The old man was not wrong. Not only Zhuzhu, but also Yang Lihua, Liu Dongniang and others had no intention of working. They strolled in front of the door many times that day, and finally sat under a big tree and waited.
Mr. Tai San even lit his pipe and puffed on it non-stop, his neck growing longer with worry.
After waiting for a long time for the carriage to turn down the small road, everyone couldn't help but cheer and greet it.
Tai Yongning quickly jumped out of the car, picked up his sister whose chubby legs were about to turn into Hot Wheels, and then saluted everyone.
"Oh, stop with all this formality!" Third Master Tai urged, "Yongning, how was your apprenticeship today? Is the teacher strict? Are you getting along well with your classmates?"
Yang Lihua and Liu Dongniang didn't want to interrupt their elders, but their eyes were full of concern.
Tai Yongning quickly showed everyone the four treasures of the study and the jade pendant given by the teacher, and then carefully explained the details of becoming an apprentice, even the content of the examination, and what he learned in the afternoon class.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and laughed so hard that they couldn't stop.
"I told you, Yongning is such a good kid. If you don't like him, you really have poor eyesight!" Master Tai waved his pipe proudly, but before he could say anything else, the old man pulled him away.
"Third brother, I have something to discuss with you." The old man said, and then he drove his children and grandchildren away, "You go home first, we will be there soon."
Everyone responded quickly and followed the carriage back chatting and laughing.
The old man and the elder brother walked slowly, saying, "Third brother, Yongning has officially enrolled. The teacher is a juren, and Yongning will more or less pass the imperial examination in the future. So I found a courtyard in the city to save him from going back and forth.
"But I'm worried about Yongning living there alone, and it would be best if he had a bookboy or something to accompany him to study. I'm planning to find a boy in the village, but I don't have a good candidate right now. Third brother, can you help me think of someone suitable?"
"It would be best if he were older than Yongning, smarter, and more hardworking. That way, when Yongning becomes successful, we can rest assured knowing he has brothers from the same clan around to take care of the chores, right?"
"Yes, that's right!" Mr. Tai San slapped his thigh excitedly, and his gray beard stood up.
"This is great news. When Yongning becomes an official, everyone around him will definitely benefit from it! People say that a seventh-rank official is just like a chancellor, that's the truth! Just wait... I, I..."
Master Tai hesitated for a moment, then steeled his heart and said, "Forget it, I'll be selfish for once and not give this good opportunity to anyone else. Sixth Brother, let my Yongfeng follow Yongning into the city!"
Mr. Tai was a little surprised and quickly shook his head.
It's not that he doesn't like Yongfeng. This kid is Tai Jisheng's eldest son and the eldest grandson in his elder brother's family. He doesn't talk much, but he is diligent and responsible, and acts very steadily. He is a rare good boy in the village.
A boy like this would definitely be the best as Yongning's schoolboy, but...
"Third brother, Yongfeng is already fourteen. Not only is he very capable at housework, but in two years, he should be able to find a wife. Would it be a waste of time for him to stay with Yongning?"
Old Master Tai expressed his biggest worry: his grandson is important, but he cannot delay other people's children.
Master Tai waved his hands vigorously, "Don't delay! There's no time to waste when it comes to marrying a wife! If Yongning becomes successful, Yongfeng will benefit from it, and maybe he can even marry me a lady from a wealthy family to be my grandson's wife.
"A good daughter-in-law brings prosperity to three generations of a family. Look at your step-grandmother's wife. She can write and do math, and she has a plan for everything. She manages the household so well. I've been envious of her for a long time!"
Seeing this, Old Master Tai stopped trying to persuade him and simply instructed, "Third brother, you should first discuss it with Jisheng and his wife. After all, he is their eldest son. If they don't want to, don't get angry. Everyone has their own destiny. We can just look for a suitable boy later."
"Okay!" Mr. Tai San agreed readily and ran all the way home when he reached the village entrance.
Tai Jisheng was chopping wood when he saw his father come back and asked, "Dad, we've welcomed Yongning. How's it going? Did he become your disciple?"
"Of course, haha!" Master Tai San was very happy and responded immediately, "Master Wu likes Yongning very much. He also gave him the four treasures of the study and a jade pendant, which looks worth a lot of silver. From now on, Yongning will go to study every day!"
"Your sixth uncle has rented a courtyard in the city and wants to find a boy to accompany Yongning and be his servant. As for Yongfeng, let him go with him tomorrow!"
"Book boy? Does he mean he will go to the city to study with Yongning?" Tai Jisheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly stretched his neck to call out his eldest son.
Yongfeng didn't know what was going on and was still holding the broom in his hand.
Third Master Tai patted his eldest grandson's shoulder and instructed, "Yongfeng, Yongning is going to the city to study and live there. I've told your sixth grandfather that he will let you follow Yongning and be his book boy in the future!"
"Follow Yongning closely, help him with his work, and learn how to write and do math. If Yongning passes the imperial examination and becomes an official, you'll be a big shot! Got that?"
Tai Yongfeng was a little stunned when he heard this, but what farm kid didn't want to go to the city? And to follow his cousin to study under a wealthy master!
There will definitely be opportunities in the future to travel further afield and live in a more prosperous place!
"Okay, grandpa, I will not be lazy and will take good care of Yongning!" Yongfeng agreed solemnly, smiling honestly, his eyes full of expectation.
Before Mr. Tai San could say anything, the noise had already attracted all the family members, and they all started asking questions.
The old lady was happy that her grandson had a future and exclaimed, "Oh, Yongfeng is so lucky. He will live in the city in the future. His sixth grandfather's family can suffer losses to no one, but Yongning who is studying hard. At least Yongfeng will have no worries about food and clothing if he follows Yongning."
Tai Jisheng's wife was worried and asked, "Dad, when are you going to the city? I want to make a new set of clothes for Yongfeng."
Master Tai San replied, "The courtyard in the city has been rented, and Yongning can't delay any longer, so we'll leave tomorrow morning. There's no need to rush to make clothes for Yongfeng. Just wash and clean his clothes for daily wear. There's no need to rush."
It’s not a very far place, so we can send it anytime we want.”
The old lady whispered, "Did his sixth uncle tell me how much he pays Yongfeng every month? A bookboy is also a worker, we can't use him for nothing!"
Tai San glared at her fiercely and scolded her, "You only care about money. Isn't the future of your eldest grandson more important than anything else! In the future, he will live and eat with Yongning, and he can also learn writing and arithmetic. Doesn't this cost money? Isn't it all provided by Lao Liu's family?
"You only care about money, money! Aren't you ashamed?
"Let me tell you, the servants and bookboys of the sons of wealthy families all sign indentures! Our Yongfeng is Yongning's cousin, so Sixth Brother definitely can't talk about signing an indenture. But if anyone dares to accuse Yongfeng of doing something wrong in the future, I'll be sorry, Yongning, and don't blame me for turning against you!"
Tai Jisheng quickly came to his mother's rescue, "Dad, Mom was just saying it casually. Sixth Uncle has always been righteous in his work, and he will definitely not let Yongfeng down."
Tai Jisheng's wife also nodded, and the old lady curled her lips and dared not say another word.
Tai Jisheng's wife took her son and went to pack his luggage and gave him some instructions.
But they stopped talking because someone wanted to say something!
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