On the oxcart back to the village, Ganli asked Gantian about her day at school: "Did you get used to school today?"
"It's a habit!" Gan Tian nodded vigorously and said happily, "Today Mr. Fu taught us to recite the Three Character Classic. Mother, can I recite a few lines for you?"
When talking about her time at school, Gan Tian became very excited and started reciting loudly before Gan Li could answer.
"At birth, people are inherently good. Their natures are similar, but their habits differ. If they are not taught, their nature will change. The way to teach is to focus on one thing at a time..."
Upon hearing this, Gan Mingyi, who was driving the carriage, was overjoyed. He slapped his thigh and praised loudly:
"My goodness, Sweetie is so amazing! Study hard, and one day you'll bring back a female champion for your second uncle. Then our Gan family will be truly honored!"
Upon hearing this, Gan Tian asked curiously, "Second Uncle, can women also take the imperial examination and become the top scholar?"
"This..." Gan Mingyi was dumbfounded. He used to be a farmer who toiled in the fields for a living, who would ask about this?
He scratched his head, unable to speak for a long time, and looked at Gan Li for help.
Gan Li rolled her eyes at him with amusement and said, "In our Great Jing Dynasty, although women can attend school, they cannot participate in the imperial examinations."
Gan Tian was a little disappointed upon hearing this: "It would be great if women could also take the imperial examinations."
Then she can work hard like a man, become the top scholar in the imperial examination, and become a high-ranking official, so that those who always call her a money-loser can see that women are no less capable than men!
Seeing her so downcast, Ganli comforted her:
"That's right, women can't take the imperial examinations, but that's precisely why you should study even harder. It's already difficult enough for us women in this world. If you don't read and write, won't you be even more inferior to others?"
But if you're more capable than those men, maybe you can change all of this!
Gan Tian, who had been listless, perked up immediately upon hearing her mother's words. She nodded her head vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice, and said firmly, "Mother, I understand!"
Looking at Gan Tian's expectant little face, Gan Li felt a mix of emotions. This child was still so young; how could she know the difficulties hidden behind her words?
In ancient times, it was difficult enough to get women to study, let alone expect those powerful men to relinquish their authority and allow women to take the imperial examinations. That was harder than climbing to heaven!
She knew it was impossible to accomplish, but she used it as an excuse to motivate Gan Tian to work harder.
Little did she know that the threads of fate had already quietly intertwined, and in another corner of the world, someone was trying to use her frail back to build a ladder for women all over the world to the path of the imperial examinations.
...
Upon returning to Yuxi Village, Gan Li did not rush back. Instead, she took Gan Tian and Gan Mingyi back to the Gan family's old house.
The elderly couple in the Gan family also dote on Gan Tian. Now that their granddaughter has returned from her first day of school, they will definitely ask about her. Rather than making an extra trip, they might as well go directly to her.
In addition, she also had something she wanted to tell her family.
Back at the Gan family's old house, the family sat around in the main room. Old Man Gan and Old Lady Gan pulled Gan Tian aside and asked her about her school day. Gan Mingli, being the same brother as Gan Mingyi, said exactly the same thing, telling Gan Tian to study hard and become a top scholar in the future.
Gan Tian corrected him: "Uncle, Mother said that women cannot take the imperial examination to become the top scholar."
She paused, then raised her head and said firmly, "Even if I can't become the top scholar, I will still study hard, learn to read and write, and become a useful person!"
The Gan family members were all surprised that she had such ambition at such a young age. After a moment of stunned silence, they all clapped and cheered. Only Gan Li looked at the little girl with a gratified expression, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.
After asking about the school, Gan Tian and Gan Qiao went to talk to each other hand in hand. Gan Li cleared her throat and told everyone about buying the shop today. Old Man Gan and Old Woman Gan were so surprised that they couldn't speak for a long time.
"Li'er, are you... are you telling the truth? You really bought a shop?" Old Mrs. Gan asked in a trembling voice, as if she couldn't believe her ears.
"Mother, would I lie to you?" Ganli said with a smile, "Second brother went along too, you can ask him if you don't believe me."
Gan Mingyi nodded repeatedly from the side: "Mother, it's true, the shop my little sister bought is quite big!"
"Excellent! Excellent!" Old Man Gan slapped his thigh excitedly. "My daughter has really made something of herself!"
Grandma Gan laughed and cried at the same time: "That's right, let's see who dares to say my daughter is a troublemaker and a money-loser from now on? My daughter is extremely capable, ten men can't compare to her!"
Gan Li looked at Old Man Gan and Old Woman Gan, her heart filled with mixed feelings. Back then, the original owner of this body disregarded the fate of her own family and devoted herself to supporting her husband's family. Now that she had transmigrated, she could finally let the two elders hold their heads high for once.
Zhao, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but ask, "Little sister, when do you plan to open that shop? Do you need my help?"
Ever since Gan Li rescued Gan Mingli last time, Zhao's attitude towards her has completely changed, and she now treats her like a goddess.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, you'll be busy once the shop opens," Gan Li said with a smile. "I'll pay you wages then, so you can earn some extra money on the side!"
"Oh, that's great!" Zhao's eyes lit up when she heard that she would get paid, and her smile widened.
Since marrying into the family, except for the first few days of her marriage, she had spent most of her time working for Baifulai. When she lost her job at Baifulai and returned home, she was at a loss for what to do.
My son is still unmarried, and my daughter is still single. In the past, because my sister-in-law was such a difficult person, both of these things were delayed. Now that my sister-in-law has changed for the better, these matters need to be put back on the agenda.
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