“Brother, after we dig up the konjac, you’ll still have to make a trip to town. Ruyi Noodle Shop in town orders five jin every day. We’ll deliver it to them every morning so as not to interfere with their business.”
Upon hearing that there was still money to be made even without a market in town, Shen Yu'an immediately perked up.
With Shen Yu'an around, Shen Danru had no chance to make a move.
Even when going up the mountain, Shen Yu'an was afraid that Shen Danru would fall, so he tried to carry her on his back, which made her blush.
Although he was the eldest brother, men and women should not be too close, and she didn't want outsiders to gossip about it.
Seeing that Shen Danru was unwilling, Shen Yu'an had no choice but to help her climb up the mountain.
This time, they dug up more than 100 jin (50 kg), and Shen Yu'an did all the digging by himself, while Shen Danru sat on a rock waiting.
When they came down the mountain, Shen Yu'an carried them down the mountain all by himself.
"Second sister, you don't need to go next time. Big brother can dig it all by himself."
Shen Danru nodded.
She came along and Shen Yu'an would have to take care of her, which would only be a burden to Shen Yu'an.
At the same time, I felt a little sorry for him. My older brother must have suffered a lot since he was a child. He is so capable.
Shen Yu'an walked down the mountain without even breaking a sweat. She wasn't carrying anything, and she couldn't walk as fast as Shen Yu'an.
Shen Yu'an deliberately slowed down his pace to wait for Shen Danru.
I got home and ate a few bites of breakfast hastily.
Shen Yu'an took the prepared five catties of konjac noodles to Ruyi Noodle Shop to deliver the goods.
Shen Danru then taught Shen Yuyan to read.
Shen Danru made flashcards a day in advance, with simple characters written on small pieces of paper, each about four or five centimeters square.
Reading is divided into two stages: primary school and university.
She can teach the basic cultural knowledge and etiquette in elementary school.
However, university is for learning the rites and music of the ancient sages and understanding the etiquette between the emperor and his subjects. We'll find him a better academy then.
When children first enter school, they must first learn to recognize and write characters.
"When writing, one should not be stingy with paper and should write large characters. If one writes small characters, one's wrist will be constricted, and when one grows up and writes slightly larger characters, one will not be able to write them."
Shen Yuyan listened attentively and nodded in approval.
"Shang Da Ren, Qiu Yi Ji, Hua San Qian, Qi Shi Shi, Er Xiao Sheng... Today we will first learn the two characters Shang Da. In two or three days, when the two characters are correct, we can change to the next character."
Shen Danru taught diligently, and Shen Yuyan studied even more diligently. Before long, Shen Yuyan's writing was quite good.
Seeing Shen Yuyan's absorbed state, Shen Danru told him to write first and then left the room.
Seeing that Shen Cheng and Zhou were processing konjac, she went over to help.
"Child, go and rest. Let your parents do the work."
"I'm with my parents."
The three of them chatted and laughed as they worked, and time flew by.
"Oh my, they can't even afford to eat, so they've even dug up devil's taro from the mountains."
Shen Danru looked up and saw Wang the matchmaker bringing a woman to the door, and he secretly made a guess in his heart.
"What are you doing here? You're not welcome in our home. Get out!"
When Zhou saw Chen Langniang arrive, she angrily chased her away.
They'd only dare to lay a finger on her daughter if she were dead.
Matchmaker Wang was somewhat embarrassed at this moment.
She went to the Chen family with the money, but Chen Lang disagreed, leaving her in a dilemma.
"Zhou Meizi, what are you saying? Fortunately, our two families are related by marriage."
Shen Cheng frowned: "Who said we're in-laws? We've already returned the forty taels of silver to your family, what are you doing here?"
Matchmaker Wang took out forty taels of silver notes, which felt a bit too hot to handle. She offered them to the Chen family, but they refused. It seemed the Shen family wasn't going to return them either. So she said, "Let's discuss this properly."
Zhou said irritably, "What's there to discuss? You made a deal with the Shen family, and that old woman took all the money. We'll pay you back ourselves, isn't that enough? If you think it's not right, go to the Shen family and ask them to take you back."
Zhou was furious when she thought of Chen; it was all because Chen had been too weak.
Matchmaker Wang was in a bit of a dilemma.
Chen Langniang's face was grim: "We originally agreed to marry the second daughter of the second wife, so of course we'll marry the second daughter of the second wife. What are we going to do at the Shen family?"
"What first or second wife? Although the old Shen family's matriarch raised my husband, she also killed my mother-in-law. Now our two families are enemies and have long since separated. If you want your husband, go to their house. Get out."
Chen Langniang had of course heard about the Shen family's affairs, but she was unwilling to give up and said, "It's no use you saying it, let this child say it."
"Your name is Ru'er, right? You can't even fill your stomach in the Shen family. Look at what they feed you. Can you even eat taro? You might lose your life if you're not careful. Why don't you marry into our Chen family and live a life of luxury, wearing gold and silver?"
Shen Danru didn't even bother to look at her: "My mother told you to get out, didn't you hear me?"
Chen Langniang was taken aback.
Such a well-behaved woman, yet she has a strangely fiery temper.
But that's alright, we can train them properly after they've entered the family.
The previous wife was also a shrew before she came into the family, but she was still trained to be obedient by this woman.
Women deserve a beating; if you beat them three times in two days, even the most arrogant temper will be worn down.
Before Chen Langniang could speak again, Shen Yuyan stormed out of the house, grabbed a broom from the yard, and swung it at the house, shouting angrily:
"Get out of my house! You still want to mess with my second sister? I'll beat you to death!"
Shen Yuyan used every ounce of her strength.
His second sister was like a goddess to him; no man could be worthy of her.
The older brother at the town's bookstore is alright.
They don't even know who Chen Lang is.
The door slammed shut with a "bang".
Chen Langniang was rebuffed and felt annoyed.
Shen Yuyan closed the door, her anger still simmering, and continued to shout and curse:
"Pah, don't you even look at what kind of person your son is? Don't you have a mirror at home or a place to pee? Go back and pee so your son can take a good look at himself."
"What kind of person is this? They can't even afford to eat, yet they won't let their daughter get married."
Faced with the villagers' pointing fingers and whispering, Chen Langniang stamped her foot and went to find Chen Shi.
Seeing her third brother protecting her like this, her heart softened, but the way he stood there with his hands on his hips and scolded her was so funny that she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Second sister, you..."
“Yu Yan, I know you are protecting your second sister, but a learned and cultivated person should not speak rashly or show violent expression even when he is furious.”
Shen Yuyan pouted, feeling a little wronged, but since his second sister was doing it for his own good, he respectfully agreed.
In no time, the news that Shen Cheng's family had nothing to eat and had to dig up taro from the mountain to eat spread throughout Shangqing Village.
Of course, this matter also reached the home of Shen Yu'an's fiancée, Chai Tinglian.
The Chai family.
"Mother, I want to break off the engagement."
"You were willing to do it in the first place, and we couldn't stop you. Why are you backing out now?"
Chai Tinglian stamped her foot: "How is this my fault? Back then, I just thought that since his family had a scholar, I could enjoy some good fortune once he passed the exam."
At that time, the Chai family sent Wang, the matchmaker, to propose marriage to Shen Yushu, but Chen refused.
Madam Chen believed that once her grandson became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he could marry not only a lady from a prestigious family, but even a princess.
Hmph, a country bumpkin who wants to marry her grandson and enjoy a life of luxury? What a pipe dream.
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