In fact, Lu Junyi didn't have so many complicated thoughts. He was just in a low mood and didn't want to talk because his mother had argued with his father and cried, and he didn't eat much at noon.
His father was good in every way except that he was a little narrow-minded. This was what his mother said, so he naturally knew that it was not because his father had told him to ignore Ding Sheng that he should do so.
Arriving at the academy, Lu Junyi and Dabao packed up their things and headed to the calligraphy class. Before leaving, they cheered up the three Ma brothers and Ding Sheng. Lu Junyi even called out "Brother Sheng." Ding Sheng ignored him, not even giving him a glance, but simply smiled at Dabao.
Lu Junyi didn't care. He was more concerned about his mother. He'd heard that crying during confinement wasn't good, as it was harmful to one's health. He wanted to emulate Dabao. His mother was delighted to hear he'd been promoted, and his father's face had brightened a bit. If he studied well, his father would be happy, and perhaps they would argue less, and his mother would be less upset.
Thinking of this, he calmed down and focused on studying.
Ma Xiaomai's enthusiasm for learning was unprecedentedly high throughout the afternoon. The new teacher had already understood the general situation of the whole class and highly praised him for listening carefully in class without dozing off. Now he was more motivated to study and even sat up straight, a contrast to his previous lazy appearance.
This is often the case with many things in the world. A wicked person can become a Buddha immediately if he puts down his butcher knife. A very bad student like Ma Xiaomai, once he corrects his learning attitude, will be immediately noticed by most people.
This made Ding Gui very dissatisfied, but he couldn't beat Ma Xiaomai, so he could only hold back his dissatisfaction. Moreover, his head was full of confusion and he didn't know how to explain himself when he returned.
When Ding Youtian was a student, he always returned with a circle in his first ten-day examinations. At that time, Mrs. Meng would brag to everyone, saying that her fourth son had gotten a big egg. Later, whenever Ding Youtian got a big cross, Mrs. Meng would take a look and, without a word, grab a bamboo stick and cook him a meal of stir-fried bamboo shoots and meat.
After that, every time after taking an exam, Ding Youtian would go home and lie down on the table. Once, he even made his father, Old Ding, laugh out of anger.
Ding Gui had heard these things from his father many times, and his mother also reminded him and Ding Quan every now and then that they must not get more than two bamboo sticks in the exam. But he happened to get the last place in the exam. He was so upset that he couldn't listen to the teacher's lectures at all.
After finally getting through school, Ding Gui saw that Dabao and the others were all wearing cotton robes and long gowns, and had carriages to ride in. Then he looked at himself and Ding Quan, both wearing half-padded jackets and trousers, looking shabby and having to walk home in the cold every day. He suddenly didn't want to study anymore.
"Brother, study hard and make sure you surpass Dabao to earn respect for grandma and our mother. I won't study anymore. Like that bastard Ding Youtian, I'm not cut out for studying. From now on, grandma and our mother will have to rely on you to earn their livings!"
Ding Gui made up his mind not to waste the family's money anymore. Now that his grandmother was no longer in charge, his aunt had said this morning that if they didn't do well in the exam today, they shouldn't worry about studying, as the family didn't have that much money to waste on them.
"Gui, Quan, how did you do on the exam?" As soon as they got home, Mrs. Meng came up to them eagerly, "They're all big eggs, right? Show them to me."
"Hurry up, take it out and let us see." Gao also urged.
Because of their studies, Mrs. Liu had said in the morning that if they failed the exams, she would no longer support their education. For this reason, Mrs. Gao had a big fight with Mrs. Liu in the morning.
Scolding her for using people forward and not using people backward.
On the first day of her marriage, Mrs. Liu tried her best to win over Mrs. Gao, but she changed her attitude once she had gained a foothold. It is too late for Mrs. Gao to regret it now. She can only hope that her two sons can slap Mrs. Liu in the face with their academic performance.
It would be better to hit her harder and get her first or second place.
Her eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Don't read it. I'm ranked last. I won't read this book anymore." Ding Gui took off his schoolbag and threw it to the ground.
Meng staggered two steps and almost fell.
When she came to her senses, she was furious. Without thinking, she stepped forward and slapped Ding Gui in the face with such force that he fell to the ground.
In Meng's eyes, Ding Gui hadn't smashed her schoolbag but her imperial edict, and she was counting on this job! She had cherished him like the apple of her eye for the past few years, but who would have thought that Ding Gui was so useless, wasting all her efforts.
Meng was so angry that she raised her fist and punched her chest more than ten times, until tears streamed down her face.
"Anyway, I won't read anything anymore!" Ding Gui sat on the ground, kicking his legs and crying loudly.
"Why did you hit him?" Gao took a long time to catch her breath. She tried to pull Ding Gui away while yelling at Meng, "I don't know what you're thinking. Even if my son can read, you won't get the imperial edict. Why are you making such a fuss? I didn't even bother to say anything to you before..."
The two men pointed at each other's noses and started cursing.
Liu leaned against the kitchen door and watched the fun. Gao had quarreled with her in the morning, and Meng was actively getting closer to Gao, and they joined forces to quarrel with her.
How can I have the nerve to argue with her when I got the last place in the class?
Now that she didn't have to study, she could save more than ten taels of silver a year and could also help with housework. She was in a very good mood.
At the old house, Dabao returned home and was the same as usual, showing no emotion. Jian Ning and Ding Youtian asked him about his ten-day exam results, and he just said it was okay and said nothing else.
Ding Youtian wanted to go to his room to ask, but was stopped by Jian Ning. Jian Ning thought that Dabao's test results were okay, which meant that he didn't do well, so she told Ding Youtian not to provoke him. If he didn't do well this time, he would still do the same if he tried harder next time.
She was still thinking about going to encourage Dabao after dinner to cheer him up, but when Ma Fuquan came to her house for dinner with Taifu Huo Jincheng and others, Ma Fuquan told her that Dabao had taken the first place in the class in the exam and was promoted to the Hezi class.
Ma Fuquan learned all about it from Ma Xiaomai. After Ma Xiaomai got off the carriage, he did not go home but ran directly to the river to find his father to report that he had been praised. He also expressed that he would study hard in the future and improve every day.
My brother Bao is amazing! He got the first place in the exam, but he kept silent when he got home. This kid is too patient. When Jian Ning heard Ma Fuquan tell her, she was cooking in the kitchen. She dropped the spatula and ran to the east room. When she entered the room, she didn't say anything, but picked up Dabao's face and kissed him hard.
"Mom..." Dabao was embarrassed by her, "This little achievement is nothing."
"Mom, do you only like my brother and not the rest of us?" Erniu looked worried, followed by Da Niu and Sanniu. The three little girls all looked a little worried.
"No, no, you all are my sweethearts. I love and cherish you all." Jian Ning picked up the second and third girls and kissed each of them on the face. Then she put them down and kissed the eldest girl. The three girls were all dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked very festive. They were very adorable.
Da Niu and the others felt relieved. The shadow cast by Meng and Old Ding's preference for boys over girls made them afraid that they would return to the old days.
Now, it was all right. Mother loved her brother, and she loved them too. The three of them chattered and laughed around Jian Ning and Da Bao. Ding Youtian, watching this scene from outside, was also moved. Before his family was kicked out, he had never had any clear goals in mind, but now, looking at the people in the house, he felt a strong desire to hold up a clear sky for them.
This thought did not come to them today, but had existed since the day they were driven into the old house, but it was now stronger and clearer.
He turned and went towards the kitchen.
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