The skilled widow is busy farming

Chapter 67 The Master
Xiuniang and Grandpa talked about their future plans while eating, what things should be done urgently in the spring next year, and the remaining things that are not urgent can be slowed down.

This year has been considered prosperous, and the villagers are very happy. The daughter-in-law can carry things back to her parents' house with her husband, and she can also take a few more things, so that she can go back straight and make her parents look up to her.

The eldest sister-in-law didn't go back to her parents' house, so Xiu Niang went back only for the Chinese New Year. She asked Brother Qun and Brother Chun to go back and give some New Year's gifts. After all, the Zhou family is now in the wine business with the Li family, so they can't just forget about it.

The tavern's business is booming this year, and it has gained a good reputation. Grandpa Fourth and the others have also received some money. They are looking at pure profits next year, and everyone is very happy.

The fourth grandfather said that he would build a house next year and build it together with several other families. At the same time, they would also pay to renovate the clan school wall.

In order to wait for Xiu Niang and her family, Grandpa insisted on waiting until the three-year mourning period had passed before building a house. This was to pass on the etiquette of scholars and not break ground during the mourning period.

He did not ask other families to do the same, but the eldest grandfather would not let others break ground. The fourth grandfather and others also meant the same. The villagers were grateful for the kindness of Xiuniang's family and were willing to wait for three years. Because of this, Xiuniang believed that she The sacrifice for the village is well worth it.

Spring has begun, and the new year is over. Brother Chun carries his schoolbag and leads Brother Qun to the ethnic school.

Xiu Niang arranged his clothes and said, "You have to listen to the class carefully when you go. When you come back, I will check and torture you. If you don't study seriously, you will be punished. Do you understand?"

"remember."

Brother Chun nodded his little head vigorously.

"Let's go."

The group of brothers reached out to their younger brother, took his little hand and walked out.

"Mom, we're going to class. Just heat up the food for lunch."

"Got it, go get busy."

There is a lot of food to eat during the Chinese New Year, so just find some food to warm up yourself.

Brother Chun also started taking classes, and my mother-in-law started to learn how to make palace flowers from Xiu Niang. She had been doing it before, but she didn't do much with her grandson. Now that her grandson is also studying, she started to make palace flowers seriously when she had free time. Earn some oil and salt money.

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were busy in the house.

Xiu Niang began to prepare a new tapestry painting. She spent time painting a Buddha statue. For this purpose, she went to a nearby temple with her mother-in-law and grandma to burn incense and worship Buddha. By the way, she filled in sesame oil money for Li Ping and prayed for it secretly. Pray for blessings.

It took half a month to paint the Buddha statue, and she was going to weave the Buddha statue, which would take at least two years.

The slightly larger tapestry pictures are woven on a yearly basis, which is very laborious.

"Xiu'er, why do you always do such hard and troublesome things? Our family is not short of money now. Don't work so hard. Brother Qun won't let you do it because he is afraid that you will become blind in the future. I don't agree with spending money at home. The money depends on you selling brocades, which will make the children grow up to be white-eyed wolves."

The mother-in-law chatted with Xiu Niang while being a palace lady.

"Mom, I'm not tired either. I feel uncomfortable if I don't do some work. Besides, I won't be selling money this time. I plan to embroider it and send it to my elder brother in the capital to pave the way for Brother Heng in the future. Being an official is not that easy. , Obtaining fame is only the first step. If you have the qualifications to enter the officialdom, the rest is still complicated."

"Hey! I don't understand either, but I know you are working too hard. Take it easy. Brother Chun is still young and can't live without mother. If you have any shortcomings, many people will bully your son."

Her mother-in-law deliberately scared her to give her hope of survival.

"I know my mother loves me. Don't worry, I won't let myself get tired. This Buddha statue will take at least a year or two to weave."

"Okay, I can't help you either."

The mother-in-law sighed. Although she didn't understand, she knew that Xiuniang had given her all for this family. She felt sorry for this daughter-in-law, who had a miserable life and was wronged.

"No, the palace flowers made by my mother are getting more and more beautiful. When you finish this, I will teach you how to make more beautiful and complicated palace flowers, which will sell for more money than this one."

"Okay, I'll learn slowly and do this well first." The mother-in-law nodded with a smile.

"Xiu'er, do you think Brother Heng is somewhat confident that he should enter the examination room next month?"

"There is still a chance, but I don't dare to guarantee it. As long as he can pass the exam, the rest will be much easier."

Xiu Niang showed firm and wise eyes.

"I hope this young married man will never disappoint everyone's expectations."

The mother-in-law sighed.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the New Year was over and it was entering March. Grandpa came back from the wine shop for the first time and was weaving baskets at home, probably because he was thinking about Brother Heng.

Even Xiuniang stopped knitting. Although Li Hengyuan could not see anyone in the capital, the family was still very anxious.

Second Uncle Li would go to the dock every now and then to treat people to drinks and meat. Every time he came back with a letter, it would be brought back by an acquaintance whom he had agreed to in advance.

Grandpa came to see Xiu Niang today.

"Grandpa, why are you here? If you have something to do, please ask Yingzi to call me and I will come over."

Xiu Niang quickly stood up and went to meet him and helped him into the door and sat down.

"I'm here to talk to you and tell you something."

"You may give your orders, but I will arrange everything for you as long as I can."

Xiu Niang served the hot tea respectfully.

"That's it. I want you to teach in the clan school. Aunt Wang is responsible for teaching etiquette. I've thought about it. There is still a lack of a literate female elder to restrain everyone in the clan school. What you can teach is as good as Aunt Wang. Teaching is not the same thing, I have thought about it for a long time, discussed it with several clan elders, and everyone agreed."

With the passage of time, the success of the wine shop and the prosperity of the tavern, everyone gradually saw clearly that Xiuniang's outstanding abilities were recognized and respected by the whole village, young and old, and they relied more and more on her.

Being a widow in Lijiacun does not restrict her, but allows her to get more care and trust. It is impossible for her to leave Lijiacun, and there is no possibility of betraying the Li family. The two sons are from the Li family.

"I'm going to teach, but that's not a good job. The master who studies the clan is a scholar and a scholar, so I'm not a big deal."

Xiu Niang has really never entered a clan school. Even if she was a family leader in her previous life, she is not qualified to join a clan school to teach. The more famous the family, the more deeply rooted some things are. It is both enlightened and conservative, contradictory and sharp. It cannot be done by one person. changed.

The uncle looked at her and smiled, "Why not."

"How can I do it?"

This was beyond Xiu Niang's knowledge. She was a little unbelievable for a moment, and something seemed to be breaking out of the ground in her heart.

The uncle looked at the old brother, pointed to the door and said: "The ancestral field in our village was donated by you with the money that Brother Ping bought for your life. The wine shop was bought by you in exchange for the tapestry paintings after you went blind. It is your hard work to supply pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and you are qualified to join the clan and learn to be a female wife."

The old man's expression was firm and resolute, and his words were sonorous and powerful. He looked at her with gentleness and kindness, conveying to her incomparable bravery and infinite strength.

"In Lijiacun, you, Li Zhou, can walk sideways, and you are entitled to this treatment."

"Xiu Niang, your uncle is right. Give your knowledge and education to the children so that they can go out without suffering any grievances and take less detours. Don't you want the girls to marry well and live a good life? That's up to you. Go into battle personally.”

Grandpa also looked at Xiuniang with a smile, his eyes full of kindness and encouragement.

(End of this chapter)