Training the Heavens

Chapter 241 Sanwei Bookstore
Originally, Zhou Fengyi was a little unhappy to see Runtu in the study, because he was a scholar and was very particular about hierarchy. He thought that Runtu was just a child of the Mangyue family and had no right to enter the study.
It was only because of Ah Zhang's dedication that he didn't disturb him for the time being. He just watched quietly from the side. After watching for a while, he couldn't help it.

Zhang Fuqing came to help out at home almost every year, and Zhou Fengyi knew everything about his family. Runtu had never been to school since he was a child and was illiterate. He had been here not long this time, but he had learned to write well so quickly.

"Ahem!" He couldn't help coughing, interrupting their study. He strolled over, picked up Runtu's copybook, and while examining it, he asked, "Why did you suddenly want to learn calligraphy?"

"Master!" Jun-tu called respectfully, and then he gave the answer he had prepared long ago. "I've heard from the scholar that all scholars have servants, and that the official is going to take the imperial examination someday. I can read a few words now, so perhaps I can be your servant."

Now you can't call him Ah Zhang anymore. Ah Zhang is the eldest son in the family, so everyone calls him Da Ah Guan. These days, Runtu has figured out Zhou Fengyi's character through indirect inquiries. He is very particular about hierarchy, so there must be no mistakes in the way he addresses him.

Ah Zhang next to him was still a little confused and didn't understand what this name meant. He just felt that there was a thin barrier between the two of them.

As for the book boy, he was also making it clear that he did not have such big ambitions. He did not dare to hope to take the examination for a scholar or something like that. He would be satisfied as long as he could be a servant for A Zhang.

Zhou Fengyi was indeed very happy after hearing this. He had passed the examination for a scholar at an early age, but unfortunately he failed to replicate his father's success. After that, he failed in the provincial examinations one after another and failed to pass the examination for a juren. Now, when he heard a child say that his son could pass the examination for a jinshi, he naturally felt happy.

"How many days have you been studying?" Zhou Fengyi asked.

"Five days." Runtu answered honestly.

"Five days?" Zhou Fengyi was even more surprised. He could write well in just five days. This progress was faster than when he and Zhang first started learning calligraphy. So he became more interested. "Besides practicing calligraphy, what else have you learned these days?"

"The elder also taught me the Three Character Classic."

"Oh? Let's see from the back!"

“When man is born, his nature is good. Natures are similar, but habits make them different. Sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty are the five flavors that come into the mouth.” Runtu immediately began to recite, and stopped after reciting more than thirty sentences in one breath.

He even made a few mistakes on purpose, but even so, it was enough to surprise Zhou Fengyi. He put down the copybook and said, "Continue learning!"

After saying that, he turned and walked out. When he reached the door, he shook his head and sighed, "What a pity."

It's a pity that such a good seed of learning was born into the wrong family. If he was born into a middle-class family, he would have been educated from a young age and might have started learning to write articles at this age. If he was luckier, it would not be impossible for him to pass the imperial examination in his teens.

It was a pity that he was born in a poor family and his family had no money to send him to school. They only just discovered that he had a talent for studying. Moreover, with Zhang Fuqing's family background, it was almost impossible for him to study and take the imperial examination. Back in the room at night, Zhou Fengyi told his wife Lu Rui about this matter. Lu Rui also felt sorry, "Alas, Xun'er meant well but did something bad. If Ah Tu had never known that he had this ability, perhaps it would have been better. He would have lived his whole life in ignorance. Now that he knows, he will probably be unwilling to accept it when he wakes up. For a family like his, it is not a good thing for him to be unwilling to accept it."

"Not necessarily. This kid still knows his limits. He didn't say anything good about taking the subject exam. He just said he wanted to be Xun'er's servant! If Xun'er can become a talented person in the future, it wouldn't be bad to have someone who knows him well as his servant." Zhou Fengyi remembered what Runtu had just said.

"His father is an honest man, so he will certainly be fine. We can all feel at ease with such a person following Xun'er! Even if he wants to be a servant, he has to go to school first. Is Fuqing willing to spend this money on the child?" Lu Rui has always been in charge of the family affairs. She can estimate that Fuqing has saved some money.

Fuqing could earn more than two thousand copper coins every year by working as a busy man for them. He could also earn about ten taels of silver from farming, selling fruits and vegetables, and selling bamboo utensils he made. After deducting daily expenses, the money saved was enough for Runtu to study for a year or two.

"It's never a disadvantage to be able to read and write. Even if you can't be a servant in the future, you can still earn money as a clerk in a shop! I'll wait and see for a few days. If Runtu really has the patience, I'll tell Fuqing. It happens that Mr. Shou has only accepted seven students now, so he's still short of one. Mr. Shou doesn't care about the students' background, so maybe he'll accept Runtu if he likes him." Apart from being a little particular about hierarchy, Zhou Fengyi was relatively open-minded in other aspects.

"Oh, it would be fine if we signed a contract first and then sent Runtu to school. What a pity..." Zhou Fengyi shook his head helplessly.

His grandmother had just passed away. According to custom, his father had to go home to observe mourning. As a result, the family would lose a lot of income in the next few years. A large amount of money had already been spent on donations. The Zhou family was afraid that the next few years would be difficult. How could they come up with money to support the boy's education?

However, this is a good thing for Runtu. If the Zhou family proposes to sign a contract to hire him as a servant, Zhang Fuqing will definitely be happy. But in this case, Runtu will lose his freedom.

After a few days, Zhou Fengyi saw that Runtu was indeed eager to learn, so she called Zhang Fuqing and told him about it. At first, Zhang Fuqing couldn't believe it. How could he, a peasant, dare to hope to raise a child who could read and write?

It wasn't until Zhou Fengyi brought Runtu's calligraphy that Zhang Fuqing believed it. He said respectfully, "Master is so considerate of me that he allowed Ah Tu to study under Mr. Shou. How could I dare not appreciate your kindness?"

"If Mr. Shou agrees, I will support A-Tu's education even if I have to sell everything I have, so that he can be a servant to the great official in the future!" In his opinion, Xun'er's grandfather is a high-ranking official in the court, and Xun'er will definitely become an official in the future. If Runtu can get hold of this thigh and become Xun'er's servant, then their family will be able to turn things around in the future.

"Even if he can't be a servant, once he learns to read and write, I can write him a letter of guarantee and send him to work as a clerk in the shop I'm going to establish. In short, as long as he is willing to work hard, he will definitely not suffer any loss in the future." Zhou Fengyi added.

Zhang Fuqing could only smile foolishly after hearing this. There were several children in his family, and the family property was not enough to be divided. If Runtu could become a waiter, it would be a way out.

The next day, as there was not much to do today, Zhou Fengyi took Runtu out and headed east. Less than half a mile away, they crossed a stone bridge and arrived at Shou Jingwu's Sanwei Book House.

(End of this chapter)