I wrote novels in the Republic of China

Perhaps because he had a good lunch and was full of energy, Sang Jingyun walked very fast today. In less than an hour, he and Sang Jingying walked the five kilometers back home.

When they got home, it was already dark and Sang Qian was waiting at the door.

Seeing them, Sang Qian breathed a sigh of relief and called them, "Ayun and Aying, come in quickly. It's time to eat."

We had dry rice in the morning and pumpkin porridge in the evening. In order to save firewood, the porridge was not thick and the pumpkin was not cooked well.

Sang Qian mainly served rice porridge to the children, but when it was Sang Xuewen's turn, he got a full bowl of pumpkin.

Sang Xuewen didn't dare to say anything and just ate in silence.

While eating, Sang Jingyun took out the twenty-two copper coins that were left after buying salted fish and kelp, and told Sang Qianshi about how he and Sang Jingying had helped someone write a letter today.

"Jingying and I have been writing letters all day today, and our hands are sore." Sang Jingyun opened his fleshless hands.

Although she had read and could read, she had never been able to write so many words in one day.

At this moment, her hand was very painful.

Sang Jingyun was not the type to do good deeds without leaving a name, so she naturally had to tell her family about the situation so that they wouldn't think she was making money easily.

Sang Qian, Sang Xuewen, and Lu Ying all looked distressed. Sang Qian said, "Ayun, grandma will rub it for you later."

"Thank you, grandma. I bought some salted fish and kelp. You can buy some tofu tomorrow so that we can eat better food at home." Sang Jingyun said.

In the past six months, their family has lived a better life than the people in the slums on the other side of the river, but not much better. They may not be able to eat meat once a month, which is a huge difference from before.

The eggs eaten at home during this period were the leftovers from Sang Yuanshan’s funeral.

"Okay." Sang Qian agreed. She felt distressed seeing her grandchildren getting thinner and thinner.

After dinner, Sang Jingyun said, "Grandma, please fetch me some water. I want to wash myself, but I don't have the strength to fetch water."

The basin they use at home now is a wooden basin, which is very heavy. It becomes even heavier when filled with water. She can only lift it with great difficulty.

"Ayun, go inside and rest. Grandma will get you some water." Sang Qian got up and hurried to get hot water.

Sang Jingyun responded and returned to the house where she lived with Sang Qianshi.

She had just rested for a while when Sang Qian came in with a basin of water.

Sang Jingyun took out the silver coin from his bosom and gave it to Sang Qianshi, explaining the origin of the silver coin. He then said, "Grandma, save this silver and use it to pay the rent."

Sang Qianshi continued with red eyes: "How many words did you write today?"

"It's not much, grandma. I'll just wipe my body and go to sleep." Sang Jingyun said.

Sang Jingyun wanted to wash, so Sang Qianshi went out first.

Sang Jingyun closed the door and began to wash his body.

The conditions in that era were really bad. For example, the house they rented had no bathroom. They had to take a bath either in the open air by the well in front or in the house.

As for going to the toilet, there is a toilet in the house, and there is also a pit toilet next to the wall behind the house.

The so-called pit latrine is actually a large vat half buried in the ground with a wooden frame on top. It is very simple.

Fortunately, Sang Qian loved cleanliness and cleaned the house every day, so at least maggots would not grow in the toilet and the pit.

After scrubbing and soaking his feet, Sang Jingyun opened the door to pour water.

An oil lamp was lit on the eight-immortals table outside, and Sang Xuewen was working under the lamp, pasting an envelope with the paste and brown paper given by Manager Hong.

He pasted the paper very slowly but carefully, making the envelope fit perfectly.

Sang Qianshi joined him in pasting the paper: "We need to finish it quickly. When we are done, we can exchange it for three copper coins."

Sang Xuewen responded, his eyes a little red.

When he went out in the past, a servant would carry a bag with several pounds of copper coins and a dozen silver dollars in it, and follow him to help him pay the bills.

At that time, he saw that the beggar threw more than three coins, but now he had to paste three hundred envelopes just for three coins.

It was only now that he realized that three copper coins could buy three kilograms of brown rice, which, when cooked into porridge, was enough for his entire family to eat for a day.

Sang Jingyun took a look and went back to sleep.

She was really tired and was afraid that she would get sick if she didn't get enough rest.

In modern times, being sick and having a fever is nothing, but in this era without antibiotics and with fever-reducing drugs being extremely expensive, it could cost you your life. Sang Jingyun still didn't sleep well that night and woke up twice, but because he slept for a long time, he was in good condition when he woke up the next day.

This morning, Sang Qian cooked some dry rice and steamed some salted fish.

The salted fish bought with one copper coin was not big, but everyone could get a piece. The fish was very salty and went very well with rice.

Sang Jingxiong ate happily: "Grandma, salted fish is so delicious!"

Sang Jingyun glanced at him and felt that if he continued to eat salted fish for several days in a row, he would definitely not be able to eat anymore.

This is normal. Sang Jingxiong is only ten years old. He has always lived a life of luxury. He is not used to his current life.

Sang Jingyun ate a bowl of rice with salted fish and pickled vegetables, and then went to the town again with Sang Jingying.

When they arrived at Manager Hong's place, it was still early, but there were already more than ten people queuing up to write letters for them, saying that they were recommended by their co-workers.

People nowadays get up really early.

This number surprised Sang Jingyun, and he was afraid that he would not be able to finish writing.

She didn't waste any time and just sat down and started writing.

Fortunately, although some people came from time to time, there were not many people. After all, it was not easy for these workers to ask for leave, and not everyone had to write a letter.

With yesterday's experience, Sang Jingyun's letter writing speed became even faster, and he could write three letters in an hour.

Like the aunt yesterday, there are still only a few people who ask her to write a letter of more than a thousand words in one breath. Most people who write to her just want to report their safety and say hello to their families, and there are really not many words.

Sang Jingyun wrote eleven letters in the morning, and Sang Jingying also wrote nine. At this time, the servants of the Hong family came to deliver food.

The person who came to deliver the meal was a middle-aged man. He carried a large lunch box in one hand and a rice bucket in the other, and a boy of about ten years old followed behind him.

The child is a head shorter than Sang Jingyun, and is white and plump. He looks very cute and calls Manager Hong "Grandpa" as soon as he sees him.

Shopkeeper Hong kept calling them "good grandsons", and his love for the boy was beyond words. After greeting Shopkeeper Hong, the boy looked at Sang Jingyun and Sang Jingying without blinking, his eyes full of curiosity.

Sang Jingyun guessed that Manager Hong mentioned himself and Sang Jingying at home, and the child came to see them specifically.

Sang Jingyun knew that Shopkeeper Hong was friendly to her for reasons of self-interest, and that she had approached Shopkeeper Hong before because she actually wanted to establish a relationship with him.

Now seeing Manager Hong’s grandson staring at her, she smiled at him.

The little fat boy felt a little embarrassed and hid behind Manager Hong's counter.

The little fat boy hasn't eaten yet, so there is one more person eating together at noon today.

During the meal, Shopkeeper Hong said to Sang Jingyun, "My child has finished elementary school and plans to take the entrance exam for Minli Middle School. He has some free time recently and will help out in the store."

At that time, primary schools were divided into junior primary schools and senior primary schools. After graduating from senior primary schools, students could take the entrance exam for junior high school.

It usually takes six years to complete primary school, but students can skip a grade if they score 90 or above in Chinese and arithmetic. This little fat boy started school early and had elders teaching him Chinese at home, so he skipped two grades. Like Sang Jingying, he has already graduated from primary school.

The middle school that Sang Jingying planned to apply for was a part-time work and study vocational school, but the Minli Middle School he went to was a school that specialized in teaching cultural knowledge.

Minli Middle School is a four-year program. During the study period, if you have good grades, you can skip grades and take the college entrance examination after graduation.

Sang Jingyun said: "Grandpa Hong, your child has graduated from elementary school at such a young age. He is really smart."

Shopkeeper Hong laughed happily. The little fat man glanced at Sang Jingyun and lowered his head shyly.

Today the Hong family had braised pork with pickled mustard greens, scrambled eggs with loofah, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and chicken soup.

The chicken soup was very light, probably made from a large pot of one chicken, with finely chopped bamboo shoots and sliced ​​shiitake mushrooms in it.

Although the fat boy is small, his appetite is as good as Sang Jingying's and he can eat a lot. While he was busy eating, Manager Hong talked about his own things.

Sang Jingyun finally understood the situation.

The little fat boy has been forced by the Hong family to study and has a somewhat introverted personality. Manager Hong asked him to come to the shop so that he could meet more people and learn from them.

Manager Hong also said that if they were too busy, they could let the fat boy do it.

This is obviously to train the little fat boy.

When the original owner was young, Sang Yuanshan brought him to the shop for training.

(End of this chapter)