After finishing their meal, Mu Yi'an and Jiang Shuyun went to the old house.
"Father, Mother, I have something to tell you."
"What's up?"
Jiang's parents looked at each other, neither of them knowing what had happened to Shuyun.
“We bought a house in the county town. Before I go back to the academy, I need to settle Yi’an and the others in and move them there.”
"Why move to the county seat?"
Jiang's mother didn't expect that they came to talk about moving. Why did they have to move to the county town when they were living there so well? Wouldn't it be even more difficult to see each other in the future?
“Mother, Shaoming is six years old now and has been studying at the school for a while. I want him to go to a private school in the county town to start his formal studies.”
"Didn't your father teach you well? Why do you insist on going to the county town? Food, drinks, everything costs money."
Jiang's mother couldn't accept it. Why did she have to go to the county town? Wasn't it good for the child to study with his grandfather?
"The child's education is more important. Most of the schools I run are for learning to read. Shao Ming is steady and can sit still, so we can't let the child fall behind. Have you found a private school yet?"
"It's settled, Wan Juan Academy. Master Wei recommended it and wrote a letter of recommendation. Enrollment is on the second day of the second lunar month."
Jiang Shuyun didn't expect his mother to react so strongly. Fortunately, his father intervened, otherwise, it would have turned into an unpleasant situation.
"Wan Juan Academy, the academy of Scholar Meng, is excellent!"
"Does Father know?"
"Yes, after Scholar Meng gave up the imperial examination, he opened this school. He was very knowledgeable and taught the Four Books and Five Classics exceptionally well. Many of the students in his private school passed the county-level examination and became scholars."
He's quite strict with his admissions; he won't accept those of questionable character, those who can't endure hardship, or those who lack determination in their studies. Your teacher helped you write a letter of recommendation for Shao Ming; you must remember this kindness.”
"I understand, Dad, I will."
Jiang's father was overjoyed. Wanjuan Academy was a very good school. Entering Wanjuan Academy meant he was just one step away from passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar.
"Shuheng, ask around, is it possible for Shaoqin to attend that private school in that county town?"
"Didn't Father say that a letter of recommendation is required to go?"
When Sister-in-law Jiang first heard that the second son's family was moving to the county town, she felt very bad, but she couldn't compare herself to them. She knew that Mu Yi'an had made money growing watermelons.
But when she heard about private schools, she couldn't sit still. Her son, Shao Qin, was already ten years old. If he could get into a good school, he could take the imperial examinations to become a scholar or a provincial graduate in the future.
"Father, second brother, the private school Shao Ming went to is hard to get into. What about other private schools in the county? Shao Qin is also ten years old. If he gets into a good school and studies hard, he can pass the imperial examinations and become a scholar or a provincial graduate in the future."
“There are good private schools in the county town, but if Shao Qin goes there alone, can he discipline himself?”
"Aren't there my second brother and the others there? There must be a place for Shao Qin, a child, to live. Isn't that my second brother's wife?"
Sister-in-law Jiang looked at Mu Yi'an with hopeful eyes, wondering how she, as the second aunt, would refuse her nephew's request to stay at their house.
"Sister-in-law, this won't do."
Jiang Shuyun didn't let Mu Yi'an speak; he had to refuse.
"Second brother, why not? You bought a house in the county town, and Shao Qin is your own nephew. He can live in your house, why can't that be allowed?"
“This isn’t just about housing; it’s also about the children’s safety and education. We have three children in my family too. I’m at the Fucheng Academy and can’t come back more than a few times a year. Yi’an has to take care of three children by herself and also farm. How can she help you take care of your children?”
Besides, if nothing happens to the child, that's fine. But if something does happen, we can't bear the responsibility. If you want Shao Qin to study in the county town, you should buy or rent a house yourselves and take care of him personally.
Jiang Shuyun's refusal was so thorough that even her father and elder brother were somewhat surprised. They were a family, sharing both prosperity and adversity.
"Father, elder brother, it's not that I, as the second uncle, don't take care of my nephews and nieces, it's just that raising children is a huge responsibility. Yi'an and I are also first-time parents, and we have no experience."
No one can predict what our children will become. But whether they turn out well or badly, they are our own children, and we can bear the responsibility.
However, Shao Qin and the others are, after all, his nephews, and it's difficult for us to determine the right balance in their education, whether to be too lenient or too harsh. It's unrealistic to expect us to treat them like our own children and discipline them at will.
A child only has one life; mistakes cannot be undone. We, as their uncle and aunt, cannot bear that responsibility.
Jiang Shuyun's mindset may still be stuck in her previous life, when almost everyone in the family had only one child, and all the children were extremely precious. No one would be willing or comfortable entrusting their child to relatives for care.
In this era, such things might be quite normal, especially for a family that would concentrate on educating its members for the sake of lineage. However, he and Mu Yi'an hadn't yet adapted to this situation; they had only just accepted the reality of becoming parents and had only recently begun to find joy in raising children. They couldn't simply help others take care of their children; it wasn't just about providing food and drink.
"Second brother, I understand. Your sister-in-law is just anxious. I will take care of Shao Qin for another six months. Once he has really changed his attitude, I will consider finding him a private school."
Brother Jiang chimed in, saying that his wife had just assumed things.
"I'm glad you understand, brother. I really can't bear this responsibility."
Jiang Shuyun made her point clear and shut down the matter. Otherwise, the trouble with Shao Ning, Shao Kun, and the infant Shao Qiu would never end.
"Shuyun has a point. Parents should raise their own children. Whether they succeed depends on themselves, but it is the parents' responsibility to teach them to be good people and not harm their family or bring trouble to their clan."
Jiang's father glanced at his three sons and three daughters-in-law in the room, his face serious, hoping they would take this seriously.
"Understood, Father, we've got it!"
Jiang Shuheng and his brothers stood up, bowed to their father, and promised to teach their children well.
Jiang Shuyun told Mu Yi'an the moving date and then left. There were still many things to pack at home, so she would be able to come back to the village less often, only during holidays like Chinese New Year.
Mu Yi'an left the house key with Jiang's mother, asking her to look after it. If Mu Yi'an wanted, she would have asked her aunt next door to help take care of it, but out of consideration for their relationship, she didn't go through Jiang's mother.
There was nothing Mu Yi'an could do. She knew Jiang's mother was in poor health and couldn't take care of her much. In the end, she told her cousin's wife next door to let them grow the vegetables in the garden outside the yard and help look after the house, since Jiang's mother had the key.
My aunt readily agreed. She was already very grateful to Shuyun's wife, who had helped them earn several dozen taels of silver. Even if they had nothing at all, let alone a vegetable garden, she would have taken good care of it.
The family's paddy fields were still leased to Uncle Jiang's family, while the 30 mu of dry land were leased to the neighboring cousin, Jiang Shuyun's maternal uncle, and her great-grandfather's family, each of whom leased 10 mu.
Since the land is under Jiang Shuyun's name, it is tax-exempt, so whoever rents it out will benefit.
The land and house were all arranged, and Mu Yi'an and the others had finished packing their things. It was time to move.
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