Chapter 2, not afraid of death

When you arrive in the city, remember to send a letter back to mother

Old Zheng was very warm and welcoming. After inviting Lin Zhao to sit down, he went to prepare the vegetables to be sent to the city today. Lin Zhao followed the elderly man and helped him load the vegetables onto the donkey cart

At Lin Zhao's age, he is in a period of growth, so he eats quickly. After finishing a bowl of rice in just a few bites, he goes to serve himself another bowl.

In her early years, Lin Erniang was a woman of the brothel. After being redeemed by her father, although she found a place to stay, she was still merely a concubine and not considered part of the main household. Especially in recent years, as Lin Qingyuan worked as a steward in a distant location, he could only return home twice a year. All the household matters were managed by his legal wife, who was also Lin Zhao's "big mother." The mother and son duo endured considerable grievances, feeling very much like guests under someone else's roof.

However, for more than two hundred years under the current dynasty, the regulations regarding the imperial examination have become quite refined. One must be recommended and guaranteed by two local scholars from the same county to qualify for participation in the examination. Seeing her son excel in his studies, Lin Erniang wished to send her son to the city to study under a master. With Lin Zhao's current level of knowledge, he would surely win the favor of the master's scholars once he entered the household. At that time, it would be easy to find a few scholars to provide guarantees.

Lin Zhao sat opposite her mother, eating her meal while saying, "Mother, if I leave, those people from the big family will bully you."

To understand, Lin Zhao's father, Lin Qingyuan, worked as a clerk in another county, earning approximately sixty to seventy guan a year. Lin Zhao and her mother held a low status, and at times, they could go for months without receiving even one guan from the main house. Most of the money they had was gradually saved by Lin Erniang through her embroidery skills.

Lin Erniang seems to have a great obsession with fame and fortune. Upon hearing Lin Zhao's words, the usually gentle Lin Erniang became furious, her柳眉 standing upright.

She frowned slightly and continued to speak softly: "However, your aunt probably would not be willing to spend money for you to seek a learned teacher; the teachers in the Lin family's private school are not as good as I am, and finding one would be of no use."

After a considerable amount of time spent in this manner, by the time Lin Zhao took a seat in Old Zheng's donkey cart, the sky had begun to brighten somewhat, and the moon still hung in the air, though it was gradually fading.

If you do not pursue further studies, you will spend your entire life herding cattle in Donghu Town

This is some money for you to use in the city. If it is not enough, let Old Zheng send a message back, and your mother will send you more.

Lin Erniang is a person of great gentleness. She glanced at her son and said softly: "In this world, without any official title, one can only drift in the realm of mortals, unable to control one's own fate. If you attain an official title, even if it is just a scholar's title like your father, your future days will be much better."

He is not unwilling to go into the city to see and experience it; rather, it is because his mother is too gentle by nature. While he is at home, he can help shield her from various matters. If he were to go to Shanyin County, she would be left alone in Donghu Town, and he cannot imagine how much she would be bullied by the main family.

Understood

Lin Zhao knelt on the ground, bowed his head to his mother, then stood up carrying a bundle and stepped out of the house

In a state of helplessness, Lin Zhao could only nod in agreement. After a brief wash-up, he returned to his small room and fell asleep.

Lin Zhao secretly sighed in her heart

At this moment, the sky was still adorned with countless stars. When Lin Zhao arrived at the entrance of Old Zheng's house, the brand new cloth shoes on her feet were already stained with quite a bit of grass and dew

In a few months, you will be thirteen years old

In this era, there are hardly any entertainment activities; as soon as night falls, Lin Zhao easily falls into a deep sleep

Lin Erniang held her son's hand and said softly, "At your age, you can memorize things quickly, so you must not delay. Tomorrow, I will give you some money, and you should go to the county magistrate's house to inquire whether they are still accepting students for their family school."

The Lin family of Donghu Town is merely a small branch of the Lin clan, whose main family is a prominent lineage from Yuezhou Prefecture. In recent decades, two scholars have emerged from this family, one of whom is still in office as the governor of a neighboring prefecture. With such a prestigious background, the main family naturally has a well-established educational tradition, at the very least employing scholars with official titles as teachers, and occasionally inviting successful candidates to give lectures, which greatly benefits the pursuit of academic honors.

It is certainly better than living under someone else's roof, relying on others' moods to get by in life

Lin Erniang said softly: "What money can mother spend in the town? Everywhere in the city requires expenditure, and this may not even be enough."

Lin Erniang gave Lin Zhao a few more instructions, then sent her son to the door, softly saying: "It is getting late, you should hurry, Zhao'er is so clever, entering the main family's academy should not be a difficult task."

Lin Erniang nodded and reached out to start clearing away the bowls and chopsticks that Lin Zhao had finished using. While tidying up, she said: "You should go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow morning, you can take Old Zheng's truck into the city. He goes to the city every morning to deliver vegetables."

Due to her husband being away for many years and rarely at home, Lin Eryang has devoted all her thoughts over the years to her son, constantly wishing to cultivate him into a talented individual. Fortunately, her son has also been diligent, having comprehensively studied the Four Books and Five Classics in just three to four years.

However, seeing that his mother was angry, Lin Zhao did not dare to say much. He quickly put down his chopsticks and said, "Mother, please do not be angry. I will go to the city, going to the city is..."

Early the next morning, before dawn, Lin Zhao was called up by her mother. At this time, Lin Erniang had already prepared breakfast. After watching Lin Zhao finish her meal, she took out a palm-sized cloth bag from the box and stuffed it into Lin Zhao's hand

The young boy sat on the donkey cart, looking up at the moon in the sky. With a loud crack of the whip from Zheng Bo, the donkey cart slowly began to move, jolting gently as it made its way towards the city of Shanyin.

Mother, if not, I can accompany you in Donghu Town for a few more years, after all, I am still young and not in a hurry to take the exams

Old Zheng is a vegetable farmer from Donghu Town. He has some connections in the city and every morning, he drives his donkey cart to deliver fresh vegetables to two or three restaurants. If people from the town want to go to the city, they often take his donkey cart.

At this time, the usually early-rising Old Zheng has not yet gotten out of bed

Lin Zhao has a remarkable memory, and with the diligent guidance of his mother over the years, he has memorized the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly, far surpassing his two elder brothers who cannot even recite the original texts.

Old Zheng is a very kind person. When someone wants to ride in his car, he never refuses and does not charge any money. He is a rare good person in Donghu Town

Due to her early exposure to public life, after redeeming herself, Lin Eryang became quite concerned about these matters. Except for when it was necessary to go out, she preferred to stay indoors at other times, taking care of her son in this small courtyard.

Lin Erniang added some vegetables to her son's plate and quietly said: "As a woman, what can I do against their bullying? I want you to study well, so that you will not be bullied in the future"

After skillfully reciting two chapters from the Book of Rites, Lin Erniang finally nodded in satisfaction, turned around to serve Lin Zhaosheng his meal, and while scooping rice, she spoke: "You have memorized the Four Books and Five Classics very well, but that is not enough. You need to find a specialized teacher to instruct you on how to compose essays and write poetry, only then will you have the opportunity to achieve academic success."

Lin Zhaoduan took the bowl of rice handed over by his mother, after taking a couple of bites, he looked up and smiled at his mother, saying: "Mother, every day you are so concerned about me passing the imperial examination, but what is the use of passing the examination?"

Tomorrow I will speak to your grandmother and tell her not to let you go herding cattle

Lin Zhao lifted the cloth bag with his hand, finding it quite heavy, estimating it to weigh around one tael of silver

Lin Erniang waved goodbye to Lin Zhao

Take it if you wish to do so

At this point, she let out a gentle sigh

Lin Zhao sighed and said with his head lowered: "Mother, if I enter the family school of the main family, they will provide for my food and accommodation, so I won't need so much money. You might as well keep it for yourself..."