pjbooks Chapter 48 Meritorious Officials
Chapter 48 Meritorious Officials
Faced with Tang Huaiyi's question, Tang Zhengcai did not say anything more and carried the wheat ahead.
"Please close the door behind you."
Tang Huaiyi held ten yuan in his hand, closed the door to his third uncle's house, and when he turned around, his third uncle was already carrying wheat on the dirt road, walking a long way with uneven steps.
Despite the uneven ground, he carried things steadily, and the wheat on his shoulders didn't sway at all.
Tang Huaiyi quickly followed, asking, "Third Uncle, what's going on?"
"Nothing much," Tang Zhengcai said. "We'll talk when we get to your place."
The two arrived at Tang Huaiyi's house one after the other. As soon as they entered, their grandmother saw them in the yard and asked with a puzzled look, "Third son, what are you doing carrying grain here?"
Tang Zhengcai didn't say anything, carried the grain into the house, and put it together with Tang Huaiyi's grain.
Wang Lanhua stood at the kitchen door, frowning as she looked around.
Grandma asked again, "Third son, what's this grain for?"
"I'm going to the city tomorrow, and I won't need much grain anymore, so I'm just sending a bag to my brother."
"And Huaiyi, study hard from now on. Don't waste the tuition money your third uncle gave you!"
After speaking, Tang Zhengcai lowered his head and hurriedly left.
Grandma, surprised, shuffled along with him, her bound feet barely touching the ground. "Hey, third son, the trip to the city isn't settled yet, what's the rush?"
Tang Zhengcai didn't say anything, and walked away with his head down.
Just then, Grandpa came out upon hearing the noise: "Did the third son bring over a bag of grain?"
Tang Huaiyi held up the money in his hand: "My third uncle also gave me ten yuan, saying it was for my tuition."
"What's going on here?" Mother Wang Lanhua leaned against the kitchen door, somewhat stunned. "Did the sun really rise in the west today?"
Grandpa said, "Huaiyi, what happened? Tell me."
Tang Huaiyi then told his grandparents and mother about his encounter with his third uncle that day, and how his third uncle knew that Widow Ma was not clean and had rejected her.
Grandpa was immediately gratified: "The third son has finally figured things out and knows who to be close to."
"Before, whenever I spoke to his mother, he would retort by asking why we wouldn't find him a wife, leaving us speechless; but now it's different—"
At this point, Grandpa suddenly realized that Tang Huaiyi was the biggest contributor to this whole affair.
Given the Tang family's circumstances, if it weren't for Tang Huaiyi's help in introducing them, Tang Zhengcai might never have been able to find a wife in the countryside. Instead, he would have been played by Widow Ma for the rest of his life and might have even fallen out with his family.
"Huaiyi, it's all thanks to you that your third uncle had another hope and didn't hang himself on Widow Ma."
"Your third uncle does owe your family a lot of money and grain. The tuition fee for your schooling is a small token of his appreciation. Just take it and use it."
Before Tang Huaiyi could speak, Wang Lanhua couldn't help but say something barbed: "They seem close for now, but who knows what they'll be like later."
"I wouldn't dare praise him; if anything, it's my second child who's capable."
Remembering that the bag of wheat had solved the family's food problem and the ten yuan had basically covered Tang Huaiyi's tuition fees, Wang Lanhua smiled again. With these savings, Tang Huaiyi was finally able to go to school, and the family was finally able to get through the most difficult time of the year.
"Second Brother has become more capable through studying; I'll give you two extra pieces of rabbit meat later!"
"Mom, I want to eat too," Tang Xiaoli said, swallowing hard.
"Yes, we have them all!" Wang Lanhua said with a smile.
For a moment, they forgot to ask Tang Huaiyi about the money he spent on oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
If Tang Zhengcai hadn't brought the grain and money, Wang Lanhua would definitely have questioned him and scolded Tang Huaiyi for spending money so extravagantly, like buying new soy sauce and vinegar bottles without cleaning them a few times, which was very wasteful.
Knowing that Wang Lanhua harbored resentment, it was normal for her to complain a bit. Her grandparents didn't say anything, and afterward, the whole family was all smiles, which was the best thing.
Around noon, Tang Zhengjin and Tang Huai'ren returned from the fields carrying hoes.
The aroma of the stew made me sniffle.
"Why does the food smell so good today?" Tang Zhengjin asked.
"It must be that rabbit that Huaiyi picked up, which Mother stewed," Tang Huai-ren said.
Wang Lanhua came out with a smile: "You all have sharp noses, you all came here because you smelled the aroma. Wash your hands and faces, let's eat now."
Tang Zhengjin and Tang Huai'ren pumped a basin of cold water in front of the water pump, huffed and puffed as they washed their hands and faces, and then the family sat down together to eat lunch.
Mother had just said she wanted to give Tang Huaiyi two more pieces of rabbit meat, but the rabbit was too small, so the whole family only managed to get one piece each to taste it, and there wasn't even much meat on the bones.
That is, the three people—grandpa, grandma, and Tang Huaiyi—received two pieces of rabbit meat that were full of bones.
Tang Huaiyi didn't eat any, but gave one piece to each of Tang Huaili and Tang Xiaoli. The two were overjoyed and happily chewed on the bone, leaving no trace of the soy sauce and shredded meat.
Tang Zhengjin watched with satisfaction as his second child became more and more sensible.
This book still needs to be read; Erwa's way of speaking and acting is becoming increasingly different from the other children in the family.
While eating, Wang Lanhua told him about the grain and money that Tang Zhengcai had sent.
Tang Zhengjin asked somewhat uneasily, "Why did you accept it?"
"Why can't we accept it? He's owed us so much time and time again!" Wang Lanhua exclaimed anxiously when she heard Tang Zhengjin's implication that they shouldn't accept it.
Grandpa coughed and said, "Eldest son, don't be angry with your wife. I asked her to accept the money and food."
"You've helped Lao San quite a bit, and now Huaiyi is even helping Lao San get married. I've seen it all."
"Your family isn't having an easy time right now, but the third son is all alone and his life isn't so difficult. Just accept it."
Tang Zhengjin then fell silent and stopped speaking.
After lunch, Tang Huaiyi packed his things, slung his green satchel over his shoulder, and prepared to go out.
He has evening self-study on Sunday nights, so he has to go to school on Sunday afternoons.
From Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, after deducting travel time, there are barely 24 hours, or even less.
"Huaiyi, do you still have any food? Is it enough to eat?" Wang Lanhua asked from behind.
"That's enough. We don't need to get any more food from home from now on," Tang Huaiyi said with a smile.
"Nonsense," Wang Lanhua said, then couldn't help but remind her, "Keep the money safe, don't let anyone steal it. If the teacher is pressing you for payment, just pay the tuition..."
"And also, don't waste it..."
"Okay, Mother."
As Tang Huaiyi spoke, he turned around, waved, and left Tangmaji Village.
When Tang Huaiyi arrived at the intersection of Tangmaji Village and Songjiazhuang Village, he saw Li Xiufang and Li Xiujuan waiting for him from afar.
"Sister Xiufang, are you going to the county together today?"
Li Xiufang looked at Tang Huaiyi and said, "Well, I'll see Erni off. I knew you'd be passing through here, so I'll wait for you here."
"Sister Xiufang, it's not safe for you to walk to the county town now, and Lijia Gou is so far away. It will be dark by the time you come back," Tang Huaiyi said. "I'll go to the county town with Li Xiujuan next. Why don't you go back first?"