Tie Zhu sat by the narrow path that ran through the village, staring blankly at the blue sky. Tie Zhu was not his real name. Because he had been frail since childhood and his father feared he might not survive, he was given this nickname according to local custom.

His real name was Wang Lin. The Wang surname was considered a great one in the nearby villages. Their ancestors had been carpenters, and in the county town, the Wang clan was still well known, owning several shops that sold wooden goods.

Wang Lin’s father was a concubine-born second son of the family. Unable to inherit the clan’s affairs, he had married and settled in this village, leaving the county town behind.

With his fine skills in carpentry, the family lived in modest comfort. They never lacked food or clothing, and even in the village, they were treated with respect.

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From an early age, Tie Zhu had shown remarkable intelligence. He loved to read, his mind always brimming with ideas. In the village, he was almost universally regarded as a child prodigy. Whenever others praised him, his father’s wrinkled face would brighten with a wide, genuine smile.

His mother’s care for him was even greater. From childhood to youth, Tie Zhu had grown up surrounded by his parents’ affection. He knew well how high their hopes for him were. At his age, other children were already working in the fields, yet he remained at home with his books.

The more he read, the more thoughts stirred within him, and with them came a longing for the world beyond the mountain village. Lifting his gaze to the distant end of the path, Tie Zhu let out a quiet sigh, closed the book in his hands, and rose to walk back home.

In the courtyard, his father sat with a pipe between his fingers. Taking a long, deep draw, he looked up as Tie Zhu pushed open the door and asked, “Tie Zhu, how goes your reading?”

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铁柱坐在村内的小路边，望着蔚蓝的天空，神情发呆，铁柱不是他的本名，而是从小因为身体瘦弱，父亲怕养不活，于是按照习俗称呼的小名。

  他的本名叫做王林，王姓在四周几个村落内算是大姓，祖上木匠出身，尤其是在县城，王氏家族也算颇有名气，拥有数个专门卖木制品的店铺。

  铁柱的父亲是家族内庶出的次子，不能接管家族要务，而是在成婚后离开县城，在此地村庄定居。

  由于有一手精湛的木匠活儿，铁柱家境也算小康，吃穿不愁，就算是在村子里，也多受人尊敬。

...----------------...

铁柱从小就极为聪明，喜欢读书，想法很多，几乎是村子内公认的神童，父亲每次听到别人夸奖，脸上的皱纹都会绽开，露出开怀的微笑。

  母亲更是对他关心有佳，可以说从小到大，铁柱都是生活在父母的慈爱之中，他知道父母对他期望很高，别人家的孩子在他这个年纪都已经下地干农活了，可他却在家读书。

  书读的多了，想法自然也就随之而来，对于山村外的世界，他充满向往。抬头望了望小路的尽头，铁柱叹息一声，合上手中书本，起身向家中走去。

  父亲坐在院子里，手中拿着烟袋，深深的吸了一口后，对推门进来的铁柱说道：“铁柱，书读的怎么样了？”

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Tie Zhu replied with a few casual words. His father tapped the pipe against his palm, then stood and said, “Tie Zhu, you must study well. Next year is the county examination. Whether you’ll have a future depends entirely on that test. Don’t end up like me, spending a whole life stuck in this village… ah.”

“Enough of that. You say the same thing every day. If you ask me, our Tie Zhu will certainly pass.” His mother came out carrying the dishes, setting them on the table in the courtyard, and called the two of them over to eat.

Tie Zhu gave a simple acknowledgment, sat down, and carelessly picked at a few bites. His mother watched him with affection, moving the few precious pieces of meat from her own bowl into his.

“Dad, isn’t Fourth Uncle arriving soon?” Tie Zhu looked up as he spoke.

“By the timing, it should be these few days. Your fourth uncle has made more of himself than I ever did. Ah… Wife, have you wrapped up the mountain herbs for him?” At the mention of his younger brother, the father’s expression carried a trace of wistfulness.

Mother nodded, then sighed softly. “Tie Zhu, your fourth uncle is a good man. These past years, it’s thanks to his help that your father’s carvings could sell for a fair price. When you make something of yourself one day, don’t forget to repay your fourth uncle.”

As they were speaking, the sound of a horse rang out at the gate, followed by the rumble of cart wheels rolling across the ground. A hearty voice called from outside.

“Second Brother, open the door!”

Delighted, Tie Zhu rushed to push open the courtyard gate. There stood a sturdy middle-aged man, eyes sharp and spirited. Catching sight of Tie Zhu, he laughed heartily, reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair, and said with a grin, “Tie Zhu, it’s only been half a year, and you’ve already grown taller.”

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铁柱应付了几句，父亲磕了磕烟袋，起身说道：“铁柱啊，你要好好读书，明年就是县里大考了，你以后有没有出息，可就全看这次了，可别跟我一样，这辈子就呆在村子里，唉。”

　　“行了，你天天叨叨，要我说，我们家铁柱一定能考上。”铁柱的母亲，端着饭菜放在院内桌子上，招呼他们父子二人过来吃饭。

　　铁柱哦了一声，坐下后胡乱的拔了几口，母亲慈爱的望着儿子，把不多的几块肉，给他夹过去。

“爹，四叔快来了吧？”铁柱抬头说道。

　　“算算时间，差不多就是这几天了，你四叔比爹有出息，唉，孩儿他娘，给老四准备的山菜都包好了吧？”父亲一提起老四，脸上露出唏嘘之色。

　　母亲点头，感慨道：“铁柱啊，你四叔是个好人，这几年幸亏他帮助，你爹做的木雕才能卖出价钱，你以后要是有出息了，别忘记报答你四叔。”

　　正说着，忽然门外传来马声，接着马车轱辘压地的哗哗声随之而来，一个爽朗的声音在外面响起。

　　“二哥，开门喽。”

　　铁柱惊喜，立刻跑过去把院子大门推开，只见一个精壮的中年汉子，目光炯炯的站在门外，他看到铁柱后哈哈一笑，摸了摸他的脑袋，笑道：“铁柱，这才半年没看到，个子又长高了。”

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Tie Zhu’s parents quickly stood. His father smiled and said, “Fourth Brother, I figured it was about this time you’d arrive. Come in, come in. Tie Zhu, hurry and get a stool for your uncle.”

Overjoyed, Tie Zhu answered at once and dashed into the house. He dragged out a wooden stool and set it by the table, then carefully wiped it with his sleeve before looking up at the middle-aged man with hopeful eyes.

The man gave him a playful wink and teased, “Well now, Tie Zhu, why so diligent this time? I remember the last time I came, you weren’t nearly this attentive.”

Tie Zhu’s father shot him a glare, half scolding, half amused. “This rascal’s been muttering all day about when you’d show up.”

Seeing Tie Zhu’s small face flush with excitement, the middle-aged man laughed. “Tie Zhu, your fourth uncle hasn’t forgotten what he promised you.” With that, he reached into his chest and pulled out two thread-bound books, placing them carefully on the table.

Tie Zhu let out a joyful cheer and eagerly picked up the books, flipping through them with uncontrollable delight.

Tie Zhu’s mother watched her son with a gentle smile, then said to the middle-aged man, “Fourth Brother, your brother talks about you all the time. Stay a few more days this time, won’t you?”

The man shook his head. “Second Sister-in-law, the family has been busy these past days. I’ll have to head back first thing tomorrow. Once this period settles down, I’ll come see you all again.” He then cast an apologetic glance at his second brother.

...----------------...

铁柱父母连忙站起，他父亲笑道：“老四，我约莫时间，你也快来了，快进来，铁柱，还不去给你四叔拿凳子去。”

　　铁柱高兴的应了一声，急忙跑回屋子，拿出一个板凳放在饭桌旁，用袖子认真的擦了擦，希冀的望着中年汉子。

　　中年汉子冲他眨了眨眼睛，打趣道：“铁柱，这次怎么这么勤快啊，我记得上次我来的时候，你可没这样啊。”

　　铁柱父亲瞪了铁柱一眼，笑骂道：“这小兔崽子，刚才就在叨叨你是不是快来了。”

中年汉子看到铁柱小脸微红，笑道：“铁柱，你四叔可没忘记答应你的东西。”说完，从怀来拿出两本线状书，放在桌子上。

　　铁柱兴奋的欢呼一声，拿起书翻看一下，喜不自禁。

　　铁柱他娘慈祥的望了眼自己儿子，对中年汉子说道：“老四，你哥平时总念叨你，这次多住几天吧。”

　　中年汉子摇头道：“二嫂，家族这段日子事情多，我明儿一早就要赶回去，等这段时间忙完了，我再来看你们。”说完，他歉意的看了看自己二哥。

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