In the early morning, as the sun rises slowly from the sky, Xiyin Village wakes up from the morning mist. The hard-working farmers have already come to the fields to start working.
The breeze blows, and golden waves roll up in the rice fields, sending the fragrance of rice to the tip of their noses, putting a bright smile on the faces of sweaty farmers.
After Wei Chen finished his morning exercises by Jingxi River, he went to take a look at the newly purchased paddy field, and then set foot on the country road home.
Along the way, Wei Chen greeted the villagers in the fields from time to time. When the villagers saw Wei Chen, they stopped what they were doing and respectfully called "Xiu Cai Gong" or "Xiao Xianggong Wei". In fact, some villagers called Wei Chen "Little Master Wei" before, but Wei Chen stopped him.
When Wei Chen was about to get home, he saw Wei Ruyi sitting under a big tree, chatting with a group of aunts. Wei Ruyi was talking happily, and the aunts and sisters beside her had envious expressions on their faces.
"Ruyi, look, your scholar is back!" A sharp-eyed aunt saw Wei Chen on the field ridge not far away and reminded Wei Ruyi with a smile.
Wei Chen took two quick steps and walked up to Wei Ruyi. He first called his aunt, and then politely greeted the aunties around him.
An aunt looked at Wei Chen, who was wearing a t-shirt and had an elegant temperament, and exclaimed: "After all, scholars, just by going to that station, are different from those of us who can only farm our lives."
"Xiao Xianggong, Wen Quxing fell into our Xiyin Village. Can he be like you?"
The aunt next to me said in a lively manner: "My unlucky little boy, a few days ago, he showed a little bit of Mr. Wei's literary spirit on the flowing mat. Guess what? As soon as he came home, he learned several big words in a row. !”
"Ouch!"
"real or fake?"
"Is there such a thing?"
"Then let me give it a try too?"
The aunts and ladies on the side heard that Wei Chen had such miraculous effects, and their eyes lit up when they looked at Wei Chen.
Wei Chen was stared at by more than a dozen green eyes, and he quickly took a few steps back.
These aunts and uncles in the countryside work as men. They don't care about the protection of men and women. Even the gentlemen can't stand the dirty jokes they usually tell. Wei Chen is really afraid that they will take advantage of them.
"Everyone, please calm down. You've made our scholar's ears red!" After the aunts and mothers laughed for a while, they finally let Wei Chen go and no longer stared at Wei Chen to make fun of him.
At this time, an aunt suddenly asked Wei Ruyi: "Ruyi, I heard from the patriarch that a scholar can be exempted from two liters of corvee?"
Wei Ruyi nodded: "Yes, what's the matter, Second Aunt?"
"Oh, what a pity! Brother Chen is fostered in your home, but he still has his own household. He is the only one in his household. Wouldn't these two days of corvee service be wasted?"
"Second Aunt, what do you mean?"
"Ruyi, you also know that your second uncle's family has a grandson who has just turned eight this year. He is very smart. He is going to study in a social school. He has not registered yet."
The second aunt scratched her scalp and said with some embarrassment: "I just thought that it would be a waste if Brother Chen's exemption quota is not used anyway. Why don't I adopt my grandson into Brother Chen's name? What do you think?"
Wei Chen suddenly realized that he was here for my exemption quota.
Those without a native place cannot take part in the imperial examinations, let alone become officials or officials. But with a native place, they cannot escape the daily exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, so many people choose to be underprivileged.
Those in the black household who were interested in the imperial examination came up with a flexible method, that is, by adopting the name of a scholar or judicial officer who had a quota for exemption from military service, they could not only participate in the imperial examination, but also be exempted from the corvee.
Wei Chen frowned after hearing this: "I'm afraid there's something wrong with this. I was only twelve years old after the Chinese New Year, and I have an eight-year-old heir. This is too outrageous, and I can't even pass the official test!"
"That's right, well, let's talk about it later."
The second aunt sighed with some disappointment, but judging by her tone, it seemed that she had not given up completely. She probably wanted to wait until Wei Chen was older before taking up the idea of these two exemptions.
The rest of the aunties and aunties on the side became more active when they heard that there was such a benefit for being a scholar. We are all relatives, so why did your second aunt take up the exemption quota?
They had nothing in common with Wei Chen, so they all flocked to Wei Ruyi. One praised Wei Ruyi for having such a blessed heart, and the other praised Wei Ruyi for having the brains to manage the household. There were really no words to say, even Wei Ruyi's sitting posture. Give me a compliment.
Wei Chen is so sweaty...
As for what?
Everyone is rushing to put their son in my name!
On the way home, the smile on Wei Ruyi's face never stopped, and her whole face was radiant, as if she was ten years younger.
When the two arrived home, Zhang Ming had already prepared the mule cart and was telling the guys to move the boxes up.
Wei Chen couldn't help but be surprised when he saw this: "Uncle, are we going back to Youyang today?"
"Yes, your aunt and I are inseparable from the wine shop for a day. It's already very difficult to stay here for three days after taking leave. If we stay here any longer, Mr. Sheng will probably send someone to urge us to go back. .”
Zhang Ming put his naughty son into the car and turned to Wei Chen with a smile.
"Oh, these three days have really gone by in a blink of an eye. It feels like we have only been back for two days." Wei Ruyi complained softly, looking at the big willow tree at the entrance of the courtyard, his eyes full of reluctance.
"Auntie doesn't want to go back because she can't bear to leave her supportive audience, right?"
Wei Chen probably guessed what Wei Ruyi was thinking, and couldn't help but feel a little funny.
Showing off also needs to be divided into objects.
When they moved to Youyang City, the Zhang family was already considered a middle-class family, and their conditions were similar to those of the surrounding neighbors. Wei Ruyi and the new neighbors were showing off, so naturally they wouldn't have the same kind of salty luck that they had in their hometown. The feeling of pleasure.
Although Wei Ruyi was reluctant to let go of these proud days, she finally did not delay the business. The family finally got on the mule cart and embarked on the journey back to Youyang.
After driving for more than two hours, I finally saw the tall and majestic Youyang City in the distance. Zhang Ming, who was driving the carriage, was refreshed. He shook the reins, the wheels spun, and drove the group of people into the city gate.
The car kept bumping and turned through several alleys, and finally came to the house that the family bought in the city.
Wei Chen opened the car curtain, and just as he was about to get out of the car, he heard someone shouting: "Good nephew!"
Wei Chen looked around and saw Sheng Wei, the eldest master of the Sheng family, followed by two servants carrying gifts.
"It turns out to be Uncle Sheng."
Wei Chen smiled, cupped his fists and saluted.
Zhang Ming and Wei Ruyi over there heard the sound and came over. Seeing Sheng Wei looking like he had been waiting for a long time, they felt a little embarrassed: "Mr. Sheng, let's settle down at home and go back to the winery to work today."
"I'm not here to rush you to work. I'm here because I have another important matter to discuss with my nephew."
Sheng Wei sighed, looking disappointed.
Wei Ruyi and Zhang Ming looked at each other. In their impression, Sheng Wei had always been wise and calm. How had he ever looked so depressed?
"Let's talk after we go inside."
Wei Chen invited Sheng Wei to sit in the front hall, and Wei Ruyi hurriedly found a kettle to pour tea for Sheng Wei.
"No need to bother." Sheng Wei stopped Wei Chen and said with a wry smile: "My heart is burning right now, how can I be in the mood to drink tea?"
"Then it's even more necessary to bring down the fire."
Wei Chen took a bowl of water from Wei Ruyi and placed it in front of Sheng Wei.
"well……"
Sheng Wei picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp, then sighed heavily: "A disaster is coming, my dear nephew!"
