Old Man Song felt the sweat on his soles, and the invisible hand clutching his heart suddenly released its grip.
He let out a breath, his throat trembling slightly.
It's good you're back. I was afraid once you left, I'd never see you again.
"You don't have a house in Anyang Prefecture. Will you rent or buy? Do you have enough money?"
"You'll be taking care of three children alone, with no other adults in the house. Should your grandmother go with you?"
"When does the academy start its term? How much longer can you stay?"
Facing Old Man Song's barrage of questions, Song Jinzhao answered them one by one.
"The current house is a temporary rental. Whether we rent or buy later will be decided after we get there."
"Qiming and Shixue are already grown up, and Anhao is well-behaved. There's no need for Grandmother to come."
"The academy term starts in late August. I plan to leave on the tenth of August."
Hearing that Song Jinzhao and the children would stay at home for another twenty days, Old Man Song felt much better.
When children grow up and have the ability to soar, no matter how reluctant you are, you can't hold them back. You can only send them off with joy.
Old Man Song paused before asking, "Now that Qiming has passed the county-level exam, the grain tax on the land you've rented out can be exempted. How do you plan to handle the tenant's share of the tax?"
They could either convert the tax into rent or simply waive it.
Song Jinzhao spoke up, "I've already been to the county office with Qiming to complete the formalities. The four mu of land under my name has been transferred to Qiming's, so the grain tax is fully exempt."
"Originally, the tax burden was split between the two households. Now we'll just waive it entirely. Since we won't be in the village, I've asked Uncle, Second Uncle, and Tudan's Grandpa to sell the annual rent grain, convert it to money, and hand it over to the agency. They'll arrange for someone to regularly deliver the shop rent to me in the prefectural city, and they can bring that money along."
Transferring land within the same household registry wouldn't cause any issues. With all the family's money currently held by Song Jinzhao, she wasn't worried about problems arising from the land being under Song Qiming's name.
Old Man Song nodded. "That works too. I'll keep an eye on it for you then."
Within a few days, the villagers learned that the third branch of the Song family would soon be moving to the prefectural city.
Many gossiped privately that the first and second branches had suffered a huge loss.
If the family hadn't divided the property, perhaps they could have all moved to the prefectural city. Now, the first and second branches were left behind.
Second Aunt Song heard this chatter while out and about and returned home seething with anger.
She called Song Yaozu before her, her voice like a grinding stone. "Listen to me. You must pass the preliminary exam in two years, then pass the county-level exam. Win some face for your mother, understand?"
Song Yaozu, who had been reciting texts all afternoon and gotten stuck seven times, had a headache.
Hearing this, he just felt exhausted.
If he had known it would come to this, he never should have brought up studying in the first place.
Now he was stuck, unable to advance or retreat, every step difficult.
Song Laidi and Song Pandi, returning from the river with laundry, exchanged a glance.
Not everyone was like Brother Qiming. If Song Yaozu could pass those exams, they'd write their own names backwards.
At the village chief's house, Song Mancang looked at Song Gaoli. "Have your father go to the prefectural city to stay with you and rent a place there."
Gaoli's mother, sitting nearby, said, "Father-in-law, perhaps I should go instead. I'm not entirely at ease leaving Dazhuang to take care of Gaoli."
Although he had been cared for in the prefectural city for three months, Song Gaoli had noticeably lost weight. Men weren't as meticulous as women; it would be better for her to go.
Song Mancang said gravely, "Living expenses are high in the prefectural city. Dazhuang can find work. You can't."
Although there was a stipend for studying in the prefectural city, the costs of education only increased at higher levels. To provide Song Gaoli with better conditions, someone had to earn money to cover rent and daily expenses.
Otherwise, being penny-pinching in every situation would ultimately hinder great achievement.
Observing the expressions on his grandfather and parents' faces, Song Gaoli straightened his back and spoke up. "Grandfather, Father, Mother, none of you need to accompany me. I've grown up. I want to live in the academy dormitory."
Seeing Song Mancang about to speak, Song Gaoli quickly explained his reasoning.
"Living in the dormitory means no daily commute, saving time I can use for more studying."
"There are many fellow students in the dormitory. We can exchange ideas during leisure time. Living there allows for better concentration."
Song Mancang frowned. "If it's really as good as you say, why would Jinzhao uproot her whole family to go to the prefectural city?"
Having finally passed the county-level exam, Song Mancang still hoped Song Gaoli would pass the provincial exam and, best of all, become an official one day, completely transforming the family's status.
Song Gaoli replied, "Qiming is two years younger than me. His sister surely worries about him. Sister Jinzhao is capable; she can open a shop and do business in the prefectural city. They can rent a large house."
"But if Father or Mother came with me, the rented room would surely be small. I'd have to study on the bed at night, and the daily commute to the academy would take much time. Living in the dormitory is more convenient."
The room fell into silence.
Seeing this, Song Gaoli immediately added, "Grandfather, I don't look down on our family's poverty at all. Compared to other families in the village, you've given me the very best. I just think it's unnecessary. So many fellow students live in the dormitory; I can do the same."
Song Mancang only had Song Dazhuang, one son. If Song Dazhuang went to the prefectural city with Song Gaoli, the full burden of the household would fall on Song Mancang's shoulders, with no one to help him.
Song Gaoli truly believed that, compared to renting outside, living in the academy dormitory was his best choice.
Song Mancang didn't agree immediately, saying he would think it over.
During her time in the village, Song Jinzhao left Song Anhao in Song Qiming's care and took Song Shixue into the mountains.
Their main target this time was medicinal herbs. They planned to gather more to take to the prefectural city, as Song Jinzhao intended to open a pharmacy and also see patients.
She was determined to carve a path in this world dominated by male physicians.
With money on hand, it didn't matter if no one sought her treatment in the short term. Over time, her reputation would gradually build.
Learning theory without practice was mere armchair strategy, no match for the real test of the battlefield.
Song Shixue had studied theoretical knowledge for nearly two years; it was time for more hands-on experience.
In the mountain forest, Song Shixue carried a bamboo basket, a small hoe in her right hand, walking beside Song Jinzhao.
Not having come for over half a year, new herbs had grown in the places they had previously dug. Everything felt familiar.
Sitting on a rock near the cliff, overlooking the distant villages and city, Song Shixue felt a pang of sadness at the impending departure.
Looking at Song Jinzhao, who had her hands crossed behind her head, everything seemed to settle back into steadiness.
She shifted closer, her arm pressing against Song Jinzhao's. The other's body temperature and presence made Song Shixue feel secure.
Perhaps knowing that this departure from her hometown was different from the previous brief stay in the prefectural city, Song Shixue's heart held a mix of uncertainty and anticipation for the future.
These two emotions intertwined, making her feel a faint unease. Only by drawing closer to Song Jinzhao did she feel the security of her heart settling, as if everything now had something to rely on.
