Chapter 89: First Family Meeting
However, the family was indeed short of vegetables, so Qin Yao didn't say anything else.
The two small vegetable gardens in her front yard were eaten up as soon as the leaves appeared.
As for the newly cultivated vegetable field behind the house, it will take another month and a half before it can be eaten. There is no farmer's market in this part of the village where you can buy fresh vegetables every day.
Every family is short of food, and there is no guarantee that someone will sell to you even if you want to.
The whole family gathered and came to the main hall. Liu Ji placed a bowl of water in front of each person as Qin Yao requested, and then sat down.
First family meeting.
Officially begins.
Qin Yao first talked about the theme of the meeting - reading changes destiny.
Liu Ji's heart skipped a beat immediately. No way, no way, could it be really as he had guessed before?
Qin Yao gave him a look of congratulations and said:
"I have decided that from now on, Liu Ji, you will return to the academy to continue your studies and take part in the imperial examinations."
Dalang and his three friends didn't know what the imperial examination meant. They only understood what it meant: returning to the academy.
Liu Ji jumped up and said, "Madam, are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm serious." Qin Yao knocked on the table, "Sit down!"
Liu Ji sat down with mixed feelings, feeling uneasiness gradually rising. Sure enough, he saw Qin Yao take out a small notebook and read out all his expenses for the past six months. Every single expense was recorded in the notebook without a single mistake or omission.
"I won't count the small change, but you owe me a total of forty taels!"
Qin Yao pointed at the account book and looked at Liu Ji's shocked face. Unexpectedly, she was not just talking, she was really keeping accounts.
"In fact, I have studied it carefully. With the skills you have now, Liu Ji, it will take about 25 years to pay back the money by farming, excluding the interest and the cost of food, clothing, housing and transportation."
"If you copy books for others, it will take ten years to pay it back, assuming nothing unexpected happens to you and the market for readers is stable."
So, she concluded a shortcut, that is - take the imperial examination!
"As long as you pass the examination, our family's corvée and taxes will be exempted. It only takes two years for you to pay off the debt, and our debt will be cleared."
"If I can pass the imperial examination, that would be even better. If one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit!"
Liu Ji was stunned when he heard this. Let alone taking the imperial examination, if it weren't for Old Man Liu who was willing to spend that much money to send him to the academy, a person like him would never have thought about what relationship he had with studying in his life.
And now, Qin Yao actually wanted him to take the imperial examination?
Liu Ji raised his hand to touch Qin Yao's forehead to see if she was confused due to the fever. As expected, he was slapped away.
He covered the red back of his hand and asked Qin Yao tentatively: "Madam, do you know how old I am now?"
Qin Yao: "Twenty-four."
Liu Ji couldn't understand it even more. "I'm already 24 years old and I'm just starting to study now. How long will it take me to pass the exam and become a scholar?"
"Don't you always think that you are extremely talented and it's difficult to pass the examination to become a scholar?" Qin Yao asked back with disdain.
Liu Ji: "Ah, this."
"Did you think I was just a guard during the month I was at Ding's house?"
Qin Yao spread out the nine books. "I have already found out that as long as you can read the Four Books and Five Classics well, it is not difficult to pass the examination to become a scholar."
"Besides, I am still here. I will tutor you personally. Trust me. As long as you follow my instructions, I guarantee that you will pass the exam and become a scholar."
"What about the money?" Liu Ji felt like he was doomed, but he was actually a little tempted.
Does studying mean that he doesn't have to do farm work?
Qin Yao spread out the account book again and calculated the accounts of the five people, father and son.
"There is only one academy in the county now, and only students who study in the academy are eligible to take the exam, because the academy and students of the same period need to be guaranteed and other procedures before they can successfully take the imperial examination."
"So, the first step we need to take is to enter the academy."
"The tuition fee for the academy is two taels of silver per year, the accommodation fee is one tael per year, plus the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone that must be used every year, which is two taels. In total, it is five taels of silver per person per year."
Given their family's current situation, they can fully afford the first year's expenses.
"What about the second year?" Liu Ji didn't think he could pass the exam in one year.
Qin Yao smiled and said with a very good attitude: "We'll see next year or next year. As long as you go to school, you don't have to worry about money in the future."
Hearing this, Liu Ji was delighted. Although he couldn't understand why this woman suddenly wanted to support him to study, studying was much better than farming, and it would be more prestigious to tell others about it!
"Wife, are you really going to support me to study?" Liu Ji confirmed again.
Qin Yao nodded and asked him seriously: "Are you willing?"
"Of course I'm willing. But I'm already so old, will the academy still accept me?" Liu Ji asked curiously.
Qin Yao was relieved to see that he was willing. She patted his arm with a rare smile and said, "Don't worry. I've asked around at the Ding family. Anyone older than you can enter the academy."
However, before officially starting, there is still a contract to sign.
"What contract?" Liu Ji asked cautiously.
Qin Yao smiled at him. It was naturally a good contract in which they would share the joys and sorrows.
"I am paying for your education now. This is my personal investment in you. If there is an investment, there must be a return. Let's set the rules first. Don't worry, I don't like to take advantage of others. I don't ask for much."
Having said that, I was very ruthless when writing the contract.
The first rule was that he was not allowed to divorce his wife unilaterally. If he wanted to divorce his wife after passing the imperial examination, all the property he obtained would belong to Qin Yao, and he had to recognize her as his sister and continue to let her maintain her relative status and share the glory.
Liu Ji looked at Qin Yao in shock, "You are younger than me."
"I am also your sister!" Qin Yao shouted domineeringly.
Without even looking up, he continued writing the second article.
Without her consent, you cannot take a concubine or a wife. If you violate this, the situation will be the same as above.
The last clause was that the contract was valid for thirty years and she could terminate it unilaterally at any time, but Liu Ji could not.
"Okay, if you think it's okay, just sign and seal it." Qin Yao blew the ink on the paper dry, placed it in front of him, and considerately handed him the ink pad and pen.
The words on this paper are horrible to look at, but fortunately every word can be seen clearly.
After Liu Ji read the contents of the three contracts, he felt a little swelled, "Wife, how afraid are you that I will divorce you?"
Qin Yao forced a polite smile, "I don't mind being a widow."
Liu Ji no longer hesitated and quickly picked up the pen and signed his name and fingerprint on this unequal contract.
He had never thought about taking a concubine or a second wife. He was fed up with Qin Yao, this evil woman!
If he had the chance to divorce his wife, he would be a free and easy wanderer alone, doing whatever he wanted without anyone to restrict him.
By then, he will date eight girls at the same time, but will not get married. It will be fun to watch them fighting over him out of jealousy!
(End of this chapter)