Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Four years old is the right age to go to school
At night, Miao Ying lit a lamp and carefully looked at Huo Xing's wound. There were spots of blood on the white cloth.
"Did the doctor say when to change the dressing?" Miao Ying pulled his clothes into place, then lay down in the quilt shivering.
"Two days." Huo Xing climbed onto the bed and turned off the oil lamp.
The moment he lay down, he felt a pair of cold feet against his calves. Huo Xing didn't move, so Miao Ying went a step further and stuffed his feet into his calves, saying, "It's too cold. My feet are cold all night when I sleep alone. I drank donkey-hide gelatin chicken soup tonight, so why are they still so cold?"
Huo Xing wanted to say that drinking it for only one day wouldn't have any effect, and it wasn't a panacea, but he ultimately said nothing and didn't move, and Ren Miaoying squeezed next to him.
Miao Ying closed his eyes and muttered, "Let's go to the county town tomorrow? Let's go shopping. Let me think about what to buy. Clothes for Mom and Grandma, snacks for Xiaobao, bones for you to make soup, and then see if there are any spices. There are also fruits and snacks for the New Year. Do we need to buy Spring Festival couplets? Will there be enough money..."
He stopped talking before he finished. Huo Xing turned his head to look over and found that he had fallen asleep.
The temperature of his feet gradually warmed up under his calves, but Miao Ying still did not move his feet away. He even rolled a little closer to Huo Xing. After all, it was much warmer there.
Huo Xing felt a slight itch in his nose and a burst of heat on his body. He moved a little further away from Miao Ying, but soon Miao Ying, noticing that the heat source had disappeared, followed him again, with his forehead against his back.
He rubbed his nose, thinking that it was the donkey-hide gelatin in the soup tonight that made him feel a little hot all over. The effect of donkey-hide gelatin was indeed good.
Because the quilt was too warm at night, Miao Ying didn't get up early the next morning. He woke up only when the warmth in the quilt gradually disappeared. Outside the shabby window, he heard the sound of Huo Xiaobao playing. Miao Ying yawned and put on his clothes tremblingly.
Huo San did not come back last night. After Miao Ying got dressed, he found the ten taels of silver and a lot of copper coins that Huo Xing had given him yesterday from under the mattress. Adding the money Miao Ying had earned from selling fancy clothes before and excluding the money they spent on buying meat, he still had thirteen taels of silver and a few hundred coins left.
For Miao Ying, the situation has improved a lot. At least he doesn't have to worry about his life anymore.
He put the silver into the purse, which was made for him by his grandmother. He drew the pattern on it himself, which was a cabbage. Cabbage means wealth, which has a good meaning.
He packed up and left the room, then went to the side to wash up. He used to use cold water to wash up in the morning, but this morning he used hot water. It was obvious that Huo Xing had boiled it.
He applied hot water on his face, washing away the slight tiredness after a good night's sleep, and even his eyes became clearer. After he finished washing his face, he realized that the basin he was using to wash his face was Huo Xing's, and he had also used this basin to soak his feet.
…
Breakfast was a bowl of soup and a steamed bun left over from last night. No one was home except Huo Xiaobao. Just as he was about to ask where everyone else had gone, he looked up and saw Huo Xing coming back carrying a bucket of water. Miao Ying hurried over to help him take the shoulder pole. "Why are you still fetching water if you've injured your hand?"
Huo Xing lifted the bucket with one hand and poured the water into the water tank: "One hand can be used."
Miao Ying did not try to persuade him. He understood his male chauvinism and thought that he should do all the housework. After all, good things came out of bad things. It was gratifying that Huo Xing was not like his father.
"Shall we go to the county town later? We agreed to go shopping." Miao Ying put the bucket and shoulder pole back in place.
Huo Xing looked embarrassed: "Mom said not to let me."
Miao Ying didn't care. He went to pull Huo Xing's sleeve and said, "We've already agreed on this. We're here to buy New Year's goods."
"New Year's goods, no rush." Huo Xing sat down in the yard. His arms were a little sore from having just exerted force.
Miao Ying also noticed it and reached out to pinch his uninjured shoulder. "Go ahead. Isn't it normal to make a set of clothes a year? I also want to see if there are any seasonings."
Huo Xing was somewhat helpless: "Mom said..."
"Don't always listen to your mother's words. Are you a mama's boy?" Miao Ying stood up straight. "You are a man. You should make your own decisions. Now, make a decision and take me to the county town."
Huo Xing saw Huo Xiaobao staring at them in the yard, and seemed to have found a reason: "Xiaobao is home alone."
"Just take it with you." Miao Ying had hurried back to the room, found the purse, and stood in front of Huo Xing, "Let's go."
Huo Xing was helpless: "Xiaobao is still young and can't walk that far. Your injury hasn't healed yet. Can you wait for two more days?"
Miao Ying curled his lips, knowing that this was a delaying tactic, but there was nothing he could do. Huo Xing was injured and he couldn't carry him. He had to find an ox cart before he could ride it. His current body really couldn't walk that far.
"Okay then." Miao Ying went back to the room and hid the money, then returned to the yard dejectedly. In fact, he didn't have to go shopping. It was just too boring to stay at home. He was used to working, but he had been idle for so long. Although he made some money, it was not enough for his family to live on. He still wanted to move, so that he wouldn't have any random thoughts.
Huo Xing's eyes fell on Miao Ying countless times, and finally he asked dryly, "Do you want to go fishing in the river?"
Miao Ying immediately turned his head, his eyes suddenly shining, but soon dimmed: "It's too cold, and you're injured, you can't go down to the river."
Huo Xing was at a loss as Miao Ying had already called Huo Xiaobao over. There was a sandy area in their yard. Miao Ying found a stick and taught Huo Xiaobao how to write on the sand. Huo Xiaobao squatted in front of him and learned very seriously.
Huo Xing also looked over and found that Miao Ying was very serious, but the handwriting was not right. Huo Xing had also learned a few characters from the old hunter, and Miao Ying happened to be teaching Xiao Bao, but Miao Ying's handwriting was incomplete.
As he was writing, Miao Ying raised his head and said, "Huo Xing, is Xiaobao old enough to go to school now?"
Huo Xing nodded. When he picked up Xiaobao, Xiaobao looked like he had been abandoned shortly after birth. He cried heartbreakingly in the mountains. If he had gone later, Xiaobao would probably have been eaten by the wolves in the mountains. He carefully examined Xiaobao and found that Xiaobao was missing a toe. He finally understood why Xiaobao was abandoned.
"Then we'll send Xiaobao to school after the New Year." Miao Ying made the final decision. "He's already four years old, which is the perfect age for him to go to school."
Huo Xing looked embarrassed.
Miao Ying thought he was worried about money, so he waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of the money. When I get better, I'll make money with you."
"It's not a matter of money." Huo Xing stood up, walked up to Miao Ying, and gently told him about Xiaobao's situation.
Miao Ying was stunned for a moment, then said, "But he still needs to study. Does studying guarantee he'll pass the imperial examination? I hope that after studying, he'll be able to understand the world and be sensible about how to treat people. Even if he goes to school, he can make a living. Even if he can work as an accountant or set up a stall outside to read and write letters, aren't those all career options?"
Huo Xing seemed to be shocked by Miao Ying's long speech. He thought about what Miao Ying had said about his origins. Could it be that he was not talking nonsense?
Miao Ying's decision was difficult to change, so he announced during dinner that Huo Xiaobao would be sent to school.
Grandmother looked at Miao Ying. She seemed to have forgotten what Miao Ying was like before he was injured. At that time, he obviously hated this family so much, but now he is doing everything for the good of this family. Her old eyes could not see through him.
Li Hongying had heard Miao Ying say that he wanted to send Xiaobao to school a long time ago, so she wasn't surprised at the moment: "There is no school in the village."
Miao Ying rubbed his hair: "Where can I get it?"
"In the town, the county seat." Huo Xing said.
"Then let's go to the county town and get a good one."
Li Hongying laughed at his matter-of-fact attitude: "Xiaobao is only four years old. How can he live alone in the county town?"
"Can't we board?" Miao Ying's eyes widened. "Children who go to school have to come back every day?"
Li Hongying shook her head. "No one goes to school at the age of four. Even the scholars in the county town only go to school when they can take care of themselves."
"Why isn't there a school in the village?" Miao Ying scratched his hair in annoyance. "There are so many children in the village."
"Let's wait a few years. Xiaobao is too young." Li Hongying made the final decision. "He won't be able to learn at such a young age even if he goes to school."
Miao Ying curled his lips. Nowadays, children start going to kindergarten at the age of three, but Huo Xiaobao doesn't have to go to school until he is four.
So tonight's night talk ended briefly, and the issue of Huo Xiaobao going to school had not yet received a satisfactory answer to both parties.
Huo San had not returned since he left yesterday morning. Miao Ying glanced at Li Hongying. She didn't seem worried at all, as if whether Huo San was dead or alive had nothing to do with her.
Looking at my grandmother, it seems to be the same.
Yes, a man like this would be better off dead. Living would only add burden to their family. If it weren't for Huo San, their family would be able to live a better life.
People are the most vulnerable to being scolded. Just as Miao Ying was about to clean up the dishes, the courtyard door was kicked open and Huo San was standing at the door, reeking of alcohol.
"Huo Xing, you bastard, where's the money?" He walked up to Huo Xing unsteadily. "I heard you got ten taels of silver. Where's the money? Take it out."
He walked up to Huo Xing with an aggressive and arrogant attitude, and looked directly into his eyes, which had already become weak from drinking. "I'm your father, give me the money."
He heard the news that Huo Xing was injured. He usually avoided him, but now that he knew he was injured, he was no longer afraid of him.
Huo Xing stood up. He was much taller than Huo San and was looking at him coldly: "Get lost."
"This is my home!" Huo San staggered drunkenly. Miao Ying, who had originally entered the kitchen, walked behind him and stepped on him as if he didn't see him.
Huo San jumped up and turned around to slap Miao Ying. Huo Xing pulled Miao Ying behind him, raised his hand and grabbed Huo San's hand, his eyes sinister: "Get out!"
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