Bonus chapter 2/2 ! Thank you for supporting us on Ko-fi, it helps a lot ! (*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡
He Zifeng returned home and shared Gouzi’s father’s suggestion with Qiu Yu.
Qiu Yu was intrigued but reluctant, as their son was still so young.
He Zifeng gently embraced him and said, “Our child will grow up someday. I’ve always planned to send him to school, but I thought we’d wait until he turned five. Now that we have the chance and the money for tuition, we shouldn’t delay. We can’t let him waste his talents; Ranran is clever and picks up arithmetic so quickly.”
Qiu Yu leaned into He Zifeng’s chest and murmured, “I know, but…”
He Zifeng softly patted Qiu Yu’s back, comforting him like a child.
Qiu Yu blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Let’s ask Ranran what he thinks,” he said.
“Alright.”
Children adapt quickly. Since moving to the new house, Ranran had already settled in, spending his days at the market and playing in the village in the evenings. He loved picking wildflowers, gathering them in large bundles to decorate his rabbit’s cage. When Qiu Yu called him, he cheerfully answered and came running back, sweat glistening on his forehead.
The little one didn’t hesitate to lean into Qiu Yu, rubbing his sweaty head against him. Qiu Yu quickly noticed and scolded him, though Ranran just grinned mischievously.
“You’re so naughty,” Qiu Yu scolded, his eyebrows furrowing in mock anger. Ranran immediately stopped, knowing he couldn’t push his luck further.
When Qiu Yu disciplined their son, He Zifeng refrained from intervening. He admired Qiu Yu’s firm but loving approach—something He Zifeng struggled with when their son’s pleading eyes looked up at him.
After a while, Qiu Yu brought Ranran outside. The sun was setting, and the three of them enjoyed chatting in the courtyard.
Despite Qiu Yu’s strictness, Ranran adored him the most, often sneaking kisses on his cheek and sweetly declaring, “I love Little Daddy the best.” Even Qiu Yu found it hard to resist such affection.
Ranran was their only child, and they spoiled him dearly. Watching the bond between father and son, He Zifeng couldn’t help feeling a twinge of jealousy. He scooped up the boy and held him tightly.
Ranran, soft and cuddly, made He Zifeng wish he could pluck the stars from the sky for him.
“Ranran,” He Zifeng asked, “do you want to go to school?”
The little one’s eyes widened with surprise and excitement.
“There will be many children to play with, and the teacher will teach you about life and knowledge,” He Zifeng added.
“Can I learn to write?” Ranran asked earnestly.
“Of course,” He Zifeng replied. “Just like your big cousin Dabao.”
Ranran’s curiosity grew, but he hesitated. “But going to school costs money,” he said, echoing what he had often overheard at the old He household.
Qiu Yu gently cupped Ranran’s face and reassured him, “We have money now, so you can go to school. Gouzi will be there too.”
Ranran’s eyes lit up. “Then I want to go too!”
As a child, Ranran had envied Dabao and Erbao carrying their bamboo book baskets to school, though he never dared to linger for fear of Xiao Wan’s scolding. Now, his father was saying he could go to school himself.
Qiu Yu reminded him, “You’ll only come home once a month and won’t see us often.”
Ranran hesitated again, but He Zifeng said, “If you want to go, then go. We’ll pick you up on your days off and make you your favorite foods.”
Reassured, Ranran nodded enthusiastically.
“Good boy,” He Zifeng praised, smiling.
As night fell, the family went to bed. Ranran was tucked in against the wall, Qiu Yu lay in the middle, and He Zifeng took the outer edge.
As their son slept soundly, Qiu Yu whispered, “We still have 500 wen left.” The pancakes had been selling well, bringing in around 600 wen a day. However, they had spent two taels of silver on renovating the old house, leaving them with only 500 wen for now. The tuition, board, and grain would cost about 400 wen.
He Zifeng replied, “Tomorrow, I’ll inquire about the teacher’s character. If everything checks out, we’ll send Ranran.”
Qiu Yu sighed softly and murmured his agreement.
He Zifeng comforted him, “Don’t be sad. Every bird must leave the nest someday. I’ll be here with you.”
Leaning against He Zifeng, Qiu Yu felt the warmth of his chest and slowly eased his sorrow.
The next morning, after selling pancakes, He Zifeng packed up the stall and stored everything in their rented backyard. With the day’s earnings safely stashed, their finances felt a bit more secure.
Qiu Yu, ever meticulous, packed a change of clothes for the family. Their work attire, stained with oil and the scent of sauce, was hardly appropriate for formal introductions.
After changing, Qiu Yu took Ranran to stroll around town. Though they had been here for some time to run their pancake stall, this was their first time exploring the streets.
Meanwhile, He Zifeng headed to the location Gouzi’s father mentioned. The house looked dilapidated, but the sound of children reciting lessons floated from within.
As in any village, a few chatty women sat near the roadside. He Zifeng approached one of them and asked, “Auntie, how’s the school here?”
Standing tall and exuding an air of righteousness, He Zifeng left a good impression. The woman chuckled and said, “My grandson’s ten years old; you should call me Granny, not Auntie!”
Another woman joined in eagerly, offering information. “If you ask anyone, they’ll tell you: Master Lin is a good man. We’ve watched him grow up.”
“He’s very knowledgeable,” she continued. “Passed the county-level exams at ten and became a xiucai by twenty. He could’ve gone further, but his family was too poor, with a sickly mother. That’s why he opened this school. He says if he can’t continue his studies, at least others should have the chance. He doesn’t care about social class, either—even fishmongers can send their kids here.”
This was unusual, as most scholars looked down on merchants, who were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Many private schools refused to accept merchants’ children, making Lin’s inclusiveness all the more admirable.
He Zifeng’s genuine demeanor and care for his child quickly won over the women, who happily shared all they knew. In no time, he had gathered enough information and thanked them before moving on.
After asking a few elderly men in a nearby alley and receiving consistent feedback, He Zifeng returned.
Ranran, holding a sugar-paint dragon, eagerly handed it to his father when he arrived. Qiu Yu said, “Ranran wouldn’t eat it; he saved it for you.”
He Zifeng took a bite, satisfying Ranran, who then sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, happily munching on the candy.
Qiu Yu’s eyes urged He Zifeng to share what he had learned.
He Zifeng summarized the praise he had heard for Master Lin. Even he was impressed by the young scholar’s dedication—renowned as a child prodigy, Lin had chosen to focus solely on education, even forgoing marriage. The school aimed to enroll thirty students, and over ten had already signed up.
“Let’s go now,” Qiu Yu said, eager to secure a spot.
He Zifeng agreed, asking Ranran for his opinion. The little one quickly nodded. They stopped by a grain store to purchase high-quality rice, though it was 20% more expensive than in the village, and brought everything to the school.
The first meeting with Master Lin revealed a young man in his early twenties, plain in appearance but scholarly in demeanor. He explained the school’s rules: classes ran every day except for a three-day break on the tenth of each month. Students would sleep on shared mats and eat simple meals, with meat served only once a month. Fighting and disrespect toward teachers were strictly prohibited, and violators would be expelled.
Ranran, unafraid, promised, “I won’t break any rules. I’m a good boy.” He even took Master Lin’s hand, surprising both his fathers with his outgoing nature.
Master Lin, charmed by the boy’s cuteness, couldn’t refuse.
“Please take care of him,” Qiu Yu said earnestly.
Master Lin accepted the tuition and asked them to buy some paper, brushes, and beginner books like the *Three Character Classic* and the *Thousand Character Text*.
The couple quickly bought mid-range supplies: two reams of grass paper, two of fine paper, a writing set, and books—spending 300 wen in total. They were startled by the cost but knew it was necessary.
Despite their resolve, leaving Ranran at the school was bittersweet. Qiu Yu quickly turned away to hide his tears. He Zifeng reassured his son with a few more words before departing. Ranran, teary-eyed but determined, said, “Don’t worry, Father.”
He Zifeng ruffled his son’s hair before leaving. Master Lin led Ranran inside to begin his lessons.
Outside, Qiu Yu broke down in tears, and He Zifeng hugged him until he calmed down.
Back in the village, He Zifeng relayed the school details to Gouzi’s father, who quickly prepared to send Gouzi as well. Before they left, He Zifeng even lent them a quilt.
Ranran’s absence was soon noticed by the village children, who were told he had gone to study in the county.
Not knowing what a preparatory school was, the children clamored to go as well. Word spread quickly, eventually reaching the old He household.
Wan Hai, upon hearing the news, smashed a teacup in anger. “They’re doing this just to spite me!” he fumed.
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
thank you for the update.. ❤️🐾