The skilled widow is busy farming

Chapter 30
When he got home, Uncle Li didn't even bother to take a sip of water, so he told his grandparents the good news. Everyone in the family happened to be working in the house.

"Dad, Mom, please take a look."

Uncle Li took the house deed handed over by the brothers and gave it to the old man with a look of joy.

Grandpa read it carefully and passed it to grandma to read, and then the whole family read it again.

"Is this the landlord's shop?"

The father-in-law looked at the location written above, searched for memories in his mind, and remembered something.

"Yes, brother, do you remember the son of the landlord of the Qian family? He was the one who sold me. He was a bad student. I died too early and was taken away to gamble."

"No trouble?"

The father-in-law gasped when he heard about Gambling. This was a quagmire that couldn't be pulled out.

"No, the middleman made a guarantee, and I even threatened him, saying that after the money from the casino was paid off, he sold the shop and the housekeeper and returned to his hometown. It was because the casino saved his life and wouldn't hold him accountable in the future, so I dared to buy it now. , I went to the Yamen and asked specifically, and I dared to sign the contract only if there was no problem."

The second uncle is careful in his work, and he only dares to buy after asking questions inside and out.

"That's good. I can rest assured that you can do your job. Xiu Niang, just hold it."

Her father-in-law gave her the deed to the house.

Xiu Niang couldn't help but smile when she took it. She looked at the children and said, "With this shop, if you work for two or three years, I can afford it even if you buy a yard or land in the capital. You guys don't have to worry about studying for the imperial examination." ”

After hearing this, Brother Jing and Brother Rui lowered their heads and looked a little sad.

"Mom, we have a shop, can you stop knitting from now on? I will work hard and not slack off."

Qun Ge half squatted beside his mother and begged. He had been dazzled by watching his mother weave brocade since he was a child, and he almost went blind just by looking at it, not to mention that his mother weaved every day.

An inch of tapestry is worth one tael, not because merchants are stupid, but because it is too hard and difficult to weave. Countless warp and weft threads are interspersed to weave, countless thread ends need to be distinguished, countless broken wefts need to be rearranged and weaved, and shuttles are used to make pens. The threads are made of ink and weaved into beautiful patterns, which cost the Zhinang countless efforts.

The Zhiniang, like the Embroiderer, ended up blind in the end.

"No."

Xiu Niang refused him without hesitation.

"Why, our family has this shop, and if we work together as a family, we will definitely be able to live a good life. Mom, I don't want you to go blind."

Seeing that his mother disagreed, Brother Qun raised his voice and became a little excited.

When the shopkeeper saw his mother's painting, he felt as if he had found a treasure. It made him understand how much effort his mother had put into before she was willing to spend so much money to buy the painting.

"What, you want me to listen to you now?"

Xiu Niang sat up straight and looked down at her son, feeling a pressure on her son in an instant.She sincerely treats her two children, and plans to support the Li family as the place where she will be buried for hundreds of years. It is not important whether it is true or not. It is difficult for a woman to leave the Li family village. Even if she has skills and no one to protect her, she will be raped. The hands of others have been exploited, and her ready-made identity, biological son, united family, and promising clan are all worthy of her talents and hard work.

Brother Qun knelt on the ground, "Mom, the shopkeeper today feels like a treasure after seeing your paintings. My second uncle dare not mention your name. I'm worried that there will be trouble in the future. One inch of tapestry is worth one tael of gold, but I know you." After all the hard work you have put in, you don’t have to work so hard now. My son is not interfering with you."

"Get up."

Xiu Niang then softened her expression and regained her momentum.

"You have grown up and have your own ideas. I know that some of you feel awkward and uncomfortable. You feel sorry for me and embarrassed to use my money, but I have my own ideas. I will tell you today. After all, a family shouldn’t hide things in their hearts.”

"Xiu Niang, everyone is here today. Sit down. You can tell everyone carefully. These children are giggling in their hearts. Let's take this opportunity to explain everything clearly."

Grandpa put down the basket weaving in his hand and spoke.

Uncle Li pulled the brothers to sit on a small stool.

Aunt Xu poured a cup of warm tea for her grandparents.

"Then let me talk about it today. The children in my second uncle's family also want to further their studies. Even if the family's money is not enough, it is also the main reason why I want to use the Kesi paintings to buy money to buy a shop. There is running money coming in.”

"Going to the capital to take the exam, each person is given ten taels of silver. He will take the exam three years after he fails. The accommodation can be at my eldest brother's house. But there are also a few promising young men in our village who can go to the capital to try the water. There are so many people who can't live here, so they have to rent. It costs money to live in a house, eat and drink. If you calculate it in total, it will cost you at least 100 taels of silver to allow all of you to live in the capital for a period of time. Brother Quan also spent 30 taels of silver to rush for the exam. Have you calculated this?"

After saying this, all the men, women, and children in the room lowered their heads, so quietly that you could hear a pin drop.

"I don't mean to accuse you, I just want to settle a score with you. You are good children. You study very hard. You even help your family farm the land and are never lazy. I see it all. Farmers want a scholar. It’s not easy. If it hadn’t been for the concerted efforts of our two families over the years, Li Quan wouldn’t have been able to come out and become the county magistrate. Do you agree with this?”

Everyone nodded. Uncle Li and Aunt Xu felt deeply about it and respected Xiu Niang the most. Back then, Li Quan went to Beijing to take the exam with money from Xiu Niang's father-in-law. In fact, it was Xiu Niang who used the money to buy brocade paintings.

Although Li Quan went to other places to serve as county magistrate, he took leave and rushed back after Brother Ping's funeral. He left after the funeral. Before leaving, he told his parents to take good care of his sister-in-law and never treat him badly. If you have any difficulties, contact him and he will find a solution. .

Seeing everyone nodding, Xiu Niang continued, "I'm not trying to promote myself and repay the kindness. I'm telling you that I still want to continue weaving brocade. This is my hobby and my guard of honor. I, Li Zhou, I have never been a dodder flower who relied on anyone to live. I have the ability and craftsmanship. I have read books and can settle accounts. I have the talent to make my children and grandchildren live a better life. Why can't I do it?"

Brother Qun was about to speak, but he was pulled by Brother Jing, and he fell silent.

"Let's talk about what's at hand first. Brother Heng and the others are going to the capital to take the exam next fall. My eldest brother and sister-in-law and I have agreed that I will take care of you, torture and teach you about your knowledge. If you can get on the list, I will take you out to meet guests, so as to I beg you to be given an official position in the future."

"But these are not what they should be, they are relatives. The friendship between us as brothers and sisters alone can last for a few days. You can use it. What about the other sons and daughters of Lijia Village? If you want to maximize the benefits, you want the Zhou family and the Li family to be able to compete side by side. , to create more officials and scholars, there must be interests tied up."

"It was very difficult for my eldest brother to go from the seventh grade to the fourth grade. This time my sister-in-law came to see me and brought all the money from the family. She was wearing brand-new clothes. It shows that the family has already had difficulties and she wore brand-new clothes to support the occasion. , I'm afraid that people will see my embarrassment, Brother Qun, I didn't ask for your aunt's money. It's my fault for not discussing it with you. I haven't realized that you have grown up and it's time for you to be the head of the family."

Xiu Niang smiled, looking at her son with more relief in her eyes.

"Mom, it's my son's fault that I told you nonsense without thinking carefully. I was worried that your body wouldn't be able to bear it. I don't dislike you. I really don't..."

Brother Qun explained with red eyes and embarrassment.

(End of this chapter)