After the New Year, on the evening of the fifth day of the first lunar month, the village was walking from house to house, reminding that they would go to serve tomorrow, and asking everyone to prepare for the wrong time. He is a "Baoshan", if there is one less, he will have to pay for the silver.

Although there is nothing Li Dalang to do in this service, Murazheng still went around to Situ Yan's house, "Girl, tomorrow the people in the village will go to the county seat to serve, and I don't know when I will be able to come back, what do you have in mind?" "Muramasa has now completely regarded Situ Yan as his master, and he wants to ask about everything.

"Uncle came just right, I have prepared a New Year's gift here, and there is nothing to do, all of them are self-made snacks and salted eggs, Uncle will send it to the county order tomorrow, by the way, I can ask if I can let my uncles come back to help the family when I plough the land in the spring, otherwise I am afraid that this year's taxes will not be paid again."

"I'm also worried about this, you said that if you don't have these laborers, pointing to a group of women and children, I don't know what this land will be planted. But I'm afraid that the county will not agree. ”

"Uncle went to the county this time, don't go to the county magistrate, just look for the county magistrate, the county magistrate is honest, you tell the county magistrate about the situation in the village, he will definitely agree, otherwise this year's taxes will not be paid, he has no merit, I heard that this year is the last year of this county magistrate's tenure, if the performance appraisal is inferior, it is difficult to be promoted." Situ Yan had already thought about it, and when she needed to go through the back door, she would naturally go to the county magistrate, but if there was a legitimate reason, she could no longer go to the county magistrate who wanted to make money, but the county magistrate who thought about the people.

Murazheng thought about it for a while, felt that what Situ Yan said was on the matter, and he was happy, if this thing could be done, he would add light to his face, and after chatting with Situ Yan for a few more words, he rushed home with his things and discussed it with his father.

sent away Muramasa, Situ Yan asked Li Dalang to send ten cakes to the fourth uncle and Liangzi's family, which can be regarded as exhausting.

Early the next morning, the villagers who served gathered at the entrance of the village, of course, there were a lot of them, the village had an idea in his heart, looking at the villagers who also came neatly, and happily sent people to the county, according to what Situ Yan said, he went to find the county order, and gave the gift to the village, the county order actually has this thought, one is for their own performance, and the other is really for the sake of these villagers, last year's drought, this year I don't know what the harvest will be, if you put people in service, the land will be barren, If there is no harvest, even if only the old and weak women and children are left, there will be a lot of trouble. took advantage of the fact that Lijiacun was coming to intercede, so he naturally responded.

The village got the letter and happily told the villagers about it, and the villagers rubbed their hands together. After returning to the village, he talked about things from house to house, which was naturally a celebration. Of course, Muramasa also heard a lot of good words, and he was so happy that he still had a smile on his face on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Situ Yan didn't make lanterns to fry the Lantern Festival this year like in previous years, first, the year was not good, and there was some chaos in the county. The second is that this dragon lantern is more difficult to make than a rabbit lantern, and she tried one herself and couldn't get it, so she had to give up.

On the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Situ Yan and the four brothers sat in the hall and ate the Lantern Festival that had just come out of the pot, "I have something to discuss with my brothers." I want to send my brothers to study in the county school, although I can enlighten my brothers at home, but if I want to take the imperial examination, I must not be as good as the master in the county school. ”

San Lang's eyes lit up when he heard it, it was not that he didn't want to learn from his little sister, but he wanted to participate in the imperial examination, he wanted to give his little sister a better life, if he went to the county to study, then he could participate in the imperial examination.

Li Dalang lowered his head and didn't say anything for a while, but Erlang opened his mouth first, "Xiao Wu, I won't go, I also work hard, but I just can't remember, I can't go to me, and I still pay for nothing, I remember that when I used to go to school, my family tightened their belts to live, and sometimes I had to borrow money from others to pay it." ”

"The second child is right, Shu Xiu alone has to pay one or two silver dollars a year, and he has to pay 3 buckets of corn every month, and he has to give gifts to his master during the New Year's holidays, which is 400 Wen a month. And someone has to take care of this house, so I won't go, so I'll stay and watch the house. ”

San Lang was still happy, but listening to what his brothers said, he also felt that it was better to save money by studying at home. And he can also help his brother and Xiao Wu work.

Shiro didn't think much about it, if his brothers went, he would, and if his brothers didn't go, he wouldn't go.

"My brothers heard me say that if the second brother doesn't like it, if he doesn't go, he won't object, but if he gives up because he thinks it's expensive, it's not worth it. Although our family is not as wealthy as the big family, we can also pay for the bundle of repairs. Brothers, don't worry about this. What's more, the third and fourth brothers are very good learners, but the eldest brother and the second brother are just more distracted by their work, so they are slower. ”

"Little Five, why don't you let the third and fourth go and I stay at home with the second child." Li Dalang still didn't want to spend that money, in fact, he felt that he was an adult and the head of the family, so he couldn't leave all the work to his younger siblings because he was studying, he couldn't do it.

"I said, I won't go, I like farming."

"What do you mean by the third brother and the fourth brother?" Situ Yan turned her head to look at San Lang and Shiro.

San Lang lowered his head and thought about it seriously, "Xiao Wu, I want to go, I promise not to delay the work at home." ”

Shiro glanced at the third brother, then at the eldest brother and the second brother, and also nodded to follow Saburo to the county school.

"Okay, this matter is settled, the third and fourth brothers will go to the county school tomorrow to study with the master. Tomorrow I have to discuss with the master, every day the third brother and the fourth brother only study in the county school for half a day, I have already inquired, the master only teaches in the morning, and in the afternoon just let the students practice calligraphy, this practice can be practiced again in the evening, so that the work will not be delayed, and you can go to the county school to study. And the third brother and the fourth brother must study hard, and teach the eldest brother and the second brother the night they learn in the county school, so that we are equivalent to handing over two bundles of cultivation, but all four of us can learn. ”

"That's a good idea." Li Dalang thinks that this is the best, there are people to do the work at home, and there is no need for the little sister to be tired, and he can also learn from San Lang.

The brothers all nodded in agreement. Situ Yan told San Lang and Shilang a few words, "When I go to the county tomorrow to study, the master will definitely ask the third and fourth brothers what they have learned, and the brothers only need to say that they have learned the "Hundred Family Names", "Three Character Classic", "Thousand Character Text" and "Disciple Rules". ”

"Little Wu, why can't you say it?" Shiro was a little confused.

"Fourth brother, this "Liweng Rhyme" is only used when making poems and writing pairs, if you let the masters know that you have learned this without even reading the Four Books and Five Classics, I am afraid that you will think that you are so ambitious and unsteady. And the "Beginning of the Plan" in "The Art of War" is a soldier's strategy, even if it can't be learned in the county school, so it can't be said. Brothers must remember. ”

San Lang and Shiro nodded tightly, they also heard the seriousness and worry in the little sister's words, and naturally obeyed Situ Yan's words.

After discussing properly, Situ Yan began to prepare the "six rites" to be used for apprenticeship. In fact, the county school does not require students to prepare the "six rites", but they all send some food and drink to the master at will according to their own actual conditions. But Situ Yan felt that respecting teachers was something that students must keep in mind, and they also hoped to let the master know that the Li family valued the master very much, and hoped that the master could teach San Lang and Shiro with his heart.

The most troublesome thing in the six rites is "celery", this vegetable should not be available in this season, if Situ Yan takes it out of the ring, I am afraid that it will arouse suspicion. And celery means diligence and studiousness, and it is also an excellent meaning. In the end, Situ Yan asked Li Dalang to buy a rooster with Aunt Fu as one of the six ceremonies.

As for the "lotus seeds" that imply painstaking education; the "red beans" that shine brightly; "dates" in early and high school; the "longan" with complete merits; and "bacon" that expresses the hearts of disciples. Situ Yan had all of them, and taking them out did not arouse Li Dalang's suspicions.

He also made two long shirts out of muslin for Saburo and Shiro, sewed two school bags, and packed all the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and did not rest until the time of the child.

Before dawn the next day, several people got up, had breakfast, and drove into the county seat when the city gate was just opened. Situ Yan deliberately changed into men's clothes on this day, but women are not allowed to enter the county school.

When he arrived at the county school, the king was very happy, but he was looking forward to these babies for a few months, and he had a bad life without this firewood money in the past few months.

"Steward Wang, today we are here to exchange paper, and secondly, to see our master, and my brothers want to study in the county school."

"Ouch, this is a good thing, you wait here first, I'll ask Master Jiang, the most learned person in this county school is Master Jiang." Steward Wang also benefited, so he deliberately introduced the most learned master in the county school to Situ Yan. This is also an unexpected joy that Situ Yan did not expect.

After a while, the king returned and led some of the men to see the master.

Jiang Fuzi sat upright in the school, about forty years old, with a slender figure, wearing a blue Xiangyun bat-patterned robe, a white jade pendant with a belt around his waist, and a satin hat on his head, giving Situ Yan the first feeling that he was clean.

Li Dalang led a few people to come forward to greet Master Jiang.

Jiang Fuzi found out from the moment a few people entered the door that the oldest of the people who came was only 15 or 6 years old. And only two of them were wearing long robes, so it can be seen that only two of these children are coming to study: "You guys come forward? Pointing at Saburo and Shiro with his hand, he was not dissatisfied because several people were not accompanied by adults, in fact, he preferred such independent children, such children often do not need to be supervised, and they know how to be motivated.

Li Dalang hurriedly took two steps back, giving up his position to San Lang and Shiro, while Situ Yan had been standing behind the four of them, she was the youngest, and the most important thing at this time was not to miss the etiquette.