Old Man Song stood up excitedly, clenching his fists. "Scholar Zheng accepted Qiming?"
A slight smile played on Song Jinzhao's lips as she gave a gentle nod. "He did. He's to start school on the first day of the third month."
Old Man Song let out a long, trembling breath.
Finally, someone from their Song family was going to study.
If he could pass the imperial examinations, it would be a glorious achievement that would bring honor to their ancestors.
He turned his head and spoke earnestly to the boy. "Qiming, this is a rare opportunity. Your elder sister went to great lengths to get you this chance to study. You must apply yourself diligently and strive to earn a scholarly honor as soon as possible."
Old Man Song's mind was already painting pictures of Song Qiming returning home in silken robes after passing the provincial exam.
Song Qiming nodded vigorously. "I will study hard. I'll make sure Elder Sister and our little sister can live a good life with servants to attend them."
Inside the room, Elder Aunt Song gazed dejectedly at her son, Song Yongnian, who was squatting in a corner spinning a top.
They were both children of the Song family. Qiming could go to a private school, while her own son would only be able to farm the fields in the future. Their destinies would be different from now on.
In the main hall, Song Jinzhao spoke. "Song Gaoli studies at Scholar Zheng's school. I was thinking Qiming could ride to and from town on the village chief's oxcart."
Only then did Old Man Song understand the purpose of her visit today. "That's easily arranged. Villagers often hitch rides on their cart. It costs one copper coin for a trip to town. As long as we pay, it'll be fine."
Song Jinzhao placed the bamboo basket on the ground and lifted the cloth covering it, revealing ten eggs and half a catty of cured meat.
"Qiming is young and will inevitably need Uncle Dazhuang to keep an eye on him. I thought we should take some things to the village chief's house to settle the matter properly."
Seeing she had prepared the gifts, Old Man Song immediately got off the kang bed. "I'll take you over."
After the three of them left, Oldest Song entered the room. Elder Aunt Song couldn't help but voice her thoughts to him. "Do you think we should also send Yongnian to study at a private school?"
Oldest Song frowned. "The tuition is six taels of silver a year. How could we afford that?"
Elder Aunt Song refused to give up. "We've saved some money this year. Between farming and gathering mushrooms, we could save over ten taels this year. It would be enough for Yongnian's studies."
Oldest Song shook his head. "We're planning to have another son this year. If we spend all our money on Yongnian, what about our other children?"
The eldest branch only had two children, and Oldest Song thought it too few; he wanted another.
Elder Aunt Song bit her lip, a lump forming in her throat.
She said quietly, "Father and Mother still have silver. They could take some out for Yongnian's schooling."
Oldest Song's brow furrowed deeply. "The money Father and Mother have is for their old age. If they use it for Yongnian's studies, Second Brother is sure to make a fuss."
"Song Gaoli has studied for three years and hasn't passed anything. I think Jinzhao is just following a whim. She'll probably give up before long."
Elder Aunt Song fell silent, her heart heavy and aching.
The old folks lived with them now; what was wrong with using a little of their money?
At the village chief's house.
Song Mancang looked at Song Qiming in surprise. "Qiming is going to study in town?"
Song Jinzhao nodded, offering no further explanation. "I took him to visit Scholar Zheng yesterday. He's to start at the school on the first day of the third month."
Old Man Song added from the side, "Jinzhao has to work, and there are two little ones at home to look after. So, we were hoping Qiming could ride your oxcart morning and evening. We'll pay two copper coins for the round trip. It's just that the child is young and will likely need Dazhuang to keep an extra eye on him."
Song Dazhuang was Song Gaoli's father; he was the one who drove the oxcart back and forth.
A sense of pleasure arose in Song Mancang's heart.
Two coins a day meant sixty coins a month. Since he was making the trip anyway, this money was pure profit.
"That's a small matter. They'll be schoolmates now; it's only right they should spend more time together."
After the matter was settled and they had left, Song Dazhuang remarked teasingly, "Song Yongnian isn't studying, but instead it's Song Qiming, who lost both parents. Old Man Song's family is strange."
Song Mancang stroked his beard and shook his head. "It's about who's paying. Old Man Song's three sons have already split the household. When it comes down to it, it's Song Jinzhao who has the capability to support Song Qiming."
"The other day when the village head was here, both children already knew how to write their names. The third branch of the Song family might be on the rise. From now on, be a bit more attentive during the rides. Let Gaoli and Qiming spend more time together."
Song Dazhuang gave a slight nod. Getting two extra coins a day for free was beneficial for his family.
The news that Song Qiming was going to study at a private school spread. When Second Aunt Song found out, she stood outside her door for a long while.
On the path outside Song Daniu's yard, Shitou, who had just recovered from a serious illness, asked Song Yaozu curiously, "Qiming is going to study in town. Are you going too?"
Song Yaozu froze on the spot, the handful of fried beans he had begged for suddenly seeming tasteless in his grasp.
He had never thought about studying before, but now, hearing someone ask him, he felt an inexplicable emptiness in his heart.
"I'm younger than Brother Qiming. I don't need to study yet."
He turned and ran home, sharing the fried beans with Second Aunt Song.
"Mother, when I turn eleven, can I go study in town like Brother Qiming too?"
For the first time, Second Aunt Song didn't answer her son's question immediately. She didn't know how to begin.
She clutched the fried beans tightly but had no appetite to eat them.
After a long pause, she squatted down and gently stroked Song Yaozu's head. "Yes. In a couple of years, Mother will send you to study too."
Second Song, who had been lying on the bed pretending nothing was wrong, instantly sat up, silently watching the mother and son.
Once Song Yaozu had run out happily, he immediately said, "What nonsense are you talking? Where would we get the money to send Yaozu to school?"
Second Aunt Song had already formed a plan in her heart.
She climbed onto the kang and lowered her voice. "We don't have money, but Father and Mother do."
"The extra grain from their farming all goes to subsidize Eldest Brother and his wife. Last year, they made several taels of silver from gathering mushrooms too. If you and I don't do something, when they pass away, it will all go to the eldest branch."
The serious expression on Second Song's face gradually turned thoughtful.
Second Aunt Song continued, "We only have Yaozu, and we don't plan to have more. Do you want him to fall behind others at every turn? This is the perfect chance to get Father and Mother to pay."
Second Song said gravely, "The household is already divided. I'm just afraid Eldest Brother won't agree."
Second Aunt Song raised her eyelids. "What's so difficult about that? I don't believe Elder Sister-in-law has no thoughts about it now that Qiming is going to study in town. If she dares to send Yongnian to study, we'll go to the old house and ask Father and Mother for money."
The situations of the eldest and second branches were similar. If they sent Song Yongnian to study, the old couple would surely have given money to help.
Second Song countered, "What if Eldest Brother doesn't bring it up?"
"You're speaking too soon. If we don't send him when the time comes, Yaozu will surely be upset and might even blame us."
Second Aunt Song spread her hands, her eyes gleaming slightly. "Anyway, Yaozu is two years younger than Yongnian. We can afford to wait; the eldest branch might not be able to."
"You go visit Father and Mother more these next couple of days. Make sure they don't secretly send Yongnian to study behind our backs."
Second Song let out a breath, his mind a tangle of thoughts.
Second Aunt Song reached out and pinched his arm. "Yaozu is clever. If he can pass the exams, everyone in the village will have to call you 'Master' in the future. Think of the face."
Second Song's eyes gradually brightened. He was tempted.
