Chapter 89: Junior High Graduation 2.0

After the feast, Zhang Ping'an returned and told his parents about this matter.

"That's fine. After Si Jie returns from her wedding visit, we will go to the city to find you. We'll return when it's time to harvest the wheat, and after the wheat is harvested, we'll head to Beijiang."

"Alright."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. When Si Jie returned for her wedding visit, Zhang Ping'an, as her younger brother, also had to go back, and the families of his Second Uncle and Third Uncle also came to keep them company.

His grandparents had originally felt some "awe" toward Wang Zhiyong, the public security officer, but seeing that he was a shy, big boy who was quite respectful toward them, the atmosphere at the table became cheerful amidst the clinking of glasses.

Zhang Ping'an felt this was quite normal; his grandparents were people who had come from a feudal society and rarely left the village, so their world mostly consisted of the trivial matters between old men and old women.

Such common folk had a natural fear of officials; it wasn't just his grandparents, but almost everyone of their generation was like this.

Time arrived at the beginning of June, and the travel documents for the Zhang Ping'an family had already been processed, so they could set off at any time.

In mid-June, after Zhang Ping'an finished harvesting the wheat in his courtyard using his space, he rushed back to his hometown without stopping.

His family had over seven mu of land, and Zhang Ping'an's sickle was swinging so fast it was smoking; occasionally, he would use his space to sweep up a large patch, and Zhang Ping'an's speed made things much easier for the others.

Whether it was harvesting wheat or transplanting rice seedlings, it was back-breaking work. After harvesting the wheat, one still had to pick up the wheat ears, then place them on the threshing floor to be pressed with a stone roller—it was exhausting.

Moreover, this year they had to pay the public grain tax, which was set at 15.5 percent of the yield (data obtained from inquiries), and this was also the first year.

The current yield per mu was just over two hundred jin, and after deducting losses, the Zhang Ping'an family's harvest this year was just over one thousand four hundred jin, with the public grain tax payment being just over two hundred jin.

The situation for other families in the village was about the same, but there was no rush to pay the public grain tax; it wouldn't start until around November, so they would have enough time after returning from Beijiang.

By early July, the rice in the Zhang Ping'an family's fields had also been planted. Having been here for a few years, Zhang Ping'an had gotten used to it. He was indeed clumsy at the beginning, but now his speed at transplanting rice was no less than that of an average woman, though it was truly exhausting. Those who could transplant two mu of land in a single day were iron men—you had to admire them—and they were all women at that.

"Father, Mother, I'll be nineteen nominal years old next year. I don't plan to continue school; I'll just work honestly at the Rolling Mill and get married."

On Zhang Ping'an's identity information, he would be twenty next year, fully reaching the marriageable age.

It wasn't that Zhang Ping'an was in a rush to get married; it was mainly because most technical secondary schools nowadays were either closed-off or under military-style management, and Zhang Ping'an didn't think he had enough influence to persuade the school leaders to let him move freely.

It would be better to simply study the knowledge he wanted to learn at the Library outside, and besides, the junior high school level of education was completely sufficient at this time.

"Fine, getting married early is also good. Our Zhang family will rely on you to carry on the family line."

"......"

Subsequently, Zhang Ping'an finished his exams, still achieving near-perfect scores, and Principal Fu came over.

"Ping'an, do you have any thoughts on whether to continue to high school or go to a technical secondary school?"

"Principal, I don't plan to study further. My family only has me, and I'll be old enough next year, so I have to go home and get married," Zhang Ping'an said awkwardly; he felt a bit sorry for this scholar who had placed such high expectations on him.

"That's fine too. It's the same wherever you study. Don't forget to study after leaving school, otherwise, you'll be wasting your talent," unexpectedly, Principal Fu nodded to show his understanding, though his tone was somewhat regretful.

"Don't worry, Principal, I won't."

"Mm, go on then."

"Goodbye, Principal."

Zhang Ping'an walked out of the office and saw Wang Xiaoling waving at him from afar. By now, Wang Xiaoling was already seventeen, and her figure had undergone earth-shaking changes.

From the unremarkable appearance when they first met to the well-developed form of today, although she didn't have the exaggerated chest muscles of Qin Huairu, her figure was just right, with curves in all the right places.

Under Zhang Ping'an's feeding over the past few years, her face always retained a bit of baby fat, which made Zhang Ping'an unable to resist pinching it every time they were alone.

"Zhang Ping'an, how did you do on the exam?"

"Very well."

"How about you guys?"

"I was nervous; I don't think I did very well."

"My grades are usually average anyway, so I guess it was just my usual level," Mu Yingnan said, and she might also have to join the army like her family members later on.

"Mm, but I'm not planning to continue studying either; I should be getting married next year."

Hearing that Zhang Ping'an was going to get married, Wang Xiaoling felt a sudden, inexplicable panic, and she blurted out subconsciously:

"Who are you going to marry?"

Beside her, Mu Yingnan looked at her as if she were a fool; Zhang Ping'an's intentions were written all over his forehead, yet this girl was still completely oblivious.

"Ahem, it should be my grand-niece-in-law, if she's willing," Zhang Ping'an whispered close to Wang Xiaoling's ear.

"I'm off, I'll take you home," Zhang Ping'an ran off, waving to signal them to follow.

"Yingnan, who do you think Zhang Ping'an's grand-niece-in-law is?"

"What do you think?" Mu Yingnan's temple throbbed; clearly, her grades were very good, but her brain just wasn't smart.

Wang Xiaoling counted on her fingers for a long time, finally figured it out, and said excitedly:

"It's me!" After saying that, she realized what she had said and turned bright red, like a steam engine.

"Let's go, Zhang Ping'an is already waiting in the vehicle," Mu Yingnan envied Wang Xiaoling; she was a bit silly, yet she had someone who doted on her, while she...

After getting on the tricycle, Wang Xiaoling didn't dare look at Zhang Ping'an, burying her head into her well-developed chest like an ostrich.

"I'm here, I'm leaving first, you two take it slow on the road."

"Alright."

The two remained silent all the way, and Zhang Ping'an didn't stop the vehicle until they were close to the Eighty-eight Courtyard.

"Xiao Ling, do you think my silly grand-niece-in-law will agree?"

"Mm," Wang Xiaoling still kept her head down and gave an almost imperceptible "mm."

"Hahaha, then it's settled, go home," Zhang Ping'an pinched that hot, baby-fat cheek again.

After sending Wang Xiaoling to the entrance of the Eighty-fifth Courtyard, she jumped off the vehicle and ran away without looking back.

"Slow down!"

"I know!"

Zhang Ping'an smiled and shook his head; today he had finally made things clear, which was a harvest in itself. To celebrate, he sank his consciousness into his space, picked out a piece of spiced beef and braised donkey meat, and brought them home happily.

Her parents were also living here now, and the family's land had all been taken care of; Zhang Laohan just needed to go back and check on it from time to time. Everyone was waiting for Zhang Ping'an's exam results and the phone call from his maternal grandfather.

Currently, there was no direct train from Sijiucheng to Beijiang; one had to take a train to Lanzhou and transfer, and it wasn't even a train, so it was quite troublesome. They would set off once his maternal grandfather coordinated everything.

Zhang Ping'an did not know this beforehand; if he had known earlier, he would have gone a bit later, at least waiting until the trains were running.

Now that Grandfather has already started coordinating, it is too late to say anything; it is just that his younger brother will have to suffer a bit on the road, having to endure a long journey at only one year old.

Zhang Ping'an had Si Jie and the others make a thick, large backpack, somewhat similar to the hiking backpacks of later generations, though slightly smaller in size, it could still hold many things; of course, this pack served more as a disguise.

"What day is it today? Why did you buy two big meat dishes?"

"Ahem, you will have a daughter-in-law after the New Year."

"Really, Ping'an? Is it that Wang Xiaoling? I have to say, she has really developed over these past two years, much better than before."

"..."

"Yes, it is her. By the way, Mother, has Grandfather called yet?"

"No, I expect it will be within these next two or three days."

Zhang Ping'an could understand; in this era, one shouldn't even think about a special car being sent to pick them up, it would be good enough just to catch a ride.