Chapter 20: Want to Read

Chapter 20

"I'm home, Mom!"

Wang Er's voice rang out from outside while Li Yao was arranging herbs inside the house.

These past few days, he had been so busy following the people sent by the County Magistrate to dig wells in each village that he had lost a lot of weight.

"Mom!" Wang Er rushed into the yard excitedly, impatient to report his results, "I helped pick 120 well locations, and every one produced water!"

"Not bad."

Although it was just two simple words, it still made Wang Er feel elated inside.

His mother rarely praised people so easily. Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates

"Wang Er really stepped up this time," Li Zheng also chimed in. "The County Magistrate was very happy and said he would reward him."

Li Yao didn't care about rewards.

But now that the family had money, it was time to make plans for Wang Er's education.

Early the next morning, Li Yao took Wang Er to the academy, but they were stopped at the gate by the gatekeeper.

"Wait here."

Seeing the gatekeeper's impatient expression, Li Yao's good impression of the academy diminished.

...

Inside the academy, Teacher Liu was supervising the students' reading.

When the gatekeeper said someone wanted to enroll in the academy, he asked, "Where are they from?"

"River Bend Village," the gatekeeper replied. "It's the former classmate of Li Xian."

Teacher Liu's brow furrowed when he heard this. "Have them come see me."

Li Yao led Wang Er to stand before Teacher Liu.

Before she could speak, Teacher Liu said coldly, "So it's you, the little beast who assaulted his elder in public."

When she heard him begin with insults, Li Yao's brows tightened. "What did you say?"

"Shut up!" Teacher Liu bellowed. "This is a dignified academy, not someplace for village women like you to speak as you wish!"

Li Yao was furious.

She had kindly brought her son here to study and was prepared to pay the tuition fee. Yet they treated her with such contempt?

"What law says that women cannot speak in academies?"

Teacher Liu let out a cold laugh. "I've long heard you're a notorious shrew. What, do you want to throw a tantrum in my academy now?"

Long heard?

Looking at Li Xian seated there, Li Yao suddenly understood.

This was even stranger.

Could Teacher Liu have some feud with Riverbend Village?

Nevermind, Li Yao didn't want to think more about it.

After this incident, she gave up on sending Wang Er to the academy and decided to directly hire a private tutor at home instead. But qualified scholars were pitifully scarce in Baichuan County, and almost all of them were concentrated in the academy and county government. So she would need to carefully consider where to find a suitable tutor.

"Let's go buy some things for you first."

Leading Wang Er, Li Yao entered a bookstore.

"What can I interest you in today?" The shop assistant enthusiastically came over. "We have all kinds of books here, as well as writing supplies."

Li Yao let Wang Er pick out books himself.

Having already studied the primers, he chose the Four Books and Five Classics this time.

Thoroughly reading through these should pose no problem for passing the imperial exam.

After selecting the books, the total came to 3 taels of silver. Li Yao also asked about writing supplies and was shocked by the high prices.

Even the cheapest goat-hair brush cost 1 tael of silver, while the best wolf-hair brushes were 15 taels!

Ink stones, paper, and ink were also very expensive, making one gasp at the cost.

And paper and ink were consumables. A single essay could easily cost over 10 or 20 wen in fixed costs.

"It's okay Mother, we don't need to buy these now," Wang Er considerately said. "I can practice writing on the ground."

While they couldn't afford them for now, there was no need to be that destitute. Li Yao already had an idea.

She had also thought of a suitable tutor.

Back at home, Li Yao went to find Li Zheng.

"What else do you need, Mistress Li?"

"I'd like you to help make two stone tablets for me," Li Yao said. "They're for Wang Er to practice writing."

Hearing they were for proper use, Li Zheng readily agreed.

"But it's not a permanent solution for Wang Er to study at home."

"That's also why I came to find you today," Li Yao said. "I want to ask Tutor Lv to teach him, but I'll need you to make the request."

"Him? No no no."

Li Zheng immediately shook his head at the suggestion.

Although called a "Xiucai", Lv wasn't actually an imperial exam graduate.

Back then, his family had also spent everything they had to support his studies. But due to lacking talent, now nearing fifty, he was still just a student.

Failing the exam repeatedly, his parents had also passed away early, and he had no children. On top of lacking any practical skills... Tutor Lv had now become completely useless, dependent on his wife's farming to survive.

With the natural disasters these past couple years, their family probably couldn't even afford meals.