Tranquility

Carpenter Tang was taken aback. He originally planned to send Maoer to school next year, but seeing his son's serious and bright eyes, and thinking that this son was much smarter and more sensible than ordinary children, he nodded unconsciously.

Now that he had made his decision, Carpenter Tang took out a silver nude from the box and said to Tangning, "There is only Cheng Xiu in Lijia Village who opened a private school near our village. Two taels of silver, this silver nude is worth more than two taels. Tomorrow dad will take it to the town to exchange for silver, and buy some pens, ink, paper and inkstones for you, and the day after tomorrow dad will take you to Lijia Village to have a look."

Tang Ning didn't know the exact value of two taels of silver. He only heard that Carpenter Tang agreed, and he was very happy. Then he pestered his father to take him to the town to buy paper and pens. Seeing his son's smiling face, Carpenter Tang thought again The family didn't go to the town for a long time, so they promised to take him and his brothers to the town to play tomorrow.

At dinner, Carpenter Tang told about this matter, Tang Mu and Tang Yun were very happy, Mrs. Tang didn't say anything, the family happily ate dinner and went back to their rooms.

Westinghouse, Tangning proudly told her two elder brothers what happened today.Tang Yun let go of the heart that had been hanging for a few days after hearing this, and said happily:

"Although Shuxiu is very expensive, but from what you said, saving some of the money left by your mother can help you learn how to marry a wife and have children."

"Second brother, is Shuxiu very expensive? How much is two taels of silver?"

"One tael of silver can be exchanged for a thousand taels of silver. Well, you don't know it. Let's put it this way, our family used to spend five taels of silver a year. Generally, a family of four spends six taels of silver a year, and a catty of pork costs Twenty Wen, and one mu of fertile land costs seven or eight taels of silver."

"Ah, wouldn't the two taels of silver cost our family's living expenses for several months? Studying is really expensive," Tangning said in surprise.

"Hehe, don't worry, cat. You used your mother's money to go to school, and you didn't spend a penny from your family." Tang Yun pinched Tangning's face and comforted her.

At this time, Tang Mu interjected: "Actually, I heard that other scholars don't accept so many Shuxiu. That Cheng Xiucai has a sick and only daughter in his family. The girl's mother is also in poor health. She gave birth to a daughter. It didn't take long before he died of illness. There was a patient in the family who took medicine all the year round, so the money was spent like water. Cheng Xiucai had no choice but to be educated. It is said that if he hadn't been dragged down by his family, he would have been admitted to Juren. So Although he accepts so many bundles of repairs, those around who want to be successful are still very willing to send their children there."

Tang Yun looked at Tang Mu in surprise, "Brother, you are not usually a person who cares about this family's short-sightedness."

Tang Mu looked a little embarrassed, and mumbled: "When I went to work in Lijia Village, I listened to the gossip of people in their village. You were young at the time, so I don't remember. Mother told the cat to go to school when she left, so I kept more some heart."

Tangning was listening, and for the first time felt that her eldest brother was not as honest as he seemed.

The brothers here were chatting harmoniously, but in the east room, the conversation between Carpenter Tang and his wife was a little stiff.

"I, Zhao Yingchun, have been married to your Tang family since I got up early and went to bed late, and now I have to give birth to you. How can I be sorry for the Tang family? It's fine if I don't talk about the cat mother, but I don't care about the cat going to school. If you don't discuss it with me first, are you afraid that I will block the cat from going to school? Is Zhao Yingchun that kind of person? Since you have been in the door for so long, when did you see that I treated the three of them so poorly? You didn't believe me so much. Why do you need to marry me?" After a long conversation, Mrs. Tang's eyes were already red, she couldn't shed tears, she looked very pitiful.

Tang Carpenter has been pregnant three times, and he also has some understanding of pregnant women's moody moods. He just thought that Mao'er's mother always shed tears when she was pregnant, and finally suffered from depression and dystocia. He panicked and hurried to appease Mrs. Tang. "How could it be? The matter of Mao'er's study has been settled long ago. It's my fault. I didn't expect you to not know about it. I will discuss everything with you in the future, okay?"

After saying that, she lowered her head and wiped away the tears for Mrs. Tang, but Mrs. Tang turned her head away.

Carpenter Tang took a look, sighed, and said, "You heard something about Madam Cat the day before yesterday when his second aunt was there. Actually, it's nothing to tell you about it." Mrs. Tang said.

Mrs. Tang felt very sour when she heard Carpenter Tang's tone, as if she had overturned a jar of vinegar. The one in front had died for several years, and Carpenter Tang was still thinking about it.Thinking of the cat's mother whom she had met once, Mrs. Tang felt inferior and jealous, she was not as good as her, and now she was not even as good as the dowry.Thinking of how many jewels were left behind, Mrs. Tang felt itchy, she wished she could put them on immediately, as if she could overwhelm that woman.She forced herself to suppress her anger, and felt that Joe was enough, so she softened her voice and said:

"Actually, I also know that's not what you mean. I'm just annoyed that you didn't say it earlier. I can also make new clothes for the cat to wear when he apprentices. You only think of pens, inks, papers and inkstones, but you don't even know you have to prepare a bookcase. There are a lot of things in the food box."

Seeing that she stopped crying, Carpenter Tang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You are still pregnant with a child, how can you do needlework, I should buy clothes for the cat tomorrow."

"That's fine. I'll buy a muslin gown for the cat, which costs about thirty yuan. I'll buy rattan for the bookcase. Let's make the food box by myself. I also need to buy a pair of shoes. The cat's shoes are going to be worn out now. I bought the sweat towel as well. The main thing is that the four treasures of the study are the big ones. It will cost at least a few hundred cash. I think the wood and the dog clothes are too small. Why don’t you do it together tomorrow? I’ll give you four hundred cash tomorrow. arts."

"No need," Carpenter Tang interrupted, "The money is reserved for your mother-in-law to use in an emergency when you give birth. The money left by the cat is enough for the cat. You have already worried enough about him. There are so many things I didn't think of, but I'm lucky to have you." Carpenter Tang was moved by Mrs. Tang again.

"Look at what you said, these are the affairs of our women's family. How can you, a big man, understand these things? It's a pity that I am pregnant with a child, or I will go to the town to buy these for the cat myself, save you There won’t be enough to buy tomorrow.”

"Why don't you tell me what you want to buy now, and I'll just remember it."

"Actually, I'm a month old now, and my tires are very stable. All the daughters-in-law in the village can go to work in the fields. Why don't I take the cat brothers to the town tomorrow? Aren't you going to have work tomorrow? Push it away." But it’s only a dozen pennies less. Besides, Mumu is a stable person, and he can’t get out of it slowly.”

Carpenter Tang hesitated for a while, and then said: "No need, it's a long way to go to the town, and the ox cart is also bumpy, you can't bear it. Don't worry, I will buy all the important things, whether you can buy small things or not. It doesn't involve much."

Mrs. Tang was blocked, knowing that Carpenter Tang was unwilling to give her the jewelry, she was a little unwilling, and secretly thought that if she was too soft, she would provoke him, so she said angrily: "In the end, you still don't believe me, just because you are afraid that I will take it. The dowry in front of me. What's the use of the money if I take it, it's not spent on the three of you." As he spoke, he wanted to wipe away his tears again.

Tang Carpenter's head grew big, "Heaven and earth conscience, I am really worried about your body, you know that the two I married before were both difficult to deliver, if you have an accident, how can I bear it... "As he said that, he also felt sad.

Mrs. Tang didn't believe it, she always thought that Carpenter Tang was still thinking about the one in front—in fact, Carpenter Tang didn't think about the one in front of her, she didn't believe it herself.Mrs. Tang was very frustrated. She had to admit that she and Maoer's mother were too far behind.But she was not reconciled, she didn't believe that the living could not compete with the dead, Mrs. Tang secretly swore that one day she, Zhao Yingchun, would be a thousand times better than that woman in Carpenter Tang's heart.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Tang suppressed her jealousy and said with tears in her eyes, "Nonsense, when I married into your family, I just thought that we would grow old together for the rest of our lives. I also hoped that there would be a whole family of children and grandchildren in the future."

Finally, the two reconciled as before, hugging each other and sleeping.

The next day, the whole family woke up refreshed. Although the reasons were different, they were all in a good mood.

It was almost noon when the father and son arrived in the town. Tangning saw an ancient town for the first time. She saw the stone-paved roads, wooden doors, and people in ancient costumes coming and going. It was as if she had arrived in a movie theater The city is the same, but it has more charm than the film and television city, and the atmosphere is different.

The father and son discussed it, and decided to go to the restaurant first to sell a pheasant and a hare that Tang Yun killed yesterday. After getting the money, Tang Yun counted it and said to Carpenter Tang: "Father, this is better than selling it to Zhang Er." The dog’s family needs an extra [-] cents, anyway, we don’t have so much work now, so we’d better sell it to the town by ourselves.”

Carpenter Tang nodded: "After a few days, I'm going to find work in the town. I'll bring the wood to do it this year. Just bring it to the town. Don't always hunt. Jiujiuji, you are also nine years old this year, it's time to get in touch with carpentry."

Tang Yun frowned, "Father, it's not like you don't know that I'm not that material, I can't sit still."

Carpenter Tang stared, "If you don't want to be a carpenter, what are you going to do? How do you earn money to support your family?"

Tang Yun hesitated and said: "I heard that people who are in business have made a lot of money in recent years, and the court is not encouraging business now, and businessmen are not cheap."

The first time Carpenter Tang heard that his son wanted to go into business, he was about to get angry, but he found that there were people coming and going around, and the place was not right, so he had to endure it and deal with him when he went home.

Even so, the two of them were still a bit dull and didn't talk much, which made Tangning and Tang Mu didn't know what to say.

In this way, several people silently turned into a relatively quiet alley, this alley is called Wen Street, and they sell the Four Treasures of the Study or books, calligraphy and paintings.Once entering this alley, the surrounding atmosphere immediately changed, as if the whole body was covered with a smell of books, which made the father and son, who had walked for a long time and were covered in sweat, immediately become embarrassed, even stepped forward. Every step needs to be careful.

Carpenter Tang didn't dare to look around much, so he walked towards a store with the smallest facade and the fewest people, his usual carefree steps unconsciously getting smaller and slower.When the clerk in the store saw a customer coming in, he immediately greeted him with a smile on his face, but when he glanced at him, he found a man in coarse clothes and a few children standing at the door in a daze. The smell was weird, the guy immediately covered his nose with one hand, and waved away people with the other, "Walk around, this is not a place where everyone can come."

As a result, several people stood back to their original places. Occasionally, one or two scholars in blue straight gowns passed by, and they all watched them detour, making the few people who had already been hit even more uncomfortable, and wished to find a crack in the ground to sneak in.Carpenter Tang no longer had the courage to enter the house again, and he couldn't leave directly. He was sweating again in anxiety, and his body smelled even worse.

Tangning saw that this was not possible, so she hurriedly scanned her surroundings, and finally pointed to the shop with the largest storefront, the most traffic, and the most complete supplies in the middle, and said, "Let's go to that one."

The rest of the people looked along and saw a gilt plaque on the top of the wide facade, on which was written: Yimozhai, the three big characters are very magnificent.Although Carpenter Tang could not read, he knew that this shop was no different from the one just now, that the items must be the most expensive, and the shopkeepers must be more proud, so he shook his head repeatedly.

On the contrary, Tang Ning was full of confidence, "Daddy, sometimes the big shop is more famous and more polite. I think the shop assistants in that shop are very smart although they are dressed in plain clothes, and they are polite and courteous. Just now, the shopkeeper specially treated them A scholar wearing coarse cloth with patches, presumably he doesn't care about us."

Tang Carpenter hesitated for a while and agreed, since the situation would not get worse anyway.Sure enough, as soon as they entered the door, the clerk greeted them. He didn't show disdain because of their clothes, but smiled more sincerely, "Guest officers, what do you need to buy?"

Carpenter Tang said a little uneasy: "I, we just want to buy some pens, inks, papers and inkstones. The children at home need to go to school, so they shouldn't be too expensive." As he spoke, his face turned red.

The man understood, and led them to a corner, pointing to the neatly stacked Four Treasures of the Study, and said: "These are the cheapest pens, inks, papers and inkstones in our store. It’s 220 pieces, [-] wen for the brush, and [-] wen for the inkstone fifty ink, if you buy all four, it’s cheaper for you, a total of [-] wen.”

Tang Carpenter knew that the number should be about the same, so he didn't talk nonsense and bought it directly.

The clerk saw that Carpenter Tang was a country guy, so he thought it would take a long time to grind his mouth, but he didn't expect the other party to be so straightforward, and he immediately liked him, and he talked a lot, "Guest officer, let me tell you, don't look at how big our shop is." It’s expensive, but the price of these pens, inks, papers and inkstones can’t be found lower than ours in Manwen Street. This is due to the kindness of our boss, who is willing to help students in need. The price is deliberately lowered. The more you buy, the cheaper it will be. If you look at the study next door to our shop, they all belong to the same family, and there is no money to read books there. If you ask me, what our boss does is better than going to a temple to burn incense. "

Just as he was talking, the things over there were packed, Carpenter Tang took his sons and thanked him again and again before leaving the door.Sure enough, what Maoer said was true, the people in this store do not deceive customers, and they will still buy from this store in the future.

Out of the alley, Carpenter Tang took his son and turned a few corners into a tailor's shop. The shop was small, dark and messy inside, and there were some ready-made clothes hanging on the wall.In the past, Carpenter Tang used to buy clothes in this store, and he knew the owner very well. He would yell to buy clothes as soon as he entered the door. At this time, Carpenter Tang seemed to have returned to the world he was familiar with, and his waist straightened a lot. The sound is also louder.

The owner of the shop is a tailor, and he was delighted when he saw that it was Carpenter Tang, "Oh, Carpenter Tang, I haven't been here for a long time. I heard that you married a wife again. Why do you come to our small shop today when you have time? It's still you." Married a Hedong lion, why don't you make clothes for you?"

Carpenter Tang was a little annoyed: "What nonsense are you talking about in front of the children?" As he spoke, he turned sideways and brought the three boys in, and the room suddenly became more crowded, "These are the three boys from my family, come here for them today. Make clothes for each person, the same as usual, and buy another fine cloth for my little son, do you see if there is any that fits?"

The tailor scanned the three of them carefully and said, "You are a lucky man. The three sons look energetic, but the clothes are not very good." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and pulled Tang Ning's robe. Who changed this robe? That's right, the waist here is stitched, and it creaks when it is pulled. It's hard for the child to wear it comfortably. "

When the three children heard this, they lowered their heads at the same time, and two of them aimed at Tang Mu. Tang Mu's face blushed immediately. He changed the clothes of the three brothers of the Tang family. The clothes on the cat belonged to him, and later they were put on by the dog when he was young. It was caught, the boy tore the clothes to the boss at some place, he didn't care at the time, he sewed them casually, and then gave them to the cat to wear, the child didn't feel comfortable wearing them and didn't make a sound.

Carpenter Tang felt very ashamed when he heard this, and felt more and more that it would be better to have a woman at home. He coughed awkwardly, and interrupted: "Okay, just tell me if you can do it."

The tailor gave him a blank look, then turned around and took out a set of azure straight gowns from the back. Although there were no embroidery patterns, they looked very small and cute. He sized Tangning up and nodded in satisfaction, "I'll let him wear them."

Tang Yun was not particular about it, so he took off Tangning's clothes on the spot. Tangning was extremely ashamed. He hadn't tried changing clothes in public before, and when the clothes were put on, his face turned red.People rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles. Tangning put on this straight gown, and her temperament immediately changed.The exquisite facial features, coupled with this clean and delicate clothes, made him look a little more elegant, and the tailor looked straight at him, and said, "It's really good bamboo shoots, you carpenter is gone!" What kind of shit luck, your son, tsk, the son of the family is nothing more than that. I can see from a young age that I don't know what kind of romantic person I will be in the future."

Carpenter Tang himself was proud of being able to give birth to such a son, he laughed and said, "My son wants to study, so just show this kind of attitude, and he can't be wronged."

Tang Ning had never been praised so bluntly by anyone. This was unimaginable in his previous life, so when he got home, his face was flushed red. Thinking about it many years later, he still wondered if that day was just a happy day dream.