Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

“Uncle Zhang!”

Di Xuan and Di Ying hurriedly paid their respects.

“Good, good, get up quickly, don’t bow anymore. Come, let’s sit down and talk.” After saying this, Zhang Peng casually found a stool to sit on.

Di Yelei was actually delighted: “Zhang Peng, your arrival is just in time! We were just talking about your son Zhang Yun, and then you came.”

Zhang Peng’s gaze swept around with a slightly stunned look, wasn’t he asked to come and help check on the injuries?

“What’s wrong with my Yun’er? Is it that he got into trouble and didn’t dare to come back and tell me?”

His words immediately amused Liu Sisi standing beside him: “Brother Zhang, Yun’er is very sensible, not like what you described. What we’re discussing now is about the enrolment for the village school.”

“Oh! Look at my muddled mind! Yes, it’s time for the village school enrolment, right?”

Zhang Peng slapped his forehead, obviously annoyed by his own memory: “Yes, Yun’er did tell me a few days ago that he wanted to go to school with Xuan’er. Guihua also said that it’s good for the children to learn a few more characters. In that case, let Zhang Yun and Xuan’er go to school together, so they can help each other and not be bullied.”

In fact, according to Zhang Peng’s own inclination, he did not approve of Zhang Yun going to any school, thinking it was a waste of time. It would be better to go up to the mountain more often and hunt more game!

However, being helpless that his arms couldn’t twist his thighs, Zhang Yun and Guihua had both made up their minds, and in the end, he had to go along with their wishes.

“Yes, we plan to have Xuan’er sign up for the assessment tomorrow, what about your Yun’er? Will he go together?” Liu Sisi said.

Zhang Peng thought for a moment and scratched the back of his head: “How about this! Tomorrow, I’ll also go and have a look at what this school is like!”

The next day, early in the morning, they all went to the village school.

Originally, Liu Sisi wanted to go directly to the county, but on second thought, she let Old Cheng turn his carriage and stop at the village school.

Last night, Zhang Peng had examined Di Yelei’s chest, and although there was some damage, fortunately, no bones were broken. How lucky!

At the moment, they were in front of the village school, and Liu Sisi lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, looking up to examine the surroundings carefully.

As for the village school, it seemed to be a spacious courtyard, quiet inside, with no signs of people. Outside, there was a wide dam, surrounded by green trees, and behind the courtyard was a small grove. To the left was a small stream with clear water. On the plaque above the main entrance of the courtyard, the four big characters “Xiyi Academy” were written!

Liu Sisi turned around, got YingEr and Da Mao out of the carriage, and since only the father-in-law was at home today, bringing the two children was a helpless move.

Zhang Peng and Di Yelei also dismounted, standing beside Zhang Yun and Di Xuan.

“It’s so quiet inside, could it be that there’s no one?” Liu Sisi asked softly.

“Perhaps we came too early, so we can’t see anyone. However, every year, the enrollment starts from the 12th day of the Lunar New Year, so there should be no mistake. Furthermore, several teachers live in this academy, so there must be people. Let’s go in and have a look.”

After saying this, Di Yelei casually threw the reins to Old Cheng, leading everyone inside.

From the outside, the courtyard did not seem large, but once they entered, they found out that the interior of this courtyard was really not small. In the center of the courtyard was a platform, on which stood a statue of Confucius, and below it was a large incense burner. A row of well-trimmed cypress trees looked exceptionally neat.

Following the posture of everyone, Liu Sisi also bowed three times to the statue of Confucius before leading the two children to continue following the group.

Through the window, she could clearly see the rows of desks inside, making Liu Sisi feel as if she had suddenly traveled through time and space, back to her hometown where the children were sitting in the room, reading their textbooks aloud…

“Sisi! Sisi! What are you dazed about? Let’s go.”

Di Yelei’s call woke her from her trance, and when she looked back into the room, only the rows of desks and chairs were left, evoking her infinite loneliness.

Sorting out her thoughts, she led the two children and quickly followed the footsteps of the others.

They walked to the left of the main hall, where Liu Sisi finally saw the first living person in the academy.

He was a man in his forties, currently talking to Di Yelei. After examining Di Yelei from head to toe, a flash of contempt appeared in his eyes, but he hid it well.

He stroked his goatee and looked over Di Xuan and Zhang Yun: “Every year, countless students want to be accepted under the tutelage of Elder Mr. Xu, and some even don’t hesitate to lower their status to be accepted under his name. Are you sure you want to be a disciple under Elder Xu? Let me tell you frankly, even if Elder Xu does not accept your child, the registration fee will not be refunded!”

According to the rules, the registration fee was similar to the registration fee in later generations.

Liu Sisi was determined to have Di Xuan accepted under Elder Xu’s name, so how could she care about this mere 500 copper coin registration fee!

Di Yelei bowed quickly: “Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Meng. We already knew about these rules before we came here, and we naturally wouldn’t dare to mess with the academy’s rules.” After saying this, he hurriedly took out the silver coins from his pocket.

Zhang Peng was somewhat reluctant, but had no choice but to grit his teeth and take out the money.

Mr. Meng didn’t even bother to look at the copper coins, casually accepting them and tossing them into the drawer before picking up his brush-pen and asking the two about their specifics.

“What’s your name? Where do you live? How old are you? Who is in your family? Are you staying overnight…”

After a series of questions, he took out two bamboo cards and threw them in front of the two: “These are your ID waist cards. You two go in from here and head to the bamboo forest at the back. Naturally, someone will examine you. Go!”

“Thank you, Mr. Meng! Thank you!”

Di Yelei and Zhang Peng hurriedly nodded and bowed, then picked up their waist cards, turned around, and walked along the alley as Mr. Meng had pointed out.

“Hold on! Just the two of them can go in, and the rest of you will have to wait outside.”

Mr. Meng puffed out his beard and widened his eyes impatiently.

“You must think carefully, if it gets too late and the two children fail the test and don’t come out, this silver money won’t be refunded by the old man!”

“Of course, we appreciate Mr. Meng’s effort!” Di Yelei hurriedly bowed again.

“Hmph!”

Only then did Mr. Meng shake his hand and walk away towards the alley.

Seeing Mr. Meng walk away, Zhang Peng immediately whispered to Di Yelei: “Ye Lei, do you think the chances of these two kids passing the test are high or low? Should we…”