The sun has set and dusk is falling.
Xia Yu held Xia Qianqian's hand tightly, and was so happy that he jumped up and down as he walked. As soon as he entered the house, Xia Yu rushed to Qin: "Mom!"
Qin woke up from her sleep and thought she was dreaming when she saw her son. She stroked Xia Yu's face tremblingly: "Yu'er, why are you here? Is mother dreaming?"
"Mom, my eldest sister brought me back. I can stay at home for two days. Grandpa and second uncle both agreed." Xia Yu said.
"Really?" Qin looked at Xia Qianqian.
Xia Qianqian nodded with a smile: "Really."
"That's great." Qin hugged her son happily and was reluctant to let go for a long time.
"I'll go cook. We'll have meat tonight. Yunyun, help big sister add firewood." Xia Qianqian said.
"Okay." Xia Yunyun stood up and walked away with her short legs.
Xia Yu hurriedly said, "Sister, I'll add some firewood."
"No, I will." Xia Yunyun said in a baby voice, "Brother, Mom misses you very much, just keep talking to Mom."
Xia Yu's eyes turned red, and he blamed himself. His sister was so young, but she already knew how to be humble. As a brother, he couldn't help at all, and instead made his family worry.
Qin said gently: "Yu'er, why would your grandfather agree to let you come?"
"My second uncle stole meat from our home and was discovered by my eldest sister. They were in the wrong and wanted to make a big deal out of a small matter, so they agreed," said Xia Yu.
"So that's how it is." Qin was filled with emotion. When Xia Qianqian bought the meat, she was reluctant. Eating meat and fine grains every day was too luxurious for them. Unexpectedly, it became a powerful tool to check and balance the old Xia family.
She increasingly felt that whatever Xia Qianqian did made sense.
"Mom, I want my elder sister to learn to read like me." Xia Yu said, "I want to take the imperial examination."
This is the only way he can think of to make himself stronger!
Qin's mind popped up a beautiful big house, in which a group of elegantly dressed young men were following a teacher in reciting poems and books. Her expression became dazed.
Xia Yu's eyes darkened. In this poor mountain village, learning to read and write was the most extravagant dream. His second uncle would not let him study, and his mother did not have the ability to do so.
"Yu'er, I'll teach you after dinner." Xia Qianqian said as she cooked, "I'll find a way to convince grandpa to let you come here every day to learn how to read."
Xia Yu suddenly saw hope again: "Sister, is it really possible?"
"Of course." Xia Qianqian waved her hand proudly, "In the future, I will help you find a good school and send you there. If you want to take the imperial examinations in the future, I will support you!"
"Okay!" Xia Yu was so excited that his eyes were filled with tears. He secretly clenched his fists and swore in his heart: he must study hard, pass the imperial examinations in the future, and let his mother and sisters live a good life!
———
At the Jiang family, Jiang Ming felt tired and wronged. He burst into tears as soon as he entered the house. After drinking a bowl of porridge, he fell asleep. Father and Mother Jiang looked at each other in sorrow. There were some small coins on the table.
This was all they could come up with, less than two taels of silver. And they had to compensate Xia Qianqian with twenty taels of silver!
"Sell the house!" Father Jiang hung his head.
Mother Jiang looked at her own mud house and asked: "Where will we live after we sell the house?"
"Go live with your mother's family. Isn't there a vacant house in your brother's house?" said Jiang's father.
"But I can't live in my mother's house forever. Yangliu Village is the root of the Jiang family."
(End of this chapter)