After her period ended, Su Ruanruan went to Daohua Village again to see how Xiao Xi was doing.
Perhaps it's because she's in a better mood here, with good food and fun activities, that Xiao Xi has become more cheerful.
The villagers of Daohua Village are simple and honest, and even the children are innocent and adorable. After dinner, some friends outside the courtyard called Xiaoxi and Sanzhu to go out and play.
Su Ruanruan looked at Xiao Xi's legs and massaged and unblocked them every night before bed, taking good care of Xiao Xi.
She should also work hard to earn money so that the medical space can be reopened as soon as possible.
Seeing her aunt Liu come out of the kitchen after finishing her work, Su Ruanruan pulled her to sit in the courtyard.
"Aunt, I heard that a school has opened at the edge of the village. Is that true?"
"Yes, Wang, the scholar from the next village, failed the imperial examination four times and gave up this year. He's in his thirties now, and his parents are getting old. He just wants to stay by their side and take care of them."
"So, a school has been opened in that empty house at the entrance of our village, which has also made it convenient for children from several nearby villages."
"Has Aunt ever considered letting Sanzhu learn to read?"
Liu smiled and said, "That silly boy Sanzhu only knows how to play all day long. He has no interest in such things. He probably thinks the stool is too hot to sit on before he's even warmed it."
“But we can’t let Sanzhu do as he pleases, Aunt. He still needs to go to school. We don’t expect him to be very successful, but it’s good for him to be literate.”
“Big Brother Tie and Second Brother Wang are at a disadvantage because they can’t read. Now they can only do tiring errands. Think about it, if they could read, they could be accountants. It would be easy, they would earn more money, and it would be more respectable, wouldn’t it?”
Mrs. Liu was somewhat tempted. Who wouldn't want their son to be successful? However, going to school was a huge expense.
She could spare some money for the time being, but studying was not something that could be accomplished in a short period of time.
In the long run, the family might not be able to support themselves.
Da Tie is getting married soon, and he'll give her a grandson to take care of, which will cost money.
We need to save money for Ruanruan's dowry and for Erwang's wedding...
No matter how you calculate it, it doesn't seem to be enough.
Besides, Sanzhu went to school, so what would happen to Xiaoxi? She couldn't bear to let the child just watch helplessly.
But the family couldn't afford to send both children to school at the same time.
After a thousand thoughts swirled in her mind, Liu could only sigh silently.
Su Ruanruan saw everything and was about to speak when the two children ran back.
Su Ruanruan held Xiao Xi on her lap and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Are you tired from playing?"
"Um."
Su Ruanruan's gaze swept between the two children before she asked, "Do you two want to go to school?"
Sanzhu gulped down a bowl of water, wiped his mouth, and said without hesitation, "What's so good about studying? I want to be a great general and fight on the battlefield in the future."
Su Ruanruan reached out and patted his head. "Silly child, have you ever seen a great general who is illiterate? If you can't read, how can you understand maps? How can you read secret letters? How can you command thousands of troops?"
"Uh..." Sanzhu was speechless for a moment.
Su Ruanruan then looked at Xiao Xi, "Do you want to go to school?"
Su Xiaoxi looked at Su Ruanruan with his bright eyes. In the past few days, he had seen several children from the village go to school. Sometimes when he and his brother Sanzhu went to play nearby, they could hear the sound of children reading aloud.
He was extremely envious, but he couldn't say it. His older sister worked very hard, and he couldn't let her spend money on him.
Moreover, he knew that his older sister had fallen for a scholar, and if he found out that his sister also had a younger brother who squandered money, would he abandon her...?
Under Su Ruanruan's expectant gaze, Su Xiaoxi also shook her head.
Liu could naturally see that her son truly didn't want to study, but Xiao Xi had other ideas.
Thinking of this poor child, my heart softened considerably.
She gritted her teeth and made a decision, "Xiao Xi, how about your aunt takes you to school? After you come back from school, I'll teach the words you know to your brother Sanzhu, okay?"
Sanzhu, who was inexplicably called out, was quite bewildered. It seemed that he could not escape the fate of learning to read.
Su Xiaoxi was a little stunned. His aunt was very good to him, but he also knew that going to school would cost a lot of money.
"No, Aunt, I don't want to go to school."
Su Ruanruan turned Xiao Xi's head to face her directly. "You really don't want to go?"
Xiao Xi blinked. "Sister, I don't want to go."
Su Ruanruan laughed and said, "That's a real pity. Your brother-in-law repeatedly told me to send you to school."
"Brother-in-law?"
"Oh, it's your brother-in-law. You'll have a brother-in-law soon."
Liu smiled, genuinely happy to see Ruan Ruan so happy and loved by someone.
Xiao Xi's eyes sparkled. "Was it really my brother-in-law who said that?"
"Yes, when my brother-in-law returns from the autumn examination, I'll bring him to see you, okay?"
"You don't need to worry about tuition fees. Your brother-in-law has given them to your sister. If your sister can't get Xiaoxi into school, your brother-in-law will be angry with her when he comes back."
Xiao Xi shook her head, "Sister, please don't make brother-in-law angry, okay?"
Su Ruanruan pinched his little face, "Then how about Xiaoxi goes to school to learn to read properly?"
The little guy replied crisply, "Okay."
Su Ruanruan took out ten taels of silver from a bundle beside her and placed it in front of Liu Shi. "Aunt, let Sanzhu go with you."
Liu was shocked to see so much silver and quickly pushed it back, saying, "No, no, where did you get so much silver? Take it back quickly. If Sanzhu goes to school, I have some left here."
Su Ruanruan pushed the silver to her again, "Aunt, please don't stand on ceremony. This silver was originally Mu Bai's way of showing respect to you and Uncle, but he has never had the time to come and visit. When he comes back, I will bring him to see you two."
"You and your uncle have been very worried about Xiao Xi staying here; the child has visibly become stronger."
"I am not able to take good care of Xiao Xi, so I can only leave him here and trouble my uncle and aunt to look after him. This money is for the two children's school fees, and I'm leaving it with you."
Liu wanted to refuse, but she couldn't resist Su Ruanruan's persistent pleading.
She could only sigh and put the silver away.
If her sister-in-law were in heaven, she would be very happy to see that Ruan Ruan is being taken care of and has such a good son-in-law.
Su Ruanruan gently flicked Sanzhu's forehead, "Your cousin is entrusting Xiaoxi to you. How about you two go to school together? You're the older brother, you'll protect him, right?"
Sanzhu glanced at Xiaoxi, who was staring at him expectantly, and nodded helplessly.
Although he hated studying, his cousin said that one had to be literate to become a great general.
Moreover, he was really worried about Xiaoxi going to school alone.
As the older brother, protecting his younger brother is his natural duty.
The next day, Liu and Su Ruanruan took their two children to register.
Once you pay your tuition, the school provides you with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for use in class, which is very convenient.
After leaving the school, Su Ruanruan bid farewell to Liu Shi, boarded an oxcart to the town, and then traveled to the city.
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