Chapter 227 Too Black-Hearted
"I don't like your academy either. Every time I sent them something, especially pork, they ate it with such relish. Now they turn against us!" Lei Yan shed bitter tears as she spoke of the past. She said, "And that Dean Lin!"
"No matter what he needs, I will give it to him. It would be fine if he just gave it to him, but he still doesn't appreciate it. He said that he would take you in to study in the academy. This is really a great honor and a great favor." Lei Yan was so angry that he went straight into the house and started rummaging through the drawers. Soon, he took out a notebook and used an abacus next to it.
"Sister, I'm good at calligraphy. In the future, I can make money by copying books!" Lei Yan said in a low voice while looking at Lei Yan who was angrily calculating.
"Lei Sanhuo, shut up!" Lei Yan's fingers moved quickly on the abacus, muttering to himself.
After being scolded, Lei Yan silently grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started to crack them. He huddled down in the chair and threw the melon seed shells one by one onto the ground, which soon piled up into a small hill.
"Black-hearted!"
"It's so cruel. I didn't know how it was until I calculated it. I was shocked when I did!" Lei Yan stood up and slapped the abacus. Lei Yan, who was eating melon seeds nearby, was so scared that he didn't dare to throw away the melon seed shells in his hand. He wanted to bury his head in the chair: You can't see me, you can't see me!
"In less than two years, after deducting the annual tuition of ten taels of silver, I've still spent ninety-two taels, three qian, and seven fen!" Lei Yan gritted his teeth, calculating even the last few cents. "Even if I went to school in the capital, I wouldn't be able to spend this much money!"
"Second sister, now you know, I was right not to go to the academy!" Lei Yan nodded like pounding garlic. He counted on his fingers in his mind, ninety-two taels, three qian and seven fen, how many books would he have to copy to earn it back?
…
"Yu'er, why are you back so early today? Jiayuan, Jiachen, how was your competition?" Su had just gone to the kitchen to tell Mother Geng what delicious food to make for Xiao Jiuyue in the evening when she met them coming back.
"Mom, I had something to do today, so I came back early. I'm going out for a while." Xiao Jiuyue sent Xiao Jiayuan and Xiao Jiachen back and went out again.
"Yu'er, why don't you drink some water before going out when you get home? I'll make you some mung bean soup to cool you down." Su shouted at Xiao Jiuyue's back.
Xiao Jiuyue walked quickly, her skirt lifted. Su asked Mu Jin to send Xiao Jiachen to the second room. She pulled Xiao Jiayuan and said, "Jiayuan, tell mother, did something happen in the hospital?"
"I won first place in the book competition." Xiao Jiayuan's words immediately put Su's worries at ease. She looked at Xiao Jiayuan with joy and said, "Jiayuan, you are amazing, just as good as your brother Jialing!"
Thinking of his eldest son Xiao Jiayuan, he has already won the first place in the imperial examination. If he takes part in the autumn examination in August, he will definitely win the first place in the imperial examination!
Shili is coming out of the embroidery workshop. After several days of hard work, the framework of the workshop has been built, and the tiles are being laid today!
Hearing that Miss Xiao was coming, Shi Lizheng brushed off the dust on his body from carrying tiles and said with a smile, "Miss Xiao, the weather is good today. If we work harder, we can cover all the tiles today."
"I trust the village head to do things." Xiao Jiuyue glanced at the covered embroidery workshop, then looked up at the scorching sun and said, "Village head, can you please excuse me for a moment?"
Shi Lizheng paused for a moment, then said, "No problem."
Under the shade of the tree, Shi Li was listening to Xiao Jiuyue's words. He was stunned: "Xiao, Miss Xiao, you, you really want to open a school in the village?"
"Yes." Xiao Jiuyue nodded affirmatively. She then asked, "If our village opened a school, would there be quotas for the scholar exam?"
"Yes, there is, but Miss Xiao, listen to my advice. It's easy to set up a village school, but it's hard to hire good teachers." Shi Lizheng said tactfully, "Besides, it's good to let everyone go to school, but half-grown boys have a lot of work to do at home. If they go to school, who will do the housework?"
"I'm afraid few people in the village are willing to take the exam." Shi Lizheng added, "There's no limit on the number of places for the county exam. Anyone can register by paying the fee. However, the number of places for the prefectural exam is limited. Only those who pass the prefectural exam are considered tongsheng and are eligible to take the academy-style exam to become a scholar."
"Miss Xiao, if this is because of your brother, there's no need to open this school." Although he didn't know why Xiao Jiuyue suddenly wanted to open a school, Shi Lizheng continued, "My youngest son, Shi Youchang, whom Miss Xiao has met, just passed the examination for a Tongsheng this year. He's already studying in the prefectural capital, preparing to take the imperial examination next year."
Shi Lizheng's words were sincere. After hearing them, Xiao Jiuyue became even more determined to open a school at home. She said, "I understand what you said, Shi Lizheng. Jiayuan is still young. I would be worried if he went to the capital."
Even Huaixian Academy, which she thought had a good school spirit, had driven Jia Yuan away because of the Xiao family's affairs. If he went to the prefectural capital, it would be even more out of reach. She took out a purse and handed it forward, saying, "Village head, here are thirty taels of silver. Please go to the county and run the village school."
"Miss Xiao." Shi Li was holding the heavy silver. There was no doubt that if the village had a school, it would be a great thing for the villagers!
"Thank you for your hard work, village head. If you need anything later, just let me know." After Xiao Jiuyue finished speaking, he went home. This school must be run.
In the village school, who can still drive Jiayuan away?
Xiao Jiuyue took a deep breath and went home to find Old Madam Xiao.
The weather was hot and Mrs. Xiao had a poor appetite, so Xiao Jiuyue asked the kitchen to come up with some sweet and sour side dishes.
"Yu'er, didn't you go to the academy?" Old Madam Xiao was holding a fan in her hand and had just drunk a bowl of mung bean porridge. She was a little surprised when she saw Xiao Jiuyue.
"Grandma, I just came back from the academy. I hope I didn't disturb your nap?" Xiao Jiuyue stepped forward and fanned Old Madam Xiao.
"Just sit down and stop fanning yourself." Old Madam Xiao looked at her, a thin layer of sweat still on her forehead. She asked, "Did something happen in the academy?"
Xiao Jiayuan and Xiao Jiachen had a competition in the academy today, but they came back so early.
"Grandma, I can't hide anything." Xiao Jiuyue didn't hide anything. She casually explained what happened today and said, "Grandma, I want to open a school in the village. It will save me a lot of time on the road in the future."
"Teacher, do you have an idea of what's going on?" asked Mrs. Xiao.
"Yes." Xiao Jiuyue mentioned the person she had in mind, "It's Mr. Jiang who came to visit us earlier. Mr. Jiang is a talented man, and he doesn't want to be associated with the powerful. He won't stay at Huaixian Academy for long."
"Since you have an idea in mind, then just do it boldly." Old Madam Xiao smiled kindly, as if to say: No matter what happens, we still have grandma.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
