Struggle in Ancient Times

The villagers visited Liao Tingyu’s house in the afternoon and chatted for a while. Liao Tingyu told them the funny things he saw during the exam. Mother Deng and the villagers smiled and listened attentively.

“Your classmates are good. What does your teacher say?”

“Know to be humble is worthy being a gentleman.”

“Well said, this teacher is amazing.” Liao Ming agreed with them.

“That’s right, the teacher speaks in very pleasant way. We rough men can only insult each other.” Other people thought the same.

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After a lively chat, mother Deng asked the villagers who wanted to look at their outstanding scholar to leave. Well, his son had been talking for so long with them, she felt he must be tired so she sent people away comfortably.

“It’s getting late, I will cook the meal with your sister-in-law. Son, you stay here with your father.”

“Why don’t I help? I read a book about cooking; I will teach you.” Liao Tingyu thought about mother Deng’s reluctance to add oil and seasonings. On this good day, he wanted to have delicious meal.

Mother Deng looked at her son and said strangely, “You don’t even know how to use things in the kitchen.”

Liao Tingyu nodded with a smile, “Although I can’t. But I was the one who teach sister-in-law about corn cakes.”

Well, mother Deng couldn’t say no. She didn’t know many things, but this was clearly talking big and little action.

“Okay, you teach mother. I will do it.” mother Deng agreed.

The three of them went to the kitchen, Liao Ming was left all alone in the hall. He didn’t feel lonely, he sat there and hummed little songs.

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There was a sound from outside the door. Mother Deng’s ears were sharp enough to hear it.

“Who is there? Daughter-in-law, go and open the door.”

The dinner was ready, mother Deng and Liao Tingyu brought the meals to the table. Liao Tingyu looked at the delicious foods; he felt really happy.

“I’m going to change my clothes.” Liao Tingyu said to his mother, his clothes were dirty from the ash.

Wen Xiuer went to the door and opened it. She guessed it was her husband who came back from selling cakes in the town. Big brother Liao put his things down and announced his presence loudly; he was really happy after the list he saw today. Liao Ming looked at his eldest son smiling stupidly, he didn’t want to disappoint him and still asked patiently.

“What did you see? Come and tell us the good news. Look at you, so happy.”

“Of course, I’m happy. Er-di passed the exam, he is a scholar now. I read the list today, he is in the top ten.” Big brother Liao talked and continued, “You didn’t know, when it was posted there were many people. I just squeezed to the front.”

Big brother Liao was going to talk some more but he saw the delicious meals on the table, he was surprised, “Hey, why is it so good? There is chicken soup and fried meat. This is a wine; didn’t mother tell you to stop drinking?”

Although big brother Liao wasn’t smart but he wasn’t a fool, he quickly realized the situation, “Father, you already know the news. That’s why mother cook very good today.”

“Well, your er-di came back. It was your wife who ran out to tell us.”

Big brother Liao drank the wine and said, “In the past, a fortune teller told me that er-di destiny was a scholar. I didn’t think he would really pass the exam. My er-di is really good. Hey, didn’t you say he is back? Why isn’t he here now?”

“He helped your mother cook the meals. His clothes were a little dirty, so he changes it.” Liao Ming explained, “If you don’t say it, people won’t know it was your er-di. My er-ye is tall and fair skinned, unlike someone who was fished out of a black coal. If I had money, I would hire two maids to help him.”

“Father, isn’t the one fished out of the black coal was your son? Besides, da-ge isn’t black. At most it was tan like bronze.” Liao Tingyu came out of the room with a smile.

“You only talk good things. Look at him, where is the tan? It’s just black, just like a black monkey. When he was a child, he was very naughty unlike you who were obedient. Aihh, look at you now, all of you already grown up and capable. Your father is getting old.” Liao Ming looked at the calluses on his hands, he felt a little bad.

These years were full of hardship, he thought er-ye was still a child but now he already a scholar. Even the eldest was going to have his own child; he looked at his eldest’s tanned and tired face, this would be his whole life working so hard to support the family. Luckily, his youngest was capable and had a blessing. This way he could help his da-ge and supported each other in the future.

Liao Ming made careful calculation in his heart and felt this was the way. When the youngest was still a student, the whole family focused on his career. But now, he could find a wife from the town and they could give grandson for him. He looked at his youngest’s handsome and fair face, how could he marry a villager. He was only worthy for the town people.

Liao Tingyu didn’t know that Liao Ming already planned his lifelong event. All of them chatted and ate the dinner. Mother Deng saw er-ye who was sitting beside da-ye which made him look so thin,

“Er-ye, eat more. You have worked hard and lost a lot of weight.” She put a meat into his bowl and looked at her eldest who ate happily on his own. She was a little unsatisfied and hit his head, “Look at you, don’t you see how thin your er-di? How did you take care of him?”

“Mother, er-di always like this no matter how much he eat. He is a scholar now; this was a happy event. Here, wife, you eat more so the child in your stomach can have er-di’s blessing. Maybe he could be a scholar in the future.”

Mother Deng was shocked, it was actually true; with er-ye status he could tutor her grandson. This way, the eldest grandson might admit as a scholar, not only she had a scholar son, she also had a scholar grandson. How amazing it would be. Mother Deng immediately added a meat into Wen Xiuer’s bowl,

“Come, daughter-in-law you have to eat more. Don’t let my good grandson starve.”

Wen Xiuer never receives this treatment; she was very flattered. She put the meat in her mouth and chewed slowly like it was a treasure.

Liao Tingyu was very happy to see the family ate in harmony. These past months were hard on everyone, but now, they were smiling and laughing.