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

The couple was talking. Zhang Pingan was listening at first, but gradually he was speechless. His parents were really bold. Later they talked about how he would become the top scholar, marry a rich girl and reach the pinnacle of life. Gradually he felt sleepy and simply fell asleep.

The next morning, Xu got up early and went to the kitchen to work. She baked a lot of dry cakes and fried pickles and put them in small jars, preparing to give them to the master and disciple to eat on the road. Since monks cannot eat meat, she did not fry any meat.

When Zhang Laoer went to the woodshed, the master and disciple had already gotten up and were packing their things.

"Master Xuan Jing, did you sleep well last night? The child's mother has prepared breakfast, you can eat it before leaving," Zhang Laoer greeted warmly.

"Donor, this is such a big hassle," Monk Xuan Jing said politely.

"Farmers only eat simple meals, as long as you don't mind," Zhang Laoer touched the back of his head and smiled, helped the master and apprentice pick up their luggage, and walked towards the main room.

After arriving at the main hall, Monk Xuan Jing saw that so much food had been prepared today. He lowered his head and smiled helplessly, saying, "Donor Zhang, this is too much. Your family is so polite. The Buddha will surely bless you, a kind-hearted person, to have a worry-free life."

"Master, don't be polite, just eat. You have a little apprentice with you, and the child is still growing, so he needs to eat well." Xu stood nearby and wiped her hands stiffly and said, "I baked the pancakes dry, so they can be kept for a long time. I will pack them for you with oil paper later, so you can take them with you on the road. Don't mind."

"Monks should practice more, so it doesn't matter what they eat. Besides, this is already very good. Thank you very much, donor."

"Eat quickly, before it gets cold," Zhang Laoer said with a smile.

After finishing their meal, the master and the disciple were about to say goodbye. Old man Zhang and his wife had also eaten, and their whole family came to see them off. The old monk thought for a moment before leaving, turned around, took out a peace amulet from his bag and handed it to Old Man Zhang, saying, "Donor Zhang, this peace amulet was consecrated in Daguo Temple. Your family are all kind-hearted people. We give this amulet to your son to bless him with peace and safety in the future."

Zhang Laoer took it and looked at it. There were runes on it, which he couldn't understand. However, this amulet seemed different from ordinary ones. The paper texture was better, the color was more accurate, and it felt hard inside.

But no matter what, blessing the child is definitely good, and I have to accept it. I will put it on the child later, Zhang Laoer thought happily.

The family stood at the door and watched the master and disciple walk away.

When Zhang Ping'an woke up and heard Zhang Laoer and Xu talking about this matter, he felt even more amused and confused. He suspected that this man was a liar. Xu even solemnly put the talisman on him, and his resistance was futile.

Time flies and five years have passed.

Zhang Ping'an has lived an extremely happy life in the past five years. Since he learned to walk at the age of one and spoke more and more fluently, he could no longer be confined to the yard at home. He would often sneak out to play at the door when the adults at home were not paying attention. When he grew up a little, he would run to the village entrance to play.

The Zhang family's home is right at the entrance of the village. There are several large banyan trees at the entrance, and the place is spacious. Children in the village like to come here to climb up and down and play. Zhang Pingan therefore has no shortage of friends, and he often has new ideas. He is almost becoming the king of children among his peers.

Zhang Laoer and Xu were mainly afraid that their son would get hurt while playing, so they asked their daughters to keep a close eye on him and left the others alone.

"Ping'an, it's time to eat!" Daya shouted loudly at the door.

"I know!" Zhang Pingan also replied loudly. As he spoke, a little kid slid down from the short branch of the banyan tree. His face was red from playing, and he looked very healthy. He was holding a dragonfly in his hand. It was Zhang Pingan.

"My elder sister is calling me. I have to go home for dinner. We can play after dinner," Zhang Pingan said to his friends.

"Then I'll go home for dinner. I'll come to see you after dinner, Ping'an." Another child on the tree also slid down holding the trunk and sniffed his nose. He was Jinbao, Zhang Ping'an's best brother in the village. Just by listening to his name, you can tell that he is the golden boy of the family.

"Okay," Zhang Ping'an responded readily and ran home.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back. What delicious food did you make today?" Zhang Ping'an shouted as he pushed open the yard door.

"Hey, hey, run slower, don't fall, we're not in a hurry," Mrs. Xu was drying vegetables in the yard, and she hurriedly shouted when she saw her son running so fast.

"Daya, Daya, wipe your brother's face. Look at his face full of sweat," he said to Daya.

"Here I am, mother," Daya smiled and came over with a handkerchief to wipe Zhang Ping'an's face. Over the years, Daya became more and more like an elder sister. She looked so smiling, but her younger brothers and sisters did not dare to disobey her.

"Hehe, thank you, big sister, you are the best!" Zhang Ping'an flatters him like crazy. Although his family has heard it for several years, they are still not immune to it. Everyone likes to hear nice words. Even Mrs. Zhang and Old Man Zhang, who have little affection for their grandchildren, can't help but show some preference to him, let alone other people!

"Just coax me," Daya said angrily, tapping Zhang Pingan's forehead!

"Hehe..." Zhang Pingan laughed.

After a while, Erya, Sanya, Siya, Wuya, Liuya and others also came back. When they were free during the day, they would go to collect grass for pigs, gather firewood, and herd sheep. It was not very tiring.

It is not the autumn harvest yet, and it is the time of the year when there is a shortage of food. The meals at home are rather bland. We cook a big pot of fresh broad beans and rice, and then there is a pot of vegetable soup, which is literally vegetable soup, with only vegetables and salt in it, nothing else.

Only Zhang Ping'an was a little special. There was a bowl of egg custard in front of him. This was specially made by Xu for her son. No matter whether there were vegetables or not, Xu would ensure that her son could eat an egg every day and some meat dishes every few days to nourish his body.

When Zhang Ping'an was younger, he would share his food with his sisters. Later, he was severely stopped by Xu, and his sisters were beaten with a broom. Since then, Zhang Ping'an has never shared his food again.

Moreover, the food is not too bad in the village. At least there is rice to cook, and occasionally my parents will cut some meat to stew. Some of my friends' families only eat steamed buns made with wild vegetables all year round.

My parents are usually very frugal with their money. They plan to build a house in the next two years so that they can move out. No one knows when they will do it. Zhang Ping'an wants to sigh, seeing how difficult it is for his parents to save money.

Zhang Ping'an wanted to help out with some ideas, but he was too young and his parents wouldn't listen. What's more, he was too old now and except for going to his grandmother's house on the second day of the first lunar month every year, he couldn't leave the village at other times, so his words were not convincing at all.

Zhang Pingan dreamed of going out with Zhang Laoer, who was the only one in the family who had the opportunity to go out more often. He would go to collect bamboo and sell bamboo products at the market every few days, and he would also go to Ezhou Prefecture once a year to do some work.

But Zhang Laoer was always afraid that his son would be taken away by the beggar, so he refused to take him with him. He was usually easy to talk to, but he refused to give in on this one point, and no matter how much he made a fuss, it was useless.

"Dad, can I go with you to the market on the fifth day of the New Year? I'll help you sell things. I'm five years old now and I've grown up," Zhang Ping'an said while eating.

"No, you are still young, there are many bad people outside," Xu and Zhang Laoer said in unison.

"Dad, but I'm five years old," Zhang Pingan said angrily, trying to argue again.

"Just play in the village, be good. It's not fun to go to the market. Ask your mother to get you a piece of mung bean cake later. Eat it when you go out to play," Zhang Laoer coaxed.

"That's right, just play at home. Mom will give you a big piece. It's sweet and delicious," Xu also joined in.

"Okay~", Zhang Pingan said with his eyes rolling.