Free Web NovelChapter 681: Chapter 681: Contentment
The bell tower rings.
A new day has begun.
Kuanzheng Square is already bustling with activity.
Adults go to work, children go to school.
The aroma of cooked food wafts from the kitchen of Qin Yao’s home. Sheep’s milk is boiled, crushed tea leaves are stirred in, then the mixture is filtered through three layers of fine cotton cloth, resulting in a steaming, ungamey pot of milk tea.
Those who like it sweet can add sugar, while those who prefer the original rich flavor need not add anything. The texture is smooth and thick, and Sanlang can drink up two large bowls by himself.
Were it not for the fear he might overeat, Yin Le might have let him have another bowl.
In contrast, Second Lang and Si Niang are not fond of this milk tea. They only sip half a bowl, pinching their noses, because Mother insists they drink it.
Da Lang, however, doesn’t mind. Knowing that drinking sheep’s milk is good for the body, he drinks a full bowl every day.
After breakfast, the four children head back to their rooms to pack their book boxes.
Today is the day to visit the teacher at the Fan Family Private School. After a hectic night last night, the adults at home didn’t get much sleep, but they had to force themselves out of bed to prepare for the important matter of the children’s schooling.
Si Niang, having nothing to do, follows her brothers around as they pack.
The Fan Family Private School doesn’t accept female students, as seemingly does no school or private institution in the entire Capital City.
Liu Ji previously inquired at all the schools near their home, and none were willing to make an exception.
The teachers refuse girls for a reason—the classroom is full of boys, and introducing a little girl would upset the rules of conduct, wouldn’t it?
Even one step back, there are plenty of female teachers in the Capital City willing to give private lessons at home. For those with the means, it’s better to hire one than to send their precious daughters out to struggle.
Liu Ji was displeased at the time, "Should the girls from ordinary families just go without learning because they can’t afford a female teacher?"
The seemingly affable teacher smiled and said, "Of course they can learn, look, that Women’s Academy next to the Imperial College only admits girls."
Liu Ji paused for a moment and then realized he had missed something.
He had assumed the Capital was like Kaiyang County, with only boys’ schools and free schools, but discovered that this place separates the education of boys and girls.
The time was too short, and Liu Ji hadn’t had a chance to inquire about the situation at the Women’s Academy yet.
After sending his three sons to school, he planned to make proper arrangements for his daughter.
After all, the Fan Family Private School in Kuanzheng Square is nearby—just a turn to the right out the door and through an alleyway, less than a quarter of an hour’s walk away.
On the way there, Liu Ji instructed, "You three brothers remember the route. For the first couple of days, I’ll have your Uncle Ah Wang come to pick you up, but afterward, you must go back and forth on your own, understand?"
Da Lang and his brothers nodded, rather looking forward to their independent commutes to school.
As the father and sons went to school, Qin Yao was still lazing in bed. She originally planned for both parents to escort the three kids to school, as it’s their first day and she wanted to make it a bit ceremonious.
But alas, she truly couldn’t get up.
The crux of the matter was that the father and sons didn’t wake her!
When Qin Yao got up, the courtyard was quiet.
Si Niang went out with Yin Le to buy groceries, and Ah Wang was in the backyard, diligently watering the plants.
Qin Yao opened the door and looked up to see the sun high in the sky, probably around ten-thirty in the morning.
She stood in a daze for a minute before her soul fully returned to her body, then washed up and went to the kitchen, helped herself to half a pot of warm sheep’s milk, a pan of pancakes covered on the stove, scooped a spoonful of sauce, sat by the open island table, eating breakfast slowly one bite of pancake and one sip of milk.
The blue sky, the white clouds, the serene courtyard, distant faint voices, it all felt rather leisurely.
Reflecting on what happened last night, Qin Yao felt like it was all a dream.
This morning, the martial artist was sent by the workshop owner to the Capital Governor’s government office.
When the person was sent over, both the Black Cavalry of the Crown Prince’s Mansion and the Guard of the Princess were present.
A small thief, yet it managed to draw these two big figures to listen to the trial, leaving the people of the Capital City intensely curious.
What happened afterwards was not known to the neighbors who had sent the person and returned to Kuanzheng Square, as they did not stay to listen to the trial at the government office.
But Qin Yao wasn’t at all worried she would miss the follow-up to this big scoop; under the foot of the Imperial City, there are no secrets, just let the bullet fly for a while.
By the time she slowly finished breakfast, Liu Ji, the father who sent the children to school, had returned.
Instead of entering the house first, he glanced at the door of the neighboring Qi Family house and muttered quietly, "It’s this late and the Imperial Censor Qi hasn’t left from court yet, looks like it’ll be lively."
He then headed to a nearby fruit vendor at the alleyway entrance, selected a bag of fruit, gathered some information, and finally came home.
"Wife, I’m back! Where are you?" Liu Ji yelled as he entered.
Qin Yao helplessly rubbed her forehead before replying, "In the kitchen!"
Liu Ji chuckled in excitement, ran over with the fruit he bought, and immediately sought credit when he saw her,
"The matter of Da Lang, Second Lang, and Sanlang enrolling is settled. The teacher wants them to stay at school today to familiarize themselves, official classes begin tomorrow. We’ll have Ah Wang pick them up in the evening."
He took out a copper basin, poured in the fruit he purchased, scooped water to wash them clean, and placed the fruit plate in front of Qin Yao on the island table, shouting towards the vegetable plot in the backyard:
"Ah Wang, come quickly! The lord invites you to have some fruit!"
He specially picked a few large ones, peeled them, cut them into pieces with a small knife, placed them in a small bowl, inserted toothpicks, and handed it to Qin Yao, "Freshly picked loquats from this morning, I’ve tasted them, super sweet."
Qin Yao nibbled on two pieces then stopped, as she wanted watermelon, but unfortunately, it wasn’t in season.
"Ah Wang, next year let’s plant some watermelons in our courtyard," Qin Yao said to Ah Wang by the water jar.
Ah Wang nodded, washed his hands, came over, grabbed a handful of loquats, and in minutes, finished them all.
Reached for another handful, quickly finished that too.
Liu Ji quickly put his hand over the fruit plate, "Offering you fruit doesn’t mean you devour it like a cow munching peonies, savor it slowly."
Ah Wang glared at him, can’t you be a little more generous?
Liu Ji: "..."
"Huh, fine, fine, I give up," Liu Ji relented, to show he wasn’t stingy he handed over a large handful and sent him off.
He took out a small abacus, "Wife, the Fan Family Private School’s fee is five taels of silver per person a year, plus one tael for meals, and two sets of student robes a year at eight maces, for our three boys a year it’s... twenty taels and four maces of silver."
"Yes, exactly twenty taels and four maces!" Liu Ji calculated again, confidently declared.
Qin Yao acknowledged with a nod, "Get the money from Ah Wang, I’ve handed the money box to him; from now on, Ah Wang will handle the household expenses."
Liu Ji suppressed his envy and jealousy toward Ah Wang, nodded, "Alright."
After discussing the children’s school affairs, Liu Ji excitedly continued, "Wife, did you know that today, when I went to the Fan Family Private School, oh boy, every student had one of our Divine Power Book Boxes!"
Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, "Did they?"
"Of course!" Liu Ji said, brimming with pride, "Those kids even secretly competed to see who had the most unique book box design."
Of course, none could compare with his flamboyant book box.
