Chapter 36

The daily tasks at the academy also had time limits, and the time limit for cooking daily meals was [1 hour].

The system defined [one meal] as enough for each person in the academy to have a small bowl.

Two hours to cook such a meal was definitely more than enough.

But Shen Cui was speechless for a while, something was wrong!

[I am already the system-certified head of the schook, which head of the school is still responsible for personally preparing the students’ meals?]

The system, holding back laughter, said: [The head of the school is responsible for the organization and management of the academy, and also needs to teach and educate. If the host is not satisfied with the direction of the task, shall I help the host adjust it?]

Shen Cui immediately said: [Then forget it.]

With her level of education, did she still expect to tell the children a story?

Mu Er Pang was a little better, having studied something simple, she could still manage for now. But asking her to tell stories to Wei Xi would definitely be misleading and a waste of Wei Xi’s time.

The academy’s tasks should be daily, once or twice is enough. In the long run, it might delay many things.

[Hmm, I’ve been busy all morning today, and I didn’t feel unwell like before. My cooking skills…]

Shen Cui opened her cooking skill panel and took a look.

Very good, still a level 0 chef, with 2/10 proficiency.

It makes sense, compared to the long-term mainline goal of sending Mu Er Pang to take the imperial examination, the current total task progress bar was at most one-third.

The system wouldn’t let her directly take back everything that belonged to her.

So it was just a normal meal. As long as there were no negative effects from the system’s evaluation, at most, it would just make everyone suffer a little, not like that ultimate failure before, causing everyone to vomit.

[It is recommended that the host use items produced by the system for cooking. The things made can stack effects on the academy’s benefits, and since the host is so wealthy now, it’s time to upgrade the first two sub-lines. And, let me tell you a secret, for these academy tasks, if you use items produced by the system, there will be additional rewards, but if you use real ingredients, there will be no rewards, only maintaining the academy’s benefits. You need to discover this by experimenting yourself. I am telling you this in advance to avoid you losing rewards by accident. Do you understand my intention?]

Shen Cui made it clear, [I understand that you really want to deceive my shopping points with sub-line tasks!]

But what the system said was also true. Since such tasks would often occur in the future, and only using items produced by the system could receive additional rewards, and she was not lacking in shopping points now, it was time to upgrade her cooking skills and the like.

Always using rotten cooking skills wasn’t a good thing either!

But, you know, this day was the first day of the academy’s completion. Although there was no grand ceremony, it was still a day of special commemorative significance.

Even Shen Cui felt embarrassed to let the two children suffer at such a time!

【Today, let’s not think about those extra rewards, one less time is one less time.】

After Shen Cui finished discussing with the system, she went out of the house again.

Because the old house’s kitchen was old and in disrepair, and Luo Buyu also had to study hard with the two children, so at this time, Zheng Shi and the others were all busy in the kitchen of the new house.

Usually, Chen Shi was the most delicate one. She would avoid doing any housework if she could, let alone coming to her younger sister’s place to work.

Today, Zheng Shi didn’t intend to let her come, but she said that since everyone was not at home, she was just idle at home alone, so she might as well come along to join in the fun.

After entering the kitchen, Zheng Shi assigned tasks to everyone, and everyone was busy.

Chen Shi was doing her work and approached Zheng Shi.

Zheng Shi was in charge of cooking and was scrubbing the pot. When she saw Chen Shi coming over, she deliberately increased her movements, making the big iron pot clank loudly.

Water splashed everywhere as she scrubbed the pot, splashing onto Chen Shi’s apron, but this didn’t stop her from getting closer.

Zheng Shi simply put down what she was holding and said, “If you have something to say, just say it!”

Chen Shi wasn’t annoyed at all and smiled, “Mother, are you tired from working? Why don’t you take a break?”

Zheng Shi glanced at her. Chen Shi had been her daughter-in-law for half of her life, so she naturally understood that her mother-in-law was impatient.

Chen Shi didn’t beat around the bush anymore and said directly, “Mother, it’s like this. Earlier, Cuihua’s eldest brother said that Cuihua is setting up a school here. At first, I thought he was just talking nonsense. How could a school like this be opened by people like us? But today, after taking a look, although it’s a bit simple, there is a teacher and students, so it can be considered formal.”

Zheng Shi continued working without stopping, showing no intention of responding.

Chen Shi continued with a smile, “Since it’s a school, we will definitely need to recruit students in the future. Our children are not much younger than Er Pang, right?”

When Zheng Shi heard this, she understood. Chen Shi wanted to send their children to attend classes for free!

“It’s not just me who thinks so, the second branch’s family also has children!” Chen Shi immediately brought up her sister-in-law, Li Shi.

Although Chen Shi didn’t want to admit it, among the two daughters-in-law, Li Shi from the second branch was indeed more favored.

As soon as Li Shi was mentioned, instead of angrily scolding, Zheng Shi looked at her younger daughter-in-law.

Although Li Shi was gentle, she was not stupid. Seeing her sister-in-law’s attitude just now, she guessed that something was going on, so she listened attentively.

When she heard herself being mentioned, Li Shi immediately shook her head to indicate that she did not agree!

Well, she did have a bit of selfishness, thinking that since Mu Er Pang, who used to be not very smart, had been reading for a while, he seemed to have changed completely. If their child also studied with Luo Buyu, maybe they could become smarter and more successful?

But that was just a thought. All the big and small matters in the family were decided by Zheng Shi. If Zheng Shi didn’t agree, what could she, as a daughter-in-law, do?

Zheng Shi glanced at Li Shi and knew that Chen Shi was using Li Shi as a raft in this matter.

“Wanted to let your son come here to study too? Alright, the school is meant for teaching and educating people.” Zheng Shi said calmly.

Chen Shi’s face lit up, but then she heard Zheng Shi continue, “Young Master Wei from the Wei family pays not only for food and accommodation every month but also for tuition. If you have that intention, just follow suit!”

Shen Cui didn’t hide the silver money from her own mother, but she naturally didn’t need to disclose it to others.

Therefore, Chen Shi didn’t know how much silver Wei Xi paid each month, but from what Wei Xi ate and wore, all of them were exquisite. It was certain that he wouldn’t be stingy, and it wasn’t something their main branch could afford.

Chen Shi smiled awkwardly, “We’re all family, why does Mother still mention silver money?”

“What’s wrong with being family? Even brothers have to settle accounts clearly! Didn’t your mother come to argue with me about the expenses for Er Pang’s schooling before? What’s wrong, looking down on my Cuihua and Er Pang before, and now that their mother and son are doing well, you want to come and benefit, right?”

“We’re all one family, Mother, don’t talk about benefiting or not. If our children are more successful, our whole family will have a better life in the future.”

Better life my ass! Zheng Shi wasn’t that confused and wouldn’t be swayed by Chen Shi’s words—

If only one child in the family can achieve great success, it’s like the ancestors’ graves are emitting green smoke. Are we still hoping that every single one will have great blessings?

Moreover, she knew the situation of her own children. Except for Mu Er Pang, who had changed completely, the other children in the family were just playing around.

For example, today, the Shen family brought all their children over, put up a plaque, set off firecrackers, and before dinner, while there was still time, Mu Er Pang knew to study with the teacher.

In contrast, the other children in the family were still playing with mud at the door!

Luo Buyu was alone, and now with two more students to take care of, it was still manageable. If she brought these little monkeys along, not only would those little monkeys not study well, but they might also stimulate Mu Er Pang’s playful side.

Moreover, the Wei family was not easy to deal with. Wei Xi was allowed to study here because although the environment here was poor, it was also quiet, and Wei Xi was willing to stay here. If they were to send so many children here, and they were noisy like a village school all day long, without Wei Xi having to say anything, the Wei family would be the first to come and take him away!

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Zheng Shi glared at her and threw the pot brush into the pot, “You always say I favor Mu Er Pang, don’t you? I’ve thought it through. From now on, I’ll treat everyone equally! Mu Er Pang studying hasn’t cost me any silver, nor has it caused me any trouble, and the same goes for the other children in the family. If you have the ability, figure it out yourselves!”

At that moment, Shen Cui arrived at the kitchen.

Zheng Shi was already in a bad mood, and she also knew that Chen Shi had many ideas. If she couldn’t get her way here, she would probably go and stir up trouble for her own daughter.

Although Zheng Shi loved her daughter, she had to admit that her daughter’s mind… wasn’t very sharp. If Chen Shi really took advantage of her, she might be fooled.

So Zheng Shi was particularly unfriendly to Shen Cui and asked with her hands on her hips, “What are you doing here?”

Shen Cui shrank her neck, feeling embarrassed. She said, “Since you and the others are busy, I’ve been lazy by myself. I just wanted to help.”

“If I ask you to rest, you rest! Do you take my words as the wind blowing in your ears? You all have so many ideas, don’t call me mother. Go and stand on your own two feet!” Although Zheng Shi was scolding Shen Cui, her eyes were on her eldest daughter-in-law, Chen Shi.

Clearly, she was implicating her!

Shen Cui wasn’t stupid. She naturally saw through this. She didn’t want to get involved in their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict. Seeing that Zheng Shi’s anger hadn’t reached her, she quickly slipped out of the kitchen.

【See, host, you haven’t even entered the kitchen yet, and you’ve been driven out. How are you going to cook without using the system’s items? You can carefully choose from the store. There are not only ingredients for sale but also various kitchen utensils… even stoves!】

The system’s voice was still the same, but Shen Cui inexplicably heard a hint of schadenfreude.

Shen Cui looked at the countdown for the task, then glanced at her own kitchen. Hearing Zheng Shi still making noise inside, she said, “We can’t use the kitchen here, but we can use the one in the old house. I’ll go see what’s missing over there, spend some silver to buy ingredients directly from the villagers. Forget about shopping points, I won’t spend them today!”

Meanwhile, in the old house, Luo Buyu was teaching Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi.

Today was a special day. Not to mention Mu Er Pang, who was the youngest, even Luo Buyu and Wei Xi were somewhat immersed in the festive atmosphere.

But it was strange. As soon as they sat down at the desk in the old house, they quickly focused.

Mu Er Pang practiced writing, Wei Xi read the books with Luo Buyu’s annotations, and Luo Buyu would occasionally give Mu Er Pang some pointers on his writing or explain something to Wei Xi in a gentle voice. None of them were distracted at all.

It wasn’t until Luo Buyu felt thirsty and went to the table by the window to pour some tea that his shocked voice broke the silence in the room—

“Madam Mu, what are you doing in the kitchen?!”