Gu Xuebin ate another one, stuck out his tongue, and said, "Okay, I'm like this too." Don't blame me for playing tricks on you. ”

How could Su Jinyao really be angry, she took the mulberry over, and ate two more, and also stuck out her tongue and made a grimace like Gu Xuebin. Both of them have purple and black tongues, and it's fun to make faces together.

But Su Jinyao was pretending to be grimaceous, and Gu Xuebin suddenly came over, held her face and put it on the tip of her tongue. Although it was just a light kiss like a dragonfly, Su Jinyao's heart was beating wildly, and the whole person was about to be crispy.

Gu Xuebin pursed his lips and said with a ruffian-like smile: "It's really sweet, sweeter than this mulberry." ”

"you, it's not serious in the middle of the night." Su Jinyao blushed, and she didn't dare to play anymore. I'm also afraid that I will wake up others after talking for a long time.

Gu Xuebin also knew that he couldn't stay for a long time, anyway, the things were delivered, and he kissed them. Although it is still unfinished, it has also temporarily relieved the pain of lovesickness. Then he jumped out of the fence and waved at Su Jinyao before leaving.

Su Jinyao thought about it, and called him again: "Gu Xuebin......"

"Huh?" Gu Xuebin stopped and turned around, pretending to be surprised: "Jinyao, are you reluctant to let me leave and want me to stay overnight?" ”

"you." Su Jinyao was so angry that she forgot what she wanted to say just now, picked up a mulberry and threw it over, but she didn't hit it yet.

Gu Xuebin grimaced again, stuck out his tongue and left.

Su Jinyao only remembered when she saw his distant back, she originally wanted to tell him that if she wanted to come in the future, she would come directly, and don't dig out your mind and have to give any gifts. If she bothers to work hard for her like this, she will also feel distressed.

But when he looked up again, Gu Xuebin had already run away. Su Jinyao had to swallow the words back into her stomach, but she was faintly looking forward to when he would come back?

After a good night's sleep, Su Jinyao woke up in the morning and first thought about finding a cool place to carry the mulberries in the small basket (yīn) and put them away. Although the sweet and sour taste was good, she really didn't dare to take it with her to eat it on the way to the town. If you eat all the way to the ancient elm array, as long as you speak, you can be thought to be a monster.

Su Fei'er was already preparing breakfast, and Su Jinyao also put on the new clothes she had bought before after washing. And I didn't wear that pair of silver earrings after I bought them, and I specially wore them today. It's not that she wants to be stinky and beautiful, but she wants to fight for the face of the small town, and she can't let the people in the school look down on them.

Although the official list stated that the opportunity to run the government school was given to the children of poor families, Su Jinyao already knew the conditions after reading the list text, such conditions may not be met by ordinary children, and the poor families in the deep ravine have been illiterate for several lifetimes, so what kind of exams can they talk about.

Therefore, it is true that the children who go to the remote mountains have household registration certificates. But they must all be squires and wealthy families in the village, and they may also be relatives of some people in the town in their hometowns. Therefore, Su Jinyao will not be stupid enough to wear the most torn clothes for the sake of Botong (qíng), and when the time comes, she can only let people have the intention of bullying them after seeing it.

Xiaocheng'er also got up early, but it didn't seem that he had lost sleep because of the nervousness of the previous night, and his big eyes were bright and bright, and he was very energetic.

Su Jinyao said: "Wash your face." Today I'm going to feed the horses, and we'll ride them away in a moment. ”

Xiao Cheng'er didn't compete with Su Jinyao to feed the horses, and he didn't rush to eat after washing his face, but went to prepare two bamboo tubes filled with water, which he and Su Jinyao each had to drink on the road.

Su Jinyao saw that Xiaocheng'er was such a caring child, and she felt pity in her heart again. Thinking that Xiaocheng'er was going to go to the school in the town after being admitted, he only had a chance to come back once a month, and he felt very reluctant.

Because they were going to take the exam in a while, Xiao Cheng'er and Su Jinyao deliberately went to Su Xiangui's house to eat with their rice bowls. Although I came back in the evening, I also wanted to talk to my father a few more words to make my father feel more relieved.

Su Xiangui looked at the two children and smiled, but he was also reluctant in his heart. But he still touched Xiao Cheng'er's brain and said, "Cheng'er, take a good exam." If you can really enter the government-run school in the town, it will be a glorious ancestor. ”

"Yes, I know. Dad, just wait for my good news. Xiao Cheng'er agreed, and ate his meal in a big gulp.

Sophie also said: "I'm about to have a younger brother who is studying in a government school." Maybe my younger brother will still be an official in the future, and my eldest sister will feel honored. ”

"Definitely, definitely." 小城儿 (tǐng) 了 (tǐng) (xiōng) chamber, and it is to eat again.

Su Jinyao smiled beside her: "Okay, don't tease him, let him eat it well." Then he said to Xiao Cheng'er: "Don't worry, eat slowly." But don't eat too much, or your stomach will be upset if you ride a horse. ”

"Uh-huh." Xiao Cheng'er agreed, and ate again. It wasn't until he finished eating the rice in the bowl that he said, "I only ate seven points full, second sister, you can rest assured." ”

After saying that, Xiao Cheng'er put down the bowl and ran out. Su Jinyao wondered what he was doing, chased him out and asked, "This is about to go out, why are you still running around?" ”

The little city had already gone out of the door and ran up the hill behind. Hearing Su Jinyao call him, he turned around and said, "I'll go and talk to my mother and come back." ”

Mother? Su Jinyao was stunned for a moment before she realized that the direction over there was a cemetery in the village. Although the surnames of the people in the village are different, and the ancestral graves of each family are not together, there will be no random mass burial of people all over the mountains. Most of them are looking for a large area with good feng shui, and the cemetery of a village is over there. So Su Jinyao quickly understood that Xiaocheng'er went to her mother's grave.

There was almost no hesitation, and after thinking of this explanation, Su Jinyao immediately followed Xiao Cheng'er and said, "Take me to see my mother." I haven't seen my mother since I got better. ”

"Well, let's go, over there." Xiao Cheng'er pointed to the front and walked over with Su Jinyao.

However, Su Jinyao was wrong, Xiaocheng'er did not take Su Jinyao in the direction of the cemetery in the village. Instead, after walking more than halfway, he turned a corner and walked towards a mountain stream. He went up the stream to the source of the stream.

It was almost at the top of the hill, and there were not many trees around, but there was a small open area. In the middle of the open field, there is a small mound. There are no tombstones in front of the mound, only a few stones that resemble small towers.

And looking forward from here, I saw that the eyes suddenly opened up, and the stream meandered down like a soft ribbon; It flows down the hillside and flows back with other streams to form a small river. The river flowed forward again, as if it had taken away a trace of bonding, and went straight into the distance.

Xiao Cheng'er didn't walk to the small tower made of stones, nor did he mean to kneel, but just stood here looking at the stream and muttered: "Mother, Xiao Cheng'er is going to the school, you have to bless me." ”

Su Jinyao stood here and watched for a while, not knowing whether she should kneel down and kowtow, thanking the mother for leaving so many things for herself, including her daughter's (shēn) body; Or should you be like Xiaocheng'er, just stand aside, as if standing by your mother's (shēn), and whisper a few thoughtful words to her.

After thinking about it for a while, Su Jinyao felt that the way of Xiaochenger was closer to her heart. Those kneeling and prostrating are too formal, and heartfelt thanks don't have to be three bows and nine kowtows. Su Jinyao decided to whisper a few words to this mother here, saying it in her heart, but she believed that she would be able to hear it.

Silent, but in her heart to express her endless gratitude and her current happiness, Su Jinyao told the mother that she would take care of Yao'er's (shēn) body for her, and that she inherited Yao'er's (shēn) body is one with Yao'er, so she is her real mother.

I said intimate words to my mother, but I didn't talk endlessly. Xiao Cheng'er also breathed a sigh of relief after a few words, and said to Su Jinyao: "Okay, second sister, let's go." My mother must have heard it. She must have seen that you are getting better now, and she is happy for you. ”

Su Jinyao also nodded and said, "Well, my mother and relatives know it." Let's go, let my mother watch you go to school, take a good exam, and tell my mother the good news when you come back. ”

It didn't take much time to go down the mountain and go home with Xiaocheng'er. On the way down the mountain, Su Jinyao looked back and found that in this direction, she couldn't see the open land above at all, and naturally she couldn't see the small tower made of graves and stones.

Su Jinyao was a little strange, when her mother died, the Su family was the most difficult time, who built this tomb and this small tower for her mother? Moreover, why did her mother not bury her in the ancestral grave of the Su family in the village after she died, but buried her here alone?

When she had questions, Su Jinyao asked Xiao Cheng'er: "Why is there no tombstone in front of my mother's grave, only a small tower made of stone?" ”

"That's what motherhood means. When she was very sick, she took me and my eldest sister up the mountain for a trip, and chose this place, saying that she would live here alone after she passed away, watching the streams gather together, which means happiness and longevity. And her mother also said that she didn't want a tombstone with 'Liu Fang' written on it, but just a stone pagoda that was erected at random. At that time, my mother also used charcoal strips to draw the shape of the stone tower, which was built of seven stones from large to small. Later, my mother really passed away, and this stone tower was built by the stone that my eldest sister and I found. ”

Speaking of this, Xiao Cheng'er said: "My mother specially explained that there is no need for a real stone tower, as long as it is a stone picked up casually, it can be piled together into a tower shape according to the size." For this reason, whenever there is a strong wind, my eldest sister and I have to come over to see if the stone tower has been blown down by the wind. If it falls or the stone rolls out of nowhere, find a new stone and put it back on again. But fortunately, there are not many such times, and there is not much wind that can blow a few stones down. ”

Could this be ...... Cipher?

I don't know why, Su Jinyao suddenly thought of this stalk. She didn't know what the meaning of this stone pagoda represented, she only knew that her mother was a very clever doctor, and of course she could know that she had reached the advanced stage of some kind of serious disease, and she could also infer the approximate time of her death.

But such a harsh condition is obviously not just done for some kind of fun. Because at that time, fun is not important at all, what matters is the unfulfilled wish in her heart. Does that mean that this small, haphazard stone pagoda has some special significance?

"Second sister, I'm home. Is it because I suddenly ran to the mountains to see my mother, which made you feel uncomfortable? Xiao Cheng'er pulled Su Jinyao's sleeve and interrupted her thoughts.

Su Jinyao was distracted just now, and she didn't hear much of Xiaocheng'er's previous words, so she had to shake her head and say, "It's okay, the second sister is not uncomfortable, but I just wonder if it's too late?" Let's go. ”

Su Jinyao knew that it was impossible for her to find the answer now. And she has no intention of pursuing such a truth that does not belong to her at all. If she really is a silly girl Jinyao, all this may still make sense to her. But she is already Su Jinyao, so she doesn't want to explore what special meaning her mother has with this stone tower when she is alive.

"yes, let's go. I'm really afraid it's too late. Xiao Cheng'er hurried to lead the horse. But he said, "But, I can't come and talk to my mother last night, can I?" So it's just in the morning. ”

Su Jinyao smiled, touched Xiaocheng'er's head and said, "If you want to see your mother in the future, I will ask the second sister to accompany you." Don't run over there alone. ”

Su Jinyao knew that even if it was their mother's mother, Xiao Cheng'er was still a nine-year-old child after all, and if she wanted to go to the grave alone, she would still have a shadow in her heart. Therefore, she will accompany Xiaocheng'er to see her mother in the future.

Su Jinyao and Xiaocheng'er said goodbye to Su Xiangui and Su Fei'er again, so they led the horse out of the house, rode in pairs, and ran on the road to Ancient Elm Town.

Although it was said that it was a hurry, the time for the exam was not very early, probably to take care of the children who lived in remote mountain villages. After all, not everyone can ride a horse, and if you want to take a car, the time will be much slower. Therefore, Su Jinyao and Xiaocheng'er rushed to Guyushu Town, and there was still more than half an hour before the time of the exam.

Su Jinyao led Xiaocheng'er to the door of the government-run school, tied her horse and walked forward, and saw that the place where the enrollment list was posted before had been changed to another list, which was about the process and precautions for today's exam.

In fact, in Su Jinyao's view, these things are just formalism. Because the children of poor families are illiterate, I am afraid that they will not even be able to read the list text, and this thing is either an ornament or a threshold that stops the children of poor families who want to fly out of the ravines.

Su Jinyao and Xiao Cheng'er read the content of the new list again, and according to what the list said, they took Xiao Cheng'er's household registration certificate and went in to register.

There are quite a few people registered, at least 40 adults and children. These people only came early, and there should be some people still on the way.

The registration place is a small room with a table and a chair in it. A young official in Tsing Yi sat behind a desk, with a number of plates in a basket on the left and right, a brush in his right hand, and a notebook with a record spread out on the table.

Anyone who brings a child to take the exam must ask the child to hand in the household registration certificate by himself, and then get back a number plate, and then wait for the exam to start.

Su Jinyao took out the household registration certificate and gave it to Xiao Cheng'er, and said to him: "Actually, from now on, the exam has already begun." Your conversation and your answers to questions are part of the test. Don't be nervous, just reply normally. The second sister is waiting for you here, go ahead. ”

Xiao Cheng'er was so nervous last night, but after arriving here, he seemed much calmer. He took the household registration certificate in Su Jinyao's hand, nodded heavily, and walked towards the registered small room with his head (tǐng) (xiōng).

Su Jinyao watched from here, although she couldn't hear what questions were asked inside, Su Jinyao felt that with Xiaocheng'er's wit and wisdom, simple questions would definitely not be difficult for him. Moreover, Xiaocheng'er was literate during this time, and he learned a lot from Gu Xuebin and Gao Laopa, and his temperament (shēn) was very different from that of ordinary children.

Although Xiao Cheng'er can't talk about the elegance of manners and the nobility of one (shēn) now, after all, he also has a bit of casualness (xìng) and indifference, such a little teenager, standing in front of many people who seem to be nouveau riche or sour talents (shēn), compare their children to others.

The little official in charge of registration also seemed to look at Xiao Cheng'er, and seemed to ask several questions in a row, so Xiao Cheng'er took longer to register than the other children. This has caught the attention of others.

By the time Xiao Cheng'er returned to Su Jinyao (shēn) with a number plate, someone had already looked over to this side, looking at the two siblings with inquiring eyes.

Su Jinyao is not afraid to look, but she doesn't like to be looked at by others. Seeing that the exam time had not yet arrived, I pulled Xiaocheng'er out, found a cool place to rest, and drank two sips of water.

After resting, Su Jinyao also asked the registered person in Xiaocheng'er what questions he asked.

Xiao Cheng'er said: "I just asked the name and age, as well as the names of the family." Then he asked me if I was literate and who taught me. That's all. ”

It turns out that it is nothing more than these ordinary questions, and these small towns must be answered fluently.

Then Xiao Cheng'er said: "But the official also told me that I don't want to impersonate, once I find out, I will cause trouble." ”

Su Jinyao smiled when she heard this, and said, "I understand, they probably think that there should not be a polite and knowledgeable child like you in the mountains and wilderness, and they are afraid that you are the one who found the impostor." ”

Xiao Cheng'er glared at him, and said with a puzzled expression: "This can also be impersonated?" Even if you are admitted, what if you can't do anything if you go to school? ”

"No, you can find Mr. to be accommodating in private, these are some small tricks behind the scenes, and they can't be put on the table, but they are more than (jìn)."