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

"Sister, sister, I'm back," Zhang Pingan shouted as he entered the door.

"What are you doing? Don't panic, run slowly," Daya came out and grabbed Zhang Pingan, otherwise it would be serious if he fell.

Xu and Zhang Laoer have already gone to the fields, and the autumn harvest is about to begin, so they have to go to the fields to watch over them from time to time. Only Daya is at home. Daya is already fifteen years old this year, which is considered a grown-up girl in ancient times and a good age for marriage. So Xu lets her do some housework at home and take care of her so that she can find a good in-law when the time comes.

Zhang Ping'an had heard Xu mutter many times about the families of suitable men in the surrounding area, and she was not very satisfied with the families that the matchmaker had introduced.

"Sister, please help me collect these cicada monkeys and put them back where I left them before," Zhang Pingan ran all the way back, holding his knees and panting.

Last year, when Zhang Ping'an visited relatives, he specially asked his grandfather, Old Man Xu, to make a small box for his own use. The Xu family had a lot of ready-made scraps, so it was easy to piece together the small box. Zhang Ping'an also specifically instructed that the inside be separated by wooden pieces into compartments.

Old Man Xu has always been kind to the younger generation. He didn't ask too many questions and agreed with a smile. After dinner, he picked up the tools and started working. By the time Zhang Ping'an was about to go home, he had finished the work. He also made a hinge to hang the lock. Unfortunately, Zhang Ping'an still didn't have the money to buy a lock, so he usually just used the hinge to fasten it.

"Okay, give it to me. I don't know why you and Jinbao picked up so many cicada shells." Daya shook her head in confusion. It was such a waste to use a good box to store these. But since her parents didn't say anything, she could only join in the fun.

The reason Zhang Pingan kept using was that he and Jinbao had picked it up together, and it would be useful in the future. He also acted coquettishly and cutely, so Zhang Laoer and Xu Shi were very fond of it and surrendered long ago, not caring about it.

"These are all useful! Big sister, this is the fried dough twist that Jinbao gave me. I haven't eaten it yet. You can share it with me later. I'll go to the vegetable garden to pick a melon to eat with Jinbao. Please talk to mom," Zhang Ping'an replied.

There were many vegetables planted in the vegetable garden, but many of them died of drought. Zhang Laoer and Xu were too busy with the farm work to handle it, so they could only find time to fetch water to water the crops.

Now there are only turnips, pumpkins and cucumbers in the vegetable garden. Xu treasures them very much and counts them every day for fear that they will be stolen. She is not worried about others, but mainly afraid that Ma from the third wife will steal them. Ma is not a diligent person, and the vegetables in the vegetable garden are basically dead from drought. From time to time, she goes to the vegetable gardens of the first and second wives to secretly pick vegetables, which makes Xu very angry, but she has never caught her in the act.

After a day's work in this hot weather, he still has to go home to fetch water to irrigate the fields, which is really tiring. Zhang Laoer's shoulders are often rubbed and bloody, which makes his family members feel distressed. He finally grows some vegetables, but they have to be picked by others. Anyone would be upset!

"Okay, be careful when you play, and don't climb too high on the tree, it's dangerous," Daya warned.

"I know, sister, you're so nagging," Zhang Ping'an said while running and turning back to make a face.

"Little rascal!" Daya laughed out of anger. Her younger brother was so clever and quirky that she didn't know who he looked like.

Zhang Ping'an went to the vegetable garden at the back and picked a medium-sized cucumber. He rinsed it with well water and ran to the banyan tree.

"Jinbao, Jinbao, here I come. I'll give you half of the melon. Here!" Zhang Ping'an said as he broke the melon in half and handed half to Jinbao.

"Hehe, Ping'an, you're so nice," Jinbao sniffed and reached out to take it.

"Jinbao, can you wipe your nose? Don't you feel uncomfortable if you keep sniffing your nose?" Zhang Pingan couldn't bear to see it anymore.

"It's not uncomfortable. I wiped it off but there's still some left. I can't wipe it all off." Jinbao also felt aggrieved and talked to Ping An many times about this.

Just as he took a bite of the melon, a gust of wind suddenly blew over and said, "Give it to me." Jinbao felt his hand go empty and the melon was gone.

Then we found out that the baby was snatched away by Dahu from the village. Dahu’s great-grandfather was the village chief Zhang Diande.

"Wow... Ping'an, my melon was taken away, woooo," Jinbao reacted and started crying immediately.

Zhang Ping'an was also indignant. Isn't this just bullying the weak? Da Hu is almost ten years old and looks strong. He relies on his strong physique and the fact that his great-grandfather is the village chief. He often bullies other children and is almost becoming a little bully.

"Brother Dahu, why are you stealing Jinbao's melon? I gave it to him to eat," Zhang Ping'an said.

"It's his fault that he didn't catch it. I didn't steal it. Besides, I didn't steal yours," Dahu retorted. He didn't feel that he had done anything wrong. Jinbao was a coward. His grandmother made delicious food for him every day, but it was of no use.

"Wow, wow, I hope you're safe." After hearing this, Jinbao couldn't stop crying like a flood.

"When did he give it to you? You are bullying me. Either compensate Jinbao with half a melon, or I will go and talk to Uncle Daqiang," Zhang Pingan said in a crisp voice. He was sure he could not win in a fight, but Dahu's father Daqiang had worked in the provincial capital with his own father before, and the two families were quite familiar with each other. His sisters were also strong-willed, so Dahu didn't dare to do anything to him.

"I won't compensate! Ping'an, why are you meddling in other people's business? Jinbao is a coward. Don't play with him in the future. Come with us," Dahu said with his hands on his hips, and finished the melon with two crunches.

"Wow... Ping'an", Jinbao cried even louder when he heard this. It was not known whether he was sad that the melon was eaten up, or he was afraid that Zhang Ping'an really would not play with him.

"Jinbao, don't cry, I will definitely play with you, we are good brothers," Zhang Pingan, who was also overwhelmed by crying, comforted him.

"You bullied Jinbao until he cried, and you still say it has nothing to do with you? Either compensate him with half a melon, or I will go find Uncle Daqiang." Zhang Pingan was not to be outdone. If he didn't get revenge after being bullied this time, there would be a next time.

"I won't, Lululu, what can you do to me!" Dahu said arrogantly, and his younger brother Erhu also cheered on the side, "Jinbao is just a coward, Lululu!"

"Be...be...safe, woooo," Jinbao was crying and hiccuping beside him.

Zhang Ping'an was really angry. Jinbao was kind-hearted and a bit naive. There was plenty of food at home, and he was always coaxed away by the other children. Not only did these children eat, but they also called Jinbao stupid and teased him behind his back. When Jinbao's grandmother found out, she came to their house and scolded her grandson, forbidding him to play with them anymore. But the stereotype had formed, and they always thought Jinbao was easy to bully.

"I'm going to the fields to find Uncle Daqiang now, Jinbao, let's go," Zhang Pingan said as he took Jinbao's hand and was about to leave.

"If you dare, I will beat you if you go," Da Hu threatened, and he also wanted to scare Zhang Pingan. He didn't dare to really hit him. Zhang Pingan's sisters and parents all watched him closely and protected him like the apple of their eye.

"Whatever I do, I will tell others if you bully me," Zhang Pingan said angrily.

Dahu didn't dare to do anything to Zhang Ping'an. He rushed over and knocked Jinbao to the ground, not allowing them to leave.

"Wow... Ping'an save me, grandma save me, wuwuwu." Jinbao's hands were scraped by the ground and he cried loudly again.

"Zhang Dahu, let go." Zhang Ping'an saw his friend being bullied and didn't care anymore. He rushed over, pushed Dahu away, and started fighting.