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

"What are you doing? Let her go!" Suddenly, a loud shout came from the side, attracting everyone's attention.

Zhang Ping'an was just trying to figure out how to help this poor fisherman's daughter while also protecting himself when he saw his academy classmate Xiao Yifei stepping out to save the girl. He was accompanied by four or five other people. One of them was a middle-aged man with a beard and an air of authority. He might be his father. Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. After all, the county lieutenant was a well-regarded figure in the county, someone the local tyrants wouldn't dare mess with.

Sure enough, when these two or three gangsters first saw Xiao Yifei, they were full of disdain. But when they turned around and saw Xiao's father next to them, they looked at each other and prepared to slip away.

Father Xiao also frowned and looked at the few people, but did not step forward. Xiao Yifei walked over to help pick up the basket and things that fell on the ground, then strode forward and grabbed the collars of the gangsters to prevent them from leaving: "You want to leave after you broke and dirty other people's things? Pay me!"

"What are you doing? We are collecting stall fees legitimately," several thugs argued.

"Who is in charge of you? This is not the way to collect stall fees. Besides, others are standing on the bridge selling things without setting up stalls. I tell you, don't even think about leaving without paying compensation!" Xiao Yifei said angrily.

Zhang Pingan had noticed Xiao Yifei's righteousness when he was at the academy. Although he looked simple-minded, he was actually a very principled person. However, sometimes being too righteous wasn't a good thing. Xiao's father's expression was obviously even uglier than before.

"Yifei!" Father Xiao shouted in a deep voice.

"Dad, wait a minute, I'll let these thugs pay the money first. Ordinary people's lives are hard enough, and they still extort other people's hard-earned money like this"!

"Whoever extorted us, whoever extorted us, don't talk nonsense, young master, we are here to collect the stall fee with a legitimate reason." Seeing that more and more people were gathering around them, several hooligans couldn't help but shout loudly, trying to break free and leave.

"Xiao Yifei, are you out here releasing river lanterns too?" Zhang Pingan said, smiling as he stepped forward to greet him.

"Zhang Ping'an, Zhang Jinbao, what a coincidence, you are here too." Xiao Yifei was a little surprised for a moment when he saw the people coming forward to greet him, and then said happily: "Wait a moment, I will let these thugs pay the money, let's go release river lanterns together"!

Zhang Ping'an nodded. "Okay, we can go together later. But I think the matter of compensation should be left to the Street Office. Each business has its own rules. I believe the Street Office will handle it impartially. We are all students at the academy. There is no reason to ask others to pay for it. It is neither right nor just."

Seeing Xiao Yifei's hesitant expression, Zhang Pingan continued, "Why not have your servant run an errand and inform them now? There will definitely be someone on duty at the Subdistrict Office during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

"Okay, then let the Street Division handle it," Xiao Yifei nodded, and then called out, "Jixiang, go to the Street Division, and come back quickly!"

Upon hearing this, the servant named Jixiang ran away quickly.

Zhang Ping'an then asked, "Excuse me, is this your father?"

Xiao Yifei scratched his head, then returned to his innocent look. He nodded and replied, "Look at me, I forgot to introduce them to you. This is my father, the one next to him is my brother, and the remaining two are servants."

Zhang Pingan stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Hello, Uncle Xiao, hello, Brother Xiao."

The Xiao family father and son nodded as a return gesture.

Zhang Ping'an didn't mind and introduced his family members to Xiao Yifei again. Xiao Yifei greeted them one by one and was obviously much more humble and polite than his father and brother.

Xiao Yifei was dressed very formally for the festival today, wearing a silk dress and with his hair tied up with a jade crown. It was obvious that he was not from the same social class as the Zhang family. Zhang Laoer and his friends were dealing with this official's son for the first time, so they seemed a little reserved. However, Xiao Yifei was open-minded and didn't mind.

After a while, Jixiang came with people from the Street Office. The people from the Street Office obviously recognized Xiao's father and took the thugs away without saying a word. The fisherman's daughter then sobbed and stepped forward to thank him.

Xiao Yifei waved his hand and came over to talk to Zhang Pingan after seeing that the matter was settled: "It's settled now, let's go release the river lanterns together!"

Zhang Ping'an had just come forward to talk to Xiao Yifei just to help him out. Now Xiao's father obviously didn't welcome them too much, let alone join in the fun, so he replied, "Xiao Yifei, I'm sorry, I was inconsiderate just now. I have three older sisters at home, all in their teens, so it's not convenient for me to go with you. We can make an appointment to go outing together another day when we have a day off."

Xiao Yifei was a little disappointed when he heard this. He had a good impression of Zhang Pingan and was willing to have more contact with him, but since it involved the strict rules between men and women, he couldn't force it. "Oh, is that so? Then we can make an appointment after we have a day off!"

"It's a deal!" Zhang Ping'an nodded and replied, still a little worried about Xiao Yifei. From what happened just now, it seemed that Xiao's father was not a person who liked to meddle in other people's affairs, and he did not quite approve of Xiao Yifei's act of bravery.

After the Xiao family father and son had gone far away, Zhang Pingan turned around and took his family to the Jiuqu River Ferry. There were three or four places along the Jiuqu River where river lanterns were released. The ferry was the farthest and also the place with the most people releasing river lanterns. The price was also the cheapest, only one cent per lantern. If you bought more, you could bargain with the vendors.

As they walked, Xu fantasized, "When my son Ping'an wears silk and satin, he will definitely be more handsome than that guy called Fei. Ping'an's classmate looks more like a warrior than a scholar."

Jin Bao's mother also smiled and replied: "That's right, clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. The children from our two families are handsome, and they will be even more amazing when they wear nice clothes. Your family will be safe and smart, and you can definitely look forward to this day!"

Jinbao's father rarely interrupted and seemed a little silent.

Zhang Laoer thought more carefully and interrupted them in a deep voice, "Don't talk about this on the street. If Ping An's classmates hear it, they will laugh at you. It's not too late to talk about it after you have achieved success."

Zhang Pingan and Jinbao followed behind and shook their heads helplessly. Mothers always think their sons are the best. Fortunately, their father has always been very clear-headed.

By the time we reached the Jiuqu River ferry, many river lanterns were already floating on the river, which looked very spectacular from afar.

There were still many people releasing river lanterns around, so naturally there were vendors setting up stalls to sell them. Zhang Ping'an paid for one lantern for each of the people. It was the first time for everyone to participate in such a ritualistic activity, and they seemed a little excited, a little nervous, and a little excited. Even Xu rarely complained about wasting money. After making a solemn wish, everyone put the river lanterns into the river and watched their small lanterns float away along the current.

For the first time, the four girls felt that they were no different from the girls in the city, and for the first time, they felt that they were precious.