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

Farmers all get up early. The next day, Zhang Laoer got up before dawn and took out the eggs from the clay jar to boil them. This was what Zhang had prepared yesterday.

Eggs are very precious now, costing only one cent each. People would not usually keep them for themselves to eat, but would usually sell them at the market or in the town. This time it was a rare happy event, so Zhang Laoer asked his mother to prepare eggs. The family only prepared red eggs to announce the birth of a boy, not for a girl.

Zhang was clear about the accounts between her and her son. She prepared sixty red eggs, which were equivalent to ten kilograms of grain. These would be offset when the grain was distributed.

The iron pot at home is very big and can hold all the eggs. After cooking, Zhang Laoer dyed the eggs with red paper.

At this time, Zhang and her elder sister-in-law Li also got up and went to the kitchen to cook.

"Hey, second brother, you got up early enough," greeted the eldest sister-in-law Li, chopping radishes skillfully and cooking a pot with rice and beans.

Zhang also came to help dye the eggs.

"There are many people going there today, and I'm worried that I won't make it in time. It's better to get up early," replied Zhang Laoer.

After saying that, he went to the shed to pull out the donkey cart, put the eggs into several baskets, and added some vegetables picked from the vegetable garden. The baskets looked better when they were full. He put the things in, said goodbye to Zhang, and went out.

This donkey cart was bought by Zhang Laoer with the money he saved up slowly after getting married. At that time, he didn't have enough money to buy a donkey. Now the donkey has grown up and is a good helper in work. Otherwise, it would be inconvenient for him to go out frequently to collect bamboo and sell bamboo products.

Driving the donkey cart all the way, it took nearly an hour to reach Xu's natal village, Liutai Village, which was not too far.

When he arrived, the Xu family had already finished breakfast. The elder brother-in-law, the younger brother-in-law and the father-in-law were planing wood together in the yard. The younger brother-in-law Xu Youcai saw him first.

"Hey, my brother-in-law is here, what a rare guest!"

The children were playing in the yard, also shouting "Uncle, Uncle".

Zhang Laoer agreed to all the requests and gave each child a red egg to eat.

The children took the eggs and continued playing.

Xu Youcai was a smart man. Seeing the red egg in Zhang Laoer's hand, he put down the plane and said happily, "Could it be that my sister gave birth to a boy this time?"

Zhang Laoer, the daughter, would not send eggs specifically because the third sister had never given birth to a son, and the relationship between the two families was very strained. They usually did not visit each other except during the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese New Year. Even if they came, Zhang Laoer would urge them to go back as soon as the meal was over.

Mother-in-law Yu, aunt Yu, and aunt Shen all came out when they heard the noise.

The men in the Xu family have skills, but there are not many male members. In addition, Liutai Village is right on the edge of the town. The Zhang River passes through here, and there is a small pier. It is very lively. People from the nearby villages come here to attend the big market every Friday.

The Xu family had lived here for generations, and their livelihood was never a problem. They rented out their land for farming and collected rent, while the women in the family only did laundry. Mother-in-law Yu and Little Yu were skilled embroiderers, though their skills weren't particularly impressive, but they could supplement their income by taking on small jobs.

At first glance, Xiao Yu looked younger than her sister-in-law Xu. She was fair and plump, and it was obvious that she lived a comfortable life.

Xiao Yu is Yu's niece from her mother's side. She has a cheerful personality and asks, "Brother-in-law, please sit down. I'll pour you some tea. Is the child okay?"

"It's fine, hehe, we gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The older one is a girl and the younger one is a boy," said Zhang Laoer as he sat down.

"Oh, that's a great joy."

Mother-in-law Yu took the basket and said, "Why put so many eggs? We are all family, why be so polite? You might as well give a few more to Sanniang to nourish her." Yu felt sorry for her little daughter and knew that she had not had a good life in recent years.

"You must not have had breakfast yet since you came here so early. My eldest wife, go to the kitchen and make a bowl of noodles and two eggs," Yu instructed.

"Hey, mom, I'll go right away. Brother-in-law, please sit for a while. It will be quick," Xiao Yu replied and quickly went to the kitchen.

The whole family sat down to talk, and the son-in-law had to keep him company.

Old man Xu sat beside him and drank a cup of tea. The tea that farmers drink is not real tea, but the tea from three-skin cans. A few leaves can make a big pot of tea.

"How's Sanniang? Are the children all right? Should we have a full-moon banquet this time?" Old Man Xu asked gently.

Old Man Xu was a gentle man. Because his carpentry work sometimes required carving auspicious and prosperous words, he attended a private school for two years as a child and learned a few words. He was not particularly biased towards his daughters and treated them very well. He would often ask his sons to bring him some delicious food.

He knew that his youngest daughter had a hard time in recent years, but since he hadn't given birth to a son, he had no confidence in speaking out about it and couldn't help his daughter. Old Man Xu was always worried and feared that his daughter would have an even harder time after being divorced.

"Yes, Dad. We haven't had a wedding in our family for many years. The child was born on the eighth day of July, which is a good day. The wedding will be held on the eighth day of August." Zhang Laoer replied quickly.

"Finally, you've given birth to a son. Otherwise, your family would have seven daughters, which is rare in this area." The one who spoke without paying attention to her expression was her aunt Shen. Because of her good looks and fierce personality, she had her husband under her thumb. She loved to jump around at home and gossip about other people's affairs. However, the Xu family was honest and decent, and her sister-in-law Xiao Yu didn't like to gossip either, so Shen couldn't bring herself to talk.

When Shen married into the family, Xu Sanniang was already married and had no feelings for her. Her younger sister-in-law had no status in her husband's family. She never brought anything good every time she came, and she was dull and didn't know how to say flattering words. Shen despised her very much. Among the sisters-in-law, she was only willing to talk to the second sister-in-law. The second sister-in-law married the best, and her husband was a butcher. He would bring meat every time he came.

"No one will think you are dumb if you can't speak," Yu scolded. This second daughter-in-law was too tactless.

"Mom, what did I say? Isn't this the truth? I was congratulating my brother-in-law, why are you saying that to me!" Shen cried out in injustice.

"Okay, okay, you have none of your business here. We don't have any good food at home. Go to the bridgehead and buy two pounds of meat. You have to treat your brother-in-law well when he comes," Xu Youcai said to smooth things over, winking at his wife. If he continued, his mother, who was so good-tempered, would get angry. He really had no manners.

"Hmph, I got it." Shen was too lazy to say anything more and turned around and left. She had only one child and she didn't know whether she could raise him or not.

"Brother-in-law, don't bother with her. Just drink tea, drink tea," said Xu Youcai.

"How's the harvest at home?" asked the eldest brother-in-law, Xu Youde. The eldest brother, Xu Youde, was a serious and responsible man, and he cared deeply about his younger siblings. Old Xu had basically let him take charge of household matters.

"It's going to be okay this year, it's a good year," Zhang Laoer replied.

As she was talking, Xiao Yu brought over the noodles. It was a large bowl of hand-rolled noodles with two eggs on top, two small cabbages blanched, and lard added. It smelled very fragrant. Xiao Yu's cooking skills were impeccable.

Zhang Laoer was really hungry, so he didn't hesitate and started eating.

"Second son, you have to live well after giving birth to a son, okay? Discuss anything with Sanniang," Yu said earnestly. Sanniang finally gave birth to a son, and Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

"I know, mother. Don't worry. I will live a good life in the future and be good to Sanniang."

"Oh, oh, that's good," Yu was relieved after hearing this. She was afraid that Zhang Laoer would still be as depressed as before and ignore his wife and children.

After finishing his noodles and wiping his mouth, Zhang Laoer put down his bowl and prepared to leave. He still had to go to his eldest and second aunt's houses to announce the good news.

"Mom and Dad, big brother and little brothers, I have to go. I have to go to my eldest and second sisters' house to announce the good news and then attend the full moon banquet."

"Okay, their two families live far away, so you have to leave early. I won't keep you here," said Old Man Xu.

After saying that, she turned to Yu and said, "Old woman, pack a few pounds of fine white flour from home for the second son to take away, and also some brown sugar. I remember we still have some at home, take them all back to him for Sanniang to eat during her confinement."

"I know, I've just prepared it. Wait for me, Lao Er." Yu went to the inner room, took out a cloth bag and stuffed it into Zhang Lao Er's arms.

"Mom, we have them all at home," Zhang Laoer declined.

"What you have is yours. This is a gift from us, your parents. Take it!" After saying that, he sent Zhang Laoer out. "Hurry up, Cuijiaji is still far away. It's too late."

"Oh, Mom, I'm leaving now. You can come together for the full moon banquet later."

"Okay, I got it, don't worry," Yu waved her hand.

It took more than an hour to reach Cuijiaji after rushing all the way. Mrs. Xu was married in Cuijiaji, and Mrs. Xu Er lived in Wangjiawan, and the two families were not far away.

Zhang Laoer went to Cuijiajie first, and only Mrs. Xu and her mother-in-law were at home.

Seeing her brother-in-law coming, Madam Xu hurried out to greet him, "Third brother-in-law, why are you here?"

"Hey, I'm here to announce the good news. I'm sending you some red eggs. Sanniang has given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Please come to the full moon banquet on the eighth day of the eighth month," Zhang Laoer said with a smile.

"Oh, that's great! Third sister finally made it," Mrs. Xu said happily. Before she could say a few words, her mother-in-law said in a gloomy tone, "Oh, a rare guest is here~".

Madam Xu's mother-in-law is not an easy person to get along with. She is just like a stone in a pit, smelly and hard. She has a bad heart and her husband is useless. They do nothing every day and only pick on cats and dogs. Madam Xu's life in her husband's family is even more miserable than that of Xu Sanniang.

Zhang Laoer didn't want to deal with any more, so he didn't even get off the donkey cart. He just gave the red egg and left quickly.

We arrived at Xu Erniang's home in Wangjiawan. Today was not a big market, so the couple were at home. Xu Erniang's husband was named Wang Fugui, a butcher. Although he was illiterate, he was quite clever. His family had many brothers and was poor. After getting married, he found a master to learn the skill of slaughtering pigs. Now he lives a prosperous life, which is rare.

Moreover, her husband's family has already split up, and her parents-in-law live with the eldest son. Mrs. Xu is not under pressure from her parents-in-law, so she lives a very comfortable life.

"Brother-in-law is here, please sit down, second mother, please pour some tea!" Wang Fugui greeted him. Businessmen believe in making money through harmony. Wang Fugui has a smiling face like Maitreya Buddha most of the time. He eats well, has a big belly and big ears. At a time when most people can only afford to eat and sleep, it is not easy to get so fat. This shows that the food at home is good and greasy.

"Brother-in-law, I won't sit down. I'm still busy at home. I brought you some red eggs. Come to the full moon banquet on the eighth day of the eighth month," said Zhang Laoer.

"Sanniang has given birth, it's a son?!" Xu Erniang poured tea over and asked when she heard this, using an affirmative tone. If it wasn't a son, there would be no way to hold a full-moon banquet.

"Yes, twins, a boy and a girl, hehe!" Zhang Laoer took the tea.

"Twins, a boy and a girl?! Sanniang has done well this time, it's such a happy event! Let's eat here at noon, why are you in a hurry to leave? The food is ready at home, everything is ready," said Xu Erniang.

"Really, no need, second sister. I'm not being polite. I have a lot of things to do at home. I have to go back and announce the good news and send eggs to the village. I couldn't even take care of the harvest in the past two days." Zhang Laoer put down his teacup, waved his hand, sat back on the donkey cart, and prepared to leave.

"Okay, since you say that, Second Sister won't keep you here. Take a piece of meat back for Third Mother and the children," said Xu Er Niang, and then she went to the stall at home to cut a piece of meat and put it in Zhang Laoer's basket.

Even if we don’t go to the market, we will keep some meat at home. Sometimes, when there are guests coming to our house, they will come to buy meat.

"No, second sister, this is too expensive. You can keep it and sell it yourselves," Zhang Laoer declined. The meat was probably more than two kilograms and could be sold for more than thirty cents. How could he have the nerve to accept it?

"This is for my sister and niece to nourish their bodies. You are not allowed to refuse it," said Xu Erniang with a stern face.

"That's right, brother-in-law, just take it. It's not worth anything. It's just a token of our appreciation," Wang Fugui also chimed in. Since they had to give it to him in the end anyway, they might as well do it nicely.

Although Wang Fugui looks fat, he is actually very shrewd in business and knows how to behave. He understands the ways of the world. Otherwise, how could he, a butcher who changed his career halfway, gain a foothold in Wangjiawan and make a living?

"Okay, I'll appreciate your kindness. Remember to come for a drink on the eighth day of August." Zhang Laoer saw that it was indeed getting late and it was not close to go back, so he did not refuse anymore and drove away in his donkey cart.

It was already afternoon when he arrived at the village. The family had already eaten. Zhang Laoer ate two water radishes and went to the villagers to tell them the good news. Some families were still busy harvesting, and only the elderly and children who could not walk were at home. Zhang Laoer left two red eggs in each family, said that they would have a wedding banquet on the eighth day of the eighth month, and left.

Finally got this mess done.