After breakfast, Zhu Ping'an went to the old house. In addition to the high-quality tobacco bought in the town, Zhu's father asked Zhu Ping'an to bring two pheasants, a fat rabbit and two fish, all of which were hunted by Zhu's father and his eldest brother in the mountains. Although his mother Chen did not say anything, her face looked a little unhappy.
"I've been to the old house and to my mentor, so I'll go home and study hard. I hope my son can earn me a wife."
Zhu Ping'an saw that his mother Chen was a little unhappy, and knew that she had always been dissatisfied with the old house, so he deliberately tried to cheer his mother Chen up before leaving.
"You just know how to fool your mother with those nonsense. Come on, go quickly. Come back early and I will make you something delicious." Mother Chen's complexion looked much better. She waved her hand and urged Zhu Ping'an to go and come back quickly.
After bidding farewell to his mother, Zhu Pingan carried his things and walked towards the old house. Along the way, he met many neighbors, who also called him uncles and aunts. Just like yesterday, the neighbors asked this and that, all about the exam, and they all felt that Zhu Pingan brought honor to the village.
This was just the first step in the imperial examination. Zhu Ping'an was almost blushing from the praise from his neighbors.
It only takes a few minutes to get from my home to the old house, but because I had to talk to my neighbors, it took me more than ten minutes to get to the old house.
I pushed open the door of the old house and called out to my grandparents.
The first thing that caught my eye was the figure of Little Fourth Aunt rushing over and her clamoring voice, "Oh, Zhu'er is back, mother, mother, come quickly, Zhu'er is back, oh, why are you still carrying things, chickens, rabbits, and fish."
As Aunt Xiao Si spoke, she took the pheasant and rabbit from Zhu Ping'an's hands without any hesitation. They hadn't eaten meat for several days.
Long time no see, airport security officer.
"Hello, Fourth Aunt." Zhu Pingan greeted Fourth Aunt with a simple smile.
"Okay, Zhu'er is even better. He brings honor to our Zhu family. There were gongs and drums that day. You have no idea how lively it was." Little Fourth Aunt held a chicken and a fish in one hand and a rabbit in the other, with a smile on her face.
Soon, at the voice of Aunt Xiao Si, grandmother came out of the room with her white hair combed neatly.
"Zhi'er is back. Your grandfather has been missing you for a long time. Come in quickly. The fourth wife, go and get Zhi'er a bowl of water." The grandmother did not look very well, but when she saw the pheasants, rabbits and fish that Zhu Ping'an brought, her complexion seemed to improve a little.
Following grandmother came grandfather. Today, grandfather was wearing a nearly new blue cloth straight-stitched top that he usually didn’t want to wear, and he dressed it neatly and cleanly.
"Zhu'er is here. Great, great, a good grandson." Grandfather praised Zhu Ping'an as soon as he saw him. Some time ago, someone from the town came to announce the good news, and grandfather happened to be there. When those people knew that he was Zhu Ping'an's grandfather, they boasted to grandfather that he had raised a good grandson, who would definitely have a great future. This was the youngest student in the town, and the first in the entire Anqing Prefecture. Grandfather was flattered that day. The only regret was that he was wearing coarse cloth clothes at that time, which were not decent enough. So grandfather kept wearing this set of coarse cloth straight-stitched clothes that were 80% new in the following days.
Zhu Ping'an also handed the high-quality tobacco he bought from the town to his grandfather at the right time, which made his grandfather even happier and he said several good words to him.
After entering the room, his grandfather and others asked some questions about the exam, and Zhu Ping'an explained them in detail one by one.
"I've noticed that Zhu'er is different from ordinary people since he was young, and I know that there will be a day when Zhu'er will lose his head." Aunt Xiao Si touched Zhu Ping'an's head and said with emotion at last.
Heads falling
It means to stand out!
If you don't know how to use idioms, don't use them. They make people feel creepy. When I was a kid, you didn't think I was successful. When I was washing my hands, you said I was possessed by evil spirits.
"It means to stand out from the crowd." Grandfather corrected, slamming his pipe heavily on the table.
“Oh, it means to stand out, cough cough…” Aunt Xiaosi covered her mouth and quickly changed the words.
After a while, the grandmother couldn't help but ask Zhu Ping'an, "Zi'er, how is your uncle now? Is he well?"
Zhu Ping'an was stunned by the question. What disease did his uncle have? When did his uncle get sick? His uncle was living such a comfortable and good life outside, how could he have got sick
"Don't hide it from me. Your uncle has written home, saying that you took care of him when he was sick, and asked someone at home to send him money twice. He also said that he asked you not to tell us because he was afraid that we would worry. But he really didn't have money for medicine, so he wrote home. There was not enough money at home, so your aunt went to Yue's house yesterday to borrow money and asked someone to send it to him, but she hasn't come back yet."
My grandmother looked worried and concerned.
Well
It turns out this is why my grandmother was worried!
Uncle is really too much! Looking at the worried grandmother, thinking about the aunt who went to her mother's house to borrow money, and then thinking about the uncle who was so dashing in Zuijunlou in Anqing Prefecture, Zhu Ping'an was completely speechless about his hypocritical uncle. If you want money, you have to have money. You even got sick and made the whole family worry. He really felt like he was disappointed in his uncle.
But if I tell it now, I'm afraid my grandmother and the others won't be able to accept it. Besides, my uncle has already written a letter to arrange everything, and he is good at saving face. If I tell it myself, I don't think my grandmother and aunt will believe it.
After talking for a while, Zhu Ping'an was about to leave.
Grandfather stopped him from leaving, saying that he wanted grandmother and the others to prepare the chickens, rabbits and fish that Zhu Ping'an brought, and asked Zhu Ping'an to stay for dinner before leaving. Only after Zhu Ping'an said that he had to visit his mentor, Master Sun, did grandfather let him go.
"Zhi'er, study hard. Your uncle is almost certain to win this time. You should also study hard to bring honor to your family." Grandfather reminded Zhu Ping'an at the door.
The uncle is indeed stable, he can’t pass it!
Zhu Ping'an complained silently in his heart, but when he saw his grandfather's expectant face, he didn't have the heart to tell him aloud what his uncle had done.
I can no longer rely on my uncle to bring honor to the family. I can only rely on myself.
Zhu Ping'an had just finished complaining in his heart when he once again saw the luck above his grandfather and others. However, this time, in addition to seeing the white luck above their heads, he also vaguely saw something else in the luck, but it was too blurry to see clearly.
Why have some changes occurred? Strange.
However, luck has always been a useless thing. It is mysterious and elusive, and one can only look at it. It has no substantial help to oneself, so Zhu Pingan didn't take it too seriously.
Asking for help is like swallowing a three-foot sword, relying on others is like climbing to the ninth heaven. In everything, the most reliable thing is to work hard on your own.
After blinking slightly and calming himself down, Zhu Ping'an bid farewell to his grandparents and turned away.