On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Tian Sangui and Zhang Shi got up very early, and Xiao Si and Xiao Wu were also forced to get up as well.
"Oh, Mother, Third Sister, I want to sleep a little longer!"
In his sleep, Xiao Si vaguely prayed to Zhang Shitian Sangui.
Little Wu must have been dreaming about something delicious, because she smacked her lips with a sweet smacking sound: "Uh... delicious..."
Tian Sangui found it amusing, but today was a turning point in their lives, and they absolutely could not be late.
Since shaking didn't work, we had to resort to our trump card.
"Ah, the chicken leg flew away!"
The next second, the two boys jumped up, their blurry eyes forced back on, and started looking around.
Where? Where?
"Where did it fly?"
"Hahaha!" Tian Sangui and Zhang Shi laughed at the same time.
Only then did the little guy realize that he had been tricked by his third sister again!
"Ugh, I'm eating a pig's trotter right now!"
Xiao Wu was angry, pouting and rolling her eyes at Tian Sangui, who was laughing heartily.
"Get up quickly! We're going to town to visit the teacher today. Have you all forgotten?"
"Oh, I remember now."
I promised myself I'd get up early today, but I don't know if it's still early. What if I'm late and my husband doesn't like me?
"Mother, cotton-padded coat, cotton-padded coat!" Xiao Si hurriedly asked Zhang Shi to help him put on his cotton-padded coat.
Xiao Wu was equally unwilling to be outdone, "Third Sister, I know how to button my cotton shoes!"
Xiao Wu snatched the buttons off his shirt, and she helped him put on his cotton shoes.
Afterwards, I helped them wash up and have dinner.
Zhang hitched up the donkey cart, prepared gifts for her teacher, and Tian Sangui prepared his younger brothers' schoolbags and writing implements.
These things cost her a full ten taels of silver, making her realize how expensive it was to train a scholar in ancient times.
Fortunately, with their own business established, paying for their younger brothers' education wasn't too difficult.
Zhang went inside and brought out two bottles of fine wine: "I heard Mr. Wang loves to drink, so it's always good to have some extra!"
"Hmm, have you got everything?"
"Alright, are you ready with twenty taels?"
Tian Sangui patted the money bag and smiled at Zhang: "The red silver is all ready!"
"Alright, you two get in the car quickly, let's go!"
Upon hearing the order, Xiao Si and Xiao Wu jumped onto the cart. Tian Sangui sat on the right to keep an eye on them. Zhang drove the donkey out of the gate, adjusted its direction, and then waved her small leather whip.
"Dad, we're going to town. Get up and lock the gate!"
Regardless of whether the drunken Tian Laosi heard her or not, Zhang Shi confidently led the children away.
The town was bustling with students coming and going, and some shops had already opened for business.
Tian Sangui figured that since the time was the same as in the county town, it wouldn't matter if he worked a day or two more.
In the early morning, as the first rays of orange light peeked over the ground, they cast long shadows.
Zhang's breath steamed, dampening the scarf on her chest. "Come on, get out, let's park the car properly in front of the shop!"
Tian Sangui pulled Xiao Si and Xiao Wu towards the entrance first, and then Zhang Shi stepped into the school gate, which she had been looking at for a long time but had never entered.
Inside, there's a hidden world; the main gate has been built with a wooden corridor that leads to three different hanging flower gates.
The first doorway, level with the long corridor, bears the three large characters "Enlightenment Academy"!
It must be a place for children like Xiao Si and Xiao Wu to study. The second gate is two jade steps higher than the entrance to the Tongsheng Academy.
Only those who have passed the preliminary examination can enter.
The third gate is very elaborate, with intricate and beautiful carvings, exuding elegance. It is inscribed with "County-style Courtyard".
This is probably how the students who are about to enter the county-level school gather together for their final instruction.
Just as Tian Sangui was watching intently, a student in gray clothes walked out of the entrance of the academy.
He was taller than Zhang and about eleven or twelve years old. When he saw Tian Sangui and the others, he came up to greet them with a smile.
"Madam, Miss, are you here to enroll your two younger brothers in school?"
Faced with the polite and courteous student, Zhang was momentarily at a loss for words.
Tian Sangui responded politely: "Indeed, my younger brother has reached the age for early education, so I brought him here to pay my respects to the teacher, hoping that the young student will guide us!"
Tian Sangui was poised and spoke reasonably, which made the students in front of him quite fond of him.
"You're too kind, it's nothing. Please follow me, Madam and Miss!"
Tian Sangui nodded, signaling Zhang to follow.
Stepping through the flower gate, two pavilions stand facing each other, with white and black pebbles forming a pattern that extends into a winding path.
Following the students to the end of the path, a spacious school came into view, where several children, about the size of fourth or fifth graders, were sitting.
Some were still crying, some were brewing their emotions, and some didn't know what they were doing there, sitting in their seats in a daze.
On the platform, a man with a long beard and black hair, who looked to be nearly fifty years old and had an elegant demeanor, sat cross-legged on a straw cushion, dressed in a long white robe.
Tian Sangui's refined demeanor and elegant bearing inspired respect in others.
She quietly approached and gently interrupted the man's meditation.
"Greetings, sir. I am Tian Sangui, and I have come with my younger brother to pay our respects to you!"
These words made Mr. Wang open his eyes. He looked Tian Sangui up and down and said, "Hahaha, whose family are you from? You are quite good at etiquette and mathematics, much better than that barbarian woman from their family!"
It could be said that Tian Sangui was the first girl to treat him politely today. Not only did he look at her more closely, but he also glanced at Xiao Si and Xiao Wu behind him a few more times.
"You flatter me, sir. Etiquette is a strict family rule, and I would never dare to forget it!"
"Haha, good! With rules, great things can be accomplished; without rules, nothing can be accomplished!"
"You two, come here!"
The fourth and fifth children approached Mr. Wang without fear, and followed their third sister's example by bowing to him with great poise.
"Hello, sir!"
"Hmm, not bad, a child with potential. Then please stay and take a seat in the front row!"
Mr. Wang stroked his beard and smiled gently as he arranged for the two brothers to sit down.
Only the students most valued by the teacher are qualified to sit in the front row.
So it seems that Xiao Si and Xiao Wu are quite favored by Mr. Wang.
Tian Sangui hurriedly bowed on behalf of his younger brothers to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. My mother and I have prepared a small gift, and we hope you will accept it!"
He found Tian Sangui's words particularly pleasing to the ear, and even the usually eccentric Tian Sangui looked at him with great interest.
"Oh, what have you prepared?"
Tian Sangui gestured for Zhang to come over and presented the basket to him with a smile.
"We've prepared some snacks and homemade loquat wine. Knowing that you, sir, are a refined gentleman, you love spirits, we've specially prepared two jugs of them. We hope you'll accept our sincere hospitality!"
Just hearing about it makes your mouth water. He's heard that loquat wine is the best-selling wine in the county, but unfortunately he doesn't have time to go to the county town, so he can only listen to his companions brag about it to him.
Now he can finally taste the flavor of loquat wine.
Mr. Wang smiled and gracefully accepted the basket. Tian Sangui had already put the money and his younger brothers' tuition fees inside, which could be seen by lifting the lace cloth.
"That......"
"The Enlightenment Academy has one day off every seven days, and the rest of the time the students are at school, so you two can rest assured!"
Zhang was on the verge of tears, feeling a surge of sadness as she thought about not seeing her two children for several days.
Fearing that his younger brothers would get used to the food at the school, Tian Sangui gave each of them an additional five hundred coins.
"Little Si, you are the older brother. From today onwards, you are an adult. You need to learn to take care of yourself and your younger brother, understand?"
"I know!" Xiao Si felt reluctant, as this meant that from today onwards, they would not be able to see their mother and sister again.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
Tian Sangui held back his tears and wiped away the tears from Xiao Si and Xiao Wu's eyes.
"A real man shouldn't shed tears easily. Only by learning to be strong can you become brave, and only when you grow up can you protect your sister and mother."
"Little Five, once you're in school, you can't be naughty anymore. You have to listen to your older brother and teacher, study hard, and help your older sister manage the accounts in the future, okay?"
"Yes, Third Sister, I will be good!" Little Five replied, her voice trembling with tears.
"If the school food isn't to your liking at lunchtime, go eat at your older brothers' place. If that's not possible, buy something you like from another store. If you run out of money, go ask your older brother for some. Don't make yourself suffer!"
"Understood, Third Sister, we've got it!"
"Okay!" Tian Sangui reluctantly got up and walked away, and Zhang Shi stepped forward to hug Xiao Si and Xiao Wu with reluctance.
"Be good, get along well with your classmates, and learn more words so that your third sister's money isn't wasted, understand?"
"I know, Mother, I can't bear to part with you!"
The two boys clung to Zhang's shoulders, crying their hearts out, which made Zhang somewhat hesitant to continue.
Fortunately, Tian Sangui stopped them in time, and the two of them left the courtyard gate looking back every few steps.
Zhang composed herself, suppressing her tears and emotions, and smiled calmly: "Our Tian family's fourth branch now has two scholars, truly bringing honor to our ancestors, hehe!"
"Go back, Mother. You'll see Little Four and Little Five in a few days."
"Hey, let's go back!"
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