Now that Xue Shao's schooling was brought up again, Zheng Xiu felt that she couldn't just ignore it.

She asked Xue Shao seriously, "Ah Shao, what do you think? Is it okay for you to study with Ah Yu?"

Xue Shao was a little embarrassed to tie up his clothes. He was naturally willing to go with Zheng Yu, but he was a little worried, "I don't know anything, I can't even read."

Zheng Yu quickly patted his chest and assured, "I can teach you. The teacher hasn't finished the Hundred Family Names yet. As long as you work harder, you will definitely catch up."

"Then my father..."

"I'll find a way with your father." Zheng Xiu said. But it's not convenient for her to go back to the village all the time. If she doesn't meet anyone, she will inevitably attract gossip if she waits at Xue's house.

When Zheng Ren came back in the evening, Zheng Xiu told him about the two children.

Zheng Ren did not take the boys' fight to heart. Boys should not be spoiled. If he could not even resolve the small conflicts between classmates, what could he expect from him in the future? Zheng Ren was quite in favor of Xue Shao's study. The child looked smart and clever, and was indeed a promising talent, so he said, "When dad is on leave, I will invite Ah Zhi to dinner, and I will ask him to cook two more dishes."

Zheng Xiu nodded in agreement. It would be good if her father was willing to come forward, and his words would definitely be more convincing than her own.

However, the father and daughter had good plans. Unexpectedly, Zheng Ren asked Xue Shao to go back and tell them something. Xue Zhi asked Xue Shao to tell them that he was very busy hunting in the mountains recently and had no time to attend the banquet.

"So busy?" After hearing Xue Shao's words, Zheng Xiu couldn't help but wonder. It was strange that she didn't see anyone last time she went to Xue's house. Now, he didn't even have time to come for dinner. Xue Shao

said honestly, "I don't know what my father is busy with. He just goes up the mountain frequently recently. When he comes back, he practices boxing in the yard and doesn't go to bed until midnight."

Zheng Xiu went to ask his father for advice again. Zheng Ren thought for a while and said, "It's just the beginning of spring. They are hunters who have rested for a winter. It's normal for them to be busy. How about this? I'll bring some wine and meat to my house on the night of my day off." He had no choice

but to do so.

On the day of the holiday, Zheng Ren bought some wine and meat in the town, and brought a small pot of plum wine from his home to Xue's house.

Xue Zhi was naturally at home in the evening, but he didn't expect Zheng Ren to come to his house in person. He went to the door to welcome him in.

The two of them were already on good terms, and they hadn't had a small gathering for a while, so they naturally had a good chat.

During the meal, Zheng Ren proposed that Xue Shao go to the town to study.

Xue Shao was very nervous listening to him, fearing that his father would not agree, so he rejected it outright.

Xue Zhi looked at his son, who lowered his head and pretended not to care, but was listening attentively and waiting for his reply. He said hesitantly, "It's a good thing to be able to study, but you know, we are not locals, and our household registration is not here..."

Zheng Ren said, "It doesn't matter. I have a good relationship with the teachers in the school. Household registration is not a problem. I also have several students from other states who come here because of my reputation."

Xue Shao timidly raised his head to look at his father, and Xue Zhi happened to look at him. The two of them understood each other tacitly.

"Okay, then I'll trouble you with this matter." Xue Zhi bowed to Zheng Ren, which was considered an agreement.

After Zheng Ren left in the evening, Xue Shao diligently helped to clean up the table. He couldn't help asking his father, "Dad, does it cost a lot to go to school?"

Xue Zhi hadn't thought about this and said, "Probably a lot."

"Then I'd better not go." His family made a living by hunting, and the two of them usually bought food and drink from the town, so they didn't think they could save much money.

Xue Zhi patted his head and said, "Why worry about this, kid? Dad can afford it."

That night, Xue Zhi sorted out the private box on his bedside. After being away for a few years, the money he brought with him had long been used up. But there were still a few things he could pawn.

After choosing and choosing, he picked the most inconspicuous jade fan pendant. This thing was given to him when he was still at home. He forgot whether it was his brother or his sister-in-law. At that time, literature was valued in the capital, and all the young men of noble families would hold a folding fan in their hands, and they could be seen even in winter. When he was young, he also followed the trend and played with fans for two years, and he always carried this thing with him.

Xue Zhi went to the pawnshop early the next morning. He was afraid that the pawnshop owner in the town would not be able to see it, so he made a special trip to the county town. The county town owner saw the green jade fan pendant and knew it was a good thing. He looked at Xue Zhi and saw that although he was dressed simply, he had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and he had an extraordinary demeanor. He did not think much about it, but just asked him whether he wanted to pawn it dead or alive.

Xue Zhi thought about it and realized that this fan pendant would be useless outside. If it was returned home, it would not be worth much, so he just pawned it.

In the end, he got 180 taels of silver.

This was the price that the pawnshop owner could negotiate down, but it was definitely not a small amount.

Xue Zhi took the banknote and went home with satisfaction.

Xue Shao's admission procedures were quickly completed. After all, it was easier to get things done with acquaintances, and this was the case in every dynasty.

The father and son of the Zhengren and Xue family cut some meat, brought some wine, and went to Mr. Wang.

Although he had used the back door, Mr. Wang still wanted to test Xue Shao a little. He asked him some common questions and was relieved to see that he was quick-witted and answered fluently. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to accept stupid students because of connections, which would lower the quality of the entire school.

At that time, the tuition was paid annually and quarterly. Xue Zhi directly paid Xue Shao one year's payment, a total of ten taels of silver. In addition to buying new books, new stationery, and a few decent new year clothes for Xue Shao, a total of twenty taels were spent. It was much less than Xue Zhi expected. He vaguely remembered that when he was young, the teacher hired by his family taught him and his brother, and the tuition for one quarter was three to five hundred taels.

However, in the countryside, and in a school with many people attending classes together, it is naturally not comparable to the families in the capital.

Before Xue Shao entered the school, a small episode happened in the Zheng family.

Mr. Feng personally came to the Zheng family with gifts. He brought his own nephew to apologize. His nephew was none other than Feng Yuan, who had beaten Zheng Yu before. Feng Yuan had a black and blue nose, which was caused by Xue Shao.

Mr. Feng was a middle-aged man with white skin and a round face. He had a beard and looked quite elegant. He came on the day when Zheng Ren was on leave.

Zheng Xiu welcomed the two of them into the main hall.

Mr. Feng smiled and said, "Feng Yuan has lived in the capital since he was young. There are many children in his family. He is particularly naughty. His brother and sister-in-law can't control him, so they sent him back to the town and asked me to take care of him. I didn't expect that he would cause trouble on his first day of school and bump into the young master of the mansion. Is Mr. Zheng here? I will apologize to him in person."

Because Zhu had told Zheng Xiu about the marriage of the Feng family before, and she had seen the greasy and wretched appearance of Mr. Feng, Zheng Xiu had never had a good impression of the Feng family. I didn't expect Mr. Feng to be such a kind person and speak in a proper and detailed manner.

"Dad is out for something, I'm afraid he won't be back for a while."

Mr. Feng was not in a hurry, still smiling, "Then I'll wait here. Let this kid go and apologize to the young master first." He said and gently pushed Feng Yuan away.

Zheng Xiu then called Zheng Yu aside.

Feng Yuan looked reluctant, but still bowed to Zheng Yu politely, "I'll give you a gift to apologize."

Zheng Yu was also not used to it, and said nervously: "No, it's okay, I don't blame you. But don't... don't bully Erbao anymore in the future."

Feng Yuan muttered softly: "I didn't mean to bully him. Who made him so fat and sit in front of me."

"Shut up!" Mr. Feng scolded in a serious voice, "The seats in the school are arranged by the teacher. If you think there is something inappropriate, come back and tell your family, and your family will negotiate with the teacher. How can you make such a fuss!" Feng

Yuan shut up.

Zheng Ren and Xue Zhi were busy with Xue Shao's school admission that morning, and they returned home the next day.

Mr. Feng came after dinner, and when he saw that Zheng Ren was not at home, he waited patiently for a full hour.

Zheng Xiu was not in a position to entertain him, so she served tea in the main hall, went to talk to Old Man Zheng, and asked her grandfather to come and greet him.

Old Man Zheng was a straightforward person. Although Mr. Feng spoke elegantly and did not look like a businessman but a scholar, he had been in business for many years, and his ability to speak to people in a human way and to speak to ghosts in a different way was really extraordinary. He talked endlessly about the farm affairs with Old Man Zheng, an old farmer.

The two chatted all the time, and there was no dull moment.

Later, Zheng Ren came back, and Xue Zhi and his son came back with him.

Seeing that there were guests at home, Xue Zhi wanted to leave.

But Mr. Feng stood up and said, "My nephew was ignorant and beat the young master of the mansion before, so I came to apologize."

Xue Zhi also knew about this matter, and he also knew that the nose of the half-grown boy in front of him was swollen by his son, so it was inconvenient for him to leave, and he also said, "My son also hit him, I am really sorry."

Mr. Feng waved his hand and said, "It was my nephew who started the trouble first, and he deserved to be taught a lesson."

The three of them talked, and old man Zheng felt a little tired, so he went back to the house.

The three of them talked for another two quarters of an hour, and then Mr. Feng took Feng Yuan to say goodbye.

On the way back to the mansion, Feng Yuan pouted and was very unhappy. Didn't he just have a fight with someone? Did his uncle have to bring him along and bring gifts to apologize? Besides, he was the one who was most seriously injured. If other people knew about this, how could he establish his prestige in the school in the future?

"Okay, don't be unhappy." Mr. Feng stopped smiling and comforted him. In fact, he was not born to love laughing. Instead, he was used to having a stern face. It's just that when he didn't smile, he looked quite serious. This was not very pleasing in the business world, so he developed the habit of smiling before speaking in front of people. However, if he was really so harmless in nature, he would have been eaten up by others after years of ups and downs in the business world. Feng Yuan might not necessarily obey him.

"Next month, I'll give you an extra month's allowance for your expenses. Just buy whatever you like." Mr. Feng continued, "Why do you think your parents sent you back? Of course, they wanted you to be a student of Zheng Juren when you were older. But you beat up his son just a few days after you came back!"

Feng Yuan only knew that his family arranged for him to return to the countryside, but he didn't know why. The capital is so good, how could this broken place compare to it.

"It's just a Juren. There are many in the capital." He muttered softly.

Mr. Feng glanced at him with a look of disappointment, and he lowered his head and stopped talking.

There are indeed many scholars in the capital, but how many of them are as talented and famous as Zheng Ren more than ten years ago? Besides, although his family's business is doing well now and his brother and sister-in-law have settled down in the capital, they are a merchant family after all. Which scholar would look up to his family?

On the contrary, this Zheng Juren has real talents and knowledge, and he does not judge people by family background. He accepts students widely. He is the best choice for his sons and nephews to go to school. If it weren't for his only son who was really not up to the standard, it would not be Feng Yuan's turn.