Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Can I marry the poor Xu boy?

Qin Run counted, "There are quite a few. They are all those whose parents gritted their teeth and sent them to school because the clan leader and other elders thought they were smart and clever."

In other words, for a "fool" like Qin An who is taciturn in public, even if Qin Run has money to send him to school, the teacher may not accept him.

When these teachers recruit students, they not only value the students' intelligence, but also their reputation. If the students have a bad reputation, it will sometimes affect the reputation of the teacher and even the entire school.

"Dadan and Erdan are also going to school?" Xu Yunfan thought, Dadan and Qin An have a good relationship. If Dadan goes to school, won't Qin An be left alone?

Ever since he decided to stay, Xu Yunfan has treated Qin An as his own brother. As an older brother, he naturally wants to give his brother the best of everything that others have.

Qin Run shook his head. "They didn't go, but next year Brother Qin might send Erdan."

"Huh?" Xu Yunfan was a little stunned. "Isn't Erdan two years younger than Dadan? Aren't Second Brother Qin and the others sending Dadan off?"

Qin Run: "Da Dan is the older brother. If Qin Er Ge and the others don't want to send him, let Er Dan go."

After thinking about it, Xu Yunfan understood.

The villagers were not as wealthy as the families in the town or the capital. Although there were no rules in the Great Yan Dynasty that prohibited boys and girls from attending school, most people still felt that girls and boys would get married sooner or later and belong to someone else's family in the future. Married girls and boys were like spilled water, and if conditions did not allow, they would naturally be reluctant to spend the money to send them to school.

It’s different for boys. If you send them to school and pass the exams, and become successful in the future, it will bring honor to the family and make them famous.

Even if I fail to pass the imperial examination, it's good to know a few words so that I don't have to be illiterate like them in the future. It will also give me face when I tell others about it.

It’s different for the wealthy families. First of all, they don’t lack that little bit of money.

Secondly, their daughters and sons can read and write, which will not only help them marry well and have a good reputation in the future, but also make them respected by others.

As a modern person, Xu Yunfan understands the importance of reading and literacy.

He never thought about how sending Qin An to school would bring him honor in the future, and he certainly didn't think about how well Qin An would marry in the future just because she could read. He just simply felt that it was very important to learn more, broaden one's horizons, understand things, and distinguish right from wrong.

Thinking of this, Xu Yunfan suddenly thought, what about Qin Run? Can he read?

"What about you? You've never been to school before? You can't read?"

"I can read a little."

Qin Run explained anxiously, "My father taught me before. Although I didn't go to school, I can recognize some characters."

Being literate can be said to be the only advantage that distinguishes Qin Run from other guys in the village. He is eager to let Xu Yunfan see his advantages. Although he is not good-looking, he is not completely without any special talents except that he is strong and can do farm work that everyone in the village can do.

Qin's father was a student, and although he was not good at farm work, he was more than capable of teaching Qin Run.

In addition, Qin Run is smart. Although he can't remember everything he reads, he can remember it after being taught once or twice.

For this reason, Qin Run still recognizes a lot of words.

"You can read?" Xu Yunfan was slightly shocked. "Then let's save some money and send An Ge'er to school when it opens next time. If An Ge'er can't read, what will he do in the future?"

Xu Yunfan really couldn't imagine that Qin An, who was only seventeen or eighteen years old, couldn't read a single word, and got married and had children at such a young age. The outside world was so big, even if she couldn't go there, it would be better to know a little about it than not being able to leave the town like this.

When Xu Yunfan was picking corn in the field, he heard other people chatting and learned which girl or boy had married into the town, which man the other party married, and what kind of business the other party was in. The man's family was so well-off, which meant that the girl or boy had married a very good man and would never have to work in the fields again.

Having been in the village for so long, he knew that his face was attractive to people of all ages. Whenever the little girls and boys saw him, they would all look at him shyly and affectionately, staring at him furtively.

He even saw that when those aunts and ladies saw their daughters and sons showing admiration for him, they would pinch them with a look of disappointment on their faces and scold them not to look at them anymore.

It seems that if they look at me for one more moment, they will be bewitched by me.

One time, when he was pushing corn back, he overheard the aunties advising their daughters, "Don't look at him. It's true that Xu is handsome, but no matter how handsome he is, without money, can you follow him and eat the wind to fill your stomach?"

"He's an outsider, he has no land, he's very delicate, and although he can push a cart, he has no power or influence. Once he sells the cart, how long do you think he can keep it?"

"Aren't there enough villagers who envy him? But why don't they have that kind of thought? Do you think that having a skill can really make you worry-free for the rest of your life? Child, don't be so naive. Look at Aunt Bean. She's not the only one in town who can make tofu, but she doesn't dare to sell it in town. Why?"

"Did you hear about a family in the next village being silenced overnight a few years ago? You're young and may not remember it, but I remember your mother clearly."

That family had an ancestral craft, and the dishes they made were fragrant and delicious. It was said that their ancestors had even produced an imperial chef. However, because they were unwilling to sell the secret recipe, their family was wiped out overnight.

Aunt Dou was also timid. She was afraid that people would steal her secret recipe, so she didn't even dare to take the tofu to the town to sell. Little did she know that there were several small vendors selling tofu in the town.

Xu Yunfan knew that the auntie was not trying to scare people, and some things were not groundless rumors.

Without power and influence, even if you have a secret recipe and money, you may not be able to keep it.

Xu Yunfan didn't care what other people said, but this aunt's words sounded a wake-up call for him.

The first bird to stick its head out gets shot, so it’s better for him to keep a low profile now.

At first, Xu Yunfan thought so, but after hearing that Qin An had no money to go to school and that paper was so expensive, Xu Yunfan knew that he should find a way to earn more money.

This family is too poor and there is no money saved. Xu Yunfan always feels uncomfortable.

Before going to bed that night, Xu Yunfan counted the things he needed to buy in town the next day. "Qin Run, where do you think we can build the kiln without taking up too much space?"

Qin Run thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we build it next to the kitchen? It's close to the courtyard wall and we don't go there very often."

Xu Yunfan said indifferently: "It's all right. Wherever you say, it's fine."

It could be heard that there was a hint of tiredness in Xu Yunfan's voice. Qin Run fell silent and moved the fan in his hand a little closer to Xu Yunfan, trying to make Xu Yunfan cooler so that he could sleep better.

On this hot summer night, with Qin Run fanning the wind for him and a tiring day, Xu Yunfan was very sleepy even though it was still early and fell asleep in no time.

After Xu Yunfan fell asleep, Qin Run did not stop fanning immediately, but continued to fan for a long time. When Xu Yunfan fell asleep, he got up and opened the window wider, trying to make the stuffy room cooler.

After finishing his work, Qin Run carefully and gently lay back down next to Xu Yunfan.

Qin Run could hear Xu Yunfan's very regular breathing, and as he listened, he felt inexplicably relieved.

In the past, there was only him and eight-year-old An Qin at home. Qin Run seldom dared to fall asleep at night. He was afraid that if he accidentally slept too deeply, he would not know when the house was robbed.

Plus, he's still a boy, even if he's ugly, he's still worried about being...

Qin Run is quite strong, but two fists cannot defeat four kicks.

In the past, every night, Qin Run would check whether the gate to the courtyard or the door to the room was closed before going to bed.

Because he was too scared, every time he lay down on the bed and prepared to sleep, he would forget whether he had closed the door, and he had to get up again to check before he dared to continue sleeping.

Now, with Xu Yunfan here, even though Xu Yunfan looks a little like a boiled chicken, he is still a man after all, and can support half of this family. In short, with him around, Qin Run inexplicably feels a long-lost sense of security.

Listening to Xu Yunfan's breathing, Qin Run thought for a while and soon fell asleep.

The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, Xu Yunfan was gently nudged by Qin Run. Xu Yunfan let out a muffled sound, "Hmm?"

Well, it’s over. Xu Yunfan turned over, not forgetting to pull Qin Run’s pillow between his legs, and continued to sleep.