Jiang Shan understood perfectly well how difficult it was to attend school in ancient times; most people simply couldn't afford it.
Tuition fees are one thing, but finding a suitable tutor is another. The former is not something ordinary families can afford, and the latter is even harder to find, even if you have money.
This is Qingfeng Academy, not an ordinary private school. Just from the name, you can tell it's a high-end, classy institution.
Moreover, although the old gentleman looked kind and gentle, his eyes were clear and wise, which gave Jiang Shan a very good feeling!
She immediately stood up, curtsied to Master Wu, quickly packed two bags of kebabs and handed them to Sanlang, whispering a few words of advice.
Then Sanlang, carrying the oil paper package in both hands, ran up to Master Wu, bowed deeply, and said happily, "Student Jiao Sanlang greets Master! My sister said this is not a ceremony to formally become a student, but only to thank Master for giving me this hard-won opportunity. Please also have a taste of this treat for your family."
Master Wu smiled, took the oil paper package, reached out and patted Sanlang's little head, and said, "Come to the school to become my disciple three days from now at Shenshi (3-5 PM)!"
Saburo practically skipped and hopped all the way home.
He was so happy!
He not only made a group of friends, but he can also go to school. From now on, he can read and play with his friends every day. That's great!
The first thing Sanlang did when he got home was to tell Jiao's mother everything he had seen and heard that day. Jiao's mother was happy but also a little worried.
"Shan'er, you don't know this, but Qingfeng Academy is one of the best in the entire Guyang Town and even Yuzhou City. Master Wu's name is known throughout Yuzhou City. Countless people have come to Qingfeng Academy to study, but Master Wu has turned them away. How could he possibly look favorably upon our Sanlang?"
Jiang Shan didn't like hearing that. What's wrong with her Sanlang? He's well-behaved, smart, considerate, and sensible, far surpassing all the other children at Qingfeng Academy!
"You don't need to worry. Sanlang is a student personally accepted by Master Wu. What is there to be concerned about? As for tuition, you don't need to worry either. I've already prepared it!"
Jiao's mother opened her mouth, but the hidden worries in her heart remained unspoken.
Three days later, Jiang Shan and Qiao Sheng pushed a simple wooden wheelbarrow and brought Sanlang to Qingfeng Academy.
A group of children quickly swarmed over, calling out "Sanlang" and surrounding the wheelbarrow completely.
Saburo smiled shyly, tiptoed, and took a bag of grilled meat skewers from the car, distributing them to the children one by one.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. My sister brought me here today to become her apprentice. We don't sell kebabs. I brought some meat kebabs that I grilled at home to give you as a gift. It's free."
After saying that, she considerately added, "Go home early after school, don't wait for me. I'll be back at my stall at this time tomorrow."
It was worth it for these kids to wait here after school, not wanting to leave. Now that they've gotten what they wanted, they're happily eating skewers and going home.
Master Wu did not meet Jiang Shan and his sister in the school, but in his own courtyard.
At this moment, Master Wu's wife and two children were all sitting together, waiting patiently for the siblings.
Jiang Shan stepped forward and bowed first. "My daughter Jiang Shan, along with my younger brother, has come to seek apprenticeship from Master Wu. We greet Master Wu, Madam Wu, and the two young masters and ladies."
Sanlang knelt down and performed a deep bow, saying, "This humble one, Jiao Sanlang, pays respects to the Master, and greets Master's wife, senior brother, and senior sister!"
Madam Wu was overjoyed to see the two siblings. She helped Sanlang up and looked him up and down, then smiled at her husband and said, "It's rare for you to take the initiative like this. You really are a good child!"
Master Wu's eldest daughter, Wu Youmei, was three years younger than Jiang Shan, and his son, Wu Tao, was two years older than Sanlang. Yet, they were both equally curious about the siblings.
Wu Tao walked to the door and looked outside, appearing eager to try.
Master Wu coughed lightly, "Tao'er, how dare you be so rude!"
Wu Tao pouted and reluctantly sat down next to his mother, but his eyes were still darting around restlessly.
Master Wu wasn't too concerned with formalities and led Sanlang to a table placed in the center of the courtyard.
A portrait hangs on the desk. Master Wu points to the portrait and says, “This is the great Confucian scholar Master Cheng, who once served as the tutor of the former crown prince, that is, the current emperor’s tutor. He is also my mentor and your grandmaster. My mentor was indifferent to fame and fortune. After resigning from his official post, he traveled around to study. To this day, we do not know where he is. You should bow to the portrait.”
Sanlang respectfully knelt down and kowtowed once, then turned around and kowtowed three times to Master Wu, offering him a cup of tea as a gesture of acknowledgment of becoming his disciple.
Master Wu presented Sanlang with a writing brush and an inkstone to express his gratitude to his teacher.
After accepting the gift with both hands, Sanlang said shyly, "Master, my apprenticeship gift is still in the front yard. Please allow me to fetch it."
After saying that, he ran out the door.
Wu Youmei and her brother Wu Tao's eyes lit up instantly, and their thoughts drifted away to Sanlang.
Before long, Qiao Sheng and San Lang pushed in a wheelbarrow.
Lifting the tarpaulin covering the car, you can see several bamboo baskets, bamboo buckets, bamboo basins, and several earthenware jars inside. There are lively seafood, marinated seafood, grilled meat skewers, and vegetables.
To prevent flavors from mixing, the cooked food was covered with two layers of damp burlap, showing that they had put thought into it.
"Mom, it's grilled skewers! And seafood in broth!!" Wu Tao jumped up happily.
Master Wu was surprised and amused by this kind of apprenticeship gift, which was the first time he had ever received one.
Sanlang was also uneasy, fearing that the master would not like these apprenticeship ceremonies. He glanced at Jiangshan, and after receiving her encouragement, he stepped forward and pointed to the pots and pans in the carriage, explaining in detail how to cook and eat these foods, even explaining the preparation methods for the raw seafood.
While finding it novel, Madam Wu also greatly admired the child's quick wit and praised him incessantly.
Master Wu was both amused and exasperated. This was his newly accepted student, how did his wife come to have her eye on him?
So I quickly changed the subject.
In the name of a teacher, he taught Sanlang the principles of being a good person and how to conduct himself, encouraging him to be diligent, ambitious, and upright.
Sanlang wrote this down and once again kowtowed to express his gratitude to his teacher.
As Madam Wu and Jiang Shan were talking, the topic of Sanlang's accommodation came up. She immediately decided that Sanlang should simply stay at the Wu family's house and share a room with Wu Tao.
Wu Tao also expressed great enthusiasm and sincerity.
Jiang Shan also knew that Sanlang was too young to travel to town to study every day, but she didn't have time to buy a house or shop in town. Before that, Sanlang's schooling faced a big problem.
It has to be said that Mrs. Wu's proposal was hard not to be tempted.
Faced with Sanlang's questioning gaze, Jiang Shan gently shook his head.
In front of everyone, she invited Madam Wu to speak in a side hall, clearly not intending to hide anything.
She frankly admitted that she was an impure person, and that she was already extremely grateful that Qingfeng Academy had accepted Sanlang, but she could not allow this to bring any bad rumors to the academy, Master Wu, and his family.
Mrs. Wu was so shocked she was speechless, looking as if she had been deeply devastated.
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