The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

As soon as Zhuge Yunshu arrived home, she saw her father, Zhuge Laifu, giving instructions to Aunt Wu's family.

Because the second grandfather from the capital brought his whole family back to the village to worship their ancestors, it was an even more important event than the Lunar New Year, so the clan chief and village head of Zhuge Village attached great importance to it.

Along with them, the younger generation also returned to the village to help at the request of their parents.

However, with the end of the year approaching, it is the busiest time for their matchmaking business, which spans thousands of miles.

The brothers and sisters who are usually busy with their studies take advantage of the annual holiday when the school is closed, and their elders seize the opportunity to let them meet and see each other.

With no other option, Zhuge Yunshu's parents had to entrust the town's shop business to Aunt Wu's family for the time being.

At this moment, Lin Si Niang was talking to Wu Da and Wu Er's wife when she turned her head and saw Zhuge Yunshu.

"You silly child, didn't we all say that once the teacher allows us to ask for leave, he'll send someone to let us know so we can go to the town school to help with our luggage? Look at you, carrying so much stuff, aren't you afraid of being crushed and not growing tall?"

While scolding him, Lin Si Niang, together with Wu Da and Wu Er's wives, finally managed to remove the huge bundle and book box from Zhuge Yunshu's body.

Zhuge Yunshu touched her nose, feeling embarrassed, and said, "I just knew that you two were busy lately, so I didn't want to trouble you."

She wasn't a real eight-year-old child from ancient times; she was still not used to bothering her parents with things she could do herself.

Hearing the sound, Zhuge Laifu quickly came over and asked with concern, "Dahua, how many days off did the teacher grant you?"

You see, since coming to town and seeing the world, he knows that it's very difficult for students to ask for leave.

After all, the customers who come to their shop are usually those who have been urged by their younger family members many times before the teacher allows them to go home to arrange marriages.

"The Master said that there is no need to go to the town school before the end of the year," Zhuge Yunshu replied truthfully.

"Dahua, won't this interfere with your studies?" Zhuge Laifu said with some disapproval.

"Father, don't worry, I've already learned everything I needed to. Before the preliminary examination, I'll still need to figure things out on my own... If there's anything I don't understand, I can come to the town school to ask the teacher..."

Lin Si Niang came over and pulled Zhuge Yunshu aside, not forgetting to glare at Zhuge Laifu, "You're so meddlesome. Da Hua is so smart, surely she knows all this?"

"The child just got home, and instead of asking her if she's hungry or thirsty, you keep talking about random things..."

Lin Si Niang grumbled on and on, clearly dissatisfied.

Zhuge Laifu and Zhuge Yunshu exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Helpless, Zhuge Yunshu could only devour all the food her mother had prepared, thus putting her mother's mind at ease.

However, it must be said that Aunt Wu's cooking skills are as good as ever.

Zhuge Yunshu really wanted to bring Aunt Wu with him when he went back to the village this time.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Laifu immediately shook his head. "No, although I am also reluctant to part with Aunt Wu's skills, the town's business cannot do without her."

Although everyone in Aunt Wu's family has their own skills, Aunt Wu is truly the only one who can manage things.

Zhuge Yunshu nodded indifferently; she was just saying it because she was craving something.

After she finished eating, her mother, Lin, took her to the street to buy things.

The most important thing was to buy new clothes for the whole family. After all, his second grandfather in the capital was a high-ranking official of the fourth rank, and his family couldn't afford to dress too poorly.

After purchasing everything, Zhuge Yunshu and his family of three boarded a carriage and headed towards Zhuge Village.

Oh no, that's not right either. Including Aunt Wu's grandson and granddaughter, there are five people in total.

Zhuge Laifu decided to bring the two of them along later. Based on the principle of not wasting anything, he planned to have Xuan Ge'er and Yun Jie'er teach his nephews and nieces to continue reading and learning to read.

Although the four nieces spent some time learning from them in town during the spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons, their foundation was weak, so they could only focus on recognizing characters.

According to his previous thinking, it would be good enough if farm children could even read.

But after staying in the town for a while, I realized the importance of studying. Even if I didn't take the imperial examinations, I still needed to be able to understand what the scholars were saying.

It's not enough to just understand what Zhihu is saying; it's best to be able to respond as well.

This is how you can make your matchmaking shop stand out from the crowd.

He now has a wish: that all members of the Zhuge family can be freed from illiteracy, and that even his own parents cannot be spared.

Of course, Zhuge Laifu also had a selfish motive.

In his view, Da Hua will be taking an exam next year, and he can't let her study time be delayed because of teaching her family to read.

Moreover, isn't this a waste of talent?

Judging from their family's level of education, Yun Jie is more than capable of teaching them.

The reason I brought Xuan-ge along is because I was afraid that Yun-jie would get exhausted by herself!

After hearing her father's explanation, Zhuge Yunshu said admiringly, "Father, you are very thoughtful. With Xuan-ge'er and Yun-jie'er's abilities, it is a waste of their talents to work as errands in the shop with Aunt Wu and the others."

She genuinely believed this. Although she hadn't spent much time with the two of them, within that limited time, Zhuge Yunshu discovered that Yun Jie'er and Xuan Ge'er were quite talented in their studies.

During the days she was at home, she often saw the two of them secretly hiding away to read in their spare time at night after finishing their work during the day.

How can anyone not want to lend a helping hand to someone as talented and hardworking as this?

Actually, she had another plan in mind, but it wasn't the right time to say it.

Hearing his daughter praise him like that, Zhuge Laifu proudly raised his head: "I always said your intelligence comes from me, but your mother and grandparents disagreed, insisting it's from them..."

As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow at Lin Si Niang, as if to say, "Look, even my daughter praised me, so don't be unconvinced."

Lin Si Niang slapped her smug husband and gave him a sidelong glance.

Zhuge Yunshu: "..."

She felt like a giant third wheel, oblivious to her own mortality, sitting between her parents watching them flirt.

This is kind of awkward!

This awkward atmosphere lasted until the younger uncle and aunt got into their carriage.

"Oh my, it's been a while, and Da Hua has become even more beautiful." Aunt Liu Lan said to Zhuge Yunshu with some surprise.

You should know that her previous impression of Da Hua was still the day she got married to Lai Gui.

She had a very deep impression of Da Hua, who wore a ponytail and a festive red dress, but for some reason, she looked particularly dark-skinned and more like a mischievous boy.

Unexpectedly, after a period of time, she became fairer and her face gained a lot of weight.

It has to be said that she looks more and more like her beautiful third sister-in-law.

Upon hearing her sister-in-law's words, Lin Si Niang quickly cupped her daughter's face and examined her closely: "Hey, sister-in-law, you really have to admit, you've become much fairer and look more like a young lady than before."

"I was originally discussing with her father that Da Hua might have inherited her maternal grandfather's naturally dark complexion, and we were even thinking of finding her a fair-skinned scholar like her uncle to be her live-in son-in-law..."

Zhuge Yunshu: "..."

Zhuge Laigui: "..."

Her mother/his third sister-in-law remained as taciturn as ever.

Offending two people in a row like this, I guess no one else can compare!