Chapter 84: Being a Good Father to the Children

Old Mr. Wang glanced at Ling'er and said, "The child speaks late, but grows a keen mind."

"Is there also this saying?"

"There is such a saying in worldly customs, but it may not be entirely correct."

"Having more shrewdness is good, so you won't be schemed by others in the future."

Qiao Mai peeled a crab for Old Mr. Wang, then peeled one for Yuan Jiaqi, and finally peeled for the children.

Yuan Jiaqi couldn't stand it any longer and said, "You eat too; they all can, let them peel for themselves."

"You aren't home; I always eat alone. You only eat once a month, so eat, don't worry about me."

The children said, "Mother, we peel ourselves; we can do it too."

During the meal, Qiao Mai tended to Old Mr. Wang and the children, eating very little herself.

Now Old Mr. Wang was satisfied, and after the meal he sat sipping hot tea while everyone began to talk.

"Otherwise? You have no idea how impoverished the peasants are. I'm a merchant, and rain or snow doesn't stop me, but think of them: when a year of disaster comes, has the court ever considered them? Whether it's a bumper harvest or a poor one, they must pay those taxes. When the court goes to war, taxes are raised. It's hard enough to support a scholar; why must they still pay taxes?"

Although he works at the School in the town, he doesn't live in the town; he comes each morning and returns each night, and has done so for years.

He couldn't argue that point.

"Hehe, you Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl really knows how to act; if you were a man, you'd surely be extraordinary."

Regardless of whether the Shiren that night were sent by Tian Yaozu, he has gotten into trouble several times, and this grudge must be avenged.

Tian Yaozu's two hands rested on the quilt, and he shouted like a pig being slaughtered.

"This time when I go back, I'll bring you an extra cartload."

Old Mr. Wang waved his hand quickly, "She can't; after moving, she hasn't rested well for a long time and gets sick. Better let her stay at home. Last time you brought those things for me, she ate a lot and even praised them as good."

After waiting at the door for a while, she used a tool to pry the door open, then walked in, pinching her hands and feet.

While thinking, she took out a Handkerchief soaked with ether, pressed it to his nose, and after a moment the fellow was completely anesthetized.

Be a good father to the children; if you become an official later, protect them well for life.

She flipped her hand, and a sparkling hammer appeared; without hesitation she pulled his two arms out of the quilt and struck each wrist once.

"Grandson, child, what's going on?"

Early in the morning, he steamed a large bowl of egg custard for each person with eggs, kept it warm over the fire, simmered buns on low heat, and took a look at the warehouse.

He inspected every trace in the courtyard and on the walls, confirming no clues were left, and before dawn returned home.

Yuan Jiaqi returned to the house, lay on the warm kang, and felt warm inside. Qiao Niang had done so much for them; in this lifetime, as long as Qiao Niang doesn't dismiss him, he will stay in the Qiao Family and be a good Xianggong.

The children got up at daybreak, brushed teeth and washed faces, then ran and practiced boxing, not falling behind.

"March 26, isn't that soon?"

Tian Yaozu will take the imperial exam this year; his family looks forward to it, and even the School's teacher says he's a good seed.

"What about the three of them?"

Some were cleaning, some cooking; Tian Li Shi knew the eldest grandson was studying last night, and specifically reminded that today no one should speak loudly.

With just those two strikes, both his wrists were completely ruined; even if a master healed him, he still couldn't hold a brush to write.

"I won't go."

Looking at Tian Yaozu, whose head was the only part showing from the quilt, he was, when sleeping, just a child who hadn't grown up.

The big lunch was followed by a very tasty dinner, and Old Mr. Wang ate a lot.

Look at him after he's ruined; what will Old Tian Family do to him? Will he still feel arrogant? Will he plot against her again?

Standing at the village entrance, looking at the familiar village, she inhaled deeply, but no sound came out.

The roosters outside crowed; she closed her eyes and fell asleep after a while.

"Let's talk after five years."

Old Mr. Wang looked through the window and nodded at the family.

Regardless of whether he is suited for study, she will cut off his path to learning; if such a person becomes an official, they will surely harm others in the future.

"You see, the place is really too small; even digestion feels cramped."

"It hurts, it hurts."

Qiao Mai smiled silently; before bedtime at night, the children again clung to her to tell a story, then she returned to her room to sleep.

"Oh, that works too; let the Xianggong take the exam first, obtain Merit, and our land can be put under his name."

The small house wasn't big, but it was very clean, warmly arranged, and Old Mr. Wang liked it from the bottom of his heart.

She went to Tian Yaozu's doorway, took a tube from the void, pierced the window paper, and blew in a haze.

Although he never said affectionate words, his teaching was earnest and strict; he's the type with a sharp tongue and a soft heart, and as long as there's a fated connection, he'll be good to people.

"The outside is spacious; go for a walk outside."

By moonlight, she sprinted across the wheat fields; though she had no inner strength, her speed was still swift.

Yuan Jiaqi woke before dawn, got up early, began cleaning the courtyard, added some firewood to the kang stove, and started bustling in the kitchen, unaware of Qiao Mai's outing last night.

At this moment, Taohua Village, Tian Family.

The Tian family, panicked, hurriedly pushed the door to get in, but the door was jammed inside; after half a day's effort they removed the door and finally entered.

In just over a month, he treated those children as his own family and took Yuan Jiaqi as his disciple.

She shed her black robe, threw it into the void, moved Ling'er out of the void, and lay down beside her.

That night, Qiao Mai simmered a pot of vegetable porridge, prepared over twenty vegetarian pancakes, and arranged four cold dishes.

Qiao Mai thought of something and asked, "Sir, under the Ming Emperor, when each year is the imperial examination held?"

From Tianshui Town to Taohua Village, a bullock cart takes half a shi, but she ran there in just over a quarter of an hour.

The moonlight waned westward, the outside was silent, Qiao Mai looked at the sleeping Ling'er and, with a thought, moved her into the void.

"Yes, I plan to have Jiaqi join the children's exam next year, spend a year on basics first. He's very clever, grasps things instantly, can infer from one example, captures the key points, his mind is clear—he's a good seed."

The whole family strolled around the Zhaiyuan to aid digestion, the old gentleman pursed his lips.

Every spring, when all things revive, the examinations are on March 26; the county exam is the preliminary scholar, the prefectural exam is the licentiate, the capital exams are the recommended scholar and presented scholar. The higher the Merit, the more prestigious the venue, and the scholar sits in a side hall of the Imperial Palace's Yizheng Hall.

Studying under Qiao Mai, the whole thing is just a few small dishes.

That's the kind of person—always scheming about herself all day; if that's so, don't blame her for striking him.

After finishing these, she inspected, stored the murder tools into a space, wiped the footprints on the ground clean, stepped back in, and then blocked the door for him.

The Tian Family doesn't keep a dog; the whole family sleeps soundly.

Their living habits are truly good, the children are taught well too; he really likes this family, and the granddaughter's match for him is quite good.

He found an excuse and went back to his room to rest.

Arriving at the Tian Family, he made a vertical leap, clung to the wall top, then a side flip, and entered inside.

Everyone thought he would definitely pass, but little did they know that shortly after getting up, a scream came from Tian Yaozu's room.

"You can move to Xinjia in August; then you'll stay at my place. If possible, bring Grandmother along, so we can change the scenery—a fresh spell."

Mr. Wang was left speechless by a single sentence; he knows the people's suffering.

Mr. Wang gave her a cold look, "Is that all the little thought you have?"

She, clad in black Night Clothes, calmly slipped them on, covered her head and face completely, quietly opened the door and slipped out.

"Where does it hurt?"

"My wrist, it won't move."

"Hurry up, mother will dress you; let's go to the Yiguan."

Everyone, with seven hands and eight feet, helped him up; when the clothing touched his hand, he kept wailing.

(End of chapter)