Chapter 858: Useless Brother and Father, Get Lost (4)

Chapter 858: Chapter 858: Useless Brother and Father, Get Lost (4)

"Dad!"

Accompanied by the sound of frantic footsteps was a shout from Meng Wengan. He stumbled into the room, interrupting the family’s lunch.

At this time of day, Meng Wengan should have been in school, not yet time to come home for the month. His sudden appearance left the Meng Family stunned, quickly noticing something awry from his anxious face.

"Dad, Dad, you must save your child." Meng Wengan rushed in, collapsed to his knees in front of Meng Chongxi, clutching his leg and weeping bitterly, looking miserable and pitiful.

No one in the Meng Family had ever seen this side of Meng Wengan, except for Qiann Yan, who was deeply worried.

Even though Meng Wengan had failed twice in the scholar exams, his achievement of passing the child student exam at the age of ten was still remembered by everyone.

Many thought he had talent; failing the scholar exam was just bad luck. Surely, passing it after a few more tries was inevitable.

He was just in his early twenties, still had opportunities. Besides, not everyone could pass the scholar exam on the first try.

Especially Meng Chongxi, who had a special fondness for Meng Wengan.

Not only because Meng Wengan had passed the child student exam at ten, but all his hopes were pinned on him. Having taken the scholar exam himself, he knew how difficult it was.

He believed Meng Wengan’s failure wasn’t due to a lack of intelligence but rather insufficient support from the family. Reading was costly.

Meng Wengan didn’t have enough money for better educational resources, having to attend only an average school, making his progress understandably slower than others’.

After Meng Wengan’s two failures, Meng Chongxi announced a family-wide cutback on clothing and food expenses to save money to send him to a school in the county.

However, once Meng Wengan was in the county school, he was quickly enthralled by the colorful distractions of the outside world, leaving no mood for studying.

Each month, he spent the family’s hard-earned savings on indulgence and keeping up with others. During the last courtyard exam, knowing his likelihood of passing was slim due to his leisure pursuits, he feigned illness to get through it.

Meng Wengan’s crying broke Meng Chongxi’s heart.

Mrs. Zhang was indeed worried, but she gradually felt that Meng Wengan wasn’t reliable, so she didn’t question him immediately.

There were many things Mrs. Zhang didn’t dare to say. After all, being a woman in this household offered her no voice.

Many times she wanted to say that Meng Wengan should be over twenty and still wasn’t passing the scholar exams. The family was tightening its belt. If he continued to fail, could they still keep living like this?

However, she didn’t dare, as Meng Chongxi was the head of the family.

She could see how persistent Meng Chongxi was about wanting Meng Wengan to pass the scholar exam.

Mrs. Zhang worried, with her daughter-in-law pregnant, things were slightly better now. At least they could afford an egg once a month.

If Meng Wengan never passed the scholar exam, once the child was born, would they all have to tighten their belts even more?

Many times she wanted to suggest that if he couldn’t pass, it would be better to open a school in the village, take in some students, and surely they’d live better than before.

But she knew saying that would definitely earn her a beating.

Xu Yunniang looked at Meng Wengan’s tearful face, murmuring internally. It seemed only his father thought Meng Wengan would succeed.

"Wengan, get up first, what happened?" In facing Meng Wengan, Meng Chongxi’s stern demeanor softened considerably.

Whenever the family dealt with Meng Chongxi, he always maintained a serious and somewhat authoritative presence.