Ugly girl only wants to farm

Li San Niang didn't have much to say. Her son was very sensible and obedient, and with her mother-in-law crying and sniffling, she felt a little disgusted that she, as the mother, hadn't said anything yet.

Xu Chaoyan then heard Grandmother Meng say, "Grandson, you must strive to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible. Grandmother still wants to enjoy your wealth and honor while she is still alive. Look at Grandmother, she's almost halfway to the ground. I wonder when I will be able to become the grandmother of a top scholar?"

Xu Chaoyan thought to herself that her grandmother had practically laid everything bare: she wanted to go to the capital, to live a life of wealth and luxury, and really didn't want to live this impoverished life anymore. She felt even more contempt for her grandmother.

Li San Niang pulled her daughter-in-law aside and pushed her mother-in-law aside, saying, "Jiuhe wants to say a few words to your wife. You won't be back for quite a while after you leave."

Meng Jiuhe, facing her ever-changing expression, remained as cold as ice. Seeing Xu Chaoyan's timid and hesitant demeanor, he truly didn't know what to say to her.

Finally, he said dryly, "Take good care of your mother and grandmother at home, and don't act like a spoiled princess."

Xu Chaoyan complained in her heart, "So I'm just a tool. What can I do with my delicate hands that never lift a finger, like a free nanny?"

Meng Jiuhe gave his sister a few more instructions before leaving in the oxcart. Only after everyone waved and watched him walk away did they return to the courtyard.

Meng Jiu and the uncle driving the oxcart chatted idly with him: "Jiu, you're newlyweds and you're already in a hurry to go to school. Don't you know you should stay a little longer and not neglect your wife?"

Meng Jiuhe didn't respond to these words. He wished he could stay in the school every day and never come back. In the past, when he had ten days off every day, he looked forward to going home.

Right now, he doesn't even have the desire to go home. Last time, he dawdled and didn't come back until the very last minute. The uncle said with envy, "Jiuhe, you are so lucky to have married the Xu family girl. Her dowry is so generous. Your family will definitely not have to worry about food and clothing for the next few years."

Meng Jiuhe was forced to marry Xu Chaoyan. He did not agree with his uncle's words, but he did agree to them, which made him very conflicted.

He simply murmured, "Mmm."

Not wanting to say anything more, the uncle also stopped talking and drove the oxcart, which swayed and bumped along the way, toward the town. When they reached the east end of the town, the oxcart suddenly slowed down, and the uncle driving the cart said apologetically, "Jiuhe, are you in a hurry? There are quite a lot of students rushing to school right now."

Meng Jiuhe nodded: "There's no rush, take your time. Safety is the most important thing. It just so happens to be market day today, so there are definitely more people on the street."

Just then, a sour voice came over: "Oh, isn't this Scholar Meng? What are you doing rushing to the school so hurriedly after your honeymoon? Why aren't you at home with your beautiful wife? What are you doing here studying? There are no beauties in books."

The people around him chimed in, "It's not that Scholar Meng is reluctant to part with his beloved wife; his studies are more important, don't you think? After all, he can have a wife anytime he wants once he's successful, hahaha."

The person who had just been teasing him spoke up again in a sarcastic tone: "You guys didn't see that Scholar Meng's beautiful wife come to the school last time. Her beauty is something we all envy. Moreover, she comes from a wealthy family in our town. Scholar Meng has really risen to the top in one step. From now on, he will never compete with you for the quota of copying books again."

The oxcart moved slowly along. Meng Jiuhe didn't say anything after hearing what they said. These people studied in the same school as him, and they always bullied poor students like him because their families were rich.

Because of his outstanding academic performance, Meng Jiuhe was favored by the first to speak. These people regarded him as a thorn in their side, especially the leader, who, relying on his family's restaurant in town, acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the school all day long. Meng Jiuhe was not afraid of him, but he still kept his distance from him on weekdays.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Qi Tianci continued to add fuel to the fire: "What, Meng Jiu and you think you're so great just because you're a scholar? I'm talking to you, and you're ignoring me. Don't look down on people like us just because you have the title of a scholar. Isn't that right, Brother Zhang?"

After Qi Tianci finished speaking, he patted Zhang's shoulder hard. Zhang's name was Zhang Xuyang. His academic performance was similar to Meng Jiuhe's, but he always lagged behind Meng Jiuhe in every assessment. He was called the eternal runner-up by the people in the school.

His family wasn't very wealthy; his parents made a living by grinding tofu. His lifelong wish was to pass the imperial examinations and achieve official rank. However, he was always outdone by Meng Jiuhe. It would be a lie to say he was unconvinced. Seeing these people stirring things up again, he clenched his fist tightly, then relaxed it, suppressing the anger in his heart.

He knew these people were trying to sow discord between him and Meng Jiuhe, but he was genuinely resentful, saying that he had worked harder than anyone else.

Meng Jiuping also had to copy books on weekdays to earn that meager income. He had always been on good terms with Meng Jiuhe, and it was Meng Jiuhe who introduced him to the book copying job.

He knew that Meng Jiuhe's family was struggling financially, and sometimes he would lend him his own books. However, the master's favoritism always fell on Meng Jiuhe, and over time, he began to feel somewhat resentful.

Zhang Xuyang smiled slightly and said calmly, "Qi Tianci, what nonsense are you talking about? Meng Jiuhe is the teacher's most favored student. How could he waste his time on such romantic entanglements? Unlike you, look at the dark circles under your eyes, they look like chicken eyes. You didn't sneak off to a brothel again during this ten-day break, are you? Aren't you afraid your father will break your legs?"

Qi Tianci snorted a few times, touched his nose, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Zhang Xuyang, don't take advantage of the fact that we've known each other since childhood to start lecturing. If you keep nagging like this, I'll tell my dad to stop doing business with your family, and I'll make sure your tofu can't be sold, so you'll have to eat tofu every day."

Zhang Xuyang flicked his sleeves and prepared to leave: "Hmph, I'm too lazy to lecture you. I'm just kindly reminding you to complete the assignments the teacher gave you this time. If the teacher checks and you can't recite them later, don't come looking for me. Also, did you write the article I asked you to write before? Don't try to cram at the last minute and blame it on me. I'm not some clay figure that you can mold at will."

Qi Tiancici, who had just been grinning, immediately changed her expression and pointed at him: "Zhang Xuyang, you poor scholar, don't be so smug. You were the one who begged me to recommend your family's tofu. Now you want to turn your back on me? If I'm not having a good time, neither are you."