Poor Family

Li Wuya and the others were still very curious about the family of their grandfather and grandmother, but this matter was up to Li Changsen. The four brothers and sisters also talked about it in private, and they didn't intend to take the initiative to find out.

Li Wuya's family had a very happy first New Year in Rongcheng. After leaving the bad people and things, they were full of longing for the future.

Except for the two days of the first and second day of the new year, the brothers and sisters of the Li family were having fun. After that, the four of them were busy getting acquainted with Rongcheng and keeping an eye on the people from the Jiubian Commercial Firm.

Li Changsen and Jin Yue'e didn't have any children, and after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, they called the four children to the main room to discuss the family's livelihood.

Li Changsen: "Our family has settled down in Rongcheng. These days, my mother and I counted the money in the house. It was given by Saburo, plus the money saved over the years, our family still has more than 850 taels of silver. .”

"These money saved flowers should be enough for our family to spend a while, but people can't sit and eat. I called you over to hear what you think? Let's do the total together."

Li Sanlang was the first to express his opinion: "Father, mother, I have already thought about this. Tomorrow, tomorrow I will look for an errand." As the eldest son, he should be responsible for the livelihood of the family.

Li Wuya: "Brother, when we first arrived in Rongcheng, we don't know anything. What kind of job can we find?"

Li Sanlang smiled and said: "Your brother and I have all the strength, but can't find a job?"

Li Wuya frowned: "I don't think you can earn much money by working hard, and it's tiring, so it's not worth it." Then, he looked at Li Changsen and Jin Yue'e, "Father, mother, let me tell you what I think."

"One, let's buy some land first. No matter what, with land in hand, we will never be hungry."

Everyone agreed with this and nodded their heads.

"Second, send brother and Qilang to school to study."

In this era, as large as a family or as small as a family, its social status is determined by the man in the family.

If you want to change your class, you have to see if there is a promising man in the family.

The only way to jump up the class is to study the imperial examination.

Li Sanlang was the first to object: "I'm already fifteen, what books do I still study, but Qilang, he's only ten years old, he can go to school."

Li Wuya showed disapproval: "Brother, who said that you can't go to school when you are fifteen. When we learned how to read with Fan Xiucai, he praised you for your good memory."

Li Sanlang: "But...someone has to watch over the house. Don't you still need to buy land? If you have land, I have to plant it."

At this time, Li Changsen said, "Your mother and I are the ones who deal with the land." Then, he looked at Li Sanlang, "It's fine if you don't have the conditions in the village before, but now you have the conditions, you can study if you want."

Jin Yue'e also nodded repeatedly.

It's okay if the child can't read, but if he can read, he must be supported.

"Three, my sister and I are going to study too."

Li Qilang smiled immediately: "Sister, there is no school that recruits female students, so how about it, brother and I will come back and teach you."

Li Wuya gave him a blank look: "Why is there no more? I've already inquired. Mrs. Qiao, who is across the street from our house, is teaching female students to read and write."

As she said that, she looked at Li Erya, "Sister, Mrs. Qiao is amazing. I heard that she is also good at female celebrities and temperament."

Li Erya hesitated for a moment: "Wuya, our family only has those who come out and who don't come in. Otherwise, I won't go. It's the same when you come back and teach me. It's a little bit of savings."

"Go, go both!"

This is what Jin Yue'e said.

The two eldest in the family are so sensible that she feels distressed. They think about the family and let their younger siblings do everything.

Li Changsen nodded, and said directly, "Okay, it's settled. You all go to school. Your mother and I are still supporting the family. It's not your turn to worry about it."

The injuries on his body will heal completely after another month or so, and when he finds a job, the family will have income, plus the harvest from the field, the family will be able to live no matter what.

Now we can't delay the children's future just to save a little money.

"This year is over, you have to pay close attention to buying land and going to school, Saburo, you take your younger siblings out today to inquire about it."

Li Sanlang took his younger siblings out of the house.

Li Wuya: "Brother, let's go to the Jiubianya shop. Shang Laojiu is well-informed and just asked about his place and school."

Nine side teeth.

Just as Shang Laojiu saw off an old client, he was about to go back to the backyard to rest, when he saw Li Wuya and Li Qilang coming, he immediately showed warm smiles and greeted him quickly: "Boss, why did you come here in person?"

While talking, he led Li Wuya and Li Qilang to the main seat: "If you have something to do, just send someone over to let me know. I'll go to see you right away, so I don't have to bother you to go there myself."

Looking at the courteous and flattering Shang Laojiu, Li Sanlang and Li Erya, who were neglected, were a little tongue-tied.

The younger brother adopted by the younger brother and sister is really able to bend and stretch!

Li Wuya glanced at Shang Laojiu who was full of smiles, and introduced Li Qilang and Li Erya: "This is my elder brother and second sister."

Shang Laojiu was stunned for a moment, then turned around immediately, bowed apologetically and said, "I have eyes but don't know Mount Tai, please forgive me, Master and Second Miss!"

Li Sanlang and Li Erya were both a little uncomfortable being called that, but seeing their little brother calm and composed as if they were in their own home, they didn't want to be underestimated. say.

Li Wuya noticed the strangeness of her elder brother and sister, so she just ignored it.

Some things get used to it the more you experience them.

"Shang Laojiu, we came here this time to ask you something."

"Boss, you said, as long as I know, I will know everything without saying anything."

"Our family has just moved to Rongcheng, and we want to buy some land, and also want to inquire about entering a school."

Shang Laojiu was silent for a while: "Boss, you may not be able to buy very good land here in Rongcheng."

Li Qilang showed doubts: "Why?"

Shang Laojiu: "Because almost all good land is in the hands of big families, and big families seldom trade land."

Li Wuya frowned: "We don't buy too much, don't we have dozens of acres?"

Shang Laojiu smiled bitterly: "Boss, let alone tens of acres of good land, I don't even have a few acres of good land. If you really want to buy it, I'm afraid you will have to spread it out by one or two acres." Come and buy."

Li Wuya: "Buy them separately, how troublesome it is to take care of!"

Shang Laojiu: "That can't be helped, as long as someone sells the good land that is contiguous, someone will take over immediately, and even dental dealers rarely handle it."

Li Wuya looked at Li Sanlang and Li Erya.

Li Sanlang thought for a while and asked: "Isn't there a continuous piece of land?"

Shang Laojiu: "There are, but they are all wasteland."

Hearing this, the four brothers and sisters were a little silent.

After a while, Li Wuya asked again: "Do you have a lot of good land in your hand?"

Shang Laojiu shook his head: "The border land is barren and there is a lack of rain. Everyone wants good land. Unless they can't live on, they won't sell the land. I have about twenty acres in my hand, and they are all scattered. .”

As he spoke, he looked at the faces of Li Wuya and the others, and said, "If you are not in a hurry to buy, boss, why don't I ask other dental dealers for you, maybe they have it?"

Li Wuya and Li Sanlang looked at each other, nodded and said: "This is the best, thank you for your hard work."

Shang Laojiu smiled immediately: "It is my honor to be able to work for the boss."

Li Sanlang and Li Erya looked at Shang Laojiu one after another, and they all thought that this man was good at talking.

Li Wuya's complexion didn't fluctuate, and the land buyer put it down beforehand, and asked about going to school again: "My brother and my younger brother are going to school, which is the best school in Rongcheng?"

Shang Laojiu: "The best school in Rongcheng is naturally Fu Xue." He paused for a while, looked at Li Sanlang, and hesitated to speak.

Li Sanlang immediately said: "Boss Shang doesn't have to worry about it, just say what you have."

Shang Laojiu nodded, and asked with a smile, "How about your knowledge?"

Li Sanlang: "I can't talk about learning, I only know a few words."

Shang Laojiu's face froze: "Uncle, if this is the case, your age may be a bit old for the government school."

As he spoke, he looked at Li Qilang, "But my young master is of the right age, so I can apply for a government school."

Li Qilang glared at him: "What young master, I am the seventh master, no, I am the fourth master."

Shang Laojiu is as good as others: "Yes, fourth master."

Li Wuya frowned: "If you can't go to a government school, then you can go to another school, right?"

Shang Laojiu wanted to speak but stopped.

Li Wuya was very annoyed: "I said, can you be more straightforward and say something, we can still eat you!"

Shang Laojiu hurriedly said: "Aren't I afraid of saying the wrong thing?"

Li Wuya snorted: "We're not that small-minded, as long as you don't play tricks on us, intentionally mislead us, and allow you to say a few wrong words, we still have some measure."

Shang Laojiu: "Then I'll just say it." Then, he looked at Li Sanlang, "Excuse me, sir, how is your skill?"

Li Sanlang looked at Shang Laojiu, saw the probing in his eyes, and replied two words lightly: "It's okay."

Shang Laojiu curled his lips in his heart. They really are brothers and sisters, and they are not easy to talk about: "If the uncle is good at martial arts, you can try to apply for the martial arts school of the government school."

"In our Great Chu, both civil and martial arts are emphasized, and there is no such thing as emphasizing civil and martial arts. Every year, the number of liberal arts students and martial arts students recruited by the prefecture school is the same."

"As for the Protectorate of the Western Regions, because it is located on the border and there are constant wars, the demand for soldiers is greater than that of literati. Therefore, the recruitment requirements for martial arts students are wider than other places. As long as the skill is strong enough, it is not good for knowledge. So important."

Li Wuya frowned: "If you apply for the Martial Arts Academy, will you have to go to the battlefield in the end?"

Shang Laojiu smiled and nodded.

Li Wuya was speechless, and their family escaped the fate of going to the battlefield, and the relationship returned to the dot after a turn.

Seeing that Li Wuya's expression was wrong, Shang Laojiu thought of something, and immediately said: "The students who went to the martial arts school are definitely different from those who went directly to serve as soldiers."

"The Martial Arts Academy trains generals. Those who pass the examination will be at least the seventh-rank captains in the barracks. As long as they kill the enemy bravely, they will be promoted very quickly. If they are strong enough, they can go to Beijing to take the martial arts exam. Woolen cloth."

Hearing this, Li Sanlang was a little moved.

Li Wuya and Li Erya looked at each other without speaking.

"Go home first, you have to discuss with your parents about buying land and going to school."

Li Changsen and Jin Yue'e were a little silent after hearing the news from the children.

"I didn't expect it to be so difficult to buy a piece of land in Rongcheng."

"Rongcheng is the center of border cities. There are many aristocratic families here. They hold a lot of good land in their hands, and naturally leave less for others."

"Let's wait and see. If there is a continuous piece of land coming out from the dental store, we will buy it immediately. If not, we can only buy it scattered."

"As for the matter of going to school, Saburo, you should think about it yourself, and your parents will support you in whatever decision you make."

In the end, Li Sanlang still chose to apply for the martial arts school.

In this regard, the family did not say anything.

With Li Sanlang's current kung fu, he should be regarded as an eighth-rank martial artist. After studying in the martial arts hall for a few years, when his kung fu reached the ninth rank, he would not be afraid of any danger on the battlefield.

At the beginning of February, the government school began to recruit new students.

Everyone in the Li family thought that Li Sanlang would be easy to get in, and Li Qilang would be dismissed because of lack of knowledge, but the result was just the opposite.

The literary style in the frontier is not strong, and there are very few people applying for the liberal arts exam. Even if Li Qilang has only learned the Three Character Classic and a hundred surnames, he has successfully entered the government school.

But Li Sanlang, because there were too many people applying for the martial arts exam, although he passed the exam with his excellent kung fu, he was rejected during the admission stage.

"how so?!"

Li Wuya approached Shang Laojiu to inquire about the news.

Over the years, Shang Laojiu has made friends with many government officials in order to gain a foothold in Rongcheng. Although they are all low-level, it is still possible to inquire about some news.

"I found out that the uncle had already been admitted, but the son of the commander of the guard station wanted to come to study temporarily, so the uncle was pushed down."

"Can this be done?"

Shang Laojiu smiled wryly: "Officials in the officialdom are all protected by officials. If they want to open the back door for their own people, we ordinary people have nothing to do."

Li Wuya looked at him: "Can you help my brother?"

Shang Laojiu shook his head: "The officials I know are too low in rank and have too little authority, so I can't talk about this matter at all. And the notice has already been issued, even if someone can help, there is no way to change it."