Chapter 7 Get Out of Here
The beautiful dream was shattered, and Old Lady Chen was so angry that her lungs were about to explode. Her anger was rising, and she jumped up and down, cursing.
"You bitch, what nonsense are you talking about? If you don't let your father enter the palace, then you should just get married and stop causing trouble."
Chen Qingqing persuaded her silly father and no longer had any worries. With cold eyes, she said coldly,
"If my father doesn't enter the palace, I won't marry. As for your third son not having money to study, that's your business.
My father usually works hard to earn money to support the third wife. He has already done his best. If he wants to sell something, he should sell his own daughter and not target me.
If you accepted the betrothal gift and don't want to return it, then marry your precious granddaughter Chen Ruolan to him. It has nothing to do with our eldest wife."
Old man Chen was so angry that his hands were shaking and he was puffing his beard and glaring.
"This is really outrageous. What do you mean it has nothing to do with you? We are a family. If your third uncle becomes the top scorer in the imperial examination, won't you be able to enjoy the good life with him?"
Hearing this, Chen Zhanshan's eyes dimmed slightly. He had heard such words for nearly twenty years.
In order to support his third brother Chen Zhancai's studies, he not only spent all the family savings, but also left not a single grain of food.
The only cow in the family was sold five years ago, and since then he has become that hard-working ox.
Whenever anyone expressed dissatisfaction or said a few more words, his parents would shut them up, citing his future as an excuse.
After being told so many big promises, he began to believe them and looked forward to his third brother winning.
But year after year, not only did he fail the exam, but he set his sights on his daughter. When he said he wanted to enter the palace to be a eunuch, not only did no one stop him, but they all agreed.
He looked at his wife and daughter, their faces were sallow, they were skinny, and they were wearing clothes that were patched up with patches on top of patches.
Looking at Liu, she was wearing silk clothes and had a rosy and fair complexion. She had lived a life of luxury for so many years, relying on the hard-earned money of her whole family.
Their family worked so hard to support the third brother's family. It's so ironic to think about it now.
His heart sank little by little, and the coldness penetrated his bones.
"Dad, I have done all kinds of hard work to support my third brother's studies. I have done my best to support him for so many years.
He is already 34 years old now. If he wants to continue his studies, he should find a way to raise money on his own instead of putting his ideas on my daughter's head."
"That's nonsense. What do you mean by 'doing one's utmost'? The third brother is busy with his studies, where is he going to get the money?
You are my son and Zhancai's biological brother. It is your responsibility to find a way to solve the difficulties at home. What's wrong with marrying off your daughter?
In the future, the Third Brother will bring honor to the family, and your prosperity and wealth will be indispensable."
"Yeah, big brother, I think you're going a bit too far!"
Chen Zhancai pulled the corner of his mouth in dissatisfaction.
"What if a little work can tire you to death? It's boring to say that among brothers.
If it were you who was going to take the exam, as a brother, I would never say such hurtful words. Even if I had to go through fire and water, I wouldn't even blink an eye.
As long as you want to take the exam, I would die, but you make me so disappointed!"
Old Man Chen was thrilled when he heard this. "Look, look at how enlightened Third Brother is. Big Brother, you should learn from him. You should act like a big brother."
Old Mrs. Chen looked at Chen Qingqing, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes.
This money-losing guy is talking nonsense, or given the boss's temper, no matter what he is asked to do, he won't say a word.
Now, not only does he not enter the palace, he also knows how to protect this money-losing guy.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She gritted her teeth and said,
"Boss, don't listen to Qing's nonsense. No matter how close she is to you, she will be an outsider sooner or later. It's useless for you to treat her sincerely.
Your younger sister is an example. When she was at home, all of us in the family doted on her. But now that she is married, she naturally becomes disloyal.
You three brothers are blood relatives. When your third brother becomes the top scholar in the future, you will be the official's real brother. Then you can have whatever you want.
Just listen to your mother's advice and marry Qing."
Chen Zhanshan's face was as gloomy as water. "What do you want me and the third brother to learn? Learn his selfishness? Just let him give up this year's imperial examination and take a year off before continuing to take the exam.
Are you going to learn from him to turn a deaf ear to the world outside and only focus on reading the books of sages? I regret not seeing the true face of the third brother earlier, letting him bully others for so many years. Now he wants me to sell my daughter, don’t even think about it. "
Chen Qingqing's face was filled with anger, "My father is right, my third uncle is just bragging and making empty promises.
If he really cared about his family, what would happen if he didn't take the exam for a year? Compared to human life, he would die if he didn't take the exam! "
Chen Zhanliang couldn't hold it in any longer and shouted, "Qing girl is right. What's the big deal if I don't take the imperial examination for a year? In my opinion, I should let my third brother go to the mountains to collect firewood and weed the fields. Let him know how hard it is for our family to support his studies."
Chen Qingqing looked at Chen Zhanliang with gratitude. This second uncle was not a bad person. At least he was sensible and knew right from wrong.
She also didn't want to make things difficult for her parents, so she gave them some time. She believed she could make money.
If Chen Zhancai was still a human being and had a little compassion, he would definitely not treat them unfairly in the future.
She wanted to take a gamble, betting on whether Chen Zhancai's character was really bad. If he didn't agree, then there would be nothing she could do.
"I agree with my second uncle. If my third uncle agrees to take the imperial examination again next year, even if the year is not good, I will marry him, no matter if it is Butcher Zhang or Butcher Li, and accept the betrothal gift to support his studies."
Chen Zhanliang looked at everyone and said, "I agree with what Qing said. If my third brother takes a year off to take the imperial examination, I would be willing to enter the palace and become a eunuch next year."
Chen Zhancai's face was ugly. Asking him to chop wood in the fields was simply insulting.
"Dad, Mom, I study day and night just to bring honor to our Chen family. If you don't let me study and take the imperial examinations, I would rather starve to death."
Liu Fengjiao fanned the flames, "Mother, Zhancai is no better at studying than our eldest brother. Our second brother does easy labor. If we don't let him take the imperial examination, wouldn't that be like asking for his life?"
Old man Chen felt a little moved. Life was indeed not easy this year. If his third son could take a year off to prepare for the imperial examination, it would ease the pressure on the family.
He would never sell his eldest granddaughter or send his son to the palace to become a eunuch, making the villagers laugh at the Chen family.
He hesitated and looked at Old Lady Chen inquiringly, "Old lady, what do you think we should do about this?"
Old Mrs. Chen doted on her third son. When she saw him being wronged, she felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife and her face became gloomy.
"What should I do? The third brother has studied hard for so many years, of course he can't neglect his studies. He must participate in the imperial examination."
Chen Zhancai finally smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry, my son will definitely pass the exam and become a scholar this year, bringing honor to our family."
"Okay, good son, mother believes in you." After saying this, Old Lady Chen looked at her eldest son, Chen Zhanshan, and her relieved smile instantly collapsed. "Big brother, since you are unwilling to support your third brother's studies, and you don't accept my suggestion to marry Qing girl off, then you should get out of this house.
I will pretend that I never gave birth to a son like you. If the third son becomes successful in the future, don't even think about coming back to take advantage of him."
Chen Qingqing raised the corners of her lips. This was great. She was just worrying about how to convince her parents to separate the family property, and this old lady Chen had built a bridge for her. It was exactly what she wanted.
.....
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