Chapter 79: Chapter 6 Choosing a Private School
"Why did you suddenly think of sending Song Xiaobao to study? Do you have enough money? Didnât I hear a few days ago that your familyâs third son lost ten taels of silver? Itâs not that I want to hold you back; I just want you to think carefully. Huaâs teacher asked him to give it a try this year at the exam, and every year it costs a lot. This yearâs exam will cost quite a bit too! Sigh! Itâs worrisome! I wonder if he can pass." Uncle Gu began to complain as soon as the topic of his grandsonâs education came up, feeling like the whole family was supporting him to study.
Back when there was a drought, life at home was nearly unmanageable; even he couldnât afford to study. In the following years, the Gu Family didnât improve, and the eldest son Gu Chengzhong was delayed. By the time the family situation improved, the eldest son was too old and was only taught a few characters at home. Now he could work as a small bookkeeper at the largest rice shop in town, wasnât it because of the teaching at home? Although it was just bookkeeping, it still brought in five hundred coins each month! With some savings later on and some help from his wifeâs family, otherwise how could they afford Huaâs studies?
"Big brother, Iâve prepared some money for Xiaobaoâs studies, so you donât 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 Changqingâs family situation. Altogether, they didnât 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 Xiaobaoâs 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 some resentment 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, thatâs 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 some money. Thatâs why we thought of sending Xiaobao to study." Mr. Gu wouldnât 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 Xiaobaoâs 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 didnât dare say too much; he figured itâs best to keep some 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 wasnât that he distrusted his big brother, but his big brotherâs family wasnât just his big brother alone!
"What? Four hundred taels? Changqing, your family has hit the jackpot!" Gu Changsong hadnât yet reacted, while Yang cried out in surprise. Four hundred taels? She didnât even dare to imagine it. Her eldest would probably have to work a lifetime and still not earn four hundred taels. Changqingâs familyâs Xiaobao was truly fortunate! She felt a twinge of jealousy.
Gu Changsong pondered for a moment, "If thereâs really that much money, then thereâs no need to worry about studying. But, with so much money, are you really spending it all on Xiaobaoâs studies? Xiaobaoâs brothers have no objections?"
"Big brother, I plan to buy thirty-five mu of land so every yearâs harvest can support Xiaobaoâs studies. If the expenses grow larger, we can sell the land; itâs not a loss anyway. The house needs rebuilding too; itâs too crowded. The third son needs to marry, and the grandchildren are growing, so itâs inappropriate to crowd together. Iâll leave some money aside for that," Mr. Gu explained his plan to Uncle Gu.
"Thatâs good! Us farmers value land the most; itâs our lifeline. Having land means thereâs 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 brotherâs good fortune, he wasnât resentful.
"Weâll discuss this once Xiaobaoâs 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 donât know much about whether there are more private schools in town these past years; youâd have to ask Hua. Heâs been in town, so heâd know better than me. Let me call him, and please wait a moment."
"Iâll go call him; he studied late last night and hasnât 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 hasnât risen! Even the children wake before him. Go call him for me; I want to see if he has the demeanor 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 doesnât 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 time to sleep? Because last month was the Empressâs birthday, this yearâs grand celebration means 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 time, and heâs taking it for granted.
"Big brother, after studying hard, he needs some rest, right? Otherwise, how can he handle the exam? Since Hua isnât up yet, Xiaobao and I will go back first and come back later." Mr. Gu felt a bit embarrassed too.
"Here he comes! Here he comes!" 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 Wanhuaâs entrance. He noticed that Wanhua was not very tall and inherited the Gu familyâs 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 seemed that although he had gotten up in a hurry, he managed to tidy up quickly.
Seeing his grandson arrive, Gu Changsong didnât want to lose his temper with outsiders present. "Hua, arenât you going to greet your Third Grandfather? Also, youâre usually not at home, and Xiaobao doesnât come 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 didnât mind. Seeing Gu Wanhuaâs 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 wasnât 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.