They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 55 He's just jealous.

Xu Zhichun asked Liang Mingxuan in detail whether the change in Liu Niangzi's attitude towards him was most obvious after Liu Fenghua started formally studying.
Liang Mingxuan thought about it carefully for a while and nodded: "It seems that it really is true."

Well, the case is solved.

It can only be said that the power of pillow talk should not be underestimated.

"envy."

"what?"

"Liu Fenghua is utterly outshone by your intelligence. Lady Liu is jealous and naturally dislikes you. She stirs things up in front of Master Liu, and he's changed his ways. After all, no matter how smart you are, you're not his son. He taught you, but he can't teach his own son well. How can he not feel resentful at all?"

Liang Mingxuan was stunned for a long time.

He asked, dumbfounded, "Is...is that so?"

This truth was a huge blow to him; he couldn't believe that his teacher was such a despicable person.

Liang Mingxuan said sadly, "No wonder my teacher kept stopping me when I told him I wanted to take the children's examination this year."

Next month, the children's examination will be held, and those who pass will become students; three months later, the children's examination will be held, and those who pass will become scholars.

Liang Mingxuan plans to take the imperial examination this year. He is confident that he will pass. If he passes, his family will have a true scholar, and he will be exempt from taxes and corvée labor, and will no longer need to kneel before officials. Not only will his sister-in-law be happy and gratified, but others will also truly respect his family. He is eager to do everything in his power to protect his sister-in-law.

He thought the teacher would support him, but to his surprise, the teacher was very unhappy and scolded him, saying that he was too ambitious and impetuous, and told him to study hard for another three or four years before talking about it.

He insisted on refusing, subtly indicating that he absolutely had to try. When pressed, he had no choice but to reveal the truth: his elder brother had passed away, and he wanted the status of a student to uphold the family's honor, so he had to try.

The Master was speechless and unable to object, but he knew that the Master was very unhappy about it.

Liang Mingxuan knew how hard his sister-in-law had worked, and he couldn't care less about his teacher's displeasure.

At the same time, he couldn't understand why the Master was so strongly opposed.
A thought flashed through Xu Zhichun's mind, "He stopped you from taking the children's examination? Tell me in detail."

Upon hearing Liang Mingxuan's words, Xu Zhichun added, "If I remember correctly, he himself was only a student of the lowest level, right?"

Liang Mingxuan nodded and said "Mm".

Actually, it's not quite right for my sister-in-law to say that he was "just" a student who passed the preliminary examination, because it's not easy to pass the preliminary examination. Some people are in their forties or fifties and still haven't passed.

However, let my sister-in-law say whatever she wants, since she's right in front of me anyway.

Xu Zhichun was even angrier and sneered, "I understand everything!"

Liang Mingxuan was surprised: What does your sister-in-law know? Why didn't he understand?
Xu Zhichun sneered: "That Liu fellow is a real scoundrel. He doesn't want you to take the imperial examination because he's afraid that if you pass, he'll lose face."

"How could that be? I'm his student. I passed the exam. He should be proud of me."

"You're still young, it's normal that you don't understand these intricacies. You passed the imperial examination at the age of ten, how old will he be when he passed? By then you'll be on equal footing with him, and given that his own son is disappointing, how can he be happy?"

Liang Mingxuan was genuinely shocked.

So that's how it can be done!
Thinking about it carefully, what my sister-in-law said seems to be entirely correct.

"Sister-in-law, do all people become like this?"

Xu Zhichun said seriously, "Mingxuan, some people will change, some people haven't changed, but they have always been this kind of person. It's just that they haven't shown it until a certain point. There are also people who always stick to their original intentions. A gentleman does what he will do and does not do what he will not do. You can choose which kind of person you want to be in the future."

Liang Mingxuan looked at her earnestly: "I will never change, I will always be filial to my sister-in-law." Xu Zhichun: "."

This kid!
Surprisingly, she found it quite comforting.

"Alright, lie down and rest for a while. Leave this to your sister-in-law."

Liang Mingxuan said worriedly, "Sister-in-law, are you... are you going to find Master Liu? He probably won't acknowledge anything."

Look how well that hypocrite has planned. Even this child, who has never truly witnessed the cruelty of human nature, can tell from his intuition that going after him is pointless.

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I have a plan. You just focus on getting better. I know that the reputation of you scholars for respecting teachers is very important, so I would never do anything to damage the jade bottle just to catch a rat."

Liang Mingxuan blinked and obediently lay down, "I'll listen to my sister-in-law."

Xu Zhichun composed himself, breathed a sigh of relief, and knew that life had to go on.

This delay caused the pigs in the pigpen and the chickens in the chicken coop to squawk loudly. Xu Zhichun hurriedly went to feed the pigs and let the chickens out of the chicken coop to feed them. After feeding them, he drove the chickens out.

"Sister-in-law Zhichun! Sister-in-law Zhichun!"

Liang Chunfen returned from Liu Fuzi's place in Quanshan Village.

Xu Zhichun hurried out, putting her index finger to her lips to shush her, "What did Teacher Liu say?"

Liang Chunfen: "Master Liu said he understands and told the little prodigy to rest at home for a few more days."

Xu Zhichun nodded, "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work at all!" Liang Chunfen shook her head with a smile. "Sister-in-law Zhichun, should I go up the mountain to find konjac again?"

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Go if you want, or stay home if you don't."

"Then I'll go. Should I chop firewood or gather pig feed today?"

"Let's chop some firewood."

"Okay, okay! I'm off!"

Xu Zhichun smiled, sorted out his thoughts, and headed towards Liang Lizheng's house.

She couldn't do this herself; she had to ask Liang, the village head, for help.

When Liang Lizheng heard what Xu Zhichun said, he was completely stunned, as if struck by lightning.

"How...how could this be? How could this be! Zhichun, did you hear me wrong? Or did you misunderstand? This is no joke, this is not something to be taken lightly!"

Xu Zhichun smiled wryly: "Village head, I asked Mingxuan repeatedly, and I can't have misunderstood. You know Mingxuan better than anyone, he wouldn't lie."

"Yes, you're right, Mingxuan wouldn't lie." Liang Lizheng slammed his fist on the table and stood up angrily, gritting his teeth: "That despicable person who's unworthy of being a teacher is too vile and shameless! We need to find him—no, no! No, no!"

Liang Lizheng slumped down, shaking his head: "We can't confront him. How could we possibly know what happened at the school? It can only be what Mingxuan said. But that won't do. As a disciple, Mingxuan can't accuse his teacher. Believing Mingxuan is useless. That bastard is turning the tables on us, and we have no evidence. What will outsiders think? Mingxuan's reputation will be completely ruined. This won't do."

Liang Lizheng calmed down and said, holding back his anger, "Since Mingxuan is sick, let's take this opportunity to skip that school and find a good one in town. By the way, how is the child's health? Have we called a doctor?"

Xu Zhichun said, "I gave him medicine yesterday and again this morning. He's much better now. Don't worry, Village Head, I'll take good care of him. I think the same way you do. We definitely can't go to Master Liu's place again, but I can't swallow this insult."

(End of this chapter)