"Sis, are we going back home now?" đŻđ§đŽđŽđđŽđđŁđđđđľ.đŹđ¸đ
Mu Houchu had already loaded the two empty jars onto the cart, and Xiao Bei had finished packing up the stall, ready to go.
But Ji Xinhe laughed and said, "Not in a rush, we still need to buy some things."
"What to buy? We seem to have everything needed at home, donât we?"
In these days of earning money, Ji Xinhe had become more generous with her spending. She had stocked up on everything needed at home. Because she was busy selling sour bamboo shoots and fermented tofu, she didnât have time to make cotton clothes and socks for them. Hence, she happily bought ready-made clothes from the town. A set of cotton clothes would cost one or two taels of silver.
Ji Xinhe blinked her eyes, "Not everything yet."
As she spoke, she led Xiao Bei onto the bullock cart and said to Mu Houchu, "Letâs go to the main street in the town first."
This area was the morning market, not exactly in the center of the town. It could be said to be equivalent to a vegetable market.
Mu Houchu jumped onto the cart, leisurely whipped the oxâs butt with a whip, and the ox began to pull the cart.
It was almost noon at this point, and most ordinary people had gone home to cook and eat, so there werenât many people on the street. Walking on the road with the ox cart was not crowded at all.
Ji Xinhe sat on the ox cart, looking around, and finally saw a store that specialized in selling the Four Treasures of the Study. She hurriedly asked Mu Houchu to stop and went down the cart with Xiao Bei.
Xiao Bei took a look at the storefront and finally understood what Ji Xinhe wanted to buy.
"Sis, Iâm not in school yet, so I donât need these." Xiao Bei tugged at Ji Xinheâs sleeve, saying softly.
Ji Xinhe patted Xiao Beiâs head: "Itâs okay. You now have someone to teach you, so itâs good to learn beforehand."
Ji Xinhe could see that Xiao Bei actually liked to study. Before there was no one to teach him, it was not noticeable. Now that he had Mu Houchu to teach him to recognize characters, whenever he was free, he would write on the ground with a stick, practice with tea water on the table, but never asked her to buy pens and ink. Probably he was being stingy with money.
Compared to money, Ji Xinhe was more worried about her brother. This child was so sensible that it made people worry.
Ji Xinhe took a glance inside the shop and then asked, "Boss, how do you price your ink, paper and inkstones?"
"It depends on the quality. The lesser ones can get you a full set for three to five taels of silver. If you want good ones, well, that would cost a few dozen taels of silver for a set. The key is to choose it yourself." The shop owner pointed at various brushes, paper and inkstones on his shelves.
Studying tools are unlike other things; their prices are especially high. So, itâs said that studying is something that only the wealthy can afford. Not to mention the tuition fee of seven or eight taels of silver a year for the township academy, also this paper, ink, stationery, which items do not require a lot of money?
Ji Xinhe was already prepared for this, so she was not too surprised at the price. The difficult part was that she didnât know how to choose.
Just a large row of brushes of different sizes and colors made Ji Xinhe feel overwhelmed. In her past life, she was too busy killing people to take the time to study ancient calligraphy. So, these were things she really didnât know how to choose.
Ji Xinhe looked at Mu Houchu: "Do you know how to choose?"
Since heâs a scholar, he should probably know these things.
Mu Houchu walked to the shelf, his slender fingers sliding through a row of brushes, finally stopping on one of them. He picked it up and then looked at the different types of paper, took a stack of draft paper first, then picked a few slightly better quality papers.
He also quickly picked the inkstone and ink.
Ji Xinhe couldnât help saying, "Donât just pick the expensive ones for me, I canât afford very good ones right now."
Although she didnât know much about this manâs status, she knew he was rich. He was able to casually buy the best house in Dashan Village, and when she first saw him, even though he was lying in a pool of blood, gasping for life, his clothes and attire were clearly luxurious. He even had a jade pendant at his waist, which by the looks of its transparent texture, must be a valuable item. Not to mention his inherent pride, driving an ox cart could even get the attention of many young women.
Because he was rich, she was afraid this wealthy man, unworldly like her, would think she was as rich as him, and he so lightly picked, hopefully, he didnât just pick the expensive ones?
Mu Houchu looked at her and then put the selected items on the shop ownerâs counter: "How much?"
The shopkeeper laughed, "This young master has good taste, and you do know how to pick things. These items are practical and cheap. They cost five taels of silver in total. Since youâre buying so much at once, Iâll let it go for five taels."
Ji Xinhe smiled at Mu Houchu, "Youâre quite thrifty."
Immediately she happily paid and let Xiao Bei hold the things and go out.
Xiao Bei was overjoyed, playing with the newly bought Four Treasures of the Study, he couldnât stop: "I will study hard in the future, and I wonât let my sister down!"
"Youâre so good. When Xiao Bei becomes a top scholar, sis can also share in your glory." Ji Xinhe teased, she didnât have too high expectations. After all, she was not daydreaming like Lady Ding and Ji Xiulan, she only let him study because he liked it. Even if he couldnât make a name for himself, it was always better than being illiterate.
Xiao Bei took it seriously, and promised with determination: "If sister wants Xiao Bei to become a top scholar, Xiao Bei will definitely become a top scholar!"
Mu Houchu looked at Xiao Bei and said while driving the cart: "Itâs not that easy to become a top scholar, youâll have to endure a lot."
"Xiao Bei is not afraid of hard work! Brother Mu Chu, you teach me to read, and Xiao Bei will study hard! I wonât slack off or fear hardship!" Xiao Bei firmly declared.
Mu Houchu looked at the determined little boy in front of him, his eyes deepening.
Perhaps about ten years ago, there was also a little boy, dressed in rags, like a beggar, all dirty, but his eyes shone with the most determined light.
"I just want to know, what benefits can you give me? Why should I help you?" A wealthy elder asked him quietly.
The six-year-old boy looked up at him and said decisively, "You give me ten years, and I will naturally give you the greatest benefit!"
"You talk big." The rich elder scoffed.
"But you can try." The boyâs eyes were cold, his pride unfathomable, even in rags, as if he was born to be so arrogant.
And he did it. Ten years later, the newly-elected top-ranked scholar, starting as a low-ranking officer, in just eight years, stepping into the court with careful strategy, and rising up, he finally held all the power and achieved the high status he has today.
"Brother Mu Chu? What are you thinking about?" Xiao Bei saw him in a daze and couldnât help asking him.
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