Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 90 - 89: The First Family Meeting

Chapter 90: Chapter 89: The First Family Meeting
But there’s indeed a shortage of vegetables at home, so Qin Yao didn’t say anything else.
Just as the leaves in the two small vegetable gardens in her front yard sprouted, they were eaten up.
As for the newly cultivated vegetable field behind the house, it will take another month and a half before it can be harvested. In this village, there’s no farmers’ market where you can buy fresh vegetables every day.
Every family is short of food, and even if you want to buy, there might not be anyone willing to sell.
Everyone was gathered in the main hall, and Liu Ji followed Qin Yao’s request by placing a bowl of water in front of each person before sitting down.
The first family meeting.
Officially begins.
Qin Yao first stated the meeting’s theme—studying to change destiny.
Liu Ji’s heart skipped a beat, could it really be as he had guessed earlier?
Qin Yao gave him a congratulatory look and said:
"I’ve decided that from now on, Liu Ji will return to the academy to continue studying and take the imperial exams."
The four Da Langs didn’t understand what the imperial exams meant, but they understood the phrase ’return to the academy.’
Liu Ji jumped up, "Dear, are you joking?"
"I am not, I’m serious." Qin Yao tapped the table, "Sit down!"
Liu Ji sat down with a complicated feeling, a sense of unease slowly rising. As expected, he saw Qin Yao take out a small notebook and read out all his expenses from the past six months. Every penny was recorded without error.
"I won’t count the small money, but in total, you owe me forty taels in large sums!"
Qin Yao pointed at the ledger, looking at Liu Ji’s shocked face, not just talking; she actually kept a record.
"Actually, I’ve seriously considered it. With the skills you currently possess, trying to repay this amount by farming, excluding interest and living expenses, would take about twenty-five years."
"Even if you copied books for others, it would take ten years to pay it back, assuming no accidents and a stable demand for scholars."
Therefore, she summed up a shortcut, which is—to pass the imperial exams!
"As long as you become a Scholar, our family’s labor tax can be completely waived, and you can pay it back in two years, clearing our debts."
"If you become a Scholar, it would be even better, benefiting not just yourself but everyone!"
Liu Ji listened in a daze. Not to mention the imperial exams, if Old Liu hadn’t spent that sum of Silver to send him to the academy, he would never have thought he’d have anything to do with studying.
And now, Qin Yao actually wanted him to take the imperial exams?
Liu Ji raised his hand to touch Qin Yao’s forehead to see if she was confused but was swiftly slapped away.
He covered his reddened hand and cautiously asked Qin Yao, "Dear, do you know how old I am?"
Qin Yao: "Twenty-four."
Liu Ji couldn’t understand more, "I’m already twenty-four, and just starting to study now. How long would it take to become a Scholar?"
"Don’t you always feel you’re exceptionally gifted? Is it hard to become a Scholar?" Qin Yao scornfully asked in return.
Liu Ji: "Well, this..."
"During this month at Landlord Ding’s, did you think I was just acting as a guard?"
Qin Yao laid out nine books, "I already found out, once you are familiar with Four Books and Five Classics, becoming a Scholar isn’t difficult."
"Moreover, I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll personally tutor you. Trust me, follow what I say, and I guarantee you’ll become a Scholar."
"What about the money?" Liu Ji felt doomed yet slightly tempted.
Studying, doesn’t it mean he wouldn’t have to farm?
Qin Yao opened the ledger and did the math for the father and sons.
"Currently, there’s only one academy in the county, and only students attending the academy can qualify for the exams, because the academy and fellow scholars must vouch for the procedures to smoothly take the imperial examinations."
"So, our first step is to enter the academy."
"The academy’s tuition is two taels of Silver a year, one tael for accommodation, plus the necessary pens, ink, paper, and inkstone each year, which is two taels, totaling five taels of Silver per year per person."
Given their current situation, they could afford the fees for the first year.
"What about the second year?" Liu Ji didn’t think he could pass in a year.
Qin Yao smiled with a relaxed mindset and said, "Worry about next year, next year. Once you start studying, you won’t need to worry about money."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ji’s heart was filled with joy. Although he couldn’t understand why she suddenly wanted to support him in his studies, studying is definitely much better than farming, and it brings prestige!
"Dear, do you really want to support my studies?" Liu Ji reconfirmed.
Qin Yao nodded and earnestly asked him, "Are you willing?"
"Of course I’m willing, but I’m already so old, will the academy still accept me?" Liu Ji curiously asked.
Seeing him willing, Qin Yao was relieved, gently patting his arm, "Don’t worry, I found out at the Ding Family; people older than you can still enter the academy."
However, before officially starting, there’s a contract to sign.
"What contract?" Liu Ji asked warily.
Qin Yao smiled at him, naturally a contract to share blessings and bear hardships together.
"I’m investing in your education; there has to be a return on investment. Let’s lay down the rules first. Rest assured, I’m reasonable and won’t take advantage of you, asking for little."
She said that, but when drafting the contract, she wasn’t lenient.
The first clause is that he cannot unilaterally divorce or separate from her. If he wishes to divorce or separate after becoming a Scholar, all assets would belong to Qin Yao, and he must acknowledge her as an elder sister, maintaining the relative status to share prosperity.
Liu Ji looked at Qin Yao in shock, "You’re younger than me."
"Even if I’m younger, I’m your sister!" Qin Yao domineeringly yelled.
Without raising her head, she continued to draft the second clause.
Without her consent, he cannot take concubines or marry secondary wives; if violated, the situation is as mentioned.
The last clause is valid for thirty years, she can unilaterally terminate it anytime, but Liu Ji cannot.
"Alright, take a look, and if there’s no problem, sign and seal." Qin Yao blew the ink on the paper dry and placed it in front of him, considerately offering ink pad and pen.
The words on the paper were barely readable, but fortunately, every letter was clear.
After reading the three contract terms, Liu Ji felt a bit inflated, "Dear, how afraid are you of me divorcing you?"
Qin Yao squeezed out a polite smile, "I don’t actually mind being a widow."
Without further hesitation, Liu Ji quickly signed and sealed the unequal contract.
Taking concubines or marrying secondary wives, he never thought about it; dealing with just Qin Yao, this one fierce woman, was enough!
If he ever gets a chance to divorce, he’d become a carefree wanderer, doing whatever he pleases, without anyone constraining him.
Then he’d simultaneously date eight girls but never marry, watching them compete and fight over him; that would be interesting!