Zhuang Keqing spent the whole morning chatting with Mrs. Zhao Xiucai outside, and even used fruit candies to coax her grandson. When the rice was cooked, the child complained that he was hungry, and neither of the two people in the room showed any intention of coming out.
"I'm afraid my husband was so happy that he lost track of time while chatting. I went to urge him so that he could have lunch earlier."
Mrs. Zhao Xiucai was a little embarrassed to make her guests wait. Her husband was a good teacher, and he was such a good teacher that even his grandson didn't dare to hang his tiger head in front of him for fear of being caught reading and writing.
But she also knew in her heart that this girl, her husband, was really a good prospect, otherwise her husband would not have been talking to someone for so long.
It's just that it's already noon, and if you don't come out, you'll miss your meal. It doesn't matter if you eat later, but you can't let your guests go hungry.
So she straightened her clothes, straightened her temples, walked to the door of the hall and knocked on the door.
"Sir, lunch is ready, it's time to treat the guests to dinner."
Only then did Zhao Xiucai inside realize how time had flown by. In this moment, it had already been a whole morning?
He looked at Shen Ling with a loving smile, "I've talked to you a little bit about the questions you just raised, but it's not exhaustive. If you come back in a few days, I'll have a good talk with you."
Although Shen Ling was initiated by his father, who was a cheap scholar, his status became awkward due to the birth of his eldest son, so that the initiation was abandoned halfway, and he relied on him to teach himself silently.
Even though he had a photographic memory, he had no one to guide him, and many of the contents in the book were not explained in detail and were vague.
It was only today, after listening to Zhao Xiucai's explanation of certain words and contents, that he felt a little more at ease.
"Thank you, Master Zhao."
Shen Ling leaned over and bowed, showing a respectful gesture. Zhao Xiucai stroked his sparse beard and felt very satisfied.
For such a talented person, it would not be easy for a child to take the test. But judging from the age of this boy named Shen, if he could have taken the test a year or two earlier, he might have been able to get the title of child prodigy.
However, it is better to be older. You are more stable and less prone to arrogance. The road ahead will be smoother.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xiucai looked at Shen Ling with even more satisfaction.
"It's not early, so we'll stay for lunch."
Zhao Xiucai did not give Shen Ling a chance to refuse. He directly opened the door of the main room and asked his wife to set out the dishes.
Lunch was sumptuous, and the pork belly brought by Zhuang Keqing was also on the table. There was no shortage of other fresh vegetables and pickles, and even soybean curd and vermicelli in a claypot. To be honest, this table was suitable for entertaining occasional guests like them. Very rare.
"Come and try this soybean curd. The salesman brought it to sell yesterday. I raised it in the water. It's very fresh today."
Zhao Xiucai didn't say anything when he came to the table. Only Xiucai's wife introduced them and persuaded them to eat more.
"It can only be kept when the weather is cold. If it is sunny in summer, even if it is kept in well water, it will become sour after more than one day."
"How is it? Does it still taste good?"
It seems that there is no rule in Zhao Xiucai's family that he should not speak when he eats or sleeps, nor is there any saying that it is not good for women to serve at the table. Although he is a farmer, he can tell from the atmosphere of the whole family sitting around eating that this old master Not that much of a pedantic person.
"Madam, your tofu is full of sauce and very delicious, especially the scallion oil on top, which is really the finishing touch."
Madam is usually most proud of this spicy scallion oil. This time when Zhuang Keqing pointed it out, she felt extremely happy.
When Zhao Xiucai heard this, he also raised his eyebrows.
This little girl spoke quite well, and she was not like those illiterate and rough village women. He glanced at the polite Shen Ling again, and thought to himself that it was true that the whole family was not allowed to enter the same house.
"It's just that this salesman still doesn't come enough, and the fresh tofu he bought isn't enough to last a few days."
Mrs. Zhao Xiucai said with regret.
Zhuang Keqing smiled slightly when he heard the words and said: "It's cold today, so you don't have to worry. After it's frozen, you can buy more at a time, freeze the tofu, and then melt it in water when you eat it, or directly It's also delicious when simmered in soup."
"Ah? Is there any other way? Little girl, how do you know this?"
"Madam, I dare not hide this from you." Zhuang Keqing rolled his eyes and a sly smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "I made this tofu."
"There are also vermicelli noodles, which are also produced in our sweet potato workshop in Erli Village."
When she said this, everyone at the table was really shocked.
"So it turns out that Miss Zhuang that the salesman Oda mentioned was you?!"
Mrs. Zhao Xiucai has a good personality. Although her family's conditions are average, she is not stingy. Whenever a salesman comes to sell goods, he will bring him a bowl of water and pour a bowl of pulp. If he gets any new news, he is willing to talk to her. .
"What a capable person."
This compliment came from the bottom of his heart. Zhuang Keqing could tell that he was a little happy in his heart.
Why don't you bring some home-made tofu, dried tofu, braised vermicelli and the like next time you visit? Oh yes, there are also dried potatoes, but don't forget the tiger heads.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal, but it was a pity that it was a bit worse without wine to accompany it.
But Zhao Xiucai didn't seem to care about this. He was satisfied with getting a good seedling today.
When the two left, the family actually walked them to the door, looking somewhat reluctant to leave.
Of course, Zhao Xiucai couldn't let go of Shen Ling, and Madam couldn't let go of Zhuang Keqing.
On the way back, Zhuang Keqing was sitting on the mule cart, looking at Dahei's twisted buttocks in front of him and the handsome and straight back next to him, and was lost in thought for a moment.
Has Shen Ling grown taller?
It seems that the shoulders are wider than before, right?
Yesterday he was able to pick himself up with just one hand. His small muscles were very strong. Could it be that his chest would also be hard?
No wonder she dared not drive on the road like a novice driver, but only dared to drool over a high-end luxury car.
Just because in her previous life, she was in love with the scumbag man to death, but he was disdainful. Except when she asked for money, she didn't even show her face at other times. She only left a WeChat message and occasionally bubbled up, just like Like the carrot hanging in front of the donkey's eyes, it can be seen but cannot be touched.
He is simply a cloud boyfriend.
No! Bah, bah, bah! What kind of boyfriend? Stop being so disgusting!
Shaking his head to get rid of the bad memories in his mind, Zhuang Keqing looked at Shen Ling's back again.
"The front is a little bumpy, so be careful when sitting on it."
Shen Ling held Dahei's hand and turned his head to give instructions as he walked. Hearing the light voice, his words were full of concern.
Such a good boy has truly become a family to me.
The closest family.
The corners of Zhuang Keqing's mouth curved slightly, and a sweet feeling filled his heart.
The two of them walked slowly along the way, not in a hurry, and it was still early when they returned to Erli Village.
When she got home, Qin Manzhi was cooking in the kitchen.
Shen Ling led Dahei back to the shed, while Zhuang Keqing went to the water tank to scoop out a ladle of water to wash his hands, and then went to take over his mother's work.
"How are you today? Is Zhao Xiucai willing to teach Brother Ling?"
Qin Manzhi took Aman off her back and held her in her hands. The first thing she said was not to ask her daughter if she was tired or if she had worked hard. Instead, she cared about Shen Ling.
"Don't worry. With Aling's qualifications, I think if it weren't for the fact that we were in the village, we would have been robbed by outside masters."
Zhuang Keqing was not jealous at all. Instead, he raised his eyes and smiled jokingly.
She knew that Aling had a photographic memory. In this aspect alone, he was no better than other scholars. Moreover, Aling was determined and willing to think. With just a little contact with such a rare gem, what teacher could do it? Don’t you see the hunting heart?
It's just a pity that they can't find a more suitable wife than Zhao Xiucai in Erlizi Village, which has delayed Aling.
"Then I'm relieved. I'm worried that the gifts you brought aren't thick enough and might offend others."
When Qin Manzhi heard that everything went well, she also had a smile on her face. She walked around the narrow kitchen with Aman, and kept telling the little guy, "Your brother-in-law is going to take the scholar examination, and our Aman will also take the exam in the future." Learn how to read and write like my brother-in-law~"
Zhuang Keqing watched her mother teasing her little brother who was babbling in her arms, and her heart was filled with something warm. She didn't correct her anymore. The exam that Aling was about to take was just the first exam for children.
