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

After Zhang Laoer took Zhang Pingan home, Zhang Pingan felt that something was a little unusual about the house as soon as he entered the yard. Thinking about it carefully, it seemed that there was an unusual silence.

Usually, there were always women in the family picking vegetables, sewing clothes, etc. in the front yard, especially Li and Xu. They could always be seen busy in the front yard, but today there was no one in the front yard.

When I entered the west wing, I found that Xu was not there either. Usually, by this time after school, Xu would have already prepared dinner.

Zhang Pingan turned his head curiously and asked, "Dad, why don't I see Mom?"

"Your mother will cook in a while. Please wait a moment. I'll get you a snack." Zhang Laoer avoided answering and didn't say why. He went to the cupboard to get a snack for his son.

After waiting for a long time, Zhang Ping'an saw Xu and several sisters coming out of his aunt's room. Xu's eyes were still red.

After entering the house, Xu was still a little depressed. She forced herself to cheer up and said, "Wait a moment, Ping'an. Mother and your second sister will go cook. It will be ready soon."

Zhang Ping'an was full of questions. He rarely saw Xu like this since he was born. She was always so busy and energetic. What happened today?

After Xu left, San Ya came over and said, "Today, my aunt beat my eldest cousin's wife. Not only did she pull her hair, she also cursed at me. She was extremely violent. When my brother Da Zhu went to break up the fight, he knocked over the grain jar in the house, and the rice, chaff, and beans were scattered all over the floor. We just went to help clean it up."

After saying this, he patted his chest in fear and sighed, "It's really scary. My cousin's wife is so pitiful!"

"Then why is mother crying?" Zhang Pingan asked.

San Ya was also confused and shook her head, saying, "Who knows? My aunt pulled my mother aside to talk, and they both started crying. They chatted for quite a while. I don't think they usually have such a good relationship!"

Xu was not in the mood to cook today, so she cooked a pot of bean porridge and threw in some pickled vegetables without even adding salt.

While eating, he began to sigh again, with red eyes, and said: "Sister-in-law is also a poor person. Now that this has happened, she doesn't know how much the medicine will cost, and she doesn't know when she can hold her grandson. My brother doesn't care about anything. She feels very sad!"

Zhang Laoer buried his head in his food. After hearing this, he looked up and said calmly, "We can't interfere in other people's affairs. At most, we can lend them some money if they don't have enough. We just need to take care of our own affairs."

Mrs. Xu was still upset. "That's right. Actually, it's not that the eldest sister-in-law is unwilling to spend money. She's afraid that Dazhu will end up in the same situation as the eldest brother and father. Even if he spends all the money, he'll still be the same, sick and childless. If that happens, Dazhu will get older. What will happen then? She's worried! Yingniang is also a pitiful person. The eldest sister-in-law did that and she didn't say a word. Being a woman is not easy!"

Zhang Laoer didn't feel anything about these things, mainly because as an uncle he didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the women in the family.

Erya disagreed and retorted, "Who says life is hard for women? I think my second aunt is doing well. Her second uncle treats her well, and her cousins ​​are filial. She can buy whatever she wants to eat, and she has plenty of money to spend. That's what life is like!"

"Pfft," Xu laughed, rolled her eyes, and said unhappily, "How can you, a little girl, know what is good and what is bad?"

Erya was unconvinced and puffed out her chest, saying, "I'm 13, not a kid anymore. I know everything you're talking about. Anyway, I'm going to live like Second Aunt in the future. I don't want to cry and fight every day like a mad woman."

Mrs. Xu laughed angrily: "So you're just saying that you live the same life as me, saying that your mother cries every day, right? Don't you see whose milk you drank when you were growing up?"

After talking for a few words, the sadness in her heart disappeared, and Xu picked up the bowl and drank the porridge in big gulps.

"Well, speaking of this, Erya is indeed not a child anymore. I plan to let Sanya go to the school to deliver meals to Ping'an and Jinbao. Erya will stay at home. Let's see if there is a good family to meet her this year. If there is, we can meet each other during the Chinese New Year and get married in the spring of next year." Zhang Laoer wiped his mouth and said.

"What?" Erya reacted strongly, unwillingly, frowning and saying, "My eldest sister got married at 15, why should I get married at 13?"

Zhang Laoer said in a deep voice, "Your eldest sister is 13 and has started dating too, but she just didn't tell you. She's been looking for a couple for a long time but hasn't found anyone she likes. Luckily, your second aunt helped find a good family, otherwise she would have grown up. It's hard to find a husband for an older girl. You'll be 14 next year, so now's the perfect time."

Erya's expression finally relaxed, a hint of embarrassment on her face. She stammered, "Well, I might not be able to find anyone I like. Anyway, I don't want those ugly ones."

Xu was furious when she heard this. She slammed her chopsticks and said, "You think you're the Seventh Fairy, so picky about which pot to match the lid? Do you think your parents can harm you?"

"Hmph," Erya was angry, but she didn't dare to contradict Xu anymore.

"Don't argue anymore. I already have a candidate. I have to ask Grandpa Jinbao for help with this matter. We'll talk about it later whether it succeeds or not," Zhang Laoer made the final decision.

"Dad, who is it?" Zhang Ping'an and Erya asked at the same time.

"Don't ask random questions as a kid," Zhang Laoer didn't answer and got up to go to the backyard to wash up.

Xu was also puzzled and asked, "Who is the child's father? Do I know him?"

Zhang Laoer had already walked out the door without answering the question.

"Hmph, I guessed it even without you telling me," Zhang Pingan thought about it and guessed who it was, but he couldn't say it because nothing was known yet.

After drinking the porridge in the bowl in big gulps, he went down the table to read a book.

"They are all so mysterious," Xu muttered with her head down, and simply didn't bother to ask any more questions. When there was a result, the child's father would definitely tell her, the mother, first.

After Zhang Laoer mentioned this matter, there was no movement for several days. Erya gradually put her mind at ease. It is not easy to find a suitable husband. Maybe her father was just talking casually.

When Zhang Ping'an and Jinbao came home from school that day, Jinbao's grandfather was waiting at the door as usual, but he did not take Jinbao home directly as he did in the past. Instead, he took Jinbao's hand with a smile and walked into the Zhang family yard.

Zhang Laoer understood it immediately, and he thought that the matter was settled. After driving the car to the backyard, he came out and whispered to Xu: "Cook a few more delicious dishes in the evening. Fry a plate of the bacon you made earlier, and cook more rice. Grandpa Jinbao will bring Jinbao to our house for dinner in the evening."

After saying that, he left. After walking a few steps, he thought for a moment and turned back to add, "Heat up another pot of sake."

"I know," Xu didn't ask what it was about. She would know after dinner anyway.

Zhang Ping'an wasn't stupid either. Seeing this, he wondered if his second brother-in-law had succeeded.