Chapter 73 bought Cheng Zhao's copied books
In ancient times, supporting a scholar cost at least twenty taels of silver per year.
Tuition fees were expensive, and writing implements were even more expensive. A single inkstone could cost three or four taels of silver, and the cheapest writing brush would cost close to one hundred coins.
Cheng Wanwan led Zhao Sanniu on a walk around Dehetang, clicking her tongue in amazement.
She had previously thought that the 120 taels of silver she had secretly saved was a huge sum of money, but after seeing these stationery items, she realized that 120 taels was nothing at all. Once Si Dan started school, this money wouldn't last more than a few years.
Zhao Sanniu kept gasping for breath.
The stuff here is ridiculously expensive.
What is this dark, square thing that costs four taels of silver?
Four taels of silver could buy them enough grain to eat for several years...
He was too afraid to continue browsing and longed to escape this place he couldn't afford to visit.
Cheng Wanwan told him to stay put. She stopped looking at the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and went to look at the books on the shelf.
Since we're planning to send Sidan to school, we need to buy him an introductory book so he can learn gradually.
These shelves are full of handwritten books. Even handwritten books aren't cheap, but the prices vary even though they are all handwritten books.
For example, the Three Character Classic cost fifty coins at the cheapest price and two hundred coins at the most expensive. She took down the two books to compare them. The cheaper one had more square characters, with each horizontal and vertical stroke being neat and orderly, lacking the elegance that calligraphy should have.
The most expensive book features truly beautiful calligraphy; one look and you can tell it's the result of diligent practice. The characters are vigorous and powerful, the ink is deep and rich, and the brushstrokes seem to penetrate the paper.
Such words are more likely to inspire people to read and study.
Cheng Wanwan chose to buy the book without hesitation. The shopkeeper of Dehetang couldn't help but say, "This lady has a good eye. This Three Character Classic was copied by the best student of Nanfu Academy. In addition to the main text, there are also the student's insights on the Three Character Classic after the copy. It is very suitable for children who are just beginning their education."
Cheng Wanwan turned to the last page of the book, where there were three pages of detailed annotations and personal insights. At the very end was her signature, Cheng Zhao.
The first book she ever bought was one that Cheng Zhao had copied.
What kind of tragic fate is this?
The manager of Dehetang stroked his beard: "Cheng Zhao is a good student. His family is poor, but he never complains. He earns his own money by copying books. I heard from the headmaster of the academy that he is very likely to pass the county-level examination next year."
Cheng Wanwan didn't say anything. She paid the money, took the book, and walked out of Dehetang.
Zhao Sanniu would glance at the books she had placed at the bottom of her basket every now and then, his face contorted in a bitter expression.
Oh no, they're going to start school today! He can't do math, he can't remember characters, will his mother dislike him?
He didn't want to study, but he knew clearly that his mother liked children who loved to read.
Cheng's eldest cousin was good at studying, so his mother liked him.
If they don't do well in school, will Mother take the family's money again to support my eldest cousin's education?
Zhao Sanniu secretly decided that he would force himself to learn even if he didn't like it. If Si Dan could remember it, he could definitely remember it too. If one day wasn't enough, he would spend several more days. He would learn one word every three or four days. He refused to believe that he couldn't memorize it.
After buying the books, Cheng Wanwan went to the county government office and took a walk around. The gate was closed, so it seemed that the county magistrate had not returned last night.
When they returned to Dahe Village, it was not yet noon, but Wu Huiniang had already prepared lunch.
After taking the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine three times a day for the past two days, Wu Huiniang's health has improved a lot, and at least cooking is no longer a problem.
On the table was a simple dumpling soup made of cornmeal, some stir-fried wild vegetables, and a plate of eggs. After the boiled eggs were cooked, each egg was cut into six pieces and placed on a plate, so that each person could eat a small piece.
The lunch looks simple, but it is definitely unique in Dahe Village.
While others were still drinking wild vegetable soup and thin rice porridge, his whole family was able to eat their fill and were very satisfied.
At the end of noon, Sun brought over the more than 20 jin of lanterns she had peeled yesterday. Cheng Wanwan settled the bill with her on the spot. Zhao Youyin and Zhao Youcai also came to wash the stone flower seeds at this hottest time of day, and the house became busy again.
Sun originally wanted to sneak in and learn a little, but Wen called her back to peel agar-agar seeds. She had no time to rest and had to go back.
Zhao Youyin and Zhao Youcai had experience and completed their workload quickly today. They glanced at the sun outside and saw that it was still high in the sky. Going out to work at this time would be so hot that people would die.
So, the two of them, in perfect unison, asked if they could have a little more.
Cheng Wanwan glanced at their hands; although they were white from being soaked, the skin hadn't peeled.
She gave the agar-agar seeds that she had reserved for herself and Zhao Sanniu to the two of them. After a while, all three pounds of agar-agar seeds were washed out.
Zhao Youyin and Zhao Youcai each earned fifteen coins.
Cheng Wanwan sat by the large wooden basin filtering ice jelly, and looked up at Zhao Sidan, who had just herded the ducks back: "Go to the village head's house and call your brother Tiezhu over."
Zhao Sidan obediently replied, "Brother Tiezhu is probably not home; he's gone up the mountain to dig for wild vegetables."
At this moment, Aunt Wang's crisp voice rang out from the yard: "Mother Dashan, are you there?"
Cheng Wanwan put down her work and walked out, pointing to a field of ducks in the yard. "I bought fifty ducks today, six cents each. You can pick as many as you want, Loach Lady."
The ducks were full of energy. Aunt Wang randomly grabbed twenty of them and brought them back to her yard, planning to let Barley and Wheat drive the ducks to the fields to eat locusts.
Cheng Wanwan looked at her yard, half of which was a vegetable garden, and the vegetables were growing very well.
A small pond was dug in front of the vegetable garden. It was originally intended for the first twenty ducks, but now that the flock has grown, the pond is no longer needed.
The other half of the yard was a pen for raising chickens and ducks, with two large hens, one large rooster, fifty ducklings, and thirty-nine chicks, chirping, quacking, croaking, and clucking—a constant stream of sounds.
There were few chickens and ducks before, so cleaning was a casual thing.
With so many poultry suddenly appearing, chickens and ducks being raised together, and it being the middle of summer, there's a high risk of avian influenza. We must take hygiene seriously.
Cheng Wanwan asked Zhao Sanniu to cut down trees and Zhao Sidan to collect hay, and wait for Zhao Dashan to come back to build a chicken coop and a duck shed.
Raising chickens and ducks separately and keeping them in designated areas, and letting them out for a walk from time to time, will be beneficial to their growth and will also improve the sanitary environment at home.
The medicine for disease prevention in chickens and ducks is sold in the online store, but she doesn't plan to use it. Aunt Wang also raises ducks, and she'll definitely ask her about it later. There's no way to answer that.
She thought about it carefully. She seemed to have heard in the news before that wood ash could also be used to disinfect poultry and prevent avian influenza.
She turned and went inside, bought a related book in the mall, and locked herself in her room to read it carefully. It was a very simple method, and she could learn it after reading it once.
Cheng Wanwan asked Wu Huiniang to mix all the wood ash in the house with water, boil it in a pot, and after the water cooled down, filter out the residue. The water boiled with wood ash should be evenly poured on the places where chickens and ducks had been. This can effectively prevent the occurrence and spread of diseases.
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