“Miss Qiao, farewell.” Pei Zhujin nodded to Qiao Lian’er.
"Thank you for your design, and I apologize for our abruptness earlier."
"I hope we'll have the chance to meet again."
When Qiao Lian'er touched the silver, she was already completely satisfied.
"It's alright, it's alright. If you offend me again in the future, just give me the money."
He waved to the two of them.
Pei Shijiu subconsciously reached out a hand to wave to her, but when he pulled away, he lost his balance and fell to the ground, hitting his butt on a rock.
"Ouch, it hurts so much, boohoo."
"If it hurts, don't do the handstand. Miss Qiao already said there's no need to do that." Pei Zhujin helped him up and gently massaged his back.
"I will keep my word, lest Miss Qiao look down on me."
Pei Shijiu continued to stand upside down, and his hands started moving like feet, walking on the road, and he did it quite steadily.
Qiao Lian'er watched, stroked her chin, and muttered to herself, "Walking so steadily, is it because he's been punished too many times for being a brat?"
Little did he expect that Pei Shijiu would hear these words, and his hand wobbled, almost causing him to fall down the slope.
After the two had gone far away, Zhao Lizheng asked, "Lian'er, do you think this bridge is alright?"
He originally wanted Qiao Linlian to take a look, but since Qiao Linlian went to the county town early every day, he figured that since the bridge was built strictly according to the blueprints, there shouldn't be any problems.
Now that Qiao Lian'er is here, it's a good opportunity to ask for her opinion.
Qiao Lian'er was busy dealing with those two people and hadn't had a chance to properly look at the bridge yet.
She looked it over and saw that it was exactly the same as the Zhaozhou Bridge in her memory, beautiful and majestic, as if it were a 100% replica.
"No problem, Uncle Zhao. Look, the river's flow slows down considerably after it passes here."
"That's good. The rainy season will be here in a few days. We've made the necessary preparations, and we hope for a good harvest this year." Zhao Lizheng said, "If we can achieve this, Lian'er, your life will be filled with even greater blessings."
Qiao Lian'er was returning home from the shore when she saw Old Lady Qiao looking out from the gate of her courtyard.
As she passed the village's free school, she noticed a figure hiding behind the back wall, acting suspiciously with his ear pressed against the wall.
He would sometimes stand up and then squat down, drawing and writing on the ground with a twig.
It was none other than Song Ruier; he was actually secretly learning knowledge.
The village's free school was built by families in the village who wanted their children to go to school, who pooled their money to hire a teacher. Generally, scholars who had passed the imperial examinations were unwilling to come to the village to teach, and the village's scholar, Wang, taught in the town.
The person teaching in the village now is a student who has failed the imperial examinations for many years.
To study at the free school, one had to pay tuition to the teacher, and in addition, pay two taels of silver every year.
Song Ruier had long wanted to study, but his wife thought it was a waste of money and wouldn't let him.
However, Song Ruier was ambitious and secretly came to learn.
When Song Ruier saw Qiao Lian'er, her eyes darted around and she straightened her back.
Just as get out of class ended, he called out to the classroom, "Sir, I'm here to pay my tuition."
Mr. Shi strode out and saw that Song Ruier's hands were empty: "Where's the tuition?"
The tuition fee consisted of ten strips of dried meat bundled together, plus two taels of silver.
Song Ruier ran over and grabbed Qiao Lian'er: "My sister, my sister came to pay my tuition."
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