He hadn't expected that raising a child for schooling would cost so much silver.
He had originally thought three to five taels a year would be enough.
After careful calculation, it was already close to twenty taels.
Upon hearing Yun Daman's explanation, Madam Gu remained silent.
Little Xi Ti, however, waved her tiny fists and exclaimed in a childish voice, "Read books!~"
In this era, if one's mind was not filled with knowledge, they would have to toil in the soil for their sustenance.
In Dashui Village, no one had ever produced a scholar.
For generations, they had guarded this land, tilling from sunrise to sunset, returning home at dusk.
Year after year, tomorrow after tomorrow.
They were unaware of the principle that all professions are inferior, only scholarship is supreme.
Of course, it was not guaranteed that one would succeed simply by studying.
If one couldn't even pass the preliminary imperial examination for a scholar, then for ordinary farming families, there was no point in continuing to support their studies.
Yun Jinhe was deeply moved and reached out to pinch his little aunt's cheek.
Old Man Yun put down his pipe and said earnestly, "Jinhe, if you truly wish to study, the family will sell everything we have to support you."
"But you must remember, once you are at the academy, you must study diligently, be polite and proper, and not bring shame to our old Yun family!"
Yun Jinhe was overjoyed.
Was this... an agreement?
He quickly ran to his grandparents, knelt respectfully, and kowtowed, "Please rest assured, Grandpa and Grandma. Your grandson will study hard and bring honor to the family!"
Yun Jinhe was already eleven years old, well past the age for schooling.
Zhao Guihua looked at her son, feeling hesitant. "Mother, Daman said that supporting a child's education costs at least eighteen taels of silver a year!"
"And that doesn't even include the cost of ink, brushes, paper, and stationery, nor the money for showing respect to the teacher. If you add it all up, it's over twenty taels a year!"
Little Xi Ti pouted after hearing this.
It was indeed quite expensive.
Madam Gu sighed softly, "You don't need to worry about the money. I will find a way!"
The family still had over forty taels in savings.
It was enough for Yun Jinhe to study for two years.
However, if all the silver was used, the family would have no emergency funds, and life would certainly become difficult.
Yun Daman steeled himself. "Father, Mother, I will go into the mountains tomorrow to see if I can hunt some game!"
"I'll go too!"
Yun Erman slapped the table. "It rained a few days ago, so the mushrooms, monkey heads, and wood ear fungus in the mountains should be out. I'll pick a lot and take them to the county town to sell!"
Thinking of last year's abundant harvest of wild apples, Yun Erman instinctively looked towards his sister.
Now that they had Little Sweet Treasure in the family, they wouldn't return empty-handed, would they!
Little Xi Ti giggled and stomped her little feet, "I... I want to go too!"
On the big white dog.
Only Liu Cuirong looked displeased and said sarcastically, "So Jinhe can go to school, but my Jinshan has to stay at home, is that it?"
"Whether it's my eldest brother's child or my child, the palm and the back of the hand are both flesh. You can't be this biased!"
As soon as she said this, it dampened everyone's spirits again.
Yun Jinhe looked at his mother speechlessly, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
"You fool, shut up!" Yun Erman gritted his teeth.
This stupid woman, always bringing up the most sensitive topics.
Father and Mother had always been fair in their dealings.
How could they possibly neglect their own children!
Madam Gu sneered and looked at Liu Cuirong with a cold gaze. "Jinshan is only nine this year. He can't attend the introductory class, and he's too young for the advanced class. Do you want me to find a private tutor for him?"
Liu Cuirong's eyes flashed with a hint of light. "If... if that's possible, it's not impossible!"
"Enough!" Yun Erman was furious. He grabbed Liu Cuirong by the collar. "Go back and stay put!"
"What are you doing? Let go!" Liu Cuirong shrieked, making everyone cover their ears.
Little Xi Ti covered her eyes.
This second sister-in-law was truly unbearable.
An eyesore.
A complete good-for-nothing.
The matter of letting Jinhe study was thus settled.
The next morning, Yun Daman took his son to the county town and found Dean Wei at Jinxiang Academy.
Seeing Yun Daman carrying two live chickens and a basket of dried wood ear fungus, Dean Wei smiled.
"It's a good thing to let children study. There's no need to spend so much!" Dean Wei said.
Yun Daman grinned foolishly. "My son is slow-witted. I hope Dean Wei will take good care of him in the future."
After speaking, he kicked Yun Jinhe. "Why aren't you kowtowing to the Dean!"
"Oh, no need, no need. Let's go through the process first!"
The so-called process involved Dean Wei casually asking a few ancient poems and then introducing the teachers.
After that, they would purchase the ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones.
These items had to be paid for out of pocket.
He also had to buy his son a set of clothes.
Even though they were from a farming family, he couldn't let his son look too shabby.
After purchasing everything, accommodation and meals would be arranged.
Heyang County was not wealthy, and the academy's environment was not very good.
However, since they were children from humble families, there was no need to be picky.
The most important thing was to absorb knowledge into their minds.
Yun Erman went into the mountains before dawn.
This time he carried two burlap sacks, with his sister riding the dog behind him.
Yun Jinshan also carried a small backpack, walking with heavy breaths and sweat all over his face.
The mountain forests in autumn were golden, with dry fallen leaves covering the ground.
"Go that way!~" Little Xi Ti called out to her second brother in a clear voice, pointing in a direction.
Yun Erman was stunned for a moment and then smiled wryly. "Sister, there's nothing there, it's all bare!"
"Just... just that way!" Little Xi Ti wrinkled her little nose, very resolute.
Yun Erman was amused and exasperated. "Alright, alright, we'll go that way!"
Yun Jinshan followed behind, secretly chuckling.
After passing through a patch of bushes, Yun Erman was dumbfounded again.
He saw that at the roots of the trees, on the slopes, and in the ditches, there were dense clusters of white mushrooms.
Even two large burlap sacks wouldn't be enough to hold them all.
Little Xi Ti climbed down from Xue Ling's back, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Pick mushrooms!~"
Yun Erman was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. He nodded repeatedly. "It's mushrooms, all mushrooms..."
If all these mushrooms were picked, dried, and taken to the county town, they could sell for at least four to five taels of silver.
Although Yun Erman was used to it, he still picked up Little Xi Ti and doted on her.
"Oh, my good sister, are you a fairy reincarnated? How can you be so blessed?"
Little Xi Ti giggled and used her little hands to scratch her second brother's stubble.
Yun Jinshan had already started a fire and was roasting the mushrooms on skewers.
"Wow, it smells so good! Little aunt, you eat too!"
Yun Jinshan handed the roasted crispy dried mushrooms to Little Xi Ti.
Taking a bite, the fragrance filled his mouth.
It was just missing salt, but it still had a taste.
Yun Erman rolled up his sleeves and quickly filled both burlap sacks.
He took his sister and nephew back to the village, and coincidentally, Yun Daman had also returned.
The two brothers went up the mountain again and made several trips before carrying all the mushrooms back.
"Mother, Sister has performed a miracle again, haha!" Yun Erman was so happy he couldn't close his mouth.
Little Xi Ti: "..."
What was a miracle?
It made her sound like the Buddha.
And so, in the courtyard of the old Yun family, the aroma of mushrooms wafted out.
The gentle breeze stirred, and the fragrance spread.
Soon, it made the children next door cry with envy.