Chapter 115

By borrowing money from others, Xu Ran had finally achieved one of his goals this year, and he had two more left.

He intended to take part in the imperial examination at the county level this autumn, which was held from September 9 to 11. He had about a month left to prepare for it. Fortunately, Shao Yu helped him manage his family affairs, and Gao Quan offered help with his fields. Therefore, Xu Ran could cram for the exam with no worries.

Xu Ran was not alone because Tangtang and Guoguo accompanied him. Xu Ran was really domineering, as he asked the two little poor guys to read books, practice calligraphy and run with him every day.

Not surprisingly, Tangtang and Guoguo had had enough of such sufferings, so they ran away one day.

After seeking for Tangtang and Guoguo for a couple of times, Xu Ran found them in the yard of the new house, and he saw they learning martial art from Gao Quan. Yes! Martial art!

It stunned Xu Ran, and he quickly realized that Gao Quan was not as simple as he seemed to be. However, Xu Ran didn’t intend to figure it out as long as Gao Quan didn’t hurt his families. Moreover, Xu Ran was actually willing to have Gao Quan teach his kids martial art, which could at least develop their ability to protect themselves.

After talking to Gao Quan for a while, Xu Ran decided to let Gao Quan keep teaching the two children martial art. And in the evening, Xu Ran asked Tangtang and Guoguo whether they were willing to learn it.

After all, as far as Xu Ran considered, to learn martial art could be always painstaking, at least more painstaking than to study knowledge in books.

It had been the first time for Tangtang and Guoguo to make different choices since they were born. Guoguo selected martial arts while Tangtang preferred academic knowledge.

People had inherent disparities in interests. Both martial art and academic knowledge were worthwhile to learn, and Xu Ran’s only request for them was to stick to their goals.

Even if Tangtang didn’t like to learn martial arts, he had to learn some basic skills to protect himself. Meanwhile, even if Guoguo didn’t like reading, he had to develop the ability to read and write at least.

The two children listened to Xu Ran seriously and remembered his words in their hearts, indicating that they would not easily give up their targets.

Xu Ran nodded with satisfaction and went back to Liu Tong.

Liu Tong was a little surprised when he heard that Gao Quan was actually good at martial art, but he believed it soon. He thought Gao Quan should be like that. Xu Ran was confused and asked Liu Tong why.

Liu Tong said, “Well, Ran, I never mentioned my dad and daddy to you, right?”

Xu Ran nodded.

Liu Tong continued, “My dad had actually learned some martial art, you know. He was good at hunting. When I was a child, I always asked him to teach me martial art. However, he refused me because I was a Ge’er. I entreated him many times. Finally, he agreed to teach me hunting. Unfortunately, my dad and daddy passed away soon after I started to learn it.”

“Okay… but does it have anything to do with Gao Quan?” Xu Ran was confused.

“You know, my dad and Gao Quan have extremely similar accents. Although my father was from Liu Village, he had grown up somewhere else, and he didn’t return the village until my birth. He went back to Liu Village with my daddy and me.”

“Do you know where this accent comes from?”

Liu Tong shook his head. “I don’t know. My dad didn’t tell me, and the farthest place I’ve ever been is the town. I have no idea.”

“How did your dad and daddy pass away, Tongtong?” Xu Ran asked.

Liu Tong thought for a moment and replied, “Illness! He fell ill suddenly and passed away soon. I was young at that time and couldn’t realize the death of my dad and daddy, and then my eldest uncle took me to his family. I hardly had time to think about it. Yes! It’s weird! Ran!”

Xu Ran also found it strange. Did Gao Quan have anything to do with Liu Tong’s dad? Moreover, Liu Tong’s dad and daddy died so accidentally.There must be something unknown.

Xu Ran shook his head and cleared away the strange thoughts in his mind. Since Tongtong’s dad and daddy had passed away, it might be wiser to stop thinking about it. Maybe it would be better to know less. After all, Xu Ran didn’t think he had the ability to protect his family after figuring the truth out.

Xu Ran thought for a moment and said, “well, Tongtong. Gao Quan is teaching Tangtang and Guoguo martial art, right? How about going to see them next time? Then you can figure out whether Gao Quan has the same martial skill as your dad did.”

“Okay,” Liu Tong nodded.

Then he asked Xu Ran, “But Ran, even if they knew each other, what can we do?”

Xu Ran scratched his head and felt that it was a problem. He did not know what to do either.

Xu Ran said with a little impatience, “Nothing! Anyway, we know they knew each other. It might be useful in the future.”

Liu Tong agreed, and they discussed to go to watch the training the next time when Gao Quan taught Tangtang and Guoguo martial art.

Tangtang and Guoguo learned more seriously with Xu Ran’s permission. Although Tangtang didn’t like it very much, he was still very serious about it. Meanwhile, Guoguo was so excited that he even acted like a monkey, jumping up and down all day.

Xu Ran and Liu Tong went to watch the training. They saw that after teaching Tangtang and Guoguo a few skills, Gao Quan went to practice by himself.

Liu Tong watched them very seriously. He even saw his dad from Gao Quan, whose movements were nearly the same as those of his dad.

Xu Ran looked at Liu Tong and then Gao Quan. Then, He understood everything. He took Liu Tong away while Gao Quan hadn’t noticed the weirdness of Liu Tong.

Tangtang and Guoguo weren’t disturbed by Xu Ran and Liu Tong, rather, they focused on practicing their martial skills. And Gao Quan did not care about it either.

Xu Ran took Liu Tong home and asked him in a low voice, “What’s wrong, Tongtong? Did you find anything?”

Liu Tong nodded. “Yes, Ran. He seems to learn the same kind of martial art as my dad. I almost regarded him as my dad just now.”

According to TV plots Xu Ran had ever watched, it could happen to some professions. Obviously, both Gao Quan and Liu Tong’s Dad had had professional training. Maybe they were guards, or secret guards.

Xu Ran patted Liu Tong’s back and said to him, “Forget it, Tongtong. You’ve seen nothing today. As long as Gao Quan doesn’t do anything harmful to our family, we shall pretend we know nothing.”

Liu Tong was dazed for a moment, and then nodded submissively, “I got it, Ran. I’m just a little sad.”

Xu Ran put him in his arms. “He’s not your Dad, Tongtong. It’s been so many years. Don’t be sad. At least you have me, Tangtang, Guoguo and the baby in your womb, right? We’re a family. And you’re pregnant now. If you’re sad, it won’t be good for our baby, Tongtong! ”

Hearing Xu Ran’s last words, Liu Tong suddenly smiled.

He pushed Xu Ran away. “I know it, Ran. It’s just a little hard to accept it, but it’s fine now. Don’t worry, I won’t be sad.”

Xu Ran held Liu Tong’s face and gave a deep kiss on his forehead.

The two of them smiled, indicating the end of this incident.

At the end of July, many residents in the village visited Xu Ran for their corn. A few of them had agreed to sell their corns to Xu Ran, and the rest came to ask the price of the corn seeds.

However, Xu Ran rejected these guys and told them to buy seeds in the town.

Xu Ran’s decision was within reason. Besides, his price for buying corn wouldn’t be too low, although there was always someone greedy, it had nothing to do with him.

Ultimately, there were only about ten sellers, and Xu Ran had ever sent the corn rice noodles to them. Xu Ran was satisfied with them. Maybe he could take care of these people in the future.

Most of the corns in the field were harvested, and Xu Ran only saved about a half hundred kilograms of seeds of corns for the next year. These would be enough for a large field.

Xu Ran also left some seeds for Zhuo Yun, but not much. Even if someone was willing to buy seeds at a price of a tael of silver, he couldn’t buy much.

And if no one buy them, it was very likely that these seeds would become popcorns and be eaten by Zhuo Yun and Qin Shuwen.

Xu Ran then visited the village head and check the seller list. Although the corn seed was cheap, it should be paid, and he could also give these people guidance of planting corns.

The village head had his own seeds, and he prepared enough corn for eating. He and his families learned from Xu Ran how to make the corn rice noodles, which were sweet and glutinous. Both adults and children were fond of them. Therefore, he hoped his villagers plant more corns.

Although he hoped so, he couldn’t require the villagers to act as he wished. That was it. Only those wise could make a fortune.

After checking the name list, Xu Ran went to Wu Mei and gathered them together, advising them to buy more wasteland.

Anyway, people had nothing to do in winter. By reclaiming the wasteland, they could also do some physical exercise.

And in mid-August, the rice grain could be ready to be harvested. There were nearly a hundred trolleys in their yards, and they could earn much in autumn.

Wu Mei and others agreed with Xu Ran. Anyway, the desolate land was only two taels of silver. If each of them bought ten acres of land, they would only need to pay twenty taels of silver together. They could afford it as long as they lived more economically.

Xu Ran added, “If you trust me, it would be nice to buy these lands in my name, and tell others that the lands are lent by me, so that you would not need to pay the taxes as long as I passed my examination… sure, you would have to pay them by yourselves if I failed. It’s up to you!”

“Well” Wu Mei waved his hand. “What are you talking about? Of course we trust you! OK! I’ll buy my lands in your name! If you failed, we would pay it on our own, but I believe you are able to pass the exam!”

Hearing that, Liu Tong and Wu Lan also nodded in agreement and expressed their best wishes to Xu Ran.

Xu Ran rubbed his nose and felt a lot of pressure. Those were taxes of thirty acres of lands after all!

Xu Ran knew he must make full preparations for the coming exam, but he had no idea about the content of the exam at the county level. There were a large number of villagers in the Xu Village, yet it had been many years that no one had won the glorious title of “Xiucai (people who passed the imperial examination at the county level)”.

And nobody knew why.