Chapter 22 Can the private school accept students?

"Sister, I, I really have to write so many big characters?" Xiao Jiayuan thought that since his legs were inconvenient, he would have some free time for a few days, but who knew that Xiao Jiuyue would ask him to practice calligraphy.

"At home, you have to write ten big characters every day. Now that you have arrived in Hongdu, it has been more than two months. How about you make up for the ones you missed before?" Xiao Jiuyue's words fell.

Xiao Jiayuan nodded repeatedly and said, "Sister, I will just write what you assigned." If he really wanted to fill it in, his handwriting would be broken and he was afraid that he would not be able to fill it in.

After Xiao Jiuyue settled Xiao Jiayuan, she went to the main courtyard.

Even in the old house, there is still a rule of greeting in the morning. In the main courtyard, everyone, including the beautiful mother of the first wife, Xiao Yurong and Lan Yi Niang, the mother and son of the second wife, and Aunt Xiao San and Xiao Tingwu of the third wife, are there.

"I don't know if they arrived in Lingnan safely." The beautiful lady didn't sleep well last night and woke up several times.

"According to the walking distance, it's still a while away." Old Madam Xiao twirled her Buddhist beads. Seeing Xiao Jiuyue enter the room, she asked, "How is Jiayuan?"

Xiao Jiuyue stepped forward and bowed, then replied, "Grandmother, Jiayuan's leg will be fine as long as he takes good care of it."

Madam Xiao patted the seat next to her. Xiao Jiuyue sat down and asked Madam Xiao if she was okay. Then she said, "Grandma, I want to go to the county town tomorrow."

Before Madam Xiao could say anything, Meiren's mother had already expressed her concern, saying, "No, Yue'er, it's not safe for you to go to the county." What if that Madam Gan had some bad intentions?

"Mom, I'll bring both Jinwen and Jinwu with me when the time comes, so we'll be fine." Xiao Jiuyue explained, "We've just arrived in Hongdu, so we should go to the county. We don't have much money, and it's late autumn and early winter now. We can't just sit around and eat up all our savings."

Xiao Jiuyue said this in front of everyone after careful consideration. It might cause anxiety among everyone, but it is better than everyone just drowning themselves in sadness and feeling sorry for themselves.

Not to mention Xiao Yurong, because of Shui Yun's matter, she didn't even leave the yard except to pay her respects.

Because of her status, Aunt Lan and Xiao Jiachen also stayed in the yard.

Xiao Tingwu is weak. When he was traveling before, he had been staying in the carriage. Now that he has arrived at the old house, he has been staying in the house, not going out of the front door or the back door. If this continues, Xiao Tingwu's body will only get weaker and weaker.

The weather was getting colder, and the youngest boy in the Xiao family, Xiao Jiahong, was only three years old and even more delicate. Aunt Xiao treated him like the apple of her eye, fearing that he would get sick.

"Jiayuan is seven years old and Jiachen is six years old. It's time for them to start elementary education. I also want to see if there is a private school in the county where I can send them to school." After Xiao Jiuyue finished speaking, Meiren Niang and Aunt Lan looked at her eagerly.

Especially Aunt Lan, when she heard that her Jiachen could also go to school with her, the handkerchief in her hand was almost broken. She wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.

Born into a merchant family, Aunt Lan's greatest wish was to have her children learn to understand reason. For her children's sake, the usually quiet Aunt Lan expressed her deepest concerns, "Three generations of the Xiao family can't take the imperial examinations. Can a private school accept them?"

"Private school and the imperial examination are two different things. They are still young and cannot stop studying just because they can't take the imperial examination in the future."

Xiao Jiuyue was very firm on this point. No male member of the Xiao family could be left out of school and become illiterate. She said, "It's not just Jiayuan and Jiachen. Tingwu's studies must also be kept. When Jiahong grows up, he should go to school too."

Xiao Jiuyue looked at Xiao Tingwu in the corner. Her cold and pale skin made her look like Lin Daiyu who was about to fall ill at any moment.

"Tingwu is not in good health." Aunt Xiao mentioned her daughter with worry in her eyes, because Xiao Tingwu was born prematurely and has been weak since childhood.

"Aunt San, I know Tingwu is weak, but as the saying goes, only when the yang energy is abundant can one be immune to all poisons. Tingwu needs more sun exposure, just like flowers, plants and trees. Without sunlight, how can they thrive?" Since Xiao Jiuyue has taken over the position of housekeeper, she doesn't want the Xiao family to witness the tragedy of an old person sending off a young person.

Aunt Xiao frowned and thought deeply.

Xiao Jiuyue continued, "Aunt San, you can proceed step by step. Today, dry it for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Tomorrow, dry it for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. The day after tomorrow, dry it for another hour. If there's wind, put on a cloak and walk around in the yard more."

After that, Xiao Jiuyue didn't continue. She had said everything she needed to say. If Aunt Xiao San didn't listen, then she couldn't persuade her. She continued to turn the subject back and said, "Grandma, whether it works or not, I'm going to give it a try. If it really doesn't work, I'll ask a teacher to come home and teach them."

"Okay." Madam Xiao glanced at everyone and said, "The Xiao family has suffered a hard fall, but as long as we unite, we can stand up again."

Madam Xiao spun the Buddhist beads in her hand. Her voice was a little old, but full of majesty: "If anyone dares to hold us back, don't blame me for being ruthless."

The room suddenly became as quiet as a chicken.

"Don't be discouraged. Although we are not well-off, we will have enough food and clothing. There are also dozens of acres of land in the old house. It is not difficult to be self-sufficient." Xiao Jiuyue's crisp voice broke the silence.

Madam Xiao was urging everyone, and Xiao Jiuyue gave them hope. She continued, "If we can find some profitable small businesses, grow crops well, and send our three younger brothers to school, our lives will get better and better. There will be a day when the clouds will clear and the moon will shine."

After the beautiful lady and the people from the second and third rooms left, Xiao Jiuyue stood up and walked behind Old Madam Xiao and said, "Grandma, can I give you a shoulder massage?"

"Just say what you want to say." Old Madam Xiao's mind was as clear as a mirror.

"Grandma, just tell me if this massage of my shoulders is comfortable or not?" Xiao Jiuyue gently massaged her shoulders. She chuckled and said, "Grandma, nothing can be hidden from you. I'm going to the county tomorrow, and I want to hear your advice."

"Hmm." Old Madam Xiao closed her eyes. At her age, her shoulders felt uncomfortable after sitting for a long time. But after being pinched by Xiao Jiuyue, she felt much more comfortable. Listening to her gentle voice, she smiled and said, "Didn't you just speak very logically? Those beautiful words were spoken like flowers."

"Grandma, if I'm depressed every day, won't my mother and the others feel even more hopeless?" Xiao Jiuyue tilted her head and said, "I'm serious about sending Jiayuan and Jiachen to a private school. Grandma, what do you think, is it better to send them to a private school or to stay at home?"

Madam Xiao opened her eyes and put away her smile. She put the Buddhist beads in her hand aside and asked instead of answering, "What do you think, Yue'er?"

Xiao Jiuyue's hand paused, and she replied seriously, "My granddaughter thinks that going to a private school is more appropriate for two reasons. First, Jiayuan and Jiachen can make new friends and meet more people, instead of being confined to the old house and worrying about them every day."

Madam Xiao nodded slightly, and listened to Xiao Jiuyue's voice continue: "Secondly, what the Xiao family needs most now is to keep a low profile."