Everyone at the table looked at Duan Yuexiu after hearing this.
They knew Duan Yuexiu's identity fairly well. They knew that he came from a poor family and had risen through the imperial examinations step by step.
Duan Yuexiu once served under the ancestors of the Shi family and was promoted by the Shi family. This is the reason why he has been helping Yan Niang all these years.
They also made inquiries at the beginning, fearing that his motives were impure, but what they learned was that Duan Yuexiu had a good reputation and was an honest official. He had been in the dynasty for more than ten years and was promoted to the sixth rank by his own ability. His colleagues
Most of them are praising him.
Some of them are still talented people, the most powerful ones are only from the eighth rank, and their official rank is far from that of Duan Yuexiu.
Maybe he could find a better way out for the kid.
"I wonder what Brother Duan has planned?" one of them asked.
"I know the dean of Shanlu Academy. I can send the child to study there. Or I can find a suitable family for him and adopt him as an adopted son. There are many wealthy families in the capital from the south, and their families have the rules of the south.
He attaches great importance to culture and likes to adopt children who can read as adopted sons. He does not need to change his name, but he will have to take care of his adoptive father and adoptive mother in the future..." Duan Yuexiu said. He heard from several people at the table that he did not want his children to change.
Become someone else’s descendant.
Several people nodded after hearing this. It was good not to have to change their names. Even if they used Yan Niang's surname, they would still use their parents' surname, and they could legitimately fulfill their filial piety for their parents.
"Brother Duan, if you need us anywhere, just ask."
"nature!"
After her death, her son was taken care of. Yanniang was very happy. She simply collected the leftovers and went into the house to pack her son's clothes.
She didn't have much ability, and she hadn't saved much money over the years. Most of the clothes her son wore were given by this group of people. Yan Niang found all the remaining pieces of silver and copper plates in the family, put them in a money bag, and put them all together.
Stuffed into my son's luggage.
Finally, he took off the jade buckle that had been hanging around his neck.
"Your father gave this to me before I got married! I've worn it for many years! Mom didn't want to leave this to you, for fear that you'd be sad with it. But Mom doesn't have anything else, and this is the only thing that's the best.
It's valuable. You can take it with you. If you like it, wear it yourself. When you are short of money someday, you can pawn it and exchange it for some money." Yanniang said, unhooking the jade buckle and stuffing it into the child's hand.
Tang Yunqing held the jade button and stared at his mother closely.
Yanniang's face looked very good, slightly red, like a girl's peach cheeks, and her eyes were as bright as ever.
"Be happy. Don't be so sad when you live in other people's homes from now on!" Yanniang pinched her son's face and said softly.
Tang Yunqing stiffened her neck and nodded.
Yanniang smiled, stepped forward and hugged her son. She patted his back and whispered in her ear: "From now on, you must listen to your Uncle Duan. Just treat it as if you don't have a father. Even if your father comes to find you, you will
Don't go with him. Your surname is Tang, your name is Tang Yunqing, and you are my son, do you understand?"
Tang Yunqing pressed against her mother's cool skin, holding back the tears on her face, feeling extremely reluctant to give up.
"Mom, I know." Tang Yunqing struggled to say these words from her mouth.
The rest of the time, his mother stayed with him, sitting under the tree in the yard, until his mother suddenly vomited out a large mouthful of blood and closed her eyes.
-
Yanniang's funeral was very simple. Several people chose a secluded place for her to be buried.
Duan Yuexiu helped select the stone tablet and coffin.
The words "Tomb of my mother Tang Yan" were engraved on the tombstone. Tang Yunqing kowtowed to the tombstone several times and left with Duan Yuexiu.
Duan Yuexiu was still on duty at the government office and had a lot of things to do, so he could only arrange for Tang Yunqing to stay in the inn, and occasionally go over to see him when he was off duty.
When Mu Xiu was free, she took him to many homes.
Duan Yuexiu followed his promise and found many people.
Most of those couples were childless and elderly, with very good conduct and rich family backgrounds. They would definitely raise Tang Yunqing attentively. Even if they had children in a few years, Tang Yunqing would not be thrown aside by them.
Tang Yunqing looked well-behaved, and those people were very satisfied when they saw Tang Yunqing, but Tang Yunqing himself did not nod.
After going several times, Duan Yuexiu also discovered this problem.
"Do you dislike them? Or do you not want to be adopted by their family?" Duan Yuexiu asked.
Tang Yunqing knelt down without saying a word, "Uncle Duan, they are very nice, but I'm not familiar with them, let alone like them. Why don't you take me back? I eat very little and I know how to work.
I'm smart and can read. I won't forget this book after reading it twice. The teacher in the private school said that I will definitely be admitted to the official position!"
"If you don't like me studying, I can go work on the street to make money. I can make money now!"
After Tang Yunqing finished speaking, he was about to kowtow a few times, but was stopped by Duan Yuexiu.
He was forced to lift him up.
"A man has gold at his knees! Don't kneel down casually! Did your mother teach you these words? Or did you say it yourself?" Duan Yuexiu said helplessly.
Tang Yunqing shook his head, "This is what I thought about myself."
When Duan Yuexiu heard this, he looked at the child in front of him who was as high as his chest, recalling what Yan Niang said to him before she died.
"Yanniang said, you asked me to arrange your future path. You didn't want your father's friends to help you. Why me?" Duan Yuexiu asked.
"Because in my heart, Uncle Duan, you are different from them! The other uncles will only give money to my mother when something happens, and she doesn't like to receive the money. You are different. You know that my mother is short of money, so give it to her.
I introduced her to a job that can make money, so she won't be looked down upon by others!" Tang Yunqing raised her head and said.
My yard is very small, and when I open the door, I can see my neighbors. When those uncles come to give money every year, they are seen by people outside and gossip a lot about my mother, which makes my mother cry often.
Uncle Duan was different from them. He knew that my mother could read and understand poetry, so he introduced her to a job and asked her to work as a gentleman for other ladies. The neighbors knew that my mother could read and was a female teacher.
Attitude changed drastically.
So he thinks Uncle Duan is better than others.
Duan Yuexiu smiled when he heard this, "If I were not married, it would be appropriate to take you back. However, I already have three children at home, and my wife likes to be jealous. If I accept you as my adopted son, even if I tell you your identity
My wife, she will still be suspicious. There are also three children in my family, two of whom are older than you. There are too many children for me to take care of."
Tang Yunqing: "Uncle Duan, I can cook and take care of myself, so just accept me!"
Despite Tang Yunqing's repeated requests, Duan Yuexiu did not waver. Instead, he patted his shoulder and said, "I will take you to meet more people. Maybe you will meet an elder you like."
After putting it on hold for more than a month, Duan Yuexiu took Tang Yunqing to all the suitable houses he knew in the capital, but Tang Yunqing didn't even nod in agreement.
The last stop was the Shanlu Academy outside the city. Duan Yuexiu planned to go to the academy to find the dean.