The sun had not yet set and the afterglow had not yet turned golden, but Zhu Ping'an had already ridden his old ox home.
The children in the village were playing the game of "Eagle Catches Chicken", and among them were their playmates Black Dog and Er Niu. Black Dog was the eagle, and Er Niu was the hen. The children were playing so hard that they looked like mud monkeys. When they saw Zhu Ping'an coming back riding the old yellow cow, the children called for Zhu Ping'an to join them in the game.
"You guys have fun, I have to go home, otherwise I'll get beaten again." Zhu Ping'an politely refused the group of naughty kids while riding on the back of a yellow cow.
"Little pig coward, hahaha..."
"My mother broke the broom, but I didn't even blink... You little coward, hahaha..."
The group of naughty kids continued to roll in the mud, laughing proudly.
Zhu Pingan looked at this group of naughty kids who didn't know where their pride came from. He was speechless. It was really funny to see these idiot kids. Are you playing eagle catching chickens, rolling a ball in the dirt, and throwing dirt on each other? Where did you get the sense of adventure and pride when your parents beat you
Riding the old yellow ox back home, the house was no longer in chaos as yesterday, but there was also a battle of sarcasm between the sisters-in-law. Grandfather strongly suppressed the matter of the two strings of money, and the fourth aunt, mother and third aunt had to give up even if they were dissatisfied. In this feudal era, filial piety was a mountain that no one dared to disobey. But instead of talking about the two strings of money, we could talk about other things. Anyway, it was not time to cook yet. The sisters-in-law looked harmonious but were actually at odds with each other. They were working in the yard and chatting with each other in a sarcasm.
"Oh, you don't know, I went to send Jun'er to school today. Master Sun said that my son is intelligent, and I believe in Master Sun. A strict teacher produces excellent students. The stricter Master Sun is with Jun'er, the happier I am..." While picking vegetables, the aunt proudly praised her son, with a look of high spirits on her face.
Whenever talking about Jun'er going to school, the aunt was always in high spirits; but at this moment, mother Chen was always disappointed and a little resentful.
"I still don't know where the money for Jun'er's elementary school comes from!" Mother Chen said with a strong sense of sourness.
The eldest aunt looked a little embarrassed, but she still tried to say, "You can see it. It's the money my parents sent me."
"Sister-in-law, we saw it, but I also saw you take two strings of money from mother." Little Fourth Aunt raised her head and spoke in a sinister voice like a young lady in the Republic of China.
The sisters-in-law talked for a long time, and the topic of two strings of money kept coming back. They were about to quarrel again, but then the grandmother spoke up and coughed. Then, the sisters-in-law stopped quarreling again.
After being quiet for a while, my aunt thought it was almost time to cook, so she started showing off again.
"Sister-in-law, school is tiring. I get up early and come back late. I regret letting Jun'er go to school. He might as well herd cattle like Zhu'er. Later, I have to make something delicious for Jun'er and Zhu'er as well. Herding cattle is tiring too."
The aunt looked at her with a look that made her look condescending, and she said clearly that she regretted it, but everyone could hear the pride in her voice. It was obvious that my son was a very good student and won the imperial examination, while your son is just a cowherd.
Mother Chen was already unhappy, and now being provoked by her aunt, she was about to lose her temper.
When Zhu Ping'an heard this outside the door, he slapped the cow's butt and rushed into the house, interrupting the panic at home.
"Mom, please sew a schoolbag for me quickly. I need it tomorrow." Zhu Ping'an started yelling as soon as he entered the door.
Zhu Ping'an's words made the proud aunt even more proud. She burst into laughter. Looking at Zhu Ping'an riding on the back of the old yellow cow, the aunt laughed loudly, "Zi'er, why do you need a schoolbag when you are herding cattle?"
This is blatant contempt!
Xiao Si's aunt also laughed. Although she was in the same group with Chen on the two strings of money, apart from this matter, they were not on the same front.
Upon hearing this, Chen's face drooped all of a sudden. What do you mean? Are you looking down on my son? Your husband is studying for the exam, and the money he earned is the result of my hard work. Your son is studying, my eldest son is farming, and my youngest son is herding cattle, and you are still making sarcastic remarks.
Seeing this, Zhu Ping'an quickly made his speech short and said it quickly.
"I grazed cattle on the grass in front of the private school. I went to listen to the lectures outside the school and asked my father to make me a brush. Here, this is it." Zhu Ping'an said, raising the simple brush in his hand, "I listened to the teacher's lectures outside the private school and practiced calligraphy on this wooden board outside."
Zhu Ping'an's words immediately attracted the attention of his family.
Chen looked at the rough brush and the simple wooden board in Zhu Ping'an's hand, and felt so distressed that she almost wanted to cry.
"The teacher saw me eavesdropping on the class outside today." Zhu Ping'an continued.
"Did the teacher scold you?" Xiao Si's aunt was as excited as if she was listening to an opera. After she got married, she had never been pregnant. She was very envious of her elder and younger sisters-in-law, especially the second sister-in-law who gave birth to two sons. She couldn't stand others being better than her.
Auntie Xiao Si is really like a crow, but this is a very strange crow, and what she says is the opposite of reality. For example, before, she said that Zhu Ping'an could not make money from picking flowers, and she always laughed at him, but he did make money. There are many similar things, and this incident can also be counted.
"The teacher praised my handwriting and said that it was better than that of all the other children in the school. The teacher asked me to go to the school for preliminary studies tomorrow." Zhu Ping'an said in the excited tone that only a child can.
ah
ah
The eldest aunt and the fourth aunt felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly. The mocking expressions on their faces were replaced by surprised expressions before they could even retract. The switching of the two expressions made the two of them feel as if they had eaten a fly.
Then
The eldest aunt and the fourth aunt said in unison, "Meng Xue, there is no money at home."
The grandmother, who had been silent, also spoke up, fearing that her mother, Chen, would consider sending Zhu Pingan to school. "The second son's family has no more money."
My mother, Chen, felt that Zhu Ping'an's grandmother was partial to him. She gave his eldest son two strings of coins without blinking an eye, but was reluctant to spend the money for my son's education.
In order not to embarrass his family with this issue, Zhu Ping'an continued speaking.
"The teacher specifically told me to tell you that he would not charge me for tuition. The teacher said he would give me free education."
What
Still not charging
The expression on the eldest aunt's face was so wonderful that the fourth aunt was even more envious and jealous.
As for mother Chen, the expression on her face was exactly the same as the expression on the face of the aunt at the beginning when she was proudly praising Zhu Pingjun, saying, "My son is just great, that's about it."
Third Aunt was still happy from the bottom of her heart, as she had always liked her nephew, Zhi'er, who was well-behaved, sensible and knew how to love his sister.
"Mom, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and sew a schoolbag for me. I'm going to primary school tomorrow." Zhu Ping'an got off the ox's back and urged.
"Okay, okay, I get it. You little brat is ordering me around." Chen cursed Zhu Ping'an, but she couldn't hide the joy on her face. I'm proud to have such a son.
Chen stood up and went to her room to make a school bag for Zhu Ping'an. She deliberately glanced at her aunt and asked her grandmother in a loud voice, "Mother, the teacher won't accept Zhu Ping'an's tuition anymore. He should be able to go to school now, right?"
(Thank you very much for your support. I was surprised to find that this book has been listed on the list of new history books. Thank you all. This book is at the last place on the list of new books. I still need your continued support and recommendation for collection.)