The whole village is fleeing famine, fortunately I have a concubine system

Zhang's mother knew that Zhang Ziyu really helped Wang Chengzi.

Only then did she feel relieved. She was really afraid that Zhang Ziyu would do things carelessly.

It would be bad if Wang Chengzi's matter was delayed any further.

Moreover, Wang Chengzi had just arrived in Wudu and had no reliable person around him.

Neither he nor Zhang's father could help much.

What should Wang Chengzi do if he was deceived into doing something wrong?

Now that Zhang's mother heard what Xiaomi said, she knew that the matter was almost resolved and she was finally relieved.

Soon, Zhang's father came back with a basket. Xiaomi looked at how heavy the basket was.

I knew that Mr. Zhang bought a lot of things when he went out this time.

Just like when Xiaomi was at Wang's house, Zhang's father took out a bag of snacks from his arms as soon as he entered the door.

He squatted down and handed it to Xiaomi, and whispered, "Eat slowly, don't choke. After you finish eating, grandpa will buy more for you."

This reminded Xiaomi of the days at Wang's house, when it was the same every time the family went out.

I would bring some small toys for them.

Sometimes it’s a string of candied haws, sometimes it’s a bag of snacks.

It was the same before we fled the famine, even though there was no money at home.

But family members would also bring some things for a few people.

For example, I would pick some wild fruits from the mountains and give them to them every time I went up the mountain.

Old Wang can also use bamboo to weave bamboo dragonflies and grasshoppers.

Give it to Xiaomi and the others to play with, even though what Old Wang made is very crude.

And it would break after a short time of playing with it, but Lao Wang would carefully polish off all the small thorns on the bamboo.

Then he used his rough big hands to stroke the bamboo strips from top to bottom.

Only when you don't notice the thorns that prick you will you weave the millet into bamboo.

The small bamboo weaving is filled with Old Wang's deep and unexpressible love for Xiaomi and his children.

Xiaomi looked at the snacks that Mr. Zhang stuffed into her hands, and could smell the unique fragrance of the snacks even through the thick oil paper.

Suddenly I feel that I miss the Wang family very much.

I miss the steamed eggs cooked by Grandma Wang and her unique loud voice.

Every day I am full of energy and arrange household affairs.

I miss Lao Wang’s laughter and the way he secretly hid his pocket money to buy food for himself.

He was discovered secretly winking at Xiaomi, asking Xiaomi to comfort Old Lady Wang.

I also miss Zhang Xing'er's embrace and her loving voice calling me "baby".

And Wang Zhuzi, Zhao Lishui and the brothers...

Xiaomi thought that after Wang Chengzi had dealt with the matter, she would ask Wang Chengzi to bring Old Lady Wang and the others back as soon as possible.

Xiaomi is now already impatient to meet them.

Mr. Zhang saw that Xiaomi was just holding the snacks and had no intention of opening them.

I was afraid that what I bought would not suit Xiaomi’s taste.

Asked Xiaomi: "My dear, what's wrong? Don't you like eating this?

Or you can tell grandpa what you like to eat and grandpa will buy it for you."

Xiaomi looked at Mr. Zhang's nervous expression and quickly opened the oil paper and took a bite of the dessert.

Squinting his eyes, he said to Mr. Zhang: "It's delicious. Thank you, Grandpa."

After hearing this, Mr. Zhang gently touched Xiaomi's hair.

Said to Xiaomi:

"Just eat it if you like it. Grandpa will buy you more after you finish eating."

Seeing that the millet was delicious, Mr. Zhang rolled up his sleeves and carried the basket into the kitchen.

Although Zhang's father is a scholar, he is different from others.

There was no idea that the man should not enter the kitchen.

On weekdays, Zhang's father does most of the cooking, and even Zhang Ziyu has been educated by his father since childhood.

Cooking is not just a job for women.

When he was a child, Zhang Ziyu didn't understand and argued with Zhang Xiucai with his neck raised.

Zhang Ziyu, who was a few years old, raised his chin, imitated the young masters he had seen in the town, and said to Zhang Xiucai:

“As the old saying goes, a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen.

I am a gentleman, I don't want to hang around the kitchen every day.

That’s what women do.”

Zhang Xiucai was not angry when he heard Zhang Ziyu's rebuttal.

Instead, he took Zhang Ziyu to the study and took out the "Liang Hui Wang Chapter 1" of "Mencius".

Put it in front of Zhang Ziyu and let her read it out loud.

At that time, Zhang Ziyu was at an age where he was fearless.

I feel that I know more words than other children in the village.

Every day he looks arrogant and feels superior to others.

Seeing the book handed over by Mr. Zhang, he took it without any fear and read in a clear and loud voice:

"A gentleman is like an animal: when he sees it alive, he can't bear to see it die; when he hears its sound, he can't bear to eat its flesh. This is why a gentleman is far away from the kitchen."

After reading it, he was still looking at Mr. Zhang, as if to say: Look, I know all these words.

Mr. Zhang had long wanted to punish Zhang Ziyu for his arrogance and pride.

This happens to be a perfect opportunity.

Mr. Zhang, who is well-versed in the books of sages, believes that he can allow his children to be not very smart.

But children are never allowed to have character defects.

“It’s a good read, but do you know what this article means?”

Zhang Ziyu can only read out the words she knows, but she doesn't know what they mean.

The saying "A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen" was actually something Zhang Ziyu heard from others.

I don't know the real meaning of this sentence.

Zhang Xiucai looked at Zhang Ziyu's confused expression and explained to him earnestly:

“The real meaning of this article is that Mencius advocates benevolence and the heart of compassion.

Let gentlemen not commit the sin of killing.

It was Mencius who advised King Xuan of Qi to be a benevolent monarch.

The original meaning of “A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen” is to advise people not to commit sins of killing and to have a benevolent heart.

It doesn’t mean that men can’t enter the kitchen.”

Zhang Xiucai looked at Zhang Ziyu's half-understanding expression and patiently said to him:

"Tzuyu, when you study, you can't just follow what others say, you need to have your own opinions.

And you can't look down on others just because you can read.

Everyone has their strengths. You should see the strengths of others instead of focusing on their weaknesses.

Daddy asked you to study not only so that you could pass the imperial examination and bring honor to the family.

Rather, reading can enlighten your wisdom, reading can enlighten your mind, and reading can cure your ignorance.

Daddy hopes you can do it, okay?"

Little Zhang Ziyu felt a little ashamed after hearing what Zhang Xiucai said.

Since then, he has never said anything like that again, and he no longer feels that housework is the responsibility of Zhang's mother and sister.

I started to learn how to cook from Zhang's father.

When we are free, we do housework together.

Father Zhang went into the kitchen and started a fire to burn the pig's hair.

Carefully clean the fine hair on the pig's trotter.

Zhang's mother stayed with Xiaomi for a while, then went into the kitchen to help.

Xiaomi saw this and went into the kitchen as well. She sat on a small stool and watched Zhang's father and mother work in tacit understanding to light a fire and cook.

For a moment, there was a warm atmosphere in the kitchen.

---

In the early morning, the yamen gate and the city gate were crowded with people, looking at a small piece of paper pasted there.