Chapter 223

From then on, Xue Cuiping couldn't continue her words, she could only say a few words in a hurry without knowing why, then lifted the curtain and went out.

The room was very quiet, the eyes of the young man on the kang darkened, and there was a trace of vicissitudes that did not match his age.

Looking at such a little man, Zhao'er was afraid to go forward. It took a while to come over, sitting on the edge of the Kang, hesitantly said: "Dog, are you okay?"

Looking at the worried face of the other party, Xue Gouzi smiled: "I'm fine."

Zhao'er pursed her lips tightly, and patted his head: "Believe me, sister, one day we won't have to ask for anyone."

*

Xue Cuiping left without even eating lunch, and when she left, she took a bag of wheat seeds Mrs. Zhao gave her.

No one knew what she had said to Mrs. Zhao, and what Mrs. Zhao had said to her. All in all, when eating lunch at noon, Mrs. Zhao's and Mrs. Yang's faces were so ugly that Mrs. Sun and Mrs. Zhou were cautious.

Zhao'er never looked at these things. After the rice was put on the table, she took two bowls to serve the rice first and then add the vegetables. Lunch can't be called rich, it's just millet rice, and the dishes are stuffed white rice and radish, as well as some homemade pickles. There is also meat, all big fat meat, a small plate, placed in front of the men.

Men have to work in the fields and eat meat to gain strength.

Zhao'er didn't want to eat meat either, the meat cooked by Zhou's was greasy and greasy, which made people feel unappetizing. She put some hot dishes and pickles into the bowl as usual, but she didn't put much, but Mrs. Zhao suddenly dropped her chopsticks.

"Just such a little food, the two of you can eat this? Hungry ghost reincarnation or something?"

This is very hurtful and slaps face, but anyone with some self-esteem can't stand it, but Zhao'er is used to it. Zhao Shi is like this, whoever makes her dissatisfied, she can use various methods to get back sick.

She was not annoyed, and continued to pick up vegetables. She originally planned to pick up only those, but because of Mrs. Zhao's words, she deliberately picked up two more chopsticks.

"I can't help Grandma, the dog needs to take care of himself, if there's nothing good to feed him, he has to be full to eat." As she spoke, she suddenly turned her head and said to Mrs. Zhou: "Third Aunt, wash the vegetables next time." You call me Caicai, our family is not a family that is too poor to eat, but there are scholars in the family, and there is a master who is a child. Although grandma lives carefully on weekdays, she is not a person who does not let people eat food. "

When it comes to pointing at Sang and scolding Huai, Zhao'er thinks she can't lose to anyone, especially since she is holding her breath in her heart.

Sure enough, Mrs. Zhao was immediately annoyed: "No matter how rich a family is, they can't afford you to eat so much. You can eat more than anyone else if you don't work every day. A stupid girl like you, if it wasn't for our family, He was kicked out a long time ago."

Zhao'er immediately put away her smile: "Grandma, you are wrong to say that. I came to the house when I was seven years old, and I didn't do any work inside and out? When my father died, I wore a filial piety and kept my spirit. When my mother died, I waited on her bed day and night for more than half a year. I was the daughter-in-law of the second room, and I paid the end of my life for the second wife.

"But grandma, don't dislike me as a granddaughter-in-law who is talkative. People are divided into three or six grades according to how much they eat. Some people don't know how to wipe the oil on their mouths when they eat delicious food. They can be replaced by others. If you eat some rotten white song, it will become a waste of food. There are more than a dozen chickens in this house, and there are no fewer eggs. Taoer and I feed them every day, and I don’t know where the eggs have gone. Gouzi’s disease I ate one egg so far, don’t let me raise the chicken next time, anyway, I can’t eat it, whoever eats it will raise it.”

These words made everyone's faces look ugly, among them Dafang's mother and son had the most wonderful complexions, red and white, just like a dyeing workshop.

This person who steals food without rubbing oil on his mouth is exactly what Dafang said. Mrs. Zhao is picky, but she doesn't pick on her elder son and grandson. Mrs. Yang and her youngest son naturally follow suit. The seven-year-old boy looked annoyed, and seemed to want to say something, but was pulled by Yang severely.

Sifang's hairy egg is still young, and his mouth is also greedy, and he has long been tired of eating Baisong. As soon as I heard the egg, I couldn't help it, and shouted to Mrs. Sun: "Mom, I want to eat eggs, I want to eat eggs..."

In the silent main room, I heard the sharp cry of a child, which made my forehead throb.

Mrs. Sun was so annoyed by crying, she couldn't help but slap her on the face: "What's the trouble, what kind of eggs are you eating, how can there be any eggs for you!" His tone was also a little offended.

To put it bluntly, who doesn't complain in his heart, but just endures it all the time.

Maodan was slapped and cried even louder. Mrs. Zhao was already furious, but seeing this, she immediately shifted her target: "Mr. Sun, you are doing well, and you beat my grandson."

Mrs. Sun was always afraid of Mrs. Zhao, so she smiled awkwardly and said, "Mother, Mao Dan is making a fuss about eating eggs. How can there be eggs for him?" The mother and son went to look at it three times.

Mr. Xue has always ignored the affairs of his daughters-in-law, so he couldn't help it now.

With a dark face, he patted the table: "What a fuss, what a fuss!" The legs of the square table were swayed, and the bowls and plates bounced up and down, making crisp noises.

Zhao'er didn't pretend to be dead, and complained to him: "Grandfather, it's not that grandma dislikes me and Gouzi for eating hazelnuts."

As soon as she put the bowl on the table, she covered her face and began to cry: "I just ate such a mouth-watering meal, and I didn't even see any traces of oil, so I called it Hu Chi Hai Sai, and I served it to others." Look, people will die laughing when they see it. If grandma really dislikes Gouzi and me, why don't we separate our second room, and we will never eat and drink at home again."

Hearing the word 'separation', Mr. Xue twitched his brows subconsciously, and scolded: "What kind of family is divided, no one is allowed to mention the separation!" He seemed to feel that his tone was too harsh, and he slowed down his tone: "Your grandmother is angry with you because of your aunt's family troubles, but you are a junior, how can you talk back to your elders."

He turned his head and scolded Zhao again: "I said every day that you don't have a long memory, and you have lived your whole life in the belly of a dog. Why are those eggs stored there? They are so stinky that you can't bear to eat them! Third daughter-in-law, go get some Let’s fry this one up, let’s add a dish for everyone.”

Just like that, Mr. Xue's words successfully silenced everyone.

Zhao'er's eyes flickered, she was not lying when she said that she wanted to separate, but it was a pity that she was stillborn the first time she said it. But it's true, how could Mr. Xue allow the second bedroom to separate the family? If the news spread, it would become a whole family bullying the two children. Besides, Mr. Xue still wants to twist the whole family into one rope so that the Xue family can provide another scholar.

Putting these things aside, even though there was a commotion, the entire Xue family had a meal.

Zhou scrambled a large bowl of eggs and reserved a bowl for Zhao'er.

This behavior is a bit intriguing, you must know that the third wife and his wife are usually taciturn, they are old scalpers in Xue's family, and they rarely help the two children of the second room to talk.

But Zhao'er didn't think much about it, everyone in this big family has their own thoughts, and she can't control anyone's thoughts, just don't make her anxious.

She returned to the house with the food, and smiled at Xue Gouzi when she entered the door: "Look, dog, there are eggs for lunch."

*

Looking at the bright smile on the girl's face, Xue Gouzi's eyes flashed with complexity.

Although he was in the house, the movements in the main room were not missed.

Zhao'er is like this, aggressive and hot, and he never cares what others think of him when he does things. In the past, he cared very much, and always felt that she was embarrassing him and doing him a disservice. He failed to dissuade him many times, and because of some other things, he hid his hatred for her in his heart.

Little did he know that he was the one who was hypocritical and stupid, but it was a pity that by the time he understood it, it was already too late.

"In order to eat an egg, you quarrel with Grandma."

It wasn't until he said it that he realized that he hadn't changed his awkward speech pattern before, so she must have misunderstood him. Sure enough, a dark color flashed across Zhao'er's face, and he smiled again: "He Xue Jun can eat it, and my dog ​​can eat it too. Come and eat, make up your body, and you will recover soon."

Look, that's how she is, she always treats him like a child, saying "my dog", but in fact he is no longer a child. But the teenager's mentality is sensitive and worrying, 'he' doesn't like all this, but he doesn't know how to express it, so his discomfort slowly ferments into disgust and subconscious avoidance.

Xue Gouzi didn't know why he thought of this, he just felt that he had become very strange now, as if he had become two people, one was Xue Gouzi and the other was Xue Tingxiang. And every time something about Zhao'er came up, a voice murmured in his mind, as if telling him his true thoughts deep in his heart.

While thinking, something was fed to his mouth, and he looked down to see that it was a fried yellow, crispy and soft egg.

"Third aunt also scrambled the eggs well. The dog took a big bite and grew taller and stronger after eating it."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Zhao'er regretted it.

It's also the fact that the little man is very good today, and she couldn't help but imagine the scene where she coaxed him to eat when the little man was still young. When she was a child, she always coaxed the dog like this, but suddenly, at some point, the dog began to resist her, and she hated her like this the most.

When she was worried, seeing him looking down, she smiled dryly, and was about to take back the spoon she handed over.

Suddenly, he leaned over, took a big bite, and swallowed a spoonful of rice.

"Delicious."

Seeing him munching on his meal with drooping eyelids, Zhao'er suddenly smiled: "Eat more if it tastes good. In the future, my sister will work hard to make money and feed the dog scrambled eggs every day."

After finishing speaking, she secretly glanced at Xue Gouzi from under her eyelids. Seeing that he didn't show any displeasure, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

In fact, Zhao'er said this on purpose, the little man has always hated her for running around and learning to do business with others. Because of this matter, the two had a lot of unhappiness, but she couldn't stop going out to make money just because he didn't like it.

She wants to be rich, she wants to be rich for the little man to study, and not to fight with this group of people like black-eyed chickens. She thought a lot, and all of this required his support. After all, they were a family, and there were only the two of them left in the second room.

But Zhao'er also thought about it, even if he objected, she would still do it.

Of course it is best not to object.

Under such circumstances, she couldn't help but say something more: "I just talked to my grandma about the separation, but I was blocked by my grandpa." Seeing what the little man wanted to say, she interrupted: "Listen, sister!" After finishing speaking, I didn't want to tell you too much about some things. I always felt that you were still young and didn't want to disturb your studies. But what happened today, my sister can also see that you have your own ideas.

"At home, let's fight if we can. It's supposed to be ours. We can't just give it up to others. Even if we want to let it go, we have to give it a clear explanation. We don't have to bully people like this! If we can't fight Don’t be afraid to go to school. My sister has recently found a business to do, and I can also collect the money that will send you to study. Having said so much, it is actually to let you relax and don’t be afraid. The sky is falling, and there is still sister to support you There is not only one way for people, there are many ways for us to walk, and it is a fool's thing to compete with ourselves."

In fact, Zhao'er wanted to tell Xue Gouzi about this for a long time, but she also knew that the little man was a thoughtful person, and she was afraid that he would think too much. But who ever thought that he still thought too much, and even worried became a disease. Today is such a good opportunity, she simply said it clearly.

Xue Gouzi looked at her.

This scene in his dream was not like this, because of his sudden outburst, the Xue family was in turmoil, and the family scolded him, saying that he was ignorant, not thinking about the family, and that he was not filial, which made Grandma dizzy. In order to protect him, Zhao'er quarreled with Xue's family, and finally even alarmed the patriarch.

Zhao'er was beaten five times in public in Xue's ancestral hall for disrespecting her elders and offending her tongue, as a warning to everyone else. And this matter was also suppressed by the patriarch. He didn't even have the ability to resist, so he was robbed of what belonged to him.

Later, Xue Juncai went to the school in the town, enjoying himself. And because of this incident, Erfang completely aroused the disgust of the family members, especially with the big house as a hindrance, so life in Xue's house was not easy.

No one at home spoke for them, and no one in the village turned to them. He couldn't even go to the private school, because his uncle said that he was a wolf-hearted dog and couldn't teach him, and that Zhao'er beat up his aunt.

He was only fourteen at that time, even though he knew that some people were not good people, he couldn't understand the malice in them. Maybe he can understand it, but the inferiority of human nature made him subconsciously push the responsibility out. He blamed Zhao'er for all his dissatisfaction, unsatisfaction and even the harshness of fate.

Even though he knew in his heart that he was blaming her wrong, that he was very wrong, but the misunderstanding was too deep, the two of them were drifting away, and he had no face to explain all this to her.

Xue Gouzi pondered for a moment, "Call me Ting Xiang."

"Tingxiang? This is your own name? Gou'er, why did you give yourself such a name?" Soon she understood, remembering that the talented boy in Dafang always carried his own name because of his young age. People laugh at the same name as Gou'er and Heizi.

A look of distress flashed in her eyes, and she nodded repeatedly: "Gou'er, no, Ting'er is a different scholar, and the name is so nice. From now on, my sister won't call you Gou'er, and I won't let outsiders call you that. It's called Tingxiang." Anyway, in her heart, whatever the dog says is good,

Xue Gouzi, no, he should be called Xue Tingxiang now, and he feels a little depressed. He is only less than two years younger than Zhao'er, but he is a deep ravine that he will not be able to cross in his entire life. Having said that, he said again: "Also, can you stop calling yourself sister to me in the future?"

This time, Zhao'er was even more surprised, and even reached out to touch his forehead: "Ting'er, what's wrong with you? Did you have some evil? You didn't call me sister since you were a child."

Xue Tingxiang took a deep breath and smiled: "But you are not my sister, you will be my wife in the future, how can a man call his wife a sister."

He was originally pale, half leaning on the quilt at the top of the kang, suddenly smiled like this, his brows and eyes were clear and handsome, which gave people a feeling that they dare not look directly at him.

Zhao'er's face turned red all of a sudden, and he couldn't make sense of what he said: "Dog, you, what are you talking about, I, I..."

"Don't you want to be my daughter-in-law and have a baby for me?" He moved closer.

She stood up abruptly, and reprimanded: "You little kid, why are you talking about this? Your hair hasn't grown fully yet!" She said a foul language that Xue Tingxiang didn't like to hear the most, and she didn't realize it: "You want to The thing to do is to take care of your body, as for these things, we will talk about them later!"

Her eyes were fierce, and her tone was also fierce. After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and scooped rice from the bowl to Xue Tingshan's mouth. He glanced at her, ate honestly, and suddenly became in a good mood.

Maybe the two of them can change the way they get along in the future, and change it if they don't like it, there is no need to wait for her to understand.

*

Zhao'er threw away the mess, turned around and went back to the house, leaving the whole family to finish their lunch in a depressing atmosphere.

During this period, Sun had nothing to say to her, but no one paid any attention to her.

Yang couldn't eat, if it wasn't for her parents-in-law, if she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the two younger siblings, she would have thrown her chopsticks and left. But now he can only suppress the aggrieved stomach, and eat the food in front of him like chewing wax.

After dinner, Mrs. Sun took Mao Dan away, knowing that her son got into trouble today, and she was afraid that she would be angered later. Mrs. Zhou took Xue Taoer to clean up the table, and took the dishes and chopsticks to the kitchen to wash. Xue Qingbai helped her, Zhou could not carry such a pot of dishes by himself, usually when Xue Qingbai was not at home, she and her daughter could only carry them.

Only Dafang, mother and son were left in the room, along with Mr. Xue and Mrs. Zhao.

Yang stood up and wanted to go back to the East Chamber, but was stopped by Mr. Xue.

Mr. Xue took out his dry pipe, took out some shredded tobacco grown by himself from the dark blue tobacco pouch, rolled it into a ball, pressed it into the tobacco pot, and then lit it with a torch.

His movements are very slow, neither fast nor slow. Anyone who is familiar with Mr. Xue's character knows that he has something on his mind.

It's true that there is something wrong, and if it's not something, he won't call his daughter-in-law to stop.

"The handsome boy and the talented boy go back to the house first. Grandpa has something to say to your mother."

Xue Youcai glanced at his mother and wanted to say something, but was dragged away by his elder brother Xue Juncai.

"Father, just tell me if you have anything to say."

Mrs. Yang is thirty-four this year. In the countryside, a woman in her thirties is no longer considered young. Here, the wind blows and the sun shines and eats, so the women look old.

But Yang's maintenance is very good, her face is like a disc, her skin is fair, and there are a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She was wearing a worn-out stone blue satin gown with make-up, her shiny black hair was pulled into a bun behind her head, a gilt hairpin was inserted into it, and a pair of old silver earrings were on her ears. It can't be called onion tip, but it is also white and soft, wearing a gold ring.

It is not an exaggeration to say that she is the grandma of the landlord's family in this dress and bearing, even the Zhao family is not as good as her.

With his old eyes, Mr. Xue moved Yang back and forth a few times, making her stand uneasy.

Just as I was about to say something, my father-in-law said suddenly: "Boss daughter-in-law, how long have you been married to our family?"

Yang was startled, and replied: "Seventeen years, my daughter-in-law married into the Xue family in the seventeenth year."

"Then how will your mother and I treat you?"

Yang's heart skipped a beat: "Father and mother treat their daughter-in-law like their own daughters."

Mr. Xue nodded, took a puff of the dry cigarette, and the light blue smoke began to linger on his old face again, making it difficult to see the expression on his face clearly.

"You are the eldest daughter-in-law of our family, and your mother has always loved you. You and the boss have the same heart as your mother and I. I only wish that you can become a talent."

Yang's heart relaxed, and she couldn't help laughing: "Juncai is serious about his studies, even my father said that he is a rare and good seedling, and it is no problem to be a scholar."

Speaking of Xue Juncai who is the most proud, even Mr. Xue couldn't help showing a smile.

Seeing that the father-in-law's face softened, Yang took advantage of the situation and said: "It's just that you know, father, that when it's time to end, you don't have to just sit at home and study. Thinking back then, Juncai's father also listened to my father's words, I went to Qinghe Academy to study for two years, met some classmates, and registered in front of my husband. I took the opportunity to impress the county magistrate, and I passed the county exam. The ranking of the county exam As long as it is not bad, the government examination is not to say that it is sure, but it is half sure. It's just that you have to rely on luck when you get to the hospital examination, and Juncai's father is unlucky, so he will fail repeatedly."

This is the real reason why Yang Shi is valued by the old couple in the Xue family, not only because her father is a child, but also because her father was kind to Xue Qingshan in the past.

And Yang's statement seems absurd, but it is true. The two county examinations are not as strictly controlled as the hospital examination, especially the county examination, which is presided over by the magistrate of the county.

There are five county exams in total, and the results of the first exam are mainly to be judged. And this time, there are two stereotyped essays and one poem. As long as there are no typos and fluent essays, you can pass them all.

Compared with people he doesn't know well at all, the magistrate is still willing to pick people who are somewhat familiar.

And going to a good school to study is to provide an opportunity to stand out in front of the county magistrate. Dachang has always attached great importance to the selection of talents. How many scholars can be produced in this county, and even a son can be a Jinshi, which is considered a political achievement. No matter how fatuous and incompetent the county magistrate, this kind of cutscene must go.

And being able to enter a good school will not only increase your contacts, but also your vision.

For example, the county examinations are nothing more than the Four Books and Five Classics and the sacred edicts. How to write and what taboos should not be violated all need guidance. No matter how wonderful your article is, if you violate taboos such as temple taboos, royal names, and holy taboos, you will not take it.

And in places like the countryside, many private schools are opened by old children for the sake of making a living, and I still want to be a scholar to change my fortune, so how can I teach middle school children in every detail.

Xue Qingshan himself was like this, so he put all his energy into sending Xue Juncai to Qinghe Academy.

Yang thought that her father-in-law wanted to tell her about sending Xue Juncai to the school, so she said this. Little did they know that her words really touched Mr. Xue's mind, but Mr. Xue didn't intend to tell her these things.

Mr. Xue took a deep breath of dry cigarettes, and said: "The boss you said has been told to me, and we will talk about this matter later. You are Juncai's mother, and there is nothing wrong with planning for your son, but you have to know that our family It’s not just Dafang’s family.”

The father-in-law's tone was a bit meaningful, Yang was startled for a moment, and forced a smile: "Father, of course my daughter-in-law knows that the Xue family is not just ours, but don't worry, if Juncai's father and Juncai are promising, they will never forget to be filial to you Mother." Seeing her father-in-law's complexion was gloomy, she hurriedly added: "There are other people in the family, Juncai always remembers that he can study, thanks to a few uncles and aunts."

Mr. Xue nodded: "If you understand, you should know that the other three families have been sacrificing for the eldest house. I won't mention the far ones, just talk about the third and fourth children. The land in the house refers to the third and fourth children Kindly, your father is getting older, and his hands and feet are not as sharp as before. The fourth child has to pick out goods to sell after finishing his work at home. I don’t know how many pairs of shoes he has to wear out in a year, but all the money he earns is handed over to the public office. , I haven’t paid a penny. What is everyone working so hard for? It’s not for our family, but for Dafang.”