Li Shikuan, the elder of the clan, came out of the ancestral hall, walked home slowly with his hands behind his back.
After entering the courtyard gate, Li Shikuan stopped, raised his head slightly, looked at the loquat tree in the courtyard, and for a moment, raised his voice and called his grandson A Zhuang.
"Where's A Zhuang? Go and ask your third uncle to come over."
A Zhuang, who was writing in the room, agreed, jumped out and went to the other side of the street to call his third uncle Li Wenhua.
Li Wenhua is in his thirties, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a happy face, but he likes to keep a straight face to show that he is fierce and stern. Li Wenhua is the eldest son of Li Shikuan's brother Li Shiping, who died of illness a few years ago.
Li Wenhua's house was not far away. Not long after, Li Wenhua brought a bowl of steamed pork with dried plums and vegetables, entered the courtyard gate of Li Shikuan's house, sent the steamed pork with dried vegetables and vegetables into the kitchen, and entered the main room.
"Have you decided on the Qingming Festival?" Li Wenhua asked before he sat down.
Their room had the fewest men. For things like the Qingming Festival, the copper coins given to them were the same as those at the head of the house with more men. But when it came time to share the surplus grain during the field sacrifice, it was divided according to head, because
This, when it comes to the clan, he gets angry.
"Well, just like last year, this is not what I asked you to come for." Li Shikuan stood up with his hands on his sleeves, "Let's go and talk later."
Li Wenhua followed Li Shikuan, one behind the other, into the courtyard behind.
"Do you know Li Wenshan from Xiaoli Village?" Li Shikuan lowered his voice.
"Didn't he die for several years? He was buried in a very beautiful place, I heard someone said." Li Wenhua curled his lips and shook his head.
You want glory even after you die, you are a loser!
"Li Wenshan's only son, named Li Xuedong, got third place in the county examination this year." Li Shikuan continued.
"Hey, his family still supports scholars, so many copper coins? No wonder it's so popular." Li Wenhua clicked his tongue.
No matter how much money you have, you shouldn’t spend it on the dead. It’s such a waste!
Li Shikuan glanced sideways at Li Wenhua, who was tutting his tongue, and let out a long sigh.
His younger brother is useless as an honest man, but this nephew is as useless as his father!
Forget it, forget it, if it doesn't work, don't use it. At least you can live without losing your fortune.
"When you go to push the car, just tell me to go to the county seat to look at the incense candles and wait for me at the intersection." Li Shikuan said without further explanation.
"Okay!" Li Wenhua said hello first, and then asked doubtfully: "Why don't we go together?"
"Let's go to Gaocunji. Remember, don't let others know about going to Gaocunji! Your wife can't talk about it either," Li Shikuan said seriously.
"Uncle, don't worry." Li Wenhua kept nodding.
Although he didn't know what his uncle had planned, it didn't stop him from being serious and obedient.
His uncle was a well-known shrewd man from all over the country. When his father was alive, his uncle made the final decision on all the big and small matters in their family.
What his father often said was: Just do what uncle says! Think whatever you want!
………………………………
Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu pushed Li Xuedong home. Li Xiaonan and Li Yinzhu were cooking. Seeing the faces of the three of them, they knew they didn't want the copper coins.
Li Yinzhu filled the rice, then tied an egg in half with cotton thread, and Li Xiaonan and Li Xuedong each took half.
Their family hatched more than a dozen hens last spring. A few were stolen by Li Wencai's family. They gave two to his husband. They killed one during the Chinese New Year and another during the county examination. Now most of them
At that time, there was only one egg a day.
"Sister, the clan doesn't give a single copper coin, how can we get to Pingjiang Mansion?" Li Yuzhu couldn't help but worry after eating a few mouthfuls of vegetable rice.
"Looking for someone to borrow?" Li Yinzhu came up with many ideas quickly.
"Who can I borrow it from? How can I pay it back? Even if I can pass the exam," Li Jinzhu paused, and his whole body slumped, "I passed the government exam and the college exam."
"The college examination will be taken in Hangzhou." Li Xiaonan continued in a low voice.
"I borrowed the copper coin, in case I fail the exam..." Li Yuzhu glanced at Li Xiaonan and lowered his head to eat.
Li Xiaonan didn't say anything. She really didn't dare to guarantee that she would pass the exam.
Several people stopped talking, each immersed in eating vegetables and rice.
After having a good meal, Li Jinzhu cheered up and said: "Xuedong and A'nan are going to study. Regarding the copper coin, I will help your second and third sisters find a solution."
Not long after Li Xiaonan and Li Xuedong arrived in the main room, Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu came in with a solemn face, each with a loom, and started weaving with a bang.
Li Xiaonan slipped out of the main room, came to Li Yinzhu who was cooking pot, and asked in a low voice: "Sister three, has the eldest sister figured out a way?"
"The eldest sister won't let me talk." Li Yinzhu's eyes turned red.
"Let's talk secretly." Li Xiaonan squeezed closer to Li Yinzhu.
"It's your second sister who wants to surrender herself." Li Yinzhu's throat choked.
Li Xiaonan was stunned. For a moment, she slowly shrank and squatted at the stove, looking at the third sister who was rinsing the pot and raising her hands to wipe her tears from time to time. She was so sad that she wanted to cry.
The next morning, Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu sent Li Xuedong and Li Xiaonan back to Gaojia Academy.
Li Xuedong entered the school, and Mr. Gao waved to Li Jinzhu.
Li Jinzhu followed Mr. Gao into the main hall of the Gao family, and felt that the room was so bright and gorgeous that it was dazzling, and there were good things everywhere.
"How much do you know about your clan's affairs?" Mr. Gao asked first.
Li Jinzhu was startled, "Little Lizhuang is four or five miles away from the Li family. We don't often go to the clan. When there are matters in the clan, the third uncle sends messages and collects copper coins to offer sacrifices to the gods. We don't know much about it."
”
"Your Li family is divided into five houses, Feng, Sheng, Xiang, Man, and Wang.
"Fengzifang is the eldest family member. You and your third uncle's family are both Shengzifang. Shengzifang and Fengzifang have the same ancestor, and they have always been in the same spirit. The two families are also the most prosperous. You guys
Everything in the clan is all about Feng, Sheng Liangfang is the master of the family, and the current patriarch is from Fengzifang." Mr. Gao explained in detail.
Li Jinzhu nodded repeatedly.
"In the middle, there are inevitably more here, less there, the other three rooms, and I don't know about the others. Wangzifang is very dissatisfied." Mr. Gao lowered his voice.
Li Jinzhu looked at Mr. Gao blankly.
"Yesterday, the head of Wangzifang, your cousin, Mr. Wengkuan, came to my place. He came to ask about Xuedong's character and knowledge. According to Mr. Kuan, your Xuedong will take the imperial examination and the academy.
He will produce the copper coins to test."
Li Jinzhu's eyes widened.
"Do you understand?" Mr. Gao looked at Li Jinzhu and asked.
"Let my Xuedong help Yi from now on?" Li Jinzhu asked blurtly.
"You're such a smart little kid!" Mr. Gao said with a smile on his face, "What Mr. Kuan means is that if Xuedong fails to pass the exam, he will not mention this matter anymore, and he will treat this copper coin as wasted. If Xuedong
If you are a scholar, in matters related to the clan, your academic leader must stand behind their prosperous family."
"Okay!" Li Jinzhu nodded immediately.
The third uncle dared to take advantage of her family's dozens of acres of land because his family had the final say in the clan. She dreamed all day long that when she got the ability, she would beat the third uncle and his wife until their faces were swollen!
