“Your sister here, a modern working woman, at least has a university degree.”
Fortunately, the original master’s father wasn’t biased toward sons and had taught her to read.
Otherwise, it would have been hard to explain.
“No matter what, we come from a family of farmers and scholars. Not knowing how to read would be a disgrace to our father’s scholar achievements.”
She ruffled the three little ones’ heads as she spoke.
“From now on, you all must study, and carry on the legacy of this family of learning. Strive to… not just be top students, but aim to become the zhuangyuan!”
Su Manman set a high bar for the three children—the goal of becoming top scholars.
The little ones didn’t know what a zhuangyuan was, but they were immediately interested in studying. At their age, they already understood that educated people were highly respected in the village.
“Big sister, I’ll study hard from now on!”
Da Bao and Xiao Bao nodded along with the little uncle.
“Yes, we’ll study diligently too.”
Su Manman was very pleased with their attitude.
“Good, then I’ll be waiting for you to become zhuangyuan and honor me.”
Su Xiao Man scratched his head. “But big sister, do we have money to study?”
He had heard of Gu Jinbao studying in town, and it cost a lot of silver each month. They could barely afford meals—how could they pay for schooling?
Su Manman stroked her chin. Of course, there had to be a way. She couldn’t lead a bunch of illiterates into the world.
“The matter of money isn’t for you to worry about. First, let me see what kind of talent you have.”
She tested their memory first, teaching them the Three Character Classic.
Su Xiao Man and Da Bao had good memories—they could remember it after only two or three repetitions.
Xiao Bao was a little slower, needing four or five readings, which was still impressive.
The carriage moved steadily along, and the sound of their recitation drifted out of the windows.
The escorts walking on either side of the road were surprised—they hadn’t expected a peasant woman to be literate.
Zhuo Lina, sitting in the luxurious carriage at the front, heard the voices and curiously lifted the curtain.
“Miss, that peasant woman is reading to several children,” her maid said.
Zhuo Lina scoffed. “A bit clever, perhaps. But a peasant woman—what can she really do just because she knows a few characters?”
The maid hesitated but added: “In my opinion, Miss, perhaps you were too kind to let them travel with us. Otherwise, they would have been sent away long ago.”
Zhuo Lina liked the praise and replied, “Fine, consider it an act of merit.”
The atmosphere between the mistress and maid was amicable—but in the other carriage, it was a different story.
One person’s face darkened upon hearing the voices—Tao Gu, the servant who had been slapped by Zhuo Lina earlier, now hated Su Manman.
“Miss, once we reach Qingzhou, do you really want Tao Gu to be sent to the manor?” the maid asked, massaging Zhuo Lina’s shoulders.
Zhuo Lina hummed softly.
The maid, thinking of the gold bracelet Tao Gu had given her, carefully continued:
“Tao Gu has always served Master diligently. Today’s incident was just her concern getting the better of her. But I also think that the peasant woman may have an attitude problem.”
Zhuo Lina replied, “She can’t even handle a peasant.”
“She’s leaving such a big flaw. A fool like this staying by Dongyang’s side will only make him as short-sighted as her.”
“My mother has only one son, Dongyang. There can’t be a fool near him.”
One thing is bad, another thing is stupid—and stupidity is intolerable.
The maid didn’t speak again—saying more might get her sent to the manor herself.
..
The next few days passed uneventfully.
After several days of recitation, the three little ones could basically recite the Three Character Classic.
When Su Manman was in a good mood, she would tell them small stories.
For the children, stories common in modern Blue Star culture were completely new. Their eyes shone brighter and brighter as they listened.
“Big sister, you’re amazing!”“Mother, you’re amazing!”
Excited, the three children jumped around Su Manman, only to be pushed away without mercy.
“Don’t you notice how stinky you all are?”
The embarrassed children blushed, feeling awkward. They really hadn’t bathed in a long time.
The original master hadn’t bathed either. But Su Manman had.
Unable to endure the smell, she had used the spiritual spring water in secret at night to bathe luxuriously.
Afterward, she even admired her own skin—it felt so smooth.
“Big sister, I’ll find a place to wash once the carriage stops,” Su Xiao Man said, worried about being scolded.
Da Bao and Xiao Bao nodded—they wanted to bathe with their uncle too.
“Good, but stay away from me for now,” Su Manman instructed.
Just as she spoke, the carriage stopped.
Su Manman lifted the curtain and saw the towering city walls ahead—Qingzhou.
Many pedestrians and carriages were waiting to enter.
They had expected to queue obediently.
But Tang Song rode forward, spoke briefly with the city guards, and returned to lead the convoy directly inside.
Su Manman realized they were using a VIP entrance.
Once inside, she could no longer travel with the convoy. At a crossroads, Tang Song let Su Manman and the children off and settled the remaining payment.
Feeling pity for the widowed woman with three children, Tang Song kindly recommended the Weimeng Escort Agency.
His senior brother worked there, and they often ran routes from Qingzhou to Luzhou—she might get lucky and find a caravan heading that way.
Su Manman was very grateful for Tang Song’s kindness.
“If I can ride along with the Weimeng escorts, all the better.”
“Brother Tang, fate may bring us together again. I, Su Manman, will certainly remember your kindness.”
With that, she walked away with the three children.
Watching her swaggering back, Tang Song thought Su Manman didn’t seem like a peasant at all—more like someone from the Jianghu.
He shook his head. A woman with children has a hard path; he hoped they would reach Luzhou safely.
But not everyone shared his good intentions.
Tao Gu followed Su Manman as she got off the carriage.