Schools in the county town required students to pay tuition fees in a proper manner, unlike schools in towns or villages where students could pay with grain or other goods.
However, if it's your first time going, you still need to prepare a formal apprenticeship ceremony.
Yan Qingqing also inquired and found that the apprenticeship ceremony in this era usually involved bringing a piece of meat and some snacks.
Of course, many wealthy families would send the teacher writing implements, but although Yan Qingqing had some spare money, she didn't intend to be a sucker.
She felt that preparing according to the normal standards was fine.
Since the plan is to send Li Xiangkang to school, this matter should be implemented as soon as possible.
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "I plan to take Silang to Xifeng Academy tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiang'an said, "Mother, you're not feeling well, so how about I take Silang with me when I go to the county town to deliver goods tomorrow?"
Yan Qingqing said early on, "Becoming an apprentice is a big deal after all. You should have an adult accompany you. You are still a child yourself."
"I'll go myself, and while I'm at it, I'll also pick out some writing implements for Silang."
Li Xiang'an sighed upon hearing this. He was almost fourteen years old, and now only his mother treated him like a child. But he felt incredibly happy.
Li Xiangkang also wanted Yan Qingqing to take him there, after all, at his age, he was at the age when his feelings of filial piety were the strongest.
Li Xiang'an couldn't stand Li Xiangkang's clingy manner and poured cold water on him, saying, "The academy requires exams to admit students. Mother has thought things through quite thoroughly. It would be embarrassing if the academy didn't accept you if you didn't live up to expectations."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangkang immediately bared his teeth at Li Xiang'an and said, "I'm not as stupid as my older brother, so the teacher wouldn't abandon me."
Li Xiangping: ...
What did he do to deserve this? Why is he being dragged into this mess even though he's not doing anything?
Yan Qingqing tapped Li Xiangkang on the forehead and said, "How can you talk like that? You have no respect for your older brother at all."
Li Xiangkang stuck out his tongue. He was just relying on his eldest brother's doting on him. He wouldn't dare to do that if it were his second or third brother, because those two would really beat him up.
The next day, Yan Qingqing got up very early, changed into the new clothes that Yuan Huiniang had made for her, and styled her hair in an elegant bun, thinking that this way she wouldn't be impolite.
Yan Qingqing stepped out of the room, where Li Xiangkang and the others were already waiting.
Yan Qingqing rarely dressed herself up like this, and with this makeover, she really looked like a noble lady, only lacking some gold and silver jewelry.
Yuan Huiniang was stunned; she knew her mother-in-law was quite good-looking.
She hadn't paid much attention before, but she noticed that her mother-in-law's skin had become increasingly better since she became pregnant. Her face was flawless and clear, without a single blemish.
And with that air of authority, anyone who didn't know better would really think she was a lady from a wealthy family.
Yan Qingqing felt a little uncomfortable touching her face when she saw the children staring at her without blinking. She wasn't wearing any makeup, so what were these kids doing with those expressions?
Yuan Huiniang was the first to react, laughing and saying, "Mother, you look so young and beautiful! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were in your twenties."
And Mother's entire demeanor is like that of a lady from a wealthy family; standing next to her, I feel like a mere maid.
Yuan Huiniang's words made Yan Qingqing laugh out loud. Although there was an element of flattery in Yuan Huiniang's words, it was finally someone who praised her for looking young, which was quite rare.
Li Xiangkang looked at Yuan Huiniang with envy. Who dared to call himself a sycophant in his mother's eyes now? His sister-in-law was clearly much more capable than him.
He kept repeating the same few phrases: "Mom is so good, Mom is so amazing." But look at his sister-in-law; she was genuinely praising Mom from the bottom of her heart.
At that moment, Li Xiangkang decided that once he went to the academy, he would study hard and use all the beautiful words he could to describe his mother.
Yan Qingqing, thinking that she still had a lot to do today, waved her hand and said, "Alright, it's getting late, let's get going."
Upon arriving in the county town, Yan Qingqing asked Li Xiang'an to first buy two jin of meat, and then to go to the pastry shop to buy two jin of pastries. Adding to this the homemade "Flipped Red" pastries, the gift wasn't too meager.
Li Xiang'an left Yan Qingqing and Li Xiangkang at the entrance of the academy and went to deliver goods to the restaurant. He would come back to pick them up after he finished delivering the goods.
Li Xiangkang carried his things and followed Yan Qingqing into Xifeng Academy.
Xifeng Academy is located in the south of the city. There are relatively few residents here, but it has the advantage of an elegant environment. There is a large maple forest around it, making it a good place for travelers to go on outings.
It seems that the founder of Xifeng Academy was quite capable, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to open the academy here.
As they entered the gate of Xifeng Academy, two old women who guarded the gate were cleaning. Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, they warmly approached her and asked, "Madam, are you sending your child to study here?"
Yan Qingqing nodded and replied, "Yes, I would like to send my son Silang to study here. I would like to trouble you, Aunt, to introduce me to the teachers at the academy."
Seeing Yan Qingqing's politeness, the old woman became even more enthusiastic and said, "Alright, we have a tutor here. I'll take you there right away."
Xifeng Academy is quite large; Yan Qingqing and her companions had to make several turns before finally arriving at one of the school buildings.
Several groups of people came out, and they all seemed to be there to register their children.
Yan Qingqing thought to herself, "Who said there are few people at Xifeng Academy? Look at all these people who have signed up."
Soon Yan Qingqing met the teacher, a middle-aged man, about forty years old, with a long beard.
He wore a gray robe and had an upright demeanor; he was clearly a scholar.
He gave Yan Qingqing and the others a kind smile.
Yan Qingqing gave Li Xiangkang a look, and Li Xiangkang quickly bowed and said, "Student Li Xiangkang from Canghe Village has come to seek knowledge."
The teacher laughed and said, "Good lad, you're obviously clever. How old are you today?"
Li Xiangkang replied truthfully, "Master, I will be seven years old soon. May I ask how you should address me?"
The teacher pondered for a moment and then said, "My surname is Lin, you can call me Teacher Lin. I started school at the age of seven, which is a little late, but not too late."
Have you read any books at home?
Li Xiangkang answered truthfully, "My family is poor, and I have never been to school."
Master Lin didn't intend to make things difficult for Li Xiangkang. There were plenty of students in their academy without a foundation. At worst, they could put him in the basic class. As long as he wasn't stupid, their academy would accept him.
However, after asking Li Xiangkang a few questions and seeing that he answered fluently, Master Lin asked him a few more difficult questions, which Li Xiangkang was still able to answer.
This surprised Master Lin. Didn't this kid say he had never been to school? He doesn't seem like it at all.
Since entering Xifeng Academy, Yan Qingqing had not spoken. She wanted to give Li Xiangkang this opportunity. Looking at the boy's eloquent manner, Yan Qingqing felt that he was a real talent.
However, seeing the suspicious look in Master Lin's eyes, he still spoke up to explain: "My fourth son has indeed not read many books. It's just that his family members occasionally teach him a few words when they have free time."
Master Lin nodded in agreement. Such a student, who was both intelligent and diligent, was hard to find, and he immediately accepted Li Xiangkang.
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