The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

After watching the Sun family members walk away with music and dance, the Zhang family returned to the yard.

"Sanniang, you are so lucky. Now Siya is married, Ping'an is a scholar, Wuya and Liuya have learned a craft, and you will go to the provincial capital soon. You will have a good life in the future," Mrs. Xu sighed sincerely. Among the three sisters, the second and third sisters are living well, but she is living the worst.

Mrs. Xu was only six years older than Mrs. Xu, but the hardships of life over the years were reflected on her face. Her hair was gray and she was thin. She looked like an old woman. Judging from her facial features, she was more than ten years younger than Mrs. Xu.

The two daughters in the family, Zhaodi and Pandi, are already married. They are from ordinary farmers and can't help their parents much. A few years ago, the couple discussed and spent a lot of money to buy a little boy from a human trafficker. The boy is only seven or eight years old now. Madam Xu brought him to the banquet today. He seems to be well raised, but he is timid and always hides behind Madam Xu.

Xu knew all these situations, but everyone has their own way of living and their own destiny, so she could only smile and comfort her: "Sister, when Chuangen grows up, your good days will come."

Madam Xu sighed and smiled, "It's all fate. Everything will be fine once this life is over."

Xu also sighed and lowered her voice and said, "Sister, come to my room after you finish your meal."

There was nothing Xu could do, so she could only do her best to secretly give a hundred or so coins, and give some extra food and daily necessities to her elder sister to support her, but she had no more.

Madam Xu was a decent person who had never done anything bad in her life. Upon hearing this, she frowned and said, "This is not good. If my brother-in-law finds out, he'll tell on me."

"Okay, sister, come find me later," Xu patted Madam Xu's hand, and then went to greet other guests.

The group went to a restaurant not far away in a lively atmosphere. Li and Xu were both careful people, and they brought a few large bowls from home so that they could pack up the food if they couldn't finish it.

The Li family next door also gave a 20-wen gift, but no one came to the banquet. Li's mother was a widow and said it was inconvenient for her to show up in public, so she refused to come. Li Mingxuan had a leg injury and had to use a cane to go out, which was also inconvenient. The only remaining youngest son, Li Mingbak, also refused to come.

Xu specially picked up a bowl of clean dishes in advance and prepared to take it back as a return gift.

As the only male in the family, Zhang Ping'an followed Zhang Laoer in pouring wine and toasting for the guests. Zhang Laoer was obviously happier this time than the previous times his daughters got married. He sighed with his relatives, "I've been looking forward to it for so many years. Finally, Ping'an has grown up and can toast with me."

The relatives also understood the situation and flattered him, saying, "Good things are yet to come!"

After the banquet, everyone went back to Zhang's house to drink tea and chat. It was not yet noon, so Xu asked Zhang Ping'an to take the dishes and wedding candies to the Li family next door to return the gifts. She had to quickly prepare the return gifts for the relatives. The journey from the county town to the town and village was long, and after noon, the relatives would have to catch the bus to go back.

Zhang Pingan carried the dishes to the Li family next door. After knocking on the door, it was his youngest son, Li Mingbo, who opened the door. When he saw it was Zhang Pingan, he turned around and shouted into the house, "Mom, big brother, it's the Zhang brother next door."

Hearing the noise, Li's mother and Li Mingxuan came out of the house.

"Aunt, your family didn't go to the banquet just now, so my mother specially picked out a bowl of clean dishes and asked me to bring it over so that you don't have to make it at noon. This is wedding candy," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile as he handed over the dishes and candy in his hand.

After taking it, Li's mother said, "You are so polite. Please wait a moment, I will make the bowl available for you." Then she turned and went to the kitchen.

Zhang Pingan stood in the yard waiting and asked with concern: "Brother Li, has your leg been better these days?"

Li Mingxuan replied calmly, "Much better. I asked the best doctor in the county to check it out, and he said I'll be able to walk without any problems in the future."

"That's good," Zhang Pingan said with a smile.

"I forgot to congratulate you last time. You passed the imperial examination at such a young age. Your future will definitely be bright," Li Mingxuan continued.

Zhang Ping'an didn't know what the other person had been through, and his words felt strange now. He could only reply dryly, "It was just luck! Brother Li, you are so talented in writing that you were able to get into the White Deer Academy. You will definitely be able to become a scholar in the future. Besides, you are still very young and have many opportunities."

Li Mingxuan smiled faintly upon hearing this, and raised his head and said, "Yes, I also think I still have many opportunities. By the way, I'm getting married on the 16th of next month, but I guess your family will have already gone to the capital by then, so they won't be able to come."

Zhang Pingan was quite surprised when he heard this, but he still bowed and said, "Congratulations, Brother Li."

"I didn't believe in fate before, and I still don't believe in it now," Li Mingxuan said with a faint smile.

Although he was talking to Zhang Ping'an, Zhang Ping'an felt that his gaze passed through him and looked into the unknown distance.

At this time, Li's mother came back with clean and empty bowls and said with a smile: "I have washed all the bowls."

"Aunt, you are too polite. I will take it back and wash it," Zhang Ping'an said as he took the bowl and then went back home.

Xu had already distributed the wedding cakes and candies, which was a very decent return gift for a farming family. The family had to pay for the banquet this time, so the gift money was not enough.

When Butcher Liu saw Zhang Ping'an coming back, he laughed out loud and said, "Ping'an, your brother-in-law's stuttering was cured this time, and the work at the academy is all thanks to you. If you hadn't spoken well of your brother-in-law in front of the teacher, how could the teacher have taken a liking to your brother-in-law? Now the house has been left to them. I'm really embarrassed, but I'm indebted to your family for such a favor!"

"This is all my brother-in-law's own opportunity. We are all family. Isn't it my duty to say a few good words for him? As long as my eldest sister and the others live well in the future, it's enough. Who knows, my brother-in-law may really be able to win back his fame in the future," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile.

"That's great! I'm just looking forward to that day," said Liu the Butcher with a smile.

Seeing this, Liu Sanlang said naively, "Dad, what about what I said last time about sending Donkey Egg to school?"

Butcher Liu waved his hand and said with a smile, "Okay, of course. My grandson is so smart, he should go to school, just like his uncle. When the time comes, I will also hold a banquet for the scholars and make it a grand occasion."

Zhang Laoer said with a smile, "Both of our grandsons are smart. This day was destined to come."

"Hahahahahahaha", Liu the Butcher laughed even more happily.

Soon all the relatives said goodbye and left. If they didn't leave now, it would be dark and they wouldn't be able to see the road clearly, which would make it even harder to walk back. Xu took out the prepared return gifts, and the whole family followed to see the guests off. Soon all the guests had left.

Only Erya and Sanya's families who lived in the county town did not leave and stayed to help Xu clean up.