Tao Lengshuang and Madam Sheng laughed heartily, repeatedly saying they were looking forward to enjoying their blessings.
When the wet nurse brought the wooden box, Madam Sheng placed it in Tao Lengshuang's hands. "See if anything is missing, and tell your mother. As for this mountain, I own two. See if they suit you. If they do, you won't need to buy one."
Tao Lengshuang couldn't refuse and had to accept Madam Sheng's kindness, thinking she would try her best not to use anything from the wooden box.
It wasn't that she was being distant, but rather that she had the ability to earn money and had no need to use her own mother's assets.
...
The next day, in the morning.
Mo Lingxi, Madam Sheng, and Xiao Feng went to see the two mountains owned by Madam Sheng.
Halfway to their destination, Tao Lengshuang heard the excited voices of the common people.
"Hurry up! The Crown Prince has posted a notice. They say it's good news. If you're late, there won't be any spots left."
Tao Lengshuang wanted to see what was happening, so she told the coachman to drive closer.
Upon reaching a nearby area, the three of them alighted from the carriage and walked over. They saw a vast crowd of people, and from afar, they could hear people discussing the notice.
"I've seen it! I've seen it! The Crown Prince is introducing a contract system and is going to find jobs for us! This is a tremendous blessing!"
"You forgot to mention that it says the Crown Prince will teach everyone skills and literacy, for free. But not everyone can learn."
The crowd erupted in an uproar, discussing excitedly.
"Is that true? The court is teaching us skills and literacy?"
"The notice is out, how can it be fake? Before, when I wanted my son to learn blacksmithing, not only was the apprenticeship fee high, but he learned very little for a long time. Now, with the court teaching, I don't have to worry about my son not learning anything."
"I want to send my son to study and learn to read, so he can become a high official in the future and bring glory to our ancestors."
"What dream are you having? The imperial examinations are not that easy to pass. Even noble families find it difficult, let alone learning for a while. I, on the other hand, want to learn skills and literacy for my daughters and sons. Once they can read and write, they will be better people."
"Yes, yes, learning to read and write is not something ordinary people can do."
"If the court does this, how will we artisans make a living?"
"Yes, I spent all my savings to open a private school. If the court does this, aren't they trying to kill my family?"
"You people are simply ridiculous. The court is doing a good deed, what are you babbling about? Besides, who told you artisans to hoard your knowledge and not allow us to learn?"
"A private school is a private school, and literacy is literacy. They are two different things. I'm telling you all, if you ruin this good thing, I'll come to your house with a cleaver and kill all of you."
The dissatisfaction of a small number of people angered the majority.
These people were scolded and ran away dejectedly.
Tao Lengshuang, seeing this scene, was unfazed. It was like a dish; some people liked it, some didn't, and some found it average.
You can't please everyone.
Seeing that there were too many people, she didn't push her way in. She took a brief look and then returned to the carriage with Madam Sheng and Xiao Feng.
"The court teaching literacy and skills is a good thing," Madam Sheng said with a smile.
Tao Lengshuang stroked Xiao Feng's head and smiled, "With such good things, children like Xiao Feng can learn to read and write and acquire skills earlier, and they won't have to deal with land their entire lives."
Xiao Feng's eyes sparkled. "Mother, will Xiao Feng also go to learn then?"
Tao Lengshuang replied, "You have a dedicated tutor and can learn at home. If it were in the past, you would have to go and learn."
"Xiao Feng, I'm telling you, learning to read and write is to give you better thoughts and a broader perspective. Learning skills is to give you more abilities, not just to make money.
Mother isn't saying making money is bad, but you shouldn't make it your life's pursuit. A person's life is decades long; you should see more, learn more, and travel more. Do you understand?"
Xiao Feng nodded. "Besides making money, Xiao Feng also wants to learn martial arts well, to protect Mother and Grandmother in the future."
Tao Lengshuang said gently, "Then you must study hard with the instructor and not be lazy."
Xiao Feng: "Mother, don't worry, I will study hard."
Tao Lengshuang took this opportunity to educate Xiao Feng properly. She didn't want Xiao Feng to be blinded by the immense wealth and become like Sheng Li.
About an hour later, the three arrived in the mountains.
It was a very ordinary mountain, planted with various trees, no different from the surrounding mountains.
"Our manor is not far from here. Let's go and see it later." Madam Sheng held Xiao Feng's hand.
Xiao Feng picked up a dry twig and curiously poked it on the ground, occasionally hopping around.
Tao Lengshuang examined the condition of the mountain, paying close attention to the soil.
After touring the entire mountain, the three arrived at the manor to rest.
"Lengshuang, what do you think of this mountain?" Madam Sheng handed Tao Lengshuang a peeled orange and asked Xiao Feng to eat some pastries.
Seeing Xiao Feng picking and choosing, Tao Lengshuang put on a stern face. "Xiao Feng, Mother told you not to pick and choose like this. Only take what you want to eat. If you don't eat it, don't take it. If you take it like this, how can others eat?"
Xiao Feng fiddled with his fingers and said weakly, "But, Xiao Feng doesn't know which one is better."
Madam Sheng did not intervene. She knew that educating children was best left to their parents, and she, as a grandmother, was a failure in educating children.
Tao Lengshuang's tone became a little heavier. "What do you mean by which one is better? You can look at them, but you can't take this one and then that one. And you still don't think you're wrong."
"Go to the courtyard and squat in a horse stance for an hour to think carefully about what you did wrong."
Xiao Feng popped a pastry into his mouth, pouted, and went to the courtyard to squat in a horse stance. How could he know which one was better without looking?
Tao Lengshuang pressed her temples and sighed at Madam Sheng with a frown. "I think it's because life is too good that Xiao Feng is like this. When life was difficult before, he could make a pastry last a long time. Look at him now, not cherishing things."
Madam Sheng understood Tao Lengshuang's concern. "He really needs to be taught properly. I've seen too many children from noble families who were not educated well from a young age and grew up to be wastrels."
"Xiao Feng is still young, so he needs to be corrected properly."
Tao Lengshuang: "Indeed, he needs to be corrected properly. I'm worried Xiao Feng will grow up to be a wastrel. This child is not easy to educate."
Madam Sheng deeply agreed. She spoke with Tao Lengshuang about educating children. It was precisely because she hadn't educated her own children well that she had raised such an adopted daughter.
After Xiao Feng squatted in a horse stance for an hour, he still didn't know what he did wrong.
Tao Lengshuang didn't lose her temper or scold him. She patiently and gently explained to him, "Xiao Feng, imagine if it were you... Look at this."
She picked up each pastry, looked at it, smelled it, and then put it back. "Xiao Feng, tell Mother, what are your thoughts when you see this?"