Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The village chief's daughter-in-law was scolded by Village Chief An and was not allowed to cause trouble.
But Aunt Ji exploded immediately.
She looked doubtful and pulled Ji Li aside and asked, "How is he doing in school? He also wants to take the imperial examination?!"
Ji Li didn't know any of this, he just said he would go and ask around.
They didn't even need to ask, An Jicun found out in a few days that Ji Yuan was eavesdropping outside the private school window and actually learned better than many other students in the school!
When chatting in the village, An Dahai's mother, the eldest daughter-in-law of the An family, said: "This is true, he is really amazing. My son said that he can recite everything that Master Zhao taught him once."
Mr. An has a large family and is a gossiper. The whole Anji Village has known about the gossip in the past few days.
Another morning, Ji Yuan received money from Uncle An Wu, the son of the village chief, and thanked him again: "Thank you, Uncle An Wu. You can use this money to buy candy for my sister."
Uncle Anwu's daughter just turned one year old this year, and is at the age when she loves to eat sweets.
Uncle An Wu said, "How can I take money from a kid like you?"
"When you become successful in your studies, just don't forget your fifth uncle."
Uncle An Wu said this with a smile, but it also made Ji Yuan subconsciously worried.
As the saying goes, people are afraid of being famous just like pigs are afraid of being fat.
Wherever he goes now, people bring up this matter.
There were congratulations from Uncle An Wu, but there was also some secret resentment.
Not to mention anything else, he just knew that there were several families who were dissatisfied.
These dissatisfactions are normal.
It's because I, an auditor, not only listened but also learned better than the students who attended the regular classes.
When they reached a secluded place, Ji Yuan counted the copper coins he had earned recently.
With the help of Uncle An Wu, he managed to save 143 cents in seven or eight days.
It seems like a lot, but in fact it is not even enough for Master Zhao’s tuition for one month.
Not to mention planning to buy pens and ink.
Besides, this won’t last long. For one thing, I can’t always trouble Uncle An Wu. I must give him some compensation.
Second, spring was gradually approaching, and the things he had dug out with great effort were becoming cheaper and cheaper.
It's a hard job that makes money while it's new.
It was the ninth day of the second month and the day broke early.
After Ji Yuan finished other things, he hurriedly took Xiao Huang to the private school.
Before I even got close, the private school, which used to be filled with only the sound of reading, was now full of noise.
The students who were originally in class were all stretching their heads to watch the fun.
"Everyone, tell me, does this make sense? We pay money, but we are not as good as a freeloader." Aunt Ji said loudly, "If that's the case, then we won't pay the tuition for this month! Ji Li, you are also listening outside!"
After Third Aunt Ji finished speaking, another sarcastic voice rang out: "That's right, we're all reading anyway, and it would be better to listen outside, so let's just listen outside."
"Master Zhao, please return the money our An Zhengfei owes us."
Two more people shouted.
Although the remaining parents did not say anything, they were equally dissatisfied.
The reason is simple.
Why should they pay to attend classes, but Ji Yuan doesn’t have to!
Ji Yuan learned even better!
Master Zhao looked unhappy and said stiffly, "A teacher should solve doubts. As a teacher, I am naturally happy to see talented people."
Without waiting for Master Zhao to say anything else, Third Aunt Ji interrupted him directly: "If that's the case, then don't charge any money! If one of you charges and the other doesn't, what kind of master are you!"
"That's right. Either Ji Yuan is not allowed to sit in on the class, or no one pays. You choose one!"
"Hey? My child doesn't come to class because he has no money. In that case, let him study outside the private school in the future." An unknown lazy man in the village said this, causing others to nod.
Ji Yuan looked at the private school that used to be quiet, and felt extremely sad because of what it had become.
All the students were looking at Master Zhao, obviously with an attitude of watching the fun.
There are seven people in Mr. Zhao's family, including a sick old mother, a widowed daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.
The family relies entirely on the money he earns from teaching to make a living, and they live a tight life, yet they are bullied because of his affairs.
Ji Yuan led Xiao Huang forward, but because he was too short, no one could see him. Just as he was about to shout to stop them, he heard someone say, "Village Chief An is here!"
An Feng, the head of Anji Village, was two years older than Master Zhao and was fifty-five this year. He stepped forward and shouted, "What are you guys doing?"
The village chief spoke, and everyone quieted down.
For some reason, the timid Aunt Ji suddenly plucked up her courage and said, "Village Chief An is here. Please judge the situation. If we want to read Ji Yuan for free, we won't pay."
"Studying is a top priority. If you don't pay, you can't study." Village Chief An didn't give people face, but he also knew that Ji Yuan and Master Zhao were indeed in the wrong in this matter.
We cannot favor one over the other, and it would be bad if it were made public.
Logically speaking, since Village Chief An was here, Aunt Ji should have kept her mouth shut, but she shouted out the real purpose of her entanglement with a group of people: "This matter is easy to solve."
"Just don't let Ji Yuan read!"
"Everyone, do you think this is right?"
Yes, as long as Ji Yuan doesn’t read it, the problem will be solved.
Those who can afford it should continue reading, and those who can’t afford it should stay away.
Even Village Chief An thought this was a good idea.
Mr. Zhao's expression became more and more unsightly, and he wanted to say that he didn't want the money anymore.
A scholar is bullied by these villagers for money. How can he keep his dignity as a scholar?
Thinking of the whole family eating and drinking, he could only grit his teeth and said, "The era is different. He is very talented and is a good candidate for study. Such a student is rare even in the prefectural school."
When these words were spoken, the villagers reacted.
It is said that the county school is already very impressive, gathering all the outstanding scholars in Zhengrong County.
The prefectural school? All the outstanding students in the Jianmeng Mansion?
Is he an outstanding talent no matter where he is?
The students who were watching the fun were somewhat dissatisfied.
I have never seen Master Zhao praise someone like this. Why does a cowherd boy have the right to do so?
He shouldn't have come to class!
Ji Yuan felt guilty. He was just successful in his past life and worked hard. How could he be so powerful?
He subconsciously looked at everyone, and the expressions of the two people were particularly different.
If Village Chief An was surprised, then Aunt Ji was terrified.
He didn't have time to think any more and had to stand up.
"Little boy Jiyuan, greetings to the Master." Jiyuan's childish voice sounded, and he saluted to Master Zhao.
Everyone looked over subconsciously.
The eight-year-old child was seen bowing to Master Zhao in a very formal manner. His clothes were obviously too small and tattered, and he was holding a calf in his hand.
He is definitely the most common cowherd boy in every village.
But his eyes were particularly bright, his face was clean, and his hair was simply and neatly groomed.
Such a little kid makes people feel both pity and heartache.
Ji Yuan stepped forward quickly and took out the purse from his clothes in front of everyone: "Master Zhao, this is my tuition fee. I still need seven cents. Please collect it within a month."
This purse can be said to be heavy.
When he took it out, Ji Yuan's heart was bleeding.
Every day he gets up at 4 o'clock, finishes the work for the Ji family, and then goes to collect things. He does not dare to stop for more than three hours, and he also owes a favor to Uncle An Wu, so he earns money.
But if he didn't take it out now, he would be unworthy of Master Zhao's protection.
It’s no use saying anything else. Only by showing real money can the students’ families who paid the money be convinced.
What is worrying is not the lack of wealth but the uneven distribution of wealth. It will be suitable anywhere.
Master Zhao looked at Ji Yuan in disbelief. Before he could even look at the money, Third Aunt Ji rushed over and said, "Where did you get the money? Did you steal it?!"
Ji Yuan looked up and stared into Aunt Ji's eyes, and said seriously, "I made this money by digging spring bamboo shoots, herbs and wild vegetables every day."
"impossible!"
"It must have been stolen!" Aunt Ji was about to snatch it away, but was scared away by Ji Yuan's eyes.
Ji Yuan noticed something was wrong early on.
His third aunt made a fuss not just because she felt unfair, but more because she wanted to prevent him from studying.
The solution I just mentioned is to not let him study.
When Master Zhao said that he was very talented, her eyes were filled with fear.
Now they are slandering him casually and are going to cut off his path to study.
"Yuan Ge'er's money was not stolen!" Uncle An Wu, who heard about this, came over and said, "Dad, every day when I get up at 5:00 pm to cut grass for the pigs, I see Yuan Ge'er digging spring bamboo shoots. He works for more than an hour every day without a break. I also brought his wild products to the county to sell."
"This money is all the money he has recently."
Uncle An rarely spoke so much. He was always timid in front of the village chief.
However, his testimony proved that Ji Yuan's money was clean.
But it made everyone gasp.
Everyone saw the work that Ji Yuan did every day at his third uncle's house.
He also gets up at the hour of Yin to dig for wild goods?
How can you be so good at studying outside of a private school?
This is more than just talent.
Some villagers who were watching the fun also remembered: "Yes, I got up earlier recently and I can indeed see Yuan Ge'er."
The Yin hour in early spring is very early for most people in the village.
Master Zhao was equally incredulous.
He knew that little Ji Yuan usually worked hard, but he had no idea that his day would be like this.
No wonder I saw the whiteboard he put down when I went to the small room to study at 12:00 a.m.
Master Zhao's originally ugly expression softened.
The poorer the person, the more determined he is; the poorer the person, the more studious he is.
There are no more good students like this.
Not to mention Master Zhao, the villagers were also shocked by this.
Especially the parents who sent their children to study in the private school, they glared at the students who were watching the fun in the private school.
Look at them!
Look at you again!
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