Law of Dao examinations. Theory examination roll champion, combat examination roll champion, two roll champions altogether, becoming the Double Roll Champion!" The leading congratulatory official's voice echoed about the entire village.
When they heard this, the villagers finally exploded in excitement.
"Double Roll Champion!"
"He is really the Double Roll Champion!"
Even though the villagers had already known this beforehand, but to be able to personally hear the congratulatory official's announcement was a completely different feeling altogether.
The huge red banner was passed from the congratulatory official's hands into Village Chief Zhang Yangping's hands. To be able to produce a Double Roll Official, the future of this village would definitely not be neglected anymore.
Gazing at the red banner on his hands, his hands trembled in excitement.
Double Roll Champion.
A village that didn't even contain a Hall of Dao actually producing a Double Roll Champion! How glorifying and moving was this!
"Sister Xuelian, hold on to this red banner, tomorrow… tomorrow, we will hang it up, hang it inside the village ancestral hall. Finally… finally our Northern Mountain Village has produced a great character!" The rim of Zhang Yangping's eyes were already moist, gingerly passing the red banner to Qin Xuelian's hands as he spoke.
Qin Xuelian received the red banner, and slowly opened it. These few years, Fang Zhengzhi had taught her to read. Hence, as she saw the two words, Fang Zhengzhi, in the middle of the red banner, a few pearly drops of tears finally flowed down her cheeks.
"My son… my Zhengzhi… is really a Double Roll Champion!"