"Why did you suddenly think of sending Song Xiaobao to study? Do you have enough money? Didn’t I hear a few days ago that your family’s third son lost ten taels of silver? It’s not that I want to hold you back; I just want you to think carefully. Hua’s teacher asked him to give it a try this year at the exam, and every year it costs a lot. This year’s exam will cost quite a bit too! Sigh! It’s worriso! I wonder if he can pass." Uncle Gu began to complain as soon as the topic of his grandson’s education ca up, feeling like the whole family was supporting him to study.
Back when there was a drought, life at ho was nearly unmanageable; even he couldn’t afford to study. In the following years, the Gu Family didn’t improve, and the eldest son Gu Chengzhong was delayed. By the ti the family situation improved, the eldest son was too old and was only taught a few characters at ho. Now he could work as a small bookkeeper at the largest rice shop in town, wasn’t it because of the teaching at ho? Although it was just bookkeeping, it still brought in five hundred coins each month! With so savings later on and so help from his wife’s family, otherwise how could they afford Hua’s studies?
"Big brother, I’ve prepared so money for Xiaobao’s studies, so you don’t need to worry." Mr. Gu spoke with a hint of pride, his son never caused worry, and at such a young age could already earn money.
Gu Changsong was shocked upon hearing this; he knew Changqing’s family situation. Altogether, they didn’t have more than twenty-five taels of silver, and they lost ten taels just the other day. With only fifteen taels left, Mrs. Yao gave it all for Xiaobao’s study, leaving the whole family struggling through. Changqing was being too unreasonable; he understood that because he was the eldest back then, only he could study, and he knew Changqing had so resentnt about it. Changqing always believed that if he had the chance, he could study better than his big brother. Indeed, he later had to admit that Changqing was indeed more clever, but so what? Who would give up such an opportunity easily? Studying was far better than toiling in the fields, was it not? Perhaps, that’s what made Changqing hold a grudge against the idea of studying. "Where did you get the money?"
Mr. Gu glanced around the courtyard and, seeing no one, whispered to Gu Changsong, "Big brother, Xiaobao dug up a ginseng on the mountain the other day and sold it for so money. That’s why we thought of sending Xiaobao to study." Mr. Gu wouldn’t admit they wanted to send Xiaobao to study even before finding the ginseng, otherwise, Big Brother might get all sorts of strange ideas.
"Really? How much did that ginseng sell for?" Uncle Gu was even more astonished, such a good fortune just fell into Xiaobao’s lap? No wonder that master said the day Xiaobao was born, that he would bring glory to the family. It truly seems Xiaobao is blessed!
"It sold for four hundred taels!" Mr. Gu didn’t dare say too much; he figured it’s best to keep so to himself. After calculating, buying land and building a house might leave a little over from four hundred taels, which was just as well not to have much leftover. It wasn’t that he distrusted his big brother, but his big brother’s family wasn’t just his big brother alone!
"What? Four hundred taels? Changqing, your family has hit the jackpot!" Gu Changsong hadn’t yet reacted, while Yang cried out in surprise. Four hundred taels? She didn’t even dare to imagine it. Her eldest would probably have to work a lifeti and still not earn four hundred taels. Changqing’s family’s Xiaobao was truly fortunate! She felt a twinge of jealousy.
Gu Changsong pondered for a mont, "If there’s really that much money, then there’s no need to worry about studying. But, with so much money, are you really spending it all on Xiaobao’s studies? Xiaobao’s brothers have no objections?"
"Big brother, I plan to buy thirty-five mu of land so every year’s harvest can support Xiaobao’s studies. If the expenses grow larger, we can sell the land; it’s not a loss anyway. The house needs rebuilding too; it’s too crowded. The third son needs to marry, and the grandchildren are growing, so it’s inappropriate to crowd together. I’ll leave so money aside for that," Mr. Gu explained his plan to Uncle Gu.
"That’s good! Us farrs value land the most; it’s our lifeline. Having land ans there’s no need to fear. Although the space for building the house is quite small, extending it later would be fine," Gu Changsong saw his younger brother had his plans in order, so he spoke no more. Although he envied his younger brother’s good fortune, he wasn’t resentful.
"We’ll discuss this once Xiaobao’s education is sorted. Big brother, when you sent Hua to town, which private school did he attend? I hear Xiasang Village has one too; how is it?"
"Oh! I sent Hua to school; that was eight years ago. I don’t know much about whether there are more private schools in town these past years; you’d have to ask Hua. He’s been in town, so he’d know better than . Let call him, and please wait a mont."
"I’ll go call him; he studied late last night and hasn’t gotten up yet!" Yang, seeing her husband preparing to call, quickly got off the kang to go herself, afraid her husband would scold Hua for being lazy if he saw him.
"What hour of the day is it? Still not up? Go see who in the village hasn’t risen! Even the children wake before him. Go call him for ; I want to see if he has the deanor of a scholar!" Gu Changsong felt his grandson was embarrassing him in front of his younger brother. Does he still look like a scholar? Who doesn’t study late every night? Is the excuse of studying late last night valid for not getting up in the morning? The exam is approaching, yet he finds ti to sleep? Because last month was the Empress’s birthday, this year’s grand celebration ans many officials will return to the capital to congratulate, so the county examination was postponed by a month. Otherwise, the county exam would be over by now. This is extra ti, and he’s taking it for granted.
"Big brother, after studying hard, he needs so rest, right? Otherwise, how can he handle the exam? Since Hua isn’t up yet, Xiaobao and I will go back first and co back later." Mr. Gu felt a bit embarrassed too.
"Here he cos! Here he cos!" Yang woke Gu Wanhua from the east wing and pushed him into the main room.
Gu Chengyu began observing the only scholar currently in the Gu Family upon Gu Wanhua’s entrance. He noticed that Wanhua was not very tall and inherited the Gu family’s square face, but his fair skin added a lot to his appearance. He wore a pale cotton cross-collar Daoist robe, giving off a bit of a scholarly aura. It seed that although he had gotten up in a hurry, he managed to tidy up quickly.
Seeing his grandson arrive, Gu Changsong didn’t want to lose his temper with outsiders present. "Hua, aren’t you going to greet your Third Grandfather? Also, you’re usually not at ho, and Xiaobao doesn’t co out, so you should greet your Little Uncle too!"
Gu Wanhua greeted Mr. Gu with "Third Grandfather!" and then, after seeing Gu Chengyu, hesitated for a while and reluctantly mumbled "Little Uncle."
Mr. Gu nodded, while Gu Chengyu didn’t mind. Seeing Gu Wanhua’s reluctance to greet him, he deliberately responded loudly. The ancients valued hierarchy; as an elder, it was proper to be greeted, especially as he saw that this nephew wasn’t sincere.
"Hua, your Second Uncle is here about the matter of your Little Uncle studying. How is the teacher you have? Perhaps Xiaobao could also study under your teacher?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Wanhua frowned; he was unwilling to have to call a much younger person "Little Uncle" every day.
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