Chapter 490 A Dream of Youth 22

In addition to the corvée labor law, Xie Wangzhi also talked about other newly revised tax laws so that everyone could be informed.

Although there was an unpleasant incident in the morning, everyone at the table was still getting along well. The old lady noticed that A Qiu had put some meat on a plate for the little girls and was about to scold them when the woman sitting next to her spoke first.

"Mother, please try this fish. It was made by my stepmother. She's the best at cooking fish, and this fish is simmered in chicken broth. It's so tender."

The one speaking was Wu, the wife of the second uncle. She had lived with this old lady for decades and knew her temperament better than anyone. However, there were other relatives present, and it wouldn't look good if things got out of hand.

That's why she was placed next to the old lady, so as to shut her up in time.

Xie Ning sat next to Chen Shi, still using the small wooden bowl and spoon she brought from home when she ate. Li Shi, who was on the other side, just snorted coldly in her heart, feeling that Chen Shi looked down on their family.

After Grandfather Xie returned to town with his men in the afternoon, Li complained to her eldest uncle, "That Chen Wanniang is just a merchant's daughter, yet she looks down on our family so much. She even prepared separate bowls and chopsticks for Ning'er. What? Does she think our bowls and chopsticks are dirty?"

The eldest uncle drank two bowls of wine, his face flushed, and he just wanted to go back to bed and lie down comfortably. He didn't want to pay any attention to Li Shi. However, the second uncle heard this and couldn't help but advise, "Sister-in-law, please say less. Ning'er is still young and doesn't know how to use chopsticks. I was afraid that the child would break the porcelain bowl, so I brought a wooden bowl and spoon. Aren't you going to ruin my reputation by saying such things?"

“There are little kids at home, so it’s not like we don’t have wooden bowls and spoons. I think she did it on purpose!” Li continued to rant, feeling increasingly uncomfortable as the disappointment grew.

"What are you going to say to her? Your sister-in-law is upset, so just let her be. Anyway, she won't dare say a word in front of your third sister-in-law."

Liu was never a gentle woman to begin with, and she became even more domineering after her family gained power. If Li dared to say a bad word about her daughter-in-law in front of Liu, she would be scolded by Liu from one end of the village to the other.

After all, Liu doesn't even respect the old lady anymore.

“Wangzhi is going to take the exam. If any bad rumors spread, it will affect not only Wangzhi, but also the entire Xie family.” Second Uncle also sat cross-legged on the couch, picked up a small piece of pale yellow square cake and put it in his mouth.

It has a sweet and pleasant taste, a soft and creamy texture, and a slight elasticity when chewed.

"Did your stepmother send this?"

"Um."

While sewing clothes, Wu saw her second uncle eating one dish after another and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Are you still a child? You eat so much, don't you leave any for Liuya and Sizhu?"

Sizhu and Liuya are their grandsons, only a year or two older than Xie Ning.

Uncle Er, still not quite satisfied, put down his hands and, to avoid losing control, got up and put the pastries into the cupboard.

"My mother-in-law's cooking is really good. We can't usually eat such exquisite and delicious pastries."

"So, to eat someone else's food and then badmouth them behind their back, I just can't do that," Wu said, pointing directly at Li.

Then, as if thinking of something, she laughed out loud again. "But it's no wonder she's angry. After lunch today, my sister-in-law was whispering to my mother in the kitchen, wanting to send her little grandson to Wangzhi for upbringing, saying that she only needs to teach him a few words."

As she spoke, Madam Wu gave a soft hum, "As if she thinks she can't see through her thoughts. She doesn't just want Wuzhu to recognize a few words. She clearly wants Wangzhi to teach Wuzhu like Qi'er."

I don't know what she was daydreaming about. Qi'er is Wang Zhi's biological son, while Wu Zhu is several levels below Wang Zhi.

Even Qi'er was sent to the academy to study.

The second uncle also frowned, "Isn't my sister-in-law too inconsiderate? Wangzhi has already opened a clan school here. As long as the boys in the family go to school, they don't have to pay tuition. Wangzhi also buys all the necessary writing materials."

As for books, there are several at home. You should know that when Wangzhi was studying, he copied books himself. His tuition fees were also earned by him setting up a stall on the street to write letters for people, copying books, and by his third brother and his wife working hard to save up.

"Not to mention the clan, we haven't helped each other much, not even at home. How could my sister-in-law have such thoughts? Giving away her child to be raised by someone else... It's really..."

Even the two uncles didn't know how to comment.

"I suppose she saw that Ning'er was studying, and that's when she got the idea." Earlier, when they were in the main kitchen, Li asked Chen if she wanted Ning'er to study as well.

Since the girls are already in school, why not help the younger siblings in the family?

At least the boys belong to our own family, but no matter how good the girls are, they will eventually marry into another family.

Although Li herself has many daughters and granddaughters, she is still somewhat like the old lady, except that she is not as old-fashioned as the old lady and will not mistreat her daughters and granddaughters.

Second Uncle sighed, "It's best not to meddle in other people's business. Just live your own life. Keep an eye on Sizhu at home. He should be going to the clan school in a couple of years. Have Qingshan take care of him when he has time."

Qingshan is their second son's child and is currently attending a clan school.

Back then, he and his elder brother's sons learned to read and write by following Wang's example. Although they didn't have a natural talent for studying, it was much better than being illiterate.

"What about Liuya?"

"Come along with them. If they can recognize a few words and do numbers up to 100, they won't get ripped off if they want to set up a stall in town to sell things in the future."

As a light rain fell outside the window, the two chatted quietly about everyday matters, their words filled with anticipation for the future.

They lived their lives honestly and never dared to stand out. Now that they had the opportunity, and their own family had already paved the way, they naturally wanted their children and grandchildren to go even further than they had.