The room was lit by candles, and Madam Li sat by the bed, holding Zhan Feiyu’s hand. She spoke with a numb expression, "Little Yu, your grandmother is determined not to let you study."
Madam Li hadn't expected Old Madam Zhan to be so ruthless. When that knife came down, Madam Li’s legs had gone weak with fear. It had nearly cost a life. If she had forced her mother-in-law to her death, not only Madam Li but also Zhan Feiyu, her granddaughter, would bear the stigma of unfilial conduct.
"Mother, the bridge will appear when we come to it," Zhan Feiyu’s voice was still hoarse from crying so much. "Why did Grandma hit me? Just because I acted without permission?"
"You study well, and Eldest Brother is overshadowed. In the future, Second and Third Brothers will also be overshadowed. But the Zhan family needs grandsons to uphold the family's honor," Madam Li explained in a low voice. Her daughter was intelligent, and Madam Li wasn't worried she wouldn't understand.
"Your second uncle doesn't want you to continue studying. If you study and pass the imperial examinations, the second branch will be suppressed by us. Your second uncle would rather you be an illiterate village girl than see you succeed."
Some people are just so selfish and narrow-minded, unable to bear seeing others do well. Madam Li had been married into the Zhan family for many years and knew the inherent selfishness and treachery in Old Master Zhan's second son.
If it were another family, they might think that if the eldest branch prospered, the second branch could rely on it, or even more shamelessly, cling to the eldest branch like a leech to suck its blood.
But the second son of the Zhan family was different. He would rather gain no advantage than to keep the eldest branch firmly under his heel. As long as the eldest branch could never rise again, the second son of the Zhan family would be content.
Madam Li stroked Zhan Feiyu’s head. "You are a clever girl. Your second uncle knows he cannot control you, so he can only instigate your grandmother to make trouble."
Studying cost money. It was one thing for the third branch, but how could the second branch afford to let Zhan Feiyu study?
Moreover, Zhan Feiyu was praised by Master Lin every few days. When Shan Wazi and other classmates returned from school, they would announce it throughout the village. Everyone praised the Zhan family ancestors for their blessings, saying that a scholar was about to emerge from their lineage.
Zhan Feiyu had only been studying for over two months, and her reputation was already so good. If this momentum continued, neither the second branch nor Old Madam Zhan could suppress her. Therefore, they had to cut short her path to education as soon as possible.
"So that's how it is," Zhan Feiyu murmured. The vicious and malicious expression of Old Madam Zhan when she had acted that morning flashed in her mind. She suspected it wasn't just because of the second branch.
Footsteps sounded from outside the bedroom. Zhan Feiyu and Madam Li looked up to see Zhan Laoda walking in with a stiff face. His steps were a little unsteady, likely from kneeling for so long before Old Madam Zhan.
Meeting his daughter's concerned little chubby face, Zhan Laoda felt a pang of distress in his heart. He opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say wouldn't come out.
"How is Mother?" Madam Li walked to the table, poured a cup of water, and handed it to Zhan Laoda. Zhan Feiyu studied until late every night, so Madam Li had prepared a teapot and cups so she wouldn't have to go to the kitchen for water when thirsty.
After draining the cup in one gulp, Zhan Laoda tightened his grip on the teacup. He awkwardly avoided Zhan Feiyu's gaze. "Little Yu, tomorrow morning, come with Father to the fields. I'll keep all these books for you. You can read them in the fields."
Her heart sank. Madam Li’s face turned pale, but she made no noise, her stance firm. "You don't need the old Zhan family's money. I will support Little Yu's studies!"
Madam Li's maternal uncle had only one daughter, and her dowry had been prepared years ago. Therefore, Madam Li could borrow money by returning to her maiden home during the day.
When Madam Li's cousin got married in the future, she could only rely on the children of Madam Li's maternal aunt. Both Madam Li's uncle and his wife were worried. Without brothers as a support, if she were bullied by her in-laws, help would be too far away to address immediate problems.
But if Zhan Feiyu succeeded in the imperial examinations, then Madam Li's cousin would have a patron, and her in-laws would regard her with more respect. Therefore, both Madam Li and her maternal uncle's side supported Zhan Feiyu's studies and were even willing to help financially.
"Mother, I'll discuss with Master Hui about paying the tuition fees next year," Zhan Feiyu said calmly, her eyes sharp and frightening. She was determined to study, and no one could stop her!
Although it was said that even a hero could be defeated by ten taels of silver, Zhan Feiyu could find ten taels. If pushed to the brink, she would rely on her invisible golden finger and become a gentleman of the night.
"Silly girl, I'll go and talk to them then," Madam Li said with a gentle smile. This matter should have been handled by the adults, but since the men were unreliable, Madam Li had to step forward herself.
If his wife and daughter had argued with him fiercely, Zhan Laoda might have felt a little better. Seeing the mother and daughter chatting and laughing, Zhan Laoda knew they were determined to continue studying, even if the Zhan family didn't provide any money.
But thinking of Old Madam Zhan lying in bed, thinking of the bloody wound on her neck, Zhan Laoda wiped his face fiercely. He couldn't be unfilial; he could only let his daughter down.
"Little Yu, you cannot go to the private school," Zhan Laoda’s face was too tense, his features contorted. "I am your father, and I forbid you from going to the private school again!"
Seeing Zhan Laoda’s pained face, Madam Li almost laughed with anger. She calmed herself and said, "Even if you divorce me today, I will still send Little Yu to study!"
"I forbid it!" Zhan Laoda suddenly roared, kicking over a chair in front of him to vent his anger, like a madman shouting, "If Little Yu dares to go, I'll break her legs!"
"Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?" Madam Li lunged forward and grabbed Zhan Laoda's clothes. Her angry fists beat against his chest.
In her rage, Madam Li questioned him with a sob in her voice, "For your mother, you want to break Little Yu's legs? Are you even human? All of you in the Zhan family are beasts worse than pigs and dogs!"
Madam Li's tears streamed down her face, her heart aching as if cut by a knife. "I've been married into the Zhan family for so many years. Every time something happens, your mother and your second brother instigate from behind, and you stab me in the heart. Zhan Dashan, you are not human!"
The ones who loved her hated her, and the ones who hated her rejoiced. Madam Li slumped onto the bed and wept. She hated it!
Zhan Feiyu hugged Madam Li’s shoulders to comfort her. She looked up at the agitated and pained Zhan Laoda and said coldly, word by word, "Father, no one can stop my path to learning!"
Meeting his daughter's dark eyes, Zhan Laoda felt a pang of unease. But as a father, his authority made him unable to help but roar, "Little Yu, do you want to force your grandmother to death? You won't die if you don't study, but your grandmother almost died!"
If he had a choice, Zhan Laoda wouldn't want this. But he had knelt before Old Madam Zhan for half an hour, and Old Madam Zhan had only one condition: unless Zhan Feiyu stopped studying, no one could stop her from seeking death!
Old Madam Zhan closed her eyes, her wrinkled face pale and distorted, her voice cold and heartless. "If Little Yu promises not to go to the private school, I will eat. Otherwise, if my own grandmother starves to death, let's see which private school dares to take her!"
Old Master Zhan tried to persuade her and became angry. The second son and his wife of the Zhan family also said all the kind words they could, but Old Madam Zhan was determined not to let Zhan Feiyu study. The second son stopped those who wanted to persuade her, saying, if they pushed too hard, what if Mother took out the cleaver again?
With that one sentence, Zhan Laoda's heart grew cold. He couldn't watch his mother slit her own throat, nor could he watch her starve to death. So, he could only wrong his daughter!
Besides, his second brother's wife was right. There were plenty of girls in the village who didn't study. Little Yu had only lost the opportunity to study, while Mother had lost a life!