Jiang Yimian took out brown sugar, white sugar, oil, and salt from her spatial storage and put them all into a small ceramic jar.
They took out quite a few more bowls, chopsticks, and plates before they stopped.
The plates and bowls in the small depression were often chipped or broken after being moved and damaged multiple times. While the family could replace them promptly, the Chen and Liu families couldn't. As a result, they had to be extremely careful every time they went to eat, for fear of cutting their mouths.
Today I can finally replace those things.
After doing all that, Jiang Yimian went to the pastry shop again and bought some candy, lotus flower pastries, osmanthus cakes and other snacks before going to a nearby shop that sells stationery.
If she hadn't been right next to the pastry shop, she would have forgotten about it.
Xiao Ye, Xiao Nuan'er, and Daya are only learning a few characters here and there each day. She can't say too much rashly. Since Lu Cijian left the mountain, she has taught them even less. Now it seems that they really need some simple primers to look at.
There weren't many people in Moxuan Pavilion at the moment. As soon as the shop assistant saw Jiang Yimian, he came up to her and asked enthusiastically, "What would you like to buy, young lady?"
Jiang Yimian glanced at the shop in front of her. It wasn't big, but each shelf was filled with quite a few items, and it looked fairly complete.
She simply said, "I'll buy some primers and things like writing brushes and ink."
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up immediately, and he pointed to a set of writing implements on the shelf, saying, "If you really want it, I'll sell it to you for two hundred coins. It used to sell for three or four hundred coins."
Jiang Yimian looked at the set of calligraphy brushes and inkstones that the shop assistant was pointing to, and found them to be nothing special, completely unable to understand why they were so expensive.
He then casually glanced at the other books, including the cheapest introductory book, which cost twenty coins.
Reading is so expensive! No wonder so many people can't afford to read. Who can afford it?
Jiang Yimian immediately abandoned her idea of buying writing brushes, ink, and inkstones, and instead took a copy of the Three Character Classic, a copy of the Thousand Character Classic, and the Standards for Being a Good Student and Child, which cost her eighty coins.
Let's buy these things for now. She hasn't even learned all the small characters yet. She can come back to buy writing brushes, inkstones, and other things in a few days.
After thinking for a while, she asked, "Do you know where there are any academies around here, and when they start recruiting students?"
It would be much more convenient to send Ono directly to the academy. She doesn't understand the imperial examination system of this era, nor can she show that she knows too much. There's not much she can teach Ono. It's better to leave professional matters to professionals.
Before, Lu Cijian was there. That guy was obviously educated and could easily teach Xiaoye, but she couldn't.
The shopkeeper glanced at the primer in Jiang Yimian's hand, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "There is no academy in Qinghe Town. There is an academy in Baiyun Town next door. However, that academy only accepts children who have completed their primers, and they have to take an entrance exam before they can enter."
Jiang Yimian was taken aback, then realized that there were very few families in this era who could afford to send their children to school.
In wealthy families, children usually received their early education by hiring a tutor to come to their homes. Some children from farming families were lucky enough to attend the village school, while others had no opportunity to learn to read and write at all.
There were no schools in Xinghua Village before. I only remember that there was a school in Li's maternal home village. Otherwise, the children of the second wife would not have been able to read.
Xinghua Village is quite far from that village, and given the war and bandits that have plagued it, it's unlikely that there will ever be a school in those villages again.
Zuo Xiaoye is still young, so take your time. He'll eventually have a chance to enter the academy, so there's no rush.
*
When Jiang Yimian returned to the place where she had initially set up her stall, Zhao Da, Gou Sheng, and Zhao Dashu were already waiting for her.
Gousheng and Zhao Dashu bought a lot of things. Their baskets, which were originally empty, were now stuffed full, and you could only see the bulges. It was impossible to tell what they had bought.
Upon seeing them return, Zhao Da simply smiled and said, "You must be hungry. I'll take you to eat. There's a noodle stall there that's quite good; I go there often."
After saying that, he called for everyone to leave.
Gou Sheng and Zhao Dashu followed along, but they were a little uneasy. They whispered to Jiang Yimian, "Sister Yimian, do we not need to go to eat? Just buy a few steamed buns. A bowl of noodles costs several coins!"
Zhao Dashu quickly said, "Sister Mian, I won't eat. You guys go ahead, I'll wait for you at the carriage."
As he spoke, he turned to leave.
Jiang Yimian grabbed the other person's arm and said helplessly, "What are you worried about? Your sister Mian has money, eat whatever you want."
Finally, the three of them dragged and pulled Zhao Da to a noodle stall.
Zhao Da, familiar with the place, ordered four bowls of plain noodles and sat down at the table to wait patiently.
Gou Sheng and Zhao Dashu sat there, still feeling a bit regretful. They should have bought less stuff earlier; now they had to eat.
They spent quite a few coins today.
It was lunchtime, and the surrounding tables were full of people. The young couple making plain noodles were extremely busy.
Jiang Yimian glanced at it a few times and then asked Zhao Da, "Brother Zhao, are you going back to your hometown for the New Year since the government is taking its annual leave?"
Zhao Da was taken aback, then casually replied, "I've been with adults since I was little; wherever they are, I'm there."
He has no home for a long time, so how could he possibly go back to his hometown for the New Year?
Jiang Yimian paused, not expecting to touch on someone's sore spot. Just as she was about to change the subject, she heard Gou Sheng excitedly say, "So Brother Zhao is going to Xiaowadi for the New Year? Brother Zhang's injury hasn't healed yet, and he probably won't be able to come down the mountain until after the New Year. You can come and celebrate the New Year with us, it'll be a good time to have some fun."
He could also hear more about the affairs of the government, and he loved stories of catching bad guys the most—they were thrilling and exciting, and he didn't have to experience them himself.
Zhao Da paused, thought for a moment, and then replied, "The yamen will probably only have a day off the day before New Year's Eve. If I have time then, I'll go."
He cannot leave if the adults have other matters to attend to.
Gou Sheng nodded repeatedly.
Four bowls of plain noodles were served at this moment. The delicious and fragrant soup noodles made everyone lose their appetite and start eating as soon as they picked up their chopsticks.
Everyone enjoyed the meal, and Jiang Yimian paid the bill, which cost twenty-eight coins.
She didn't feel anything, but Gou Sheng and Zhao Dashu were heartbroken.
He regretted it even after getting into the carriage, muttering to himself the whole time.
This regret didn't disappear until the carriage stopped in front of the thatched hut outside the town.
Gou Sheng lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the thatched hut, assuming that Zhao Da had something to deal with, but unexpectedly saw that Jiang Yimian had also gotten off the carriage.
He and Zhao Dashu hurriedly tried to follow, but Jiang Yimian said, "You two stay in the car and watch the things. Brother Zhao and I will be back in a bit."
Gou Sheng and Zhao Dashu responded with a puzzled look.
When Jiang Yimian and Zhao Da arrived at the thatched hut, there were three or four people in police uniforms chatting inside, one of whom was lying on the hay sleeping.
The group seemed to know Zhao Da well; they greeted each other and then continued chatting.
"I reckon in a few more days, this thatched hut will be demolished, most of the refugees will be settled, and the adults and us will be able to have a good New Year."
"That's right. It's freezing cold here. It's not a good thing for the refugees to stay here any longer."
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