Chapter 26: Giving Gifts
"Is everyone gone?"
"They’re all gone. The last one too."
"Phew, that’s good."
In Security Hall’s main hall, Li Ang sighed deeply and collapsed tiredly into a chair. Chai Cuiqiao, who had been peeking through the crack in the front door, hurried over and gently patted Li Ang’s shoulders.
Earlier that day, after Li Ang had completed the procedures to withdraw from the examinations, he had almost fled Yizhou State School. However, the moment he returned to the entrance of Security Hall, he found dozens of carriages blocking the entire street. Everywhere he looked were neighbors, acquaintances, wealthy merchants, and gentry coming to deliver gifts and offer congratulations.
Some brought eggs, others white liquor; some carried a bushel of rice, and a few brought two chickens tied with red string.
Ceramic ware, rouge and bracelets, books and ink, famous calligraphy and paintings, fine horses and saddles, land deeds and property deeds...
All sorts of people, with boxes filled to the brim, turned the west bank of the Yishui River into a festival-like market.
As soon as Li Ang appeared, he was recognized by the neighbors and nearly surrounded. Thankfully, Aunt Song intervened in time. She paused business at Lansheng Building and had its four employees act as temporary doorkeepers for Security Hall, attending to everyone who came with gifts and greetings.
She loudly announced all the gifts brought, while also meticulously compiling a list, noting down everyone’s names, identities, and the gifts they offered.
Valuables such as land deeds, property deeds, expensive horses, coral, and Sea Pearls were explicitly rejected.
Preposterous requests, such as marriage proposals or offers of servants, were diplomatically refused.