Chapter 228 There's no need to be so hard on money

"Dean Lin, you did a great job today. Our young lady is very satisfied." A man handed a purse to Dean Lin and said, "Xiao Jiayuan, you can't stay in the academy any longer."

"Don't worry, Huaixian Academy will never accept him." Dean Lin said with assurance, weighing the purse in his hand, opening it to see the silver inside, and then looking at the several banknotes inside, Dean Lin's eyes narrowed with a smile.

As soon as Dean Lin turned around and looked at Mr. Jiang, he subconsciously hid his wallet in his sleeve. He cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Jiang, why are you walking so quietly?"

Mr. Jiang looked at Dean Lin with a cold face. Disappointment was in his eyes. He said, "Mr. Lin, you have changed."

"Ahem." Dean Lin cleared his throat and said, "I know you're angry about Xiao Jiayuan, but I'm the dean. I don't just have Xiao Jiayuan as my student. There are so many other students. Do I want them to go to school with the son of a traitor?"

"Besides, no matter how well Xiao Jiayuan studies, he is destined to fail in the imperial examinations. Forget about becoming a scholar. He can't even register for the county exam!" Dean Lin said this with great confidence, not feeling that he was wrong at all.

Mr. Jiang took a step back and said, "I heard everything you said just now."

Dean Lin's face changed, and he said, "It costs money to buy books for the academy, and it costs money to buy tables and chairs. Didn't you say before that you wanted to go to the capital to copy more books? Now we don't have to copy them, we can just buy them and give them to the students."

Dean Lin seemed to know what Mr. Jiang was thinking. He smiled, patted Mr. Jiang's arm and said, "Mr. Jiang, I know you think Xiao Jiayuan is a good seedling and learns quickly. However, no matter how well he studies, he won't be able to pass the exam. Why don't you take a closer look at the other students in your class, Mr. Jiang?"

"How about this? Starting this month, I'll give you an extra 800 coins a month. There's no need for us to be so hard on money, right?"

As soon as Dean Lin finished speaking, Mr. Jiang said, "I want to leave Huaixian Academy."

"Jiang Yu, do you know what you're saying?" Dean Lin's eyes darkened as he spoke. "When you returned from the capital in poverty, I was the one who brought you into the academy. Now, you're leaving Huaixian Academy for the son of a traitor? I've inquired about it. The Xiao family is guilty of confiscation of property. There's no good outcome for anyone involved."

"In the beginning, I chose Huaixian Academy instead of Qingyun Academy because of our friendship as classmates. It was because I felt that you and Qingyun Academy were different. I didn't expect that you would do it for money..." Jiang Yu couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes. He took a step back: "If we don't share the same ideals, we can't work together."

"Jiang Yu!" Dean Lin didn't even bother to pretend to be polite. He threatened: "If you leave Huaixian Academy, I guarantee that Qingyun Academy won't accept you either. Where will you go then? Don't forget, your mother has to take medicine every day! Ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum are not cheap."

Jiang Yu turned away and said, "As a scholar, even if he copied books, he could still support his mother."

"Jiang Yu, if you step out of the academy today, I will not let you come back even if you beg me!" Dean Lin shouted angrily.

Jiang Yu paused and turned around.

"There's no need to be so picky about money. We will run Huaixian Academy well in the future, and you can do the same..." Before Dean Lin finished speaking, Jiang Yu left without looking back.

Watching Jiang Yu's departing figure, Dean Lin was so angry that his veins were throbbing. "You've become stupid from studying so much. You don't even want the money you earned. What a noble act! Even if you want to come back in the future, I won't agree!"

Jiang Yu left at a faster pace.

Jiang Yu had just broken up with Dean Lin, and Xiao Jiuyue received the news right after. She listened to Jin Wen's words and said, "Let's go to the county town."

"Miss, it's already dark by the time we get to the provincial capital." Jin Wen looked up at the sky. Fu'an Village is more than half an hour's journey from the county town.

"I was so happy that I lost my mind." Xiao Jiuyue's lips curled up slightly.

At night, the Xiao family gathered together. Aunt Lan's worried expression was written all over her face. She looked at Xiao Jiuyue with eyes that seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"I have good news for everyone. In today's academy competition, Jiayuan and Jiachen both took first place in both the book and math competitions." Xiao Jiuyue's words of praise fell, and Old Madam Xiao was the most flattering, saying, "As expected of children of the Xiao family. Mother Jiang, bring over the two inkstones I prepared."

"Thank you, Grandma."

Xiao Jiayuan and Xiao Jiachen, who received the reward, were very happy holding the inkstone.

Aunt Lan, however, couldn't laugh at all.

Xiao Jiuyue didn't keep the secret and said, "When the village school is built, you two must study hard!"

"Sister, can there be a school in the village?" Xiao Jiayuan originally wanted to say that if he couldn't study, he wouldn't have to go to college, and it would be the same if he went to school at home. But when he heard Xiao Jiuyue say that a school could be built in the village, Xiao Jiayuan's eyes lit up instantly.

"Of course there can be. You just rest at home these days. The teacher will have to check your homework when the time comes." Xiao Jiuyue's words gave Aunt Lan a reassurance. Aunt Xiao looked at her three-year-old Xiao Jiahong with anticipation in her eyes.

Even if he fails to pass the imperial examination, Jiahong can still go to school and won't be illiterate and unable to read!

"Sister, who is our master?" Xiao Jiayuan asked.

"You'll know once you go to school, right?" Xiao Jiuyue kept it a secret and didn't answer no matter how Xiao Jiayuan asked.

Lancang County, Lei family.

"Lei Sanhuo, you've grown up. You dare to say that you don't want to go to school. Let's go to the academy and apologize to the dean now!" Lei's father held a fire stick in one hand and waved towards Lei Yan's back with the other hand.

"I won't go." Lei Yan cried loudly and said, "I don't like Huaixian Academy. Second sister, save me!"

Lei Yan, who was pressed on the bench and beaten with a stick, looked at Lei Yan with tears in his eyes.

"You still dare to ask for help?" Father Lei stared at Lei Yan and said, "Lei Erhuo, tell me, I told you to go to the game, but you even lost your brother's school. Why don't you kneel down now!"

"I won't kneel." Lei Yan stood beside Lei Yan and replied confidently: "Dad, Huaixian Academy is a black-hearted academy. In the past two years, in addition to the tuition, they took 92 taels, 3 qian and 7 fen from the grocery store. With so much money, at most, I can send him to the provincial capital to study!"

"You're talking better than singing. Going to the capital, you're a girl..." Lei Yan retorted before his father finished speaking: "What's wrong with being a girl? Didn't I run a prosperous grocery store and even bought us a bigger house?"

"Lei Erhuo, look at yourself. You don't look like a girl at all. You should be more like your elder sister..."

Just as Lei's father started to speak, Lei Yan interrupted, "If she really is like my eldest sister, she will be bullied to death by her in-laws. Mom, please tell Dad quickly. I'll go get a doctor. Dad hit her so hard, if he breaks a bone, it will be the end."

After saying that, Lei Yan ran out holding up her skirt.