Ficool

Chapter 7 - chapter7

"This matter..." Uncle Wang did not agree immediately. He looked at Ran with some difficulty and said, "Young master Ran, I cannot agree to this right now. I need to discuss it properly with my wife and others.

You know, our Simeon is now a scholar and needs to prepare for next year's spring exam, so..."

"No problem, Uncle Wang. I understand!" Ran could tell he was hesitating. She smiled casually and said, "I only want to recognize a few characters, not be completely illiterate.

Besides, knowing a few characters will help me find better work later. Don't you think so?"

"That makes sense!" Uncle Wang nodded. "If you just want to learn a few characters, it doesn't have to be Simeon teaching you. If you want, our Louis can teach you. How about that?"

Seeing Ran hesitate, he explained, "Don't underestimate Louis. Although he is young, he has read the Thousand Character Classic carefully. Whenever Simeon comes home, he tests Louis. His knowledge is reliable.

Louis also rests every ten days, so he will have more time to teach you then.

What do you think, young master Ran? Tomorrow is Louis's rest day, so he can come teach you then!"

"Okay!" Ran agreed without hesitation. She was not a total beginner. As long as someone could teach her the characters of this world, it didn't have to be Simeon.

She had also heard that the village chief's son, Louis, was a good student. He was often praised by the teacher at school.

"But how much should I pay for lessons?"

Many people in this world could not afford to study, so education was very precious. Even a young teacher's monthly fee was not low.

Uncle Wang thought for a moment, then said slowly while Ran waited eagerly, "Louis can only teach you eight days a month. We are neighbors, so we won't charge extra. Just pay fifteen wen per day.

But one thing I must remind you. Louis will take the young student exam next spring. So he can only teach you these few months. After the new year, he won't teach anymore.

So how much you learn depends on your own effort!"

"Okay! Thank you, Uncle Wang!" Ran's smile became even more sincere after getting his agreement. "I only want to learn some big characters. I won't affect Louis's exam.

Once Louis passes the young student exam in spring, our village will have a new young scholar! This is a big matter, I know my limits!"

"Good! I will send Louis to your home tomorrow at dawn!"

Uncle Wang was very satisfied to see Ran so sensible. Louis was his son, and no one wanted him to succeed more than him.

At first, he didn't want to agree to Ran's request, but then he thought Louis deserved some rest on his day off. Also, Louis was a young teacher. Even if he taught all day, he could decide how many hours.

Besides, fifteen wen every day was a good income.

After saying goodbye to Uncle Wang, Ran felt a heavy weight lift from her heart. She happily left the house.

Uncle Wang saw Ran out the door, then carried the gift on the table into the largest, most delicate room. Inside the room, he placed the gift on the table. A woman dressed in fine clothes came out from the inner room.

She looked at the gift and nodded with satisfaction. She asked, "Why did Ran come this time?"

"The young man from the Ran family wants to learn to read," Uncle Wang said without hiding anything. "He came to ask us to let our Simeon teach him."

"Did you agree?" Aunt He frowned and said with disapproval, "Our Simeon is the only scholar in several nearby villages. How can he teach such a poor boy?"

As the mother of the only scholar in the area, Aunt He looked down on everyone.

Hearing that a poor boy dared to dream of her son teaching him made her unhappy.

"Don't worry, Aunt He, I did not agree!" Uncle Wang quickly reassured her, seeing her anger rising. "Our Simeon is going to be a legal official. Not just anyone can be his student."

"If you did not agree, then why did you keep his gift?" Although proud, Aunt He knew what gifts she could accept and which she could not.

She could not make a mistake that might delay her son's path to the exams.

Not only she but her whole family must avoid mistakes.

"Don't worry, Aunt He! You can keep these gifts," Uncle Wang said again, repeating what Ran said to him.

"Good! Louis is really smart!" Aunt He nodded happily. "Since Louis will teach him, let the ten wen be Louis's private money."

"Good! Then I'll thank Aunt He on behalf of Louis!" Uncle Wang hugged her waist and whispered teasingly in her ear.

Aunt He glanced at him with a coquettish look. Her small hand slid inside his clothes, gently stroking his firm chest.

Seeing him hold back, she laughed and said, "If you want to thank me for Louis, then show me how you will."

"Yes! Louis will definitely make Aunt He satisfied!" Uncle Wang's eyes darkened with passion, as if he wanted to devour her right away.

He suddenly hugged Aunt He tightly and walked quickly to the bedroom.

Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of a woman's soft cries and a man's low groans.

After leaving the village chief's house, Ran did not go home. She walked quickly to the town.

Tomorrow she would start learning to read, so today she needed to prepare brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. She also wanted to buy a beginner's book.

She was not sure if she had enough money.

Though she had never bought a book before, she knew books and paper were expensive. Otherwise, so many people would not struggle to afford schooling.

Shanghe Village was not far from Qinghe Town nearby. She walked fast and arrived in half an hour.

There was only one bookstore in Qinghe Town. Ran went straight inside without hesitation.

"What would this young man like to buy?"

The shopkeeper, who had been reading a book calmly at the counter, looked up once when she came in, then returned his gaze to the book without another word.

Ran did not mind his attitude. In this world, anyone who knew even two characters was respected.

Especially the owner of a bookstore.

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