Chapter 23 You Don’t Know How to Study
Governor Gu and his companions climbed the mountain and inspected the village. They were all tired and hungry.
Hao Ren invited Governor Gu and Magistrate Song to his home for some snacks.
Wu Yingniang and Grandma Qiu were busy cooking for the villagers and had no time to prepare meals for these people separately.
She simply cooked the rice balls and shepherd's purse left over from yesterday without adding any meat, added some water, and served it out after it was cooked.
"My two lords, the food in the village is simple, please don't mind." Wu Yingniang put down two bowls of hot shepherd's purse dumplings, turned around and went out to work.
There was pigeon stewing in the kitchen for Zhizhi to eat in the evening, so she had to watch the fire.
Wu Yingniang's robust physique was consistent with County Magistrate Song's impression of country women.
Moreover, this woman spoke and walked in a graceful and elegant manner, and had a certain chivalrous air.
Wu Yingniang left in a hurry, and they just thought that she was a village woman who was embarrassed to meet a man from another village, so she hid away.
"Please enjoy your meal, Governor Gu and Magistrate Song." Hao Ren poured them two bowls of sweet mountain spring water.
Shepherd's purse dumplings are not a rare dish. Governor Gu and County Magistrate Song have both eaten them before.
Especially Governor Gu.
He saw the fresh shepherd's purse leaves and the soup with the aroma of rice. He took a bite and found that it tasted very much like the one made by his deceased mother.
Many years ago, when he was still a student, his mother often dug wild vegetables and cooked them in porridge for him to eat in order to save money.
At that time, rice dumplings could only be eaten during festivals. They were cooked with shepherd's purse and tasted fresh and fragrant.
While he was eating the dumplings, his mother sat beside him mending his clothes and watching him eat.
Looking back now, his mother had passed away more than 20 years ago, and he himself had passed the age of 60. He had not eaten wild vegetables for a long time.
Governor Gu's eyes were slightly moist as he ate.
He knew that although this bowl of dumplings was simple and plain, it might be the best food the village could offer.
County Magistrate Song didn't think too much about it. He just felt that the shepherd's purse was indeed very fresh and fragrant. He also thought that when he went down the mountain later, he would bring back a handful of wild vegetables and ask the cook at home to cook it for him in the evening.
When Governor Gu and County Magistrate Song finished their meal and said goodbye to leave, Su Zhizhi came back.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back from digging wild vegetables!"
Su Zhizhi's voice sounded from far away.
She had gained a lot today and couldn't wait to come back and tell her parents.
The caught pheasant and its brood of chicks had been locked up in the chicken coop by Hua Er Niang, and the bamboo basket on her back was full of shepherd's purse.
I can eat chicken and shepherd's purse dumplings again tonight.
She was wearing new clothes when she went out today. When she was chasing pheasants and rolled down the slope, she was scratched by branches, her shoes were torn, and her body was covered with mud.
If my mother sees this, she will definitely be furious.
So she deliberately pulled Xue Che back with her, and if her mother wanted to spank her, she would hide behind Xue Che.
Xue Che is weak, and his mother will definitely not be willing to kill him.
Hao Ren waved towards them: "Zhizhi, Ache."
Then he turned around and introduced: "Excuse me, my lords, this is my daughter and nephew."
Governor Gu and Magistrate Song both looked down at Su Zhizhi and Xue Che.
The two children's faces were covered with dust and their bodies were dirty. The bamboo baskets on their backs were full of wild vegetables.
The girl's clothes were torn and her shoes were torn.
"Dad, I dug a lot of wild vegetables today. I also saw pheasants. I fell and rolled down the slope, and then I..."
Hao Ren saw that the two children were not injured, and removed the grass roots from Su Zhizhi's hair, saying:
"Zhizhi, A'che, go wash your hands first. Dad will listen to your detailed explanation later."
Xue Che: "Okay."
Su Zhizhi: "Okay."
Su Zhizhi didn't finish her words and went to wash her hands first. She placed the bamboo basket full of wild vegetables at the door, right next to County Magistrate Song's feet.
County Magistrate Song felt extremely ashamed at this moment.
He didn't expect that the wild vegetables he had just eaten were actually dug out bit by bit by such a young child going up the mountain.
The children in the village didn’t even have a complete set of clothes. They were all dirty and torn. They even rolled down the hillside in order to dig some wild vegetables.
It can be seen that these wild vegetables are hard to come by.
And he, as a local official, shamelessly thought of taking a handful of vegetables back with him!
County Magistrate Song felt as if his head weighed a thousand pounds, and was so ashamed that he dared not look at the child again.
"Children, come here." Governor Gu bent down.
Su Zhizhi came out after washing her hands and face. Her face looked much cleaner, but her body was still dirty.
"What's the matter, Grandpa?"
Xue Che was subconsciously wary of people outside the village. He didn't get too close to them and didn't talk much.
Governor Gu thought that the children in the village were timid and afraid of strangers.
Hao Ren reminded from the side:
"This is the Governor, you should call him Governor."
Xue Che: "Master Governor."
Su Zhizhi: "What does the Governor want me to do?"
Hao Ren wanted to remind him again, but Governor Gu raised his hand and said, "That's fine."
Su Zhizhi has a pair of big, bright eyes that can see into people's hearts at a glance.
Xue Che also has handsome features and is well-mannered.
The two children standing together looked like a pair of little fairies.
Governor Gu had a grandson at home who was about the same age and had already learned to read and write.
But the children in front of me can only dig wild vegetables in the mountains in tattered clothes.
Even though Governor Gu's family was poor back then, he had never suffered to this extent.
It pained him to look at it.
Thinking of the village chief Hao who had beautiful handwriting but not much education, Governor Gu made a decision in his heart.
He asked Su Zhizhi and Xue Che: "Children, do you know what studying means?"
Xue Che: "I understand."
Su Zhizhi: "I know, I go to school every day."
Governor Gu was surprised: "Does your village have a teacher?"
Su Zhizhi pointed at Old Man Qin who was not far away and said, "That's our Master."
Governor Gu looked over.
I saw an old man with only one ear sitting in a rocking chair weaving bamboo strips, his back hunched like a shrimp in the river.
He was weaving very slowly, and it seemed his eyesight wasn't very good either. He was weaving and then unweaving, unweaving and then weaving again...
"Is that your master?"
It would have been fine if Governor Gu hadn't looked at it, but once he did, he was filled with grief and indignation:
"No, kid, you don't understand!"
"Grandpa will send you to the county to study."
As Governor Gu spoke, tears welled up in his eyes:
"These days are so hard."
"Studying changes your destiny!"
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