Dare to Bring Home a Vixen

Su Meixiang's words hit Zhang Zhaocai right in the heart. His face flushed red, and he inwardly despised his past self for being so lazy and immature.

Seeing Zhang Zhaocai like this, Su Meixiang spat disdainfully, "Such a hypocrite."

Then she grabbed Zhao's arm and pulled her towards the house.

Zhang Zhaocai chased after them a few steps but stopped, holding the schoolbag Zhao had given him, his head hanging low in helplessness.

Getting beaten at home was a daily routine for him; like a clay Buddha crossing the river, he could barely protect himself, let alone care about Zhao's matters.

"I'm so useless!" Zhang Zhaocai wiped his tears with his sleeve, clutching the schoolbag tightly, murmuring resolutely, "I will study hard and make something of myself!"

He carefully flattened and folded the schoolbag, hid it on his body, then washed his face and headed home.

By now, dusk was falling. Most villagers had gone home for dinner. Passing by Sister Zhu's house, Zhang Zhaocai saw her sitting in the courtyard, affectionately stroking her youngest son's head, with a beautiful new schoolbag slung over little Chengzi's shoulder.

"Chengzi, you must study hard at school and bring honor to your mother," Sister Zhu said with a smile, kissing Chengzi's forehead.

Chengzi snuggled against his mother, holding his new schoolbag, grinning happily, "Mother, the schoolbag you gave me is really beautiful!"

"You must not disappoint your mother's hopes," Sister Zhu said with a smile, patting Chengzi's head. "Come, I bought you a new brush and writing paper. They're precious, so you must take good care of them."

With that, Sister Zhu took Chengzi's hand, and he happily followed her inside the house, hopping along.

Outside the courtyard, Zhang Zhaocai stood silently, watching the mother and son, his eyes full of envy.

After a long while, Zhang Zhaocai slowly walked back home.

When he got home, it was already dark. Qin Sanniang and Zhang Zhuzi were inside. Zhang Zhaocai sneaked into the woodshed, dug under the straw pile where he slept, and found his homemade simple brush, and a wooden frame made from a picked-up stick. When in use, sand would be placed inside so he could practice writing with a wooden stick.

As for paper, Zhang Zhaocai obviously had no money to buy any, so he secretly cut some tree bark, peeled off the rough outer layer, and barely used it as makeshift paper.

He treasured these homemade, crude study tools like precious treasures because his father and Qin Sanniang definitely wouldn't worry about his schooling. The fact that they allowed him to attend school at all was already a huge surprise to Zhang Zhaocai.

"I finally have a schoolbag," Zhang Zhaocai carefully stroked the old bag Zhao had given him, feeling very happy. He put his homemade study tools inside, then carefully hid the bag in the straw. He lay down, curled up, his mind filled with dreams of going to school.

In the nearby room, Qin Sanniang tossed a new piece of clothing to Zhang Zhuzi, munching on melon seeds with a smile. "Village chief Zhang, put on your new clothes so your wife can have a look!"

Zhang Zhuzi chuckled, holding the new clothes. "Sanniang, you really treat me well."

Qin Sanniang laughed and spat, "Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. I married you, so naturally I have to look out for you. Zhang Zhuzi, remember this: you becoming village chief is all thanks to me. When you get successful, don’t be ungrateful. If you dare bring home some fox spirits, I’ll skin you alive!"