Chapter 152

After the other youths had settled Lao Buyu, Wei Shu came to talk to Shen Cui.

“I heard from A Fei that the Cui family pays the tuition and living expenses annually, while my brother and I have been paying monthly. Since you don’t have to worry about the money, I thought we could pay for the whole year like A Fei.”

Wei Shu seemed a bit embarrassed and then explained that he had not thought it through.

At the beginning, he had been worried about Wei Xi, so he had specifically arranged for the fees to be paid monthly. But later, he hadn’t thought much about it.

It wasn’t that he still didn’t trust Shen Cui or Cuiwei.

Shen Cui told him not to think too much about it. “I really don’t worry about the money. You both pay on time without me reminding you. Sometimes, it’s you who gives me the money, and I suddenly realize that a month has passed. Besides, our academy is not that formal. You can continue with the monthly payments.”

Wei Shu insisted, saying, “The fees at other academies are paid annually, and with Han Shan entering the prefectural school, there will be many expenses. You should keep it.”

Shen Cui finally accepted his offer. It was similar to what Mei Ruochu had worried about, that she might not be able to pay the fees Mu Er Pang needed, so they both insisted on doing this.

This was also Wei Shu’s goodwill, and it saved them from having to pay each month.

Shen Cui accepted his kindness.

However, the worries of the youths were completely unnecessary. Currently, three people were paying for their food and lodging at the academy, bringing in thirty taels of silver each month.

Moreover, because most of the youths were not at the academy during the day, the expenses were much lower.

They only needed fifteen to twenty taels of silver each month to cover food, drink, living expenses, and the purchase of writing materials.

Furthermore, the system had recently provided a “Library,” and whenever they wanted to find a book, Shen Cui would eagerly help and take it out directly, saving them a considerable amount of money.

As for Ah Yao, who worked as a miscellaneous worker, Cui Wuniang insisted on paying her wages.

So, Shen Cui was able to save more than ten taels of silver each month, and after paying off the new year’s rent for the academy not long ago, she had already saved fifty to sixty taels, enough to cover the miscellaneous expenses at the prefectural school.

However, it was understandable that Mei Ruochu and Wei Shu would worry about these things, because apart from food, drink, and study materials, Shen Cui was willing to let Ah Yao often buy chicken, duck, fish, and meat to supplement the health of the growing youths.

She was also willing to give them better paper, which cost four or five wen each, and pens that cost a few wen each, but she was frugal in other areas.

It was just as she had thought before, her savings were too thin, and she had to save money for unknown future uses.

Especially after Zhou Shi went to the capital, she would mention a lot about the customs and prices there in her letters.

Compared to the capital, all the expenses in Qingzhou Prefecture were considered low.

In the future, she would definitely follow Er Pang to the capital, where the expenses would be much higher. Plus, with Cui Fei’s marriage proposal, it also reminded her that she would need to save money for the betrothal gifts.

Following Wei Shu and Mei Ruochu’s advice, Shen Cui began to purchase gifts, pay various fees, and prepare for the expenses.

Moreover, with her chubby son achieving excellent results and entering the prefectural school, it was considered a big joy.

Since they didn’t have many relatives and friends in the prefectural city, they invited Cui Wuniang to come over for a meal and sent a few red eggs to the neighbors nearby.

This part cost a total of five taels of silver.

However, things could not be done so simply on the Shen family’s side in Yongning County.

When Mu Er Pang first passed the county examination, Zheng Shi was already thinking of hosting a banquet.

Now that Mu Er Pang had achieved the title of ” Little Three Excellence ( 3 Top Scorer in Exam ) ” , it was clear how happy Zheng Shi and Old Master Shen would be.

They would definitely have to hold a celebration, and they might even need to solemnly worship their ancestors and announce the news.

So, when Shen Cui wrote back to report the good news, she had the familiar escort service also deliver five taels of silver.

In total, Shen Cui spent ten taels of silver, and by late summer and early autumn, Mu Er Pang’s procedures for entering the prefectural school were all completed.

Shen Cui also wanted to make him a new robe.

After all the scholar’s robe he was wearing was made by Zhou Shi before she left last year.

It had been worn until now and had turned white from washing.

Mu Er Pang declined. He was no longer a child who didn’t understand the affairs of the world.

He knew how much silver he had spent to enter the prefectural school, so there was no need for additional expenses.

However, saying this would certainly lead to his mother having other things to persuade him, so Mu Er Pang simply said, “The clothes my sister-in-law makes are more comfortable than those bought outside. I’m used to wearing them. Besides, when it comes to dressing up… Big Brother Mei doesn’t dress any better, but who would dare to look down on him?”

This little steward had his own set of principles, so Shen Cui didn’t persuade him further.

Instead, she gave him a few small silver ingots, probably two or three taels of silver, for him to use for expenses at the prefectural school.

“Mother doesn’t know the prices of the dishes there, but don’t skimp on your food and drink. Spend it all and ask me for more. Otherwise…” Here, Shen Cui couldn’t help but smile and purse her lips, “Otherwise, a few years later when you take the provincial examination, if someone writes ‘short’ on your paper, don’t come to me complaining!”

Mu Er Pang’s cheeks turned red. When it came to the “life-altering” matter of growing taller, he didn’t push back against his mother again and put the silver into his purse.

For a thirteen-year-old little scholar to enter the prefectural school, in other families, parents would definitely be somewhat worried.

The more careful ones might even personally escort their children from out of town.

On the side of Cuiwei Academy, because everyone was already students of the prefectural school, Shen Cui was very reassured and didn’t consider going.

On the day of enrollment, Mu Er Pang was led by Wei Shu and the others to the prefectural school.

He paid a tael of silver, completed the registration, and then received a small booklet.

It was equivalent to a modern university handbook, briefly introducing the prefectural school and listing some rules. Mu Er Pang didn’t need to read it carefully because Cui Fei, who had been rooted in the prefectural school for several years, was a living handbook.

Wei Shu and Mei Ruochu had quickly familiarized themselves with the prefectural school with his guidance before.

Today was no different. Cui Fei acted as a guide and took Mu Er Pang around the prefectural school.

The prefectural school was truly large. Mu Er Pang was seeing such a large place for the first time, with everything from shadow walls, screen doors, corridors, pavilions, flower ponds, terraces, lotus ponds, etc.

The lush green trees, the various carefully planted flowers and plants were extremely luxuriant.

In addition to a large classroom that could accommodate a hundred people and the Six Arts Garden for students to practice music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, there were also places for students to strengthen their bodies and stay healthy, such as a Cuju field and an archery field.

Mu Er Pang’s eyes lit up when he saw the archery field.

He had been practicing archery for several years, always practicing on the small target provided by Wei Shu.

Unexpectedly, there was such a spacious place in the prefectural school. Ten or more targets were arranged in a row, and just looking at them made him feel itchy to shoot.

It took half an hour to walk through the entire place.

Mu Er Pang smelled the fragrance of osmanthus on his nose and thought to himself that it was no wonder everyone wanted to enter the prefectural school.

Studying in such an environment could be considered a kind of enjoyment.

At this moment, he even thought that in the future, when he had the ability, he would also make his own academy as good as this.

His mother always stayed in the academy, and this kind of environment would surely make her more comfortable.

Mu Er Pang was lost in thought and walked slower, causing someone to bump into him from behind.

He quickly apologized and stepped aside.

The person looked at them and immediately lowered his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, and walked away quickly.

It was like a mouse seeing a cat!

Mu Er Pang looked at the others in confusion, and Cui Fei explained, “That person just now was Li Rufeng.”

Mu Er Pang nodded in understanding.

Last year, Li Rufeng had voluntarily gambled with Cui Fei and lost, so he should have been expelled from the prefectural school.

However, the Li family didn’t sit idly by. The head of the family personally came to apologize and returned the dowry shop of Cui Wuniang, causing a commotion that lasted through the entire Lunar New Year.

Finally, Cui Fei agreed not to mention the gambling between the two—whether Li Rufeng dropped out or not was irrelevant to the current Cui Fei.

What he originally wanted to fight for was the pride of his elder sister, who had been bullied by the Li family in her early years!

Moreover, those shops were indeed of extraordinary significance, so he did a favor as well.

Although he didn’t mention it himself, the others in the prefectural school wouldn’t forget it.

They were not willing to be on the same level as Li Rufeng. They would occasionally tease and ridicule him.

Li Rufeng himself had a high self-esteem and was forced by his family, so he had no choice. On days like today, when there were new students entering the school, he would occasionally show up.

They had talked about these things in their own academy a long time ago, so Mu Er Pang also knew about it.

Afterwards, they didn’t discuss much and went to the classroom together.

Unlike other strict academies, the prefectural school didn’t have classes divided into “A, B, C, D” or “Heaven, Earth, Xuan, Yellow.”

They all attended the same large class. Whether they could keep up or how they progressed depended on the students themselves.

However, for the sake of convenience, students who entered in the same year were arranged to sit together.

Mu Er Pang and the others who were new were arranged to sit at the front, which was also considered a kind of special treatment.

After entering the classroom, Mu Er Pang naturally saw Ren Shun and Zhao Xiuwen, and the three of them sat together.

Before they could speak, the professor came in with the roster in hand.

The prefectural school didn’t normally take attendance, but it was an exception when new students arrived. Not only did they take attendance, but the professor also asked a few new students questions.

This not only allowed the scholars to get to know each other but also gave them a simple understanding of the new students’ abilities.

As the top scorer in the county examination, Mu Er Pang was naturally the first to be called upon among the new students.

The professor knew that there was a talented student who had achieved the top score in the county examination among this year’s new students, but it was only at this moment that he realized how young Mu Er Pang was.

The students had given gifts to the professor, so he didn’t need to meet them in person.

Therefore, he showed a few more smiles to Mu Er Pang and only asked a few routine questions.

Mu Er Pang wasn’t good at poetry, but he didn’t have any weaknesses elsewhere, so he quickly responded.

The professor’s smile grew, and he asked him to sit down, then proceeded to call the next student.

“Shen Aoshuang.”

After waiting for a few moments without a response, the professor’s expression darkened.

Mu Er Pang turned his head to look and indeed didn’t see Shen Aoshuang in the classroom.

To not come on the first day of school, Shen Aoshuang was truly too arrogant!