"Okay." Meng Yao responded with a smile at the corner of her mouth, then raised her hand and pinched Zhao Dahe's arm hard.
"Ouch—" Zhao Dahe jumped up, "It hurts, hurts, hurts, Mother, it hurts!"
"So, this isn't a dream anymore? What's the problem with letting Xiaoshu study, is it like you're dreaming? How come in this family, only you can study?" Meng Yao hummed.
"I didn't say that!" Zhao Dahe denied.
"You didn't say it, but doesn't your reaction show that's what you mean?" Meng Yao mercilessly exposed Zhao Dahe.
Zhao Dahe was embarrassed, "I'm just worried about the family, aren't I? My tuition costs for a year already make things tight. If Xiaoshu goes to school... Mother, I can't bear to see you suffer."
Meng Yao nodded in deep agreement, "You're right, things are quite tight. So, I figured it out, from now on, you should earn your own tuition."
Because of the surprise, Zhao Dahe's voice was a bit sharp, sounding even harsher in his already changing voice.
"Mother, you must be joking!"
"Do I seem like someone who likes joking?" Meng Yao rolled her eyes.
"I study, how can I make money?" Zhao Dahe asked.
"Every month, if you get first place in the exams, doesn't the teacher give rewards! This time, getting third place was just one tael of silver, that first place must be at least two taels of silver, counting eleven months in a year, that's at least twenty-two taels. Your yearly tuition is twenty taels, and there's still two taels left. Why not help Mother with household expenses?"
He just read casually, and got third place.
That's why Meng Yao used first place to motivate Zhao Dahe.
"But brush, ink, paper, and inkstone also cost money, don't they? And in the school, don't I need to eat? Over the course of a year, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone require seven or eight taels overall. Besides, the teacher suddenly rewarded us, who knows if there will be rewards in the future?" Zhang Dahe reasoned.
Of course, the teacher said there will be rewards every month in the future.
Zhao Dahe thought there was no need for his mother to definitely know this kind of thing.
He would certainly aim for first place every month, because it wasn't two taels of silver, but three taels.
He wanted to save up the silver for marrying a wife someday.
"Oh, I'll ask your teacher about it later." Meng Yao said calmly.
Combining her memories with observations over the past two days, she found that Zhao Dahe had a bit of refined selfishness. Simply put, he was only concerned about himself, and shrewd. Moreover, he had a clear plan for his future.
Thus, Meng Yao didn't believe most of what he said.
He could fool the original mother, but he couldn't fool her.
The original mother was kind-hearted and favored Zhao Dahe the most, looking at him with filters, thus everything about him appeared good.
If given a choice, she wouldn't want to be in charge of them.
"Mother, the teacher is a noble person. If you go and ask whether there will be rewards, how will he view me? Would I be able to hold my head high in the school in the future?" Zhao Dahe hurriedly said, "After next month's exams, won't it be clear? I'll listen to you and earn my own tuition. The silver saved will let Xiaoshu study."
As a joke, if his mother really went, his thirty-three taels wouldn't be hidden anymore.
"Dahe, you're a really good brother." Meng Yao pretended to be moved.
"I should be, Mother." Zhao Dahe clenched his molars and forced a smile, "Xiaoshu, once you go to school, you must study hard and not waste Mother's effort."
Zhao Xiaoshu was very puzzled.
"So, it's decided, right?" Although it was a question, it expressed affirmation.
"I have no objections." Zhao Dahe spread his hands, it wouldn't matter even if he had objections since his mother now regretted severely and wanted to make up for how she was too harsh on Xiaoshu before.
Let him study, anyway, not everyone has the talent for studying.
For example, his elder brother, he heard his mother say that the elder brother was also enlightened at first, but that blockhead brain of his never opened up, and the matter of studying just dissipated.
Who knows, perhaps Xiaoshu might be just like his elder brother.
Then later, even if Mother wanted him to study, he couldn't persist.
Being a carpenter isn't bad, is it?
When he gets married in the future, won't he get furniture without spending silver?
"Mother, I don't want to study, I want to go back to the carpenter's shop." Zhao Xiaoshu took a deep breath.
It's not that he didn't want to; he was really envious when he saw his second brother holding a book.
But now, Ya'er needs help there.
If he doesn't go, what if Ya'er can't manage it all?
During his apprenticeship, if Ya'er hadn't secretly saved food for him, he would have starved to death.
Being grateful and repaying kindness, he couldn't stand by when Ya'er was in difficulty.
"Studying, achieving something worthwhile, your future path will be broad. Even if you don't achieve anything worthwhile, reading will broaden your view, no matter what you do in the future, literacy will be your reliance. You go work at the carpenter's shop, yes, after getting skilled, you can also earn silver. But for the most part, your whole life will be predictable." Meng Yao said calmly.
"But..."
"Mother knows, you have a kind heart, but repaying kindness isn't just one way." Meng Yao said, "You go work, at most you help Ya'er reduce some burden. But if you study and achieve something worthwhile, invisibly, you'll be a support for the carpenter's shop."
Zhao Xiaoshu was a bit puzzled.
"If you pass the student exam or Scholar exam, people will be curious knowing you used to be at the carpenter's shop. After a round or two, if there's something needed at home, they'll surely think of the carpenter's shop where Zhao the Student used to stay. You go there every so often, and you'll become the shop's signboard." Zhao Dahe said.
Indeed, Zhao Dahe was clever, not only studying well but also having a far-sighted view.
Guided properly, he'll be formidable in the future.
As for Zhao Xiaoshu, last lifetime, he was quite impressive without guidance, with good guidance, wouldn't he then be...
"Your second brother is very right." Meng Yao confirmed Zhao Dahe's words.
"Then, I'll study hard." Zhao Xiaoshu said.
Boy, you're being naive, studying isn't something you can do well just because you intend to, Zhao Dahe thought secretly.
Meng Yao was very happy, "Next spring, Mother will send you to school."
Studying requires mental and physical effort; Zhao Xiaoshu's small stature would hardly handle it.
Winter is good for nourishment, she needs to make up for all that Zhao Xiaoshu missed.
Good health is the foundation of everything.
"Hungry, aren't you? Mother will make something delicious for you." Meng Yao said.
"Mother, I'm hungry too, I want something delicious too." Zhao Dahe was afraid he would be forgotten and quickly spoke up.
Moreover, he had sacrificed so much, he should also eat something good to supplement himself.
Meng Yao responded and went to the kitchen.
In her memory, Zhao Xiaoshu loved to eat noodles. Meng Yao decided to satisfy him by making hand-pulled noodles.
She added egg whites to the flour, dissolved coarse salt in water, and then added warm water to knead the dough.
Whether hand-pulled noodles are delicious depends on the kneading process.
Smooth hands, smooth dough, smooth bowl, the dough slightly firm, that's how the hand-pulled noodles turn out chewy and savory.
That's one of Meng Yao's cooking specialties, and she handled it effortlessly.