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

"Hey, this kid!" Zhang Laosan was a little confused.

Mrs. Xu saw this and said, "There's a widow living next door. It must be inconvenient for you to go there. She's also pitiful. She can only let such a young child come to fetch water."

After hearing this, Zhang Laosan realized that there were a lot of gossips around the widow, so it was indeed inconvenient for him to go there to deliver water.

After everything was packed up, Zhang Laoer took his family out to eat mutton hotpot. Firstly, Zhang Laosan had helped with the move, so he had to go out for a meal to express his gratitude. Secondly, it was also a way for the children at home to have a bite to eat.

The weather wasn't really suitable for a mutton hotpot; it was too hot. Luckily, the store had provided a lot of cold dishes, including mung bean soup chilled in the well, which was quite pleasant to eat. Zhang Laoer also ordered two taels of white wine. After finishing his meal, Zhang Laosan held his stomach and exclaimed, "This is truly a life like the gods!"

On the way home after dinner, Zhang Laosan was a little drunk and said with a big tongue, "We have such a good life now that I never thought possible before. You don't know, when your father and I went to work at the dock in Fucheng, we were really living in poverty. We couldn't eat or sleep well, and we had to work hard. Not to mention, we had to smile every day and flatter this and that. We had to give away 30% of the hard-earned money. To save money, we even picked up other people's leftover noodles. It was really not a life for human beings. Fortunately, you are all successful now, Ping'an, you must study hard in the future!"

Zhang Laosan patted Zhang Pingan on the shoulder as he spoke.

Zhang Ping'an supported his uncle, who was walking unsteadily, and said softly, "I know, Third Uncle."

Zhang Laoer was a little embarrassed and said in a deep voice, "Your Third Uncle is just a jerk. I don't know what he's talking about all day long."

Xu felt a little distressed after hearing this. She knew that working outside would be very hard. However, since her children were all there, she didn't say anything and pretended not to hear it all the way home.

There was no extra bed at home, so Zhang Laosan and Zhang Pingan had to sleep together. Fortunately, Zhang Laosan was a good drinker and fell asleep soon after lying on the bed without getting drunk.

While washing up, Zhang Pingan remembered that his parents didn't know about Jinbao's situation yet, so he said, "Dad, you may not know yet, but Jinbao is also going to study at Qingsong Academy. We can go to school together again in the future. His aunt seems to be doing well. This matter was arranged by someone asked by his aunt. Do you know her? I have been in the village for so many years and I have never seen his aunt come back!"

Zhang Lao Er and Xu were both surprised when they heard this. They asked, "What? Didn't Jin Bao fail the exam? He's going to Qingsong Academy too?"

"Well, he came home this morning and told me. His father also told him about this this morning. He hasn't had time to tell you yet."

Zhang Laoer recalled for a moment before wondering, "Jinbao's family doesn't have many connections in the county. Qingsong Academy is considered a good academy. As for his aunt, she reportedly married a traveling merchant from out of town. There was no wedding banquet in the village at the time; she simply left with a bag. This isn't uncommon in the village. I didn't expect someone like her to be that capable."

Xu was also puzzled. When she married in, Jinbao's sister was still married, and women always gossiped more than men. She said, "Jinbao's sister was the most beautiful girl in our area back then. She was so pretty. It's strange that she ended up marrying off with nothing. I guess she's marrying into a special family. The claim of being a foreign merchant is just an excuse. Maybe she's been married off as a mistress."

After hearing this, Zhang Laoer frowned and scolded: "Don't talk nonsense. Several villages nearby are rich. Even the poorest families don't let their daughters be the mistress. If this gets out, how can our two families still get along?"

Xu didn't dare to say anything more, and whispered: "It's just a conversation among our family members. I'm just guessing, I have to say it!"

A few days later, Jinbao also moved to the county town. The house was not far from the house rented by the Zhang family, but it was more comfortable and new. The floor was paved with bluestone slabs. There was also a sweet-scented osmanthus tree and a well in the yard. It was more than enough for Jinbao, his grandfather and his grandson to live in.

It happened that Xu fried a plate of cured fish that day, so she gave half of it to her son to send to Jinbao's house. Ever since Erya married into the Liu family, the family had never lacked fish to eat.

Grandpa Jinbao was still as amiable as ever, but Grandma Jinbao could tell that he was not in a very good mood.

Jinbao was still packing when he saw his good brother Ping'an coming to bring him food. He came out of the house and said excitedly, "Ping'an, I was just about to finish packing and go look for you. We haven't seen each other for several days. I miss you so much!"

After saying that, he picked up a piece of fish from the plate and ate it, "Well, I'm hungry."

"Are you dirty? Wash your hands," Zhang Pingan slapped the chubby hand away without mercy.

Jinbao touched his hands and said aggrievedly: "My grandma said that I won't get sick if I eat dirty food, so my hands are not dirty." Having said that, he finally went to wash his hands.

Grandpa Jinbao couldn't bear to see this, so he went to the kitchen and got out a pair of chopsticks, letting his grandson use them to eat. Jinbao ate while talking: "Well, Ping An, when we go to the academy, I want to be in the same class with you. It would be best if we could sit at the same table or at the tables in front and behind each other."

Seeing Jinbao eating so deliciously, Zhang Pingan supported his chin with both hands and watched, feeling a little greedy. No wonder modern people like to watch eating broadcasts: "Well, it depends on how the academy arranges it at that time. I hope so. And Liu Shengyuan, I don't know if he lives in the academy or rents a house. It's best if we don't separate."

"Hiss, did you put too much peppercorns in this dish, it's so spicy," Jinbao poured himself a glass of water while eating. "By the way, I met Liu Shengyuan on my way here today. His father and grandfather sent him here. It seems he is going to live in the academy. I made an appointment with him to go to the bookstore together when we have a day off."

"Maybe his family can't spare anyone to come and accompany him to study, but I have a feeling he won't stay for too long. His father values ​​his studies so much, he must not be comfortable with letting him live in the academy alone for a long time," Zhang Pingan thought for a while and said.

Four or five days passed in a flash, and it was the day for enrollment in Qingsong Academy. Xu got up early to prepare breakfast, and Zhang Laoer also changed into new clothes. After breakfast, they prepared to send their son to the academy. Normally, no one needed to send him to the academy since it was so close, but Zhang Laoer was worried on the first day and insisted on sending him to the academy. In order to reassure his father, Zhang Pingan had no choice but to let him go.

On the way to the academy, I passed by Jinbao's house. Jinbao always got up early and was already waiting. He was wearing a new set of clothes today, which was sent to him by his grandfather.

Along the way were students on their first day of school, most of them around ten years old. Grandpa Jinbao smiled and said, "Of all the children, I think ours are the prettiest. They look smart, just like newly grown bamboo shoots. Ping'an's clothes are nice too. I'll make two for my Jinbao later."

Zhang Laoer also agreed, "Yes, I fell in love with this color at first sight"!

When they arrived at the gate of the academy, the parents did not let them in. Zhang Pingan and Jinbao, carrying their school bags, said hello to their families and went in.