bookrandom Chapter 95 Rumors Grow Legs
Chapter 95 Rumors Grow Legs
“It was your mother who felt sorry for you all and wanted you to focus on your studies. The family has twenty acres of land, and someone has to farm it. That’s why we discussed giving him all the farm work so that you could concentrate on your studies. But what about you?”
"You can't even pass the preliminary examination, you're utterly disappointing!"
What the hell?
Father prevented the eldest brother from going to school so that all his brothers could receive an education.
How is that possible?
My eldest brother is also my father's son.
Dad is biased, but would he go to such lengths for his brothers?
Shen Xiaochuan scoffed, his face full of disdain.
"Dad, what are you talking about? How could you make up something like this just so that we brothers could study hard and prepare for the county exam? My eldest brother is so simple-minded. He's a grown man and he can't even fart properly. How could he be smarter and more clever than me?"
Shen Jiangchuan kicked his younger brother, "Xiao Chuan, stop talking!"
"Bastard!"
Mr. Shen was so angry that he slammed his fist on the large round stone table, making a loud thud that startled everyone.
"Do you think I'm making up lies to fool you? Don't believe me? Ask your mother!"
Sun lifted her eyelids and rubbed her clothes, saying, "Your father wasn't lying. You can see it. In the past, your eldest son and his wife did all the housework so that you could focus on your studies and suffer less."
Shen Xiaochuan was dumbfounded!
Apart from the second son, Shen Jiangchuan, who already knew, all the sons and wives of the other wives were dumbfounded.
It turns out that it wasn't that the older brother was too stupid to read, but that his parents wouldn't let him read.
This is really rare!
Of all the sons born to Sun, the fourth was the most honest and had the least presence.
He whispered, "Although we don't share the same mother, we are all father's sons. You should let our eldest brother go to school too. That way, maybe he won't have to separate from the family and live on his own."
The third brother, Shen Haichuan, scoffed, "If the eldest brother is also in school, who will do the chores for the whole family?"
The youngest brother shrugged, a mocking look on his face. "Oh, so Fourth Brother is playing the good guy now, but Big Brother can't hear. Besides, you never lend a hand when Big Brother and Sister-in-law are working."
Sun scolded, "Alright, all of you, stop talking and let's eat."
"What's there to eat? I'm already full of anger!"
Mr. Shen's face darkened as he coldly surveyed everyone.
His sons and grandsons felt like thorns in his side, and he ate a meal that tasted like cardboard, as if it were his last meal before he was executed.
After lunch, Sun finally dawdled and carried her bamboo basket out the door.
Cut the hogweed.
After autumn arrived, the crops didn't grow fast, and neither did the weeds in the fields, so everyone became idle.
In the village, several women gathered together to sew shoe soles, chatting and laughing, creating a lively scene.
Aunt Liu smiled broadly, lowering her voice to say, "The Shen family had five members take the county exam this time, sons and grandsons all participating, but not a single one passed. It's hilarious!"
Widow Li glanced around and immediately said, "Shh, keep your voices down, don't let anyone hear you. The Shen family has many men, be careful not to cause trouble and suffer the consequences."
"What's the use of having many sons? None of them passed the exams. The village head's family only had two sons who took the county exam, and one of them passed with flying colors. They... are just a family of freeloaders. If it weren't for the eldest son and his wife supporting them, would their whole family be so idle? Would they all be able to go to school?"
"Haha, who says otherwise? People always pick on the weak. This time, the eldest couple has really stood up for themselves. They not only built a brick house, but also bought a mule cart and went to the county to do business. They've also planted some rare things in their fields. Let's see if they make money. If they do, we'll plant them too."
"Yes, yes, I don't know what kind of rare stuff is growing in that field. Although we don't know much about it, I reckon it will definitely make a lot of money. Look, they planted red-fleshed sweet potatoes last season, and now they've even started a business selling roasted sweet potatoes."
Liu scoffed, "Ha, it's a good thing the family split up. Without the eldest son and his wife, let's see how they'll enjoy their lives. They didn't work before and couldn't even pass the imperial examinations. Now that they're doing the work themselves, they'll be in deep trouble!"
"The bird's egg is ruined? Hahaha..."
"Keep your voice down, don't let them hear you."
"What's there to be afraid of? You didn't even pass the exam, why should you be afraid of what people will say or how it will be embarrassing?"
"..."
Sun stood far away at the crossroads, her face contorted with rage, her teeth chattering, wishing she could go up and scratch the faces of the gossiping peasant women to pieces.
But she was all alone, outnumbered and outmatched by several opponents surrounding her.
Can't beat it!
You can't win an argument with them!
The discussion among the peasant women grew increasingly heated, and eventually they stopped trying to hide it from others.
Aunt Cao laughed and said, "Don't you all try to keep a low profile? What if Mr. Shen hears you? You all have children in school. Aren't you afraid Mr. Shen will make things difficult for them?"
Aunt Liu curled her lip. "I'm afraid he'll make things difficult for my son. I'm more afraid he won't teach the kids well. There isn't a single student in the whole family who passed the imperial examinations. Either the kids are a bit dim-witted, or Mr. Shen's teaching is inadequate. Otherwise, why would they all fail the exams despite having such good educational conditions?"
“What you said makes sense,” Widow Li nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.
"What can we do? Our children are still in school with him. Isn't this just delaying their education?"
Sun clenched her fists, so angry she almost vomited blood, rolled her eyes and backed away.
Her husband worked hard as a teacher, only receiving a meager monthly fee, yet he was still gossiped about like this behind her back.
Excessive!
It's too much!
She steadied herself, unloaded the basket from her back, threw it hard on the ground, and rushed forward with a sickle in hand.
"Liu Xiangchun, Widow Li, did you wipe your mouths clean? Why are your mouths so foul? Gossiping behind people's backs is nothing, but if you're so capable, gossip to my face!"
Aunt Liu was usually very capable and had long been disgusted with Sun Shi, who just lay around collecting money and ordering her stepson's family around. She felt a bit unbalanced, and since the Shen family's reputation was not what it used to be, she was no longer afraid.
“Let’s discuss it face to face. What I said is not wrong. Five members of your family took the county exam and all of them failed. You’re not ashamed, but I am. How dare you be so self-righteous in front of me?”
Madam Sun gritted her teeth and said, "Hmph, so what if I failed the exam? I can take it again in three years. Just because I didn't pass this year doesn't mean I can't pass next time."
"Heh, just the few of them? That's unlikely!"
They can't lift anything with their hands or carry anything on their shoulders; they're all lazy as insects. How can people like that pass the exams?
It’s so funny!
Sun was so angry she almost went mad. She suddenly stretched out her sickle and held it in front of Liu, scaring Liu so much her face turned white.
"What do you want to do?"
"Murder will land you in jail!"
Aunt Cao chuckled, enjoying the spectacle and her words were laced with sarcasm as she tried to mediate.
"Shulan, don't be angry. Everyone is just chatting and they didn't mean to hurt you. Don't take it to heart with those gossipy people. There are so many men in your family, and not everyone has to take the imperial examinations. The eldest son and his wife are in business, and I heard they've made money and moved to town and aren't coming back."
What?
They moved to town and aren't coming back?
Several people were stunned, and even Madam Sun was dumbfounded.
Did the stepson's family move to town?
They've made money, haven't they?
Her face darkened, and she sneered, "Who are you trying to fool? Them? They think they can move to town? Our Guihua Village is so big, how many people can move to town? They'd make so much money! Stop talking nonsense and badmouthing us behind our backs. You have to apologize to me!"