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

On the following memorial days, Zhang Ping'an only invited his own relatives.

No random people came to disturb us.

But at the same time, this also indicates that everyone will soon leave Lin'an and start a new life.

Most people were excited, such as Li from the first wife, Zhang Laosan from the third wife, Ma, Xu Xiaojiu, and Shen.

Thinking that they would soon return home in glory with Zhang Ping'an, they wished they could grow a pair of wings and fly back immediately.

Even in my dreams I imagine the beautiful scenery of returning home.

Therefore, after packing up their things these past few days, they spent most of their time shopping, striving to look worthy of their current status when they return.

Let others know that your family is doing well.

Even someone as stingy as Mrs. Li specially bought a few younger servants to take back to show off.

Now I am also a person who commands slaves and wears gold and silver!

The saddest ones are Erya and Yingniang. Erya is reluctant to leave her relatives, and Yingniang is reluctant to leave the business she has run for several years.

But now that she had a son, she had to go with him and always had to consider her son.

"Xiao Yu'er, we will set off tomorrow. Today is the last time I will come to see your mother. If you have anything you want to say, just tell her. The earliest you will see her is probably a year from now. Alas!" Zhang Ping'an sighed as he sat in front of the grave.

"I just hope that mother can bless us with good fortune and everlasting luck, and let me become extremely powerful and majestic in the future, so that no one dares to bully me." Xiao Yuer knelt down and bowed three times seriously.

"You will have eternal blessings and prosperity!"

"My grandmother taught me this sentence, and what follows is what I thought of. It's what's in my heart," Xiao Yuer replied seriously, tilting his head.

"Yes! I definitely will!" Zhang Ping'an said with a soft laugh, his tone firm.

After coming down from the mountain, the housekeeper was waiting by the side and said respectfully: "Master, don't worry, I will take good care of Zhoushan after you leave."

"Well, the young master and I will come back to visit you whenever we are free. Don't be careless, otherwise you will be in danger of losing your head," Zhang Pingan said in a deep voice, his tone cold and distant.

Xiao Yuer also followed suit, acting like a young master.

After no one else was around, he asked curiously, "Dad, don't you always dislike me being so condescending to the servants? Why did you speak so arrogantly to the housekeeper just now? It was so cold!"

Zhang Pingan laughed after hearing this. This child is indeed very smart and has strong observation skills.

He patiently explained to his son, "Xunzi said that there are different levels of superiors and subordinates, and different distinctions between the noble and the humble. I was cold to him just now mainly because I wanted to highlight the boundaries between master and servant, to prevent them from overstepping their bounds. After all, after we leave here, our control over them will be less. It's not uncommon for slaves to bully their masters. To some extent, coldness is more intimidating than kindness.

As for why I don't let you bully others by taking advantage of your superior status, it's because you don't have enough sense to grasp the situation. When you go to the capital, there will be many people who are more powerful than your father. What will you do then?

On the other hand, being a benevolent ruler is far better than being a bully. Before you have the ability to distinguish right from wrong, you naturally cannot be too ostentatious. Just look at Shi Chong of the Western Jin Dynasty and you will know!"

"Who is Shi Chong?" Xiao Yuer asked again with his head tilted.

"Reading history makes people wise. I will tell you slowly when we get home!" Zhang Pingan said with a smile.

The father and son walked slowly on the path along the riverbank, asking and answering each other, and the sun cast long shadows on their bodies.