97 Study Crisis

“Howl.”

The wolf cub seemed to understand what she meant. It let out a proud cry and circled around Zhou Xiaoli excitedly.

Zhou Yu explained to that person that their family was a wolf, not a dog. Under that person’s shocked gaze, their family returned home.

The Zhou family.

“This damn Cao Liu has wasted so much of our time and hence, we have earned so much less money!”

As soon as they got home, Lin Xiujuan started scolding Cao Liu angrily.

“This kind of person should be struck by lightning by the heavens!”

Although she was cursing, her hands moved non-stop.

She had already pulled Liu Yan along and started squeezing the beetroot juice from the pulp. “Sister-in-law Liu, let’s use more strength to squeeze it clean. Little Li said that there will be more sugar this way!”

In terms of earning money, Lin Xiujuan was the most active.

Her mouth and hands did not stop.

After Cao Liu’s interlude, everyone began to immerse themselves in making sugar.

On the other hand, Zhou Xiaoli was in discussion with Zhou Yu about going to the county city tomorrow.

Zhou Xiaoli: “I just made an appointment with Wei Chiyu. We’ll go to the county city to look for his friend tomorrow.”

Zhou Yu nodded. “Alright, do buy some apprenticeship gifts for Brother Jun along the way.”

Lin Xiujuan and the others knew that Zhou Yu had brought Zhou Junjun to the private school to meet the tutor this afternoon.

After the ruckus caused by Cao Liu and the others just now, all had forgotten to ask about the outcome.

Hearing Zhou Yu say that he wanted to buy an apprenticeship gift, everyone remembered about this matter.

Lin Xiujuan immediately asked excitedly, “Is the Tutor going to take in your Jun?”

Zhang Lan was also excited.

Zhou Yu nodded with a smile on his face. “That’s right. The Tutor said that we don’t have to wait until next month. We can find an auspicious day and bring our child to the school to become his student officially.”

“Ah, this is good news!”

Everyone was immediately attracted by this news and started discussing.

Liu Yan smiled and suggested, “This is an important date. It’s best to find someone to count which would be an auspicious day.”

Zhang Lan nodded. “That’s right, that’s right. We have to find an auspicious day.”

At this moment, Lin Xiujuan said, “Who do you plan to look for? Isn’t Li’s master a fortune-teller?”

“That’s true.”

At the side, Zhou Xiaoli smiled and said, “I don’t need a master for this. I can do it. When I went to the private school, I already calculated which days were auspicious for him to start school. In three days’ time, it will be a good day for Brother Jun to become his student.”

Liu Yan smiled and said, “That’s good. Oh, right, do you know what to prepare for the school entrance ceremony?”

When they were still with the Old Zhou family, Zhang Lan saw how Lai Jinniang prepared for her grandsons to go to school, so she knew a little about it. She said, “When I was in the Old Zhou family, I saw Lai Jinniang prepare celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, dried longans and dried meat strips.”

As she has a scholar at home, Liu Yan was very familiar with this matter. When she heard this, she nodded. “That’s right, that’s right. There’s an explanation for everything.”

“Celery has the meaning of being diligent and eager to learn, and the essence of studying is diligence. The heart of the lotus seed is bitter, so the meaning of that is that education is a bittersweet event as it requires a lot of effort.”

“Red beans symbolize good luck; red dates symbolize that the student would have achievements soon; dried longans symbolizes completion of merit and the dried meat strips of meat are to express the disciple’ thanks to the tutor. Not one can be missing from the gift.”

Lin Xiujuan teased, “It’s different when one has a scholar in this family. Look at how much she knows.”

Liu Yan smiled in embarrassment. “Oh, right, Zhang Lan, are the new clothes you made for your son ready? You have to wear new clothes to enter the school as a student to show your respect to the Tutor.”

Zhang Lan had just instructed Zhou Xiaoli to note down the things she wanted to buy. When she heard Liu Yan’s question, she nodded. “Yes, yes. I have even made new shoes.”

At this moment, an envious expression appeared on Lin Xiujuan’s face. She looked at Liu Liangcai and said, “Hubby, we’re making sugar with Brother Zhou’s family now. If we have enough money, let’s send our Brother Feng to a private school to study too.”

Liu Fengfeng, who was having fun with Zhou Junjun and Zhou Xiaoyu, heard his mother’s words and his face fell. “Mother, I don’t want to study in a private school.”

Upon hearing Liu Fengfeng’s words, Lin Xiujuan was instantly furious. “Hey, child, why don’t you know what’s good for you? Brother Jun is going to a private school to study. Why don’t you go?”

Liu Fengfeng pouted. “I just don’t want to?”

Lin Xiujuan was very stubborn. She raised the spoon in her hand and was about to give him a good beating.

Liu Fengfeng was so scared that he covered his head and quickly ran away.

Lin Xiujuan scolded him while Liu Liangcai shouted after her. The mother and son jumped and chased around in the courtyard.

In the end, Zhang Lan and Liu Yan stopped Lin Xiujuan, saving Liu Fengfeng from a beating.

Lin Xiujuan placed her hands on her hips and pointed at Liu Fengfeng. “I’m so angry. Why did I give birth to such a disappointing child?! Other people’s children yearn to go to school when they can’t even afford it!

“You, on the other hand, I scrimped and saved to send you to school, but you’re unwilling to go. Are you trying to revolt?!”

“I’m going to teach you a lesson today. Otherwise, you won’t know what is what!”

Zhang Lan hurriedly pulled Lin Xiujuan back and advised, “The child is still young. Tell him slowly. Don’t be anxious.”

Liu Yan also nodded. “That’s right. Tell him nicely. Don’t be anxious. The more anxious you are, the more the child won’t listen to you.”

Lin Xiujuan was furious. “Then what should we do?! How did you teach your children that they love to study? My child…”

Then, she sighed.

At this moment, Zhou Xiaoli said, “Auntie, don’t be anxious. A beating won’t solve the problem. Instead, it will make the child hate studying even more.”

To Liu Xiujuan, Zhou Xiaoli’s words carried a lot of weight. Hearing Zhou Xiaoli’s words, she put down the spoon in her hand. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Seeing that Lin Xiujuan had calmed down, Zhou Xiaoli pulled Liu Fengfeng out from behind her and asked, “Brother Feng, why don’t you want to study in school? Don’t you want to study and take the imperial examinations in the future?”

Although saying this was a little utilitarian, in this era where everything was inferior to having an education, the children of the lower social class can only break through the classes if they studied.

Liu Fengfeng bit his lip and remained silent.

At this moment, Zhou Junjun said, “Elder Sister, you don’t have to ask him. It must be because he wants to play every day and doesn’t want to study.”

Liu Fengfeng’s face immediately turned red. “No, I didn’t think that way.”

It seemed that Zhou Junjun was right.

Zhou Junjun pursed his lips and said in disdain, “Liu Fengfeng, you’re so shameless. All you know is to play. Studying is so good. There are many good stories in the books. If you don’t study, you won’t even understand the stories.”

“Moreover, if you study, you can take the imperial examinations in the future. You can become a high-ranking official and catch bad people. It’s very impressive!”

Indeed, children of the same age were the most easily influenced by each other.

Hearing Zhou Junjun’s words, Liu Fengfeng immediately said angrily, “I don’t want to play. Who said I don’t want to study? I love studying too.”

After saying that, he ran to Lin Xiujuan and said loudly, “Mother, I want to study. I want to read many, many books. I want to be a high-ranking official and catch bad people!”

Lin Xiujuan was stunned for a moment before a smile appeared on her face. She immediately nodded and said excitedly, “Alright, alright. As long as you study, I’ll scrimp and save to send you to school at all costs!”