When Cui Niang returned home, her eldest daughter Chen Yu came to greet her. Her ponytail kept swaying. A pair of rough hands stretched out to take the food box. Her smart eyes suddenly flashed and she asked with a smile: "Mom, when will dad come back?"
"He probably has to wait until night to prepare a pound of tofu, and I will deliver it to Uncle Chen's house."
Cui Niang looked at Chen Yu. Although she was only fourteen years old, she already looked like a girl of seventeen or eighteen. She didn't grow up quickly, but worked a lot.
The Chen family settled in Wanping County. Chen Mu and Cui Niang agreed that Chen Mu would be responsible for farming and Cui Niang would be responsible for setting up a stall.
There were many people from Shanxi around, and since it was the main road leading to Beiping City, there were many people on the way, so they had to stop and rest. Cui Niang knew how to make tofu and soy milk, so she set up a shed at the door.
However, at the beginning of spring, the earth has not yet melted, and countless immigrants and people can't wait any longer, so they rush to the wilderness to reclaim wasteland. Who wants to be left behind, and the farming season can't be delayed.
Reclaiming wasteland with oxen cannot be done by one person. At least two people are needed, one is responsible for pulling the oxen and the other is responsible for plowing.
During the days when Cui Niang was in Qian Niu, Chen Yu was in charge of all the stalls at home. She also had to take care of her two younger sisters. As for her sons Chen Li and Chen Shu, they had already been sent to social studies, and they only had two children in ten days. Although they would go home every evening during the holidays, they would have to take the exams for academic honors in the future, so housework would not be their turn.
As a parent, no matter how hard or tiring you are, you cannot delay your son's future.
"Mom, Aunt Wang's family has credit again."
Chen Yu said softly.
Cui Niang pulled Chen Yu aside and said: "My fellow villagers, credit is nothing, so don't worry about it. You also know that Aunt Wang is not in good health. This bumpy journey has taken up a lot of energy. After eating in the winter, It took a lot of medicine to bring him back to life. Now is a difficult time, so we can help him as much as we can."
Chen Yu said oh, and then brought the money drawer to Cui Niang. Cui Niang smiled and shook it, but there was no sound. She shook it again, but there was still no sound. She quickly opened the money drawer and looked at it. It was empty, and she turned around. After checking several times, I was sure that there was not a single copper plate or a single banknote. I couldn't help but look at Chen Yu and asked, "Where's the money?"
Chen Yu pointed to the east and said, "What mom said is right. Folks in the countryside can help me a little bit..."
Cui Niang pointed to the money drawer and asked, "So?"
Chen Yu lowered his head: "I gave it all to Aunt Wang."
Cui Niang kept opening and closing her hands, turned around and ran to the house, calling Chen Yu through the door. Seeing Chen Yu enter the door, she pulled her into the yard, picked up a broom and hit Chen Yu on the leg, saying : "There is also your brother's money for repairs here. You gave it all, how come they still go to social studies!"
Chen Yu knew that his mother had always been soft-hearted and would hit her hard but lightly this time. Unexpectedly, she would hit him hard this time. He couldn't help but feel aggrieved and said with tears in his eyes: "Dad said that in the world, the greatest human life is, in the end, it is my brother who Whether studies are important, Aunt Wang’s life is more important.”
Cui Niang was stunned, dropped the broom, looked at the empty money drawer silently, and lamented: "My child, we can't give all the money to Aunt Wang for medical treatment. Our family is also in trouble."
Chen Yu curled his lips, walked closer, took Cui Niang's arm and said, "Mother, didn't the court say that studying is free? Now that social studies are running, why are they collecting money again?"
Cui Niang shook her head and said: "The court said free study and free admission to social studies, but it didn't say that Mr. will not accept students as monks. I heard that Confucius began to accept students as monks. Didn't you hear what your brother said? The student has not been practicing for three months, and Confucius complained that he could not eat meat. What is it called? Come to think of it, the taste of meat is unknown for three months..."
Chen Yu was amused, shook Cui Niang's arm and said: "Mother, my brother is studying music with Taishi Qi, listening to the music of Shao, learning it, and not knowing the taste of meat in three months." It is Confucius who studied the music of Taishi. I was so fascinated that I didn’t even taste the meat when I ate it.”
Cui Niang rolled her eyes: "Don't lie. How can you not taste the meat when you eat it? I dream about that taste in my dreams. Confucius couldn't even taste the taste. How can he teach students? Isn't he misleading his disciples?"
Chen Yu opened his mouth, not knowing how to explain...
Cui Niang took Chen Yu's hand away, glared hard, and said, "That's five hundred coins, how much tofu do you have to do to earn it back!"
"Cui Niang, tofu!"
Someone shouted outside the door.
Cui Niang spared Chen Yu, agreed and walked out.
In the evening, 12-year-old Chen Li and 10-year-old Chen Shu came back from social studies and told Cui Niang, Chen Yu and others what they had learned in social studies. Cui Niang couldn't understand, but she enjoyed it, and Chen Yu listened. You understand, but you still have to grind the beans.
When Chen Mu came back, Chen Li and Chen Shu had already gone to bed.
At night, Cui Niang told Chen Mu about Aunt Wang borrowing money, and she was a little worried: "Our family didn't leave an IOU. If Aunt Wang is good at it, his family..."
Chen Mu leaned on the bedside, knowing that what Cui Niang said was unpleasant but it was also true. After a winter and another spring, it was already summer and he was not ready yet. When would it end.
But as a person from Shanxi who migrated there together, we can’t just watch him suffer, unable to even afford medicine.
"I'll find a way to deal with the child's problem. We still need help with Aunt Wang's illness."
Chen Mu said it very seriously.
Cui Niang nodded and fell asleep with a sigh.
Early the next morning, Chen Mu and Chen Shu had already gotten up and recited "The Analects of Confucius". Cui Niang and Chen Yu set up a tofu stall. Chen Mu went for a run in the fields and saw that he was well fed, so he went home with peace of mind, but when he arrived at the door Seeing Cui Niang and Chen Yu both looking towards Widow Zhao's house in the north, they couldn't help but ask, "What's going on? Someone is playing matchmaking for Widow Zhao?"
"Dad, what are you talking about? Widow Zhao's house has a chastity plaque hanging on it, so where can she come from as a matchmaker?"
Chen Yu was a little unhappy.
When Chen Mu saw his daughter like this, he laughed, "If there really is a matchmaker, I will arrange a marriage for you!"
Chen Yu made a face with his hands: "The imperial court has said that girls cannot get married under the age of sixteen, and it is useless to talk to matchmakers. I am only fourteen this year."
Chen Mugang wanted to argue, but Cui Niang quickly interrupted: "Mr. Zhang went to Widow Zhao's house, do you think we should go and have a look?"
"Mr. Zhang, why is he here again?"
Chen Mu was a little surprised.
"What, Mr. Zhang is here?"
Chen Li and Chen Shu ran out.
Chen Mu looked at his two sons, and then walked to the door of Widow Zhao's house. It was a little quiet inside. Liu Gua also came with his mother-in-law and children to eat melon. In the past, no man would dare to stand in front of Widow Zhao's house. Even passing by was in a hurry. It was better today, a lot of people came around.
Zhang Bozhi sat in the yard and said calmly to Mrs. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao: "Your children are at the age of going to social studies. Many children have gone to social studies. Chen Li and Chen Shu from the house next door are all famous in the Analects of Confucius." If you can recite more than half of it, your children can do it too."
Aunt Zhao shook her head repeatedly and sighed: "Mr. Zhang, please don't try to persuade me any more. Since my son passed away due to illness, there are only four of us left at home. With the children at home, we can help him to some extent and do some farm work and housework. Once he goes to social studies , all the guys have to bear the child alone..."
Zhang Bozhi knew that the family was suffering and finally settled in Wanping. However, a cold winter killed the man and the mainstay of the family was gone. The old man wanted to let his children take more care of him, so he sent his children back home from social studies. Serve as a pillar of support.
But the children, Zhao Bo, are only ten years old and Zhao Wen is only eight years old.
Zhang Bozhi didn't want to give up on two young students. The imperial court had given enough policies. As long as they were immigrants' children, social studies would be free for them. It would also be free for them to enter the county school in the future. This was a fate-changing thing. How could you say that if you don't study, you wouldn't study? Already?
"I know it's difficult at home, but think about it, if these two children are successful in their studies and become officials in the court, wouldn't it be a matter of honor for the ancestors? Even if they don't get the honors, the children are literate and well-written. How could they not be like him? usefulness?"
Zhang Bozhi explained the truth.
Aunt Zhao still shook her head and made up her mind not to let her child go to social studies.
Zhang Bozhi was helpless and looked at Ms. Zhao: "Tell me, are you willing to let your son study?"
Mrs. Zhao glanced at her mother, lowered her head and said nothing.
Zhang Bozhi knew that the head of the family was Aunt Zhao, and even her words were of no use. He couldn't help but stand up, looked at the two children, gritted his teeth, took out a money bag from his sleeve, and handed it to Aunt Zhao. : "Here is one, two or three dollars, which is enough for you to find someone to help you at home. Let your children go to social studies."
Aunt Zhao looked at Zhang Bozhi in surprise. She had always heard of students giving their teachers money, but not of teachers giving money to their parents. What was going on?
"We can't ask for this money. Mr. Zhang also knows that my son is gone and it's not convenient to ask for help from outsiders. Please come back."
Aunt Zhao returned the money bag to Zhang Bozhi without even looking at it.
Zhang Bozhi held the money bag and gritted his teeth and said: "Aunt Zhao, it's not that Zhang is rude, but I hope that Aunt Zhao will think carefully about how much Mr. Zhao wanted his children to study when he was still here. He gave the children to me, Zhang." When Bo Zhi was a child, he kowtowed to me nine times, but now that he is gone, I can’t teach his children! I’m sorry for him, please allow me to burn incense sticks for Mr. Zhao and give him nine heads in return!”
"gentlemen."
Chen Li and Chen Shu walked out with tears on their faces.
Liu Gua's son Liu Tian also walked out, and the children in the crowd walked out one after another. These people were all Zhang Bozhi's students.
Chen Mu and Liu Gua were all moved. Zhang Bozhi is a competent gentleman. He teaches children very attentively and never punishes students corporally. I heard that he was personally sent to Beizhili by the emperor. He is a well-educated man. Great scholar.
How can such a person with such a temperament not make people moved?
Chen Mu pulled Cui Niang out, and then winked. Cui Niang understood, walked towards Aunt Zhao, and said: "Aunt Zhao, it is a good thing for children to study. Isn't it for the sake of our children and grandchildren that we moved from Shanxi? The child is still young and can't help with much farm work. Otherwise, I will chop the firewood and carry the water, and let the child go to social studies."
Liu Gua sighed, how did Chen Mu, a bastard, marry such a reasonable wife? Looking at his mother-in-law, he knew he was moved here and didn't know how to step forward and say a word.
Mrs. Liu was pushed by Liu Gua, and then she thought of persuading her.
Aunt Zhao was touched by Zhang Bozhi's words. Thinking about it carefully, her family traveled from Shanxi to Wanping for several months, not only for fifty acres of land and a cow, but also for their children to read and read.
They are his grandchildren and they are still young. If they are not allowed to go to social studies now, they will stay on this fifty acres of land for the rest of their lives.
"Aunt Zhao, Boss Zhao is gone, and you still have us. Let's do this. When the crops are ripe, we will help your family harvest them first, and let the children go to school."
Chen Mu also persuaded him.
When things got to this point, it was difficult for Aunt Zhao to persist any longer. She stood up and was about to salute Zhang Bozhi, but Zhang Bozhi stopped her.
"Mr. Zhang is so kind and kind, please pay your respects to my Zhao family."
"No, absolutely not."
"Zhao Bo, Zhao Wen, salute sir!"
The two children, Zhao Bo and Zhao Wen, bowed politely: "Sir, sir, this disciple is being polite."
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