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

After hearing the whole story, Xu was furious. She slammed the table and said angrily, "This useless thing is getting more and more stupid. She has no idea what she is doing! I just told her yesterday that women should be reserved, but she didn't listen at all!"

In fact, Xu had noticed some signs in the past two days and had just given some instructions privately, but Wu Ya ended up making such a fuss. She had really let everything go unnoticed!

"Mom, Fifth Sister is a girl after all, so you have to come forward and talk about this matter. There is no time to delay. Let's do it today. You should explain the whole situation to her clearly. Otherwise, I'm afraid that if something unexpected happens later, she will do something out of line, and it will be a bad ending!" Zhang Ping'an said in a deep voice, his face looking very unhappy.

This fifth sister is really a bit worrying!

After hearing this, Zhang Laoer's face became even gloomier.

She said, "Old woman, I think this Wu Ya has been used to enjoying a good life since she was a child, and she has never suffered any hardship. That's why she is becoming more and more tactless in her actions.

She didn't think about the fact that she had just divorced. Even if she wanted to find him, she couldn't be so anxious. Otherwise, how would it look if the news got out? A woman without any modesty, how would the Xiao family see our family and Ping An? You are her mother, there is nothing you can't say, just teach her a lesson!"

"Alas, there are always seven melons on a vine, and there are always some that are useless. I'm afraid that the fifth girl will follow the old path of the third girl. Her parents, the first wife, and the third wife are all here on the same boat. Who knows, someone might see everything and laugh at her in secret!" As Xu spoke, she became angry at her daughter's lack of fighting spirit. She pounded her chest a few times and sighed.

After thinking for a moment, he continued, "Well, Ping'an, you call your eldest sister over. She's a tight-lipped person and has rules for doing things. Your eldest sister and I will first ask Wu Ya what she's planning. If she's really crazy and wants to do something shameful, it would be better to send her to a nunnery to be a nun. There'll be some peace and quiet there, and she won't have to go to the capital!"

"Okay!" Zhang Ping'an nodded, and at the same time stated his position: "We are all family after all. My sisters and I share the same mother and grew up together. If they have any difficulties, I will definitely help them if I can. It is also my duty to support them in their in-laws' families. But if they keep being so confused and expect me to always help them out, that's impossible! Too much kindness breeds resentment, and too much love breeds hatred. Mother, you must explain the interests involved clearly to Fifth Sister!"

"Don't worry about what mother is doing, I understand," Xu's face was solemn, with a hint of determination. People's patience is always limited, not to mention that it was a critical period when her son went to Beijing to take up his post.

I just hope these five girls can wake up a little!

--

When Wu Ya was called in, she didn't take it seriously at first. She just thought that Xu was discussing with her what to do after returning home.

But seeing that my eldest sister was there too, both my mother and my eldest sister had solemn and disappointed expressions on their faces.

Then I knew the situation was not what I thought.

"Mom, sister, what's wrong? Why do you both have such stern faces? It's scary!" Wu Ya sat over and said coquettishly with a nervous smile.

Then he leisurely picked up a candied fruit from the plate and put it into his mouth.

"You still have the nerve to eat?" Xu asked in an unhappy tone.

"What's wrong with me? I'm being criticized for eating candied fruit?" Wu Ya was a little confused and a little aggrieved. "Why, mother, are you guys dissatisfied with me because I'm divorced and living off my parents? I have money on hand, at worst I can pay for my food later!"

"Humph, you idiot, stop blaming me here. When did I ever argue with you about food expenses? Don't you think you get enough to eat at home?

"I and your brother have been very kind to you. Just check your chest and ask yourself: which of your relatives or friends' daughters are living better than you sisters? Look at what you have done now. The people on the boat are not blind!" Xu scolded rudely, pointing her finger.

When cursing, he didn't dare to speak loudly, for fear that people from the other two families and Jinbao's family would hear him and laugh at him.

Don’t even mention how angry and frustrated I felt!

Daya has always been fair in her words and deeds, so even if she wanted to help Wuya now, she couldn't find a reason.

But seeing that my mother, Mrs. Xu, was already very excited, she calmed herself down and asked softly, "Wu Ya, what's going on between you and that Xiao family's eldest son? Your eldest brother-in-law and my younger brother saw you two being a little ambiguous at the stern."

"Oh, we're fine," Wu Ya twisted her body, unwilling to say more, trying to get by.

But Daya wouldn't let her get away with it. Her tone immediately turned cold, and she looked Wuya in the eye with sharp eyes and said, "Wuya, don't try to evade us with your words. Since we're asking you, you must have evidence. If you're not one of us, who would bother to bother with you? Don't you know that you're a divorced woman? If you're not reserved and meet a man from another family alone at the stern, how bad it would be if it got out? You'd bring shame to the whole family!"

"We didn't have an appointment, we just happened to meet," Wu Ya grunted and reluctantly uttered two words.

Seeing Wu Ya's clueless look, Xu was furious and slapped her in the face.

"Pa!" With a loud sound, Wu Ya was stunned.

After a while, Wu Ya finally responded, covering her face and crying loudly, "Mom, why did you hit me?!"

"Daya, go and shut her mouth for me. This troublesome person is afraid that others won't know!" Xu was so angry that her fingers were shaking as she ordered, stroking her chest and gasping for breath.

Daya didn't shut up, but just pulled Wuya's shoulders and said seriously: "If you want all the relatives on the ship to laugh at you, then just cry! You are an adult, you have to have a sense of priority in your mind!"

Wu Ya covered her face with her hands, then took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth, sobbing softly, "What did I do to deserve being beaten like this by my mother? I'm not married yet, and we're both free. How can I not let anyone say a word?"

"What do you mean? Do you really want to marry into the Xiao family?" Xu asked.

Wu Ya actually hadn't thought it through completely. She just felt that the eldest brother of the Xiao family looked elegant and a nice person. The two of them were not much different in age and were from the same place. She would feel at ease with someone like him, so she came up with this idea.

But seeing the expressions of her mother and elder sister, she dared not say anything and could only lower her head and wipe away her tears.

Daya understood as soon as she saw Wuya's expression. She sighed and explained in a serious tone, "No one is stopping you from remarrying, but aren't you a little impatient now? There are all kinds of families in the capital. You're being so clingy now. Do you still want to keep your reputation? Besides, I don't think the Xiao family has such intentions. Otherwise, the eldest brother of the Xiao family wouldn't have had that attitude and behavior in the past two days. The flower may have intentions, but the water is ruthless. It's not a good deal to pursue it!"

Moreover, because you've been divorced before, you should be even more cautious about remarrying. If it happens once or twice, people might believe it's the man's fault. But if it happens three or four times, people will only think it's the woman's fault!

Wu Ya didn't know if she had heard it or not, she cried bitterly, "Why am I the only one who has such a bumpy marriage? The first one was a widow, the second one was divorced, and we don't even have a child. Now I don't even have the qualifications to marry again?"

"What did you promise to your younger brother when you divorced him? You agreed to it so clearly, but now you've forgotten it, right? I think you've forgotten the pain even though the wound has healed!" Xu said coldly.

Looking at Wu Ya's performance, she felt a little disappointed and realized that it was useless to continue talking.

In an instant, I made a decision in my heart.

It seems that if this daughter doesn't suffer a little, she won't know her own worth.

She doesn't want to see another Sanya in the family!

So, in the two days before arriving at the Fucheng Pier, Xu asked Daya to accompany Wuya, and only told others that Wuya was a little seasick and had a fever.

It also happens to cover up the slap marks on the face to avoid embarrassment when people ask about it.

Later, Xu told Zhang Laoer, Daya, and Zhang Pingan about her decision.

No one objected, and Daya could only sigh helplessly, "It's good to suffer a little. Nothing can be smooth sailing forever. If you don't learn your lesson, you'll get into trouble in the future!"

"It's not that hard. Compared to your childhood, it's much more leisurely," said Mrs. Xu, waving her hand.

"Okay, that's settled then!" Zhang Ping'an finally said in a deep voice.

Everyone arrived at Ezhou Prefecture Wharf on the morning of the third day.