97 Reading in the Academy
Su Binglan looked at her husband while stirring the pot. She could tell his temperament had changed.
Luo Jin’an possessed an elegant and otherworldly temperament, so Su Binglan thought Luo Jin’an should not work and do business with her. Su Binglan thought it would be a waste if he did.
Su Binglan enjoyed doing these things because she could experience the mortal world. However, Luo Jin’an was different and should do other things.
Su Binglan thought of something and said, “I passed by the academy when I headed to town. I heard the principal is very knowledgeable, so I thought maybe you should study there.”
Luo Jin’an lowered his head, his eyelashes covering the shadow in his eyes.
Su Binglan could not see her husband’s expression and did not know what he was thinking. After a moment, she continued, “You don’t have to take the imperial exams, but it would be great if you could learn something from the academy.”
Su Binglan also wanted Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai to learn things in school. Still, the Su family could not afford to send the two children to school. It was tough for a low-income family to send their young ones to school, especially in that era.
Just a month’s worth of stationeries was expensive, costing one silver tael, not to mention their daily expenses. Therefore, very few villagers ever sent their children to schools or colleges.
Still, reading was a crucial skill in that era. Everything would be much more convenient if one possessed such a skill, and now that Su Binglan could afford it, she would undoubtedly send whoever she could to school. It would be good to learn, even if not just to gain a good reputation.
Luo Jin’an did not respond when Su Binglan said that.
Su Binglan hesitated. After some thought, she continued, “Would you instead not attend the academy? You don’t have to worry about the money. I can support the family, so it’s not a problem for me to send you to school.”
She did not know about her husband’s past and was worried she might hurt his feelings with her words, so she chose them carefully.
Luo Jin’an turned to look at Su Binglan and knew his wife was sincere about sending him to school. Despite that, he said, “I don’t want to go to school.”
Su Binglan nodded and said, “All right then. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
Nonetheless, she finished brewing the medicine as they spoke. She poured it into a bowl, blew on it, and handed the bowl to Luo Jin’an. “It’s still a little hot. Be careful drinking it.”
Luo Jin’an took the medicine bowl from Su Binglan and carefully drank it. Then the two washed up and went to bed.
Su Binglan woke up early the following day, but Luo Jin’an was still asleep because she had added a sedative to the medicine she had given him the previous night.
She discovered Luo Jin’an would wake up too early in the morning, even though he needed rest. It was not good for him to wake up that early, seeing as his body needed more time to recover. That was why Su Binglan added the sedative to her husband’s medicine.
Su Binglan made a few vegetable pancakes before leaving. She left two in the pan for Luo Jin’an and took the rest to her parents’ house. When she arrived, Su Fengmao and Shen Qiuhua were already awake, making tofu.
Then Su Binglan took a bowl of heated soy milk back to her house and put it in the pot for Luo Jin’an so he would have enough nutrients for the day.
This time, Su Binglan went to town alone to sell tofu. She was more relaxed because Lin Zheng and his lackeys were there to help. Afterward, Su Binglan went to take a look at the surrounding available shops.
When Lin Zheng heard Su Binglan wanted to check out the shops, he hurriedly said, “I-I’m more familiar with the town, boss. What kind of shop are you interested in getting? I can help you look for it!”