Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 91 - 90: Si Niang Is Unhappy

Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Si Niang Is Unhappy
Qin Yao happily folded the contract and put it away.
After speaking about Liu Ji, Qin Yao then told Da Lang and the three boys, "The Ding Family is building a school for the clan, and it should be completed by the end of the year. After the new year, when the Ding Family School starts classes, I’ll figure out a way to get you into the school."
"However, it’s a long way. Da Lang and Second Lang will go first. Sanlang, wait a couple more years until you’re a bit older."
"Si Niang, don’t be discouraged. Once your dad learns, we can study at home ourselves."
Si Niang curiously asked, "Mother, can’t I go to the school with my brothers?"
Before Qin Yao could answer, Liu Ji laughed first, patting his daughter’s topknot, "Silly Si Niang, where have you heard of women going to school? Girls should be gentle and quiet, learning needlework and cooking at home. Later, Dad will find you a good family."
Si Niang instinctively furrowed her brow. She didn’t like what her father said, but she was too young to express why she disliked it.
She stubbornly asked, "Why can’t women go to school?"
Liu Ji replied, "Because the teachers don’t accept women."
"Why don’t teachers accept women?" Si Niang continued to ask.
Liu Ji paused, seriously thinking about an answer, and then concluded, "Because women don’t need to study for imperial exams."
When Si Niang wanted to ask why women didn’t need to, Liu Ji realized his daughter was leading him into a corner he couldn’t answer, so he hurriedly gestured for Si Niang to be quiet.
Si Niang’s shallow brows furrowed like two caterpillars. She puffed her cheeks, expressing her displeasure.
Fortunately, she soon regained her energy with the comforting voices of her three brothers.
Qin Yao, however, remained silent for a long time before sighing, placing nine books borrowed from the Ding Family in front of Liu Ji.
"Your primary task now is to quickly copy these nine books, so I can return them."
"Remember, don’t damage them. If you dirty them even a bit, I’ll chop your hand off!" Qin Yao warned menacingly.
Liu Ji asked, "What about the work in the fields?"
"Starting tomorrow, you only need to handle three meals a day and copy the books."
But this was temporary, as she would adjust based on circumstances.
Qin Yao was busy too, needing to quickly draft a plan for Liu Ji to resume his studies.
Studying requires a method, not just haphazard reading.
They had already started late and couldn’t proceed step-by-step like younger students.
According to Qin Yao’s plan, she needed Liu Ji to take the county exam by next March.
Participating in the county exam doesn’t have any special standards, but the exam content every year revolves around the Four Books and Five Classics.
The county exam serves as an entry-level test of what has been learned, and passing it grants access to the imperial exams.
As for what happens after that, we’ll see, but for now, copying the textbooks is the priority.
The academy has books, but doesn’t provide a set to everyone; students have to buy them or copy them from a bookstore to study at home.
To outdo others, extra time outside the classroom is crucial, so it’s essential to have one’s own set of books.
Moreover, given Liu Ji’s situation now, she had to give him special tutoring, otherwise how could he compete with other students who’ve studied for years?
The moment she decided to act, Qin Yao immediately rearranged tasks for the family.
From now on, each person washed their own clothes. Sanlang and Si Niang were too young, so Liu Ji did it for them.
While cutting paper to prepare for copying, Liu Ji asked defiantly, "Why isn’t it you, dear wife, who does the washing?"
Qin Yao rotated her wrist, her joints cracking, "No reason. If you’re not satisfied, you can die!"
Liu Ji dared not speak, imagining a little man in his heart shouting to the sky: "Is there no justice?"
Seeing him cut the paper crookedly, Qin Yao kicked him, "Be careful, do you think paper is free?"
Liu Ji bit his lower lip, eyes brimming with tears. His movements slowed and became more meticulous, never cutting a crooked sheet again.
Qin Yao was speechless towards him; he seemed to itch all over without a beating. See, he could do it well now.
Clearing her throat, she continued organizing duties.
Everyone shouldered their share of housework. The only tasks left were the water mill and feeding the chickens.
Qin Yao organized the four siblings into pairs, big with small, to fetch the water mill’s box each evening. If there were any problems with the waterwheel, she would handle repairs.
Washing dishes and feeding chickens also paired big with small, each person doing it for a week in turns.
Her responsibility was the two plots of vegetable garden in the front yard, the newly cultivated two plots in the back, and the work in the fields.
Field work was light at this point, as the rice had entered a stable growth period. Just maintain the water level.
Moreover, their fields were conveniently next to the river, easier to water than others; just check daily, weed, and watch for pests.
Once everything was set, the six of them each became busy with their tasks.
After her morning exercises, Qin Yao would check the fields and return home just as Liu Ji finished making breakfast.
The family of six would fill their bellies together, then Da Lang would take Si Niang to clean the dishes and leave them in a large basin, saving them for after dinner.
Liu Ji would start copying books on the cleared table.
His handwriting was ugly, only slightly better than Qin Yao’s, who could manage small characters.
Initially, Qin Yao thought of copying books together to quicken the pace.
Unfortunately, she was unable to write such fine script, so she gave up and began cutting paper. Once finished, she tended to the vegetable garden, picking and washing the evening’s vegetables, leaving them on the stove for Liu Ji to cook directly.
Since the cook was busy copying books, lunch was simple—using leftover vegetables from breakfast to make a broth or noodles.
Lunch was followed by a one-hour nap to recharge, continuing work in the afternoon.
Qin Yao and the four children were relatively free during this time, so she picked up the Enlightenment Atlas to teach the children, laying the foundation.
Since realizing they could attend school, the four siblings became noticeably more attentive in their studies.
During the family meeting, they heard Qin Yao talk about the imperial exams and realized studying had numerous benefits, and understanding and doing calculations were just a minor advantage.
After studying, they could sit for the exams. Passing the Scholar exam exempted them from taxes and corvée labor.
If they passed the advanced scholar exam, it was even more remarkable. Clan relatives would be protected, and people would gift money and land, with no worries about food or clothing, and dressed in silk and silver.
If they could pass as an advanced scholar, they could become officials, never again bound to the soil, becoming a member of the elite.
An elite among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants!
Their stepmother told them that regardless of whether they became the highest, they must first study hard, as it was the only opportunity for ordinary people to change their fate.
Second Lang had always been the most calculating among the four siblings. Discovering this opportunity with benefits aplenty, he forced himself to memorize, even though he disliked rote learning.
As expected, Qin Yao soon noticed Second Lang had the potential to become the King of Quan, so dedicated that his father worried he might be surpassed by his son.