Chapter 389
Today is a day off, and the academy has granted all students the privilege of going home for five days. Su Yanqiu set off early, but because she was reluctant to take the oxcart, she didn't manage to get back to Jishan Village until sunset.
Jishan Village belongs to Changxi County and is located in the south of the Dayong Dynasty.
Su Yanqiu studied at the county school in Changxi County. He had just come of age this year and was preparing to take the provincial examination next year.
After passing the village entrance, Su Yanqiu quickly came to her own front door. She touched the still-warm pastry on her chest and smiled.
His mother loved pastries, and he would always bring some home with him every now and then. Even though the family was poor, he would always find a way to save some money.
His mother raised him and his brother alone, which was really hard work, and Su Yanqiu was very understanding of his mother's difficulties.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, I saw my mother carrying a food box, about to go out.
Su Yanqiu knew that her mother was going next door to deliver food to her sister-in-law.
"Yanqiu is back?" Mother Su's face was full of joy. "Come in quickly, the food is keeping warm on the stove, help yourself. I'll bring some food to your sister-in-law, I'll be right back!"
Su's mother already knew that Su Yanqiu would be home today, and she happily quickened her pace to enter the neighboring yard.
The Su family originally owned a large courtyard with six rooms.
Since my sister-in-law came to the Su family, my mother ordered people to divide the courtyard and set aside three rooms to serve as my eldest brother's courtyard.
My sister-in-law and elder brother moved into the next courtyard, while Su Yanqiu lived with her mother in the main courtyard.
Su Yanqiu had never met his sister-in-law.
Three years ago, my older brother went to the county to sell his game, and when he came back, he brought a woman with him.
The two did not hold a wedding banquet or invite guests. When he returned from the academy, he learned that he had a sister-in-law.
After that, my sister-in-law stayed in the neighbor's yard for many years and never went out.
His mother brought him meals, washed his clothes, did all the housework, and his older brother did the farm work.
Occasionally, the eldest brother would go up the mountain to hunt some wild game, selling off the rest except for what they ate themselves.
The money was exchanged for him to pay his tuition and buy him writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
He remembered that before his sister-in-law came along, even if his older brother hunted wild game, the family would be reluctant to eat it. But after his sister-in-law came along, the family seemed to have meat almost every day.
However, that's all in the past.
Six months ago, the imperial court conscripted soldiers, and my brother answered the call and went to the northwest border.
Since its founding, the Great Yong Dynasty has been in constant conflict with the Great Zhang Dynasty. The border area in the northwest has been plagued by war for years, but in the past, these were all minor skirmishes. However, half a year ago, the Great Zhang Dynasty suddenly launched a major offensive, and the imperial court urgently conscripted 100,000 soldiers to go to the border.
His brother thus went from being a farmer and hunter to a soldier.
Life at home suddenly became difficult, but fortunately, the eldest brother would send money from time to time, which allowed them to barely make ends meet.
It was just tough on my mother; all the farm work fell on her shoulders, while my sister-in-law... didn't help at all, and my mother still had to bring her food and do her laundry.
Su Yanqiu was somewhat annoyed, but she felt more sorry for her mother.
He relied on his elder brother's education, so he really had no right to say anything about his sister-in-law.
He could only do his best to help his family. He took on a lot of copying jobs and earned some money.
However, with next year's tuition due soon, Su Yanqiu frowned as she thought about it.
This is another huge expense, and I don't know if my family can afford it.
If all else fails, he will ask the teacher for more time so he can copy more books.
In fact, taking the provincial examination next year is still a bit rushed for him, but his circumstances do not allow him to delay any longer.
Every year my mother had to study meant another year of suffering, and the cost of tuition was a heavy burden.
Su Yanqiu walked heavily to the kitchen and brought the food to the table.
It was just simple porridge and pickled vegetables, the villagers' daily meals, which were much worse than the meals at the academy, but Su Yanqiu ate it with great relish.
A moment later, Su's mother came into the room with a basin of clothes. Su Yanqiu immediately recognized that these were her sister-in-law's dirty clothes.
Su Yanqiu's lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.
He didn't understand if his older brother had brought home a tyrant.
I don't expect my sister-in-law to serve my parents-in-law, but at the very least, can't she cook her own meals and wash her own clothes?
Especially now that my older brother isn't home, my sister-in-law should at least come out and help my mother.
Su Yanqiu was somewhat dissatisfied, and he buried his head in his food with a sullen face.
"Did Yanqiu buy these pastries?"
Su's mother's joyful voice rang out. Su Yanqiu looked up, and Su's mother picked up the pastries and walked outside.
"Let your sister-in-law try some too!"
Su Yanqiu quickly stood up to stop her mother, "Mother, this is for you to eat, you eat first!"
"If I can't finish it, you can have some with your sister-in-law!" Su's mother refused. She was thin and small herself, but when there was something good to eat, she always thought of others.
"Mother!" Su Yanqiu forcefully pressed his mother down onto the stool. "You eat it. The pastries I bought this time weren't very good. My sister-in-law might not like them. I'll buy better ones next time, and I guarantee she'll be satisfied!"
Su's mother, who had been very enthusiastic, hesitated upon hearing this.
"Is it really bad?" She looked at the pastry carefully.
"Really, they were all unsold after several days, so the boss sold them to me cheaply. Mother knows that her son has no money," Su Yanqiu explained, lying without batting an eye.
He didn't buy food that had several days' worth left; he just wanted his mother to eat more.
Su Yanqiu made the remark casually and did not think that such an excuse would persuade his mother. For a family like theirs, it was difficult to even put food on the table, so who cared about freshness or not?
Unexpectedly, Su's mother actually sat down calmly and started eating the pastries by herself.
"Your sister-in-law deserves the best. Next time you come back, be sure to bring her the best pastries from the county. As for the money..."
At this point, Su's mother paused for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "I'll give you a little more this time."
"Mother?" Su Yanqiu was shocked and annoyed at the excuse she had come up with.
He just couldn't understand why his mother was so good to his sister-in-law. And why she thought the pastries he bought weren't good enough for her?
After his sister-in-law entered the Su family, everyone in the family started acting strangely, including his brother and his mother.
The once dull and honest older brother, who only knew how to work, has also learned to cherish women and please them.
He frequently went hunting in the mountains, and when he returned from the county, he would always bring back jewelry, clothes, and snacks that women liked.
Needless to say, his mother had always ordered him and his brother to do chores since they were little, but she was very attentive to his sister-in-law.
Su Yanqiu didn't understand, and even felt that her sister-in-law was a bit strange.
Unaware of her son's thoughts, Su's mother quickly finished her meal and went to do the laundry.
Su Yanqiu's gaze turned cold. He was determined not to let her find out what she was up to. If she harmed his family, he would risk his career to make sure she received the punishment she deserved!
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