Fu Ciyi washed his hands, slowly dried them with a cotton towel, and then left the kitchen.
Li Zheng stood at the kitchen door for a long time. Seeing him walking towards the main room, he hurried to his side and said, "Nephew of the Fu family, this matter is a big deal for the village, so I have the audacity to come here."
When he reached the threshold, Fu Ciyi raised his hand to invite him in, then lifted his robe and walked into the main room.
This is a humble room, but it does not in the least diminish his temperament as a distinguished student.
The village head nodded in approval.
He came today to discuss important matters and wore a long gown on purpose.
When she stepped over the threshold, she imitated Fu Ciyi and lifted the hem of her skirt.
The two of them sat down at the square table.
The headman sat back in his original seat, fearing that Fu Ciyi would reject what they were discussing today. He clasped his hands around the teacup he had just drunk from, hesitating about how to start the conversation.
Fu Ciyi picked up the teapot and poured some hot water into the bamboo teacup in front of Li Zheng: "There is no tea at home, please forgive me for making fun of you."
The village head smiled and waved his hands: "No, no!"
Wan Niang fumbled to pick up an empty teacup from the middle of the table and moved it towards her son: "Ci Yi, pour yourself some tea."
"Okay." Fu Ciyi responded and poured himself some tea.
Fu Beimo pulled Yan Funing's sleeve, walked into the main room, and whispered, "Sister-in-law, let's go sit on the small stool."
Just now he was sitting on a small stool watching his brother and sister-in-law come back.
If his sister-in-law wanted to sit down now, he would bring one in from the yard and place it side by side with his small stool.
Yan Funing thought someone was going to discuss something with the village head, so it would be best if she didn't join in. But since Bei Mo had invited her, it was fine to sit with him.
Just as she gathered her skirt and prepared to sit down...
Fu Ciyi looked at her calmly: "Come and sit at the table."
"Oh." Yan Funing walked over slowly.
Fu Beimo shouted, "What about me?"
Wan Niang smiled and said, "Child, isn't it good for you to sit on the little stool? Be obedient!"
"Beimo is so obedient." Fu Beimo sat back on the small stool.
Since his sister-in-law had just whispered to him that she had bought sugar-roasted chestnuts, he didn't care about anything else.
He held his chin in his hand and recalled what sugar-roasted chestnuts tasted like. The last time he ate them was during New Year's Eve at the Fu Mansion.
More than half a month passed and he felt a little greedy.
However, since there are outsiders at home, it is not convenient to take it out, in case the headman eats it quickly.
He won't be able to eat much, so just be patient and wait.
After Yan Funing sat down, Fu Ciyi looked at the village head and asked calmly, "What's going on?"
The village head smiled and said, "Well, we have a village school here, built jointly by several surrounding villages. It's almost time for school to start, and we've run into a difficult situation. The old teacher sent a message saying he broke his leg back home during the New Year holiday and can't come back to teach. I remember your excellent handwriting, my nephew from the Fu family, and I imagine you're very knowledgeable. So, I'm asking you to temporarily take over as the old teacher and teach the students."
As he spoke, he observed Fu Ciyi's expression from time to time. Seeing that his face was difficult to read, he felt very unsure.
It is extremely difficult to find a learned person in the countryside.
The main room suddenly became quiet.
The village head had no choice but to plead with Fu Wanniang: "Sister Wanniang, please help me speak a few words."
Wan Niang said in embarrassment: "I have just said this matter, it depends on Ci Yi himself."
The village head then looked at Yan Funing and said, "Young lady from the Fu family, please help me put in a few words. Your husband will temporarily take over the position of teacher. He can receive monthly tuition, and the students will pay the tuition. He will also be given gifts during holidays."
Before Yan Funing could speak, Fu Nanyao's voice came from the courtyard: "How much is the repair fee?"
The village head turned around and said, "The maintenance fee is five taels of silver per month."
Fu Nanyao limped into the main room and stood beside Fu Ciyi: "Brother, I think it's feasible."
Yan Funing said, "You may not know, my husband is preparing for the imperial examinations, and time is tight. He will be taking part in the Autumn Examination this autumn."
The head of the village thought about it and felt that those who could take part in the autumn examination were already scholars, so it was more than enough for them to teach the students in the village school.
He immediately said with a smile: "My nephew from the Fu family will surely achieve excellent results in the autumn examination, and then he will become a juren. If then our village has a juren, it will be so glorious!"
The whole village followed suit.
Fu Ciyi was silent for a while, then asked calmly, "Are there any books in the village school?"
The village head quickly said, "Yes, there are books like the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and the Thousand Character Classic..." He counted them on his fingers, "There are so many books."
"They are all children's enlightenment books." Yan Funing looked at Fu Ciyi.
Since he was kicked out of the Fu Mansion, he had not been able to bring the books he had prepared for the exam. The books in the village school were all for children.
It will be of no help to him in taking the imperial examination.
Fu Ciyi thought for a moment: "I agree."
The village head was delighted when he heard this: "That's great!"
He immediately stood up and, imitating the manner of a scholar, bowed to Fu Ciyi: "Then I'll trouble you, Master!"
Fu Ciyi also stood up and raised his hand to support him.
Yan Funing helped Wan Niang stand up, pursed her lips and said softly: "Mother, I want to say a few words to my husband."
Wan Niang patted the back of her hand and said, "Go ahead."
Yan Funing looked up at him, and Fu Ciyi nodded.
The two went outside the fence and talked as they walked.
Yan Funing: "Why did you agree? The Autumn Provincial Examination is not long away, and teaching in the village school will take at least several months. Wouldn't this delay preparation?"
Fu Ciyi: "My family needs money for everything, and the village schoolmaster's job is to help supplement the family income."
Yan Funing: "Then how do you prepare for the exam?"
Fu Ciyi: "Don't worry, I can review while copying the book while teaching students."
Yan Funing sighed.
Well, it was his own decision.
If he performs poorly in the autumn examination, he will not be able to take part in the spring examination, and thus he will probably not be able to become a powerful official quickly.
Anyway, she will leave after the two-year term is up.
What happens to him from now on has nothing to do with her.
Fu Ciyi looked up at the sky.
The imperial examination is the most expensive, and buying books alone keeps many people out.
The travel expenses for taking the exam are also a considerable expense.
There is also the issue of accommodation. When the exam comes, the accommodation costs of inns around the examination center will rise sharply.
Although the imperial court had a guild hall for students to live in free of charge, they could not live there at all without a place to recommend them.
Fu Zhengqing would definitely not recommend him.
Therefore, he also has to consider the cost of accommodation.
This journey would cost a lot of money. How could a man like him leave the task of supporting his family and making money to a delicate woman?
Because she broke off the engagement, he lost face.
He intended to torture her...
However, he didn't want to think too much about this.
After the two of them had discussed it, they returned to the main room.
The village head was afraid that Fu Ciyi would regret it, so he raised his hand and said, "I'll take the teacher to the village school to have a look. We'll pick a suitable day in the next few days and start teaching."
"Okay." Fu Ciyi looked at Yan Funing deeply and left with the village head.
Yan Funing stood there in a daze. If he couldn't become a powerful official, she probably couldn't abuse her power to torture him for personal gain.
Even if he became a powerful official, the reality was that she had severed ties with the Yan family. What happened to the Yan family in the future had nothing to do with her, so naturally, she wouldn't ask him for help.
But she knew that he was a good student and didn't want to ruin his future because of money.
The most important thing is——
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