"You think you can pass the exam? What makes you think you can guarantee it? With just your mouth, how many scholars fail to even pass the county-level exam and die as a mere student, let alone pass the provincial-level exam?" Song Lao Er sneered, completely disbelieving.
If he hadn't been beaten up in the county town and hadn't stayed up all night, leaving him with no energy, he would have beaten the kid even harder, beaten him to death.
Old Mrs. Song remained silent, her gaze fixed on Song Ruier's expression.
Several times before, Song Ruier came to her, saying she wanted to study, but she didn't allow it.
The path of education requires a constant investment of money, and there is little chance of a return, so many families are hesitant to make this decision.
Only seven or eight families send their children to the village's free school, mainly because the village's free school is cheaper.
If you go to town, you have to rent a house, compare yourself with the children of wealthy families, and buy more expensive writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Over the course of a year, you can spend more than ten taels of silver.
But now she saw only determination in Song Ruier's eyes, as if not studying would really kill her.
Thinking of the repeated setbacks he had suffered in the county town, and how the Qiao family could make a lot of money by working as镖师 (bodyguards) and running a snack stall, he realized that they were not capable of doing these things and could only rely on studying.
So now, Old Mrs. Song's thinking has changed somewhat.
Why not take a gamble on the path of education?
Moreover, the third son's return is not far off. When he sees his son being sent to school, he will surely be moved.
Unable to bear it any longer, Chen rested for a while before getting up to slap Song Ruier's face again.
"Alright," Old Mrs. Song said, stopping her.
Then she looked at Song Ruier: "Are you really going to study, and are you determined to pass the exam?"
"Yes, I must study hard and pass the exam."
"If you fail the exam, you will have to return the money the Song family spent on your education," said Old Mrs. Song.
Seeing that Old Mrs. Song had relented, Song Lao Er and Chen Shi exchanged surprised glances.
Because Old Mrs. Song had previously been firmly opposed to Song Ruier wanting to study, they beat her so badly to prevent Old Mrs. Song from making them pay back the money.
"Okay, if I fail the exam, I'll pay it back double." Song Ruier vowed, word by word.
Old Mrs. Song took a deep breath: "Alright, you can go to school from now on."
Song Lao Er's eyes lit up, and he immediately changed his mind. If this kid passed the exam, wouldn't he be able to enjoy the good life with him?
Madam Chen was already fantasizing that one day, she, as the mother, might become a titled lady.
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In a couple of days, everyone will see that the sky, which was clear and blue just a few days ago, has suddenly become covered with layers of dark clouds.
These clouds were still gray, but they were huge. As time went by, the color of the clouds became darker and darker, and occasionally there were faint flashes of lightning.
A wind picked up in the air, drilling straight into people's necks, carrying the sultry heat unique to July, yet also a touch of coolness.
Look up at the mountain; the trees and bamboo groves sway back and forth in the wind, the wind howling and howling.
This is the prelude to a massive rainstorm.
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