Until he returned to the small courtyard, Shen Rui Shen Shen was still in a daze.
It turns out that after being reborn five hundred years ago, Shen Rui was no longer Shen Rui, but became Shen Rui.
This family is so abnormal.
Lao An raised his grandson by his side and doted on him in front of others. But from the perspective of a bystander, looking at this memory again, this doting is all water.
Even though Lao'an people are nominally raising their legitimate grandsons themselves, they are just left to the care of their adoptive mothers and maids, who tease them like cats and dogs every day. The maids and servants arranged around them are more numerous than the other. He was naughty and led him to play all day long. There were a few sensible ones who tried to persuade the owner, but they were sent away in a few days due to mistakes of one kind or another.
When Shen Rui started enlightenment at the age of six, he became tired of studying because of the obscure teachings taught by his teacher. Lao An also indulged him and said that his grandson was still young and there was no need to expend effort on studying.
Under such indulgence, and with the instigation of people around him, Shen Rui became more and more naughty and noisy.
Shen Rui's biological mother, Sun Shi, had no choice but to send over two little maids who were equally smart and lively.
Because these two maids knew how to play, they led me to play wildly. They fell in love with me and fell in love with me. When the foster mother and eldest maid pointed out the fault, I started to "overlord". I protected my temper and stayed with him for a few years.
In full view of the public, the two maids did not dare to give any explicit advice. They only taught in private through words and deeds. After all, they had some effect and did not kill the owner's kind heart.
Such a grandmother, such a ridiculous "pampering".
But the mother-in-law is cold in front of others, and teaches her as if she is a little adult; the concubine brother is not humble and insignificant, and is upright, like the eldest son and elder brother.
The only normal father is the one who likes to hang up his books when talking. He doesn't say a word to his son except to torture him about his homework. There is also the "second mother", whose appearance can be regarded as a "beautiful concubine", but has no Zhao. My aunt is a vulgar, weak, dodder-like woman.
The owner is not really ignorant of the world. When he was a child, he was instigated by those around him and made big and small mistakes. As he got older, under the guidance of his biological mother, he began to behave in a measured way. Although he still seemed to have an arrogant and willful temperament, But I haven't really made any big mistakes.
I am not completely unaware of my grandmother's "praising", and I often feel sad and puzzled when no one is around. Even if I have no talent in reading, I can still turn over two pages of a book when no one is around. , although I can’t understand it, I can memorize all the books that I should be able to memorize at this age, but I just don’t show it in front of others.
It seems that the grandmother really dislikes her grandson, but why does the mother-in-law do that? She almost raised her biological son crookedly, and her status in the family is not even that of a bastard son, so the mother-in-law is so willing to do it?
Looking at the way she teaches her son in private, she is a thoughtful person. Don't you know the high status of "scholars" among "scholars, farmers, industry and commerce"?
Not only did he not have any hope that his son would become a successful man, he also deliberately guided his son to be content with mediocrity and become a well-off landlord.
Is this too holy?
Doesn't she know that if her son is not treated well, there will be no backup plan?
Shen Rui actually sympathizes with the main character. He was beaten to death by his biological father just after his biological mother passed away. This life was too bitter. But the main character did not die young, and Shen Rui did not "wake up".
Now that Shen Rui has become Shen Rui, what he needs to do now is to prevent another "untimely death".
He clenched his fist, and from now on he was Shen Rui.
"Woooo..." A voice came from the back room. In the quiet night, the movement was not loud, but it was very clear.
Shen Rui then remembered that there was a little maid tied up on the bed. He hurriedly entered the room and saw the quilt on the bed moving. He walked closer and tucked the paper bag in his arms under the mattress before untying Liu Ya.
The bandages on her hands were removed, and the scarf on her eyes was removed.
Liu Ya's eyes were red and filled with tears. Shen Rui's face could be seen tensed up, and he didn't dare to cry even if he wanted to.
Shen Rui thought about Liu Ya's skill in combing his hair and changing clothes just now, and did not explain why he untied her. He thought for a while and said: "When you are at home, do you take care of your brother? How old is your brother?"
Liu Ya nodded and said, "Well, my brother is seven years old and will be sent to a village school in the spring of this year." When he mentioned his brother, his eyes couldn't help but shine, and his originally dull little face became a lot more lively.
Shen Rui nodded, understanding why Liu Ya's stepmother sold Liu Ya. Her son went to school and did not need anyone to take care of her. Not only did she get a sum of money from selling Liu Ya, but she also saved a dowry. Nowadays, dowries are very important in the south.
It's a poor family, and the bride doesn't go out naked. She has quilts, boxes, clothes, and other bits and pieces, which cost at least a few taels of silver. At Liu Ya's age, if she doesn't sell them, she should start selling them.
Prepare the dowry. Although a married woman also has a dowry, it is not worth the dowry, so the southerners have the custom of drowning female infants.
Even though Liu Ya was treated harshly by her stepmother, she did not feel resentful or angry. She could still regard her stepmother's brothers as brothers, which shows that her nature is simple and kind.
Shen Rui asked: "Is your brother smart? Is his homework good?"
Liu Ya's eyes brightened even more, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch: "My brother is very smart, and everyone in the village praises me for it. Within a few days of entering the village school, I can recite the Three Character Classic. People in the village say that my brother will be able to take the exam in the future."
Sir."
It can be seen that the relationship between the two sisters is really good. This person who was originally timid and clumsy speaks much smarter.
Shen Rui also had a smile on his face and said: "A scholar does not just take the exam, he has to study hard for ten years. Since your family can sell you out, life is not rich. One or two years will be fine.
If it's ten or eight years, it will cost a lot of money."
Liu Ya didn't have a city, and her emotions were all over the place. When she heard this, her smile immediately focused. She frowned and thought for a while, then relaxed her muscles and said: "My little maid earns one street a month, and I can study eighty essays every month in the village school."
, that’s enough.”
Shen Rui shook his head and said: "Shuxiu is just a small thing. People in the world pay attention to respecting teachers and Taoism. In addition to Shuxiu, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year's Day, the birthday of the literary saint, and the Master's birthday, there is also a month of Shuxiu, which is called the 'Three Festivals'
"Two lifespans". In addition, pen, ink, paper and inkstone, the Four Books and the Five Classics are indispensable. Not to mention the cheapest paper among them, a large sheet costs more than ten to dozens of words. If replaced by books,
It’s even more expensive, ranging from a few hundred yuan to a few thousand yuan.”
Liu Ya turned pale when she heard this and said, "Then how can I have a good life?"
Shen Ruidao: "After two years of enlightenment, you only need to know a few words. The village school is originally a literacy class for young children. Most of the teachers are old boys. They can't even take the exam to become talented students. How can they bring out talented students?"
Liu Ya's eyes couldn't help but darken, and she murmured: "My brother is so smart... He also said that after passing the scholar examination, he would redeem his life for the little maid..."
Nowadays, people who sell their bodies are divided into living and dead contracts. The living contract is marked with a period of time, and the free body is restored after the working period. The death contract is to buy out life and death. Even though the "Ming Dynasty Law" prohibits the common people from keeping slaves, there are also restrictions on the number of slaves in the name of officials.
But in fact, wealthy households in the private sector mostly call slaves and maids, but in the official registration, they are not slaves, but the names of adopted sons, adopted daughters, maids and concubines.
Liu Ya, her stepmother, sold her to save dowry. She was able to work as a rough messenger in Lao An's courtyard, and she was arranged to cross the courtyard. Needless to say, it must have been a death contract. She hoped that her brother would become successful and redeem herself. Liu Ya should be
Ya’s greatest wish.
It's good if you have an idea, but if you don't have any, Shen Rui said: "If you really hope that your brother will study and become a talented person, there is no chance. If you are a loyal servant and only obey my orders, I will make it happen for you!"
Liu Ya's face was full of confusion: "Second brother..."
Shen Ruidao: "The companion reading beside me not only can read and read with me, but also has a monthly reading of 300 words."
Hearing this, Liu Ya couldn't help but widen her eyes, showing a bit of longing, and then frowned and said: "Second brother is surrounded by good and bad people..."
Shen Rui said nothing and only looked at Liu Ya.
On the outside, he looks nine years old, but inside he is Ben San, who is very serious and not ordinary stable.
Liu Ya felt a little afraid, held her breasts and abdomen in her arms, and whispered: "Is the second brother hungry? Starting tomorrow, the maid will secretly hide her regular meal for the second brother?"
Shen Rui raised his head, half-smiling but not smiling: "Do you know I'm hungry?"
Liu Ya whispered: "When I was sick, my mother didn't give me anything to eat... I just said it was because of the fire... It was my brother who secretly gave me food, so I didn't starve to death..."
Shen Rui touched his stomach. Two mouthfuls of honey and four eggs made his stomach feel peaceful. There was still half a handful of rock sugar under the pillow, which was enough energy. In order to appear on the "first seven" day, he would have to be hungry all day tomorrow.
.
In Liu Ya's eyes, Shen Rui was so hungry that he had a stomachache. He didn't know if he thought of his own starvation, but his face became less fearful and more intolerable. He took off the coarse cloth purse from his waist and opened it.
Come on.
Inside is a rice cake the size of a chicken.
Liu Ya clasped her fingers and said, "I was thinking... the second brother couldn't bear the hunger, so he secretly fed the second brother. The second brother never asked for anything to eat... the little maid didn't dare to do anything..."
In the cold winter, the rice cakes have already cooled down, but the crystal-white color still makes people unable to take their eyes away.
Shen Rui reluctantly moved his eyes away from the rice cake and looked at Liu Ya, his expression becoming softer.
Even though she is timid and timid, she has a kind heart and acts in a measured manner. She is a good little girl.
He shook his head and said: "I don't care about your food, you only need to do one thing for me."
After explaining this and that, Liu Ya couldn't help but change her face, covered her mouth and said, "Second brother, why do you curse yourself like this?"
Shen Rui smiled bitterly and said: "If the outside world doesn't know the importance of this, I'm afraid I will be trapped and die here."
Liu Ya hesitated: "Is there no other way?"
Shen Rui said: "What can I do? My mother is gone, and if I have a stepmother, I will have a stepfather. Even if I don't starve to death this time, there are other ways to kill me. I don't want to wait to die."
Maybe Lao'an people don't want their grandson's life, but want to ruin his reputation. But words can kill people since ancient times. In ancient times, where loyalty, filial piety and integrity are important, if you have a bad reputation, it will be difficult to live.
Even though Shen Rui came here in a daze, he said, "Now that I've come, I'll make peace with it." He didn't want to live too tiredly.
If it were anyone else, they would have said a few words of advice not to be too sad, and that the master and Lao An were in charge. However, Liu Ya had to suffer the consequences of her stepmother for several years. It was only because she was diligent and capable that the two siblings struggled together.
To survive.
After a long silence, Liu Ya finally nodded.
The sound of the fourth watch was already heard outside.
The master and the servant have reached an agreement and do not mention their respective arrangements.
Fortunately, Shen Rui was a man who had lived two lifetimes. He had an idea in his mind and went to sleep peacefully. Liu Ya was a timid person, so after taking on such a big task, she couldn't help but toss and turn until dawn.