Chapter 57 You are not worthy of being a scholar
Cheng Zhao walked towards the ice jelly stall.
Zhao Sidan was filled with vigilance. He stood silently in front of the wooden bucket where the copper coins were kept, determined to defend the copper coins belonging to the Zhao family to the death.
But if his mother insisted on giving it to him, he didn't seem to have any way to stop her.
The little guy's mood instantly plummeted.
Cheng Wanwan maintained a businesslike smile: "Two bowls of ice jelly cost six coins. Take your time, no rush."
After she finished serving the customers in front of her, her gaze finally fell on Cheng Zhao behind her.
This is the eldest nephew of the original owner's maternal family. When the original owner was still alive, she doted on this nephew the most because Cheng Zhao was good at studying. More than two years ago, he passed the examination to become a Tongsheng. Although Tongsheng is not as respected as Xiucai, it is not easy to obtain this status. One must pass the county examination, then participate in the prefectural examination, and obtain the qualification to take the academy examination to become a Xiucai before one can be called Tongsheng.
"Oh, Brother Cheng, you actually have extra money to eat ice jelly." A student nearby sneered, "You only earn a hundred coins a month copying a book. Can you afford a bowl of ice jelly that costs three coins?"
Cheng Wanwan was somewhat surprised. Cheng Zhao was the object of everyone's admiration in Chengjia Village, but she did not expect him to be ostracized at the academy.
She thought Cheng Zhao would be embarrassed and awkward, but to her surprise, the boy simply said quietly, "This is my second aunt. I don't need money to eat ice jelly."
Zhao Dashan silently washed the dishes, preparing to serve the ice jelly.
Zhao Ergou's face was cold. This older cousin was too annoying. He always acted like he had the right to ask for anything.
Zhao Sanniu clenched his fists. His older cousin was really asking for a beating; he really wanted to punch him.
Zhao Sidan lowered his head and didn't speak. What was a bowl of ice jelly? He was afraid that his mother would give all the copper coins she had earned that day to the Cheng family.
Cheng Wanwan's lips twitched.
I thought she was my former aunt, and I thought she would bring me all sorts of nice things.
Her family is short of money everywhere, and they don't even have money to send their children to school. Why should they pay for the Cheng family's children's tuition?
That messy old score is beyond repair, and from now on, she won't let the Cheng family gain even the slightest advantage.
Cheng Wanwan said with difficulty, "Zhao'er, it's not easy for your second aunt to run a small business. If you don't offer to support your second aunt, how can you expect your second aunt to give you free ice jelly?"
Cheng Zhao looked bewildered.
In the past, no matter what he wanted, his second aunt would present it to him with both hands.
He hadn't planned on eating ice jelly, but since it was made by his second aunt, he figured it wouldn't be a problem for him to have a bowl. However, his second aunt refused.
They gave away twenty taels of silver without hesitation back then, but now they can't even bear to part with three coins.
Also, whenever my second aunt saw him before, she always had a gentle and loving smile on her face, but today her smile had a hint of aloofness...
He seemed to have heard that his second aunt had fallen out with the family, so would his second aunt no longer care about him?
The students from the nearby academy started criticizing it.
“Brother Cheng, you are a scholar, a gentleman would not do such a thing that is contrary to etiquette.”
“A gentleman seeks the Way, not food; your behavior is unworthy of the title of gentleman.”
An embarrassed look appeared on Cheng Zhao's face.
He didn't care about being ridiculed for his poverty by his classmates, because the Cheng family was poor to begin with.
Being accused of being unworthy of being a scholar or a gentleman is more painful than being slapped in the face.
He took three coins out of his pouch and placed them on the table: "Second Aunt, is this alright?"
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Of course, Dashan, hurry up and serve your cousin a bowl of ice jelly."
Cheng Zhao is also eighteen years old this year, two months older than Zhao Dashan. Although they are the same age, they are from completely different worlds.
Cheng Zhao is a scholar, and he will be able to take the provincial examination next year. I heard that he has a great chance of becoming a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination). Even if he ends up as a Xiucai for the rest of his life, it will be enough for him to break out of the Cheng Family Village and go out into a wider world.
Zhao Dashan is already married and about to become a father. He will likely spend the rest of his life in Dahe Village, toiling in the fields.
Facing Cheng Zhao, Zhao Dashan felt an indescribable sense of inferiority. He carefully handed the ice jelly to Cheng Zhao.
Cheng Zhao held the bowl, hesitating as if he wanted to say something, but Cheng Wanwan ignored him and began serving the next customer.
After all the remaining ice jelly had sold out, Cheng Zhao was still standing by the stall. He said, "Second Aunt, my father did go too far. He shouldn't have hit you. I apologize to you on his behalf. But you are surnamed Cheng, and you are family with our Cheng family. You shouldn't be so distant."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Wanwan laughed in anger.
She slammed the bowl down on the table and said, slowly and deliberately, "What do you mean by being so distant? Does not being distant mean that you can eat as much ice jelly as you want in my house, and that all the money I earn will go towards your education?"
Cheng Zhao stammered, "Second Aunt, that's not what I meant..."
"So what do you mean?!" Cheng Wanwan unleashed her full power. "You want me to continue being part of the Cheng family, to continue being leeched off by you? Cheng Zhao, you know how much I've doted on you all these years! But ten days ago, your father smashed my head open. Look, there's still a scar on my forehead. If it had been any worse, I would have died. I was so badly injured, and my good nephew, my most sensible nephew, didn't even come to see me once!"
Cheng Zhao had never seen her second aunt like this before, and was completely stunned. After a long while, she finally explained, "I... I've been studying at the academy, and I only found out about this a few days ago..."
"Alright, you don't need to explain to me!" Cheng Wanwan lowered her head and packed her things. "I have severed ties with the Cheng family. From now on, when you see me, just pretend you don't know me. There's no need for you to call me Second Aunt. Our Zhao family can't possibly be worthy of a successful scholar like you."
Cheng Zhao began, "Second Aunt, I..."
"Don't call me 'Second Aunt'!" Zhao Sidan glared. "We won't have any cousins to go to school anymore."
Zhao Sanniu blocked the stall: "My mother said she doesn't have a nephew like you. You'd better leave and not interfere with our business."
Zhao Ergou said coldly, "If you continue, you might soon become a laughing stock at Nanfu Academy."
When Cheng Zhao turned around, he saw many classmates looking at him curiously, and they slowly gathered around.
He had no choice but to back down: "It doesn't matter if my second aunt doesn't acknowledge me, it's enough that I acknowledge her. I'll go to the academy first and apologize another day."
He turned and walked into the academy. Many people surrounded him, pointing and whispering. He remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
Cheng Wanwan didn't show much emotion on her face. She was about to take the children to get something to eat when a man in his early thirties stood in front of her: "The ice jelly that everyone in Hekou Town has been talking about these past few days, is it made by this sister-in-law?"
Cheng Wanwan looked at the person in front of her. This person was not wearing homespun cloth, but had a jade pendant and a sachet hanging from his waist, making him look like a merchant.
She smiled and said, "We're sold out of ice jelly for today. Come earlier tomorrow."
"I'm not here to buy ice jelly," the man said with a smile. "I wonder if you'd be willing to sell me the recipe for this ice jelly, ma'am?"
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