The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 9 Pit

As everyone looked at her with either expectant or anxious eyes, Grandmother Jia felt a slight tightness in her chest and couldn't help but start turning the prayer beads in her hand.

School reform is, in principle, a matter for men; Shen Ning is overstepping her bounds and interfering in this.

However, given her background and status, coupled with today's events, it is only natural for her to intervene in the school's reforms.

Didn't you see that the crowd who were just dissatisfied are now all hoping she will accept Shen Ning's proposal?
The only one who didn't want her to agree was her second daughter-in-law, Wang.

Jia Zhu passed the imperial examination last year and is now studying at the Imperial Academy. His father-in-law, Lord Li, is taking care of him there, so he and his mother-in-law are not worried. The Jia family's clan school can't take care of him either, but what about Bao Yu?
Baoyu is six years old this year. When he was three or four years old, he learned many characters from his eldest granddaughter Yuanchun. Now he is at the right age to study. He has already hired a tutor and does not need to come to the clan school to study at all.

But if you don't study... you'll have to pay five hundred taels of silver a year.

The money itself wasn't the problem; the real difficulty lay with her stubborn second son, Jia Zheng. If things went wrong, he might very well send Baoyu over for a "bitter-sweet meal" every seven days.

Although I don't know the specifics of the meal, just from the phrase "remembering bitterness," I know it wasn't good.

Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia sighed, "It's fine, but you know, Zhu'er is studying at the Imperial Academy. You want him to come back for a 'bitter-sweet meal'..."

“Zhu’er has already passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai, so she is naturally not included in this category.”

In Shen Ning's opinion, Jia Zhu should come back and work with Jiao Da to toughen up his body.

Unfortunately, if she were to bring Jia Zhu back, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang would immediately turn against her, and even Jia Zheng would not agree.

Shen Ning smiled and said, "Within the Jia family, all those who pass the imperial examinations are not bound by the clan school. As for others... having become members of the Jia family and enjoying the family's wealth, they should not forget their roots and should be the first priority."

Jia Mu: "..."

Mrs. Wang: "..."

Both of them wanted to toughen up, but to object now would be to forget their roots.

hum~
The two of them couldn't help but glance at her stomach.

"Alright then!"

Grandmother Jia sighed inwardly, "I am also a member of the Jia family. So, I will do the same as you and donate three hundred taels to the clan school every year to buy some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for the children!"

"The old lady and my sister-in-law have both donated," Madam Wang said gently, but a hint of fierceness lurked in her smile. "Then my sister-in-law and I will also donate a hundred taels to the clan school every year!"

Madam Xing: "..."

She didn't want to donate, and she didn't have any children who needed to go to school.

Everyone else donated, and given her status, she... couldn't not donate.

When Shen Ning looked over, Xing forced a smile and nodded, "That makes sense."

"In that case, Shen Ning thanks Aunt and her two younger siblings for their support."

With Qingzhu's help, she stood up and curtsied to the three of them.

Apart from Grandmother Jia, who didn't move, Madam Xing and Madam Wang could only step aside to avoid it.

"Oh dear, Auntie, why are you being so polite with us?"

At Grandmother Jia's prompting, Wang Xifeng hurried over to support her, saying, "It's all for the sake of the clan. You're not well, so let my sister-in-law and I take care of things here. You, Grandmother, Madam, and Second Madam should go back and rest early."

"Feng'er is the one who knows how to care for people."

Shen Ning patted her hand, "But you still need to take care of the old lady and your two younger siblings. Leave things here to Lian'er!"

She gave Yu Shi an encouraging look as she wrote down the rules of reward and punishment. "You've written them all down? If you have, give them to Lian'er so he can discuss the details with She Di and Zhen'er."

"take note of it."

Ms. You calmly put down her pen, and only then did everyone realize that she, standing at the farthest point, had actually filled more than half a page with notes.

hiss~
No wonder she was able to marry into the Ningguo Mansion and become the eldest daughter-in-law of the main branch.

The admiration in the eyes of the ladies and grandmothers was genuine.

Once the regulations are written down, they are unlikely to be changed.

Not every family among them is doing well.

With this reward of several hundred taels of silver, the children were even more motivated to study.

With hope for the future, even though the screams of the children in the courtyard could still be heard occasionally, the smiles on their faces became more frequent. At this moment, Jia She, who was drinking tea, watching Jia Zhen beat people, and listening to the commotion outside, seemed to be thinking of someone, his gaze distant and sorrowful.

The women from the outer courtyard followed him, crying and making a scene. He had expected them to bang on the door and cause a huge commotion, but they stopped crying and making a scene after a short while.

Neither Xing nor Wang could do this; only the mother and sister-in-law could.

My mother won't get involved until she knows the specific reason, so it's just my sister-in-law who can handle it.

Jia She sipped his tea slowly, savoring its bitterness.

"Uncle She!"

After giving the last person three slaps on the buttocks, Jia Zhen handed the work to a servant, wiping his hands as he came over, saying, "Shouldn't we inform Uncle Zheng about today's events?"

"Hmm~"

Jia She raised his eyelids, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Aren't you going to tell your elder brother too?"

His father?

Thinking of his father, Jia Zhen's face paled slightly, and his legs trembled a little. "Of course I have to tell him."

He only hoped that his mother could still protect him as before.

"I also intend to expel Jia Dairu and Jia Rui from the Jia family. I wonder if you..."

"Whatever you say, I don't object."

Jia She was used to being a hands-off manager, thinking, "As long as you can handle things yourself, that's fine."

Just as he was about to say something more, the gatekeeper opened the courtyard gate, and his son Jia Lian came running over, "Father, Brother Zhen."

Jia Lian held the paper in his hands. "This is the new school regulations drafted by my aunt." It would be a lie to say he wasn't impressed. "It looks very impressive. Even the old lady and the ladies have their support."

No wonder it's quiet outside.

Jia She and Jia Zhen looked at it together, and soon a smile appeared on their faces.

"Where's the old lady? Did your wife take care of her and leave?"

"Yes!"

Lady You's handwritten letter was not something to be shown to others, so Jia Lian even copied it again at the school. "They'll probably be home by now."

"Hmm~, let's do it this way then!"

Jia She glanced at his own son, his tone unusually gentle, "Your elder brother Zhu is still studying, Lian'er, in the future... you should also go to school and study."

What?
Jia Lian was shocked. "Father, I...I already donated to become a sub-prefect, didn't I?"

When he got married, his family specially donated the title of Fifth-Rank Assistant Magistrate to him because they were worried that his name was not good-looking!
Brother Zhu didn't donate his official position because he wanted to take the exam to become an official.

He is capable of passing the exam.

But at my age, if I were to go to school with a bunch of little kids...

"If you donate money to become a sub-prefect, do you no longer need to learn how to be a decent human being?"

When Jia She's face suddenly turned cold, Jia Lian almost knelt down. "Father, don't I still have to manage the household?"

"Chi~"

Jia She's disdain was palpable. "Is it interesting to fight your wife for control of the household?"

Jia Lian: "..."

He wanted to ask Jia Zhen for help, but Jia Zhen looked at everything, from the sky to the ground, then at his backside to the pillar, and never looked at him.

That bastard, is he trying to screw him over?

"Yes!"

A wise man knows how to be pragmatic. Jia Lian didn't want to be beaten by his own father in public, so he could only dejectedly agree for the time being, "I'll come to school."

(End of this chapter)