Feng Yi’s every move captured everyone’s attention. With a smile, he introduced his disciples one by one.
“…While staying temporarily in Danyang, I unexpectedly gained these exceptionally talented disciples. This truly shows how Danyang produces outstanding people in a nurturing environment.”
This compliment praised both the people and the place. Xu Yue clearly noticed the atmosphere becoming even more enthusiastic.
Some people tentatively took this opportunity to recommend their own children. Holding Xu Yue’s hand, Feng Yi sighed:
“One’s blessings are limited. I’ve already used up great fortune to receive these fine disciples, especially Yue Ge’er, who possesses innate talent.”
Feng Yi said with utmost seriousness:
“I dare not aspire to teach all the talented people under heaven. Focusing on these few might be enough to make my name renowned throughout the land.”
—Why teach so many disciples? The intelligent ones are hard to come by, while the foolish ones could drive a teacher to death.
Having a few outstanding seedlings is already sufficient.
Everyone was startled. Scholar Feng’s words indicated that all four disciples in his heart held the potential to pass the imperial examinations.
If Xu Yue and the others failed to achieve their goals in the future, these bold words would become a joke when spread.
Facing skeptical, envious, and jealous glances from all directions, the four disciples felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Xia Yu slightly turned his head and noticed that Xu Yue, the youngest yet receiving the most attention, showed no shyness or fear. Instead, he stood gracefully with a calm smile.
His heart stirred, and he quickly straightened his posture as well.
…
The banquet proceeded smoothly. Due to his young age, Xu Yue was seated at the only table for women behind the screen.
Those seated were his sisters, who were also starting school today. Among the female family members, only they could attend.
“Is the food outside the same as ours?”
Third Sister Xin Niang, lively by nature, kept trying to peek beyond the screen to see the excitement outside, idly poking her chopsticks at her food.
“Eat quietly. Why does it matter if the dishes are the same or not?”
Yuan Niang shot her sister a disapproving look. Xin Niang pouted and drawled, “Fine, I get it.”
She then turned her attention to Xu Yue, who was eating obediently. Leaning close, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings—the Xu family members were all good-looking—Xin Niang stood out as the most beautiful among the five sisters. With her small, delicate face, almond-shaped eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, fair skin, and spirited personality, she possessed an added charm.
She whispered:
“Yue Ge’er, do you want some fruit syrup? I have a bottle. Should I bring it for you?”
Xu Yue swallowed a mouthful of rice and looked at his sister in surprise. Fruit syrup wasn’t particularly rare, but for Xin Niang, a concubine-born daughter who had lost her birth mother early, it was quite precious.
Noticing his expression, Xin Niang tilted her head with a sly smile and said softly:
“I know it was you, Yue Ge’er, who suggested to Grandfather and the others that we sisters attend the clan school. This is my thank-you gift.”
Pursing her rosebud lips, she showed a hint of stubbornness:
“I’ve long wanted to study, but no one would ever teach me.”
She was a girl with ambition and drive, and quite adorable too.
Xu Yue sighed inwardly, once again grateful to be living in this world as a male. This wasn’t a sense of superiority but a reflection stirred by the scene before him.
No matter how excellent or intelligent you were, being a woman naturally meant far fewer opportunities compared to men.
Just considering education: Xin Niang, compared to her male cousin Hao Ge’er of the same age, was both motivated and diligent. Yet, without Xu Yue’s intervention, she would have had no chance to learn to read at all.
In the pitch darkness, there was no sense of direction to climb upward.
“Okay, thank you, Third Sister. Can you secretly bring it to me tonight? Grandpa won’t let me drink too many sweet things, afraid it’ll ruin my teeth.”
Looking at the stubborn Xin Niang, Xu Yue readily agreed, replying in an equally soft voice.
Hearing this, Xin Niang breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that her precious little brother might look down on the fruit syrup, and she said cheerfully:
“This fruit syrup is really sweet. Just a little bit can make a whole bowl, and it leaves your mouth fragrant after drinking.”
“Remember to brush your teeth with qing salt after drinking it, and it definitely won’t harm your teeth.”
Just then, Yuan Niang patted Xu Yue’s twin buns:
“Eldest Sister has a gift for you too—a pouch I embroidered.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a light green pouch embroidered with a treasure gourd from her sleeve. The edging and pattern were exquisitely detailed, showing how much care the embroiderer had put into it.
Xu Yue couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. For a girl of Yuan Niang’s age to create such fine needlework was quite remarkable.
Seeing her delight, Yuan Niang’s eyes curved into smiles. She had ripped out and reworked this pouch repeatedly, using the best embroidery thread and fabric she had.
What surprised Xu Yue was that aside from the two sisters from the main branch, the three young ladies from the second branch also had gifts for her.
They were a Nine Interlocking Rings puzzle, a set of flower cards, and a clay doll.
None were particularly valuable, but they were precious possessions in the hands of these girls.
Second Sister Lan Niang lowered her eyes. With her delicate appearance, she already had a pitiable charm at such a young age, and she said in a soft, gentle voice:
“We also want to thank Yue Ge’er. Studying is truly wonderful.”
The other two sisters nodded in agreement. Even at their young age, they understood that being able to study was a good thing.
Having received several gifts, Xu Yue’s mood soared, and she unconsciously ate much more than usual.
By midnight, her stomach was aching miserably, and she kept moaning. Lan Fen tried rubbing her belly but to no effect, then went to fetch some prepared medicinal pills.
The commotion woke Landlord Xu, who scolded the servants a few times before carefully inquiring about the situation. Only then was he relieved to learn it was just childish indigestion.
He chuckled and scolded:
“Your father is such a miser. Aside from a few meat dishes, the banquet food wasn’t even as good as what we usually eat at home. And you still managed to overeat!”
Xu Yue squirmed restlessly on the bed, wrapping the summer quilt around herself into a ball, feeling thoroughly embarrassed.
“Alright, does your stomach still hurt?”
Landlord Xu asked. Upon hearing that it felt a bit better, he picked up Yue Ge’er and carried her back to the main room, intending to care for her personally.
In the main room, three or four candles were burning, each about half consumed. Account books were scattered messily on the table—some closed, some open.
It was clear at a glance that Landlord Xu hadn’t slept either, having been doing accounts all evening.
Xu Yue felt a slight pang of emotion. After being placed on the bed, she grabbed Landlord Xu’s sleeve, pointed at the table, and giggled behind her hand:
“Grandpa isn’t sleeping either. He’s a bad child who’ll be taken away and eaten by the Mountain Hag.”
Across all times, what child hasn’t been frightened by adult stories when young? The Mountain Hag was the monster Landlord Xu had once used to scare the mischievous, sleepless Xu Yue.
“Grandpa has important business to attend to. The Mountain Hag won’t take me away—only disobedient children like Yue Ge’er get taken.”
Landlord Xu picked up an account book and opened it, speaking with mock seriousness.
It was farmland accounts, recording various small expenses and incomes—like lending two dou of rice to Zhang Tietou, to be repaid as two and a half dou after the autumn harvest.
Looking at the accounts, Landlord Xu couldn’t help but sigh. No matter how he calculated, this year’s net income would only be around two hundred eighty taels. After deducting daily expenses and the costs of running the school, very little remained.
Even a landlord’s household has no surplus grain!
“Grandfather, why is there no money?”
Startled by his grandson’s words, Landlord Xu realized he had unconsciously spoken his financial worries aloud. After a moment’s thought, he replied seriously:
“Because the income from our farmland remains roughly the same each year. This year, the school required an additional major expense, so we have less money left over.”
“I see.”
The child nestled under the quilt revealed a pair of sparkling bright eyes, blinking:
“Then we just need to make more money.”
Landlord Xu chuckled wryly:
“It’s not that simple. All our tenants are experienced farmers who tend the fields meticulously. The yield is what it is and cannot be increased further. Each mu of paddy field produces exactly two dan of grain.”
“But that’s not what the books say! One mu of land can yield four dan!”
Landlord Xu was profoundly shocked.