eurekapd Chapter 64 I can't read a single character, what am I going to do...?
Chapter 64 I can't read a single character, what am I going to do...?
After finishing the meal, there was a knock on the door.
Gao Mengli opened the door and frowned. Another unfamiliar villager was standing at the door.
He carried banana leaves on his shoulder and scallions, ginger, and chili peppers in his hands.
"Li... Sister-in-law Li, I'm Wang Gougou from next door to Dajun's house. I'm here today to deliver something."
The neighbor next door to Dajun's house? I guess they're referring to that "ugly" neighbor.
Gao Mengli looked at the somewhat uneasy villager in front of her, nodded slightly, and stepped aside to let him into the courtyard.
Wang Gougou carefully placed the banana leaves he was carrying on the ground, and then neatly arranged the scallions, ginger, and chili peppers.
Seeing the stranger enter, Lin Xi quickly stood up from the stool where she had been "lying dead" in the yard, and frowned at Wang Gougou, "Who are you?"
He was already nervous and uneasy in front of Gao Mengli and Wang Gougou, and now with Lin Xi added to the mix, his legs were trembling.
Although village chief Zhao Hua repeatedly assured him that "delivering goods" was safe, he still couldn't stop his heart from trembling and his legs from shaking.
"Xixi, pay him the bill. He's a villager who delivers goods to your door."
Gao Mengli's words broke Wang Gougou's awkward silence.
“Yes…yes!” Wang Gougou nodded with a smile.
"Oh!" Lin Xi quickly ran back to her room to get the copper coins.
The waiting time always seemed too long. Wang Gougou kept his eyes down, glancing at Da Niu beside him out of the corner of his eye as he washed the dishes, wiped the table, and swept the floor.
Compared to Gao Mengli, who was sitting next to him observing him, he was far more diligent.
Lin Xi counted out 111 copper coins, including 6 banana leaves, 10 catties of scallions, and 5 catties of ginger, and placed them in Wang Gougou's hand. "This is 111 copper coins. Count them."
Wang Gougou didn't dare to order in person, and repeatedly thanked Lin Xi and Gao Mengli excitedly.
He tossed the coin into his pocket and dashed out of Lin Xi's yard.
Lin Xi looked at the "escaping" figure and scratched her head. "This person runs really fast. I won't take responsibility once they leave the hospital unless I check their identity in person. If they come looking for me again, I can't do that."
Gao Mengli burst out laughing and glared at him.
Only Da Niu was completely confused. He understood what his parents were saying this time, but he felt that there was something else "encrypted" in their words. He couldn't figure it out, which strengthened his resolve to study hard if he went to school.
After Wang Gougou ran a distance out of the yard, suddenly, all the villagers who were hiding behind trees, in the grass, and behind stacks of corn stalks jumped out and surrounded Wang Gougou, asking him a barrage of questions.
"So, so, did they pay?"
"Yes, yes, did they hit you?"
"Is the money correct? Was there any deduction?"
Looking at the villagers who had gathered around him with concern, Wang Gougou smiled excitedly, showing no signs of the awkwardness he had shown at Lin Xi's house.
He patted the bag full of copper coins, raised his head, and exclaimed excitedly, "They gave it to me, not a single coin less, 111 coins! They're so kind, they didn't hit me or deduct anything from my account."
Although he hadn't counted them yet, he "judged" that Lin Xi had taken out about ten copper coins left, so he figured it was probably correct.
Upon hearing Wang Gougou's words, the villagers' faces lit up with surprise and they began to whisper among themselves.
So, from now on, when it's their turn to deliver to your door, safety will be guaranteed!
After all, Wang Gougou is strong and healthy, making him a good "hot bun" for scouting ahead!
The fact that "Hot Buns" returned safely proves that "that place" is no longer a "doghouse"!
Thinking of this, the villagers became excited and their attitude towards the two men changed considerably. Their fear lessened, and their respect grew day by day.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi were completely unaware of this.
I'm washing scallions and ginger in the yard right now, preparing to set up my stall tomorrow.
The next day, Zhao Chen, the "personal driver," arrived early at Gao Mengli and Lin Xi's house in his oxcart, providing excellent and attentive service.
They ran in and out, helping to move things from the yard to the oxcart, without letting the two of them lift a finger.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi clicked their tongues a few times as they watched.
The two suddenly realized that buying things they needed in the village would bring them exceptionally long "after-sales service"!
The two nodded in understanding.
With a large ox, they boarded an oxcart and swayed all the way to Pingyao County.
On the oxcart, Lin Xi thought about sending his dead child to school.
So he asked Zhao Chen, who was driving the oxcart, "By the way, Zhao Chen, I wanted to ask where the county school in Pingyao County is located? I want to send my dog, Da Niu, to study and learn to read."
Zhao Chen was slightly taken aback, his heart filled with shock.
These two actually want to send Da Niu to school?! If Da Niu can really get into the academy, he'll be the first person in their Wangyue Village to receive a degree, a first indeed!
Zhao Chen was as excited as if a scholar had emerged from his family. He quickly told Lin Xi, "The county school is located north of Pingyao County. It has a large courtyard with a plaque hanging at the entrance, so it's easy to find. However, it's not a school that just anyone can get into. You have to pass some tests and pay a certain fee."
Thinking of this, Zhao Chen felt a little disappointed. Da Niu was good at abacus calculation, but when it came to reading, he seemed to be completely illiterate. What was he going to do...?
Hearing this, Da Niu, whose eyes had been sparkling, was also disappointed. He couldn't read a single word; what was he going to do...?
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi frowned. "An assessment? What kind of assessment? How much does it cost?"
Zhao Chen usually drove an oxcart into the city, but he never actually went inside; he only listened to people talking about it at the city gate.
He thought for a moment before speaking, “The fee seems to be five taels of silver a year, not including writing materials. The teachers are two scholars, and the dean is a licentiate. As for the examination, it should be something called the Hundred Family Surnames, but I’m not quite sure.”
Lin Xi and Gao Mengli exchanged a glance, both calculating the cost and the difficulty of the assessment.
Five taels of silver a year, this is truly an "aristocratic" academy... However, this county is so poor, it's already good enough that there is even an academy.
After packing up the stall, I'll go inside and ask around.
So the family of three arrived at the city gate and began another day of doing business with "expressionless faces".
Gao Mengli chopped the minced meat and handed it to Lin Xi to prepare the filling, while she rolled out the dough and set it aside for Lin Xi to wrap.
Seeing the dumplings float to the surface, Gao Mengli quickly instructed the diners to set up tables and small stools.
She had just ladled the first bowl of dumplings for Zhang Biao when she saw him carrying the bowl, turning a corner, and heading to bother the "civil servants" at the city gate again.
"Zhang Biao, you're not allowed to eat here today, you're not allowed to go to the city gate."
Zhang Biao paused for a moment after hearing Gao Mengli's words, then scratched his head and said, "I'll leave these seats for the others and sit at the city gate!"
Without waiting for Gao Mengli to "stop" him, he ran all the way to the city gate and started his "mukbang".
Lin Xi glanced at Zhang Biao and clicked her tongue twice. "Forget it, you can't persuade a suicidal devil. Let him go. We still need to go to the county school to inquire after we pack up."
Gao Mengli nodded, scoffed at Zhang Biao, and ignored him, focusing intently on kneading and rolling out the dough with a blank expression.
Da Niu was doing business today, carrying a calculator and making a loud clattering sound on the abacus. Gao Mengli and Lin Xi felt that Da Niu's appearance had changed!
Indeed, confidence can make you look much more handsome!