Chapter 95
Yingxiang wasn't too surprised. She calmly sat on the bed and waited for the system upgrade to complete. Not long after, several large golden characters suddenly popped into her mind.
"The check-in system has been upgraded."
"Starting today, if the host does not choose to sign in on the day, the system will automatically send the default reward for the day to your backpack."
"You will be entering the check-in shop shortly. Please wait a moment."
Yingxiang thought this upgrade was pretty good. Even if she couldn't sign in every day in the future, it wouldn't matter. She could just check her inventory when she had time. She just didn't know what the default daily reward would be.
A pile of clothes and jewelry kept flashing through her mind. Yingxiang finally chose a few better pieces of brocade and put them into her system inventory.
She couldn't wear it now, but she could pawn it later to get money. Overwhelmed by drowsiness, Yingxiang couldn't keep her eyes open. She took off her cotton robe and quickly fell asleep.
Early on the first day of the Lunar New Year, there were few vendors outside, and the streets were very deserted.
In stark contrast, the temple was bustling with activity, with many worshippers coming and going, mostly with their families. Wen Shi carried her son in her arms as she walked step by step toward the main hall in the center.
Everyone came to offer incense to the Bodhisattva, praying that in the new year, God would bless the whole family with good health and all things going smoothly.
This temple is not very famous in the capital, but since it is located in the capital, it must have a lot of worshippers.
The little guy wrapped his arms around his neck, watching the people coming and going around him. If Yingxiang hadn't stayed up all night yesterday, she definitely would have followed along.
He and his son offered incense with great devotion, and then went to the backyard to prepare some vegetarian noodles.
I heard the vegetarian food at this temple is mediocre, but since we were already there, and it was almost noon when the sun came out, the weather was still freezing.
Wen Shi carried her son to the backyard. With a casual glance, she spotted a small black cat lying under the eaves. The little guy immediately pointed at it and mumbled a bunch of things.
He understood. He wanted to go and take a look. The sunlight shone on the little black cat's belly. It lay lazily under the eaves. Some passersby would squat down to pet it, while others would just walk past.
Wen Shi carried his son over and let him pet the kitten. When he saw his son reach out to hug the cat, he immediately stopped him. "If it scratches or bites, that would be bad. It's the first day of the new year, so it's best to avoid any accidents." He picked up his son and strode towards the backyard.
"Brother Wen."
A familiar voice rang out, and upon hearing it, his eyes widened slightly. He turned around, and sure enough, it was Hu Yong'an.
"Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."
Hearing this, Hu Yong'an was not alone. Behind him was a slender, beautiful, and dignified woman, who was also leading two children who looked to be about the same age, with the one on the left being half a head taller than the one on the right.
"This must be your son. He looks like a cute and well-behaved child."
Hu Yong'an's gaze fell on Wen Shi's arms, looking at the fair-skinned, chubby Wen Leqian dressed in new clothes, and he praised him.
"Call him Uncle."
"uncle."
"well."
"This is my wife, Madam He, and these are my two sons, one seven years old and the other five and a half years old."
The Hu family was very wealthy, but the two children looked rather thin and small. He was puzzled but didn't ask. He put the children down from his arms.
Raising children is difficult, and it wasn't easy for the couple to raise Wen Leqian to his current state. They have always provided him with plenty of food and clothing, and the child is very healthy and has rarely been sick.
The group went to the backyard to eat noodles. Madam He was quiet and polite, and looked like a lady from a well-to-do family. Wen Shi had a good impression of her. Thinking back to the first time he met Hu Yong'an, the contrast between the two couple was quite significant.
"Brother Wen, your wife didn't come?"
After everyone was seated, Hu Yong'an asked a question.
"She has things to do at home."
"Brother Wen, you are truly a good father."
Hu Yong'an's gaze fell on Wen Leqian. He remembered Wen Shi asking about the school earlier. Wen Shi smiled, patted his son's head, and didn't say anything.
During the meal, Wen Shi finally understood why Hu Yong'an's two children were not particularly tall or well-built, even though the Hu family was not short of money and had plenty of delicious food.
But this couple actually let their two children share a bowl of vegetarian noodles.
You have to understand, vegetarian noodles are not plentiful to begin with, and his two children are older than his son, yet they eat less than he does.
Of course, he didn't say it out loud. Every family has its own way of raising children, as long as the child is healthy.
When Wen Shi saw that her son had finished eating, she brought him another bowl.
Hu Yong'an was taken aback, then his lips moved slightly: "Brother Wen, children shouldn't eat too much, or they'll get sick and be difficult to raise. Less food keeps them healthy, and good health leads to longevity. Our whole family follows this rule."
He remained silent, which clearly indicated his agreement.
Wen Leqian seemed to understand, and subconsciously hugged his bowl with his hands.
"He's still growing."
He responded upon hearing this.
"Then you should control it even more, Brother Wen, you're being a bit unconventional."
Hu Yong'an spoke earnestly, and then began to give Wen Shi examples, saying how his grandparents ate very little when they were young, but now that they are old, they are very healthy.
Wen Leqian held the bowl in one hand and unconsciously sped up his eating.
Wen Shi chuckled inwardly upon seeing this scene.
"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Hu. However, my family is poor. When I was young, I often went hungry. The feeling of hunger is unbearable. He was also naughty at home, running around. He never had indigestion or got sick."
There's no right or wrong, but Wen Shi doesn't agree with the idea of starving a child to ensure their healthy growth.
Putting aside other things, he has clearly felt much healthier in the past few years and has hardly been sick, all because he can eat his fill and eat well.
Back then, his family was poor, and it was good enough if they could fill their stomachs. He was extremely prone to heatstroke in the summer and often felt dizzy. If Hu Yong'an's point of view is correct, he shouldn't have been like this back then.
If the family has the means, let the child eat as much as he wants, and encourage him to move around more to aid digestion; he'll grow up healthy.
There's no need to argue about differing philosophies, that's what Wen Shi thought. Hu Yong'an sighed, then said, "Brother Wen, you really are a loving father, but children can't be spoiled; they need to be stricter."
He's still young.
After finishing the last bite of noodles, Wen Shi put the bowl and chopsticks aside. He believed that his way of raising children was correct. He would not spoil them in terms of character, but there was no need to spoil them in terms of food.
Thinking about Wen Shi's situation, he never travels by carriage. Now, he seems to care about raising children, but he doesn't pay much attention to their daily lives. Hu Yong'an thought about it and understood.
It's not easy for anyone. Wen Shi wasn't as lucky as him, born into wealth and never having to worry about food or clothing.
After the meal, the two parted ways. There were many people in the temple, so Wen Shi took the child out and let him walk on his own.
He can walk too. Yingxiang took him with her a while ago, and he walked by himself every day. The couple has a lot in common when it comes to raising children. When they got home, Yingxiang was already up.
After eating and drinking her fill, she sat under the eaves basking in the sun. When her son came home, he rushed into her arms, and Yingxiang hugged and kissed him.
Wen closed the door and thought that although the couple had been together recently, they hadn't communicated much; Yingxiang had been too busy.
He sat down beside her and told her what had just happened.
“I think there’s no problem with the saying that eating less can lead to a long life. But my husband, this saying might be more applicable when he becomes a father or grandfather in the future. Right now, he needs to grow, so we definitely can’t let him go hungry.”
Wen Shi nodded.
“After the Lantern Festival, I will continue to work, and he will go to school.”
Yingxiang had no objection to this. She was destined to be very busy this New Year. For the next few events, she stayed in the store to keep an eye on things and didn't slack off at all.
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
On the morning of the 16th, Wen Shi helped his son get dressed and tidied up, let him go to the toilet, and then took him out.
"I'll take some time to visit him at noon, don't worry."
Yingxiang nodded. She definitely couldn't get there; it was too far.
"Sweetie, go to your studies. Be good and don't misbehave. Your father will bring you back this afternoon."
The little guy seemed to understand, but not quite. After seeing the father and son off, Yingxiang, who had stayed up all night, went straight back to her room to sleep.
When she woke up, she was going to the teahouse. The play for the New Year was really well-arranged. She had already thought of a new play and was about to start preparing for it.
She has earned quite a bit from these few shows, and optimistically speaking, her income this year might even exceed her expectations.
These shows have certainly made a lot of money. The teahouse has become quite famous in the capital, and now many curious customers are coming to watch.
If there's no play to perform, then let the storyteller take over. As long as someone comes over, they'll at least have some tea.
To celebrate, Yingxiang didn't mince words and directly rewarded all the performers with some copper coins, which was the most practical thing to do.
After arriving at the school, Wen Shi paid his tuition and gave the teacher five catties of meat that he had bought in advance as a gift. The child was still young, but he looked quite big. His teacher looked very young and kind.
Following Wen Shi's instructions, the little guy behaved quite well when he became a disciple. After arranging his seat, he stayed in the classroom while Wen Shi prepared to go to the Hanlin Academy.
Of course, this classroom is full of children who were sent to school this year, so there are naturally some who cry and make a fuss. Wen Shi thought her son was already very young, but she didn't expect there to be others who were about the same age as her.
Just as he was about to leave, his sleeve was suddenly grabbed.
"father."
"Listen to me, you will study here from now on."
It was getting late, and Wen Shi didn't want to be late. When the teacher saw this, he immediately came over. He looked at Wen Leqian with a confused expression. Wen Shi said he was four years old, but he should actually be only three.
But this child is really good-looking, he looks about five or six years old, so he must be smart.
"Your father will come to see you at noon."
Wen Shi softened his tone and looked at the children in the classroom. In the end, Wen Leqian let go. Before the New Year, Wen Shi had intentionally or unintentionally started talking to him.
But he's still young, and there are some things he doesn't understand.
After Wen Shi left, he glanced back at the school gate and then strode towards the Hanlin Academy.
Compared to his own past, his son is undoubtedly much luckier.
“I am Master Xu, please sit here.”
Xu Xiucai, who became a teacher last year, was planning to earn money for two years before continuing his studies. He was very patient and knew how to coax children.
He told the children to sit still while he began to talk incessantly. He talked a lot, but no one paid any attention to him. Many of the children were drowsy and cried and fussed, calling for their parents.
During this time, the school principal came to visit several times, only telling Master Xu to be careful and not let any children fall or get hurt. He said to teach the rules slowly and let the children learn to recognize the characters slowly, and not to rush things.
Next door, the children who had been reading for two or three years were very well-behaved, and their clear reading voices could be heard from time to time. Wen Leqian seemed to understand but not quite, and he sat there for the whole morning.
At noon, Wen Shi came to see him. He was sitting and eating. The food was simple, but it looked quite appetizing.
In unfamiliar places, even if some children are naughty, they dare not act recklessly.
"Listen to your teacher. Dad will pick you up this afternoon, and we'll go home together. Mom is busy at the shop."
"good."
The little guy nodded, and Wen Shi felt much relieved upon seeing this. His eyes were red, so he must have been crying, but probably not for long.
After watching Wen Shi leave, the little guy continued eating with his spoon. He wasn't picky about food and ate whatever was given to him. He would occasionally glance at the child next to him who was complaining about the lack of meat, just as if he was watching for fun.
After Yingxiang had slept enough, she went to the shop, but she seemed somewhat absent-minded.
"Shopkeeper, has something happened?"
Granny Yang was busy running around when she saw Yingxiang like this, so she immediately went to her side.
“I was a little worried about this child’s first day at school.”
"It's okay. Even if they cry and fuss, it will only last for ten days at most, and they will get better gradually. That's how it was with my two sons. The older one didn't finish school, but the younger one did better."
Granny Yang seemed to have a lot of experience.
Yingxiang agreed to send him there, naturally for his own good. To put it bluntly, she could go back, but Wen Leqian could not. He could only adapt to this dynasty and make a living here. She would not object to Wen Shi's arrangements, as it was all for the sake of the child's future.
If one can succeed through education, at least one won't go hungry.
"When would you like to rehearse the new play?"
Everyone is just trying to make a living and earn money.
"We can start in three days. This time it's not difficult. If all goes well, we can go on stage after five days of rehearsals."
"well."
"I've had quite a few people coming for tea these past two days, and many have asked me if they want to see a show."
In the afternoon, Yingxiang closed her shop an hour earlier than usual and went home early. The temperature has risen a bit now, and it's not so cold during the day.
She prepared the meal in advance, waiting for Wen Shi to bring the child back.
Wen Shi left the Hanlin Academy and headed straight for the school without stopping. After picking up his son, he saw that he was in good spirits and could do anything.
He asked a few questions.
How is it at school?
The little guy glanced at him and shook his head.
He only ate lunch, and spent the rest of the time sitting. He wanted to go out and play, but his husband wouldn't let him, insisting that he sit. When sitting wasn't comfortable, he started standing, and then his husband made him sit again. That's how the day went.
Wen Shi didn't expect him to learn anything right now, just to adapt. She didn't ask any more questions, and he went back without crying or making a fuss.
Once home, the little guy looked at Yingxiang and immediately hugged her leg, refusing to let go.
Yingxiang asked a few questions, but he neither said yes nor no.
The next morning, Wen Shi helped him get dressed, and he ran into Yingxiang's room, hugged her tightly, and wouldn't let go, his little face full of resistance.
"No, no, I'm not going."
He kept muttering to himself.
"I'm not going with Dad, I'm going to the shop with Mom."
Wen Shi wouldn't spoil him; she quickly pulled him into her arms.
"I'll take him there first; the food is in the pot."
"good."
Hearing the child crying, Yingxiang frowned. She ate a little something, tidied up, and went to the shop. It wasn't that she was heartless; the child was growing up, and there was no one at home to look after him. Wen Shi clearly had high hopes for him, and the path he had chosen for him was naturally the best.
As for the future, when he grows up, he may have choices. As parents, we all hope that our children will have a good life in the future.
The child cried quite a bit on the way, but passersby were used to it. There were also many crying children in the school. So, Wen Shi put him down and left.
Once the gate is closed, the children can't run out.
This went on for several days. After half a month, he became obedient and stopped resisting. He obediently followed along and smelled the food. At the same time, the store's new show was also launched.
Seeing even more customers than before, Yingxiang was in a good mood. The child would eventually adapt, and she should focus on making money.
That evening, Yingxiang counted her earnings for the day, which amounted to a full six and a half taels of silver. She couldn't be happier.
The play usually starts in the afternoon or evening. Everyone has their own things to do during the day, so if you really have nothing to do, you can listen to the storytelling while waiting.
While the money exchange was still open, Yingxiang and Granny Yang went to exchange money. The copper coins were heavy and difficult to carry, but fortunately, the people of the capital were all very wealthy, and there were countless rich people, so hers didn't stand out.
Before we knew it, it was mid-March.
Spring is here, everything is reviving, the bare branches are sprouting new buds, the sunny and comfortable weather makes people feel very happy, and the forsythia is also dressed in light spring clothes.
He woke up early that day and looked at his wife.
"My wife, I have a day off in two days. Let's take Leqian to the countryside for a spring outing. I heard the scenery there is beautiful, and the lake water has already thawed."
Yingxiang didn't refuse; life should be enjoyed, and she didn't have anything else to do that day.
The child was sitting in the yard eating breakfast. He looked a little thinner and taller recently.
In Yingxiang's view, her son has gradually transformed from a baby into a young boy, and she has witnessed his changes, which makes her very happy.
He only learns one or two characters a day at school, but being able to communicate with people of similar age is beneficial for him.
She wasn't worried about dropping him off early or picking him up late.
County
Wen Xiaowu got off the carriage, stretched his body, and looked at the familiar city walls. He couldn't help but smile. He was finally back.
This trip wasn't easy either. Business was good at the shop. He returned suddenly, but when Old Man Wen saw him, he immediately stood up, clearly quite excited.
An hour later, the goods were sold out and the shop closed. After resting enough, Wen Xiaowu told his family about Wen Shi's situation in the capital.
“Houses in Beijing are very expensive. My third brother rented a small courtyard house, which is only half the size of our house, but it’s enough for the three of them.”
"His annual salary is two hundred taels of silver."
Upon hearing this, Liu gasped, somewhat incredulous. The third son's annual salary was only two hundred taels of silver, while they could only earn a few dozen taels after working themselves to the bone all year.
“In the capital, this money is not enough. The courtyard that Third Brother rents costs six taels of silver a month, not to mention food and drink.”
"My third sister-in-law is also planning to continue doing business in Beijing. My third brother told me, 'Dad, don't worry, when things get better, we'll take the whole family with us.'"
After Wen Xiaowu finished speaking, he picked up the tea and took a sip.
"Okay, okay, Dad believes him."
"Little Wu, you must study hard and strive to be like your third brother in the future."
Old Man Wen sat in his chair, smiling contentedly. His third son had really made him proud.
"Didn't your third brother ask you to bring some silver back?"
As soon as Liu said this, Old Man Wen glared at her.
"What are you talking about? Two hundred taels is a lot, but what kind of place is that? The third brother is already very frugal. If it were the eldest brother, do you believe he would still ask the family for money and a house?"
"If that family of three doesn't eat or drink, how can they possibly have a good life?"
"Yes, Mother, Third Sister-in-law brought us the things."
Wen Xiaowu quickly opened his bundle, which made Liu Shi happy. Ma Shi and Yuqin were also in a good mood, as they had something to look forward to in the future.
Wen Xiaowu's return undoubtedly brought them very good news. They couldn't go to the capital for the time being, but that didn't mean they couldn't go in the future.
Later that evening, Xiuyu came over. After listening to Yuqin's sarcastic remarks, she wasn't angry at all; instead, she smiled like a flower.
"Father, Mother, the third son is so promising."
Old Man Wen and Madam Liu didn't pay much attention to her. Right now, Xiuyu is quite surprising; she doesn't cause much trouble.
“My third sister-in-law is also very capable. I think when we go there in the future, we might not have much to do and can just enjoy the good life.”
How's the process of having children going lately?
Liu asked.
"They're quite hardworking, but the two children are even more diligent and ambitious than their father. They're sure to be successful in the future. Mother and the teacher both praised them, saying they'll definitely amount to something."
Xiuyu said this with a smug look on her face. Everyone glanced at her but didn't say anything. As long as she was at peace, things wouldn't be bad for them either.
Old Man Wen and Mrs. Liu weren't heartless; a complete break was impossible. Although they had quarreled and had disagreements before, they were family and couldn't hold grudges forever.
"Second sister-in-law, why don't you send your child to school?"
Yuqin was a little reluctant to part with him. She was afraid that her child would be bullied. Jinyu's health had improved in the past two years, but he was still not as tall as his peers.
Furthermore, she still wanted her son to study outside the capital in the future, as it would definitely be better.
"Let's wait a couple of years, then he'll be fully recovered."
Xiuyu stopped talking. Of the next generation in the family, only these three are older. Ma's children are still young. Yingxiang took Leqian away. With Wenshi around, his son has no worries about the future.
And then there's Xiao Wu. Oh right, Xiao Wu isn't married or engaged yet. Xiu Yu's mind raced, and she suddenly smiled and said, "Father, Mother, do you still remember Xiao Man from my second aunt's family?"
"I remember, so what?"
I have some recollection of Liu.
“This girl is growing more and more beautiful. Our fifth son is all grown up now and it’s time for him to get married. There’s no problem with him getting engaged now, so why don’t we arrange it for him first and then get married in a couple of years?”
Upon hearing this, Liu laughed in anger.
"Am I his mother and are you her mother? Are you the one in charge of this family?"
“Mother, when this girl was little, her fate was predicted. She was famous for bringing good fortune to her husband. Now, many men are coming to our door to ask for her hand in marriage. I think that if we marry her, our fifth son will be even better off in the future. We are relatives after all, so wouldn’t that be better? If this girl marries into another family, it won’t be good for our family.”
Liu had considered the possibility of finding a wife for Xiao Wu. She also had her own family members, and she would give priority to her own family. She knew exactly what Xiu Yu was thinking.
"Alright, we can talk about this later. Right now, his priority is his studies. Just let him focus on his studies."
Once Old Man Wen spoke, neither of them spoke, and the room immediately fell silent.
Wen Xiaowu was one of the parties involved. He was resting upstairs and had heard some of it, but he wasn't particularly concerned.
He's still young, what's the rush? Even if he gets married, he might not have an easy life without fame and success. He's very open-minded about this.
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