Chapter 93 Staying Overnight at Second Aunt's House

The name Cheng Zhao is well-known not only in Chengjia Village, but also in Dahe Village.

Everyone in the village knows that Zhao's eldest sister-in-law has a nephew who is very good at studying, which is why Zhao's eldest sister-in-law has been working so hard to support her family all these years.

As soon as he said he was Cheng Zhao from Chengjia Village, the gatekeeper immediately let him through.

The main reason is that Cheng Zhao is handsome and looks like a weak scholar, with no sense of aggression.

It was already afternoon, and some villagers who ate early had already started preparing dinner, with wisps of smoke rising into the sky.

Cheng Zhao walked all the way to Cheng Wanwan's house and saw Cheng Xiaocao standing at the door, peering into the yard through the fence.

He frowned: "Xiaocao, what are you doing at your second aunt's house?"

Cheng Xiaocao was startled. When she saw it was her older brother, she immediately became aggrieved: "Big brother, Cousin Sidan won't let me into the yard. He made me stand outside. Waaah, I'm so hungry..."

Her crying made a commotion, and Zhao Ergou came out of the house.

He looked at Cheng Zhao and sneered, "Don't think that my mother will give in just because you came here in person. My mother has said that even if we have money, she will only support Si Dan's education. You should take your sister and get out of our Dahe Village."

"I'm not here to ask for money."

Cheng Zhao said calmly, taking out a money pouch from his sleeve.

He pursed his lips and said, "Here is three taels of silver. I'll return it to my second aunt first, and I'll pay back the rest of the money later."

When Zhao Ergou saw the three taels of silver, a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes. Only the Cheng family had ever taken things from their family. They had never received anything from the Cheng family before. His older cousin was a scholar. Could he be plotting something bad?

He dared not act on his own, so he went into the house and called his mother out.

Cheng Wanwan was filtering ice jelly. With the increased supply, filtering ice jelly had become a long and tiring task. She and San Niu worked themselves to the bone and only managed to finish less than half of it.

She didn't plan to do the rest; she'd let Er Gou and San Niu finish it. She needed to prepare dinner.

"Mother, Cheng Zhao is here." Zhao Ergou walked in and lowered his voice. "He said he's here to repay the money and brought three taels of silver with him."

Cheng Wanwan wiped her hands and narrowed her eyes: "I'll go out and take a look."

As expected, Cheng Zhao was seen outside. He was still wearing the same clothes from the Southern Academy, a blue and white long robe. He was tall and slender, and although he looked delicate, he was not thin. There was an air of righteousness between his brows.

She walked over and stood behind the courtyard gate, saying calmly, "Zhao'er, your grandmother said that if I don't give you two taels of silver as tuition, she will keep leaving Xiaocao in Dahe Village. My family has many people but little food, so we can't afford to send you to school or support your sister."

Cheng Zhao said, "Second Aunt, I will not study anymore, nor will I participate in the academy examination. I will slowly pay back the money you gave me for my studies. Here is three taels of silver, please accept it."

He handed over the money bag.

Cheng Wanwan took it and weighed it in her hand. It was indeed three taels of silver, with some copper coins inside.

A question flashed through her mind. The last time she went to Dehetang to buy books, the shopkeeper said that Cheng Zhao was probably the most outstanding student in Nanfu Academy and had a high chance of passing the county-level examination next year. How could he just quit studying? Was it really because he was short of money?

The problem of money shortage will surely be solved by the dozen or so members of the Cheng family. Old Mrs. Cheng would probably rather sell her other granddaughters than let her eldest grandson fail the imperial examination.

It seems she needs to have someone inquire about it.

She put the silver into her pocket and said, "Since you're not going to study anymore, what are your plans for the future? Farming won't be enough to pay off the debts."

Cheng Zhao did not hide anything: "I plan to copy books for Dehetang. It costs one hundred coins per book. I will copy more and I will be able to pay back the money."

Cheng Wanwan nodded: "In that case, I'll go to Dehe Hall with you tomorrow to make things clear. You'll be in charge of copying the books, and I'll settle the accounts every half month. You can go back to Chengjia Village whenever the accounts are settled."

Cheng Zhao was taken aback: "Second Aunt, do you mean I should stay here overnight?"

Cheng Wanwan curled her lips: "What, you're not even willing to stay at your second aunt's house for one night?"

Cheng Zhao had no choice but to agree.

There was also Cheng Xiaocao next to them. Cheng Wanwan was impatient with dealing with this girl, so she stuffed a piece of mixed grain cake into the girl's hand and told Zhao Dashan to take it back quickly.

Previously, Cheng Xiaocao dared to cling to Cheng Wanwan's leg and throw a tantrum, but with Cheng Zhao here, she didn't dare to utter a single word. In the Cheng family, Grandma was number one, and this eldest brother was number two. If her eldest brother told her to go back, she could only go home.

Zhao Dashan walked fast and carried Cheng Xiaocao to Chengjia Village in no time. He didn't even enter the Cheng family's courtyard; he abandoned Cheng Xiaocao and ran away.

When Grandma Cheng saw her granddaughter return, she was immediately furious: "You good-for-nothing brat, why did you come back on your own? Didn't I tell you to stay at your second aunt's house...?"

Cheng Xiaocao lowered her head and sobbed, "It was my older brother who told me to come back. He stayed overnight at my second aunt's house and wouldn't let me stay. I was scared of him..."

Sister-in-law Cheng was stunned: "You mean Zhao'er stayed overnight at his second aunt's house?"

Ever since her son started school, he's been very particular about everything. He wants a separate room with a desk, a window, and it has to be bright and clean. The family prepared such a room for him, but he wasn't very satisfied and rarely stayed at home overnight.

Now, he's actually going to his second aunt's house on his own initiative?

Grandma Cheng frowned: "Zhao'er has always been smart, she must have her own ideas."

"I understand!" Sister-in-law Cheng said with a face full of joy. "Although my second aunt has fallen out with us, she definitely won't hold a grudge against Zhao'er. Zhao'er is her favorite. In her heart, this nephew is much more important than those four little brats from the Zhao family. If Zhao'er asks for help himself, my second aunt will definitely soften her heart and give Zhao'er some money for his tuition."

Grandma Cheng nodded: "That must be the case. Since Zhao'er can manage her tuition fees herself, we need to find another academy for her. There are other academies in the world besides Nanfu Academy."

In Dahe Village, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys.

Cheng Wanwan asked Zhao Sidan to watch the stove while she cooked. First, she made a nourishing soup for her eldest daughter-in-law. There was still one fish left, so she cleaned it and put it in the pot to stew. Then she made wild vegetable and mixed grain pancakes and stuck them around the pot. If it were morning, two pancakes would be enough for each person, but this was dinner. The children in the family had been busy and worked hard all day, so they should eat a full meal so they could get a good night's sleep.

With Cheng Zhao, an outsider, in the house, it wasn't appropriate to eat plain white rice. So she cooked millet porridge, mixed with some dark flour and wild vegetables.

Cheng Zhao was feeling very awkward in the courtyard, completely unsure of what to do.

Over the years, he has rarely gone home. He spends the longest time at home during the Spring Festival, about half a month, and spends his days reading and writing. If only he had a book now, he could read it and pass the time.

He saw Zhao Dashan and Zhao Ergou making adobe bricks, walked over and asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Without even looking up, Zhao Ergou said, "Big Cousin's hands are for reading and writing, don't ruin them. Stand back a bit, or you'll get splashed with mud."