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

San Ya cried, "Anyway, my Yongde can't go."

"Third sister, who do you think I am? I am just a scholar, nothing in our county. I don't have the ability to change the conscription. I told you the method but you didn't listen. It's no use for you to cheat me now," Zhang Pingan said calmly.

"So you're just going to watch my man go to his death? How can you be so cruel? I'm your third sister," San Ya accused.

"So, as my third sister, what have you done for me? Why should I be responsible for you? Ask yourself if I have a clear conscience towards you. Has the subsidy given to you by your family over the years been insufficient?" Zhang Pingan asked back.

San Ya stopped crying after hearing this. She looked around and saw no one was speaking up for her. She couldn't help but ask, "Little brother, do you think I'm annoying?"

"Yes, I think you are annoying. I have endured this sentence for a long time," Zhang Pingan said lightly.

"Wow..." San Ya cried even harder after hearing that. She had never said such harsh words to anyone around her.

Zhang Pingan was always humble and polite when speaking to people around him. This was the first time he had revealed his malice so frankly. Ever since he went to the county town, he had been annoyed by all kinds of trivial matters, and he had been holding it in for a long time.

"People should give and take. If you respect me one foot, I will respect you ten feet." Zhang Pingan said, no longer looking at his third sister. He turned to his father and said, "Dad, let's go back!"

"Okay," Zhang Laoer replied vaguely, still in shock.

After walking another two or three miles, he finally realized, "Son, this seems to be the first time you've lost your temper since you started studying!"

Zhang Daqiang listened and scolded, "Second brother, Ping'an, if I were to say, your family is just too good to your daughter. In our surrounding area, no, within a hundred miles, who would treat a daughter so well? She's never been hungry, and she hasn't done any heavy work since she was little. She rarely fights. I'd say it's all spoiled bad habits. She should have been beaten up when she was disobedient. A married daughter is rebelling. Let alone Ping'an, I get angry just listening to her!"

Brother Liu is a smart man. Upon hearing this, he said, "Ping An shouldn't be angry about this!"

Zhang Pingan rubbed his brows and said, "What makes me most angry is that my third sister takes her family's kindness for granted and doesn't consider the situation of her family at all. Since she doesn't even consider me and Dad as family, there's no need for me to be polite!"

Zhang Lao Er smiled and said, "I was quite angry just now. San Ya was so confused, but now I am not angry anymore."

Zhang Daqiang asked curiously, "Second brother, why?"

"My son Ping'an has been kind-hearted since he was young. I've always been afraid that he would suffer any harm, and I'm always worried about him, so I want to follow him wherever he goes because I'm worried. But when he got angry today, I felt relieved. Having a good temper is good, and you won't be bullied," Zhang Laoer explained with a smile.

"Hahaha, that's right," Zhang Daqiang nodded.

Brother Liu shook his head and laughed, "Second Uncle, I don't think Ping'an is the type to suffer any loss. He's just being wise but appearing foolish. Being petty every day is something only women do!"

Zhang Pingan smiled helplessly and did not refute. He was used to his father worrying about him.

The few of them chatted along the way. Zhang Laoer took a few steps to send Brother Liu back first. When they returned to the village, it was almost time for dinner.

When Zhang saw the others coming back, she asked, as was unusual, "Is the matter settled?"

Zhang Pingan nodded and replied, "Grandma, it's all done!"

Zhang Daqiang laughed and said, "Today, thanks to Ping An, without his connections, other people's housing wouldn't be processed. Those bastards are just trying to make money from this!"

Zhang heaved a sigh of relief: "As long as the matter is done, it's fine. Whether it's money or not, you can still earn it in the future."

"That's right, auntie. I'll go back first then," said Zhang Daqiang.

"Well, go back," Zhang nodded in response.

After getting rid of a worry, everyone in the family was in a good mood. Mrs. Li even had the mind to fry a pot of soybeans for the children as a snack, sprinkled some salt on it, and it tasted a little salty. It tasted pretty good, and Zhang Ping'an also grabbed a handful.

Mrs. Xu pinched two and chewed them, commenting, "Not bad. It will be even more fragrant if you fry it for a while. Son, eat less. Eating too much of this stuff will make you fart."

Zhang Pingan frowned when he heard this: How can I eat this?

"By the way, son, now that we're done, are we leaving tomorrow? You've asked Professor Han for fifteen days' leave. It will be too late if we don't leave in the next two days," continued Mrs. Xu, unaware of what was happening.

Zhang Laoer was also very concerned and looked over when he heard this.

After Zhang Pingan swallowed the soybeans, he said, "Let's go the day after tomorrow morning. I plan to go see Luo Fuan and Liu Shengyuan tomorrow. It's been a while since we last saw each other. Once we return to the capital, I don't know when we'll see each other again!"

"That's true. I'll pack up my things tomorrow," Xu nodded.

After breakfast the next day, Zhang Ping'an went to Liu Shengyuan's home in Liujia Village first. It was almost dark when he sent Brother Liu away yesterday, and he didn't have time to go to his house to ask.

When I went there today, I found a big lock hanging on the door of the Liu family's house. There was a thick layer of dust on the lock and next to the threshold. It was obvious that no one had lived there for a long time.

Zhang Pingan went to ask the neighbor next door. The neighbor lady was busy washing clothes. She said nonchalantly, "They haven't been home for a long time, at least half a year!"

"Do you know whether their family lives in the town or the county now?" Zhang Pingan asked.

"How would I know? There was an old man living here originally, but later they took the old man away. I don't know if he went to the town or the county. He didn't tell us and never chatted with us," said the old lady with a pout.

"I understand. Thank you, Auntie," Zhang Ping'an said thank you and left.

I went to the Luo family again. Luo Fuan had gotten married in the past six months. But Luo Fugui, even though he was old enough, still refused to let his family arrange a marriage for him, saying that he had to have some fame before he could get married.

"Ping'an, please help me persuade Fugui later. My uncle and aunt are so worried. He just doesn't want to get married and he is stubborn. My uncle can't do anything about him," Luo Fuan said cheerfully.

"How have you been recently? Has your family's military service issue been resolved?" Zhang Pingan asked.

Luo Fuan spread his hands when he heard this: "As you can see, it's still the same. I'm just an ordinary person, and I'm living a good life. My uncle is trying to find a way to get military service. I heard that many wealthy families in the county are looking for replacements. I don't know if it will work out in the end."

Luo Fugui was reading in the study and was very happy to see Zhang Pingan coming: "Ping'an, when did you come back?"

"It was just a few days ago. How have you been lately?" Zhang Pingan replied with a smile.

"As for me, I'm still the same, but the notes you asked my brother to give me last time are quite useful. I feel that my knowledge has improved a lot, and I should have no problem with the county exam next year." Luo Fugui had heavy dark circles under his eyes, but he was in good spirits.

“As long as it’s useful!”

The three of them exchanged pleasantries, and Zhang Pingan stayed at Luo's house for lunch. Before leaving, he gave Luo Fuan the letter of recommendation he had written: "If your uncle can't find a way to change his household registration, you can go to the county government and find Tang Jingcheng. Show him this letter, it might be helpful."

Luo Fuan took the letter and smiled: "Thank you, Ping An, and have a safe trip back to the capital!"

"Let's go! Stop being sentimental," Zhang Ping'an said with a smile, waved goodbye and went home.

Xu had already packed up her things. Zhang Pingan went to Zhang's room to return the land deed. Zhang said, "You take it first!"

Zhang Ping'an wasn't sure what it meant, so he put it away!

Early the next morning, Zhang Laoer said goodbye to his family and took his family back to the provincial capital. When Zhang Ping'an passed by the town, he left two letters for his eldest sister, asking her to give them to San Ya and his uncle's family. They would naturally understand what they meant after reading them.

It was already past noon when they arrived at the county. Xu had prepared plenty of dry food, so Zhang Laoer didn't stay long and went straight to the city gate. However, when he arrived at the city gate, he was not allowed to leave.

"When was this notice issued? Why are we not allowed to leave the city?" Zhang Ping'an asked with a frown, jumping off the mule cart.