Chapter 195 Mao Sui Recommends Himself
Cheng Wanwan had a gentle smile on her face.
How fortunate she is to have four such obedient and sensible sons.
Shen Zheng sat a little further away, feeling a bit jealous. Aunt Zhao didn't even ask him what he wanted to do in the future, which clearly showed that she didn't treat him as family. His father was really useless; he said he wanted to marry Aunt Zhao, but after so long, there was still no sign of it.
He coughed and said, "A-Fu, tell me what you want to do in the future, and I will try my best to fulfill your wishes."
Ah Fu's eyes lit up: "Young Master, I want to be a carpenter!"
Last time, Old Zhao asked him to help plan wood. He helped for a while and suddenly realized that being a carpenter was quite interesting.
Because he could write, Old Man Zhao asked him to help write down all the details of the carpentry work. He filled several pages with notes and key points.
Cheng Wanwan said, "Afu, if you really like woodworking, you can learn from Grandpa Sidan. Although the old man isn't very skilled, he can still make some everyday items without any problem."
Afu immediately nodded: "Thank you, Auntie. I will definitely study hard."
Cheng Wanwan looked at the other children beside her and asked, "What do you want to do in the future? You can tell us now. Years later, we can see who has realized their original dream."
Shen Zheng was just waiting for her to ask. He cleared his throat and said, "I want to become a high-ranking official in the future, at least higher than my father's position. Then, I want to build a brick school for Dahe Village so that every child here can go to school!"
He straightened his back and raised his chin.
His first act after becoming an official was to benefit Dahe Village. Aunt Zhao's impression of him should have improved, and she should have been more likely to accept him as her stepson.
Cheng Wanwan looked at him with genuine appreciation, then turned to Cheng Zhao: "And you?"
Shen Zheng was completely bewildered. Aren't they going to praise him at all?
Even if you don't praise them, you should at least offer some encouragement.
Or perhaps Aunt Zhao simply didn't believe he would become a high-ranking official?
Well, he's not as good at studying as Cheng Zhao. He hasn't read much of the Four Books and Five Classics, so he definitely won't pass the county-level examination next year.
It's better to rely on Cheng Zhao than on him to become an official.
Shen Zheng sat in his seat, resting his chin on his hand, looking sullen.
Cheng Zhao said slowly, "I can't say for sure what will happen in the future. Right now, I just want to study hard and try to pass the county-level examination next year."
"The provincial examination is still several months away. You two should study hard and try to make it onto the list." Cheng Wanwan smiled at the two girls. "Hui Niang, Yingying, you two should also say something."
Wu Huiniang stroked her belly and said, "After I give birth, if the family plans to open a restaurant, can I volunteer to be the cook?"
The phrase "Mao Sui recommends himself" is used by everyone in the family. It was first coined by Cheng Zhao, and later Cheng Wanwan encouraged everyone to do what they are good at, so the phrase became a word that everyone in the family uses.
Zhao Ergou immediately said, "Sister-in-law, I'm waiting for you to give birth before I open a restaurant. I'll reserve the head chef position especially for you."
Cao Yingying didn't know what to say. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever asked her this question, or what she wanted to do in the future.
In her mind, she would marry a young man, be a good wife and mother, and live a harmonious life with her husband...
But when life comes to an end like this, it feels like something is missing.
She lowered her head: "I feel like I can't do anything."
Cheng Wanwan asked, "You don't know the four arts either?"
This was the standard attire for ladies from noble families in ancient times.
Cao Yingying smiled bitterly: "What's the use of knowing all this?"
For a woman like her who couldn't participate in the imperial examinations, being able to study was truly useless.
Arriving in Dahe Village, she realized even more clearly that she had no skills whatsoever, and if she hadn't been a member of the Cao family, she would surely have starved to death on the streets.
"Do you know how to embroider?" Cheng Wanwan smiled. "Xia Hua went to town to sell handkerchiefs and apparently earned fifty or sixty coins. You can make money doing this kind of work well. Of course, I know you don't lack money. Can you teach Xia Hua how to embroider?"
Cao Yingying looked up: "Can I teach you?"
“Of course, as long as you know how, you can be a teacher,” Cheng Wanwan said. “The book says, ‘When three people walk together, one of them will surely be my teacher.’ Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. You teach Xia Hua to embroider handkerchiefs, and Xia Hua teaches you to do other things. That’s a win-win situation.”
Cheng Wanwan chatted with a group of children for a long time, and the children became more and more enthusiastic as they talked.
No one could have known that this simple late-night conversation planted a tiny seed in their hearts. One day, that seed would take root, sprout, grow branches and leaves, slowly grow tall and lush, reaching straight into the sky.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Cheng Wanwan's family got up early.
Today, she took her two sons to town. Zhao Ergou went to deal in the cloth business, while she took Sanniu to Wuxing and then to Hekou Town to deliver braised food to the restaurant.
The oxcart stopped at the entrance of Ping'an Town.
Zhao Ergou jumped out of the car and went straight to the cloth shop.
Cheng Wanwan led Zhao Sanniu to the entrance of the martial arts troupe.
This is a large courtyard, with a stone lion on each side of the main gate, and a plaque above the gate that reads: Yu Family Martial Arts.
The courtyard gate was open, and you could see several young men practicing martial arts inside.
Cheng Wanwan stepped up the stairs. She went inside, coughed to attract someone's attention, and then asked, "Excuse me, is the person in charge here?"
A boy who was only twelve or thirteen years old pointed to the lobby.
Cheng Wanwan led Zhao Sanniu around the courtyard to the entrance of the main hall, where they saw a man in his thirties or forties drinking tea.
"You must be Manager Yu," she said with a smile. "I wonder if the Yu Family Martial Arts School accepts students?"
Manager Yu did not get up, and said casually, "Two taels of silver a month, including food and lodging. But let me make it clear beforehand that the path of learning martial arts is very tough. If you can't endure hardship, you shouldn't come."
Cheng Wanwan asked patiently, "So what do you mainly study?"
"Didn't you see it when you came?" Manager Yu pointed to the courtyard. "Those with talent learn the moves, and those without talent practice the basics. That's how everyone who learns martial arts goes through this process."
Cheng Wanwan turned her head. There were about twenty or thirty students in the courtyard. Seven or eight of them were practicing diligently, while the rest of the children looked lazy.
Several younger children had injuries on their faces, and it was unclear how they were caused.
She looked left and right, but couldn't see the martial arts instructor anywhere.
"I'll take charge of the instruction." Manager Yu then stood up and looked at Zhao San Niu, saying, "Your son has a good build and seems to have talent in this area. If he trains hard, he might even be able to take the martial arts exam and change your family's fortunes."
Cheng Wanwan wanted to visit other towns to see how other martial arts practitioners were doing.
Zhao Sanniu picked up a long knife from beside him, tested it in his hand, and said happily, "Mother, this knife is even better than the one Uncle Village Head gave me as a reward."
Cheng Wanwan pulled him aside: "Are you sure you want to learn martial arts here?"
Zhao Sanniu nodded: "Manager Yu said that I am of good stature and physique, and that I am a talented person. Mother, after I have finished my studies, I will never let anyone bully you again!"
Seeing that he was willing to stay here, Cheng Wanwan nodded and said, "Okay, then you can study hard here. Your mother will come to see you again in a few days."
She paid the money, walked out of the martial arts school, and looked back. San Niu was trying out boxing, and his moves were quite impressive. The child had a satisfied smile on his face.
Since San Niu chose this path himself, she will fully support him.
Cheng Wanwan left the martial arts troupe, looking back every few steps, and asked Zhao Da to drive the oxcart to Hekou Town to deliver braised food.
After delivering the braised food, they still had to return to Ping'an Town to pick up the large quantity of cloth that Zhao Ergou had purchased. Day after day, the oxcart never stopped.
Cheng Wanwan was planning in her mind that it was time to buy a horse-drawn carriage. Both of the family's businesses needed a carriage, and one oxcart was simply not enough.
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