Master Qian pondered for a moment: "You say you've studied the Four Books on your own and know a little about classical studies, then let me ask you..."

Master Qian asked a few of the most basic questions.

Ye Xuan thought for a moment and then answered based on his understanding.

Master Qian raised an eyebrow.

Clearly, the annotations of the Four Books and Five Classics were all memorized by rote, and the way he answered the questions was also... very much in Zhao Jinshan's style.

This level of skill is terrible!

But they all learned through their own exploration and with the help of Zhao Jinshan, that idiot. They've already achieved a good level.

He has great potential.

Moreover, even after his studies were interrupted, he continued to study on his own, which shows that he is a hard worker.

Master Qian liked people who could endure hardship the most.

With a little effort and some extra tutoring after class, he should be able to catch up quickly.

He nodded: "The tuition is two taels of silver per month. You'll stay here, and meals will be provided three times a month. You'll have two days off per month, each lasting a day and a half. You'll need to bring your own bedding and clothes, and you'll also need to wash your own clothes. Is that acceptable?"

Ye Xuan was overjoyed: "I'm willing."

Master Qian nodded, then looked at Ye Peng: "And you, what have you studied?"

Ye Peng looked embarrassed: "I...I never went to school. But I can recite the Thousand Character Classic and write characters, although I'm not very good at it..."

All the descendants of the Ye family are literate.

Ye Caiping learned to read from her two older brothers.

The grandchildren all learned from Ye Xuan; they can even write the "golden flower" and "silver flower" characters. It's just that their writing is ugly, like chicken scratch.

Master Qian asked, "Have you ever been exposed to classical studies?"

"No." Ye Peng lowered his head.

Master Qian was at a loss for words: "Why don't you go to a primary school?"

"No!" Ye Peng cried, almost to the point of despair. "I don't want to study with a bunch of kids! It would be so embarrassing!"

As he spoke, he looked at Ye Caiping as if pleading for help.

Ye Caiping coughed lightly and looked at Madam Wei: "Second sister-in-law, what do you think? I think Peng'er should go back to school for his early education, or find someone to teach him the basics?"

Lady Wei frowned. The more capable the teacher, the better. How could they possibly look for someone lower up?

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Isn't Xuan'er trying to catch up on the basics? Although Peng'er isn't as good as Xuan'er, Peng'er isn't stupid, he can always catch up."

Ye Caiping didn't quite agree with Wei Shi, but since this was her son, she couldn't say anything: "Master Qian, do you think you could also teach Peng'er?"

Master Qian considered it for a moment and then nodded:

“Alright. I’ve taught kids before, it’s not difficult, just a bit of effort. When classes start, Ye Xuan can attend with Jin Shan and the others. Ye Peng can have a separate room to catch up on the basics first.”

"Thank you, Master," Ye Caiping said repeatedly.

"When do you have classes?"

"Tomorrow!" Ye Xuan said urgently, his mind was completely focused on going to school.

Seeing his eager look, Master Qian smiled and said, "Alright. We have to start our morning reading at 6:30 tomorrow morning, so you can move over later!"

"Thank you, Master."

"Master, where do they live? Will they live with me?" Zhao Jinshan asked excitedly.

"Okay, I'll live with you!"

Zhao Jinshan was overjoyed and wished he could pick up Master Qian and kiss him.

Ye Caiping chatted with Master Qian for a few more minutes, paid her tuition, and then the group took their leave.

Before leaving, I visited the academy one last time.

It's actually just an ordinary two-courtyard house.

There were five students in the academy, who lived in the back room of the first courtyard.

Two students share a room. Zhao Jinshan used to have a room by himself, but now with Ye Xuan and Zhao Jinshan, it's three people sharing a room.

The second inner courtyard was where Master Qian lived, and there was a room in the west wing used by the students for classes.

They ate in the main room with their teacher and his wife.

There was a servant responsible for cleaning and cooking.

After leaving the academy, Ye Caiping took the two of them to the cloth shop.

I bought two sets of gray-white scholar robes for the two of them, and one set of writing implements for each of them.

Looking at the robe, Ye Peng felt both happy and a little embarrassed. From this day forward, he would be a scholar.

Back home, Du and Wei immediately packed their things for the two men to stay in, and then went to town with them when Ye Bajin delivered goods that evening.

By the time the two left in the oxcart, it was already dark.

Ye Caiping stood at the door, watching the shadow gradually disappear into the distance, and let out a soft breath.

Another important task has been accomplished. I hope they can all continue on this path and have a bright future.

"Little sister, thank you." Madam Du turned to look at Ye Caiping, her eyes slightly red. "Xuan'er can finally continue his schooling."

Ye Caiping blushed slightly: "Sister-in-law... uh, you're welcome."

This woman is really carefree!

How could you forget that it was the original owner who caused Ye Xuan to drop out of school?

It's only right that she takes Ye Xuan to school now; there's no need to thank her at all.

But Ye Caiping was too lazy to bring up these grudges again. Forget it, there was no need to mention them. In the future, a harmonious and happy family was more important than anything else.

"Sister-in-law, let me ask you..." Ye Caiping thought for a moment before speaking, "What do you think about Xiuxiu and Yong'er's situation?"

Du's smile froze instantly, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Hmph, I'd rather die than become in-laws with that Hu guy."

"Speak your mind."

Madam Du choked, feeling quite frustrated: "I don't want to marry into the Hu family, but I don't want Yong'er to suffer in love..."

She's conflicted right now, unsure of what to do or what the right decision is.

"So that means you'll accept whatever the outcome is?" Ye Caiping asked.

Mrs. Du choked for a moment, but finally nodded: "Let it be!"

Having said that, he didn't want to talk anymore and turned to go inside.

The next morning.

Ye Caiping carried a small bowl of spicy soup to Zhao Tieniu's house.

"Hey, Caiping, come in quickly!" Tie Niu's wife was hanging clothes to dry in the yard. As soon as she saw her, she pulled her into the house: "How are your Xuan'er and Peng'er?"

“I went into the mountains with you yesterday to find Master Qian, and we moved there last night. It’s all thanks to your family going into the mountains that we found such a good teacher. This is some hot and sour soup I just made this morning. I’m bringing it to you to try, sister-in-law.” Ye Caiping put the hot and sour soup on the table.

Tie Niu's wife said happily, "This... haha, sister, don't blame me for being blunt, I've wanted to try it for a long time. I won't say any more polite words, just give it to me and I'll take it. When my father comes back from the mountains, we can have it for lunch."

Ye Caiping liked dealing with such straightforward people: "You should keep it!"

Tie Niu's wife brought the spicy soup to the kitchen and poured it into her own large bowl.

After washing the basin clean, I took it out and put it on the table.

Tie Niu's wife sat down and placed a bowl of sun-dried melon seeds on the coffee table between them: "Sister, you came here... not just to bring me spicy soup, right?"

"Hmm." Ye Caiping grabbed a handful of melon seeds and leaned closer to her: "Is the Hu family living in the back room?"

"Of course, it's Xiuxiu and her brother, and Xiuxiu's mother. You've asked around and found out they are..." Tie Niu's wife said, her face full of gossip, lowering her voice, "They want to propose marriage to Ye Yong?"