Xianggui

Chapter 37
When they returned home, Ding Lichun held up the oiled paper bag and said with a smile, "Sir, I took the exam for my younger brother. He said that my younger brother is smart and talented in reading. If he works hard, he may be selected as a scholar. I am happy, so I went to a restaurant to buy pork belly."

This is really a great joy.

Mrs. Zhang was beaming with joy, and looked at her youngest son proudly.

Ding Xiang clapped her hands and said proudly, "Second brother is going to be the champion."

It seemed that even Heizi was infected with the joy, screaming and jumping.

Ding Zhao encouraged, "Study hard and fulfill your grandma's last wish." Then he said to Ding Lichun, "You are not suitable for studying. If you study for another year, you will work with us next year and become a blacksmith."

Ding Lichun blushed.He always knew that his grandfather and father wanted him to be a blacksmith, and he also knew that he couldn't beat his elders. The ideal of being a general was just his wishful thinking.

But he still wants to fight for it.

He raised his head and said with tears in his eyes, "Father, I don't want to be a blacksmith, I want to be a general."

Ding Zhao knew his eldest son's ideals, and he couldn't bear to kill his thoughts before, so he had to say it today.

He sighed, "Being a general is easier said than done. It is said that you are poor and rich in martial arts, and we can't afford you to take the martial arts exam. Your brother only needs to spend money to enter a private school and buy pens, ink and books. In the martial arts exam, you not only need to learn from books. strategy, but also to learn horse riding, archery, kung fu on horseback, kung fu on horseback, and even test some weapons that we have never seen before. We can’t afford these expenses.”

Ding Lichun said, "I don't take martial arts exams, there is another way to become a general, that is to serve in the barracks, and go up step by step from the ranks of soldiers."

Ding Zhao said, "That's right. Every two or three years, a group of people will be recruited into the military camp for corvee service. But our family has no connections. You haven't learned the craft.

"Unless there is a war at the border, you will fight for your future with your life. Now the country is peaceful, and there is no place to fight. Even if there is a war, I don't want you to go all out."

Every year there are quotas for corvee service, some are for building roads, rivers, and city walls, and some are for serving as soldiers in barracks.If there is any spare money at home, it is all handed over in silver.

Ding Lichun's face was pale, he pursed his lips and did not speak.He knew that his family was not poor and had some savings.

Ding Zhuang saw what he was thinking, and snorted coldly, "Although our family lives well, it is far from being rich. The money and land need to be used for Liren to take the imperial examination, to marry your brother's wife, and to buy Xiangxiang's dowry. Of course , I will not treat your eldest grandson badly, the iron shop and this yard will be yours in the future, and this is the biggest head of our family."

Ding Lichun sniffed, wanting to sell the iron shop, I don't want it.

But he didn't dare to say that, and he would be beaten to death by his grandfather.

He murmured, "Second Uncle is very rich now, you can borrow some."

Ding Zhao's face darkened. Ding Chi had a grudge against his father and his elder brother, so why would he be willing to pay for his nephew to learn martial arts.What's more, he always thinks that Ding Chi is not stable enough, who knows how long the money can last.

Ding Zhuang snorted coldly, "I don't even think about the money that Ding holds, but you still dare to think about it."

Ding Xiang hurriedly expressed her opinion, "Master, all the family money should be used for my brother to learn martial arts. When I grow up, I will earn a lot of money. If I have money, I can study for my brother and marry a wife, and I will also have money to buy a dowry for me."

These words moved Ding Lichun badly.My sister knows to think about his brother at such a young age, why don't I think about my sister?Without a generous dowry, the younger sister would be wronged if she married into her husband's family.

Ding Liren stated again, "I spend less money on my studies, and strive to be a student. My husband said that if I pass the test, I will have rice, so I can support myself. I will share some money and let my brother learn martial arts."

Ding Zhao said with a wry smile, "It's not that easy to be a high-ranking student. Even if you can be admitted as a scholar, you don't know when it will be. Learn martial arts as early as possible. After the age, even if you have money, you won't be able to learn it."

A trace of sadness flashed across Ding Lichun's eyes, and a moment later he changed into a nonchalant expression.

"I am the eldest brother, so I should create better conditions for my younger siblings. I will learn how to blacksmith, earn more money, save a lot of dowry for my younger sister, and let my younger brother be admitted to the Jinshi."

Both Ding Zhuang and Ding Zhao nodded in satisfaction.

Ding Xiang thought, don't, don't give up your lofty ideals easily

He hurriedly said, "I'm not bragging, I really know how to make money, and our family will not be short of money in the future."

Ding Zhao smiled as if listening to a joke, "Our family is not short of money, so we all buy Xiangxiang a dowry."

Ding Xiang rolled her eyes.When you are young, what you say is always ignored.I really make money.

She can't change the decision of the elders, she still has to encourage the youngsters to practice martial arts well, opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared.

Ding Lichun said again, "Otherwise, I won't study this year, and it's useless to study, why don't I save the money for my sister's dowry."

Ding Zhao shook his head and said, "There is no harm in reading more books. Blacksmiths who have read books are different from blacksmiths who have not."

Ding Lichun said quickly, "I haven't read the book, and I haven't seen any difference between my father and my father."

Seeing Ding Zhao raised his hand, he took two steps back in fright.

Ding Zhuang realized that he was despised by his son after hearing what the eldest grandson said, and shouted with his eyes puffed up, "Stinky boy, chew a few sour words, even I will be dismissed."

Ding Xiang put her arms around Ding Zhuang's neck and carried the book on her back to divert his attention.

"In the beginning of human beings, their natures are inherently good. Their natures are similar, their habits are far apart..."

Ding Zhuang immediately narrowed his eyes with a smile, "My granddaughter can memorize "The Analects of Confucius" when she is one and a half years old. Where can I find it? The third child is angry every day that he has no grandson. Xiang, I won’t change either.”

Ding Lichun opened his mouth, but he still didn't dare to say that it was the Three Character Classic, not the Analects.

Ding Liren said very sincerely, "You are really knowledgeable, and you all know "The Analects of Confucius."

Seeing Ding Lichun's disdainful eyes, he felt that he was not flattering his conscience.

He meant that I knew the name "The Analects of Confucius", but he didn't say that I knew the content of "The Analects of Confucius".

Ding Zhuang didn't know that his two grandsons were burying him in his heart, so he said triumphantly, "Listen to you reciting every day, your sister has already learned it, can you still learn it?"

The meal is put on the table.

Ding Xiang now also has a seat.Beside Mrs. Zhang, a small stool was placed on a big chair, and Ding Xiang was sitting on the small stool.She ate two mouthfuls with a spoon, and Mrs. Zhang fed two more.

For the first time, Ding Zhuang gave his eldest grandson half a bowl of elbow meat in sauce.

He knew that giving up his dream for many years would make his eldest grandson feel very sad.

For the first time, Ding Liren got less meat than his elder brother, and he didn't argue with his elder brother.

After a few cups of wine, Ding Zhao said, "Father, for the sake of Liren's future, you have to put down your temper. When Liren is about to end, don't let them find out those old accounts. No one wants to be a guarantor. "

Ding Zhuang bulged his eyes, but still acquiesced.

Words are scary.Obviously my old lady died of illness, but they insisted that he died of anger.Obviously their daughter-in-law was tortured to death, they have to say that it was a blessing in disguise.

　Thank you for the 854 book coins of 930***1666, and thank you for the rewards of Happy Rufeng 1020 and Zheqing Xing.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)