Chapter 19: Male Protagonist
Tang Luwu and Tang Yixiao stood at the door of the private school.
The sound of reading could be heard from inside. They didn't understand what was being said, but they knew that their peasant attire was different from that of the scholars inside.
"Who are you looking for?" The old man who was sweeping the floor saw two people standing there for a long time, neither knocking on the door nor speaking, looking timid and fearful, so he took the initiative to ask.
"Uncle, we are looking for Tang Yichen." Tang Yi said with a smile, "We are his younger brothers and sisters."
"So you are Mr. Tang's family." The old man's face became more enthusiastic when he heard it. "Wait a moment, I will go and ask Mr. Tang to come out right away."
Tang Yi smiled as he watched the old man leave, and said to Tang Luwu, "I heard that my brother is going to take the exam this time. With his talent, he will definitely pass. We must not let him be distracted."
"I know." Tang Luwu looked up. "Aunt Li and Sister Yin have changed a lot. Should we tell Big Brother about these things?"
"Forget it, let's not talk about it for now. Big brother doesn't need to worry about the family affairs, just concentrate on preparing for the exam." Tang Yi said with a smile, "Do you think they are nice to us for no reason? Dad can't get out of bed for the time being, does he need someone to do the housework? They get along with us, and we can be their long-term workers willingly. Isn't this a good deal for them?"
"Maybe Sister Yin really wants to become a family with us, otherwise she wouldn't have asked us to bring food to Big Brother. Only family members care about each other."
"Sister, didn't you hear the conversation between the mother and daughter just now? On the surface, they were sending food to Big Brother, but in fact, they came to the private school to show their faces and let more people know about the existence of food like jelly."
While the brother and sister were talking, a young man in a green shirt slowly walked over.
The blue shirt was the uniform of the private school. There was a white piping around the collar, which contrasted with the main color of the blue shirt, making it look clean and elegant. A dark belt was tied around the waist, which made his figure more upright. Although the boy was young and his eyebrows were quite immature, his facial features were elegant and gentle, as noble as a bamboo.
"Luwu, Xiaodi, why are you here?" Tang Yichen said.
"Brother..." The two of them ran over excitedly when they saw Tang Yichen who had not returned home for a long time.
Seeing the two people's excited expressions, Tang Yichen frowned and said, "Did something happen at home? That... Li made things difficult for you?"
When talking about 'that woman', Tang Yichen's eyes were full of disgust and disdain.
"No, we're here to bring you something." Tang Yi smiled and took out several bamboo buckets from the backpack.
"What's this?"
"The food is really delicious." Tang Luwu looked at Tang Yichen expectantly with bright eyes. "Brother, try it."
Tang Yichen was stunned for a moment.
He hadn't been home for ten days. Why did he feel that his sister was a little different when he saw her this time?
Tang Yichen opened the bamboo bucket.
The thin white strips were served with a well-mixed sauce, and a few pieces of meat were placed on the top. He hadn't eaten it yet, but he knew it was good just by smelling the aroma.
Under the expectant gaze of his younger brother and sister, he picked up the thin white strips and put them into his mouth. Immediately, the indescribable coolness dispelled the heat in his body. It was too hot in this season. Even though it was just dawn, the heat was already uncomfortable. The wealthy classmates arranged two book boys to fan them. Some of the classmates were dressed lightly, and some even went shirtless in the private school. As the most valued student of the teachers, Tang Yichen has always been a role model for the students and would not do such a disrespectful thing.
His clothes were more tightly wrapped than anyone else's. Even though he was hot and couldn't even read a book, he was still the well-behaved Tang Yichen in front of outsiders.
Tang Yichen took the first bite quickly. He calmed down halfway through the meal and realized that he had lost his composure in front of his younger brother and sister.
"What's this?"
"This is jelly." Tang Yi said with a smile, "That woman... Li and Qin Huiyin made it and are now selling it at the market. By the way, these portions are for the Master and his wife."
"They made it? Why did they send it to me?" Tang Yichen frowned.
Not long after Li got married, his father got into trouble. Not only did she not feel sorry for his father, she also cried and made a fuss at home all day. For his father's sake, he tried to persuade her with kind words, but it was useless. He also persuaded his father to divorce her, otherwise he would not have a good life if he kept quarreling like this all day. His father pretended not to hear, but he just couldn't bear to part with that woman, and he insisted on keeping her even if she cried and made a fuss.
He was busy with his studies and couldn't go home often, so he could hide away in peace. But it was hard for his younger brother and sister, who had to face that rude woman every day. No, it was a mother and daughter.
The woman's daughter was no pushover either. Although she disguised herself well, he could still see through the restlessness in her eyes at a glance.
"Brother, Aunt Li is not making trouble anymore. She and Sister Yin are doing well. Sister Yin asked us to send this over, saying that it is for you and the teachers to try." Tang Luwu spoke well of Qin Huiyin and her daughter.
Tang Yixiao hesitated for a moment and said truthfully, "They haven't been making trouble recently. Qin Huiyin made this jelly and said she wanted to do business. Li listened to her and was busy running around."
"They didn't bully you, did they?" Tang Yichen still didn't believe what his younger brothers and sisters said.
He knew that his brothers and sisters were sensible and sometimes only reported good news but not bad news. Maybe they didn't want to distract him, so they kept everything secret.
"No. We help with the work, and we eat whatever they eat. They don't treat us badly in terms of food." At least that's been the case these days. "Brother, didn't you say that we are still young and can't live alone. When we grow up and can stand on our own, we can get rid of the constraints of the family. Brother, you should concentrate on studying. As long as you pass the imperial examination, no one will dare to bully me and my sister."
"Yinyin gave me back the money." Tang Luwu took out six copper coins from her pocket. "She has changed a lot recently. It seems that she really wants to live a good life with us."
"I roughly guessed what they wanted to do." Tang Yichen said, "Do they want to let the students in the private school know about the existence of jelly so that they can attract business for them?"
"Probably!" Tang Yi said with a smile.
"Help me carry the things in. I have two teachers and a mistress, and there is one left that I plan to leave for a good classmate."
When Tang Luwu and Tang Yixiao came out of the private school, half an hour had passed since they left the stall. Worried that the Li mother and daughter would be angry, they quickened their pace.
The two men ran out of breath and finally arrived, only to find that the stall was gone and Li's mother and daughter were gone too.
"Hey, your mother asked me to tell you that all the things are sold out. They need to go buy some things, so you should go to the butcher shop to find them." said the old woman squatting opposite and selling mushrooms.
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