"Go this way, there's no road ahead." Uncle Jiang waved his hatchet and cut off the dead branches that stretched to the roadside to avoid scratching his face. This place is quite remote, and not many people go up the mountain to cut firewood. If they don't come for a while, the surrounding grass and trees will grow wildly and submerge the path. Fortunately, it was winter, and most of the weeds had withered and fallen to the ground.
Jiang Miao and Xiao Shitou followed behind him, carrying incense, candles, paper money, and three kinds of animals in their hands, and went into the mountains to pay tribute to the elders of the Jiang family.
The rest of the Jiang family was buried in the ancestral tomb. Every year, the clan would raise money to buy things for memorial services. However, Jiang Miao's great uncle and aunt and his parents were not buried in the ancestral tomb. They were buried in the barren mountains here. Because they did not die at home, it is said that if people who died suddenly are buried in the ancestral tomb, their descendants will die suddenly, so it is a rule that almost everyone must abide by that people who died suddenly will not be buried in the ancestral tomb.
When they reached a sunny slope, Jiang Miao saw several graves leaning against each other. The graves were covered with withered weeds and looked extremely desolate.
Uncle Jiang sighed, picked up the hatchet and started mowing the grass in silence. Jiang Miao found a place with lots of grass to put down the things in his hands, then took out the yellow paper, took small stones and pressed them on the grave with soil, indicating that he was adding bricks and tiles to the elders, so as to prevent the grave from leaking due to disrepair. Of course, this is just a kind of comfort in the heart. The ancients always said that "treat the dead as if they were alive".
Jiang Miao noticed that there was a wooden plaque in front of each of these graves, with some words engraved on it. It was originally painted with ink, but because of the long time, the ink was almost washed away, leaving only a faint black, so it looked very inconspicuous, but you can still vaguely distinguish the words "eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law" and "second son and second daughter-in-law". Judging from the titles above, this should be the monument erected by Jiang's grandparents for them.
The most tragic thing in the world is for the elderly to send off their children. Jiang Miao couldn't imagine how the two elderly people felt when they sent their sons and daughters-in-law away. It was an indescribable pain, like cutting out pieces of flesh from the heart. He also lost relatives. When his grandparents died, he felt like the sky was falling.
Jiang Miao sighed, stood up and took the knife from his second uncle's hand, let him sit down and rest for a while, and then buried his head in continuing his unfinished work.
After all the graves were tidied, Jiang Miao placed three kinds of animals on the graves and offered sacrifices to the elders one by one. Then, he knelt in front of the graves, burning paper money while talking to them.
"Dad, Mom, don't worry. Little Shitou has been taken back from that family, and the family tree has been re-listed under your names. You can rest assured down there." And as for that unfortunate boy, please go to Yifeng Street in Liangjing City to pick him up. Don't let him wander around alone...
After the memorial service, Jiang Miao and his group went down the mountain. Little Stone lowered his head, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable. Jiang Miao touched his head, thinking that before the Jiang family's parents passed away, they must have been most worried about this child, right
When they returned to their second uncle's house, their second aunt and the others had already prepared the meal. After eating, Jiang Miao and his second uncle sat in the main room and chatted.
"Miao, now that Little Stone has been brought back, why don't you go to the city? Your parents still have some land under their name. I've been farming it these years. You can take it back and farm it yourself next year. You should be able to make a living." Uncle Jiang has been farming in Jiangjiawan all his life. He always feels that the city is not reliable. What good can ordinary people like them who have no foundation get in the city? I heard that there was a maid in a wealthy family in the next village. After half a year, she came back with a broken leg and a burned face. She didn't stay at home for a few days before she tied herself up with a thick rope.
Looking through the family tree these days, Jiang Miao also saw the little land allocated to his father. It was only two acres of paddy field and one acre of dry land, which was barely enough to make a living. In the past few years, Uncle Jiang raised him and paid the head tax for the two of them. I'm afraid the output of the three plots of land is not enough.
"Uncle, I still want to stay in the city. I'm not very good at doing farm work. It may be difficult to rely on it to support me and Xiao Shitou. In fact, it's not bad to live in the city. The people where I live are very nice, and I can make some money selling buns." Jiang Miao still prefers to do some small business to make money.
Uncle Jiang raised his pipe, frowned and took a puff: "You are also a man who can support his family. Since you have made up your mind, I will not say anything more. Be careful when working in the city. If you meet those who have family backgrounds, you should take it as a lesson if you suffer a little loss. Don't be tough with them."
"Uncle, don't worry, I won't do anything rash." There weren't so many principles to talk about in ancient times, and Jiang Miao wouldn't act impulsively.
Jiang Miao had originally planned not to come back for the New Year this year, but as soon as these words came out, Uncle Jiang immediately shook his head.
"How can you not come back? You are not a rootless person! It's okay if you don't come back after you get married, but before you get married, you still have to come back. Besides, this is the first time that Xiao Shitou spends the New Year at home, so you can't not come back."
Seeing his strong reaction, Jiang Miao felt that he had not considered it carefully. In modern times, the pace of life is fast, and the New Year atmosphere is getting weaker and weaker. There are countless people who do not go home for the New Year. But here, the New Year is a big deal.
Jiang Miao counted on his fingers and found that the Chinese New Year was only a dozen days away. If he had known this, he would have come back before the New Year.
The next morning, Jiang Miao took Xiao Shitou and left Jiangjia Bay. There was no free carriage this time. They walked on the road for a long time before they got on a donkey cart carrying goods. The two spent dozens of coins.
After not coming back for two or three days, Jiang Miao cleaned up the house and went to the southern goods store owned by Wu to buy things. Wu was very busy at the moment, as the New Year was coming soon, and people around him were starting to prepare for the New Year. Wu was known for making money through harmony, so his store had the most people on this street.
Compared to the southern goods shop, there were fewer people in Wang's grain and oil shop. When Jiang Miao entered, he was leaning against the counter, talking to a little starling in a cage.
"Shopkeeper Wang, you look so happy!" Jiang Miao greeted him with a smile.
"Hey, Brother Jiang, you're finally back!" Shopkeeper Wang became excited. He felt that among all the vendors on the whole street, Brother Jiang was the most to his liking, especially in terms of food. He regarded him as a soulmate.
"Yes, Boss Wang, where have you been looking for delicious food recently?" Jiang Miao joked, while asking the waiter to weigh the flour for him.
"Don't mention it. Isn't there a new mutton restaurant opened up ahead? I ran there happily to eat, but the smell was so strong! I'll never go there again next time!" Shopkeeper Wang felt uncomfortable when he thought of the smell. It was obviously a waste of food.
"Mutton tastes good only when it's properly prepared. I think that one lacked the right amount of cooking. You'll know when I show you how to cook it one day." Jiang Miao smiled. "By the way, Shopkeeper Wang, do you know which academy is better in West City?"
"Academy? There are one or two good ones." Shopkeeper Wang thought about it and suddenly felt something was wrong. "Wait, who are you asking? You have a child?"
Jiang Miao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Only now did he understand how Master Pei felt. "I have a younger brother who will be seven after the Chinese New Year. I want him to learn a few words so that he can make a living in the future."
"Is that so? Then you might as well send him to a private school to start his education first." Shopkeeper Wang suggested.
"I thought since the academy is bigger, wouldn't it teach more things?" Jiang Miao was confused.
"It's a lot, but you are too young. You won't be able to keep up if you go in. Those in there are all beginners. They have at least read "Three Hundred Thousand". You can't even read a single word. Do you expect the teachers there to teach you from the beginning?" Shopkeeper Wang knew more about it, and he left Jiang Miao speechless with just one sentence.
"Then do you know which private school nearby is good? I want to find a teacher who is gentle and patient, and preferably more responsible." Jiang Miao didn't think he had high requirements at all.
Shopkeeper Wang said with a smile: "It would be best if he could become a learned scholar and become the top scholar in the imperial examination?"
"This is a bit of a waste of talent." Jiang Miao smiled, knowing that he was joking with him.
"You also know," Shopkeeper Wang glared at him, "those scholars are all arrogant because of their talent. You have always been the one praising them. How can you expect them to be gentle?"
"Isn't it because the child is timid? If there is really no such thing, I can't force it, right?"
"You've asked the right person. I know a scholar who passed the imperial examination last year. Unfortunately, his family is very poor, and he doesn't want to exchange his marriage for money, so he taught a few students. He is a very gentle and patient person, and he is also well-educated." Shopkeeper Wang was very proud.
"Excuse me, where does that scholar live?" Jiang Miao looked surprised.
Shopkeeper Wang raised his eyebrows and said, "Wait a minute, he has a rule for accepting students. He won't accept students who are not brought by acquaintances. He says he is afraid of causing trouble."
"Tomorrow after you finish your stall, bring your brother and go with me. But let me make this clear in advance, if your brother can't satisfy Mr. Yu, I can't be the boss of him." Shopkeeper Wang said, never talking too much in business.
"Don't worry, whether it succeeds or not, you will be the one who gets to eat the mutton!" Jiang Miao thought that although his younger brother could not read yet, he was so well-behaved and cute, and the scholar would definitely not give him up.
The next morning, Jiang Miao took his things and waited outside Wang's shop with Little Stone. He helped Little Stone put his clothes in order and said, "You need to be sweet when you meet people later. When the teacher asks you questions, answer the questions you know, and if you don't know, just say you don't know. Do you understand?"
"Yeah!" Little Stone's eyes were full of nervousness and expectation, and he was secretly cheering himself up in his heart.
"Brother Jiang, is this your brother Xiao Shitou? The two brothers look quite similar!"
"Hello, Uncle Wang!" Little Stone plucked up the courage and greeted Shopkeeper Wang.
"Oh, that's a good boy, but I'm afraid you have to call me Grandpa Wang." Shopkeeper Wang smiled happily.
"Uncle Wang is not old at all, so we can't call him grandpa." Little Stone retorted softly. He stared at Shopkeeper Wang and felt that he was nothing like the old grandfathers in the village.
"Hahaha, then you can call me uncle. Here, this is a gift from uncle to you, please keep it." Shopkeeper Wang took out a brand new small silver ingot from his sleeve, on which was engraved the words "good luck and good fortune". It was obvious that it was specially made and prepared to be given to his sons and nephews for New Year's enjoyment.
"Manager Wang, you can't do this." Jiang Miao stopped him, "Children have never touched so much money. It would be bad if they dropped it."
Shopkeeper Wang glared at him and said, "It's not for you, little stone. Go play with it."
Little Stone looked at Jiang Miao, and when he nodded, he reached out to take it, and then thanked him obediently.
"That's right," Shopkeeper Wang said happily, "We are old neighbors doing business on the same street, why are we so distant?"
Jiang Miao smiled and said, "Your family is big and prosperous, how can I compare with you?"
"You never know. You young people are very smart. Maybe one day I will have to rely on you to take care of the business."
The two walked and talked all the way, crossed two streets, and turned a few corners before arriving at Yu Xiucai's house. Jiang Miao felt that this street looked familiar, and when he found the uncle selling sweet cakes at the entrance of the alley, he realized that this street was right next to Hongle Academy.
"Uncle Wang?" A gentle voice sounded, and the person who opened the door was a young man with gentle brows and a smile on his lips.
"Mr. Yu, I have a friend who wants to find a good teacher for his younger brother. As soon as I heard about it, I brought them to you."
"Hello, Mr. Yu. My name is Jiang Miao and this is my younger brother Jiang Lei. I heard that you are a good teacher, so I asked Shopkeeper Wang to introduce you to me. I hope you don't mind."
"It's okay. Guests are welcome. Please come in." Yu Xiucai invited them to sit inside the house and served them tea, even for the small stones.
"Has Uncle Wang told you the rules here? If it's feasible, I'll ask him a few questions and you can come to study next year."
Jiang Miao nodded: "Shopkeeper Wang has already said that we all agree. Little Stone, go over and say hello to the Master."
"Hello, Master." Little Stone said loudly. Except for the fact that his voice was trembling due to nervousness, everything else was fine.
"Is your name Little Stone?"
"Well, my nickname is Little Stone, and my full name is Jiang Lei, which means Lei in Chinese, which means three little stones."
"Have you ever learned to read before?"
"My brother taught me a few words these days, and I can now write my own name." The "write" he mentioned refers to scratching on the ground with a small wooden stick.
"Do you want to come and study?" asked Yu Xiucai.
"I want to learn to read and write by coming to school. This way, when my brother goes out, I can write to him. Teacher, can you accept me? I will be very obedient." This is Xiao Shitou's biggest wish at the moment. He thought about this every day during the six months when his brother was away.
Yu Xiucai smiled and said, "Then come to study next year, but don't cry."
"Yes! Thank you, Master, for accepting me!"
Jiang Miao was also very happy, he knew his brother could succeed.
"Master Yu, thank you for accepting these little stones. It's just a token of my appreciation. Please don't despise me." Seeing Master Yu frowning slightly, he immediately added, "They are just some common food, not worth much. It's not good to come here empty-handed. I hope you can accept them."
"Okay, don't do this next time." Yu Xiucai had no choice but to accept it.
On the way home, Xiao Shitou held Jiang Miao's hand and jumped all the way.
"Brother, I will study hard in the future!"
"Well, learn more words and come back to teach your brother later."
"Well, after I learn it, I will teach my brother how to write, and I will also teach Xiaowu. Um, and Xindi and the others."
Under the warm sun, two figures, one big and one small, walked slowly forward hand in hand...
(End of this chapter)