The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 158 The Meaning of Reading

"Jingzhe, your mother knows that what you used to think about as getting ahead was leaving Qinghewan, going to the prefectural city, going to Shengjing. You wanted to pursue an official career, marry a virtuous wife and beautiful concubines, and live a life of luxury, never wanting to be associated with farmers or peddlers again. But have you ever considered that no one is truly superior? Emperors and generals? Even emperors and generals are supported by countless ordinary people. You were born into a farming family, and your mother and sister were also peddlers. Is your purpose in studying to escape the farming family and step on peddlers to become a so-called superior person?"

Gu Jingzhe looked at Tong Huaqiong with utter shock.

Not only did his mother see through him, but she was also able to say such things.

He used to think that his mother was vulgar and did things in a undignified way. Although he was very filial, he looked down on his mother.

It was only during this time that he realized that his mother's crudeness was an outward manifestation, and that her understanding far exceeded that of the peasant women of Qinghewan.

He didn't know why his mother had changed; perhaps she was just that kind of person all along.

They were just trapped in the Gu family and Qinghe Bay before.

He didn't know if his mother was influenced by that dream.

“Mother, that’s what I used to think.” Gu Jingzhe said honestly.

“You are very talented, the most studious person in Qinghewan. It’s not wrong for you to want to get ahead, but you must remember your background, remember your elder brother being driven away by the yamen runners while carrying sandbags at the dock, remember your sister being bullied while selling pastries at the market, remember the people of Qinghewan hoping for a good day during the wheat harvest, remember the people of Yanguan Town wanting justice when they are wronged. As long as you remember these things, you will understand why you study. Purely studying is for understanding principles, while studying for the imperial examinations is for entering officialdom. The purpose of entering officialdom is to provide a way for peddlers like your elder brother and sister to survive, and to ensure that the people behind you can live a life with land to cultivate, food to eat, and no longer be oppressed,” Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Jingzhe.

Gu Jingzhe was not a bad person by nature, and he was very intelligent. In his previous life, he was spoiled by Tong Dajiao from childhood.

In this life, Tong Huaqiong hopes that Gu Jingzhe can accomplish something tangible.

She is a modern person, and the idea she accepts is that everyone is equal. She cannot accept it if her son is raised to pursue a career in government in order to exploit the people and then sit in a high position and lord it over the weak.

Gu Jingzhe's heart pounded like a drum; he was undeniably deeply shaken.

It was like a thunderclap in my mind, instantly illuminating the confusion that had been weighing on my mind all these days.

Gu Jingzhe knelt down in front of Tong Huaqiong with a thud.

Then tears streamed down her face.

Tong Huaqiong: "."

Tong Huaqiong is most afraid of such sentimental scenes. What, does she have to hug Gu Jingzhe and call him "my son" before the mother and son hug each other and cry?

This isn't the drama "The Way of the Mother".

I can't stand it.

“Mother, I’ve remembered what you said. I want to study, and I plan to go to the prefectural city to find a job so I can study while working.”

Gu Jingzhe then revealed his plan.

“Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I plan to go to more than just the prefectural city. I want to change places every year, earning money while studying,” Gu Jingzhe said.

Tong Huaqiong remained unmoved by Gu Jingzhe's tears, and was somewhat speechless upon hearing his plans.

Gu Jingzhe is indeed a genius, but he is only fourteen years old and has unrealistic fantasies about accumulating knowledge through travel.

She has to wake him up.

Tong Huaqiong took a deep breath and said slowly, "Since I'm letting you study, I certainly won't let you go that far. Now that our shop is up and running, we can still afford to support your education if we grit our teeth."

Gu Jingzhe suddenly raised his head, tears still glistening in the corners of his eyes. Gu Jingzhe hadn't expected Tong Huaqiong to be willing to continue supporting his studies.

Tong Huaqiong sighed, saying that with that tearful image, if she had entered the entertainment industry in her previous life, she would definitely have won over a lot of fans.

“While it’s true that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, that requires you to grow up and have certain abilities. You are still young. If I let you go to the prefectural city, you will be blinded by that dazzling world. You won’t even have finished traveling ten thousand miles and you won’t be able to study well. Wouldn’t that be a disaster?” Tong Huaqiong expressed her opposition. “If you want to study, then settle down and study hard. Don’t think about other things.”

"Besides, you travel thousands of miles just to see the local customs and traditions. In my opinion, the area around Yanguan Town and even Pingchuan County is enough for you to see. The so-called understanding of local customs and traditions is not as good as going deep into the fields, streets and alleys. Understanding the hardships of farmers and peddlers will benefit you in the future, whether you take the imperial examination or pursue an official career."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingzhe realized that he was still too immature in front of his mother.

“Starting tomorrow, you will return to the private school. I have already spoken to Master Su about it.” After stating her decision, Tong Huaqiong asked, “Because of the Zheng family’s affair, your reputation at the private school is not good. Can you bear the ridicule from your classmates? If you can’t bear it, you might as well stay home and farm.”

Since we're already letting Gu Jingzhe study, why not send him to the private school tomorrow?

But Tong Huaqiong was worried that Gu Jingzhe, who was always proud and arrogant, would not be able to stand the ridicule from his classmates at the private school. She was afraid that the child's mind, which she had finally managed to correct, would be distorted by the impact.

Gu Jingzhe said excitedly, "Mother, I will study hard. What do the ridicule from my classmates matter as long as I can study?"

The ridicule from classmates was not as frightening as not being able to study.

"And even if I study, it won't interfere with the work at the shop or at home."

Gu Jingzhe made a guarantee.

Tong Huaqiong nodded, then thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Your studies will cost a lot of money. You'll need to go to the prefectural city to take the exams, study at Wanliu Academy, and go to the capital to take the exams. Everywhere will cost money, and I can't support you for nothing. Although if you succeed in your studies, you can earn me an official title, but if you don't succeed, wouldn't all my money be wasted?"

"Here's what we'll do: write down every penny you spend, from the big expenses for tuition and exams to the smallest things like a pen and a piece of paper. Whether you succeed in your studies or not, you'll have to pay me back."

Tong Huaqiong wanted to put pressure on Gu Jingzhe, making him keep track of the money he spent on his studies.

Otherwise, he would have thought he had read it all by himself.

“Mother, I will use a ledger to keep track of everything,” Gu Jingzhe said.

“Okay,” Tong Huaqiong said. “Get ready and go to the private school tomorrow.”

Gu Jingzhe wiped away her tears and agreed!

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the Gu family got up.

Since the shop opened, Tong Huaqiong has never slept in late; she always gets up before dawn and wakes up before dusk.

Gu Jingzhe got up especially early. By the time Tong Huaqiong and the others woke up, Gu Jingzhe had already swept the yard and was cooking porridge and steaming buns on the stove.

Having returned to the private school, Gu Jingzhe became more diligent than ever before.

At the dinner table, Tong Huaqiong announced that Gu Jingzhe would be returning to the private school.

No one was particularly moved by the news, since in the minds of Gu Dahan and others, Gu Jingzhe should be in the private school, not behind the counter in the fields.

"Uncle, you must study hard in the future. Our family is rich now, so don't think about selling Man'er." Man'er was young and innocent, and spoke directly, touching on Gu Jingzhe's biggest secret.

Gu Jingzhe was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear. She kept assuring her family that she would never again consider sacrificing her family members.

(End of this chapter)