Chapter 413 Keep a low profile, don't be ostentatious
Cheng Wanwan didn't directly state her plans; she told Zhao Ergou to think it over carefully.
She knew that the family business would definitely be handed over to Er Gou to manage in the future, and she hoped that Er Gou could come up with a plan himself.
Zhao Ergou took out paper and pen and carefully wrote down his future plans. Even late at night, he was still writing and drawing at his desk in his room.
Cao Yingying lay half-reclined on the bed, holding a book in her hand, and said softly, "Husband, it's getting late, we should blow out the lamp and rest."
Zhao Ergou raised his head and said softly, "I still need half an hour, you go to sleep first."
After marriage, he realized more and more that he was still too weak.
He was able to marry Yingying entirely because he had an excellent mother.
He would never have had the chance to become Cao's son-in-law if he had relied on himself.
With Yingying's dowry being so generous, he must work hard, grow into a towering tree, and protect his family from the wind and rain.
A few rooster crows woke up the sleeping Dahe Village.
It was still early, and the outside was just beginning to lighten, but the whole village was already awake.
Many of the men on patrol were learning martial arts from He Xiao, the women were up early to feed the chickens and ducks, the children carried baskets up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables, and some elderly men and women in their fifties were busy in the fields. The morning light enveloped the hardworking farmers, and everything was thriving.
Cheng Wanwan woke up to the aroma of breakfast.
Early in the morning, Cheng Yuanyuan was busy in the kitchen with Wei Hongying, making dumpling soup with pork cracklings. The taste was absolutely amazing.
Each person gets a big bowl of dumpling soup, and if that's not enough, there's more in the pot. After eating their fill, everyone goes back to their work.
Cao Yingying went to the three-courtyard house that the Cao family had built in the village to talk to Kong Xiuniang about borrowing money from the Cao family...
Cheng Wanwan was drying vegetables at home. Lately, the villagers had been sending her all sorts of mountain ingredients. Small fish and shrimp could be eaten on the same day, but some bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and wood ear fungus could not be eaten and were stored in the cellar. As the temperature gradually rose, they would easily spoil in the cellar, so Cheng Wanwan suggested drying them all.
Cheng Yuanyuan worked hard for the Liu family for over twenty years. The Liu family was poor and couldn't afford to waste a single grain of food, so she was very resourceful in this regard.
"Peel the bamboo shoots and slice them thinly," Cheng Yuanyuan said while busy working. "They can't be dried directly in the sun. They need to be boiled in a pot first, then squeezed dry, and then laid out on bamboo strips to dry in the sun. Turn them over every two hours, and they can be stored away after three or four days in the hot sun. When we want to eat them, we can soak them in water..."
Cheng Wanwan studied very diligently and would occasionally ask questions about details.
Cheng Yuanyuan was somewhat envious of her younger sister. Both of them were married, but she was forced by life to learn everything, while her sister was still the same as when she was a young girl. One could imagine how comfortable her life had been all these years... However, her suffering was self-inflicted, while her sister's good life was due to her intelligence and excellence.
She also needs to work hard so that she doesn't fall too far behind her half-sister.
Dozens of kilograms of bamboo shoots were quickly processed. Cheng Wanwan's back ached from the exhaustion. She refused to admit she was getting old, but after each task, she couldn't help but sigh, "Time waits for no one..."
Just then, the sound of a horse-drawn carriage wheel rolling came from the courtyard gate.
She looked up and saw a carriage parked at the door; it was the Shen family's carriage.
"Godmother!"
Shen Zheng's excited voice came from behind the carriage, and he jumped out after lifting the curtain.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming to my house yesterday? If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to that stupid poetry gathering."
Immediately afterwards, another person emerged from the carriage; it was Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Wanwan wiped her hands and said with a smile, "Why did you two come together?"
"Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt," Cheng Zhao greeted them as she walked over, then said, "The official school in Huzhou will start on the first day of the fourth month. My brother Shen and I have to rush to Huzhou today and probably won't be back for at least three months, so I've come to say goodbye."
Cheng Wanwan knew about this. If you passed the county-level imperial examination, you could go to the official school to study. The official school was organized and run by the government and was very authoritative. The content taught was all for the purpose of the imperial examination. Studying at the official school for half a year would be very beneficial for the provincial examination in the fall.
She turned and went back into the house, then came out carrying two cloth bags: "These contain some fruits, candied fruits, and dried meat. Eat some to fill your stomach when you're tired from studying. If you like them, write back and I'll have someone send them to you."
"Thank you, godmother!" Shen Zheng was overjoyed and took a piece of jerky. "Mmm, it's delicious!"
Cheng Yuanyuan was a little flustered, and after a while she said, "You all sit in the yard for a while, I'll go to the kitchen to make some meat pies to take on the road."
Just as Cheng Zhao was about to say no, Cheng Yuanyuan rushed in and got busy.
“Let your aunt keep busy. She won’t feel at ease if she doesn’t do something,” Cheng Wanwan said. “It’s still early. Why don’t you go sit with Master Yu for a while?”
Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng were also going there to say goodbye. The two put their bundles into the carriage and headed to the Yu family.
Master Yu and his family lived next to the school. This was a residence built specifically for Master Yu by the village. It had three rooms, which were just right for the family.
“Once you’re in the official school, study hard,” Master Yu instructed. “Zijue, you’re too flamboyant. Learn to tone down your sharpness and focus on your studies. Ziyu, you’re good in every way, but you’re too indifferent. You seem to think you don’t care about anything. Plus, as the top student, you’re easily targeted by narrow-minded people.”
Shen Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Back then, was it because you were too outstanding that you disdained associating with scholars, which is why..."
"Cough cough!"
Cheng Zhao coughed and pulled Shen Zheng aside. This matter was a sore spot for the teacher, and it was best not to mention it...
“There’s nothing to hide about this,” Master Yu said, gazing at the distant bamboo grove. “Back then, I became a scholar at fifteen, riding high on my success, brimming with arrogance, looking down on everything around me. This made me the target of envy and sabotage. In the eyes of those narrow-minded people, whether you’re arrogant or not, as long as you’re outstanding, you’re a thorn in their side. When scholars unite, their verbal attacks are comparable to a million-strong army. I couldn’t defeat them, and neither could the two of you…”
"So remember what I said: be low-key, not flamboyant; be sociable, not arrogant. Only when you blend into the great melting pot of scholars can you truly restrain your own brilliance." Master Yu stroked his beard. "That's all I can teach you. Go now."
"Remember the teacher's teachings!"
Cheng Zhao and Shen Zheng bowed and clasped their hands in greeting, memorizing every word.
Master Yu stood at the door, watching the Shen family's carriage slowly drive away. He turned his head and saw his son Yu Zhan and Lady Sui's youngest son Zhao Jingsi sitting together at the entrance of the pigsty behind the house, reading and writing.
Since returning from the prefectural examination, Xiao Zhan would set up a table and chairs at the entrance of the pigsty to read every day, and later Jing Si followed suit.
“Our son is excellent, isn’t he?” Lu Yingxue walked to his side, her eyes slightly moist. “Next time during the exam, if he’s assigned to the toilet, he won’t have to be afraid anymore.”
She could smell the stench from the pigsty even from this far away; she really didn't know how her son managed to keep going.
Master Yu sighed: "It's my fault for holding him back..."
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