sbdcsierra Chapter 1283 Extra Zhou Mai
Chapter 1283 Extra Zhou Mai
The young Zhou Mai has been living in guilt, and his life is a bit twisted.
He is his parents' first child and the eldest son of the second wife. He should have taken care of his younger siblings and his family. However, whether since the escape or after settling down, he, the eldest son, seems to have been useless. Instead, he is like a little child and has been taken care of by his younger sister.
He watched Zhou Guo grow up and felt more sorry for this silly sister than anyone else. When they started fleeing, he could still take care of her a little, but later on, she had to take care of their entire family.
Zhou Mai sometimes thinks back to the time before Zhou Guo woke up, and finds that although they all thought she was a fool and knew nothing at that time, it seemed that she had never done anything like a fool. At most, she would not speak or respond to people, just like a baby in swaddling clothes, ignorant of the world.
Seriously speaking, she has never been a fool.
He watched her wake up one day and find that she was smarter and more alert than anyone else, and extremely capable. She could carry the livelihood of her family on her thin shoulders. Although he felt a little distressed, he was more happy.
My sister is no longer the child who needs care and is despised by others. She can be seen and admired by everyone.
After arriving in the north and settling down, she sent them all to school, and she herself began to worry about their livelihood, running around. Gradually, the family had enough food to eat and money to spend. They received boxes of expensive pens, ink, paper, and inkstones as gifts, and it seemed that they would never run out.
Later on, others stopped giving them gifts, and they could afford to buy them themselves.
Every time she bought a carriage, she would let them use it as they pleased, and even if they only had one big word written on a piece of paper, they would not be able to use it all.
The materials of the clothes they wore became more and more expensive, their classmates in school became more and more fawning and respectful to them, and there were delicacies from land and sea on the table at every meal.
Life at home has completely improved, but Zhou Guo has been so busy that he has not been seen for several months.
Later, she stayed away from home for most of the year and did not come back during the Chinese New Year. It seemed as if this home had become her inn. She came back even less often than her elder sister who was married.
Zhou Mai discussed this with Li several times, "Mom, why don't I stop studying? As a big brother, I can't always be supported by my little sister."
Li was amused. "Your sister hasn't said anything yet, and you, the one being supported, are unwilling to do so?"
Zhou Mai said: "As the eldest son of our family, I should take on the responsibility. I can't let my sister support me all the time."
Li said, "Don't overthink it. Your sister is supporting us, and she's happy about it. Look at her running around at such a young age, that's her wish. She doesn't like to stay at home like ordinary little girls, waiting to get married. This girl is very smart and upright, and she's doing business well.
You said you didn't want to study anymore, so if you two switched places, could you do what she has done now and earn such a large fortune?"
Before Zhou Mai could say anything, Li continued, "Let's not talk about anything else. Just look at your eldest brother. Although he's a little behind Guoguo and doesn't know as many words as you, how is he any worse than others? For so many years, he's only been able to take care of the family business. He doesn't even dare to go to Yunzhou, let alone outside of Yunzhou. He doesn't even dare to speak loudly to the county magistrate, let alone other high-ranking officials. How can he deal with people? If you don't have some skills, you won't be able to get ahead in this kind of business."
Zhou Mai was silent. He thought about himself and realized that he had never dealt with an official like the county magistrate.
Usually when they went to the homes of wealthy people in Yunzhou for banquets, the people they interacted with were all of the same age as them, and were of the same generation.
They were not qualified to meet their elders yet. When he met them from afar, he would treat them as people of his father's generation. If he wanted to sit on an equal footing with these people, it would seem difficult for him now.
Not to mention dealing with all kinds of county magistrates and officials. He came from a poor family and studied in school for so many years. He thought he couldn't be like Zhou Guo, who dared to do anything, rushed forward when encountering problems, and found whoever he wanted without caring about anything.
He is unable to let go in his bones and feels that he does not have the ability to do so.
Li said, "You should also tell Zhou Mi not to compare yourself to my sister. Who among ordinary people can compare to her? I don't think there are many people in the world who can compare to her. If everyone compares themselves to her, how many smart people will be left in this world?"
Zhou Mai didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Mom, are you comforting us or praising your daughter?"
Li said, "What I said is the truth. Let alone you, your uncle is probably in trouble too. She is very happy to do these things now. You should just go to school peacefully. When you pass the imperial examination and become an official, you can help her then. With connections above you, won't it be easier for her to act?"
Zhou Mai: "...Mom, how can we do such a thing? Such officials will be removed from office sooner or later."
Li spread her hands and said, "Look, what else can you do if you don't study? Can you do business?"
Zhou Mai was speechless.
He can't break through his own cognitive barriers, so he really can't do this business well.
Nodding, "Mom, you're right. Guoguo is so amazing, she'd be happy to support us for a few more years. Then we can just continue our studies peacefully under her support?"
Li smiled and nodded, "That's how it has to be. We'll follow whoever is in the family."
After that conversation, Zhou Mai really calmed down. Guoguo was right, his battlefield was not here. His mother was even more right. Even if he didn't study at this time and went to help Zhou Guo and take over the family business, there was a high possibility that he would not be able to do it well, and he might even make things worse and cause more trouble.
In that case, he would not get involved in this business. After all, it was Guoguo who built it, so let her do it on her own.
Zhou Mai calmed down and put all his energy into his studies. Although he was not stupid, there were many smart classmates in the school, not to mention the whole world.
It is not easy for them to stand out from so many scholars in the world and pass the exam.
So I had to work harder.
After so many years of hard work, they laid a solid foundation. In the first year of the establishment of the Xin Dynasty, he passed the county examination and the prefectural examination in Yunzhou and became a scholar.
In the same year, Zhou Mai passed the provincial examination and became a juren.
The following year, he went to Beijing for the imperial examination, but unfortunately failed. His family members came to comfort him.
He himself did not feel any regret. After all, all the scholars who came to the capital this time were full of knowledge and learning.
There is always someone better than you. If he fails, he can try again. Anyway, he is still young. Among the candidates taking the exam this time, there are many with white hair and many in their forties or fifties. He is not in a hurry.
Instead, he felt that he was too young and needed to stay quiet for two more years.
He began to travel around the country to study, visiting famous teachers and friends. Three years later, he passed the imperial examination and ranked 18th in the second class. He was then sent to work as a county magistrate.
He began to be self-reliant, perhaps because of Zhou Guo's influence. He liked to do practical work and liked to stay down.
Therefore, he has been in office all the time, from county magistrate to prefect, and then to provincial governor. This life is worth it. He has done his best and did not let down his sister's hard work and sweat.