After coming to Pingzhou for a week, Zhulan was already familiar with the surrounding environment. Zhou Shuren was busy studying or going out with Zhao Bo to expand social interactions. She went out for a walk or played with the children at home.
Today, Zhou Shuren not only went out by himself but also took Ming Qing and Shu Mo with him and would not come back for lunch.
It was rare for Wu Li Shi to go back without food. Zhulan asked, “Aren’t you going to take it back to the children?”
Wu Li Shi smiled and said, “The four of them went to their wàipó’s1 house, and so I am the only one at home today.”
Zhulan’s eyes lit up. Wu Li Shi generally was in a hurry to go back, but today, both of them were free to talk for a while.
The neighbors around were quite arrogant. The family on the left was a xiùcái, and the one on the right was relatives of a minor official. They were well-informed about the happenings in the Zhu family. Zhou Shuren, at his age, was still pursuing the path of becoming a xiùcái, wasn’t highly regarded by others, and they didn’t see much value in associating with him. Zhulan followed proper etiquette and paid visits to both households, receiving lukewarm receptions. She maintained a polite smile on her face.
When she came back, she carefully inquired about the situation of the two families. The neighbor thought that the Zhou family was not worth making friends with, and she wanted to check it out. If she hadn’t been afraid of troubling Zhao Bo, she would have asked Zhao Bo to inquire when she came to Pingzhou.
After asking about it, Zhulan understood in her heart that the xiùcái’s family had the arrogance of a xiùcái, while the neighbor on the right was just looking down on others, but there was no bad intention.
Zhulan felt relieved; the formalities had been observed, and she was content with that. Consequently, the only one she could talk to was Wu Li Shi.
Wu Li Shi got along well with Zhulan. She knew that the Zhou family was kind-hearted and did not look down on her. They often asked her to take back more food. She was grateful and did not go home after the meal. She stayed to chat.
Wu Li Shi began discussing the hardships of life, saying, “The common people in the city don’t live as well as those in the countryside. Everything requires money, unlike in the rural areas where you have your own land. Even though you pay taxes, you still have enough left over to make ends meet. At least you don’t have to spend money on grains; you can grow vegetables in your own gardens and be self-sufficient.”
Zhulan agreed, “Life in the city is indeed not easy, and it will be even harder if there is a natural disaster.”
Wu Li Shi trembled slightly and continued, “Who can deny it? Take the severe drought four years ago, for instance. Before it even became an official famine, the price of grain doubled. If it weren’t for the rising grain prices, my youngest son and daughter-in-law wouldn’t have suffered an untimely death due to human-made calamities.”
Seeing Wu Li Shi wiping her tears, Zhulan comforted her, “The days will get better and better. Your eldest grandson is about to become a man, and he can also comfort the spirits of the two of them in heaven.”
Wu Li Shi wiped her tears, there was a smile on her face, “This child is sensible. He is only fifteen this year. Neither the old man nor I thought that he would pass the county examination. I can’t wait to pray to Buddha every day and hope that the Lord will bless this child Wu Ming to pass the examination smoothly and become a xiùcái.”
Zhulan chimed in, “Certainly.”
Everyone liked to hear good words. Wu Li Shi smiled brightly and said, “Thank you for your kind words.”
The next day was the day of the provincial examination. Zhulan saw Zhou Shuren off at the door. The sky was just beginning to brighten. Initially, Zhulan wasn’t too concerned about it, but under the influence of Wu Li Shi’s frequent reminders about her grandson, Zhulan’s heart couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious as well.
It wasn’t until Zhou Shuren returned in the evening that Zhulan felt relieved. The provincial examination consisted of multiple rounds, and to support Zhou Shuren, Zhulan had bought several hens to nourish him during the preparations.
In the evening, Zhulan didn’t ask. Zhou Shuren was very tired. He ate early and went to bed to rest.
Although Zhou Shuren didn’t explicitly mention how the exam had gone, Zhulan could tell from his expression that it had gone well. As for Mingqing and Shumo, both of them had downcast faces. Even with good food on the table, neither of them had much of an appetite.
In order to build a good relationship, Zhulan had been preparing extra food these days to send back with Wu Li Shi. Wu Li Shi was extremely grateful, and from the way she smiled, it was clear that Wu Ming had performed well in the exam.
After coming to Pingzhou for a week, Zhulan was already familiar with the surrounding environment. Zhou Shuren was busy studying or going out with Zhao Bo to expand social interactions. She went out for a walk or played with the children at home.
Today, Zhou Shuren not only went out by himself but also took Ming Qing and Shu Mo with him and would not come back for lunch.
It was rare for Wu Li Shi to go back without food. Zhulan asked, “Aren’t you going to take it back to the children?”
Wu Li Shi smiled and said, “The four of them went to their wàipó’s1 house, and so I am the only one at home today.”
Zhulan’s eyes lit up. Wu Li Shi generally was in a hurry to go back, but today, both of them were free to talk for a while.
The neighbors around were quite arrogant. The family on the left was a xiùcái, and the one on the right was relatives of a minor official. They were well-informed about the happenings in the Zhu family. Zhou Shuren, at his age, was still pursuing the path of becoming a xiùcái, wasn’t highly regarded by others, and they didn’t see much value in associating with him. Zhulan followed proper etiquette and paid visits to both households, receiving lukewarm receptions. She maintained a polite smile on her face.
When she came back, she carefully inquired about the situation of the two families. The neighbor thought that the Zhou family was not worth making friends with, and she wanted to check it out. If she hadn’t been afraid of troubling Zhao Bo, she would have asked Zhao Bo to inquire when she came to Pingzhou.
After asking about it, Zhulan understood in her heart that the xiùcái’s family had the arrogance of a xiùcái, while the neighbor on the right was just looking down on others, but there was no bad intention.
Zhulan felt relieved; the formalities had been observed, and she was content with that. Consequently, the only one she could talk to was Wu Li Shi.
Wu Li Shi got along well with Zhulan. She knew that the Zhou family was kind-hearted and did not look down on her. They often asked her to take back more food. She was grateful and did not go home after the meal. She stayed to chat.
Wu Li Shi began discussing the hardships of life, saying, “The common people in the city don’t live as well as those in the countryside. Everything requires money, unlike in the rural areas where you have your own land. Even though you pay taxes, you still have enough left over to make ends meet. At least you don’t have to spend money on grains; you can grow vegetables in your own gardens and be self-sufficient.”
Zhulan agreed, “Life in the city is indeed not easy, and it will be even harder if there is a natural disaster.”
Wu Li Shi trembled slightly and continued, “Who can deny it? Take the severe drought four years ago, for instance. Before it even became an official famine, the price of grain doubled. If it weren’t for the rising grain prices, my youngest son and daughter-in-law wouldn’t have suffered an untimely death due to human-made calamities.”
Seeing Wu Li Shi wiping her tears, Zhulan comforted her, “The days will get better and better. Your eldest grandson is about to become a man, and he can also comfort the spirits of the two of them in heaven.”
Wu Li Shi wiped her tears, there was a smile on her face, “This child is sensible. He is only fifteen this year. Neither the old man nor I thought that he would pass the county examination. I can’t wait to pray to Buddha every day and hope that the Lord will bless this child Wu Ming to pass the examination smoothly and become a xiùcái.”
Zhulan chimed in, “Certainly.”
Everyone liked to hear good words. Wu Li Shi smiled brightly and said, “Thank you for your kind words.”
The next day was the day of the provincial examination. Zhulan saw Zhou Shuren off at the door. The sky was just beginning to brighten. Initially, Zhulan wasn’t too concerned about it, but under the influence of Wu Li Shi’s frequent reminders about her grandson, Zhulan’s heart couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious as well.
It wasn’t until Zhou Shuren returned in the evening that Zhulan felt relieved. The provincial examination consisted of multiple rounds, and to support Zhou Shuren, Zhulan had bought several hens to nourish him during the preparations.
In the evening, Zhulan didn’t ask. Zhou Shuren was very tired. He ate early and went to bed to rest.
Although Zhou Shuren didn’t explicitly mention how the exam had gone, Zhulan could tell from his expression that it had gone well. As for Mingqing and Shumo, both of them had downcast faces. Even with good food on the table, neither of them had much of an appetite.
In order to build a good relationship, Zhulan had been preparing extra food these days to send back with Wu Li Shi. Wu Li Shi was extremely grateful, and from the way she smiled, it was clear that Wu Ming had performed well in the exam.
