Blood relationship is a very difficult thing to explain. Mu Erpang, who had just awakened his mind, had never thought about this biological brother before, but now that he saw him, he felt a sense of closeness in his heart, so he immediately called him.
Tailor Old Getou and Mu Yunchuan have known each other for many years. At this time, he smiled and said, "I wonder why the young master is so likable. It turns out that he is Mr. Mu's younger brother."
As he spoke, he measured the dimensions and went to record them.
Mu Erpang was just about to approach his elder brother, but he saw the curtain at the door move again, and three young men dressed as scholars came in.
The already cramped shop was suddenly packed with people.
Mu Yunchuan was considered a prominent figure in the academy, and the few people who came later happened to be their classmates in the academy.
When they came in, they heard what the old tailor said, and one of them asked, "I didn't know that Brother Mu had a younger brother before. It's just a coincidence today. Brother Mu, please introduce him to us."
"That's right. Mu Xiaolang is hanging around on this Academy Street. Could he be planning to enter our academy? We will be classmates in the future, so it's a good opportunity for us to get to know each other in advance."
When they saw Mu Erpang standing next to the old tailor, they paused at the same time.
Although men do not have to pay as much attention to their appearance as women, educated people are all elegant people and at least pay attention to their image.
The fat Mu in front of him was wearing a loose green jacket and looked like a round ball.
This is Mu Yunchuan’s younger brother, who is the head of the academy’s literary students?
Someone asked, "Brother Mu, is this your cousin?"
"He's my biological brother." Mu Yunchuan's expression did not change, but he turned his eyes to Mu Erpang and looked at him carefully, but he also showed some surprise -
Although the two brothers did not have a deep relationship in the past, they had been living under the same roof for a long time. Mu Yunchuan was a very meticulous person, so he naturally noticed that he was different at a glance.
When his younger brother said this, the expressions on everyone's faces were wonderful, some were inquiring, some were surprised and excited.
The three men started chatting with Mu Erpang, and one of them asked him how many years of study he had received. That person then asked him what he had learned now? Who is the gentleman in front?
Because he heard them calling their eldest brother brothers, Mu Erpang answered them one by one: "I have just studied for more than half a month and learned 300,000 words. There is no teacher in front of me."
Those who can enter Qingzhu Academy are naturally the best among their peers.
Although these three people had no place to stand in the academy compared to Mu Yunchuan, they were the kind of people who started to learn at the age of four, learned calligraphy at the age of five, and began to read "The Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" at the age of six.
So after Mu Erpang finished answering, the three people's expressions of watching a good show became more and more obvious, and their eyes unconsciously moved back and forth between Mu Yunchuan and Mu Erpang.
Wei Shu pulled Mu Yunchuan closer and asked in a voice that only they could hear: "Is it your stepmother's child?"
Mu Yunchuan gave an affirmative answer.
Wei Shu looked at Mu Erpang again, and his eyes couldn't help but show a bit of displeasure.
He and Mu Yunchuan had a close personal relationship. In the past, he had always thought that Mu Yunchuan was a farmer's son from a poor family. Later, he learned from others that Mu Yunchuan's father was a well-known craftsman in the city, and the Mu family's financial situation was not particularly difficult. At least he would not be forced to wear patched clothes, eat dry buns with water, and copy books and write letters for others in exchange for money in his spare time.
The reason why he was so poor was because he had a stingy stepmother at home.
Compared with the plump appearance of Mu Erpang in front of him and the thin figure of Mu Yunchuan, Mu Yunchuan's situation at home is self-evident!
However, due to his upbringing, Wei Shu did not joke with Mu Erpang like the other three did.
Mu Erpang noticed the unfriendly looks from the crowd. Although he was a little puzzled, he did not back down and looked back neither arrogantly nor humbly.
The old tailor had seen all kinds of people, so he naturally noticed that the atmosphere was wrong.
He didn't want to get involved in the dispute, so he made the excuse that the store was cramped and went to the backyard first to let them choose carefully. Once you have chosen the fabric or style, just give him a call.
When they reached the door leading to the backyard, the old tailor hesitated for a moment, and then said to Mu Erpang, "Young Master, come with me, and we can discuss the style."
Although Mu Erpang was very surprised to see his elder brother here, he didn't want to be looked at like that by a few strangers, so he nodded in agreement and left with the old tailor.
As soon as he left, the shop suddenly became lively.
Everyone knows that uneducated rural areas are more likely to produce vulgar people, but few people know that when it comes to the tongues of intellectuals, they can be even more vicious than the rural men and women.
Wei Shu, who was in the lead, could think of Mu Erpang's identity, and the other three naturally thought of it as well.
This one said: "So the fat and big-eared guy just now is really Brother Mu's younger brother?"
"Brother Han, why do you have to say that? Brother Gangmu has admitted it himself. But the two brothers really don't look alike. I guess they were raised by a stepmother, so they look like her."
"Tsk tsk, I heard that Brother Mu's stepmother was cruel and abusive, but I didn't believe there was such a vicious woman. Looking at Brother Mu's body shape today, I can imagine what Brother Mu's situation was like at home."
"Shut up." Mu Yunchuan glanced over with a cold gaze. "My mother is my elder. What is your intention in talking about her in front of me?"
Wei Shu couldn't help but whispered, "Yunchuan, why do you have to defend your stepmother? This stepmother is really... really too much. You have been wearing the same robe for three years, with patches on the cuffs, while your brother has just started school and he has already made a new one. I think you are just too good-tempered..."
Mu Yunchuan frowned and said nothing.
Of course, he didn't really have a good character, but these classmates had been jealous and resentful of him for a long time. How can I be speaking up for him? I was just watching him make a fool of himself!
Those classmates were already frightened by Mu Yunchuan, and when they heard Wei Shu's indignant look, they continued talking and became even more excited.
"Don't say that about my mother!" Mu Erpang, who came back from the back, rushed over, his fat face flushed red, "My mother is not that kind of person!"
The three of them blushed when they were caught gossiping about others.
But what they said was true, so after a brief moment of embarrassment, they pretended to be calm.
"Hey, kid, tell me, your elder brother lived a hard life, wearing only old clothes, having no meat to eat, and had to copy books to supplement the family income. After getting married, he was kicked out by your mother to live alone. Is there such a thing?"
Mu Erpang's face was so red that it was bleeding. Although he was confused before, he still remembered what happened at home. Those things did happen before.
The scholars sneered and said, "That's it. Why is it that your mother is allowed to do such a thing and we are not allowed to say anything?"
"But my mother has changed. You are not allowed to say that about her anymore!"
"Little kid, have you ever heard the saying that a child's character can be seen from his character at the age of three? Is a person's character so changeable?"
"You are not allowed to say it, you are not allowed to say it!" Mu Erpang widened his eyes and gritted his teeth, like a vicious little leopard.
"Why don't you shut up? Do you really think I'm made of clay and have no temper? Do you really want me to report this to the headmaster?"
Mu Yunchuan usually had a warm smile on his face, but at this moment his expression was cold and he exuded an aura that made him seem difficult to deal with.
The three men then fell silent. After all, they were a few years older than Mu Erpang, and seeing that he was really anxious, they were afraid that it would get out and people would know that they bullied children, so they looked unhappy.
Mu Yunchuan turned his head and looked at Mu Erpang again. He felt some genuine sympathy for him and said softly to him, "Let's go back early."
Mu Erpang moved his lips towards him, wanting to explain something, but didn't know where to start, and finally just responded softly.
After he left, Mu Yunchuan's face turned completely cold.
The classmates hurriedly added, "Brother Mu, we just wanted to speak up for you. We didn't know your brother would hear it, and we just said it out of spite."
"Yes, and we did say nothing wrong. If you ask me, your brother has been raised astray by your stepmother."
As he was speaking, the old tailor came out, but instead of holding the scraps of cloth, he held a ruler in his hand. I need to measure Mu Yunchuan's body.
With him coming over, everyone tacitly pretended that the dispute had never happened.
Mu Yunchuan looked at them deeply and said quickly, "I won't make a new shirt. I just want you to give me a patch of the same color."
Wei Shu hesitated for a moment and wanted to help him pay for it, but when he thought that he seemed really angry today, he said no more.
The old tailor was not a talkative person, but at this moment he said with some anger: "Sir, don't refuse. The young master just said that he would not make new clothes for you anymore, but would make them for you instead. Sir Mu, your brother is really well-behaved and sensible. The money for making the robe is his New Year's money that he has saved for ten years..."
Mu Yunchuan was surprised, and the three people who spoke without thinking, including Wei Shu, all had red faces.
Maybe they really were thinking wrongly. A mother who could raise such a child couldn't be a vicious person, right?
It’s strange to say, Mu Yunchuan has never said a bad word about her stepmother, but vicious and harsh rumors about her stepmother have spread everywhere.
Could it be that I was really misled by the rumors?
…………
Chen Cui drank a cup of tea at the tea stall. Because the tailor shop's door was blocked by a curtain, she couldn't see who went in from behind. She only knew that the shop was full of people.
Seeing Mu Erpang coming out, Shen Cui invited him to have a bowl as well.
Mu Erpang shook his head and said sullenly that he was not feeling well and wanted to go home.
Shen Cui immediately put down the tea bowl and opened his data panel. Sure enough, his mood value was about to drop below the passing line again.
Chen Cui obediently let him pull her towards home.
They were almost at Shuiyun Village, but Mu Erpang didn't say a word.
Chen Cui then asked tentatively, "What's wrong, Fatty? Mom just left for a while, why are you suddenly unhappy? Are you hungry or did mom insist on you making new clothes? Are you worried about the money?"
When people are wronged, if they just digest it by themselves, their emotions will slowly calm down. But if someone close to you shows concern for you, your emotions will rise again.
As soon as the question was asked, the sound of Mu Erpang sniffing was heard.
"Mom, I'm sorry." Mu Erpang's voice was slightly tearful.
Shen Cui quickly wiped his eyes with her sleeve and said, "Don't cry, don't cry, tell me what's going on."
"I... I didn't make new clothes. After my mother went to the other side, my eldest brother and his friends came. His friends advised my eldest brother to make new clothes, saying that he couldn't wear too shabby clothes to take the exam... some county exam. I thought that the exam must be very important, and I already had clothes at home, so I went to ask the tailor grandfather to give the clothes to my eldest brother. But when I came back, I heard them all saying bad things about my mother..."
Mu Erpang finally burst into tears, "Wow, wow, wow, I told Mom that she's not like that anymore, but they kept saying it, and kept saying it!"
"So that's what happened." Shen Cui was not angry at all. She just held him in her arms with a loving heart and said softly, "The new clothes were originally made with your own New Year's money. If you want to give it to your brother, just give it. Of course, I won't be angry with you. As for the later things, Er Pang, do you remember what I told you? Did I also become enlightened recently like you?"
Mu Erpang nodded with red eyes.
Shen Cui continued, "So, Mom did do something wrong in the past. That's why others say that."
Fearing that the child would not be able to accept it, Shen Cui changed her words: "Just like before you were too lazy to even get off the kang, now you are reading, practicing calligraphy, and washing yourself. You have completely changed, but others don't know, so they still think you are the same as before."
Mu Erpang thought for a long while, nodded first, then lowered his head in frustration, "Mom and I were not good before, but we have changed now. They just don't want to believe it, no matter what I say, they don't believe it. It was only when my eldest brother started talking that they stopped talking. Mom, I feel so useless."
"Why do you think so? Your elder brother's words are effective because he is more talented than them. Like the county exam you heard about, that is the first stage of the imperial examination. After several exams, your elder brother will be more promising than them, and they will be afraid of him. You are still a half-grown child, it is not your fault..."
In fact, there are some very cruel facts that Shen Cui is unwilling to tell the current Mu Erpang.
Although Shuiyun Village is very close to the county town, Mu Yunchuan's harsh treatment by his stepmother is ultimately the Mu family's family affair. Why would such a family matter spread to the county town? It would naturally be impossible without Mu Yunchuan's instigation behind the scenes.
Moreover, as Mu Yunchuan's status rose, in order to curry favor with him and stand up for him, or to laugh at him and make a fool of himself, all the evil deeds done by his original self would be brought up over and over again.
Unless Mu Erpang reaches the same high position one day and others are afraid of him, they will not dare to talk about the previous matters again.
But now Mu Erpang has just started to learn, and he is forced and coaxed by her to study. The road to the imperial examination is long and difficult, and Chen Cui is reluctant to put pressure on him so early.
But at this time, Mu Erpang had already thought of many things. He thought of the mockery and disdain of the neighbors in Teapot Lane, the disgust and contempt of the Chen family mother and daughter, and the teasing and ridicule of the people in the tailor shop just now...
After a long while, he finally raised his head, wiped his tears, and said firmly: "I understand. I will be more promising than my elder brother in the future, and make them fear me more than they fear my elder brother. I want them not to look down on me anymore. They must believe what I say!"
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