Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 16
"Da Lang, why don't you help the fourth brother this time!"

Fan Tiezhou was tongue-tied for a moment, why it fell on him again, he stammered, "This...my family..."

Fan Ning smiled and said, "Didn't Daddy still go to the town to sign up?"

One sentence immediately reminded Fan Tiezhou, yes!My son needs money to study, how can I have money to toss my brother.

Fan Tiezhou was troubled, "Daddy, my family is not doing well, I'm afraid I can't afford so much money?"

"Then how much money can you give?" Fan Dachuan asked relentlessly.

"This...I'll go back and discuss it with Ning Erniang!"

Fan Dachuan's face darkened suddenly, isn't this just rejecting himself?The eldest daughter-in-law will not take out a penny.

"You worthless bastard!"

Fan Dachuan scolded his son severely, then went back to his room angrily.

At this time, a very obese young woman came out lazily from the room and yawned long, "Grandma, what are you having for lunch?"

This is Fan Ning's fourth aunt Liu Ximei. Her name sounds very slim, but it's a bit of a misnomer. Let's put it this way!Although there are only four people in their family, they have to cook meals for at least six people every meal.

Fan Tiezhou took out the perfume and handed it to Fan Ning, giving him a wink.

Fan Ning had no choice but to go forward and salute, "Hello, Fourth Aunt!"

"You are……"

Liu Ximei looked him up and down, and suddenly remembered, "You are dumb!"

Fan Ning handed her the perfume in his hand, "I bought this for my fourth aunt in the capital."

"what!"

Liu Ximei screamed and snatched the perfume bottle, overwhelmed with surprise, "It's an ancient perfume!"

She is very knowledgeable, this is the best perfume in Song Dynasty, such a small bottle costs [-] Wen.

Fan Ning took the opportunity to request to borrow books, "Fourth Aunt, I'm going to take an exam in town in two days, and I want to ask Fourth Uncle to borrow some books."

"My uncle and nephew, do you still need to borrow it? My fourth aunt gave it to you. Your fourth uncle has too many books, which fill up the room, and he doesn't read them himself. Come with me!"

Liu Ximei led Fan Ning into the room, Fan Tongzhong was very anxious, those books were bought by himself with a lot of money, and they were worth a lot of money when sold to the bookstore, don't let this kid take them all.

He hurriedly followed, "Lady, some books cannot be borrowed, and I still have to prepare for the imperial examination!"

. . . . . . . . .

Leaving his father's house, Fan Tiezhou carried a bamboo basket full of books on his back.

Fan Ning looked through the books in his hand. He was lucky today and found several good books, including "Zhuangzi", "Tao Te Ching", "Three Hundred Poems", and poetry collections by Li Bai, Du Fu, and Wang Wei.

Moreover, the fourth uncle's books are all brand new, and he has never read them before. Thinking of the sad look on his face, taking these books away seems to be cutting his flesh, Fan Ning wants to laugh heartily, or what the fourth aunt said. That's right, my fourth uncle doesn't read these books anyway, so I might as well give them to my nephew.

Compared with the partiality of the grandfather and the selfishness of the fourth uncle, the fourth aunt is a warm-hearted person, with a relatively simple mind and easy to get along with.

In short, Fan Ning had a good impression of the fat fourth aunt, but it was a pity that she was a little too lazy and didn't get up until near noon. Being a daughter-in-law in the country would be scolded.

Fan Tiezhou was not in a good mood. He felt that his parents were not happy and had a heavy burden. His father loved the fourth child too much and spoiled him a bit.

Fan Tiezhou was very aware of his father's family background. There were only [-] acres of farmland, and the maximum annual rent was [-] yuan. After tax and exemption money, the remaining amount was only [-] to [-] yuan.

Originally, the fourth child spent more money in studying. I heard that he made a group of cronies in the county. They hang out all day and don’t do business. Then he found an excuse to ask for a few bucks, and after a year, his father's little rental income was exploited by him.

It was his own fault that his father doted on the fourth child so much. He only pitied his old mother. When Fan Tiezhou thought of his mother's hunched back and wrinkled face, he felt a burst of sadness in his heart.

Fan Tiezhou sighed in his heart, he wanted to help his mother, but he was powerless.

Next, Fan Ning will go to the school in the village with his father. These few days are the days when the school pays money, and Fan Tiezhou has been thinking about this matter all the time.

Studying in elementary school is not expensive. The tuition fee is three yuan a year, plus two yuan for pen, ink and paper, a total of five yuan.

But these five pennies are equivalent to two and a half months' income of Fan Ning's family, and this is still the cheapest school.

For poor families, reading is really a luxury. Although there were many scholars in the Song Dynasty, not every household could afford it.

Especially in the countryside, many middle-level families only send their children to finish elementary school, and if they can know a few words, they will stop reading.

It is very rare to be able to go to the school in the town, and it is even rarer to go to the county school, which is why Fan Tongzhong can become the jewel in his father's eyes.

Primary school usually lasts three years, but Fan Ning has already studied for two years. Fan Tiezhou changed his mind and decided to support his son to go to the school in the town.

"Iron Boat!"

A man affectionately took Fan Tiezhou's shoulder. His surname was Wang, and he was also a fisherman who ran a boat.

"I'm going to pay my son's tuition for next year!"

Fan Tiezhou nodded. He was in a bad mood today and didn't want to explain anything.

Wang Erlang looked at Fan Ning, and he could understand that there was really no need for this child to read any more. It is said that he could only write a few words after studying for two years, and reading any more would be a waste of money.

"Hello, Uncle Wang!" Fan Ning bowed and saluted.

"Dumb is doing well recently, he speaks much more clearly, Tie Zhou, my mother's illness is much better, I really want to thank you."

"You don't have to be polite!"

Second Uncle Wang stuffed a fish basket to Fan Tiezhou, "I just caught a few fish, a little heart."

"I don't want it, you take it back and make soup for my old lady."

"I have it at home! You go to see Mr. Gu later, what can you do with empty hands, take it to him."

Fan Tiezhou made sense after thinking about it, so he took the fish basket and said with a smile, "Thank you very much!"

Second Uncle Wang politely praised Fan Ning for his progress, then turned around and walked the other way.

Fan Tiezhou did not intend to explain the changes in his son to the villagers.

For him, being admitted to the school in the town is the best explanation. If he fails to pass the exam, no amount of explanation will make sense.

"Daddy still sees a doctor?" Fanning asked curiously.

"It can cure headaches and brain fever, not to mention seeing a doctor."

"It will also treat bruises!" Fan Ning remembered the box of medicine at home.

"I followed a herbalist for two years when I was a teenager, and I probably knew a little bit."

"Has Dad ever thought about opening a medical clinic in the town?"

"The hospital?"

Fan Tiezhou gave his son a strange look, and went to the capital to learn nothing else, so these unrealistic ideas came into being.

"Let's go! Stop thinking about it."

He ignored his son's suggestion, and walked towards the east of the village at a faster speed.

The primary school is very close to Fan Ning's grandfather's house, covering an area of ​​about two acres, surrounded by a yard surrounded by mud walls, and a big tree stands in a corner of the yard.

There are three rooms in the small courtyard, which are divided into big children's class and small children's class, with about 30 people. The villager Zhou invited an old scholar from the town to teach the children to read.

These two days are the payment days, and parents have come to the school one after another to pay next year's tuition.

"Don't talk later, let me talk to Mr. Gu!"

Today is to drop out of school, and everyone will not be in a good mood. Fan Tiezhou is afraid that his son will offend Mr. Gu by speaking inappropriately.

Fan Ning nodded, and he didn't object to pretending to be stupid properly. The biggest advantage of being stupid is that he can't kneel down and no one will say anything about him.

Since he replaced Fan Dada, it was the first time he came to the school, and he didn't even know what the so-called Mr. Gu looked like.

"Yo! Isn't this dumb? Long time no see."

A fat man walked towards him, his clothes looked like a big watermelon stuffed, he looked even more blessed than an eight-month pregnant woman.

"Mr. Jiang is also here for the teaching fee?" Fan Tiezhou slightly bowed his hands.

"Where! My son is preparing to take the Yanying Academy, and I want to ask Mr. Gu to feed my son."

Jiang Yuanwai looked at Fan Ning again, his eyes were full of disgust.

"I said that if you really can't do it, don't read it. Others don't know, and they think our Jiangwan Village Primary School is so bad. My son is embarrassed to say that he is from Jiangwan Village Primary School when he goes to the town to take the exam."

"Jiang Yuanwai can't say the same, Dumb has improved in the past two years!"

An old man came out of the school, with scorched skin, a goatee on his chin, and a false smile on his face.

He is Mr. Gu, an old scholar who teaches children to read.

For him now, collecting money is the first priority, so some insincere compliments occasionally come out of his mouth.

"Van..."

Mr. Gu suddenly couldn't remember Fan Ning's official name, so he had to laugh dryly, "Dumb, we haven't seen each other for a long time, do you still remember being a teacher?"

Fan Tiezhou gave his son a gentle push, making him kneel down and kowtow to the master.

Fan Ning looked at the old man in front of him with a stupid face, "I...why can't I remember who you are?"

Several parents nearby shook their heads. The child became even more stupid after a serious illness. He was so stupid that he didn't even recognize his husband.

"Ning'er!"

Fan Tiezhou knew in his heart that his son was pretending to be stupid. He gritted his teeth and urged in a low voice, "Kowtow to Mr. Hurry up!"

"Hehe! No need, come and pay first!"

Seeing Fan Ning's stupid look, Mr. Gu was also upset for a while. He forced a smile and led the Fan family father and son to his room.

Fan Tiezhou hurriedly handed the bamboo basket to Mr. Gu, "These are some fresh fish, a little thought for Mr. Gu."

Mr. Gu thought the bamboo basket was filled with money, but it turned out to be a few fish. Who would care about fish by the Taihu Lake?

In the past two years, he has eaten fish for the last time and the next fish, and he almost vomited.

Mr. Gu frowned, "Aren't you here to pay the fee today?"

Fan Tiezhou said apologetically, "My family, Ning'er, may...not study here next year."

"what!"

Mr. Gu's voice suddenly became high-pitched, like an overexcited rooster.

"I don't understand what you mean, where will your dumb go to study next year?"

Fan Tiezhou hesitated for a long time before saying: "I want...to let the children go to...the town to study next year."

The parents who were watching the excitement burst into laughter.

"Ouch!"

Jiang Yuanwai stepped forward and looked Fan Ning up and down, as if seeing him for the first time, "Tsk tsk tsk! You actually want to study in the town. Could it be that this stupid problem is passed down from father to son?"

"No wonder your son is so stupid!" Fanning replied coldly.

"What did you say?" Yuanwai Jiang's face suddenly turned pale.

"A-Ning, don't talk nonsense!"

Fan Tiezhou pulled his son behind him, and said coldly to Yuanwai Jiang: "My dumb can't speak, so don't take it to heart."

"I know he's an idiot, so I don't care about it. If other children say such things, I will make him... him... that!"

Jiang Yuanwai looked at Fan Tiezhou's burly figure and iron rod-like arms, and he still felt a little guilty in the end.

Fan Tiezhou ignored him, and bowed to Mr. Gu again, "Mr. Gu, I'm really sorry!"

Mr. Gu puffed out a burst of air-conditioning heavily from his nose, looked at the sky with his hands behind his back, and said nothing with a livid face, meaning, you can figure it out yourself!
Fan Tiezhou had no choice but to sigh. He brought Fan Ning to the school because he wanted his son to kowtow three times to his master to thank him for his teaching over the past two years.

But now it seemed that his son was unwilling to kowtow, so he had no choice but to pull his son and walk out of the gate.

At this time, Mr. Gu saw that the Wuguan money was really gone, he couldn't bear it anymore, he jumped up and down in the yard angrily and cursed.

"Your son is an idiot. I've never seen a student as stupid as him. Hmph! I still want to go to the town to study, just dream! Whoever accepts an idiot like him, I'll write it upside down!"

Fan Tiezhou pretended not to hear him, and hurried away with his son.

(End of this chapter)