Chapter 36

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Chen Xiaosang declared confidently, “When I grow up, I’ll earn more money so my parents can enjoy a better life.”

Deeply moved, Old Chen nodded again and again. His daughter was not only sensible and respectful but also remarkably intelligent. He mused how even ten sons from other families couldn’t hold a candle to his little girl.

Unaware of her father’s thoughts, Chen Xiaosang urged him to set aside the money earned from Shen Dalang. She planned to accompany her father to Shen Dalang’s house to buy pork ribs.

When the two of them arrived at the Shen residence, Shen Dalang was sitting in the courtyard reading a book while Shen Xingyi was sharpening a butcher knife by the well.

Upon seeing the father-daughter duo, Shen Xingyi greeted them warmly and even prepared a sweet cup of sugared water for Chen Xiaosang.

Old Chen handed over the money to Shen Xingyi, saying, “This is the money earned by Dalang. The amount also includes the thirty coin for yesterday’s pork head and bones.”

Shen Xingyi brushed off the money with a wave of his large hand, “Ah, it’s just some unsold meat. You’re welcome to have it without paying.”

While Old Chen exchanged polite words with Shen Xingyi, the bored Chen Xiaosang leaned over to Shen Dalang and asked, “Did you manage to find Tianma today?”

Shen Dalang shook his head. Despite spending hours scouring the mountains, his efforts had yielded nothing but a lone pheasant.

Chen Xiaosang felt a wave of disappointment. Tianma, the herb she had found, was currently her highest earning resource.

However, she quickly cheered herself up, thinking about the few thousand coin she had made over the past few days. That wasn’t bad at all; one should not be excessively greedy.

And of course, she had her mother and sisters-in-law earning money from picking honeysuckles and selling braised meat.

Finding herbs was indeed a matter of luck.

Having reassured herself, Chen Xiaosang patted Shen Dalang’s head, consoling him in an adult-like tone, “Don’t be upset. We have plenty of time to make money.”

Shen Dalang caught her fluttering hand and said sternly, “I’m not upset.”

Chen Xiaosang nodded in understanding, “I get it.”

She offered him an encouraging smile, leaving Shen Dalang slightly taken aback.

What did she understand, exactly?

Preferring not to entertain her whims, he grabbed a book from the stool next to him and immersed himself in reading.

Suddenly, Chen Xiaosang leaned closer. He instinctively moved back, only to see her eyes light up with curiosity as she peered at the dense lines of text on the book. She asked, “Can you read?”

Before he could respond, Shen Xingyi interjected, “He can do more than just read.”

Chen Xiaosang’s eyes sparkled as she asked, “Where did you learn?”

Shen Dalang shot a warning glance at his father, but it went unnoticed. Oblivious, Shen Xingyi boomed, “He studied under a scholar in the county school.”

“The county school is costly. Relying solely on my meat-selling income, it’s beyond our reach. The county scholar, Mr. Wei, noticed my son’s intelligence and decided to tutor him privately. Only when it rains and he can’t hunt do I send him to study in the county school,” he explained with a sense of pride.

Shen Xingyi spoke in a cadence.” Otherwise, how could I say that my son is capable? He’s hunting while studying. He’s not any worse than the students in Mr. Wei’s county school!”

“Cough, cough!” Shen Dalang interrupted, signaling his father to stop talking.

However, Shen Xingyi’s words were full of cadence, and Chen Xiaosang was listening to him with enthusiasm. She pushed him with her little hand and said casually,”If your throat is uncomfortable, go drink some water to moisten it.”

Then, her gaze locked onto Shen Xingyi again. “So, is he planning to take part in the imperial examination?”

Shen Xingyi’s bushy eyebrows twitched upwards. “I can’t afford to let him sit the imperial examination.”

“But he’s intelligent, and he’s good with words. He could become a high-ranking official someday!” Chen Xiaosang’s arms traced a large circle in the air.

Shen Dalang’s expression shifted, and he turned to look at her. This girl knew about the imperial examination and the path to becoming an official?

“Ah, little lady, you’re still young, but you may not know, studying costs a fortune! This book he’s holding, ‘The Analects of Confucius’ or something, it cost me two taels of silver.”

“Two taels! That’s enough for a year’s worth of drink!”

When this topic was broached, Shen Xingyi was filled with frustration. As a man who adored his drink, he had forced himself to abstain, all for his son’s education. What a sacrifice it had been!

Upon hearing this, Old Chen gasped, his gaze falling onto the book with the blue cover. Two taels of silver, his family would need to save for half a year to afford that.

He sighed, impressed. “Xingyi, you truly are capable, managing to support Dalang’s studies by selling meat. We, who toil in the fields, can’t even dare to dream of such a thing.”

Shen Xingyi, finding someone to commiserate with, sighed and turned his head away. “I can’t make that much money from selling meat alone. I had to sell all our fields and houses back in our hometown to get some money.”

“If he didn’t supplement our income by hunting, we’d starve. Brother, if I had money, wouldn’t I build a better house?” He cast a resigned glance at his own rudimentary thatched hut, assembled from wood.

Seeing his father complaining in front of others, Shen Dalang felt a twinge of discomfort. “We’re not at a point of starving, yet,” he felt compelled to say.

“Your family can still afford to eat white rice and plenty of meat,” Chen Xiaosang chimed in, nodding approvingly.

Her family had to make do with sweet potatoes, often mixed with chaff.

Shen Xingyi vehemently shook his head. “If he wasn’t studying, our family would be living the best life in the village!”

Old Chen agreed. “True, none of us in the village can afford to educate our children.”

Chen Xiaosang glanced between Shen Dalang and her father, a sudden idea forming in her mind. She rushed into Old Chen’s arms, whispering her plan into his ear. His eyes widened in disbelief, his head shaking in refusal. “Even if I sold myself, I couldn’t afford to educate all of you!”

Shen Xingyi, a butcher, struggled to support Shen Dalang’s education. How was this girl suggesting he pay for three more students?

Chen Xiaosang tugged at her father’s arm. “We don’t need to take the imperial examination, just let us learn to read and write.”

Old Chen’s eyelids twitched, but he couldn’t say much in front of Shen Xingyi and his son. He could only reply to his daughter, “We have to go back and discuss this with our family.”

She wouldn’t stop insisting. If her proposal was rejected once, she’d raise it twice, and if twice didn’t work, she’d keep pushing. She was determined to make sure everyone could read and do basic math.

Eventually, Shen Xingyi caught on and glanced at Shen Dalang.

Shen Dalang, however, was not about to invite such a challenge upon himself, so he conveniently ignored the interaction.

Shen Xingyi grew anxious. His son wasn’t taking after him at all!

It was such a golden opportunity. A few lessons in reading and writing could help build a rapport with the Chen family. This could essentially secure his wife’s place in the family.

Unable to bear the tension, Old Chen hastily took out the money, handed it over to Shen Xingyi, and explained how he’d acquired it.

Once Shen Xingyi accepted the money, Old Chen elaborated on his family’s business ventures in the county and broached the subject of purchasing leftover meat.

Shen Xingyi’s spirits lifted. Thumping his chest, he declared, “In the future, you won’t need to make this trip. Once I return from town, I’ll head straight to your house and deliver the meat. We can discuss the money matters later.”

Old Man Chen was visibly relieved. “We’ll pay whatever it costs. This isn’t a one-time deal.”

At this point, Shen Xingyi had no reason to refuse.

He handed over the remaining pig’s head and tail, along with the unsold meat, ribs, bones, and offal to Old Chen.

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