Chapter 39

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Old Chen removed his shoes, laying down next to Chen Xiaosang.

His wife, Mrs. Li, neatly arranged his shoes before sitting down beside him. She voiced her concerns, “But our family doesn’t have much money. What will we do if we can’t afford the bridal gift?”

Old Chen recounted the day’s events and shared his plans with her. “You, along with our two daughters-in-law, might need to work a little harder, collect more honeysuckles. If all our son start trading, they could bring in three to four hundred coin a day.”

“The rice in the field is still unripe. I just checked, it would take at least ten more days. But if business goes well, we might be able to earn three to four taels.”

Mrs. Li’s eyes widened in surprise, “Ten days to earn three to four taels?!”

“Today, just from selling meat and soup, we made almost three hundred copper coins. After deducting the expenses, we still have three hundred left.” Old Chen couldn’t help but smile as he discussed these earnings.

This was hard-earned money. With the prospect of earning, life seemed more promising.

Mrs. Li cried out in amazement, “Is our daughter’s meat stewed with herbs really that popular? Won’t it cause any health issues?”

Mrs. Li’s comment made Old Chen slightly uneasy.

Thinking about the old herb farmer Chen Xiaosang mentioned, he shook his head, “No, that herbalist is a skilled man. He can prepare such valuable medicine. I believe he’s like an old sage.”

Considering the recent changes at home, Mrs. Li found herself agreeing with him.

Gently stroking Xiaosang’s hair, she said, “Our Xiaosang is truly impressive, everyone seems to adore her!”

Old Chen shared her sentiments. Why else would Xiaosang be the one to meet the old herb farmer, and even help them pay their summer tax?

Ever since Chen Xiaosang sold the Tianma, Old Chen had started believing in the old herbalist’s existence.

Their daughter was undeniably intelligent and kind-hearted. If she were a boy, he would have allowed her to pursue education today.

With this thought, he let out a sigh.

Why should his daughter study? She couldn’t sit for examinations or become an accountant.

The three Zhu brothers didn’t need to learn to read, their minds were as rigid as wood. Only the third Zhu was a bit like him, quite clever…

Chen Xiaosang was completely unaware of her father’s thoughts. By the time she woke up, the adults in the house had already started their day.

Rubbing her head, she grumbled about her sleepiness.

She had planned to trade again today. How did she oversleep?

Hearing the noise, Sanzhu came to check on her. Seeing her awake, he ran over cheerfully, “Auntie, you’re awake! Grandma said you should rest well at home today. Overworking might make you sick.”

Chen Xiaosang, feeling quite worn out, nodded in agreement.

Recalling yesterday’s events, she grabbed Sanzhu’s hand, asking, “Sanzhu, would you like to learn to read?”

“What’s the use of knowing how to read?” Sanzhu was a curious child, always asking questions.

Chen Xiaosang replied, “If you can read, you can write your own name, and even get the villagers to listen to you.”

Sanzhu’s eyes sparkled at the thought.

Being the youngest in the family, he was always obliged to obey his elders and the Zhu brothers.

He yearned for a younger sibling who would listen to him.

“Then… will father and mother listen to me too?” Sanzhu asked, eyes wide with anticipation.

Old Man Chen had no choice but to be pestered by Consort Li and the four children. He said,”Our braised pork is delicious. I’ll go to his house and buy some braised pork later. I’ll send some to his house tonight and mention it to him.”

Chen Xiaosang nodded enthusiastically. “Once you learn to read, you’ll be able to make sense of things better. If what you say is reasonable, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law will surely listen to you.”

“I want to learn to read. Aunt, will you teach me?” Sanzhu asked eagerly.

Chen Xiaosang sighed softly. “I don’t know how, either.”

Her knowledge was limited to the words from her previous life. The language of this world was starkly different from what she had learned before. She felt as if she were blind.

Sanzhu’s face fell. “So there are things even Aunt doesn’t understand…”

Chen Xiaosang felt a pang of guilt at his disappointment. She hurried to console him. “I may not know, but Brother Dalang does. We can ask him to teach us.”

Sanzhu’s face lit up again at her words. He excitedly ran off to find his older brothers.

The three Zhu brothers chattered around Chen Xiaosang, their minds filled with the exciting prospect of their parents listening to them in the future. They incessantly urged Chen Xiaosang to take them to see Shen Dalang.

Chen Xiaosang, sitting on the doorstep with the three Zhu brothers, heaved a sigh. “How can we persuade him to teach us?”

The brothers were just as stumped. Dazhu sighed, and seeing his brother sigh, Erzhu followed suit. Sanzhu, after a moment of hesitation, decided to join his brothers and aunt in sighing.

Passing villagers found the sight of the four alternately sighing amusing. One of them asked from a distance, “Why are you youngsters sighing?”

Chen Xiaosang glanced at the man and shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand.”

The man laughed even harder. “What could be so complicated for you children that I wouldn’t understand?” He boasted, “I’ve eaten more salt in my life than you’ve eaten rice.”

“Can you read?” Dazhu shot back.

The man was taken aback. “We’re farmers, why would we need to read? It’s a waste of time.”

Dazhu shook his head again. “You truly don’t understand.”

The man just chuckled and shrugged it off. Hoisting his hoe over his shoulder, he headed back to his fieldwork.

The group pondered all day but couldn’t find a solution.

When the Chen family returned, they found their children still in low spirits.

Mrs. Li, thinking they were upset because of some bully, quickly ushered them inside to find out what had happened. Chen Xiaosang explained the situation, her face etched with frustration.

Seeing her daughter unhappy, Mrs. Li’s mood also soured.

She paced around the house, wrestling with the problem. Finally, she picked up an old hen. “I’ll send this chicken to their house, perhaps in return he could teach you a few words.”

Chen Xiaosang shook her head. “His family has plenty of meat.”

Her chicken wouldn’t be of much interest to them.

At a loss, Mrs. Li pulled her husband, Old Chen, who was leisurely smoking in the courtyard, into the house to discuss their options.

Old Chen found himself overwhelmed by Li Shi and the children’s persistence. He finally proposed, “Our braised pork is delicious. I’ll go buy some from their place, cook it, and send some over to their house later, while dropping a hint.”

Chen Xiaosang praised her father enthusiastically, “Dad, you’re so clever! We didn’t even come up with this idea after a whole day of thinking.”

“Grandpa is an adult; of course, he’s smarter than us,” Dazhu said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Erzhu also nodded in agreement with a happy face, “They will also like our braised pork.”

Sanzhu clapped joyfully, admiring his aunt and two brothers for their intelligence. But of course, Grandpa was the smartest.

Old Chen wasn’t swayed by their compliments. After all, they had paid so much for their tuition. Could they convince them to teach his children to read and write just for a few pieces of pork? If they could teach them to write their own names, it would be due to their kindness!

Regardless, Chen Xiaosang wasn’t bothered about these details. When the pork and offal were well-braised, she urged her father to pick the tastiest pieces and head to Shen Xingyi’s house.

Old Chen steeled himself and went. When he returned, his face was filled with joy, “He agreed! He told you to come half an hour before dinner!”

“Wow, Dad! You’re amazing!” Chen Xiaosang jumped up and gave Old Chen a bear hug.

Dazhu and the others, not daring to hug their grandfather, bounced around him in excitement.

After dinner, the four children huddled outside, planning their strategy for learning to write the next day.

Dashu and his siblings entered the house and brought out all the money they had made.

“Today’s meat sold even better than yesterday’s. Mixed with the lean meat we bought, we sold it for 226 coins,” Dashu reported.

Old Chen nodded in satisfaction, his gaze turning to Chen Ershu.

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