"When you feel better in a couple of days, why don't you go to the academy to study?" Yu Jiao asked while pressing the ruler on the paper.
Yu Qizhe raised his eyes to look at her and smiled faintly, "I have a plan for my studies, don't worry."
Yu Jiao thought of how he kept his books in his hands all day long and was very diligent, and he didn't need anyone to urge him to study, so she nodded.
Yu Qizhe rolled up his sleeves and wrote down four words in a fluent style - man can conquer nature.
The strokes of his brush were vigorous, different from the calligraphy he had copied for Yu Jiao before. It was less neat and restrained, and the end of the stroke revealed a hint of sharpness. Perhaps it was because his state of mind was different from before, and there was more of the unbridled arrogance of a young man.
Yu Jiao glanced at the four words "Man can conquer nature" and was a little absent-minded. She felt that everything was destined; man proposes, God disposes.
Yu Jiao caught a glimpse of Yu Qizhe's sleeves that were worn and curled up, and she glanced at his old blue shirt that had turned a little pale from washing. She thought to herself that she should ask Aunt Song to buy some cloth and make two new sets of clothes for Yu Qizhe.
Yu Ruhai did not get any money from Yu Jiao, but he was reluctant to let Yu Jinyan and Yu Jinshu down, so he asked Yu Zhoushi to use the brocade and cotton cloth that the Mu family had sent earlier to make clothes for the two of them so that they could have something decent to wear during the provincial examination.
As for Yu Zhizhou, who had also entered the county school to take the provincial examination, he did not mention him at all.
Yu Zhou had already had her eyes on the two pieces of cloth. When she saw Yu Ruhai asking for it, she happily sent the two pieces of cloth to Zhao, the third room, and asked her to make two sets of clothes before the provincial examination in August.
Although Zhao was lazy, she never shirked her duties when it came to her two sons. Seeing that Yu Zhou brought brocade, she smiled so hard that her teeth could not be seen. She touched the brocade and said to Yu Zhou, "Mother, Jin Shu and Jin Yan's pens are worn out. The two boys are sensible and did not ask you for help. The provincial examination is coming up soon. Only a good pen can write good characters. Do you have any money to buy a new pen for the two boys?"
Yu Zhou had been saving her own money over the years and had been subsidizing the third room privately. Although no one was seeking medical treatment from Yu Ruhai anymore, Yu Jiao could get 50% of the medical fees from his medical treatment. Last time, He Dongsheng was generous and gave her 100 taels of medical fees, of which Yu Ruhai got 50 taels. Now, Yu Zhou was still relatively well off, as she had spent ten taels to send Yu Zhizhou to the county school. In a few days, she would have to spend money to ask a prestigious teacher to write a letter of recommendation for Yu Jinyan and the other two for the provincial examination.
Both she and Yu Ruhai were still thinking about the money in Yu Jiao's hands.
Seeing that Yu Zhou's face was not looking good, Zhao said shyly, "If mother doesn't have enough money, I won't change the pen."
Yu Zhou had always been generous to Yu Jinshu and Yu Jinyan in their studies. She went back to the east room, found her own private money, and quietly gave Zhao a tael of silver. "Give this money to Jinyan and Jinshu, so that they can buy better pens, and use the rest to buy some paper and ink."
Zhao took the silver and stuffed it into her purse. She pressed Yu Zhou's shoulder and said cheerfully, "Mother loves the second and fourth brothers. If they really pass the imperial examination, let them honor you well."
Speaking of Yu Jinyan and Yu Jinshu, Yu Zhou showed a kind smile on her face, "I just hope that they can have a promising future, stand out in the future, shed their cloth clothes, pick up an official position, and bring honor to the family."
"I can't say for sure about Jinshu, but Jinyan has been praised recently by Mr. Gu from the county school, who said that his essays are pretty good and he might pass the exam. However, Jinyan is still young, so it would be great if he can. If not, he will definitely pass if he takes the exam again in three years." Zhao said with a smile.
Yu Zhou's shoulders relaxed under her pressure, and a bit of good color appeared on her face. "Jinyan is a smart child, so I don't need to give him any more instructions. It's Jinshu who should worry more. Before the provincial examination, go to see Mrs. Wang and see if there is a suitable family to arrange his marriage."
The Zhao family also had this in mind. If Yu Jin failed to get married this time, since they were already old and had been rejected for marriage before, although it was not their Yu family's fault, when it came to marriage again, others would always have to consider it.
"I will invite Mrs. Wang to my house for tea tomorrow," said Zhao.
Yu Zhou nodded and frowned, "I roughly calculated that Meng Yujiao should have saved up 180 taels of silver. It's a pity that she holds all of it in her hands. Your father couldn't get it back even if he went to ask for it."
Zhao was also coveting the money in Yu Jiao's hands, and had been thinking about it privately. After hearing what Yu Zhou said, she rolled her eyes and offered an idea, "Mother, I have thought of a reason."
Yu Zhou looked at her, and Zhao whispered, "It rained a lot this year, so the harvest in the fields is definitely not good. My third brother and I want to open a pork shop to make some money. If Jinyan passes the imperial examination, it will cost a lot of money to study and take the next exam. Several villages nearby go to the town to buy meat. Hanshan has done some research, and if this business succeeds, it should make a lot of money."
After hearing this, Yu Zhou was also somewhat tempted. Besides, she could open a pork shop in the countryside and slaughter pigs for others without having to become a merchant. "I'm afraid she won't pay this much money. If we had known she was so capable, we should have treated her well. How could she not hold a grudge against Han Shan for beating her? Now only the second branch can benefit from her."
Zhao's eyes sparkled, and she said, "I'll ask Hanshan to find Lao Er and get him to join us. If Lao Er joins, the girl will definitely get paid. Once she gets the money, she'll kick Lao Er out."
When it comes to plotting against the second wife, Zhao is not soft-hearted at all, and Yu Zhou doesn't think there is anything wrong with it. Instead, she said, "This is a good idea. Let Han Shan coax the second wife well."
"Hanshan is good at talking, so it shouldn't be a problem to win over the second brother to join us." Zhao smiled happily, feeling quite pleased with the idea she had come up with.
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