In Xiahe Village, the sun was high in the sky, and the warm sunlight poured down, adding a touch of warmth to Xiahe Village in the deep winter.
On the road outside the village, a figure with a shaking head slowly walked towards Xiahe Village, seeming to be reciting poetry or shaking his neck to relieve a stiff neck from sleeping at night... ...
Getting closer.
The person who came was a middle-aged man with a fair complexion. He wore a square scarf on his head and a brand new jade-colored silk student's uniform. His long sleeves fluttered as he walked, giving him a rather romantic and dashing look. He was Zhu Shouren, Zhu Ping'an's uncle.
"His uncle is back..."
After Zhu Shouren entered the village, the villagers who were basking in the sun at the entrance of the village smiled and waved to greet Zhu Shouren.
Now when the villagers greet the Zhu family, they all use Zhu Ping'an as the default. For example, for Zhu's father, the villagers call him "Dad"; for Zhu's mother, the villagers call him "Mom"; for Zhu's old man, the villagers call him "Grandpa". Therefore, for Zhu Shouren, the villagers call him "Uncle".
In the past, when the villagers called the Zhu family, Zhu Shouren was the default name.
Zhu Shouren was resistant and disappointed about this change at the beginning, but now he has gradually gotten used to it.
"Yes, that's right. I have been studying for an exam in the county for a long time. This morning I suddenly remembered that I haven't been to my parents for a long time. I was very worried, so I went home to be with them and continue my studies. I will go back to the county another day to continue my studies."
Zhu Shouren stood with his hands behind his back, raised his head and glanced at the villagers basking in the sun, and spoke a few words with the arrogance of a scholar.
After finishing speaking, he walked proudly among a group of native chickens and ducks like a crane.
After Zhu Shouren walked away, the people who were basking in the sun at the entrance of the village couldn't help but start talking about Zhu Shouren.
"His uncle thinks he's too big a person and doesn't even look at us straight in the eye." A villager said dissatisfiedly.
"That's right. Look at Ping An. After he won the first place in the imperial examination, he still calls him uncle and uncle and never puts on airs. His uncle is still just a student, not even a scholar, why does he put on such airs?"
The villagers said disdainfully.
"He always shows off his knowledge every time he speaks. I seem to understand what he said, but I also seem not to understand. What did he mean by what he said just now?" A villager asked the person next to him in confusion.
"Basically, I went to the county to study for a long time, missed my parents, came back to show my filial piety, and then went back."
The person next to him curled his lips.
"What? He's been studying in the county for a long time?! Didn't he just go to the county three days ago? How come it took so long?!"
"Be filial? His uncle is so absorbed in studying for the imperial examinations that he doesn't do any farming, housework, or rough labor. How can he be filial? Just talk?"
"He was Ping'an. He herded cattle and worked in the fields when he was young. He did everything well, but he still passed the imperial examination. He is different. He didn't have to do anything but study. But he is still a student and hasn't even passed the imperial examination."
The villagers laughed.
While the villagers were talking about it, Zhu Shouren had already walked into the Zhu family's old house.
"Huh? Why are you back?"
Aunt Wu, who was sewing shoe soles in the yard in the sun, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when she saw Zhu Shouren coming back.
You have to know that three days ago, she sent Zhu Shouren away from home to go to the county to review for the exam, so how come he came home so soon
"Ahem, this morning I suddenly remembered that I haven't been filial to my parents for a long time, and I felt ashamed. So I came back to be filial to my parents for two days before going back to prepare for the exam." Zhu Shouren said with a cough.
Wu looked at Zhu Shouren suspiciously.
"The eldest is back. Good, it's not good to eat outside. Let's go to the chicken coop and get two eggs. I'll fry some eggs with green onions and give it to the eldest to nourish him. This scholar is the most brain-intensive."
When Mrs. Liu, the old lady of Zhu, heard the sound, she came out of the house. Her hair was even thinner. When she saw Zhu Shouren, she was overwhelmed with joy and heartache. She asked Mrs. Wu to fry two eggs for Zhu Shouren at noon to nourish his body.
"Boss, why did you come back instead of studying hard in the county to prepare for the exam?" At this time, Old Master Zhu came in from outside smoking a pipe and asked with an unhappy look on his face.
He was taking a walk outside when he heard the villagers say that Zhu Shouren had returned. He was a little skeptical. After all, Zhu Shouren had just gone to the county to review for the exam three days ago, so how could he come back so soon? Naturally, he didn't believe it. However, several villagers said that Grandpa Zhu was a little uncertain, so he came back to find out what was going on. Unexpectedly, he saw Zhu Shouren standing in the yard as soon as he entered the house, and he immediately felt unhappy.
"Ahem, Dad, when I was reading this morning, I suddenly remembered that I haven't been filial to my parents for a long time. I felt ashamed. So I came back to be filial to my parents for two days before going back to prepare for the exam."
Zhu Shouren coughed and repeated it again.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhu couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of thick phlegm, and knocked the eye bag pot in his hand against the sole of his shoe with force, and said angrily, "Bah! Why did you come back to show your filial piety?! I've never seen you show filial piety before! You should study hard and pass the exam to become a scholar, which is the greatest filial piety you can show!"
Seeing that Mr. Zhu was angry, Mrs. Zhu stepped forward to protect him and said, "Old man, what are you talking about! It's not easy for our eldest son to study. He can just stay for two days and then go back. It's not worth your temper."
"A loving mother often spoils her child! It's all because of you! How can one study hard and then rest for two days? Look at how Zhi'er studies. In the morning, before the sun rises and the rooster crows, he gets up to read and practice calligraphy. At night, when everyone else is asleep, only Zhi'er is still reading and practicing calligraphy in front of the oil lamp. It is because Zhi'er studies so hard that he can pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar! As his uncle, can you learn from him and study hard so that you can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar as soon as possible!"
Old Master Zhu glared at Old Lady Zhu, said a few words to her, then glared at Zhu Shouren and lectured him with saliva flying.
"My eldest son works very hard too..." When Mrs. Zhu heard Grandpa Zhu compare Zhu Shouren and Zhu Ping'an, her tone weakened a little. No one knows a child better than his mother. After all, in fact, Zhu Shouren's level of hard work is far less than Zhu Ping'an's.
Zhu Shouren shrank his head in dismay.
"Hurry up, your mother and I won't die anytime soon! You've seen it, so hurry back and study hard!"
Mr. Zhu glared and cursed.
"Old man, you are trying to seduce me. Why are you in such a hurry? There is no rush to study. It won't be too late to leave after the boss has finished his meal."
Old Mrs. Zhu protected him.
"Alas." Mr. Zhu sighed deeply, glared at Zhu Shouren fiercely, and said unhappily, "After dinner, hurry back to study!"
"Okay, son, I'll obey your command. I'll leave after dinner." Zhu Shouren nodded repeatedly.