Chapter 260

Shuiqing watched as Fan Jin carried bag after bag of black flour into the granary.

This granary wasn’t the one where they stored their own rice and white flour; rather, it was the large one near the yard gate used for storing potatoes.

Bai Manshan had sold half of the potatoes, exchanged by villagers for sorghum flour. Now, a large empty space remained, more than enough to store over a thousand catties of black flour.

Fan Jin didn’t let Shuiqing help; he alone moved the black flour into the granary and neatly stacked it.

The space was large, but he didn’t stack too high, only up to neck height, making it easier when he had to move it for his elder brother.

Indeed, this batch of black flour wasn’t bought for their own family to eat, but was prepared for his elder brother.

It wasn’t a gift either; it was exchanged from his elder brother for the purpose of recruiting a younger brother — preventing his elder brother from selling the younger brother to others. In a disaster year, places where people could buy others, especially households that could buy girls, were either brothels or old bachelors.

For an eight-year-old girl, it was basically impossible to escape from these two places, and even if she managed to escape, it would be extremely difficult. Nowadays, for a mouthful of food, men would fight to the death, and it was difficult enough for men to survive, let alone women.

He could watch his elder brother and four nephews coldly because he knew that men naturally had an easier time surviving in this world, and they didn’t need his help to make their own way. It was purely up to them to decide whether they wanted to better themselves.

Women, however, were different. Even if they wanted to improve themselves, there were no paths available to them, and most would still be held back by their families.

Zhaodi was his niece. When he had the ability to help her, he didn’t want to see her sold like merchandise … Good children should be treated well.

“I’ve reminded Dani and Erni. They get along well with the women in the village, so I’m sure they can spread the word.” Shuiqing looked at Fan Jin’s uneasy expression and spoke up.

Fan Jin turned around, a gentle smile on his lips. “I’m not worried. I’m just increasingly disappointed in my elder brother.”

There was no anger; his anger had been spent the last time his mother and elder brother’s wife had tried to sell his two daughters. They could sell their niece, and it was predictable that when they had nothing left to sell, they would sell their own daughters.

Earlier, when Yan Qiu and Xing Hui had asked him to help recruit Zhaodi, he had said he’d wait for the right opportunity, a time to do it right and settle it.

Shuiqing understood why Fan Jin was increasingly disappointed.

Last time it was their niece, this time it’s their own daughter. Clearly, sons fetch better prices, and they believe daughters are useless, selling them off without a second thought.

“Sons have their own paths, and daughters have theirs. Whether it’s Yan Qiu, Xing Hui, or Zhaodi, we’ll teach them well. By then, your elder brother’s wife will regret it bitterly!” Shuiqing thought it sounded refined.

Fan Jin’s smile deepened. “I only want them to be literate, sensible, and capable of making a living. That’s enough for me.”

Shuiqing deeply agreed: she had always thought that the expectations placed on women, their virtues, and their words were useless constraints. What use were they, aside from restricting women? Fan Jin was practical in this regard!

No matter where you are, being able to stand up on your own is the most important.

The people in Shanshui Village are busy, with not a single person in the clear water family taking a break.

Hu butcher and Hu Wenhua, two strong individuals, went to dig soil.

Hu mother and Shuiqing are responsible for providing three meals a day for the family, ensuring that everyone eats well and healthy – the body is the capital, eating and drinking are fundamental, and must be treated well.

Ling Ran and a few boys are still doing chores like chopping wood and feeding livestock as before, without any changes.

Yan Qiuxing helps out wherever needed.

No matter how busy they are, as long as Fan Jin doesn’t go out, he will spend two hours every day teaching a few children to read and write, even the eldest Ling Ran has to learn along with them.

He has set learning tasks for each child, and Shuiqing has seen them, saying that he teaches according to their aptitude.

Fan Hu is a good seedling for studying, with talent and passion, so his current focus is on laying a solid foundation, and he will specialize in the imperial examinations later;

Fan Jiang and Fan He, one doesn’t like to use his brain, the other focuses on how to make money, mostly teaching practical characters and arithmetic.

Bai Ziqian is not a good learner, but he has a good foundation, Fan Jin will explain to him in depth.

Yan Qiu and Xing Hui are women, even if they have good talent, they cannot participate in the imperial examinations, but Fan Jin doesn’t teach them “Be humble”, “Respect and obey”, “Women’s behavior”, “Adaptation”, but the same as Fan Jiang and Fan He.

Fan Zhaodi was the same before.

After dinner today, it was still early, the temperature was just right, Fan Jin decided to teach a few children to read and write in the spacious courtyard.

Hu Wenhua, who had been digging soil all day, was covered in dust and sat down next to him, listening attentively.

“Wenhua, do you want to learn?” Fan Jin arranged the content that each child had to learn, walked to Hu Wenhua’s side, and asked softly.

Hu Wenhua scratched his head, not sure how to answer. He had been to a private school before and studied for a short time. He wasn’t cut out for studying, finding writing particularly difficult, so he gave up and only learned a few common characters.

Seeing Hu Wenhua looking troubled, Fan Jin gently advised, “If you want to learn, now is the opportunity.”

The words of refusal stuck in Hu Wenhua’s throat, unable to come out.

Yes, now he lives in his sister’s house, with his patient brother-in-law teaching him, if he misses this opportunity, there won’t be another chance like this!

He revealed his true feelings to his brother-in-law, “But I really can’t write articles.”

Those articles are really difficult, a whole page of writing, hundreds or even thousands of words, it’s a struggle for him. He would rather go pick soil than write something so elaborate!

Afraid that picking soil is good, but writing articles is still a challenge.

Shuiqing, seeing her brother’s expression, knew that he was also not good at studying!

However, geniuses are few, mediocrity is the norm, and studying is not an easy task.

Fortunately, Fan Jin is extremely patient and continued, “You don’t need to write articles. Articles are only suitable for the imperial examinations, which you don’t need. Just learn something practical.”

Upon hearing this, Hu Wenhua’s dull eyes suddenly lit up!

What his brother-in-law said resonated with him, and he wanted to learn something practical.

Last time, when Bai Manshan asked for help delivering a message, he realized how important it is to be able to read and write. In the future, if there’s anything to communicate, he can simply write it in a letter!

Being able to read and write is essential for a successful future.

A successful future will make him worthy of her.

Shuiqing looked at her brother’s expression and knew that he, as a mediocre student, was determined to improve.

Indeed, the power of love is great, but it can also make one realize their shortcomings and strive for self-improvement.

Regardless of the perspective, striving for improvement is always a good thing!

She looked at her contented father beside her and said, “We need more brains at home, so let’s slaughter a pig tomorrow! Let’s give them a good treat.”