allendalepharm Chapter 156 Preparation before entering school
Chapter 156 Preparation before entering school
"System? Tongzi? Dog system?" Jiang Youzhen waited for a long time but didn't hear any response from the system. It really updated as it said, without any ambiguity.
[Do not disturb! The system is updating...]
"Brother Jiang! I didn't know you were coming today. I'm sorry for not welcoming you." Before he saw the person, he heard his voice. Soon Jiang Youzhen saw a man in an indigo-colored fine cotton robe walking quickly towards him.
This man was in his 50s, several years younger than the clan leader. He had a very kind face, a goatee, and the air of a scholar.
"I'm sorry to bother you this time. I heard that I have brought the person to you." The clan leader went straight to the point and pointed at Jiang Youzhen who was standing aside.
It seems that the two have a good relationship and speak very casually.
Just now in the carriage, the clan leader briefly introduced Master Jiang. Master Jiang is fifty-three years old this year, his name is Jiang Shaozhi, and his courtesy name is Wenzhi.
When Master Jiang looked over, Jiang Youzhen immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Hello, Master Jiang."
Master Jiang looked Jiang Youzhen up and down, then nodded, "Good! Good! He looks like a handsome man."
It must be said that humans are visual animals. The original owner was already good-looking, and with the system transformation, Jiang Youzhen now has red lips and white teeth, and a beautiful appearance.
Coupled with his tall figure, the bookish air and a bit of gentleness and elegance, he is simply handsome and extraordinary in appearance.
"Go sit inside, Uncle Fu, serve tea!"
When they entered the small reception hall, the clan leader presented the six gifts he had brought. Seeing this, Jiang Fugui quickly took out four taels of silver from his pocket. Fortunately, he came to the town to buy land today and brought a lot of silver, otherwise he really couldn't take it out.
"My child is very naughty. I will have to trouble you to teach him in the future." Jiang Fugui respected scholars very much. He racked his brains to think carefully before speaking, for fear of showing that he was inexperienced and embarrassing the child.
Master Jiang accepted the silver and gave Jiang Fugui two cents in change. He had agreed with Jiang Heng before that he would not take more.
"You are fourteen this year, right? It is indeed a bit late to start studying now. Most students begin their enlightenment at the age of six or seven. At your age, you may not have finished reading all the Four Books and Five Classics, but you have read most of them."
The clan leader nodded when he heard this. It was indeed too late. His great-grandson had already finished reading the enlightenment books when he was only eight years old. In other words, Jiang Youzhen's current progress was similar to that of his great-grandson.
"It's indeed a little late, but my nephew is smart, you just need to discipline him." The clan leader said with pride on his face, and it seemed that he had great confidence in Jiang Youzhen.
"But I heard from Brother Jiang that you have only been in enlightenment for more than two months, but you have memorized all the enlightenment books and can even write them down from memory. I think you are a smart person. It is a little late, but as long as you are willing to work hard, there is still hope that you can catch up. Have you prepared the Four Books and Five Classics?"
Master Jiang looked at Jiang Youzhen with a friendly expression. Jiang Youzhen shook his head and said, "It's not possible to prepare yet!"
The clan leader was stunned. He actually forgot to prepare. This was his negligence. Jiang Youzhen and Jiang Fugui were forced to come by him, so naturally they could not prepare.
"It's okay. I have some here. Some are bought from bookstores, and some are excerpted by students. The prices are slightly different. The excerpted ones are only about 200 wen per copy, but the ones from bookstores are more expensive, about 260 wen per copy. This price is the same as the bookstore price. I just want to make it convenient for students."
"Just take the one from the bookstore, it's clearer." The patriarch made the decision for him. Learning to excerpt is cheap, but if you come across one with bad handwriting or unclear writing, it will be very affecting for beginners.
"Okay!" Master Jiang asked them to wait a moment and then got up to get the book.
Because the price of each book was different, Jiang Youzhen and his friends did the math and finally spent a total of two taels and six cents of silver.
No wonder many people in ancient times could not afford to read books, as books were very expensive. A few books cost so much. Add to that the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and the annual cost would indeed be several taels.
The Jiang family was so poor originally, but they still had to support Jiang Haiqing and Jiang Hailin. In addition to Jiang Fugui's great contributions, the old man also made a lot of efforts.
"I see you haven't prepared any writing brush, ink, paper, or inkstone, so come back tomorrow! Tomorrow morning reading will begin at 1:00 a.m. On the first day, you must bring your previous homework, as well as the Analects, writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
We also provide lunch here for three cents a day. If you want to bring your own food or have your family bring it, the kitchen will heat it up for you."
"Then let's have lunch at the private school! Thank you for your help, Mr. Jiang." Jiang Fugui thought, Qinghe Village is not close to the town, how can it be convenient to bring food?
Coming out of Yunshang Private School, Jiang Fugui felt a little dizzy. He came to town today to buy land, but he ended up going to a private school. He turned to look at Jiang Youzhen and found that she was looking around nonchalantly. He couldn't help but worry. How should he explain this when he returned?
"Grandpa clan leader, my father still needs to go buy some land. He has already agreed with Chen Yazi. Why don't you take a rest in the teahouse? When we are ready, we will take you back with us."
"I don't want to wait that long. I'll go back in a bullock cart later. You guys go about your business. I'm not too old to walk."
The clan leader waved his hand indifferently. When he heard that Jiang Fugui wanted to buy land again, although he was curious about how Jiang Fugui became rich and how much money he had to be able to afford so much land, he was tactful enough not to ask.
Jiang Youzhen sent the clan leader to the place where the ox cart was to be taken, and specially rented an ox cart to send him back to the village.
After he left, Jiang Fugui started complaining to Jiang Youzhen.
"What should I do? Why did you go to a private school? Why didn't you refuse? If I tell your mother, I don't know how she will scold me."
"The clan leader has come along, so I can't not go! Besides, isn't it just studying? If I fish for two days and dry the nets for three days, the teacher will definitely be annoyed with me."
"No way! Since you have already gone to a private school, you should study hard. Scholars are very disgusted with students who are not studious and motivated. Don't make them dislike you." Jiang Fugui shook his head. He had great respect for literati and knowledge.
He sighed, "Let's study for a year first, and then we won't have to pay tuition next year."
"Dad! Things have come to this point, and we have no choice. I still feel that I have no freedom every day!" Jiang Youzhen was also helpless. The most important thing was, what was the point of learning those four books and five classics? It was not going to end.
But what she is most concerned about now is the system upgrade, which has not been completed yet, and she doesn't know what's going on. She called the system several times in her mind, but there was no response, so Jiang Youzhen stopped caring.
When they arrived at the teahouse, Chen Yazi was already waiting there.
"I've seen that field, it's very fertile. You are so lucky to have come across it." Chen Yazi had a happy face, and was more enthusiastic to see Jiang Youzhen and his daughter than to see his own mother.