Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Volume 4 Chapter 24

Fu Shinian frowned.

If he wanted to marry Baobao, he had to make sure he passed next year’s imperial examination for xiucai. Otherwise, with how much his mother treasured Baobao, she would never agree to preparing their wedding.

Baobao would reach the hairpin age next year. Even if they waited another three years, she would still not be too old. She could completely wait one exam cycle.

But Baobao had already shown such obvious intentions in front of him. As a man, how could he have the nerve to make her wait three more years? So next year’s exam—he absolutely had to pass the xiucai exam!

Fu Shinian considered silently. His teacher had said that his chances were very good, but he couldn’t be arrogant. Every exam cycle produced many talents; he might not be the most outstanding.

“I understand!”

He took a deep breath, turned his head toward Baobao, and spoke seriously.

Understand what again? Baobao looked confused. 

After a month apart, why did this little brother suddenly develop this bad habit of talking to himself?

“Baobao, go outside. I need to study seriously!”

He needed to work hard, harder, and even harder. He had to pass next year’s xiucai exam and marry her in grand fashion.

Thus, after imagining a whole play in his mind, Fu Shinian—full of ambition—pushed Baobao out of the study.

“Hey, no—”

Baobao’s body was pushed toward the door while her head kept stretching back toward the inside of the room. 

She had worked so hard to complete that painting and wanted him to praise her. How could this boy not only fail to be moved, but even drive her out?

“I understand everything, Baobao. You’re a girl—some things, I should handle.”

Fu Shinian felt guilty. It was his fault for being too reserved before. Maybe regarding this marriage arranged from childhood, Baobao also lacked confidence.

Understand again? Baobao was about to kneel down and beg this brother to explain himself.

He kept saying he “understood,” he “realized,” but she was the only one with a failing grade in comprehension?

She wanted to say more, but the study door was shut in her face without mercy.

o(≧口≦)o So angry!

Baobao planted her hands on her hips, glaring at the tightly shut door, wishing she could burn a hole through it with her eyes.

That brat must have found some other dog outside!

“What are you doing! What are you staring at? Are you planning to cause trouble?”

In the fields at the village entrance, Tao Lamei yelled at Ma Meifang, who was walking along the path.

The group who had fled the flood years ago—Tao Lamei’s family—had never returned home. Ten years later, they seemed to have completely taken root here.

Tao Lamei’s husband’s family were surnamed Ma. At first, they planned to work for Ge Shiyan to earn food, survive the winter, and return home to farm in spring. But as time passed, they felt that Da’ao was better than their hometown and no longer wanted to leave.

They were afraid. Their hometown was low-lying. Whenever there was heavy rain or a breach in the riverbank, their fields were the first to be washed away. Such a disaster might not happen often, but once was enough to ruin people.

By contrast, Da’ao hardly had natural disasters. There had never been flooding. The lives of the locals were much more stable.

The Ma family did not have much land back home. Most of the time they rented land from the local gentry to survive. During this flood, the landlord refused to reduce rent. Their few mu of thin land would likely be lost.

As for their relatives back home—those people had long been frightened by how often they borrowed grain. There were already rifts. 

Thinking carefully, aside from ancestors buried there, there wasn’t much worth being nostalgic about.

At first the Ma family couldn’t decide, but once winter came, Ge Shiyan became generous, paying them wages based on labor. Although the wages were lower than what local short-term laborers earned, at least it was income. And since Ge Shiyan also provided meals, they thought they might as well stay. If the family saved up, they could buy land and build a house in Da’ao. Once the house was built, they would completely integrate with the locals.

So they worked even harder. Even Ge Shiyan couldn’t find fault with them.

By the third year, the family built a small courtyard in Da’ao, and their household registry was moved there.

Now, the few mu of land Ge Shiyan had in Da’ao were rented to this family. Every year they paid eight hundred jin of grain as rent. 

Having learned from past mistakes, the Ma family did not dare squander food. They worked diligently and saved diligently. In addition to the land rented from Ge Shiyan, they bought two more mu of land themselves. Their lives were finally stable.

Because they rented her land, the Ma family no longer dared provoke Ge Shiyan. And since she charged rent slightly lower than the local average, the Ma family practically treated her as their lodestar. In this village where they were outsiders, the only person they could rely on was this “affinal relative” they barely managed to connect with.

Every time Tao Lamei thought about how her earlier greed nearly offended this benefactor, she wanted to slap herself. If not for that first incident, maybe their relationship could have become even better.

Tao Lamei reflected on herself and strove to improve. At the same time, she deeply hated Ma Meifang—the one who had originally stirred up trouble. Whenever they met, they would always trade barbed insults.

“This road isn’t inside your yard. Why can’t I walk here?” Ma Meifang snapped back.

Instigating Tao Lamei to fight with Ge Shiyan had been the worst decision she ever made. She hadn’t harmed Ge Shiyan at all; instead, she had caused a pack of mad dogs to turn on herself—always biting whoever she pointed at.

“The road belongs to everyone, but the grass doesn’t! This grass is grown with my family’s fertilizer! Why should you step on it?”

Tao Lamei pointed at the weeds along the path, eyes wide with righteous nonsense.

“Things growing along the road—how is it yours? I’ll step on it. I’ll step on it again. What can you do about it?” Ma Meifang stomped harder, infuriated.

“Ew, someone stepped on chicken poop!” Tao Lamei pinched her nose and backed away, shouting toward other workers nearby.

It turned out that Ma Meifang had stepped right onto a fresh pile of chicken poop. In farm households, chickens and ducks were free range. They were released at fixed times to forage. Each household marked their own birds, so they wouldn’t be mixed up.

There were many bugs in the fields—chickens loved them, so the bunds were common places for chicken droppings. If one wasn’t careful, one might step on a freshly dropped, steaming pile.

In her rage, Ma Meifang had unfortunately stepped right on one.

“So dirty.” Tao Lamei wrinkled her nose and made exaggerated faces. That expression—irritating and disgusting—absolutely enraged Ma Meifang.

“Madam Tao, be careful walking. There’s lots of chicken poop around. Don’t step on another pile.”

“It’s fine. Her shoes are already dirty. A few more piles won’t matter.”

A woman nearby stood up, leaning on her hoe, laughing at Ma Meifang.

“Oh right, Madam Tao—your husband’s younger brother is going to attend the imperial exam soon. What about your son? You’ve never mentioned him.”

Before Ma Meifang could storm off, the group immediately stopped her to ask about Fu Guangyuan.

Fu Guangyuan had started his studies one year later than Fu Shinian. Fu Shichun and Ma Meifang refused to remain forever suppressed by Ge Shiyan and her children. Plus, they believed the twins were auspicious, and that their own son was always more clever than Fu Shinian—with guaranteed prospects. So even with limited money, they insisted on sending him to study.

When the family split, Fu Shichun and Ma Meifang received five and a half mu of land. That land couldn’t support one scholar. And after their fight with Fu Dayan, the land actually under their control was less than four mu.

Now Fu Dayan lived in the main house and farmed a little over one mu for his own grain. Whenever free, he went to help Ge Shiyan. Father and son lived under the same roof, but they were strangers.

Even that one mu of land, Fu Shichun hadn’t wanted to give. But he knew his father still cared about the Fu family’s reputation and his own status as a biological father. If he refused even that bit of support, the old man might truly go to the clan leader, accuse him of unfilial conduct, and reclaim everything under the Fu name.

To support their son’s studies, Fu Shichun had given up farm work, doing odd jobs in town and the county—whatever paid—to earn money.

Farm work fell almost entirely on Ma Meifang. Plus the endless household chores. Only in the last two years, when her daughter Fu Lianqiao grew older and could help, had it eased slightly.

But ten years of such strain had aged Ma Meifang drastically. She was barely past thirty, yet looked the same age as Ge Shiyan, who now lived a content, well-fed life.

Fu Guangyuan was the same age as Fu Shinian—only one year later in study. As a child, Ma Meifang often bragged that her son was clever, destined to be a top scholar.

Now Fu Shinian was preparing for the imperial exam. What about Fu Guangyuan? Would he sit this year?

“He’s going to try. But he’s still young. This time is just to get experience. His father told me not to spread it around—he’s afraid too much talk will pressure the child if he doesn’t pass.”

Ma Meifang forced a smile. Actually, Guangyuan’s teacher advised against taking the exam. The boy wasn’t ready—he needed at least another cycle.

But Fu Shichun was unwilling. Fu Guangyuan also refused to admit his uncle Fu Shinian surpassed him. So ignoring his teacher, they insisted he participate.

They thought perhaps Fu Shinian didn’t actually have the ability—that maybe Ge Shiyan was exaggerating. They didn’t expect to pass; they just wanted to outperform Fu Shinian to expose the mother and son.

“You two really treasure your child.”

The villagers’ smiles faded. Everyone understood the meaning behind Ma Meifang’s words—she was saying Ge Shiyan bragged everywhere that her son would pass, and if he failed, she’d lose face.

Honestly, Ge Shiyan never spread anything. The villagers themselves all watched Fu Shinian closely. One person told another, and rumors spread.

“Ma Meifang, let me tell you this.” Tao Lamei straightened her face and spoke righteously. “If your son is taking the exam, you shouldn’t step on chicken poop. You should find some dog poop to step on. Maybe then he can get a dog’s luck and at least pass the child exam.”

The moment she said this, the surrounding people burst into laughter.

Ma Meifang was furious, but seeing the Ma family around Tao Lamei—her man, her husband’s younger brother, her son, nephews…

She could only swallow her rage and leave, gritting her teeth.

“Give me twenty taels of silver.”

When Ma Meifang returned home, before she even took off her shoes to wash them, she saw her son rushing back. Without greeting her, he immediately demanded twenty taels.

The cost of Fu Guangyuan’s studies over the years had drained the family. They had almost no savings. How could she produce twenty taels?

Her first instinct was to refuse. But Fu Guangyuan said this money must be gathered—because this time, their family’s rise depended on it.