Why would he be reluctant to spend some money to raise a loyal brother who is destined to become a successful person?
"Mom, I've observed Chunming these past few days. He's a good kid. He's not only smart but also grateful."
"Last time, we casually helped him, and he even took the handkerchief his mother embroidered to Xiaoqiu to give it to you personally."
"I think that as long as we treat him sincerely, he will not forget his elder brother, my son, nor will he forget you, his mistress, when he becomes successful."
Dong Shuangyan had her own considerations. She didn't dare to think about her family's business growing bigger and bigger. As long as she could maintain the current situation, it would be fine.
"Even if you are willing to give up the five hundred taels, mother still cannot."
"If we give him five hundred taels, and he still can't learn anything, then wouldn't that be a waste of money?"
"Your billiard parlor may make money, but who knows how long it will last. More and more people are opening billiard parlors in Zeyun County."
"In other words, mother admits that An Chunming and his mother really know how to repay their gratitude. Even if he can really study and you can really pass the imperial examination, aren't you afraid that your father will just leave all the family property to him?" Dong Shuangyan worried.
An Jingzhi wasn't worried at all, "Mom, after you pass the imperial examination, you can no longer interfere in the family business."
Dong Shuangyan was not aware of this, otherwise she would know that although the successful person himself could not interfere in the family business, he could ask others to help manage it.
And who owns this business? Everyone who knows knows it clearly.
It was only because An Jingzhi knew the other person's character that he dared to do this.
"Although he won't compete with you for the family property, five hundred taels is not a small amount, son."
…
When it was still light and she had nothing to do during the day, Shen Xiaoniang would teach her son to read in the yard.
Unable to afford pen and ink, she used tree branches to write and draw on the ground.
"Mrs. Shen. Second Young Master."
Seeing Xiaoqiu standing at the gate of the yard, An Chunming suddenly looked up and then a smile appeared on his face, "Sister Xiaoqiu."
Xiao Qiu respectfully declined, "Second Young Master, I dare not address you as such."
An Chunming restrained his smile and walked up to her with Shen Xiaoniang, "But what instructions does Madam have?" Shen Xiaoniang asked cautiously.
Xiao Qiu smiled and replied, "Madam, please ask me and the Second Young Master to go there."
Shen Xiaoniang was feeling uneasy. She held An Chunming's hand tightly with her right hand and followed Xiaoqiu towards Dong Shuangyan's yard.
After bringing the two of them to the yard, Xiaoqiu bowed respectfully and stepped behind Dong Shuangyan.
An Jingzhi was looking at An Chunming with a smile on his face. He pointed to the stool next to him and said kindly, "Second brother, come and sit next to me."
Shen Xiaoniang glanced at An Jingzhi in surprise, and saw the longing look in her son's eyes.
She first looked at Dong Shuangyan, and seeing that she had no objection, she nodded slightly to her son.
An Chunming approached An Jingzhi with some excitement. After sitting down, he felt a little happy and a little nervous, and he would look at An Jingzhi from time to time.
On the other side, Shen Xiaoniang was also arranged by Dong Shuangyan to sit on the chair next to her.
An Jingzhi greeted An Chunming warmly, "Have you had breakfast? If not, have some cakes."
I haven’t had breakfast yet. There’s no breakfast in their yard.
Looking at the sweet and delicious pastries, An Chunming couldn't help but his stomach started to growl.
After An Chunming realized what was happening, his face immediately turned red with shame. He held his stomach in embarrassment and kept his head down without saying a word.
An Jingzhi burst out laughing. Looking at the shy child in front of him, and then thinking of the gentle and elegant young man who became famous at a young age in the original owner's memory, there was inevitably a contrast.
Obviously, he was a child who was easy to control, but the original owner chose extreme means.
"Don't be embarrassed, just eat if you're hungry. You don't need to be polite here, big brother."
As he said this, he reached out, picked up a piece of cake and handed it to the other person.
An Chunming pursed his lips, smiled, and reached out to take it.
I took a small bite and it was indeed sweet and had a milky flavor.
Shen Xiaoniang on the other side was still feeling uneasy. She placed her hands neatly in front of her body and unconsciously tightened the handkerchief in her hand.
While the two brothers were quarreling, Dong Shuangyan was also chatting with Shen Xiaoniang in a random manner, mainly asking what Shen Xiaoniang was saying.
No matter what Dong Shuangyan asked, Shen Xiaoniang said yes, and she did not complain to Dong Shuangyan about the servants' mistreatment of people.
That time, An Chunming openly quarreled with the cook in the kitchen, and was scolded by Shen Xiaoniang when he returned home.
Her principle in dealing with things has always been to protect herself, keep a low profile, and endure when possible.
Unless it involves his own son.
"Second brother, do you want to go to private school?"
An Chunming, who was enjoying the pastries, suddenly looked up and blinked to confirm that it was An Jingzhi who asked the question.
Shen Xiaoniang was also a little nervous. She looked at Dong Shuangyan and then at An Jingzhi, unsure of what was going on today.
Seeing that An Chunming had been looking at Shen Xiaoniang, An Jingzhi turned his head back and said, "Don't keep looking at your mother. You are ten years old, and you still don't dare to speak your mind?"
"How are you going to protect your mother in the future?"
An Chunming had always wanted to grow up quickly so he could protect his mother. He was so excited that he immediately said, "I want to go to a private school and learn to read."
After he spoke, Shen Xiaoniang immediately said nervously, "Ming'er is talking nonsense, Master," and turned to look at Dong Shuangyan, "Madam, please don't be offended."
Dong Shuangyan smiled. Since she had decided to do a favor for others, she naturally had to make sufficient preparations.
"Ming'er is telling the truth. There's no need to be so reserved. Ming'er is already ten years old. If he were from an ordinary family, he would have been attending a private school for several years. It's my fault that he's been delayed until now."
How could Shen Xiaoniang dare to respond to this? She said in panic, "Madam is already tired enough taking care of household affairs on a daily basis. How dare I trouble you with this matter? How can this be Madam's problem?"
She opened her mouth but didn't say that she didn't have to go to private school tomorrow.
It can be seen that there is still some hope in my heart.
An Jingzhi turned around and touched An Chunming's head. "Since you want to study, then go ahead."
An Chunming's eyes instantly lit up like stars, shining brightly and intimidatingly.
Dong Shuangyan also said at the right time, "You also know that it costs five hundred taels of silver to pass the imperial examination."
Shen Xiaoniang nodded subconsciously.
"Let Ming'er go to a private school first. If he does well, we can talk about taking the imperial examination. If he doesn't do well, it would be good for him to learn a few more words in a private school."
Shen Xiaoniang looked up at Dong Shuangyan ecstatically, as if to confirm whether the other party was joking.
The master is reluctant to spend money to send his own son to a private school, but the legitimate lady of this mansion is willing to send the son of his concubine to a private school?
Even after returning to their yard, Shen Xiaoniang was still dizzy.
She suddenly grabbed her son's hand and asked for confirmation, "Did Madam really say that she wanted to send my son to a private school?"
An Chunming was in a good mood, holding a box of pastries that An Jingzhi had packed for him.
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