An hour later.
Jiang Pingyu was in front of the stove, still trying to find ways to cook more whole dishes for her father, but there were really no good ingredients to go with wine at home.
The green vegetables and tofu had been brought out, and the sound in the yard suddenly disappeared.
"Dalang, what's going on outside?" Jiang Pingyu asked.
Zhang Jun took a look outside the house and said with a accustomed look on his face: "Oh, grandpa is drunk again. He is sitting on the ground and acting crazy."
"What?"
After all, Jiang Pingyu was a daughter. When she heard the news, she quickly came out of the house, regardless of the fact that she was still wearing an apron.
Jiang Dezhong did seem to be drunk at this moment. He was sitting on the ground and howling like a ghost: "Xian son-in-law, I wrongly blamed you. I had listened to you earlier. I could have earned thousands or tens of thousands more taels of silver. Anyway, you can't." If you don't pass the exam, you can work with my father-in-law from now on. I will be your shopkeeper and I will never let you starve to death on the streets."
Zhang Zhou sat there, calm and steady.
"Father-in-law, I don't like hearing what you are saying. Why are you starving to death on the streets? Come on, keep drinking. Aren't you a good drinker?"
Zhang Zhou continued to pour wine for Jiang Dezhong.
Jiang Dezhong slapped the octagonal table: "No, you are like a wine vat, I can't drink from you! Wow, I have such an old face, I have never lost in a drinking contest in my life, but I lost to my son-in-law twice? They say that a son-in-law is the father-in-law’s nemesis, and I finally realized it! Woohoo.”
"Dad, what's wrong with you?"
Jiang Pingyu had never seen her father look like this, and she couldn't directly reach out to help him, so she was so anxious that she stamped her feet on the spot.
The Jiang family's entourage came in at the door.
Jiang Pingyu said: "Hurry up and help the master go back home to rest."
"Don't worry. As a father, I still have a lot to say to my virtuous son-in-law... Bingkuan, do you think the price of food can still go up?"
"Of course it can go up, otherwise why wouldn't I be in a hurry to sell? But usually it's three times the market price, so don't be too greedy..."
"Who is that? Quickly bring the things I prepared... My daughter, my father has nothing to give you. This is ten taels of silver, which is considered as the dowry for your father. You must live well with Bingkuan in the future... …”
Jiang Pingyu was moved when she saw her old father drunkenly and not forgetting to give her money, but she was a strong woman: "Father, this is not possible. Although our life is hard, my daughter doesn't think there is anything wrong with it. We are a family." Being together is the most important thing. My daughter will not accept this money."
"ah?"
Jiang Dezhong originally wanted to be a good person in front of his son-in-law, but when he saw his daughter acting like this, he didn't even understand why his daughter was so persistent.
Poor and strong?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Father-in-law, if you feel sorry for me, please remember to give me the full amount of rice you have. Of course, I will also take away the extra silver after replenishing the rice as agreed. As for your Gifts are no longer necessary, our family can still live on now."
"Be ambitious, be ambitious!"
Jiang Dezhong said: "Think of it as something I lent to you. Find another place to live. This place is too shabby! When you make money, remember to return it."
After speaking, he directly forced the purse containing several small silver coins into his daughter's hand.
"My father is leaving... Oh, where is the door?"
"Sir, that's the wall over there."
"Oh, over here..."
"This is the hut."
"The latrine is good, I'm just about to go to the latrine..."
…
…
Jiang Dezhong staggered and was carried away. Finally, two servants came in together, and Zhang Zhou even helped him carry him to the carriage.
When Zhang Zhou came back, he was saddened to see Jiang Pingyu still holding the purse her father had given her.
"Madam, I'm sorry for making your family laugh." Zhang Zhou said.
Jiang Pingyu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, but looked at Zhang Zhou with a very dependent look and said: "My husband has done a good job."
Zhang Zhou said: "But I also drank a little too much. I can't do anything to help the family today, so I will go to bed first. Your father's money will be put away first and used if necessary. We will return it to him with interest in the future."
"Um."
Zhang Zhou brought Jiang Pingyu over and the couple hugged her.
This has been considered the most direct way of contact between the couple recently.
It’s nothing more than a hug.
However, Zhang Zhou was counting the days. Jiang Pingyu and Han Qing should have been "convenient" these days, but there were some things... Zhang Zhou was too embarrassed to speak.
Apparently not tonight either.
When you drink with an old drunkard, you naturally need to take a rest first after drinking too much, and then... you still don't know him well.
…
…
The next morning, Zhang Zhou woke up when the sun rose three times.
After I got up, I looked at the sky. My head still hurt a little. I walked out of the yard to wash my face and found that the water tank was empty.
Although this small courtyard is a single-family courtyard, it is very old and does not even have a well. Zhang Zhou thought that maybe it was time to change to a better place as Jiang Dezhong said.
"Husband, are you up?"
Zhang Zhouzheng wondered where his family had gone.
The door opened, and four women and children came back from the outside, but it was two women carrying a bucket of water in the middle with a pole, and the two younger ones were still helping to fetch the water back.
Zhang Zhou walked over directly, picked up the bucket, and poured the water into the small water tank.
"It's already here, why don't you call me? This kind of thing should be done as a man."
Zhang Zhou lowered his head and looked at the feet of Jiang Pingyu and Han Qing. Both of them had bound feet. Although they were not as tall as a three-inch golden lotus, it was slightly inconvenient to walk, let alone do manual labor.
During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, foot binding had become a social custom. However, foot binding was not practiced in all areas. Instead, foot binding was practiced in relatively wealthy areas, and foot binding was a reflection of social status. Peasant women had to do heavy physical work, so fewer peasant women had their feet bound. .
Because men study and women have feet bound, a trend of comparison has developed in society.
Jiang Pingyu wiped her sweat, but the hard work seemed to be worth it. She said with a look of relief: "My husband drank too much yesterday, so I asked him to sleep a little longer. Besides, today is the day when the results are released in autumn. You shouldn't Do the work.”
"Yes, the results will be released today."
Only then did Zhang Zhou remember that today was a rather meaningful day for him.
If the results are released, does that mean that if you come to Daming to experience the provincial examination and the imperial examination, you can go back to sleep in the building, order takeout, and play on your mobile phone?
He suddenly found that he was still a little reluctant to leave.
It was very inconvenient when I first arrived, but now I feel that I have begun to integrate into this society.
"What's going on outside?" Zhang Zhou heard the sound of playing in the distance, but it was obviously not coming from this way.
Jiang Pingyu said with a slightly disappointed look on her face: "It's Kang Xiucai in the community. He is the winner of this list. Someone is announcing the good news to him. Everyone in the street has gone. Originally, my sister wanted to go over and join in the fun, but she was I stopped you."
Han Qing said: "Aunt Jiang at the alley said that as long as you go and ask for auspicious words, each person will be given three Wen as a wedding gift."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Xiao Cai Mi Gui, I also participated in this provincial examination. If you join in the fun, wouldn't you lose my face? Three Wen, right? Pack your things and take them back. Let's go together as a family... Fifteen If you don’t make money, you won’t make it in vain.”
"Husband..."
Jiang Pingyu was ashamed and angry.
She gave her husband a stern look, but firmly pulled her husband in, using the angry expression of a little daughter to stop him from doing this.
During the time Zhang Zhou and Jiang Pingyu had been together, he had never seen such a playful and cute side of Jiang Pingyu, so he was stunned for a moment.
"Husband, you are not allowed to go. Even if you use the money father gave you, you cannot leave this man alone."
Jiang Pingyu personally closed the courtyard door and bolted it.
Even so, she could also feel that her husband-in-law had changed.
It seems that as long as the family can live a good life, they will not hesitate to do anything, even the face of being a scholar can be left behind.
