The daily routine of wearing a book and abusing literature to cultivate a scholar and Xiaoxianggong

Chapter 34 The Enthusiastic Villagers
Another night passed, and the next day was the winter solstice.

Li Xiaodao woke up in the morning, stretched his arms and stretched his waist, looked to the side, and saw that Xianggong got up early to exercise again in the morning.

She used to be a very self-disciplined person when she was in school, but Xianggong is even more self-disciplined than her.

No matter how tired or busy the day before, Pei Zhiqi gets up on time every morning before dawn to exercise.

Li Xiaodao may not be able to be so early every day, but he also tries to insist on exercising with his husband every day.

She lifted the quilt and was about to get out of bed, but found that she was fully dressed.

Why did you sleep in your coat last night?
She recalled it for a while, and remembered that she fell asleep at the table after learning characters.

It must have been Xianggong who carried her to bed, thinking of this, she lowered her head and smiled slightly.

But look at the neat clothes on her body...

Xianggong is really an honest man, she sighed in her heart.

After getting out of bed and tidying up briefly, Li Xiaodao went to the yard to find his husband.

Just as Pei Zhiqi put his sword back into its sheath, he saw the lady come out of the room.

"Is this the end of practice today?" Li Xiaodao asked doubtfully, looking at the still dark sky.

"Today's winter solstice, I'm going to help my mother in the morning. Not only do I have to cook meatballs, but I also need to prepare dishes for ancestor worship," Pei Zhiqi replied.

It turned out that Xianggong got up earlier than usual today.

"Then let me help out together," Li Xiaodao said with a smile.

The two of them went through the small bamboo gate together to the yard of Pei's father and mother, and found that the kitchen was lit, and Pei's mother had been busy for a long time.

Eating meatballs in the winter solstice is a custom near the seaside. The so-called do as the Romans do, plus eating dumplings in the winter solstice in the north, so Mother Pei prepared both. There are both meatballs and dumplings on this day.

The ancestors of the Pei family were from the north, and they couldn't visit the tomb in a foreign land, so they sacrificed to their ancestors in the morning according to the northern custom.

Many things are not suitable to be done on the day of the winter solstice. In addition, the previous two days were too busy. After worshiping the ancestors and eating dumplings at noon, the family took a short rest.

In the afternoon, Li Xiaodao felt a little bad, and his relatives might be coming.

She hurriedly climbed onto the bed and hugged Mrs. Tang tightly.

The situation was very bad at night, Pei Zhiqi lay down with Li Xiaodao all the time except to change the hot water for Tang Pozi in time, one arm was tightly hugged by Li Xiaodao under the quilt, and his sleeve was wet from crying.

In modern times, a pill is enough, but in ancient times, it can only be boiled.

"My lady... When I get to the provincial capital, I will definitely find a prescription for you to solve this suffering." Pei Zhiqi frowned, every time he saw his wife like this, his heart was pierced like a knife.

Li Xiaodao shook his head with tears in his eyes under the quilt: "Eat father's prescription...it's useless..."

Maybe there is a good doctor who specializes in treating this disease in the provincial capital. Pei Zhiqi will keep this matter in mind, and will have to inquire carefully when he arrives in the provincial capital.

That night, Li Xiaodao didn't know when he fell into a drowsy sleep, but he only remembered that his husband was still helping him wipe the sweat from his forehead and his face full of tears before going to bed.

Only these few days are relatives, Li Xiaodao will miss the morning exercise.

After the winter solstice, there are only a few days left before departure.

Li Xiaodao felt better the next day, and wanted to go to the study to help Xianggong organize the books, but was sent back to the bedroom by Xianggong himself.

During the past few days, Mother Pei came to help with the cooking, Li Xiaodao was there to help, and Pei Zhiqi was in charge of packing the luggage.

Time passed quickly, and in the busy schedule, it finally came the day before the departure.Early in the morning, all the books and clothes were packed in bamboo boxes.

Bamboo boxes for clothes and other sundries are piled up in the bedroom, and bamboo boxes for books are piled up in the study.

"Xianggong—see if there is anything missing in the study—" Li Xiaodao stood at the door of the bedroom and shouted to the Xianggong in the study.

It's a pity that the slate dipped in water for writing is too heavy to take away, and she has only practiced for less than ten days.

However, Mr. Xiang said that not all papers cost 100 Wen a piece. When we arrived in the provincial capital, we bought some blue and white paper that was cheaper than [-] or [-] Wen a piece for my wife to practice calligraphy.

Li Xiaodao muttered to settle accounts, seven or eight Wen is also very expensive.

After shouting to Xianggong, Li Xiaodao opened the cabinet in the bedroom to check if there was anything missing.

While tidying up, suddenly there was a noisy crowd outside the door, and someone was calling the door.

Li Xiaodao hurried out of the room, rushed to the gate of the courtyard and opened the door to have a look, what a guy!
At the door, the village head brought many villagers to the door. Some of the villagers were carrying vegetables, some were carrying dried meat, some were carrying chickens and ducks, some were carrying fish, shrimps and crabs, and some were carrying eggs. Wait, wait...these are all local products of my own family.

Li Xiaodao was stunned, "Village... village chief? Who is this?"

"Everyone heard from the old Yang's family that they would drive an ox cart to send Mr. Xiucai to the town. They said that Mr. Xiucai was going to the provincial capital to study and take the exam. This is not true. They all came to express their hearts and send Mr. Xiucai off," said the village chief. With a smile on his face, he spoke on behalf of everyone, and the villagers also shouted that yes, they came to send off Mr. Xiucai.

Li Xiaodao hurriedly turned around and ran into the study, calling Pei Zhiqi, who was counting the books, to look at the door.

Pei Zhiqi also heard the noisy voices at the door, and was about to go to have a look, when the lady came calling, so she hurriedly followed her to the door.

After listening to the lady's introduction of everyone's reason for coming, Pei Zhiqi saluted everyone and bowed deeply. Do your best to win the exam, but life is not easy for everyone, so let’s take back everyone’s things..."

In the first half of this statement, everyone was happy, but when they heard that Mr. Xiucai did not accept anything later, the crowd burst into chatter, and everyone became emotional.

"How can this work! Mr. Xiucai didn't accept our gifts when we got married. Everyone ate such a good banquet for nothing. Everyone is hard food. This time Mr. Xiucai is going to leave his hometown to study and take the exam. You have to give me a little bit of thought. Take it!"

"Yes yes yes!"

"That's right!"

"Mr. Xiucai thinks our courtesy is shabby! It's a little bit of kindness!"

"I've been saving these eggs for seven or eight days, and finally managed to save fifteen. Take it!"

"Yes, yes! Accept it!"

……

Mother Pei also rushed to the entrance of the courtyard when she heard the sound, and saw the villagers blocking the entrance with things, "What's the matter?"

When the village chief saw Pei's mother coming, he quickly grabbed Pei's mother and said sincerely: "Oh, old sister, please persuade your scholar, it's everyone's heart, please persuade him to accept it!"

After hearing this, Mother Pei was also in a dilemma. She looked at Pei Zhiqi.

Pei Zhiqi wanted to persuade the villagers not to spend money, and accepted it with good intentions, but everyone seemed to know what he would say before they came, and continued to persuade Pei Zhiqi to accept it with a very firm attitude. Seeing that the villagers crowded at the door were about to break in.

Li Xiaodao quietly hooked Xianggong's hand, pulled Pei Zhiqi away, and smiled at everyone at the door: "Folks, wait a moment, I will be back soon after I have a few words with Xianggong!"

The noise at the door became quieter now, and Mother Pei comforted everyone at the door and chatted with everyone politely.

Li Xiaodao pulled Pei Zhiqi aside, and asked in a low voice, "Sir, did you go to the exam last time and it was like this?"

Pei Zhiqi replied in a low voice: "The last time I went directly to the provincial capital from the government academy in Fucheng, I have never experienced such a scene."

(End of this chapter)