With only a few days left until the Lantern Festival, Jiang Shuyun was going back to the academy to study.
"Yi'an, tomorrow, I'll take Shao Ming to Wanjuan Academy to meet Scholar Meng."
"Okay, make sure you arrange Shao Ming's studies before you go to the academy, then everything else is fine."
"Yes, I'll make the arrangements. Let's see how things are going with Scholar Meng. If possible, Shao Yun can go there to study next year too, so the two children can keep each other company."
Jiang Shuyun thought about her lively and active second son, who was four years old this year and would be starting his formal education next year. For children in ancient times, pursuing the imperial examinations was no easier than for children in modern times.
In modern times, children typically start kindergarten at age three, and parents are afraid their children will fall behind from the start. Whenever they see videos of children playing happily, someone comments, "Sign him up for a class," and then they're no longer happy.
It's clear that everyone knows that various tutoring classes are a nightmare for children, but there's nothing they can do about it; they're all caught up in them and can't get out.
"That would be even better. The school is close to our home, so it's convenient for the children to come and go. When you go tomorrow, do you need to prepare anything, or bring a gift for the teacher?"
Mu Yi'an thought that since the child was going to school, she would need to trouble the teacher in the future. It would be better to bring something as a gift, wouldn't it?
"No need, I'll just take Master Wei's name card. It's said that Master Meng is a very principled person and doesn't accept gifts easily. It wouldn't be good if it backfired."
"Alright, I'll prepare properly when it's time for the formal apprenticeship ceremony."
After discussing it, the couple decided on Shao Ming's schooling.
The next day, Jiang Shuyun and his son dressed neatly and went to Wanjuan Academy with their name cards.
Mu Yi'an played cards with the two little ones. Jiang Shuyun had made them again after she came back, and the children loved them.
Shao Yun can now recite the Hundred Family Surnames and the Three Character Classic fluently, and Chu Yue can recognize some simple characters.
"Madam, we have a guest."
Mu Yi'an was taken aback when she saw the person Fang's sister-in-law brought in.
"Aunt, what brings you here? You're a rare guest indeed!"
Mu Yi'an was completely surprised that Aunt Jiang would come to her house. In the past, in Aunt Jiang's eyes, their branch of the family were considered marginal figures. Even when Jiang Shuyun passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, Aunt Jiang still didn't treat her any differently.
"Second niece-in-law, this is my eldest son's wife, Fang Rong. I brought her over to introduce us. We are close relatives, and now that we live nearby, we should visit each other more often."
For so many years, Aunt Jiang has helped her husband's family run the general store. She speaks to everyone in a way that suits them perfectly, and she never feels embarrassed. She automatically forgets that she wasn't very close to her second nephew's family or even her eldest brother's family before.
"I may have disappointed my aunt, but I come from the village and don't know much about the rules of the county town. Besides, spring plowing is coming soon, and I'll be busy too. I really don't have time to visit."
Mu Yi'an didn't want her to come over all the time; it was exhausting to deal with.
"It's okay. When you have time, visit your aunt's house more often. You're the same age, and your kids are all about the same age, so you should have a lot to talk about."
Aunt Jiang completely ignored Mu Yi'an's words, talking to herself and not listening to anyone's refusal. Perhaps she was used to being in charge at home and wasn't used to others not cooperating.
"Aunt, is there anything I can do for you this time?"
Mu Yi'an had no time for beating around the bush. She didn't believe Aunt Jiang would come to visit for no reason; she wasn't that narcissistic, and her family wasn't that important.
"I do have something to ask today. One is whether you're still growing watermelons this year? Could you sell them through the Du family's shop this time?"
“Aunt, we will continue to grow watermelons, but we cannot entrust them to you for sale. We have signed an agreement with the merchants in the prefectural city, and they will sell the watermelons.”
Mu Yi'an didn't want to deal with Aunt Jiang, fearing she would lead her astray.
"Oh, I see. Well, there's nothing we can do about it then. I heard from Jiang Lan that your eldest son is going to study at Wanjuan Academy?"
Aunt Jiang couldn't remember the name of Shuyun's eldest son for a long time, so she quickly changed her address and referred to him as her eldest son.
"Yes, we're going to the Wanjuan Academy."
"What did Scholar Meng say? Did he stay?"
Aunt Jiang looked eager; her eldest grandson was five years old and wanted to go to the Wanjuan Academy, but she had no connections and hadn't been able to get in.
"I don't know yet. Isn't registration on the second day of the second lunar month?"
Mu Yi'an's answer was ambiguous. She really didn't know whether to accept it or not. Jiang Shuyun hadn't returned yet, and it was hard to say what the outcome would be.
"Really? Where's Shuyun? I've been here for ages, why haven't I seen him come out?"
"I'm going to the bookstore. I'm going to the academy soon. I need to buy some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for the child. I don't know much about these things."
Mu Yi'an wasn't lying. Jiang Shuyun said that after visiting Scholar Meng, she would take Shao Ming to Shopkeeper He's place to pay a visit and buy some paper.
"Really? That's unfortunate."
Aunt Jiang looked a little unnatural, probably because she was trying hard to suppress her displeasure.
Mu Yi'an didn't respond. She hadn't planned to have much contact with Aunt Jiang anyway. Although she was Jiang's father's younger sister, she was too snobbish and perfectly embodied the saying, "When you're poor, no one cares even in the bustling city; when you're rich, even distant relatives come calling."
"Shuyun's wife, since Shuyun isn't here, we'll head back now. We'll have him come over when he's done with his work."
Aunt Jiang maintained her airs as an elder, letting Mu Yi'an know that she was her elder.
“Alright, I will definitely convey my aunt’s instructions when my husband returns.”
Aunt Jiang was speechless after Mu Yi'an's words, and unable to say anything, she left angrily with her daughter-in-law.
"Who does he think he is? He really thinks he's something special!"
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