The second brother of the Xiao family silently endured the ridicule that echoed in his ears day after day; when he couldn't bear it any more, Xiao Zhengrong would take advantage of Xiao Wang's family and use fists and kicks from time to time.
After being beaten several times, Xiao Wang transferred all her hatred to Xiao Erya; only then did Xiao Erya understand how happy it was for her to grow up well and get married. After the family was divided, the grandparents couldn't take care of the parents. The eldest family hated her and turned a blind eye to the sins she suffered.
The two houses were divided into separate houses, and the second house became quiet, with occasional chattering. The first house was peaceful and happy. After Xiao Hongkang followed his father Xiao Zhengping to go to school in the county town, the first house also became deserted.
Xiao Hongping goes to play with his friends in the village every day, and Minghua goes into her father's study to read, because she is small and short. You can often see such a scene, a pink and tender little dumpling wearing a floral cloth sitting on the threshold and huddled together. Group, read the books carefully.
"Sanya holds the book and reads it every day, as if she can understand it." Mrs. He Xiao shook her head and laughed.
Mrs. Xiao smiled and said nothing; she had been like this for many days after the second room was divided.
Mr. Xiao beside him was smoking a cigarette and looking in Minghua's direction, "Don't laugh at Sanya. She can sit still and firmly at her age, which means she is a good student. Her Majesty the Queen allows women to take exams. How about, Shall we send Sanya to private school?"
"What kind of book should a girl study?" The old lady was unhappy, "If you have that kind of money, why not send Pingping to school? Pingping hasn't studied yet."
Mr. Xiao sighed, the family only had so much money, and they really couldn't provide for their three children to go to school.
The speaker is intentional and the listener is intentional.
Xiao Leshi peeked at her daughter several times, and couldn't help but look at her when she was working. A daughter was not always by his side like a son, and there was always a time to get married. When I go to my husband's house, I have to think carefully if I want to be treated slowly.
My husband is a scholar, so my eldest son and second son will definitely go to school.
For a long-term plan, when Xiao Zhengning returned home from the break, she mentioned her plans to him.
Xiao Zhengning nodded repeatedly after hearing this, "Our girl has the endurance, so she can't go wrong. I'll go to the academy and ask about the admission. If you want to get in, just enter the academy. It's not like we have no conditions. It's time for the second oldest child in our family to enter the school, so let their siblings Read as a class.”
"Sanya is so young, can anyone have her?"
"No problem. Before I came back, I received a letter of appointment from the first-class teacher in the college. I will start teaching in Class A next semester. The teacher in Class A earns one tael more per month than the teacher in Class C."
Xiao Leshi was surprised and happy, "Really?"
"Can I still lie to you?" Xiao Zhengning looked at her with a smile.
"Great, with this couple of silver, we should be able to save a little and send Sanya to school." A smile appeared on his face, and he said happily: "Sanya wants to go to school, and her parents-in-law agree, so don't worry about your parents-in-law." , My mother-in-law doesn’t agree with Sanya’s enrollment; you have to convince your mother-in-law that it would be great if we could move to a place near the county school. It’s convenient to get back and forth, and the children don’t have to run back and forth.”
Xiao Zhengning listened thoughtfully.
At dawn, Xiao Zhengning found Mrs. Xiao and Mr. Xiao, chatted with them for a while and then changed the subject.
"Mom and Dad, I have been promoted to Class A and become a teacher. From now on, I will get one or two months more money every month. I want to send Sanya and Pingping to the county school together. It will be more convenient for me and Kangkang to take care of me at the county school. What do you think?"
Mr. Xiao nodded, "I have no objection."
"No objection." Mrs. Xiao glared at the old man and asked her son, "What can you do with your one tael of silver? The county school needs five taels of silver a year, and this does not include food and clothing; there are three children at home. , you can’t lose all your money, you must leave some wealth for your two sons and prepare a dowry for Sanya.”
Xiao Zhengning smiled casually and said, "Mom, it's a little early to think about this now; besides, as long as Sanya is talented and capable, there's nothing wrong with a small dowry. We are a farming and studying family, so a small dowry is normal! As long as Sanya can stand up Get up, no matter where you go, you are a capable person, and others must respect you."
"So, Mom and Dad, I think we should let Sanya go to the county to study; as parents and elders, we can't stay with her all our lives, and now is the right time. Her Majesty the Queen came to the throne and issued an imperial edict that women can take the academic examination. , how great it would be to have Sanya become the first batch of female students to enroll."
"Sanya can sit still. At the age of five, you can see that you have a calm mind. If you train her well, it will be good. If our Xiao family and clan can produce a female scholar, a female scholar, or even a female Jinshi, it will be so glorious. Our Xiao clan The girls no longer have to worry about their marriages, and they can also let outsiders see how good and open-minded our Xiao family's family tradition is."
The more Mr. Xiao listened, the more he felt that Sanya should go. It would be a big loss if he didn't go. He didn't wait for Mrs. Xiao and made the final decision.
"Go, why don't you go? As long as Sanya can read and take exams, we will have to pay for it even if we sell iron."
"You're the only one paying for it?" Old Mrs. Xiao snorted coldly, "It's too expensive for three children to go to school; it's only fifteen taels of silver a year! The twenty-five taels that the family will allocate can only support them for one year at most. The eldest brother earns thirty-six taels of silver per month, which means he can save thirty-six taels without eating or drinking for twelve months a year. The four of them are learning to eat and drink in the county, and at least one tael and a half of silver is needed a month, which is eighteen taels a year. ; Adding in the fifteen taels of tuition, we can only save three taels of silver a year."
"Besides, you don't need to buy clothes for the children?" I'm really worried. My husband and son are not good enough to be in charge of the family.
Mr. Xiao coughed uncomfortably, "If it doesn't work out, I'll go outside and take over the work. I can earn twenty coppers a day during the busy farming season, so a little adds up to a lot! I think Sanya should be allowed to go to school, and we can't do it just because of Sanya." If it’s a girl, I’ll take it lightly.”
"Damn old man, when did I underestimate Sanya? Isn't it because the family has no money? We can only stick to the man." Mrs. Xiao said unconvinced.
Mr. Xiao smiled bitterly, that's it, why don't you say you didn't see it clearly?
Xiao Zhengning came to the rescue, "Mom and dad, please stop talking. In the worst case, I will find time to tutor the rich kids in the county. If you open a small stove, you need to be given some training, so you should be able to move away."
"Can you take this kind of job privately in the college? Don't get kicked out." Mrs. Xiao said very directly, because she was afraid that her son would lose this lucrative career.
"No, I just rent a house in the county town and don't hold classes in the college, so it shouldn't be a big problem." After saying that, his thoughts seemed to be opened up, "I can also give private lessons to students outside the county school. If there are students from the county school who insist on coming, I can’t help it.”
Mrs. Xiao shook her head, but Mr. Xiao rejected his proposal, "It's not appropriate. You must be loyal to your profession. If you do this, others will definitely find excuses."
"Let's do this, open a private school in our village; it will be open one day every seven days, and we will have one day of classes during your bath break. We will not accept anyone else, and we will give each family what they can get." The son is a scholar and is willing to teach in the village. Opening a private school, even though it is only open one day every seven days, I think many people are willing to come.
