Chapter 43 Adopt Zhou Zhu
Zhou Yi brought Zhou Zhu back home. Seeing Zhou Zhu like this, the sensitive pregnant woman immediately shed tears when Wang Yan said, "Why did it become like this? The child was so clean before. Tian Uncle and Mrs. Tian don’t care about it, how can such a small child herd cattle?”
Zhou Er Er sighed when he saw it, what a crime, how could Uncle Tian and Mrs. Tian be so cruel.
Wang Yan quickly combed Zhou Zhu's hair, helped him take a bath, and found him a piece of clothing that Zhou Yi had worn before, and changed it for him.
"Hurry up, Zhu'er, eat more!" At the dinner table, Wang Yan kept picking vegetables for Zhou Zhu. Zhou Zhu muffled his head and didn't make a sound, just ate for a while, and suddenly burst into tears.
This made Wang Yan feel distressed, and hurriedly hugged Zhou Zhu in her arms: "What's wrong, why are you still crying, don't cry, Zhu'er, don't cry." After eating, it was already dark, Zhou
Zhu The second son sent Zhou Zhu back, and before leaving, Zhou Zhu suddenly bowed to Wang Yan, then glanced at Zhou Yi, and then followed Zhou Zhu away.
Zhou Laoer was just going to send Zhou Zhu off, and the family was waiting under the lamp. They thought it would not be long, but who would have thought that Zhou Laoer would not be seen until Haishi (nine o'clock in the evening).
Now not only Wang Yan, but even Zhou Yi became anxious. Unable to sit still at home, Wang Yan lit a torch, and the three of them walked along the house towards Uncle Tian to find Zhou Laoer.
It was cold spring, and it was night again. At this moment, everyone in the village was asleep, everything was quiet, and the chill hit. Zhou Yi gathered his clothes and followed the pace of Wang Yan and Da Ya with short legs. . The mother and son were extremely anxious, and they walked all the way outside Uncle Tian's house, seeing the light and the sound of quarreling inside, the mother and son breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that something was delayed, and Zhou Lao Er couldn't make it in time. go home. "Mother, father should be inside." Zhou Yi was dragged into the room by Wang Yan. As expected, Zhou Laoer was standing in the room, and beside him stood Zhou Zhu with his head deeply buried. "Father..." Zhou Yi said, everyone's eyes were on him, Zhou Yi glanced, the small main room was full of people, the second uncle was sitting on the kang, but the third uncle was nowhere to be seen .
In Uncle Tian's family, the men in charge of the second uncle's side are all there, even Zhou Yi's uncle is there.
"Why are you here?" Zhou Laoer saw Zhou Yi and the three of them, and hurriedly pulled them to the side, and found a stool for Wang Yan to sit on.
"Father, what happened?" Zhou Yi asked Zhou Erer's hand in doubt.
Zhou Laoer sighed and said nothing, but looked at Zhou Zhu with pity. Could it be related to Zhou Zhu? Sure enough, following the conversation of the people in the back room, Zhou Yi understood the reason.
Since Aunt Santang left, Zhou Zhu suddenly seemed to be a different person, gloomy and not at all lively as before. When he looked at Uncle Tian's family, no matter who they were, his eyes were full of resentment. Uncle Tian was so angry that he beat him Afterwards, Zhou Zhu yelled that they were the enemies who killed his parents.
This time, the third uncle fell ill, and Uncle Tian's family couldn't stand the way Zhou Zhu looked at them as enemies all day long, so they sent him to herd cattle.
As for the gathering of the three relatives tonight, it was also because when Zhou Lao Er sent Zhou Zhu back, he heard that Uncle Tian and the others were going to give Zhou Zhu to someone else's house. He and Zhou Qi played well when they were young, but they were pitiful. Zhou Zhu had no one to rely on, and now Uncle Tian's family wanted to send him away, so they persuaded Uncle Tian's family a few words, but they were determined, and their voices became louder and louder, alarming the other people in the room.
Because Mr. Zhou lived on the other side of the village, he didn't know about it, and no one called him.
"What can I do, he is my own grandson, and the third child and the third daughter-in-law are gone again, how can I not love him, but...he..., this child has become a rebellious boy, a few days ago He actually yelled that the third child and the third daughter-in-law were killed by us, and my father was mad at him!" Uncle Tian said to the people in the room.
The second uncle took a puff of cigarette: "Tian Wa, this can't be done like this, no matter what, Zhou Zhu is also a descendant of our Zhou family, what's the matter with you giving him to someone else's family? San Wa'er is just such a single seedling." Well, to put it bluntly, the two of them really went there for the sake of your big family, and now that they are gone, you don’t even keep your only incense, you are making Sanwa’er feel uneasy in the underground!"
"No, this kid hates us. He wants us to die. I'm really afraid that sometime he will quietly put a handful of rat poison in our meals, and the whole family will be killed by him..." Uncle Tian had a deep expression on his face. fear.
The second uncle didn't believe it: "He's not as mysterious as you say, he's just a little kid, you just have to teach him well." "
I...look, second uncle, look, this kid's eyes are creepy!" Unintentionally, the uncle caught Zhou Zhu's eyes, pointed at him and said.
Zhou Yi looked at Zhou Zhu, and saw that he was staring straight at Uncle Tian who was talking, the deep-seated hatred in it was really creepy.
The second uncle looked at Zhou Zhu, and was surprised to see him like this, this..., how did this child become like this, Zhou Zhu couldn't say anything when he was still a child, it was because his eyes were too frightening.
Zhou Yi was silent. He didn't like Uncle Tian's family, but he hated the dead Aunt Santang even more. As a mother, she left her only child and committed suicide in such a decisive way in front of him. His former relatives were all his enemies who killed his father and mother, so it was so cruel to plant hatred in his little heart! Zhou Zhu, a child, saw his mother die with his own eyes, and heard such words. All his relatives in the past have become enemies, so it is not surprising that he has become like this.
Zhou Yi took Zhou Zhu's hand, and covered his eyes with his hand: "You are still young, think about these things when you grow up." When he grows up, he will have his own thoughts, judge right from wrong, and It's not like now, let the little heart be completely occupied by hatred, Zhou Zhu's whole body will be distorted in this way. "Second uncle, you saw it, you all saw it, it's not that I'm cruel, I really don't dare to keep him by my side anymore." Uncle Tian's eyes were also red, and his voice was a little nasal. "Uncle Tian, this is Qizi's only child. If you give him away, how can the two of them feel at ease in the ground? Zhu'er is still young, so you can teach him slowly. After all, he is a relative. He will be fine when he grows up. will understand."
"Hey, do you think I didn't say it, but look at this kid, he hated us in his heart, do you know what he did yesterday? He actually sprinkled rat poison in the vegetables behind our backs, if it wasn't The family members have seen it, I’m afraid so many of us have confessed like this!” Uncle Tian’s face is full of fear, and this matter cannot be let others know. Can't send it out.
"Ah..." The second uncle's family and Zhou's second child both exclaimed in surprise, this... how could a child do this?
"Zhu'er is so small, how does he know about rat poison?" Zhou Lao Er was surprised. There were many rats in Dayue Dynasty, and there had been plagues before, so every family would go to the pharmacy to make some rat poison at home, but such medicines were all taken away. It is well placed, but I am afraid that children will accidentally eat it by mistake.
"How do I know this?" Uncle Tian was also puzzled.
"Second, stop talking. This didn't happen in your house. You can naturally stand up and talk without back pain. We are determined not to keep this child anymore." It was Zhou Zhuang who spoke, standing next to Uncle Tian , sarcastically to Zhou Laoer, who has been trying to persuade him.
"Hey..." Zhou Lao Er sighed deeply and stopped talking. This child already knew that he had been poisoned with rat poison. Continue to persuade, if one day Zhou Zhu really poisoned Uncle Tian's family to death, wouldn't he be the culprit.
"Second Uncle, and brothers, you've also seen it. It's not that I'm cruel. I really can't raise him anymore. Boss, you send Zhou Zhu away tomorrow." Uncle Tian made up his mind.
"Uncle Tian, what kind of family is that who buys the child?" Wang Yan had been sitting quietly, but now she suddenly made a sound. Maybe it was because she was pregnant with the child, her heart was always softer.
Uncle Tian saw a woman named Wang Yan speak up on such an important matter, and his face flashed with displeasure, but he thought that Zhou Lao Er had made a lot of money, so he explained: "It's a boy from the county, and he said he was looking for a home for a rich family. If you have a child, you must find a kind family. Zhu’er has gone, and it’s better to work in a rich family than to farm in the future.” This is farting, no matter what, once you become a servant, you will become a slave , the freedom of life and death is in the hands of others, and children are born slaves, and they will be controlled by others from generation to generation.
"It's okay if it's given to a child from no one's family, but what a servant would do, it will be learned by others." The second uncle frowned and disapproved.
"Only in this way can we go far." Uncle Tian was afraid that if Zhou Zhu got close, what if he came back quietly, it would be even more difficult to guard against.
Zhou Yi smiled angrily, is this the so-called relative? He didn't believe that Uncle Tian's family couldn't imagine what the consequences would be if Zhou Zhu fell into the hands of a man. If he was lucky, he would be sold to a rich family as a servant. If he was unlucky, he might be sold directly to a brothel as a young man.
"Father, let's raise Zhou Zhu." Zhou Yi's crisp voice sounded. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he obviously felt that Zhou Zhu beside him trembled. Zhou Yi put his hand on Zhou Zhu's shoulder. All eyes were on Zhou Yi, Zhou's second child hesitated, although he also knew that Zhou Zhu was very pitiful, but this child had a history of putting rat poison in the food, so he really didn't dare. "Second, do you raise it?" Uncle Tian suddenly looked at Zhou's second with burning eyes. "This..." Zhou Lao Er was in a dilemma. "His father, let's raise him. I believe Zhu'er is a good boy, so we can teach him slowly." Wang Yan said aloud at this time. "That's fine, Zhou Zhu is a descendant of our Zhou family, so it's fine to follow the second child." The second uncle said, this way everyone is happy, and he doesn't have to worry about Zhou Zhu being tortured outside.
"Okay, if you raise it, then this child will be yours, and I can make the decision to adopt this child under your name." Uncle Tian quickly made a decision. Although he had decided to send Zhou Zhu away, he was his own grandson after all. He was still tormented in his heart, and if Zhou Zhu and his wife were willing to adopt Zhou Zhu, he would feel much better. The two are kind and the family has made money again, so I believe they will treat Zhou Zhu well.
"That's not necessary, what's the matter, I can't snatch Qizi's child, I have to leave it to him, Zhou Zhu will always be Qizi's child." Zhou Zhu hurriedly waved his hand, he already had Zhou Yi, and he had long since lost his desire for his son Well, adding a child is just a matter of adding a pair of bowls and chopsticks to the family, and it can be raised anyway.
"Uncle Tian, although Zhou Zhu will be raised by us, we will only raise him until he becomes an adult. He is still the third uncle's child, and you must take his share!" Zhou Yi stood beside Zhou Zhu. , said loudly.
"This child..." The second uncle looked at Zhou Yi with joy in his eyes. He was smart and thorough, and he knew people so well at a young age.
"Okay, the family has nine acres of land, the old couple will occupy two acres, the eldest will take care of us in the future, he will occupy three acres, and the third child will share two acres. This land belongs to Zhu'er, and we will go to apply for the title deed tomorrow."
"Father, what's the matter? How can he use so much land as a child?" Zhou Mu said, Zhou Zhu divided two acres of land, and he would lose one acre in the future, so he was anxious.
"Shut up, don't forget how your brother and sister-in-law died. I really regret it. I shouldn't have listened to you at the beginning. If the land was sold and the money was collected, the third child and the third wife would not go like this It’s over, and the whole family is separated.” Uncle Tian felt ashamed of Zhou Zhu, and he gave it to the land very happily. He knows how Zhou Zhu and his wife are, and he would not touch Zhou Zhu so shallowly. thing.
"This... This was agreed by everyone at the time, and now I am the only one to blame." Zhou Mu muttered after hearing Uncle Tian's reprimand.
Zhou Zhu was taken to Zhou Yi's house that night, and Wang Yan arranged for him to sleep next to the couple, so that they could take care of him if there was any trouble.
Uncle Tian didn't break his promise, and the next day he delivered the land deed of two acres.
Zhou Lao Er accepted it in front of Zhou Zhu: "You are still young and don't know these things, but I will convert the harvest in the field into cash and save it for you, so that you can use it when you grow up to start a family and start a business." Zhou Zhu's eyes are
red Yes, his lips twitched a few times, and he whispered thank you.
It was this thank you that made Zhou Laoer feel relieved a lot. He believed what Wang Yan said. Zhou Zhu was a good boy. Dear, relatives don’t need to thank you.”
Zhou Yi asked Zhou Lao Er and Wang Yan to raise this child, not because of the mentality of the Holy Mother, but because he was just being kind to others and pulling Zhou Zhu who was standing on the edge of the cliff.
After staying at Zhou Yi's house for a few days, the kindness of Wang Yan and Zhou's second child, and the relaxed and joyful atmosphere at home made Zhou Zhu gradually let go of his guard. Mouth smiles.
Zhou Yi wants to see how Zhou Zhu's character is. If possible, he plans to train Zhou Zhu to be his helper.
When Zhou Zhu gradually integrated into Zhou Yi's family and had a smile on his face, June arrived, and the biennial courtyard examination began. The boy's examination in the Dayue Dynasty was in February and the government examination in April. The exam is held once a year, while the college exam is held in June, which is held every two years.
Zhou Yicai had just started his career, so it was still too early for him, but those who passed the Bailu Academy had to go to the Shucai examination. Bailu Academy is mostly students from other places, and they have to go back to the place of household registration to take the exam when it comes to the imperial examination. As a result, except for the rookies who have just been promoted, other students have gone back to take the exam one after another, leaving a lot of space. Zhou Yi only listened to these things for a while, and didn't pay much attention to them. After all, it was too early for him to talk about the imperial examination. I thought it had nothing to do with him, but it turned out to be something troublesome. Shangfang Zhou Laosi and Da Lang both passed the Tongsheng exam, so they can naturally take the college exam, but the college exam is held in Fucheng. Shopping, eating, and buying pens, inks, papers and inkstones are a lot of money, not to mention there are two candidates at home.
Shangfang didn't want to spend so much money, so he turned his idea on Erfang.
Wang Yuan came to pick him up from school that day, and Wang Hu also came to the workshop to help after the beginning of spring, so Wang Yuan was free, and sometimes he would help Zhou Yi to pick up Zhou Yi, so Zhou Yi was not surprised.
"Cousin, where is my father? Is he busy?" Even if Wang Yuan can spare time to pick up Zhou Yi, as long as he is not too busy, Zhou Er Er insists on picking him up by himself. According to him, he is the only one who will pick up Zhou Yi. Only then can we be practical.
"Uncle was called away by your grandfather and never came back, so I came to pick you up." Wang Yuankaichun grew taller than last year, and looked stronger. He sat on the shaft and drove the carriage. Zhou Yi's line of sight was firmly blocked.
"What kind of moth are they going to make?" Zhou Yi muttered, he was really tired of going to the house, but Mr. Zhou was the father of Zhou's second son, they could only respect them, and they would be called unfilial if they were slightly neglected. If he wants to take the imperial examination in the future, he has to be careful not to say anything. Otherwise, even if he is admitted to an official in the future, being recruited by a political opponent as an unfilial old man will make him unable to bear it.
Zhou Yi asked Wang Yuan to drive the carriage directly to the door of the upper room, and declined Wang Yuan's kindness to hug him, and climbed down from the shaft by himself.
As soon as he entered the room, he heard Mr. Zhou's angry voice: "You have money for others to raise babies, but why don't you have money for your own brothers and nephews? They are going to take the imperial examination. It's different for you if you pass the exam." Zhanguang?"
Zhou Lao Er said in a cold voice: "We have already separated, and I have nothing to do with them being successful. It was agreed last time. I will return the six acres of land and twenty taels of silver to you. You can't do it in the future. You are using any excuses to tease me, Dad, these are written in black and white, don’t you always forget?”
Mr. Zhou choked, and Da Lang said beside him at this time: “Second Uncle, how could you be so cruel, we are you It’s not proper for us to spend a little bit of blood relatives, besides, we are going to the scientific research, this is a big event for the Zhou family to change the lintel, how can you be so selfish?"
Zhou Lao Er laughed angrily at Da Lang's ignorant words: "I'm selfish? I'm cruel? Are you my son or my father? Why should I use my money for you? You have a father and a mother. Why are you so old?" Asking my second uncle for money?"
"I..." Da Lang blushed at what Zhou Er Er said, but it's a pity that quarreling has never been a scholar's specialty, and it's okay for Zhou Er Er to give him face, but not to him, He didn't know what to say, he just scolded Zhou Laoer secretly in his heart, this mud-legged man was extremely vulgar and had no virtue of a gentleman.
Zhou Laosi still looked like he didn't care about other things when the sky was falling, and sat on the side without talking.
Boss Zhou rubbed his hands anxiously: "Second brother, is this money we lent you? You can't bear to see Da Lang delay his career because of the money." "This..." Zhou's second hesitated
, Boss Zhou always talked about this, if he didn't pull out any hair, he would inevitably be said to be hard-hearted.
"Father, do you need to write an IOU if you want to borrow money?" Zhou Yi poked his head out of the house at this moment, wandered in, and said as he walked.
It's him again! The people who went to the room saw the corners of Zhou Yi's lips twitching, and they called Zhou Er Er to catch up with Zhou Yi's study time, but unexpectedly, he was caught up by this kid.
Why such an inch!
"This...hehe, you kid is talking and laughing, we are close relatives, so there is no need to write an IOU for borrowing money, doesn't it seem natural?" Boss Zhou rubbed his hands and laughed dryly. It is said that Boss Zhou is not good at words, but Zhou Yi sees that as long as his own interests are related, isn't he an uncle who can speak well!
Zhou Yi curled his lips, if he didn't write the IOU, the money would not be borrowed but used directly, maybe these people would not admit it after using it, and it would be disgusting to eat it.
Obviously, judging from their performance, they knew that the money was not prepared to be returned.
"Father, didn't we return the twenty taels of silver to Grandpa and the others? Twenty taels of silver! So much, isn't it enough for Da Lang and Fourth Uncle to take the exam?" Zhou Yi tilted his head, pretending to be puzzled Ask Zhou Lao Er, this money can't be taken, otherwise these people will only stick to it endlessly if they get benefits.
"That's right, Dad. I'll give you twenty taels of silver. We're not very far from Fucheng. It takes half a day to get there by boat, and the travel expenses don't cost much. The twenty taels of silver are enough!" Zhou Er Er was reminded by Zhou Yi, and immediately said.
"Second uncle, you don't know that although the travel expenses are not much, the accommodation and food are expensive. When the time comes, we have to stay in a hotel. What is the use of twenty taels of silver?" Da Lang said next to him.
"You think I'm a fool. No matter how expensive the inn is, three hundred renminbi a day is the sky-high. If you go back and forth for more than ten days, why is twenty taels of silver not enough?" Zhou Er Er asked back.
"Okay, I'll let you support your nephew and younger brother for a little trouble, you just push back and forth like this, second child, you make me chill!" Mr. Zhou banged the kang table with a cigarette bag.
Zhou Yi secretly slandered, this old thing still has a heart? Why doesn't he know.
"Father, we have already separated. You can't talk about everything. This time, you obviously have money, but you asked me for money. After that, the fourth and Dalang will continue to take the exam, will I have to arrange it?" Don’t you? It’s legitimate to provide for parents, but I’ve never heard of a nephew and younger brother being raised together.”