Chapter 40
Snowflakes are flying all over the sky, the day has entered the twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month, and the academy begins its annual vacation. That day, there was a lot of traffic and horses outside the academy, and most of the students from the academy came to pick them up from their homes.
Some students with different origins have not seen their parents for almost half a year, and they are only six or seven years old. Although they are taken care of by servants, they still often miss their families and secretly wipe their tears under the covers.
Now the parents who don't see each other when they see each other, suddenly tear up their necks and start crying, it doesn't look like seeing their parents, but like dead parents.
Zhou Yi went home every day, so naturally he couldn't understand their suffering. When he came out with his book bag on his back, he saw a group of people crying, thinking that something big had happened!
Zheng Zhi also put his arms around the neck of a man in brocade clothes and was crying, but when he saw Zhou Yi, he immediately wiped his eyes with his hands, pretending that nothing happened.
"Hey, I will be promoted to the children's class in the spring of next year. My father said that is the time to learn the way of a sage. Do you dare to compare with me?" Generally speaking, Zhou Yi will fight.
"I can only compare myself with myself." Zhou Yi looked at the sky from a forty-five angles, and nodded in his heart for this pretense.
"You...why do you hate me so much? I hate you to death." It's a pity that Zheng Zhi couldn't understand this super-era chicken soup for the soul. He stomped his feet and said bitterly.
Zheng Zhi's father looked at Zhou Yi with interest in his eyes. He knew that his son was talented and intelligent. , this child is definitely not simple.
"I am Zheng Zhi's father, and you are his classmate?"
"Hi Uncle, my name is Zhou Yi, and I am indeed Zheng Zhi's classmate." Zhou Yi gave a student salute to Zheng Zhi's father.
"That's right, it's the first time we meet. Let's play with something small." He took out a white jade in the shape of a monkey with big fingers from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhou Yi.
When Zhou Yi saw it, he realized that it might just be a gift specially given by the Zheng family when they met relatives and old friends. Although it was delicate, it was not very expensive. He didn't want to shame him, so he thanked him solemnly and took it.
Seeing Zhou Yi pick up the things, Zheng Zhi's father smiled even more. After saying goodbye to Zhou Yi, he hugged Zheng Zhi and got into the carriage. In the carriage, Zheng Zhi said angrily, "Father, why do you still give that to me?" Bad boy stuff, he hates it the most!" "It's just a little thing, you forgot what I told you? Sending you to the academy, not only let you study, but also make friends with good moral character, smart and studious classmates. Now this little man is in vain for the children and grandchildren of the Zheng family." "I remember, father." Zheng Zhi pursed his lips, and when he saw his father was angry, he quickly admitted his cowardice. "Well, you hate that Zhou Yi so much, is it because he behaved better than you in the academy?" Zheng Zhi's father looked at him and said clearly. These words seemed to have stepped on Zheng Zhi's tail, his face was flushed red, and he almost jumped up, "Who says I'm worse than him, but that kid is used to pretending to be good, to please the gentlemen... " Well, that means that Zhou Yi is indeed better than you." Zheng Zhi's father looked at his son like a cat with its hair blown out, and came to a very certain conclusion. Zhou Yi, who was standing at the gate of the academy, was naturally unaware of Zheng Zhi and his father's discussion about him. Looking at the green pines at the gate of the academy covered with white snow, everything was white as far as he could see, and suddenly had the urge to read a poem: "The heavy snow crushes the green pines." , the green pine is upright and straight, you must know that the pine is noble and clean, and wait until the snow melts." " Yes, although the words are straightforward, but the meaning is profound, it is still a superb work, I didn't expect you to have such a talent in poetry and Fu." Just read After that, Master Qian suddenly stood behind him like a ghost behind him, and praised him. Zhou Yi staggered and almost fell, oh my god, he just thought of it on a whim, read it out of feeling, and sent it out in response to the situation, but he really didn't want to plagiarize.
This misunderstanding needs to be cleared up quickly. If Master Qian thinks that he really has a talent for poetry and spreads it out, what will happen in the future. He knew that scholars in ancient times often got together to hold essay meetings or something. Naturally, it was impossible to compete on who wrote concisely on such occasions, and the poetry and prose that showed talent became the focus of the competition. Some students have achieved great fame before taking the imperial examination, that is, they may have written a good poem about flowers, grass, and bamboo at a certain cultural meeting, using the poem as a metaphor for ambition, and gaining fame, whether it is in the apprenticeship When it was still an imperial examination, there were great benefits.
If he is in the limelight, he will not become a thorn in the side of others. He doesn't know about others, but he knows his own affairs. If there are still two brushes in writing contemporary prose, but poetry and prose, let's forget it. Bar.
If at that time others challenged him to compete, wouldn't it be shameful for him to know nothing!
"Master, I didn't make this, I saw it in a book by accident." Zhou Yi explained with a dry smile.
"Oh? Which book is it? I haven't seen it before. This poem is simple but has profound meaning. Such a masterpiece will not be buried?
" Maybe the person who wrote the poem just didn't want people to know about it!" Zhou Yiyuan lied.
"It's me. People who can write such poems are naturally not the type to catch fame and reputation. They have noble conduct. I really want to get to know him." Master Qian sighed.
Zhou Yi complained that he would have to travel through time and space like him.
"Master, my father has come to pick me up. I will take my leave first. I wish you a happy New Year." Zhou Yi was afraid that Master Qian would ask again, so he decisively slipped away first.
"Well, let's go. Although you have a rest, don't waste your studies."
"Yes, master."
The snow at the gate of the academy has been swept away, but after going down the stairs, no one has cleaned it. The snow has reached Zhou Yi's thighs. He stepped down from the stairs and stepped on it. Only the upper body is still visible, "Hey!" Zhou Yi pushed his legs vigorously, but it was useless, instead he made himself into a mess. When Zhou Yi pulled himself out like a carrot, Mrs. Qian and Mrs. Zheng Looking at his predicament and discussing him.
"Did you hear everything?" Master Qian asked Master Zheng.
"Yeah."
"This kid, you said you saw it in a miscellaneous journal, and the level of deception is too low. If a real hermit really doesn't want his poems to be circulated, how can he attach them to the book. "Master Qian said with a smile.
"That's good, he knows how to be humble, and what you worry about won't happen." Mr. Zheng also laughed.
"That's right, this is also the place where the old man is gratified."
Zhou Yi was about to cry. He looked around, but he didn't see the carriage that Zhou Lao Er came to pick him up. up.
If he knew that the lie he thought was perfect had already been stripped of his vest by the two wives, he would probably cry even more.
Fortunately, after a while, Zhou's second child came, and he lifted Zhou Yi into the carriage and said, "Why don't you wait for me at the door? There is such a deep snow, what are you doing there?
" Zhou Laoer choked when he asked, "It's hard to break it, old man, looking at his three-headed figure, he said angrily: "From today onwards, I must eat more." "Well, you should eat more
, The body is too weak." Zhou Er Er didn't know why his son suddenly made such an oath, but he was naturally happy to eat more.
When the carriage passed through the county town, Zhou Yi found that although the weather was cold now, there were more people on the street than before, and there were people buying new year's goods everywhere.
Zhou Lao Er didn't drive the carriage back to the village, but went to the shop, where Wang Yan and Sanya were there, and when Sanya saw Zhou Yi, she bowed her head and left.
Zhou Yi saw it and shrugged his shoulders. Anyway, he told Sanya what he should say. If Sanya still hated him in his heart, then he couldn't help it.
Wang Yan took her two daughters to buy a lot of New Year's goods in the morning, and now they are all packed in the carriage. Zhou Ji was also about to close its doors, and Zhou Lao Er paid Xiao He a monthly payment, and gave him a couple of year's money, and the happy Xiao He poured out good words like a basket.
The New Year's goods took up half of the space in the carriage, and the five of them would be a bit crowded if they sat. Zhou Er Er directly hugged Zhou Yi in his arms.
Zhou Yi opened the window to look outside. After leaving the county town and walking on the official road, there was no human habitation. It feels too small.
It was completely dark when we got home. Wang Yan took Daya and Sanya to put things away and light a fire to cook.
The next day, Zhou Lao Er also closed the workshop and paid the wages to the workers. Wang Yuan also wanted to go home. For this nephew who wholeheartedly helped him, Zhou Lao Er was extremely satisfied and wrapped him a big red envelope: "Come and help uncle next year."
Wang Yuan rubbed his head, silly want to say something.
Seeing his hesitation, Zhou Yi asked him directly: "Cousin, do you have anything to say?" "
Yes, aunt, uncle, I don't want to come next year." Wang Yuanweng said in a low voice.
"Why, is the monthly payment less? Or is it too tiring?" Zhou Laoer asked quickly, Wang Yuan was like a sea-fixing needle in the workshop, so he only needed to take care of the workshop once in a while, so that he could get out of work. to do something else.
"No, no..." Wang Yuan quickly waved his hands: "I am worried about my father. It is too dangerous for him to hunt alone in the deep mountains. Aunt, uncle, you don't know. Although this hunting earns a lot, it is just a lot of money. Put your head on the waistband of your trousers." Wang Yuan's simple and honest face was full of worry.
Wang Yan's eyes immediately turned red when she said that, she had been worried about Wang Hu all along, now hearing what Wang Yuan said, she felt as if she had been put in a frying pan.
"Then let the eldest brother come to help me next year." Wang Hu made a final decision. If Wang Hu and Wang Yuan were in the workshop together, those people in the workshop would not dare to make small moves.
"This... I'm afraid my father won't agree!" Wang Yuan was in a dilemma.
"If he doesn't agree, I'll go and tell him, and I'll see if he still thinks I'm a girl." Wang Yan suddenly said loudly with red eyes.
Several people were talking, when suddenly the door was slammed loudly, Zhou Er Er opened the door and found a middle-aged man, who looked familiar.
"Hurry up, call Yuanzi out quickly. When his father was hunting in the mountains, he was caught by a tiger..." "
What, Sanbo, what do you think of my father?" Before he could finish speaking, Wang Yuan came out of the room He rushed out, pushed the visitor and asked anxiously.
"Brother Big Hu was scratched by the tiger, and the doctor is treating his wounds now!" said the visitor, almost rolling his eyes after being pushed by Wang Yuan.
"Father..." Wang Yuan let out a sad cry.
"Brother!"
"Mother, mother...Father, come quickly, mother has passed out."
There was chaos. Zhou Laoer hurriedly invited the doctor, and the whole family gathered around to watch the old doctor's slow movements, feeling extremely anxious.
"Doctor, how is my daughter-in-law?" Zhou Lao Er asked impatiently.
The doctor glanced at Lao Er Zhou: "Didn't you see that I'm taking the pulse? What's the hurry!" So the whole family watched the old doctor taking the pulse slowly. Eight times.
"How is my mother, old man?" Zhou Yi couldn't wait any longer, so he asked him directly.
Perhaps because Zhou Yi is a round and cute child, the doctor gave a smiling face: "This child is well-raised, like a glutinous rice ball." Normally,
Zhou Yi would definitely slander, but now he is not in the mood .
"Don't worry, your mother is fine, you are going to have a little brother." The old doctor said and patted Zhou Yi's head.
"What, my wife is pregnant?" Zhou Er Er was dumbfounded. Since he got Zhou Yi, he never wanted to have another child. Unexpectedly, Wang Yan was pregnant at this moment.
"Why, unhappy?" The old doctor had completely different attitudes towards Zhou Laoer and Zhou Yi.
"No, no, I'm naturally happy to have a child." It's not that I can't afford it now, it's good to have another child.
Wang Yan woke up after a while, and was very surprised to find out that she was pregnant. She was pregnant with so many children, and she was very familiar with the pregnancy reaction, but this child did not move.
"Don't think too much, we will give birth if you are pregnant, more children will bring more blessings." Seeing her frowning all the time, Zhou Lao Er hurriedly comforted her.
"Let's go and see my brother, I'm really worried." Wang Yan cried.
"If you're at home, I'll go. You're just pregnant, so you should be careful." Zhou Er Er was worried about Wang Yan.
"It's so delicate. I used to have a child and I didn't have to do everything. Now it's much better than before!"
Zhou Er Er thought about it, so he helped Wang Yan to go out, and Zhou Yi followed at this time: "I'm going to see my uncle too."
"It's cold outside, you'd better stay at home." "
No, I'm going, my uncle is so kind to me, I must go and see him."
"His father, let Liu Lang go. "
Finally Zhou Yi got into the carriage as he wished, and when he arrived at Wang's house, he saw all the neighbors gathered around Wang Hu's house.
"It's a crime. I don't know how Dumb came back. One leg is covered with blood, and the bones are exposed.
" said with a mouth.
Zhou Yi's expression turned cold when he heard that, in this world, there are people who are benevolent and righteous, and naturally there are also people who are jealous and petty. Fortunately, Wang Hu only injured his flesh, but his bones were not damaged.
After he woke up, although his face was pale, he still said indifferently: "This little injury is nothing. I used to be injured more than this when I was seriously injured." "You still think you are quite capable, don't you
? You don’t feel reconciled to not throwing these two hundred catties on the mountain, you go, you go, anyway, if you don’t care so much, then you don’t want this life, so I won’t have to worry about you all day.” Aunt After hearing Wang Hu's words, Sun Dahua suddenly broke out, and she was crying hoarsely now, who was usually very cheerful.
Although her voice was really loud, Zhou Yi understood her quite a bit. After all, his man was doing a desperate job, and even a woman with a big heart couldn't avoid worrying about it.
"It's all my fault, it's all my fault, if only I went with you." Wang Yuan blamed himself endlessly.
"You go, you go too, I'll be safe if you two father and son are thrown on the mountain together." Sun Dahua cried even harder.
Wang Hu and Wang Yuanqi were dumbfounded, "You bastard, what nonsense are you talking about, it's making your mother angry, daughter-in-law, so what, I just said that I was bald, and I promise not to say that in the future..." The tall man, who was nearly two meters tall, was lying on the bed and fawning on the woman next to the bed.
Zhou Yi wanted to laugh, but at the same time was envious of the sincere relationship between his aunt and uncle.
The aunt wiped away her tears: "If you are not careful in the future, I will pack up and go back to your mother's house, and let you go there alone." In the end, she still felt sorry for Wang Hu, and wiped his face with a handkerchief.
Zhou Yi's family stayed at Wang Hu's house for the whole night, during which Zhou's second child asked Wang Hu to go to the workshop to help after the next year. Wang Hu didn't agree with anything. To help, it was because he was really worried that he let him go, and now he went by himself, so what's the matter.
Finally, after Wang Yan cried out, he agreed: "Brother, look at yourself, you have come back today with all your injuries, if you go to the mountains one day, maybe you will just go like this Back! What do you ask me to do, what do you ask sister-in-law, A Yuan, and Xiao Ling to do? Ah, if you still treat me as a girl, you can listen to me." Finally, under the double attack of Wang Yan and
Sun Dahua, he had to agree .
Wang Hu injured his leg, and Zhou Yi's grandfather watched for a while leaning on his crutches, while the others didn't even show their faces. Zhou Yi thought, Wang Yan and Zhou's second child are really a match, even their family backgrounds are so similar.
Early the next morning, Zhou Yi's family drove the carriage back home. Farmers are usually busy for several days before Chinese New Year.
And this year, Zhou Laoer will take Zhou Yi to give New Year gifts to several wives.
Be a teacher for a day and be a father for life. In ancient times, the relationship between master and student was extremely close. If a teacher accepted a student as a closed disciple, it would be a stronger relationship than father and son.
The teacher regards the students as his successors, not only knowledge, but also the inheritance of outlook on life and politics. The same dynasty is an official, and the teacher and the students are natural alliances.
The master of Bailu Academy is not Zhou Yi's teacher, but it is always right to respect the teacher.
On New Year's Eve, Zhou Laoer drove Zhou Yi in a carriage early in the morning to several masters' homes one by one. The masters moved their homes to Guang'an County because they had been teaching in Bailu Academy all year round.
When Zhou Laoer and Zhou Yi gave them New Year's greetings, they also met other people who also came to pay New Year's greetings. It's coming here, not to mention anything else, just talk about their family, and the annual gifts prepared for the wives are quite generous.
If you can't become an official in the future, it's not bad to be a teacher. Zhou Yi thought to himself.
Several masters had a good attitude when they saw Zhou Yi, and they all said that Zhou Yi is a talent that can be created, so that Zhou's second child, the parent, should value him.
The second son of Zhou was flattered and agreed, he thought proudly that his son is so smart, who wouldn't like it! Erkong Dad wears a thick filter, and only thinks that Zhou Yi is good everywhere.
The sound of crackling firecrackers sounded, New Year's Eve is here, and the family will watch the New Year's Eve tonight, and the family is talking around the fire.
"Father, do you have any stories, tell us one!" Zhou Yi pushed Zhou Er Er with his eyes open.
Elder Zhou said, "I have no stories, I don't have any."
"Liu Lang, you must know a lot of stories after reading, why don't you tell us about them!" Da Ya peeled the chestnuts and looked at Zhou Yi with a smile .
Sister, I went to study, not to go to the Story Club, so why must I know how to tell stories? I thought so in my heart, but in order to get rid of the world, Zhou Yi still said something: "It is said that the female snail made up the sky and left a stone. This stone absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon for a long time, and gave birth to a stone monkey..." Zhou
Yinen Nen's voice sounded in the room, this story is really unimaginable, when Zhou Yi told about the stone monkey in the sky as Bi Mawen, causing a series of disasters, it caused a burst of exclamation from several girls, even Wang Yan He and Zhou Laoer were both fascinated by what they heard.
Zhou Yi was speechless, and when drinking water, the whole family looked at him eagerly, Wuya urged: "What's going on behind the scenes, what's going on behind the scenes!" Zhou Yi thought to himself, isn't this just looking for trouble for himself
! Journey to the West is so popular, if you write this story yourself, anyway, there is no Mr. Wu in this era, and if nothing happens, the butterfly fell off, and no one would know even if I brought it up.
Just thinking about it, I suddenly felt that Journey to the West was a banned book in the Ming Dynasty, but it clearly said in it: The emperor takes turns to do it, and come to my house next year. Zhou Yi also really respected Mr. Wu as a man. In the feudal dynasty, such "rebellious" words dared to be written in the book. The emperor just banned the book, but didn't cut off the man's head, which is considered a big-hearted man. If he encountered the literary prison of the Qing Dynasty, he would be treated by thousands of cuts every minute.
The whole Journey to the West seems to be a gathering of gods and monsters from all walks of life, and Monkey King dances very lively. He protects Tang Zeng to go to the West to learn Buddhist scriptures, and is finally named the Fighting and Conquering Buddha. Tathagata Buddha's palm.
Zhou Yi thinks that this is a novel about fate, which seems to be positive, but the whole story interprets sadness and satirizes the hypocrisy of those in power. No, this thing can't be spread out: "Father, mother, sister, you must never tell the story I just told." "Why?"
Zhou Laoer thought the story was funny. He was also going to talk to people he knew.
"I heard it from others, but this is a banned book. The person who wrote the book was imprisoned, and the court forbids others to spread the word. If they are discovered, they will be imprisoned." "Ah, we don't
say Come on, Liu Lang, don't talk about it anymore." Zhou Lao Er and Wang Yan were really frightened, and hurriedly told Zhou Yi.
Although Wang Yan and Zhou Yi were frightened, Zhou Yi felt a little sorry, but it was better than looking for trouble, and he blamed himself for not thinking carefully, so he just said it rashly.
Suddenly he thought about the scientific examination again. Are these students like the monkey in the palm of the Tathagata Buddha? What they learn is to serve the emperor and the imperial power dynasty. , and was recruited by the emperor.
Then Zhou Yi smiled, he was really foolish, whether to recruit security or not, he didn't have the idea of supremacy of imperial power, and he didn't agree with the idea of monarchs and ministers. He studied only to gain a place for himself in this era. It's all about the position, if you want to talk about recruiting, he also recruited himself.
The next day, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family went to the upper room to pay New Year greetings to Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou.
Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou wore brand new clothes and sat on the kang, while the others sat on both sides. Although Zhou Yi was very reluctant, he still knelt down to kowtow to Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou.
"Grandson is giving grandpa a New Year's greeting." Zhou Yi kowtowed, and then said in a childish voice, clasping her little hands.
At this time, no matter how poor the family is, if the younger generation pays New Year greetings to the elders, the elders will give the younger generation a little red envelope, even if it means meaning.
But Mr. Zhou just looked at Zhou Yi with an inexplicable expression for a while: "Get up." Then he disappeared.
This old man is really dissatisfied.
Zhou Laoer looked at the other boys in the room holding red envelopes in their hands, but his son didn't have any. It was like stomping his face on the ground. He squeezed his fists, took a deep breath, pulled Zhou Yi to the side, and then said nothing, and left after he and Shangfang buried their ancestors.
During the Chinese New Year this year, Wang Yan cut new clothes for several daughters, and they used good fabrics. Da Ya and San Ya were starved because of malnutrition, so they separated and went out for half a year. People are like crops that get the feed and grow up. Although Zhou Er Er has a lame leg, his facial features are distinct and his face with soft lines is obviously different from that of Mr. Zhou. Zhou Yi guessed that Zhou Er Er should have followed him. Kissing grandma, Wang Yan is also pretty. The two girls are slender, with bright faces, coupled with such a dress, they are directly compared to the two girls in the other two rooms.
Siya Zhou Hui is okay, their family lives in the town, and they usually have good food and clothing, and they don’t have much contact with the big girl and the third ya. The change was only a surprise.
But Zhou Shu was different. She knew very well what Daya Sanya was like before, and standing with her was an ugly duckling. She couldn't compare to Siya, so she looked for presence in Daya Sanya.
But now, she can't even compare with the big ya and the three ya, and she has suddenly become the bottom of the girls in the Zhou family. How can she accept this? Tighten the veil tightly with both hands.