Chapter 26: The Three Brothers Enter the County School

Lingshan County Government Office

Early in the morning, Xu Yaozu arrived at the assistant magistrate’s office to handle official documents. He had just sat down when he saw the county magistrate’s personal attendant hurrying over.

“Master Assistant, the magistrate requests your presence in the back hall for a conversation.”

Seeing that the person delivering the message was Changqing, the trusted aide managing the magistrate’s personal affairs, Xu Yaozu immediately understood that the magistrate was calling him for a private matter.

After arriving at the back hall and greeting the county magistrate, his suspicions were confirmed—it was indeed a personal matter.

However, as he listened to Magistrate Wu talk about his wife’s affairs, Xu Yaozu couldn’t help but feel puzzled. He had no idea what the magistrate was getting at.

Magistrate Wu also realized that he had taken a rather roundabout approach, so he decided to get straight to the point.

“Assistant Xu, you know that our county office will soon be heading to the prefectural city to report on this quarter’s affairs. When visiting the higher officials, it’s customary to bring some local specialties from Lingshan County as gifts.”

Magistrate Wu cleared his throat awkwardly.

“The cherries your wife sent yesterday were excellent, but unfortunately, there weren’t enough to fill even a small box.

So, I wanted to ask if you have any more at home. Of course, this is my personal matter, so if you don’t have any, it’s fine. But if you do, I’ll gladly pay you for them.”

This was not something Xu Yaozu could agree to on the spot—who knew if Nian’er still had any left?

“My apologies, sir. The cherries were brought over by my eldest daughter, and she didn’t mention whether there were more.

If it’s urgent, I can have my wife return home today to ask.”

Magistrate Wu immediately brightened up and stood up with a smile.

“That would be much appreciated! Haha—

Oh, by the way, I heard from my wife that your son wants to attend the county school?”

Xu Yaozu had indeed been worried about this matter for the past few days, so hearing the magistrate mention it gave him hope.

“Yes, sir. My son has some talent for studying, and I’ve heard that the county school’s teachers are all highly knowledgeable. That’s why I’ve been considering sending him there.”

Magistrate Wu laughed heartily. “The scholars at our county school are indeed very accomplished. In fact, this isn’t a difficult matter at all. Here, I’ll write you a recommendation letter.”

Xu Yaozu was overjoyed at the news and expressed his gratitude again and again.

---

Back at home, after hearing the story, Old Man Xu asked curiously, “Then why did he give you three letters?”

“The magistrate found out that I have a pair of twin nephews who are the same age as Ji’er and have also studied before, so he wrote two extra letters for them.”

Xu Fugui and Zheng Shi were overjoyed, especially Zheng Shi. Just yesterday, the eldest girl had told her about the benefits of having an official in the family, and today, such good fortune had already fallen into her lap.

Everyone else in the family was equally delighted—except for Old Man Xu, who turned to Xu Nian with concern.

“Da Ya, do we still have those cherries?”

He was worried that if they couldn’t provide the cherries, the deal might fall through, and the chance for the boys to enter the county school would disappear.

Xu Nian reassured him, “I still have some in my room—just enough for Father to take.”

Zheng Shi slapped her thigh in regret. “If I had known these cherries were so valuable, I wouldn’t have let Wu Yatou eat them! What if the magistrate thinks it’s too little?”

Xu Yaozu comforted her, “The magistrate isn’t a petty man. We just need to do our best.”

Since Xu Yaozu and his wife were taking the three brothers to the county school the next day, the entire Xu family stayed up late into the night.

Second Household

Zheng Shi spent nearly half an hour giving endless instructions to her two sons. If not for Xu Fugui stepping in to stop her, she might have continued even longer.

After the two brothers left, Zheng Shi couldn’t sleep either. She busied herself preparing clean clothes for them.

Since the county school had dormitories, it meant that starting tomorrow, Xu Ji and his brothers would spend most of their time there, only returning home on their scheduled rest days.

“Sigh~ I remember when my eldest brother was studying, he always wore long robes. But these brothers don’t even have a decent set of clothes. I wonder if they’ll be laughed at.”

Xu Fugui, being a rather careless man, didn’t think much of it. “They’re going there to study, not to compete over who dresses better. You worry too much about unnecessary things.”

Zheng Shi rolled her eyes in frustration and turned away, not wanting to argue with him.

No, she had to talk to Da Ya about this tomorrow. She had come to realize that in this family, the one with real vision was Da Ya.

Third Household

Xiao Wang Shi gently patted her son’s back, coaxing him to sleep while chatting idly with Xu Youliang.

“If only our little Liuzi were a few years older, then he could also go to the county school.”

Xu Youliang chuckled. “Well, if you had married me a few years earlier, that might have been possible.”

Xiao Wang Shi spat playfully, pretending to be annoyed. “I’m talking seriously here, and you’re just messing around.”

“To be honest, you’re overthinking it. Learning is the same no matter where it happens.

Besides, didn’t Father say he would send Liuzi to the village school for his early education?”

Xiao Wang Shi was just expressing a casual thought. After all, the village teacher couldn’t compare to those at the county school.

Seeing his wife lower her head without saying anything, Xu Youliang thought she was feeling troubled and tried to reassure her.

“Liuzi is only five years old. Do you see any other kids his age already going to school? It’s already generous of Father to pay for his education.”

Xiao Wang Shi couldn’t help but think to herself: Isn’t that only because Da Ya insisted on it?

“I didn’t say anything against it. I know how kind Father and Mother are.”

Xu Youliang found his wife’s slightly pouty expression utterly charming and whispered, “Well, instead of just remembering their kindness, maybe it’s time to give them another grandson?”

“…”

Xu Family Home

With limited space in the Xu household, Xu Yaozu had to squeeze in with Xu Weian and a few others, while Tian Shi stayed in Xu Nian and Xu Ling’s room.

Looking around, Tian Shi noticed that her daughter’s room was so cluttered that there was barely any space to walk. She couldn’t help but ask,

“Nian’er, what is all this?”

Xu Nian quickly moved some items aside to clear a path.

“It’s the vegetables I’m growing. Once they’re ready, I’ll bring some for you, Mother.”

Holding her daughter’s hand, Tian Shi felt a pang of sorrow. “It’s our fault for being so useless that you have to take care of everything at home.”

Xu Nian beamed. “Mother, I’m happy to do it. I enjoy this kind of work.”

The Next Day

Since the county school was located ten miles outside the city, at the foot of Lingshan Mountain, the Xu family woke up early to avoid being late.

It was the first time the three Xu brothers were leaving home. Even the usually calm Xu Ji felt a little anxious, let alone the twin brothers.

Zheng Shi, afraid she might forget to say something important, clung to the twins and kept repeating her instructions.

Meanwhile, Xu Nian pulled Xu Ji aside and reminded him,

“You’re the older brother, so take care of your younger brothers. But remember, you’re still a child too. If you ever face a difficult decision, make sure to tell Father and Mother, alright?

Even though Father is just a minor official, that doesn’t mean you have to endure grievances or tolerate injustice.”

Xu Ji nodded, feeling reluctant to part with his sister, who was even more nagging than their mother.

Standing nearby, Xu Yaozu, who had heard the entire conversation, silently thought to himself, Little Assistant Magistrate… huh…

Xu Nian then handed Tian Shi a package of cherries she had prepared, along with a basket of bean sprouts. To prevent the vegetables from freezing, she had wrapped them in an old padded coat.

The bean sprouts she had given to the Xu family and the ones she sent with Tian Shi were all grown from beans in her space. They were thick, crisp, and tasted exceptionally fresh.

She also borrowed 600 copper coins from Wang Shi and divided them among the three brothers.

“Mother will prepare your ink, brushes, paper, and robes.

This money is for your personal use. Don’t compare yourselves with others at school, but if you make a good friend or two, don’t be stingy either, understand?”