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

After arriving home, although Zhang Ping'an explained to Jinbao what studying was all about and told him that he would go home every day after studying, it still failed to calm Jinbao's depressed mood. Jinbao stubbornly believed that he was going to lose his good brother Ping'an and that he would have to play alone in the future. After crying, he went home dejectedly.

The family had just finished lunch, and Daya and the others were still clearing the dishes when Xu saw Jinbao's parents coming with Jinbao. Her voice had arrived before they even showed up. Jinbao's mother stepped over the threshold and said cheerfully, "Second sister-in-law, it's been a while. I just came back to rest for two days. I came to sit with you and let us chat!"

"That's great. Welcome, come and have a seat," Xu said, pulling out two stools. The few of them sat down and talked under the eaves of the west wing.

Jinbao's father also brought two bags of things and a pot of rice wine. Xu took Jinbao's mother's hand and scolded her, "What is the relationship between our two families? You brought so many things here. It's not easy to make money nowadays. You can't be so extravagant. The vegetables you asked your second brother to bring back last time cost a lot. It would be better to keep them and sell them for money."

"Oh, sister-in-law, I'm not being polite with you. Isn't this for Ping'an to eat? As an elder, it's not my responsibility to give some food to the child. After all, the child calls me aunt. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to greet the child with empty hands? Don't you think so?" Jin Bao's mother was a person who could present things to the public and speak well. Xu felt relieved when she heard it.

"In that case, you have to have dinner at my house. Don't refuse. Come and try my cooking."

"Hey, of course I'm going to say that, sister-in-law. I'm not going to argue with you. Didn't you see that my wife has brought rice wine and is ready to have a couple of drinks with my second brother?" Jin Bao's mother covered her mouth and laughed.

Jin Bao's father and Zhang Laoer were chatting together, but the two old men were talking about their own things and didn't get involved.

Zhang Pingan took Jinbao to the room to play, "Come on, Jinbao, I'll get you some red dates."

The red dates were the same ones Dr. Qu had given me last time. They must have been imported from out of town. They were bigger and sweeter than the local ones, one as big as an adult's thumb. Jinbao drooled as he chewed them.

"Why do you always eat in such a dirty way?" Zhang Ping'an couldn't stand it anymore and he just didn't change no matter how many times he was told.

"Hehe, I just ate too much. I told you that my parents brought home a lot of delicious food, and there is meat for every meal, but I am greedy, and I still want to eat what you give me, so I can only take it and chew it slowly."

"Oh, forget it, it's up to you," Zhang Ping'an said, supporting his chin. It was useless to say anything anyway.

"Ping An, let me tell you a secret, do you want to hear it?"

"What secret?" Looking at Jinbao's expectant eyes, Zhang Pingan asked helplessly.

"Hehe, I'm only telling you this. My parents also said that they will send me to school, and to the same place as you. My parents said that we can be classmates in the future." Jin Bao covered his mouth and came over and spoke in a low voice. After he finished speaking, he couldn't help laughing, and his eyes narrowed into a line, like Maitreya Buddha.

"Ah, why so sudden?"

"You told me this morning that you were going to school. I was unhappy when I got home, so I told my mother when she asked me. Then my father said he would send me to school too so that I would have a bright future."

Uh, Jinbao is such a kid, how could he sit still? I always feel like I ended my good brother's happy childhood early. Zhang Pingan is embarrassed. But...

"Well, that's good. We can be companions in the future. It will be easier to make a living after you study well." Zhang Pingan patted his good brother's shoulder solemnly.

"Yeah, I want to be with you anyway."

Outside the door, Jin Bao's mother, after going around in circles, finally got to the point: "As for me, I only have one son, Jin Bao. Just like your family, we are both only children. His father and I work hard from dawn to dusk. Why? We hope to save some money for him. Don't you think so, sister-in-law? As parents, we always hope that our children will live a good life."

"That's right. Look at our Ping'an's father. He has no free time all year round, so he wants to save more." Xu agreed.

"I heard from Jinbao that Ping'an is going to study?" Jinbao's mother asked with a wink.

"Yes, I do have this plan. I have already met the teacher and will go to school after the Mid-Autumn Festival." Xu did not hide it anymore. When the time comes, everyone in the village will know about it.

"Sister-in-law, I tell you the truth, I have always felt that Ping'an is a smart child and should be sent to school earlier to avoid delaying him. In fact, our Jinbao is also very smart, but this child always plays around in the village and no one teaches him. His father and I are busy in the town and can't take care of him. I think it would be better to send them to school together this time, so that they can be companions and will definitely have a bright future," Jinbao's mother became more and more excited as she spoke, and patted her thigh and said finally.

"Of course that's good. Jinbao looks like a blessed child!" Mrs. Xu also complimented him, and she knew that the couple didn't come here just for dinner. They finally got to the point. But this was also a good thing. It's nice to have more company.

So both the host and the guests had a great time. Xu did her best to prepare some delicious dishes and also asked Zhang Lao Da and Zhang Lao San to come over to accompany the guests in the evening. The men drank up a pot of rice wine and chatted and boasted until the moon was at its highest point before they left.

Zhang Laoer hadn't felt so good in a long time. His face was red as he fell on the bed to sober up. Fortunately, the alcohol content was low, so it didn't smell bad.

Zhang Ping'an understood it very well. After all, he could only drink a few times a year. Cigarettes, alcohol, and sugar were all luxuries in ancient times. Old Man Zhang and his family had never bought real tobacco. They just grew a few in their own vegetable garden, dried them, and cut them themselves. It was very choking.

What was finally agreed upon was that Jinbao's father would take Jinbao to apprentice tomorrow morning, and after they came back and had lunch, the two families would go to town together to buy pens, ink, paper, and inkstone, so that they could bargain together at that time.

Just in case, Zhang Pingan spent half a day teaching Jinbao the first few lines of the Three Character Classic that Mr. Luo had memorized today, fearing that they would be tested on it tomorrow, and if that happened, Jinbao would be stuck and it would be a disaster.

I fell asleep while thinking about it in a daze and slept until dawn.

If there was nothing to do in the morning, Xu would usually let her son sleep until he woke up naturally and would not wake him up early. So when Zhang Ping'an got up, his sisters had already gotten up. Only Daya was at home, and the other sisters had all gone out.

Xu had specially left a bowl of steamed eggs and a flatbread warm in the pot. A drop of sesame oil was dripped onto the steamed eggs, which was very fragrant. Daya brought them out and said, "Ping'an, come and have breakfast quickly. If it gets cold soon, the eggs will taste fishy."

"Come on, big sister," Zhang Pingan yawned. He didn't get enough sleep last night.

After eating, Zhang Ping'an ran to play under the banyan tree. A group of children gathered together to catch ants.

After a while, Jinbao's mule cart passed by. When Jinbao saw Zhang Ping'an, he waved excitedly, said a few words to his father, then jumped off the cart and ran over.

"Ping'an, I succeeded in becoming your apprentice today. What you taught me yesterday was actually tested today. You are amazing! Mr. Luo also praised me for being smart. We can go to class after the Mid-Autumn Festival," Jinbao's eyes sparkled.

Haha, if you still can’t do it after teaching for an entire afternoon, then you’re doomed. Zhang Pingan is ashamed.

But children should be encouraged: "Well, that's great, we will be study partners from now on! Keep it up!!!"