When Cheng Zhaocai was three years old, he showed a strong talent for reading.
The old scholar in the village liked Cheng Zhao very much. Shu Xiu did not charge a penny and took Cheng Zhao with him every day to personally teach him how to read and write.
Later, after the ink teaching in the old scholar's stomach was finished, Cheng Zhao went to a small private school in Ping'an Town to study. After being admitted to Tongsheng, he naturally entered Nanfu Academy.
He is the youngest boy born in Shili and Baxiang. All the gentlemen and masters say that he will definitely become a scholar next year.
Mrs. Cheng's favorite is her eldest grandson. She would rather eat chaffy vegetables than support her eldest grandson's education.
"Zhao'er, why are you back?"
Cheng Zhao looked gloomy: "Grandma, where did you come back from?"
"I went to your second aunt's house. Oh, your second aunt is really nothing!" Old Mrs. Cheng couldn't help but cursed loudly, "She said she would support your education, but she was reluctant to give it up after only two taels of silver. She even found someone to beat me up. Come out, I am her mother, she is being disrespectful to me! Zhao'er, after you are admitted as a scholar, no matter what your second aunt says, you don't want to talk to her. Who told her to treat you badly? Bah, shameless He’s a loser, don’t even think about taking advantage of our Cheng family..."
Sister-in-law Cheng walked out of the house: "Mom, I told you not to go to the second sister-in-law. She doesn't know whether her brain was caught in the door or kicked by a donkey, but she dared to go against the Cheng family. From now on, our Zhao'er If you are successful, you must go to the door of Zhao's house and don't give her a penny to see what she can do to us."
The two sang together and scolded Cheng Wanwan severely.
Hearing these words, Cheng Zhao felt a little complicated.
In the past, when my second aunt would bring things to the house from time to time, my mother and grandma would always praise her when they talked about her.
Now that the second aunt no longer favors the Cheng family, the family begins to abuse the second aunt unscrupulously.
The help in the past was true, and he did use a lot of money from the second aunt's family. Just because the second aunt is not willing to help now, does he deny everything in the past?
"Oh, how can I say this in front of Zhao'er without tainting our family's Zhao'er's ears." Sister-in-law Cheng laughed, "Zhao'er, why did you come back suddenly? Are you short of money? Mother's here If you still have some money, take it to school and buy whatever you need. Don’t save it, lest you be laughed at by your classmates..."
Cheng Zhao spoke slowly: "From today on, I won't study anymore."
Mrs. Cheng was stunned: "Zhao'er, what did you say?"
Sister-in-law Cheng's eyes widened: "Zhao'er, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"I have brought all my luggage and books back." Cheng Zhao pursed his lips, "I will not go to Nanfu Academy again."
Old Mrs. Cheng saw two boxes and cages at his feet. When she opened them, she saw they were full of books. It didn't look like he was cheating.
She said dryly: "It's okay to study hard at home. It doesn't matter if you go to the provincial capital next year to take the exam as a scholar... But there's no one at home who can teach you, so you should go to the academy. Don't worry, Shu Xiufei." I will find a way to get it together, don’t worry about this, the best thing is studying..."
Cheng Zhao's eyebrows cast a shadow: "I was expelled from Nanfu Academy. I have no one to guarantee me and cannot participate in the college examination."
"What are you talking about?!" Sister-in-law Cheng suddenly exploded, "Nanfu Academy is crazy, why should you be expelled? No, my mother will seek justice for you! This is simply unreasonable and lawless. My son is so good, why can’t he take the exam for scholar? Come on, let’s go to town right now.”
Old Mrs. Cheng rolled up her sleeves: "I know the headmaster of Nanfu Academy. He bullies a child at an old age. How can I scold him?"
Cheng Zhao held the two of them down and said word by word: "I was expelled because I cheated in the exam. Those who cheat will never be able to take part in the imperial examination."
He bent down and lifted up the two cages on the ground and walked into the back room.
Old Mrs. Cheng and Sister-in-law Cheng looked at each other. They were both women, and they had lived in this mountainous village all their lives, so they couldn't understand what Cheng Zhao meant.
Before the two of them could think clearly, Cheng Zhao walked out of the house: "Over the years, I have spent a lot of money studying, and my family has worked hard. From now on, grandma, grandpa, and parents don't have to worry about it anymore." They raised money for my education. Also, I would like to know how much money my eldest and second aunts have contributed to my education over the years."
Sister-in-law Cheng curled her lips: "Your eldest aunt didn't marry well. She can't even get a single copper out of her pocket. She just brings some food a year to make a show. Your second aunt, she also brought over twenty taels of silver when the man died last year." , nothing else."
Cheng Zhao said slowly: "Every month when paying for repairs, Second Aunt would come to Cheng's house with money, ranging from a hundred cents to one tael of silver. After so many years, Lin Lin finally figured out that our family owes Second Aunt at least fifty." Two pieces of silver."
"You kid, what nonsense are you talking about!" Old Mrs. Cheng glared, "She is your second aunt. If you don't give her money to anyone else, you are justified in spending her money. You don't owe anything!"
"It should be said that I owe Second Aunt fifty taels, and it has nothing to do with the Cheng family." Cheng Zhao took out a money bag from his sleeve, "This is a few taels of silver I earned from copying books in my spare time. I will take it and pay it back first." .”
He took a step and was ready to go.
Sister-in-law Cheng grabbed his arm: "Zhao'er, are you crazy about studying? Even if your second aunt doesn't pay you for the repair fee, how can you still give her money? Don't worry, you're studying. Your parents will think of something for you. It’s impossible not to let you take the scholar exam. Don’t waste your money. Come on, I’ll keep the money first.”
Cheng Zhao pursed his lips silently.
In the past, he could enjoy his second aunt's preference with peace of mind because he knew that one day he would become famous and would always have the opportunity to repay his second aunt.
But now, he was expelled and lost the qualification for the college examination. He would never be able to leave Chengjia Village again in his life. He had to use his reading and writing hands to learn how to plow the land. He felt very sad, but he had no choice.
He obviously didn't cheat, but two people with high status framed him, and the witnesses and physical evidence were so complete that the mountain chief had nothing to say, and he didn't even have room to argue.
The moment he walked out of the academy, he thought a lot. Over the years, his family had suffered too much in order to support him in his studies.
So what if he really gets admitted as a scholar? He still has to continue studying and study for a few years before taking the exam. It is difficult to pass the exam in one try, and he may have to study for a few more years... Could it be that with so many people in the family, for the sake of becoming a scholar? An uncertain future for him to continue reading...
He walked out of the Cheng family yard in silence.
Sister-in-law Cheng patted her thigh anxiously: "This kid has been fooled by lard, how can he really pay back the money? He's crazy, crazy, really crazy..."
"Repaying the money is not a big deal. We can just let the loser return the money in the future. The most important issue now is what to do about Zhaoer's study." Old Mrs. Cheng gritted her teeth, "I'll go find the old scholar in the village and ask what to do. It's okay, our Zhao'er will be a scholar in the future, so we can't be delayed any longer."
Old Mrs. Cheng went to find the village chief of Chengjia Village.
Cheng Zhao, on the other hand, walked all the way towards Dahe Village.
He had been here once when he was a child, and he vaguely remembered how to get there, and soon he was on the road to Dahe Village.
There was a man guarding the entrance to the village, and a long tree stick blocked the way into the village.
