Before we knew it, it was the 20th of the twelfth lunar month again, and both Qingqing Academy and Xifeng Academy were closed for the holidays.
When Li Xiangkang learned that the village had set up a school and hired two renowned scholars, and that Xiao Mochen was also studying there, he became interested in returning to the village to study as well.
Xiao Mochen also supported Li Xiangkang's decision, but he still suggested, "Although I also think it's more suitable for you to study in the village, I still think you should listen to your aunt's opinion."
After all, Xifeng Academy is relatively better in terms of conditions in all aspects.
Li Xiangkang nodded in agreement. Transferring schools was indeed a big deal. He was already familiar with Xifeng Academy, and the teacher valued him highly. He needed to consult his mother first.
Yan Qingqing was preparing New Year's money when she heard Li Xiangkang and Ruxue talking in the courtyard.
Li Xiangkang asked, "Is my mother inside?"
Ru Xue nodded and replied, "Yes, Fourth Young Master, I will go and inform you."
Li Xiangkang smiled and said, "No need, I can go in by myself."
After saying that, he lifted the curtain and entered Yan Qingqing's room.
Yan Qingqing's room was exceptionally warm. Since there was no underfloor heating in this era, Yan Qingqing had specially designed heating pipes for this winter. As long as firewood or charcoal was burned outside, the room would be exceptionally warm.
Others thought it looked bad, so they didn't install it; only Yan Qingqing had it installed in her yard.
So now they like to spend time in Yan Qingqing's room whenever they have free time.
The first thing Li Xiangkang did after entering was to take off his cotton-padded coat.
Seeing this, Yan Qingqing smiled and reminded her, "Be careful, don't catch a cold."
Li Xiangkang replied nonchalantly, "Mother, it's too hot in your room, and this cotton-padded coat is already very hot to wear. If I don't take it off, I'll start sweating in a while."
"I'll take it off now, and it'll fit me perfectly when I put it back on outside."
Seeing that he had a plan, Yan Qingqing nodded and asked, "You rarely get a break from the academy, a period of rest. Why don't you rest properly or play with Mo Chen? Is there something you need from your mother?"
Li Xiangkang then told Yan Qingqing about his idea of transferring back to Canghe Village to attend school.
After listening, Yan Qingqing remained silent for a while before saying, "Actually, Mother doesn't really approve of you returning to Canghe Village."
Li Xiangkang was somewhat surprised to hear this, and then asked in return, "Why? Is it because the conditions at Xifeng Academy are better?"
Yan Qingqing shook her head and said, "It's not entirely because of that reason."
Your teacher said that you will be taking the preliminary examination next year. You will not be able to adapt if you suddenly transfer schools, and the pace of your teaching will also be different.
There will be no students from our Canghe Village taking the exam next year. More importantly, the purpose of Qingqing Academy was not to prepare for the imperial examination.
Another point is that Mo Chen also attends the village school, and his mother doesn't want to attract too much attention.
Actually, this last point is the most important, because Xiao Mochen's identity is too special, and Yan Qingqing definitely doesn't want to attract more attention before she has the ability to protect herself.
Their family is now in the same boat as Xiao Mochen; there's no way they can get off now.
Although saving the prince was a great achievement, it also offended many people.
If their secrets are leaked before they have the strength to protect themselves, they could very well be wiped out.
It is said that caution is the best policy. In her previous life, she had to fight to the death in the workplace, let alone the struggle for the throne in ancient times. Therefore, Yan Qingqing has always been very careful in this regard.
Li Xiangkang listened to Yan Qingqing's words and remained silent for a moment, then said with some disappointment, "Mother, I understand."
I will study hard at Xifeng Academy.
Yan Qingqing wanted to pat his head, but then she thought that the child was already too old for that.
So he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Although you are studying at Xifeng Academy, you can still ask Master Song and Master Zhao for advice during your breaks."
They were two teachers specially invited by Mo Chen, and their knowledge and experience far surpassed that of ordinary tutors.
Li Xiangkang was pleased to hear this.
In ancient times, the New Year celebrations were much more festive, and the New Year was the biggest festival of the year, the one that everyone looked forward to the most.
Therefore, the Li family's workshops and shops officially closed for the holiday on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. It was not appropriate for Yan Qingqing, who had been granted the title of Mingzhao Ren this year, to hold an annual meeting for them, so the matter was handed over to Li Xiang'an.
Li Xiang'an knew that Yan Qingqing had given him a good opportunity to win people over, so he made ample preparations.
The effect was indeed very good. The workers were full of energy after listening to Li Xiang'an's encouraging words, and they were especially excited when they received their New Year's bonuses.
In any case, they can't find such a well-paying job in the entire Great Yan Dynasty right now.
They all felt that this job was both easy and respectable, and that it would be foolish not to work hard. Moreover, they believed that if they worked hard now, they would have the opportunity to move into management in the future.
After the workshops and shops closed for the holidays, everyone had some free time, but people kept coming to the Li family's door to deliver New Year's gifts. Of course, the Li family's servants were also very busy, running around to return the gifts.
For families who give particularly generous gifts, Yan Qingqing would deliberately add more items to the original gift list.
They were busy until New Year's Eve, and Yan Qingqing and Yuan Huiniang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yuan Huiniang then led several skillful maids and servants in cutting paper-cuts. Yan Qingqing watched with envy as each paper-cut was made so lifelike.
This will become an intangible cultural heritage in later generations, and very few people will know how to do it.
However, in ancient times it was just like any other common craft.
Yuan Huiniang glanced at Yan Qingqing beside her and smiled, "Mother, would you like to try it too?"
Yan Qingqing quickly shook her head; she still didn't want to embarrass herself.
Because Yan Qingqing is definitely clumsy when it comes to handicrafts, so I don't want to end up with a mess that ruins the image she's maintained for so long.
Yuan Huiniang knew that Yan Qingqing was not good at this kind of handicraft, so she did not force her.
A moment later, Ruxue walked in with a smile and reported, "Madam, the Third Madam has arrived and is in your room."
Xu came to her house quite often, and Yan Qingqing didn't treat her like an outsider, so Xu went straight into Yan Qingqing's room when she arrived.
When Yan Qingqing arrived, Xu was wearing a brand-new cotton coat, which Yan Qingqing had asked the housekeeper to make especially for Xu. The inner lining was made of cotton picked from the mountain.
Moreover, now that Xu has money, she even applied rouge and powder to her face.
It does look quite different from her usual bare-faced appearance.
As soon as Xu saw Yan Qingqing, she asked with a smile, "Second sister-in-law, do you think this dress looks good on me?"
Yan Qingqing nodded and praised, "Sister-in-law's beauty isn't just in her clothes. I think your makeup is also exceptionally exquisite today, so of course you look beautiful."
Madam Xu smiled somewhat embarrassedly, and then said, "It's all because of San Niu. He insisted on buying me rouge and face powder for the New Year."
Yan Qingqing: ……
Is this Xu woman here to feed her dog food during the Lunar New Year?
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