The day after receiving the silver, Oldest Song and Second Song both took their children to Scholar Zheng's house to pay respects to the teacher.
Old Man Song and Song Jinzhao went to the county magistrate's office and handed the land deed to the clerk in charge of registration.
"Please, sir official, transfer these four mu of land to my granddaughter's name."
Song Jinzhao lifted her eyelids, her lips parting slightly, feeling somewhat surprised in her heart.
After the original owner's father passed away, Old Man Song had transferred all ten mu of the family's land into Song Qiming's name, even though he was only ten years old at the time.
This time, however, he actually took the initiative to request registering these four mu of land in her name.
Old Man Song handed the updated land deed to Song Jinzhao, his eyes seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words.
"With these four mu of land as your dowry, even if you marry later, your husband's family will hold you in higher regard."
Song Jinzhao clenched the land deed in her hand. So this was Grandfather's plan.
He had always just talked about it before, but this time it was made concrete.
Scholar Zheng looked at Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu before him, who didn't recognize a single character and had never even touched a book.
Yet their parents' expectations were incredibly high.
"Studying is not achieved overnight; it requires years of accumulation. The children's age is a bit advanced."
If their family conditions were good, Scholar Zheng wouldn't have said this and would have simply accepted them.
But Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu were children from poor farming families. The expense of a year's schooling would be a heavy burden for both households.
Oldest Song pleaded earnestly: "If our family were wealthy, we wouldn't have delayed until now. We beg you, sir, to accept our son. He will certainly study diligently and not waste your teaching."
Second Song thumped his chest in assurance: "Don't worry, sir. Yaozu has been clever since he was little. He's sure to study well."
He certainly wouldn't be like the village chief's grandson, who still hadn't passed the exam after three years.
The news that all three of Old Man Song's grandsons were going to attend the private school spread through the village as if on wings.
The thresholds of the eldest and second son's homes were nearly worn out by the stream of villagers.
Song Dazhuang's feelings were complicated. Earning one hundred and eighty copper coins a month was good, but with three more village children studying, if they passed the exam and his son Song Gaoli didn't, wouldn't that be humiliating?
On the first day of school, the first day of the third lunar month, when tuition was also due, Song Jinzhao took Song Qiming early to the village chief's house to catch the ox-cart.
Upon arriving, they found the families of the eldest and second son were already there.
Song Dazhuang looked at the group of seven, big and small. One trip earning seven copper coins made this run worthwhile.
Settled in the ox-cart, Second Song complained to Second Aunt Song: "It would have been enough for me to take Yaozu. Why did you have to come? Wasting an extra copper coin on fare."
Second Aunt Song sat on the side facing the road, hugging little Song Yao happily: "I definitely have to see my son off on his first day of school."
"Yaozu, you must study hard and strive to earn an official rank for your mother as soon as possible."
Twelve-year-old Song Gaoli sat behind Song Dazhuang, watching silently without a word.
Just starting school and already talking about earning an official rank? It's not that easy.
When they met familiar villagers on the road, Second Song and Second Aunt Song immediately reached out enthusiastically to greet them.
The villagers smiled, making small talk and flattering them: "So promising. Yaozu is sure to become a high official in the future."
Second Song and Second Aunt Song were clearly very pleased with this, their expressions exaggerated with pride.
"Our Yaozu has been clever since he was little. We didn't spend much silver either; it's all for the child's sake."
Song Jinzhao quietly turned sideways to face the fields.
Song Qiming tilted his head, puzzled: "What's wrong, Elder Sister?"
"Nothing. The scenery in the fields is just nice to look at."
When they arrived at Scholar Zheng's house, many students were already seated inside.
Song Jinzhao estimated there were about twenty, most around the same age as Song Yaozu.
As she had learned, those who had studied for several years and had previously taken the child scholar exams had already transferred to other schools.
After paying the tuition, she pulled Song Qiming aside and instructed him: "Have lunch at the teacher's house. Elder Sister has already paid. Remember to take Gaoli's family's ox-cart back after school in the evening."
"Stay inside the school during breaks and don't wander off. The city is crowded; I'm just worried you might run into bad people."
Song Qiming nodded seriously. "Don't worry, Elder Sister. You've already said the same thing three times. I definitely won't go out. I'll use all my time for studying."
Scholar Zheng came out from the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the parents of the new students. "Quiet."
"Class is about to begin. Those unrelated, please leave."
Second Song and Second Aunt Song reluctantly looked around the private school. Such a place was something they had never dared to imagine before.
Everyone stepped over the threshold, and the door behind them was immediately closed, the sounds from inside instantly cut off.
Second Aunt Song clicked her tongue, gossiping: "Good thing I had Yaozu bring rice balls. Ten copper coins for one meal is just too expensive."
Second Song nodded: "Jinzhao, you really shouldn't have arranged for Qiming to eat at the school at noon. Scholar Zheng is probably pocketing half of it."
Song Jinzhao's eyebrow twitched. Daring to speak ill of the teacher right outside his door, without fear of being heard and causing trouble for the child.
"Mrs. Zheng said it's one meat dish and one vegetable dish at noon, with white rice. It's reasonable for it to be a bit more expensive."
Second Aunt Song said disdainfully: "How much can a child eat? It's still a loss."
"Uncle, Second Uncle, I have other business in the city, so I'll take my leave now."
A growing boy can eat his father poor. Qiming's appetite was no small matter now; he could eat two big bowls of rice in one meal.
Oldest Song left Second Song and his wife behind and turned to walk home.
He also wished his son could have a hot meal, but the cost of schooling was too high. Just the initial gifts for the teacher had cost two hundred copper coins.
He knew studying was expensive beforehand, but actually spending the money was still painful, afraid they couldn't afford to keep it up.
With spring coming and needing to make clothes, Song Jinzhao went to the cloth shop and bought three bolts of fabric, also replenishing some household seasonings that had run out during winter.
When she returned home, Song Shixue, holding Song Anhao, came running excitedly from the backyard.
"Elder Sister, I found an astragalus plant in the vegetable garden."
Song Jinzhao went over to look and found it really was astragalus. "You recognized it as soon as it sprouted. It seems you've memorized all the medicinal herbs in the 'Hundred Herb Illustrations.'"
Song Shixue revealed her white teeth, two small dimples appearing when the corners of her mouth curved up.
"I've looked at it over a hundred times. I've also memorized all the medicinal herbs Elder Sister bought back."
Song Jinzhao took her little hand and led her back inside. "When the weather gets a bit warmer, Elder Sister will take you outside to pick fresh herbs. You're going to officially start learning medicine."
Song Shixue's round eyes were full of anticipation. "What about Anhao?"
Song Jinzhao caught the little rascal who was trying to pull her hair. "He's at the age where he's lively and active. We'll take him with us, so he doesn't sleep all day and then fuss all night."
Eight-month-old Song Anhao could sit up, roll over, and often crawled all over the kang. If they weren't watching him closely, who knows how many times he would have fallen off.
His weight had more than doubled from before, and he still had a bit of baby fat.
Song Jinzhao no longer needed to worry about him being unable to withstand wind and sun; she could take him outside now.
The first task after spring began was tilling the land. Not wanting to dig bit by bit with a hoe, she decisively went to the village chief's house and paid to have an ox plow the field.
She selected plump, round grains from last year's rice harvest to sun-dry.
After sunning them for two days, she soaked them in warm water for half a day. After they sprouted, she moved them to a ventilated place to wait for them to grow shoots.
Several days later, staring at the finger-length rice seedlings, Old Man Song's eyes opened wide in astonishment.
"I thought you wouldn't know how to raise seedlings and I'd have to teach you. I didn't expect you'd already done it."
Song Jinzhao avoided Old Man Song's admiring gaze.
"I watched my father do it before, so I learned how."
Actually, she had seen it in a book while studying; it was just like cultivating tomato seeds.
