The Daily Life of a Rich Peasant's Boy in the Imperial Examination

Chapter 1575 Casual Chat on the First Day of Junior High

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone who was supposed to come to pay their respects arrived, while those who weren't supposed to come naturally didn't.

At lunchtime, the chubby little girl frowned and asked, "Dad, why aren't Grandma and Mom back yet?"

Sun Shan was also puzzled. They agreed to leave early and return early. They'd been gone all morning and still hadn't come back. Had something happened on the way?

Looking outside, the snow had stopped, making the road easier to walk on.

Gui Ge'er said without any worry, "Brother Shan, Aunt and Sister-in-law must have been delayed by something. Maybe there's an event at the temple, or maybe they're observing a vegetarian meal and chanting Buddhist prayers, which is why they haven't come back."

He paused, then added, "With Jin Hua and Uncle Dali around, nothing will happen."

Gui-ge'er was right; with so many guards following them, if something had really happened, they would have come back for help long ago.

Dege put down his chopsticks and said, "Shanzi, I'm going out. You guys eat slowly."

Before Sun Shan could speak, Uncle Sun spoke first.

He grabbed Dege'er: "Where are you going? Having fun all by yourself, without your old man?"

Dege'er said with a face full of black lines, "Father, I have made an appointment with Brother Jun to go to the teahouse to listen to the opera. You, an old man, should just stay at home."

Uncle Sun heard that De Ge'er wanted to get rid of him.

He wrapped his hands around Dege'er's hands and said, "You good-for-nothing Dege'er, you really abandoned your old man to have fun. What an unfilial son. No, you must take me with you."

Dege'er was speechless, and looked at Sun Bomin pleadingly: "Uncle..."

Sun Bomin said, "Third brother, Dege'er made an appointment with a friend, why did he bring you along?"

Uncle Sun didn't think that way.

He said confidently, "I know Wang's fourth brother too, what's wrong with taking me along? Oh, big brother, it's so boring staying at home during the New Year. I can't take it anymore, I need to go out and have some fun."

He paused for a moment, then said with a grin, "Brother, you should come too. Hehe, it's been a long time since I've heard opera or had tea. Brother De, please. No need for you to treat me."

He glanced at Dege, as if to say: Dege, it's time for you to shine. All year round, he would invite his uncle and father to listen to opera, have tea, and relax—a way to show his filial piety.

Dege'er said directly, "Father, I'll give you the money to go see the opera and have some tea. I have important things to discuss with Brother Jun."

Then he added, "Father, I'm not trying to be mean, but you shouldn't get involved in the fun that young people have. You're getting on in years, and there's a generation gap between us."

These words infuriated Uncle Sun to the point of rage.

She pestered Dege'er relentlessly: "Hmph, I wasn't going anyway, but now that you've said that, I'm even more determined to go. You think you can get rid of me? No way!"

Dege'er:...

In the end, Old Jiang was still the most cunning, and Uncle Sun was the one who won, going to the teahouse with Brother De to have tea and watch a play.

Little Fatty said enviously, "Daddy, Xiaoxiao also wants to go out and have some fun."

Little Black Girl said the same: "Third Grandpa, Uncle De, and my brother can all go out to play, so Xiaoxiao and I want to go out to play too."

Hu Ming and his classmates went out early and even made plans to eat out. This made Little Fatty and Little Black Girl extremely envious.

Sun Shan coaxed, "Xiaoxiao, Heimei, I'll take you to a teahouse for snacks and pig's feet tomorrow. We won't go today, okay?"

Little Black Girl was always easily satisfied, and she said cheerfully, "Okay, Uncle Shan, let's go tomorrow."

The chubby girl said unhappily, "Daddy, why don't we go now? Xiaoxiao wants to go now."

Sun Shan pointed outside and said helplessly, "Grandma, Mom hasn't come back yet. Xiaoxiao is a filial and good girl. Should we wait for Grandma and Grandma to eat pig's feet together?"

The little chubby girl seemed to be saying: "Dad, Xiaoxiao is filial, but she doesn't have to wait for Grandma and Mom. She can pack some food and bring it back for them."

Suddenly looking up, I saw a feather duster standing upright in the hall.

The chubby little girl trembled and nodded repeatedly: "Father, okay, we'll go tomorrow, after Grandma and Mother."

Sun Bomin said with a smile, "My dear granddaughter is so filial, she is truly the most sensible granddaughter in Sunjia Village."

Staying at home on the first day of the Lunar New Year is indeed boring.

Master Zhang and his wife went out to help with the legwork. Sun Dingnan also made an appointment with Steward Wang.

The remaining guards either went to work as guards or went out to have fun.

Sun Shan was so bored that he didn't go anywhere, just lay on the fire bucket and sunbathed in the backyard.

Sun Bomin was equally bored, lamenting, "If we were in Sunjia Village, we could at least listen to opera. But in Yuanlu County, oh dear, we can't even understand the opera."

Sun Shan thought for a moment and said, "Father, I'll play the erhu for you."

Speaking of the erhu, Gui Ge'er had something to say: "Uncle, Shan Ge is a master at playing the erhu. Whether in school or in the capital, everyone who has heard Shan Ge play the erhu will praise him."

Sun Bomin viewed Sun Shan like a hedgehog father viewed his own hedgehog son, finding no thorns at all.

Even though Sun Shan's erhu playing was terrible, Sun Bomin still considered it the most beautiful music in the world.

He said with a smile, "I never imagined that my son Shanzi is not only good at reading, but also good at playing the erhu."

Gui Ge'er said proudly, "Uncle, of course. Is there anything in the world that Shan Ge doesn't understand? As long as Shan Ge is willing to learn, he will learn it in no time."

Gui Ge'er, with a lively and animated expression, told Sun Bomin how Sun Shan often played the erhu, making the once-famous Scholar Du cry.

It also recounts how fanatical Sun Shan's admirers were, insisting on giving him a priceless erhu.

Gui Ge hurriedly took out his erhu and said in a very exaggerated manner, "Uncle, look at this erhu. Don't underestimate it. It's actually more valuable than gold."

This erhu could buy the Sun family's old house, no, it could even buy the Sun family's mansion in Guangzhou. This erhu came from the most famous "Xi Erhu Workshop" in Beijing, and a single erhu like this is priceless.

This was a gift from the young master of the qin shop owner to Brother Shan.

He paused for a moment, then added, "Our Brother Shan didn't want it, but insisted on giving it to us. We couldn't refuse his kindness, so we had to accept it."

In fact, Gui Ge'er told this story more than 50 times.

And Sun Bomin? He listened patiently and even enjoyed it very much.

As Gui Ge'er spoke, Sun Bomin's cloudy eyes shone brightly.

He said with pride, "My son Shanzi is a smart boy and well-liked. It's a pity I couldn't go to the capital, otherwise I would have been able to see Shanzi's charm."

Gui Ge'er comforted him, saying, "Uncle, don't worry. When Shan Ge gets promoted and becomes a government official in the capital, you'll have the opportunity to go to the capital. Uncle, let me tell you, the capital is completely different from Sunjia Village and Yuanlu County. You can earn a lot of money working in the capital."

Sun Bomin heard that carrying sacks in the capital could earn so much money.

She couldn't help but feel envious: "Oh dear, if I had known, I would have gone to the capital with Shanzi. I still have the strength to carry sacks at the dock and earn a lot of money, which could help Shanzi out."

Sun Shan: ......

He feigned a cough and said casually, "Father, whether or not we carry the sacks is one thing. You and Mother must take good care of yourselves and live to be a hundred years old so you can come to the capital with me."

Then he added, "Father, you don't need to worry about making money. Just wait to enjoy your life."

Upon hearing this, Sun Bomin grinned as if he had eaten honey, and laughed heartily.