Chapter 452: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 452: No One Inquires (3)
Mo Yan felt helpless about this but didn't force it. There were too many people at the lantern festival, and any accident could easily lead to chaos. If something happened, there wouldn’t be time to cry over it. After all, not everyone was as lucky as she was.
That year’s Lantern Festival at the Mo family was warm and peaceful. They hung two red lanterns at the door, happily ate sweet dumplings, and sat around a cozy brazier, chatting and snacking, enjoying a harmonious time together.
On the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Mo Yan, along with her siblings, sent Mo Qingze to the academy. Apart from a lot of rice, flour, eggs, vegetables, and meat, there were also a few jars of high-alcohol wine in the cart.
Although Mo Yan repeatedly told her father to keep the wine for himself to drink slowly, Mo Qingze had already decided to give some of it to his teachers and invite his close classmates to drink. He wanted as many people as possible to know that the wine was unique to their family. If they liked it, there might be unexpected gains once the winery was established.
Unaware that her scholarly father had become "worldly," Mo Yan diligently helped him organize the items and cooked a table full of delicious dishes for him before returning to Liuyang Village with her four younger siblings. Just as they reached the entrance of Liuyang Village, Mo Yan unexpectedly saw some villagers heading into the village, discussing something in low voices. She vaguely heard the words "Mo family" and "Wang Dali."
When she got home and asked Li Xiu, Mo Yan remembered that today was the day Wang Dali was expelled from the village. Wang Dali refused to leave and tried to break into the house to plead, but fortunately, Yang Bao was there. He called people to stop him in time. Since the leaders were not present, it was unclear what chaos might have ensued.
Wang Dali, unwilling to give up, lay at the Mo family's doorstep, refusing to leave. But Yang Bao, who had been the village head for a long time, had seen such shameless people before. He immediately called some strong young men to carry Wang Dali out of the village. Finally, Yang Bao warned that if Wang Dali dared to sneak back, his family would be expelled from the village as well.
A strong man expelled from the village wouldn't starve as long as he was diligent, but if he had to drag his whole family along, it would be uncertain. Understanding the seriousness, Wang Dali didn't dare to stay any longer. He took a tattered bundle and left in disgrace under the villagers' watchful eyes.
"Humph, he deserves to be kicked out. Without that troublemaker, our family will have a much more peaceful life," Zhen'er said, feeling relieved and showing his disdain for Wang Dali.
Mo Yan patted his head and advised, "No one likes a greedy person. But if you don't discipline yourself strictly, you might unknowingly become like that one day."
Zhen'er shook his head vigorously, "No, no, Zhen'er will reflect on himself daily and will never become so detestable!"
Amused by his serious expression, Mo Yan pulled Yun Zhao over and told them earnestly, "In a few days, you will go to the academy. Eldest sister doesn't expect you to be extremely smart or knowledgeable, but I hope you understand the principles of being a person and live an upright life."
Zhen'er and Yun Zhao looked at each other and then solemnly nodded at Mo Yan's hopeful face, remembering her words deeply.
The academy they were going to was a private school called Zhizhitang, established twenty years ago by two scholars and ten talented but unsuccessful examinees. Although it was a private school, none of its students had failed to pass the scholar examination, making it very famous in the capital.
Without Han Zhiyun's close relationship with the head of Zhizhitang and his efforts in speaking on their behalf, Zhen'er and Yun Zhao wouldn't have been able to get in. Mo Yan was very grateful to Han Zhiyun, the uncle they had acknowledged along the way, and gave him many good things during the New Year visit.
On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Mo Yan personally drove Zhen'er and Yun Zhao to Zhizhitang. After giving them some careful instructions, she reluctantly left. Initially planning to go straight home, she remembered the iron skillet halfway and turned to the blacksmith's shop. It was indeed ready.
Seeing the newly made iron skillet exactly as she had imagined, Mo Yan was very satisfied. She paid the blacksmith thirty extra coins and happily brought the somewhat heavy skillet home...
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