It has been a week since I came to Yingtian, and there are less than ten days before the college entrance examination. Zhu Ping'an has been focusing on the Four Books and Eight-legged Essays. During this period, he was disturbed by the fat man several times. From time to time, the fat man would come downstairs with a bruise on his forehead from bumping into the attic, but every time he would happily say that it was a sign of being the top student in the high school. Moreover, the fat man was also very considerate, and he would come to Zhu Ping'an mostly at mealtimes, so he would not disturb Zhu Ping'an's review too much.
One day, when Zhu Ping'an was studying by the window, someone knocked on the door.
Zhu Ping'an thought it was the fat man Xue Chi, so he casually said, "The door is not locked," and just push it open and come in.
Then
Something is wrong
Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw a man following behind the shop assistant, looking at him with his head tilted and a little puzzled.
Uncle! Why is Uncle here? I thought Yingtian was big enough, and I might only meet Uncle during the college entrance examination. I didn’t expect to see Uncle again so soon. I have always had a bad impression of Uncle, especially after returning home and seeing my grandparents, aunt and others working hard to raise money for Uncle, I felt even more disgusted with Uncle.
When uncle Zhu Shouren saw Zhu Ping'an looking up, he confirmed that the young man living in the first-class room was his nephew Zhu Ping'an.
"Zhi'er, it's really you. I thought I had made a mistake. After not seeing you for a few months, you have gained some weight. I am relieved now."
After the uncle recognized Zhu Ping'an, he said goodbye to the shop assistant, walked into the house alone, walked up to Zhu Ping'an, and chatted with him about family matters in a familiar manner.
"When did uncle come to Yingtian?" Zhu Ping'an stopped writing and asked.
My uncle always comes to visit me for no reason, and it’s never good, so I became alert when I saw my uncle Zhu Ping’an.
"Uncle, I have been in Yingtian for some time. I was busy reviewing my lessons these days, so I didn't come to see Zhu'er." The uncle said seriously, with his hands behind his back, he looked at Zhu Ping'an's house over and over again.
"Zhi'er, this house is probably not cheap, right?" the uncle asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, about this house? I didn't know. I originally lived in the attic upstairs, which was much cheaper. The owner of this house thought that the high attic was a good sign, so he insisted on exchanging it with me." Zhu Ping'an was not clear about his uncle's intentions, so he spoke with some leeway.
Uncle Zhu Shouren didn't believe it at all when he heard it. How could such a good thing happen? It was simply a fantasy. However, he didn't say anything and just kept Zhu Ping'an in confusion for a long time.
Zhu Ping'an held the brush in his hand and watched his uncle Zhu Shouren talk about this and that for a long time. If he continued like this, he would have no chance to review his lessons, so he had to ask directly, "Uncle, how are you these days? Is there something you want to talk to Zhu'er about?"
Uncle Zhu Shouren seemed to be waiting for Zhu Ping'an to say this.
"My uncle has a fortune to give you. My uncle has a friend whom you have met. His mentor happens to be a teacher at the county school and has connections. My friend got the inside information. His mentor can know the exam questions one day in advance..." My uncle paused here, carefully looked out the window and the door, and confirmed that there was no one. Then he continued mysteriously, "He can know the exam questions one day in advance, and..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping'an rolled his eyes and said, "Forget it. Uncle has been saying this for years, and he has taken the exam so many times but has never passed the college entrance examination."
"Thank you for your kindness, uncle. For your sake, it's better if fewer people know about such a good thing. You don't have to tell Zhuer." Zhu Ping'an interrupted his uncle indifferently.
Huh
This shouldn't be the reaction. Uncle Zhu Shouren still had a lot to say at this moment, but he didn't expect Zhu Ping'an to not be moved at all.
"Hehe, Zhi'er's test questions this time are very reliable." Uncle Zhu Shouren said confidently while twirling his beard.
"Well, is that so?" Zhu Pingan said casually.
There is a chance. Uncle Zhu Shouren was a little happy, but his joy was broken by Zhu Ping'an's words in the next second.
"Well, is that so? Then I'd like to congratulate you in advance." Zhu Ping'an said calmly, not taking the so-called inside information seriously at all.
Uncle Zhu Shouren never expected Zhu Pingan to react like this, which made him choke on the words that followed. However, Uncle Zhu Shouren was not an ordinary person. Seeing that Zhu Pingan did not accept this, he retreated to the next best option.
"Zhi'er, are you well off recently? I've been studying hard lately, so I'm a little tight on money. My friend's mentor will come to Yingtian tomorrow, and I want to invite him to a restaurant for a meal, so we can talk about the inside story. For this college entrance examination, you and I can easily get the money. For the sake of our Zhu family, and for us, you can first take out some money to treat him to a meal, and when you return home, I'll pay you back..."
Then my uncle described the proud scene after he passed the imperial examination, as if everything was under his control.
Eight ounces? My uncle said it so lightly, as if it were a penny or two, and he didn't take it seriously. He had no idea that the family had to work hard for half a year for these eight ounces, and he had no idea how many sleepless nights and early risers were behind these eight ounces, and how much sweat was put into these eight ounces... It seemed that when I was at home, my grandfather and his family had just asked someone to send money to my uncle!
"Oh, Zhu'er was distracted just now. Could you please repeat the previous sentence?" There was no expression on Zhu Ping'an's face, but he was very unhappy in his heart.
"For the sake of our Zhu family, and for us, so..." Uncle Zhu Shouren thought that Zhu Ping'an was moved, and was about to repeat the previous sentence.
"Not this sentence, go further." Zhu Ping'an shook his head.
"Uncle's friend's mentor will come to Yingtian tomorrow, and uncle is thinking of inviting him to a restaurant for a simple meal..." Uncle Zhu Shouren repeated the previous sentence.
Zhu Ping'an still shook his head.
"Zhi'er, are you well off recently? Your uncle has been spending some time reviewing his studies recently..." No, that was the first sentence, and your uncle Zhu Shouren repeated the first sentence.
Just when he said this, he was interrupted by Zhu Ping'an's silly voice.
"Oh, I'm not well off either, uncle." Zhu Ping'an looked at his uncle with a simple and honest face and said seriously.
Well
Uncle Zhu Shouren looked at Zhu Ping'an for a few seconds without reacting. But after all, uncle was not an ordinary person, so he paused for a few seconds before speaking again.
"Oh, Zhu'er is not well off, that's fine, why not send a letter home so they can raise some money... After all, it's all for the Zhu family, I think my second brother can understand..."
When Zhu Ping'an heard this, he felt as if he was struck by thunder. His uncle was truly a man of great learning and talent, to be able to think of such a thing!
"Since you are sending a letter to your home, uncle can also send a letter to the old house. There are more people in the old house and they have more money." Zhu Ping'an looked up at his uncle and said, let's see what his uncle says, his uncle must have used this reason to ask for money from the old house.
Uncle Zhu Shouren was also a bachelor. "Your grandfather has sent me money, but I have been studying hard recently and you know your grandfather has a bad temper. If I send another letter to the old house, I am afraid that... So, I have to trouble Zhu'er to send a letter home."
"Uncle is afraid of grandfather, and Zhu'er is afraid of mother." Zhu Ping'an said lightly.
The uncle looked relaxed, patted Zhu Ping'an on the shoulder and said: "What are you afraid of? You are young, you can take a beating better than me! Besides, when we pass the imperial examination, your mother will be so happy."
Uncle, where is your face? I can’t find it!!!
"It will take a long time to send the letter home. I won't be able to make it in time tomorrow. I will definitely miss your uncle's good opportunity. You should find another way." Zhu Ping'an said calmly, giving advice with good intentions for his uncle.
My uncle returned disappointed.