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

Zhang Pingan could understand the child's thoughts at a glance, and felt sad when he heard it.

But a trip to the Northwest is no joke, and it is even more impossible to fool around with children.

No matter how many heads you have, they are not enough to chop off.

"Wait until dad comes back, I'll take you out to play, okay? Now dad is away on business and can't take you with him. You just had your birthday and you're one year older. You can understand what dad means, right?" Zhang Ping'an squatted down, held his son's shoulders and said slowly.

After hearing this, Xiao Yuer didn't throw a tantrum this time. He cried all night last night and he really didn't have the energy to make a fuss. His eyes were still swollen like walnuts.

The reason why he made such a fuss was that he hoped to keep the person by relying on his father's love.

But Zhang Ping'an's serious tone just now made him understand that no matter how much he made a fuss, it would be useless.

When Zhang Ping'an raised his hand to help wipe his tears, Xiao Yuer realized that he had cried again without realizing it. He clearly didn't want to cry. He hated himself for being like this and couldn't do anything.

He didn't need Zhang Ping'an's help at the moment. He sniffed his nose and raised his hand to wipe away his tears and snot.

With a thick nasal voice, he asked, "Why does Dad have to go out on errands? Why do we always have to listen to others? Can't we just live our own lives freely? I hate this feeling!"

Xiao Yuer is still young and hasn't read enough books, so he doesn't know what this feeling of helplessness is.

But he has become increasingly aware of the importance of power. The greater the power, the freer one can live.

"Compared to many people, our family lives a very good life. There is always a price to pay for everything. It is impossible to get something for nothing. You will understand when you grow up," Zhang Pingan touched his son's head.

Then he ordered the maid to bring his son in to wash his face and change his clothes.

When Xiaoyuer came out after cleaning up, Zhang Ping'an had already prepared breakfast.

"Come here quickly, I brought you your favorite tofu pudding and mutton pot stickers. I put sugar in the tofu pudding, and it tastes very good."

"Thank you, Dad!" Xiao Yuer sat down on the stool unhappily.

Then he silently picked up the spoon and drank the tofu pudding. Although he stopped crying, he looked a little listless and pitiful.

This was the scene Zhang Laoer and Xu saw when they came over from the small garden after tidying up the vegetable patch.

Xu's heart ached and tears immediately flowed out. In order to prevent her son from feeling sad, she turned around and wiped her tears with her sleeve, motioning Zhang Laoer to go in first.

"I'm going to wash my hands!"

The two of them were old and had no worries about food and clothing, so they had nothing to do. It became even more boring after Xiaoyuer went to school.

Therefore, I opened a few vegetable plots in the small garden and planted some seasonal vegetables to pass the time.

Zhang Pingan was also very supportive and would often bring Xiaoyuer to help during his days off.

In fact, it was not that the families of other colleagues had sent invitations to Xu to enjoy flowers, drink tea, or play cards together.

At first, Xu went there twice with great enthusiasm, but later she realized that she was not the same kind of person as them. In addition, she had to bring a lot of expensive gifts every time she went, and she didn't have fun, so she gradually lost interest in going. It would be better for her to stay at home in peace and quiet, or go to the market for a leisurely stroll.

Zhang Laoer is a man, so he has many more ways to entertain himself. He usually goes out to play chess, go fishing, listen to stories in teahouses, etc., and a day passes in a flash.

But if Xu asked him to stay at home to help when there was something going on in the vegetable garden, he never refused.

Young couples grow old together. As they grow older, he treats Xu better and better. They no longer remember the days when they ignored each other.

It was then that Zhang Pingan saw the two of them standing in the yard. He looked up and asked with a smile, "Dad, Mom, have you had dinner yet? I bought some extra pot stickers and tofu pudding. Would you like to try some?"

Zhang Laoer walked in with a kind smile, took a look, and took the tofu pudding and started eating. "Pot stickers are too greasy. I'm too old to eat them. Let's have some soft tofu pudding. I had porridge this morning and I'm not too hungry now. Let's see if your mother wants to eat it."

"It's Lao Bai's mutton pot stickers, right? I love it, don't waste it," Xu said as she walked in, having calmed down.

Seeing that everyone was present, Zhang Ping'an told them his plan and said with a smile, "Dad, Mom, if you have nothing to do today, I'll have an artist come to your house and paint a picture of our family enjoying themselves. Even if we paint all four of us, it'll be a souvenir that we can take out and look at it anytime. From now on, as long as I'm in Beijing, I'll paint one every year. Let's choose Xiaoyu'er's birthday!"

"Oh, I know about the "Carousing Picture". After hiring an artist to paint it, it needs to be colored and framed, which is quite expensive," Xu had heard of this.

Many large families would hire painters to draw pictures of their leisure time. Family members would stand or sit according to their seniority, and the painter would then draw the people according to their appearance, and then color and frame the pictures.

It is the same as the current family portrait, but the form is more solemn and not something that ordinary families can afford.

At that time, good pigments were very expensive, as they were all made from rare minerals. Good drawing paper was even more expensive, and skilled painters were not cheap either.

After one trip, you will have to pay at least thirty or forty taels of silver.

Therefore, Xu never considered hiring a painter and had no idea about it at all.

My first reaction after hearing this was to refuse, but then I thought about how my son would be traveling thousands of miles away from home, and wouldn't be able to see anyone, so it would be nice for him to just look at the paintings.

After thinking for a moment, he patted Xiao Yu'er's head and replied, "Okay, our family has never painted a carnival picture. Let's hire a better painter. I heard that some painters' skills are not good and the pigments they use are not good and fade easily. That won't do. Since we are hiring someone, let's hire a good one."

"I know about this, mother. Don't worry. It was recommended by the subordinates of the Privy Council, so I believe they would not dare to be careless," Zhang Pingan said with a smile, his face relaxed a little.

Xiao Yuer listened quietly until the end before interrupting, "And Mom, my mom also wants to be in the painting. No one can be missing from the family!"

"Silly child, your mother is gone, how can the painter paint?" Xu said lovingly.

"I don't care, mother must be there!" Xiao Yuer pursed his lips and looked stubborn.

"Of course your mother cannot be missing, but the painter doesn't recognize your mother. I'll make up for it after I finish the painting. I'm a pretty good painter, so don't be angry!"

Xiao Yuer was happy only after Zhang Ping'an promised that he would complete the group.

The people had already greeted each other long ago. Zhang Ping'an asked Xiaohu to run over and said something, and the painter soon followed.

He brought a lot of pen stands, ink, paper and inkstone. There were more than a dozen pens of varying thicknesses, and several types of ink.

Xiao Yu'er tilted his head to look at it curiously, while Zhang Laoer and Xu sat upright, afraid that the painting would be ugly.

The painter was a young man in his twenties, who looked very gentle and didn't talk much.

After greeting everyone in the Zhang family, he instructed them to sit down, adjust their sitting posture, make sure everything was ok, and then began to paint.

It wasn't until noon that I started writing.

"Alright!" The painter smiled gently, gently shook his sore wrist, and turned the drawing paper to show everyone.

Because Zhang Ping'an had said in advance that he wanted to add someone next to him, there was a blank space next to Zhang Ping'an, which seemed a bit abrupt.

In addition, this picture of pleasure is considered to be very well painted, with both form and spirit captured. Even Xiaoyuer's double eyelids are drawn in great detail.

All that’s left is to wait for the painting to dry before coloring it. If you expedite it, you can get it later the next day.

Just in time to see it before departure.

"Dad, you said you wanted to make up for Mom's mistake," Xiao Yuer asked, fearing that his father had forgotten.

Zhang Pingan nodded, picked up the brush, and said helplessly: "I know, you should go have dinner with grandpa and grandma. Dad will come over when he finishes the painting. The painter is still waiting to color it!"

"No, then I'll eat later. I want to accompany my father!" After Xiao Yuer said this, he ordered the servants to bring a chair over, and sat beside him with his face supported, watching.

"Forget it, just let him wait here"!

Without waiting for Zhang Ping'an to refuse, Zhang Laoer helped to persuade him. He really felt sorry for his grandson. The child was so pitiful.

About half an hour later, the blank part next to it was filled in, and it was exactly the same as the person in his memory.

At this time, the painter came out after lunch and couldn't help but praise him after seeing it. "Master Zhang's skills are superb. I am ashamed to be inferior to him!"

Zhang Pingan just listened to this and thanked him politely: "Don't be modest, your painting is very good. After the painting is dry, you can take it back and paint it. Send it back as soon as possible."