Hearing these words, Jian Xiu finally spoke up:

“Exactly! I was thinking the same. That’s why I take the time to check things out whenever I can. After all, it’s a new experience, and I just want to make sure everything is done properly.”

“That’s right! If there’s anything that needs to be changed, you should say it early on. Once a house is built, making changes later will be a big hassle.”

“Of course, of course. Anyway, thank you all for your hard work today!”

“What hard work? We’re not working for free!” Zhang Zhiyong said in his usual carefree manner.

..

Inside the carriage, Zhang Feixuan poked his head out and asked Jian Xiu:

“Mother, how come you have time to take us to the academy today?”

“I just happened to have some business in town,” Jianxiu replied softly.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to the three children and asked:

“I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had time to ask about your studies. How have things been at the academy? Are you getting used to it?”

“Mother, we’re adapting well! And our teacher even told us that if we keep up our current performance, we’ll have a chance to participate in the competition.”

“Competition?”

“Yes! It’s the literary contest organized by the county magistrate for all of Quan Yong County. Our teacher said that each academy will send a few students to represent them, and there’s even a silver reward for the winners. Mother, don’t tell me you forgot?”

Zhang Feiyi explained from the side.

Hearing this, Jianxiu suddenly realized.

She had been so busy lately that she had completely forgotten.

Thinking about it, she quickly said, “I’ve just been occupied with other things. But as long as you qualify to participate, I’ll be happy.”

“Aunt, I don’t think it’ll be a problem, because our teacher said that arithmetic is also part of the competition, and this year, arithmetic is the main focus!” Zhang Feimo added.

Ever since he started going to the academy with the others, Zhang Feimo had become much more open.

At the very least, he no longer bottled up all his thoughts and feelings.

“Oh? So you have confidence in yourself?” Jianxiu asked with amusement.

“Yes, I’m quite confident,” Zhang Feimo replied in a low voice.

Hearing this, Jianxiu raised her eyebrows slightly—she hadn’t expected such a response from him.

This wasn’t just a sign of an open personality; it was confidence.

It seemed that sending him to the academy had indeed been the right decision.

“Because I want that silver reward!” Zhang Feimo suddenly added.

Hearing this, Jianxiu instinctively tightened her grip on the reins.

She then asked, “Why do you say that, Feimo? Right now, your priority should be studying. Leave the matter of earning silver to us adults, okay?”

“Aunt, I know you all want us to focus on our studies. But I don’t want you to work so hard, especially you, Aunt.”

“Others envy you for earning a lot of silver, but I know that in reality, you’re the hardest-working person in our family.”

“The reward is ten to twenty taels of silver. If I win, not only will you not have to pay my tuition anymore, but I’ll also have silver to give to you. That way, you won’t have to work so hard.”

By the time he finished speaking, Zhang Feimo’s eyes were already red.

For a moment, the inside of the carriage fell into complete silence.

Even Jianxiu hadn’t expected to hear such words from Zhang Feimo.

What a thoughtful child.

In her past life, children his age were still clinging to their mothers, acting spoiled.

But here, he was already worrying about his family.

He was already trying to find ways to ease their burdens.

Even as a new student, he was already thinking about how to help his family.

Thinking about this, Jianxiu immediately pulled the carriage to a stop. She then turned around, looked at the three children, and said:

“I don’t feel burdened at all. On the contrary, I think you all are the ones working hard in your studies. But what I want to tell you is that as long as you persevere, you’ll be able to create the life you want.”

“In the future, when you succeed, as your mother, as your aunt, I’ll feel that all of this effort was worth it.”

“But what I want you to understand is that right now, you don’t need to take on such a heavy burden. All you need to do is focus on your studies.”

“Only then will you not waste everything I’m doing for you now. Do you understand?”

Jianxiu spoke seriously.

The already quiet carriage became even quieter.

She didn’t expect them to digest her words immediately.

So, after finishing her speech, she turned back around and lightly flicked the reins.

The carriage continued its journey toward the county.

Soon, she would need to consider letting them stay at the academy.

Zhangjia Village wasn’t far from Quan Yong County, but taking them to and from the academy every day was still quite troublesome.

More importantly, everyone was busy nowadays, and they didn’t have servants like wealthy families did.

Servants?

Right! Why not buy a few servants?

After all, it was only a matter of time.

Once the dividends from Caifang Zhai were distributed, aside from buying land, she also wanted to cultivate her own group of people.

She knew better than anyone how important it was to have her own trusted team.

The power of an individual could never match that of a team.

Otherwise, why would the royal princes in the capital secretly train their own private guards?

Ultimately, it was to strengthen their influence.

So that their own residences could become the safest places for them.

Right now, she was just a rural woman, but she had always been someone who planned ahead.

She now had Caifang Zhai, Mutao Workshop, and Yuexiang Tower…

And that wasn’t all. She also had her soy sauce business and her plans to cultivate medicinal herbs…

Adding all of this up, she would soon achieve financial freedom.

Even without considering the others, just Caifang Zhai alone would be enough to support her plans.

After all, Caifang Zhai wasn’t just limited to Quan Yong County—it spanned the entire Dashun Dynasty.

She was already eager to see how much profit Rong Zhihe would distribute to her in the coming days.

After dropping the children off at the academy, she passed by the county office and was reminded of the day she described the suspect’s sketch.

And also of what she had overheard in the mountains that day…

She hesitated but eventually gave in and stepped inside.

That day, she had only given a rough description of the sketch.

Now that so many days had passed, she wondered how Liu Huasheng’s drawing had turned out.