Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 121 Surprise【2】

After discussing the matter, the family began to organize the items they had purchased that day and wrapped the tuition fee and six gifts in red cloth.

Among the tuition fee and six gifts, there was a small red purse containing five taels of broken silver, to be given as the Scholar’s tuition fee.

Third Grandpa said, "Doctor Wu mentioned that the tuition fee for the private school in town is five taels of silver a year, so we shall give Wenyuan this amount."

Giving too little would make them feel uneasy, while giving too much would not be accepted by Scholar Shang. So they decided to follow what other private schools did, making it easier for both families.

At their old home, these five taels of silver would be considered a significant amount of money. But now that they had the tofu business, they could afford to set aside five taels of silver a year without feeling the pinch, and no one in the family opposed it.

The next day before dawn, everyone got up early to prepare for their visit to the Shang Family.

In ancient times, entering school was a major event, so Gu Dashan, Gu Jin’an, and Gu Jinli all changed into new clothes. Third Grandpa, as an elder, also decided to accompany them to Scholar Shang’s Family.

After they had finished their preparations, they set out with the husband and wife teams of Gu Damu and Gu Dagui, who were going to set up their market stalls.

Unexpectedly, Gu Dexing also came along, saying, "I’ll go with Second Uncle and Aunt to set up the stall."

Everyone knew that Gu Dexing wished to become a disciple of Scholar Shang, so when Third Grandpa saw that he was also going to town, he felt somewhat displeased but did not stop him, paying extra attention to him on the way.

Gu Dexing did not do anything out of the ordinary; he merely stood by the road and glanced at Shang Family Village as they passed by before continuing towards town with the husband and wife of Gu Dagui to set up their stall.

Third Grandpa led Gu Dashan and the other two, carrying the gifts into Shang Family Village.

As Mrs. Chen carried her tofu yoke on the way, she said enviously, "Good Brother An is really lucky to have Scholar Shang as a teacher. In the future, he will at least become a Scholar, which is indeed an honor to the family. If our family could also produce a Scholar, that would be grand."

Hearing Mrs. Chen’s words, Gu Dexing’s expression darkened. He lowered his head, shouldered his yoke, and hastened towards town.

Gu Dagui glared at Mrs. Chen, scolding her softly, "You woman, no one would take you for mute if you kept your mouth shut."

Don’t you know Brother Xing’s feelings? Talking about it over and over, isn’t this just stabbing Brother Xing in the heart?

Mrs. Chen remained unmoved by the rebuke and instead thought that Brother Xing was being overly sensitive. If Scholar Shang wouldn’t accept him, so be it. Qingfu Town did not only have Scholar Shang as a teacher. Brother Xing could very well go to other scholars for mentorship and still study just the same.

Although she thought this way, Mrs. Chen ultimately refrained from saying anything else that might upset Gu Dexing.

...

Scholar Shang knew that the Gu Family would visit today and told Ah Jiu to wait for them at the entrance to the village.

As soon as Third Grandpa and the others entered Shang Family Village, Ah Jiu saw them and greeted them with a smile, "Elder Gu of the Gu Family, Uncle Gu, Brother An, Xiao Yu, the Old Master asked me to welcome you. Please follow me, the Old Master is waiting at home."

Third Grandpa smiled and said, "Thank you, young man, for showing us the way."

The group of four followed Ah Jiu to Scholar Shang’s house.

Shang Family Village was large and affluent due to its proximity to the town.

Along the way, most of the houses they saw were made of mud tiles, and there were also quite a few green brick tile houses. As for mud-thatch houses, there were only about a dozen.

Unlike their Da Feng Village, which was mostly made up of mud-thatch houses.

Scholar Shang’s house was located at the end of the village, a large compound with five courtyards, white walls, and black tiles, surrounded by lotus ponds and water channels, and outside the courtyard, a grove of Xiangfei Bamboo was planted, presenting a poetic and picturesque scene that hardly resembled a rural dwelling.

Third Grandpa and the others knew that Scholar Shang’s Family were landlords, but when they saw the five courtyards of Scholar Shang’s Family, they were still taken aback. No wonder Doctor Wu said that Scholar Shang wouldn’t take in students just for the tuition fee; it turns out the family really isn’t short on money.

"Elder Gu, Uncle Gu, this way please." Ah Jiu led Third Grandpa and the others into the Shang Family.

Scholar Shang was already waiting in the front yard. When he saw Third Grandpa and the others, he got up to welcome them: "Third Uncle Gu, Brother Gu, you have arrived."

Then, turning his head towards Gu Jinli, he said, "Xiao Yu also came."

"Uncle Shang." Gu Jinli greeted Scholar Shang with a smile.

Gu Jin’an, on the other hand, gave a traditional greeting with cupped hands, calling out, "Teacher."

Scholar Shang looked at Gu Jin’an, who was in new clothes, with a stature as straight as a bamboo, and a handsome face, and nodded in satisfaction: "Come in."

After the group entered the main room in the front yard, a maid came in to offer tea. freewebnøvel.coɱ

After the maid left, Gu Dashan immediately handed the tuition fee over to Gu Jin’an to present it to Scholar Shang.

Scholar Shang wasn’t particular about formalities; he accepted the tuition fee right away and said: "I’m not strict with the rules here. I only have one thing to say, don’t commit any atrocity against the natural order; if you commit evil deeds, you cannot stay here. At the very least, you will be swept out the door."

Gu Jin’an immediately replied, "Teacher, rest assured, your student would not dare to do anything that goes against nature’s laws. I will focus on my studies, hoping to achieve something."

Hearing this, Scholar Shang did not say much more, only mentioning the class schedule: "Classes start at the hour of si and end at the last quarter of noon."

Adding it up, Gu Jin’an would only be attending classes for four hours a day, which is not a long time.

This schedule was specially arranged by Scholar Shang for Gu Jin’an. He knew that the Gu Family were busy with their home industry and that Gu Jin’an had a lot of work to do at home every day. Therefore, he only let him attend classes for four hours a day so he would have time to help his family with their work.

Gu Jin’an, aware of Scholar Shang’s consideration, gratefully said, "Student thanks the teacher."

In this way, he could both study and help the family, which would lessen the guilt in his heart.

Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan had great respect for scholars, especially for Scholar Shang, whom they viewed as a man of profound knowledge. Naturally, they would follow whatever he said without question.

After discussing Gu Jin’an’s matter, Gu Jinli took out a jar of soybean oil from the basket and said to Scholar Shang: "Uncle Shang, this is the soybean oil I made."

Scholar Shang was surprised: "Soybean oil? You really made it?"

Gu Jinli nodded, opened the lid on the jar, and took out a wooden bowl from the basket, then poured some of the soybean oil from the jar into the bowl and said to Scholar Shang: "Uncle Shang, look, this is the soybean oil."

Scholar Shang quickly walked over, looking at the amber-colored liquid in the wooden bowl, unable to hide his excitement. He took the bowl and dabbed some of the oil with his finger, rubbed it, and said with delight: "Indeed, this is oil."

He leaned close to the bowl and sniffed. The oil had a scent of soybeans, and it seemed to be genuine soybean oil without a doubt.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Scholar Shang immediately called for Ah Jiu: "Ah Jiu, take this soybean oil to the kitchen, prepare a few dishes, do it now, quickly."

Ah Jiu, seeing her master so excited, was somewhat confused but still took the jar and went to the kitchen to cook with the soybean oil.

Scholar Shang then asked Gu Jinli some questions about the soybean oil.

Gu Jinli specifically mentioned the oil yield: "Twenty pounds of soybeans can produce about four pounds and two taels of oil."

"Four pounds and two taels!" Scholar Shang was very excited and quickly calculated a sum in his head.