After settling everything at home, Fu Changfeng went to the Ministry of Revenue to report for duty. If he were in Shaoming County, he could still be of help, but now that he was at the Ministry of Revenue, Xichun could only wait for him to return each day to find out the specific details.
Ah Zhao has the demeanor of an elder brother, leading his younger siblings to study at home. Now that they have arrived in the capital, Ah Zhao and Ah Zheng need to find a new academy to study at. Ah Zhao has already passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai. The other day, when Madam Hu spoke, she seemed to want to know about his situation, and Xi Chun guessed that this was because the Hu family wanted to arrange a marriage.
“Ah Zhao, I’ve already sent someone to inquire and see if there are any reputable academies around here. You two brothers should go to an academy to study. Your father is busy right now, and I’m afraid he won’t have time to look after your studies.”
"Mother, I will discuss it with the head steward, but what about my younger sister? I heard that people in the capital don't allow girls to study at the academy." Ah Zhao thought of her younger sister. Back in Shaoming County, she used to study at the academy with them. Now, people in the capital emphasize the separation of men and women, so it's naturally not appropriate for her younger sister to study with them.
"Don't worry, I've already asked Madam Hu to keep an eye out for suitable female tutors. If there are any, please invite them to teach Xuanxuan." Xichun had this idea in mind when she visited the Hu family that day.
"Then I'm relieved." The little boy, though a scholar, was not even ten years old yet, but he already looked mature beyond his years.
"You should smile more. How can such a young child always have such a long face?" Xichun couldn't help but pinch his still chubby cheeks.
"Mother, I'm a man now, you can't pinch my cheeks anymore," Ah Zhao said seriously.
"Alright, alright, that's enough. You all go back to your studies. We'll have mutton for dinner tonight." Mutton in the capital is cheaper than in Shaoming County, probably because it's closer to the outside world. So Xichun had someone buy a lot of fresh mutton.
Madam Hu also took Xichun's request to heart, and a few days later, she brought her good news.
“I heard that a female tutor has just left the home of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. His daughter has gotten married and they no longer need a female tutor. This is a good opportunity. She lives in Wuliu Lane, not far from where you live. I suppose no one has invited her yet. If you want to go and see her, you can send a visiting card in advance.”
This female tutor was originally from the capital, but due to some misfortune befalling her husband's family, she became a tutor. She is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. However, because she is widowed, some families are superstitious and unwilling to send their children to her for education.
"Oh, may I ask what this lady's name is?" Upon hearing this, Xichun didn't mind these things. As long as this lady was of good character and talented, that was enough.
"I only heard that her surname is Hua, her husband's surname is Cai, and she is known as Madam Cai. She should be around thirty-five years old this year. She has two daughters. The eldest daughter is already married, and the younger daughter stays at home to help take care of the girls who come to study. Over the years, she has served her mother-in-law and has an upright character. There have been no reports of any problems."
Originally, she taught at people's homes, but because her daughter is older now, she announced that she would only teach at home from now on and would no longer go to other people's homes. Otherwise, even if someone was wary of her, they would have been invited to her home long ago.
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Madam Hu. I'll go take a look tomorrow. We need to find a tutor for my Xuanxuan as soon as possible."
"It's a good thing that your family values your daughter's education so much. Most of us women are confined to the backyard, but that doesn't mean we should say that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. It's not like we're marrying our daughter off to a peddler or a laborer. Don't worry about these things. When she gets married, she'll be more harmonious with her husband."
Seeing how much importance Xichun placed on her children's education, Madam Hu's impression of her improved even more. After Madam Fu brought her children to visit that day, her daughter-in-law had expressed a desire to form a marriage alliance with the Fu family. Therefore, she also wanted to get a better understanding of Madam Fu's character before making any plans for her children.
“Mrs. Hu and I agree. Those people say that a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent, but I think that’s a kind of constraint on women. I’m a bit unconventional, otherwise I wouldn’t have met Mr. Hu, and our two families wouldn’t have become such good friends. Women are inherently weak, but they need to have some skills to stand on their own two feet.”
“That’s right. We all admire you, Madam Fu. You’ve been by Lord Fu’s side all these years with the children. Lord Fu has said that you deserve half the credit. If it weren’t for your ideas, we wouldn’t have been able to do all this.”
"Hehe, Madam Hu, you flatter me. I'll head back now and visit you another day."
After receiving Xichun's visiting card and inquiring about her family's situation, Madam Cai also invited her to visit the next day.
Xichun was also happy and gave Xuanxuan instructions on etiquette for her visit the next day. She also picked out a simple and elegant outfit for her. Madam Cai had a good reputation, and because she wanted the young girls to come to her house to study, apart from the two old men guarding the gate, all the servants in the house were women.
Xi Chun brought Xuan Xuan to their door. After the old man saw their visiting cards, he invited them in. Only Xi Chun's family came today. When Madam Cai heard that they had arrived, she also came out with her daughter to greet them.
"Greetings, Madam Fu." Xi Chun's husband was a fifth-rank official, and she herself was also a titled lady, so Madam Cai greeted her according to proper etiquette.
"Madam Cai, please rise. I am just a woman who has brought my daughter here to broaden our horizons. There is no need to be so polite. Xuanxuan, come quickly and greet Master Hua." Xichun pulled Xuanxuan forward to greet Madam Cai.
"Fu Jiuxuan greets Master Hua." Xuanxuan was not intimidated and stepped forward to bow gracefully.
"Hehe, Miss Fu, please have a seat. It's been many years since I've heard anyone call me Master Hua. I heard that you come from Shaoming County, where the terraced rice cultivation method has spread throughout the entire Great Zhou." When Madam Cai heard the mother and daughter address her like that, she was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses. Seeing Xuanxuan's polite manners, she nodded in agreement.
"I didn't expect Master Hua to be interested in this too. The method of rice cultivation in terraced fields..." Seeing her interest, Xi Chun told her about it as well. Anyway, it was no longer a secret, and everyone in the Great Zhou knew about it.
“Your family is truly remarkable. Although I have never been to Shaoming County or even the entire Qianzhong Circuit in person, I have read about it in books. Now, under Lord Fu’s governance, it has changed dramatically. Madam Fu, you must have contributed to this.”
"Hehe, I was just helping out with small things."
The two chatted happily and almost forgot the purpose of their visit. It was only at the end, when Madam Cai's daughter brought it up, that Xi Chun remembered. Madam Cai didn't make any demands, only saying that she could start teaching once Xi Chun brought Miss Fu over.
"Thank you, Master Hua. We will prepare the apprenticeship gifts and come to visit another day."
"No need to prepare too much, just a formality will suffice. If Madam Fu has time, she can come to our house more often; it's quite interesting to listen to you talk." Madam Cai also had a good impression of her.
Xuanxuan's schooling was settled. As for Azhao, Zhunian had inspected several academies and was waiting for Fu Changfeng to take a break so he could learn more about them before making a decision.
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