Chapter 81 Big Purchase

Walking down the street, Chen Han felt as if he were in a dream. Could he really go to school? Why did it feel so unreal?

I remember that every time my third uncle left home, the Chen family would be in chaos. They would take away all the delicious and useful things for my third uncle, leaving all the others at home to eat coarse food.

If he came to town to study, would his family become like the Chen family before? In order to support himself, he squeezed out the family money and made his parents embarrassed.

Chen Han asked with a bitter face, "Sister, we have to pay two taels of silver as tuition every month. The academy has classes for ten months a year, plus five taels of silver for food and accommodation, which adds up to twenty-five taels of silver. Isn't this too much of a burden for our family? Will my parents be too hard on us?"

Chen Qingqing touched his little head with a smile on her lips, "Xiaohan, don't worry about these things, just study hard. I'll find a way to deal with the money. I'll tell you again, all you have to do is study hard and strive to have a great future and become a useful person to the court. Don't be trapped in these mountains and fields."

Chen Han bit her lip and made up her mind, "Sister, I know you are doing this for my own good. I will study hard and strive to pass the imperial examination as soon as possible, so that I can be the happiest sister in the world and let my parents live a good life."

Chen Qingqing was moved. It is said that children from poor families grow up early. It seems that this saying is applicable in every era.

Chen Han knows how to think about his family at such a young age. His character is far better than Chen Zhancai. I hope this kid will never forget his original intention and be a grateful person.

When the two of them came to the ink shop, Chen Qingqing learned for the first time that ink had so many names, including Yuanguang, Xuangui, Wujin, Black Pine Messenger, Pine Smoke Protector, Xuanxiang Prefect, Qingsongzi, Songzi Hou, Zugui, Longbin, Dragon Fragrance Agent, etc.

Just the name sounds elegant, no wonder the ancients’ writing was so good!

I bought an inkstone, a brush, rice paper, and ink sticks, which cost me two taels of silver. It was really not cheap. No wonder it took the whole family's effort to support a scholar.

Chen Han felt very distressed when he saw that so much money had been spent. His sister valued him so much, and he vowed to live up to her expectations.

After buying everything for study, Chen Qingqing went to the pastry shop again.

She planned to buy a box of cakes to send to Chen Zhanliang and his wife. No matter how bad the old lady Chen and his wife were, the second wife's family did quietly lend a helping hand to their family when they were in the most difficult time.

This kind of friendship can be said to be priceless. Now that she is rich, she should show some appreciation.

Chen Qingqing went to the grain store again and bought 100 kilograms of fine rice at once, spending two taels of silver, and 50 kilograms of white flour, spending 750 coins.

I went to the butcher's shop and bought two pounds of pork, spending fifty cents. Pork fat was more expensive, so I bought five pounds at forty cents a pound, spending two hundred cents.

Brown sugar is even more expensive, costing one hundred coins per pound.

In order to have a meal of braised pork, Chen Qingqing bought two kilograms without hesitation.

I also bought salt and other seasonings. All in all, I spent a total of twelve taels of silver today, and now I have eighty-eight taels of silver left.

She felt sad that money was always spent in any era, but she was not worried. Today, Mr. Fan did not let her in. She believed that within a day or two, Mr. Fan would definitely send someone to beg her.

At that time, I don’t believe that he will not agree to any conditions I put forward.

She snorted in her heart. How could she be merciful to someone who wanted to refuse to pay the twenty taels of silver for the consultation fee?

Chen Qingqing asked the owner of the butcher shop to change the three taels of silver into three taels of silver coins, so that it would be more convenient to have change for fares and so on.

After buying everything, Chen Qingqing took Chen Han towards the city gate, and the waiter from the grain shop followed closely behind with a cart.

Chen Han seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped. "Sister, I haven't seen my brother for a long time. Why don't we go see him?"

Chen Qingqing looked at the sky and shook her head. "Xiaohan, we've been out for long enough. We can't let our parents worry at home. You'll go to school in town in a few days. There will be plenty of opportunities to see big brother in the future. Let's go next time."

"Okay sister, I'll listen to you."

When they arrived at the city gate, they loaded all the things onto the ox cart, which then slowly drove towards Nanshan Village.

The brother and sister sat on the ox cart, looking at the scenery on both sides of the road, and they were in a particularly good mood.

When we were halfway there, it was already nearing noon.

The sun was scorching at that time. Under the scorching sun, two figures were moving slowly in front.

Chen Han, with sharp eyes, pointed with his finger, "Sister, look, isn't that grandpa and grandma?"

Chen Qingqing looked up and saw that it was indeed the old man Chen and his wife. She knew what the two old guys were doing. They must have gone to return the money to Li the butcher.

As the saying goes, there must be something hateful about a pitiful person. Some people cannot be awakened and will only wake up after experiencing pain.

He wholeheartedly hopes that Chen Zhancai will succeed, but he doesn't know what the sincerity of the old man and his wife Chen will get in the end?

Looking at their hunched figures, Chen Qingqing felt that they were indeed pitiful, but she was not a Bodhisattva and could not be so kind.

Chen Qingqing retracted her gaze and said, "Xiao Han, we have no right to interfere in other people's affairs. Stop looking."

Chen Han nodded.

Early in the morning, the old man and his wife took the fifty taels of silver they had earned from selling the land and went to the neighboring Willow Village to find Zhao the matchmaker.

But Zhao the matchmaker refused to go to Li the butcher's house.

It took a lot of persuasion from Old Lady Chen to get Matchmaker Zhao to move away.

The two men were repeatedly insulted and threatened by Li the butcher, and it was almost noon before he accepted the silver and let them go.

Although Nanshan Village is not far from Liutiao Village, it only takes half an hour to walk there, but it was so hot that they were sweating all over even without moving. The two of them were so tired that their mouths were dry and their tongues were parched.

When Old Mrs. Chen heard the sound of a whip, she stopped and turned around to check. She saw that it was Old Liu from the village driving a ox cart back, and she was so happy that she trembled.

"Old man, don't go. Stop Liu Laohan and ask him to give us a ride for a few steps."

Old man Chen had been frightened out of his wits by Li the Butcher, and his legs were as soft as cotton. After listening to Old Lady Chen's suggestion, he nodded in agreement.

The two stood by the roadside, waiting for the oxcart to approach. Old Lady Chen waved her hands and called out, "Brother Liu, your eldest brother and I are going to visit relatives. It's too hot to walk anymore. Could you please be kind and let us take a ride back?"

Liu Laohan was an easygoing person, and since he hadn't brought many people with him today and this place wasn't far from Nanshan Village, he didn't refuse. "Alright, Brother Zhonghou, Sister-in-law, hurry up and get in the car."

Old Mrs. Chen was delighted. She pulled Old Man Chen onto the carriage. When they sat down, they suddenly realized that Chen Qingqing and Chen Han were also sitting in the carriage.