Divine Tang Era

The high-altitude climate is dry, so the red sausage made from golden yak beef only takes a few days to cook.

This stuff can't be dried too much, otherwise it'll taste like chewing on wood, tough and not tasty.

Seeing that the sausage was ready, Xu Dan couldn't wait to take a slice and deep-fry it. The fried sausage was bright red and oily, emitting a charming aroma that blended sugar and wine.

"Come on, try our red sausage."

Xu Dan picked up a piece of the bright red sausage, which was fried to a glossy red color and had a captivating aroma of wine, and placed it in the bowls of Yun Niang and Xiao Que'er.

The black bear squatted on the ground, its mouth watering at the aroma of wine and meat. However, it was very sensible; no matter how much it craved and drooled, it didn't utter a sound.

Xu Dan picked up a piece for it. It wasn't that he was stingy, but rather that Yun Niang, Xiao Que'er, and the black bear's bodies couldn't handle the surging essence contained in the demon beast's meat. Eating too much would be indigestible and could damage their bodies.

Recently, under the care of the monster bones that Xu Dan has been brewing.

With the addition of practicing martial arts and strengthening their bodies, Yunniang and Xiaoque'er looked healthier and healthier. Xiaoque'er, in particular, became as strong as a roaring little tiger because of her martial arts training and good food.

"It's delicious."

The sweet taste whetted the little magpie's appetite, and she couldn't help but shovel a few more mouthfuls of rice into her mouth.

Yun Niang nodded affirmatively; the taste was indeed quite good.

As for the black bear, the bright red fried sausage slice had already been swallowed whole, like Pigsy eating ginseng fruit; it probably didn't even taste it. Meanwhile, the bear stood by, sticking out its tongue, seemingly wanting another bite, but Xu Dan completely ignored it.

"Yunniang, have you ever thought about sending Xiaoque'er to school?"

Xu Dan glanced at Xiao Que'er, who was engrossed in eating, and asked.

He originally wanted to send Xiao Que'er to the Mo Family Martial Arts School to learn martial arts, but then he felt that he should send her to school instead. Otherwise, she might train for a while and end up not understanding anything, becoming a good-for-nothing who only knows how to fight and kill. How could that be acceptable?

However, the two are not contradictory. You can go to the martial arts school to train your body in the morning and then go to the school to study and increase your knowledge in the afternoon.

"read?"

Yunniang had never thought about this question. In the past, when they barely had enough to eat, they wouldn't have dared to dream of such a thing. Although life was better now, even boys in Jingning City were having trouble getting an education, let alone girls.

However, the Tang Dynasty did not oppose girls attending school.

Thanks to the exemplary role models set by great women such as Princess Pingyang, Empress Wu Zetian, Shangguan Wan'er, and Princess Taiping, women in the Tang Dynasty could not only attend school but also take imperial examinations and become officials. In some aspects, the abilities of Tang Dynasty women surpassed those of men.

This is something that makes countless men of the Tang Dynasty ashamed.

"Well, it's not good for Little Magpie to stay home and play with the black bear all day. She should go to school. Even if she doesn't become very good at it, at least she'll learn to read and understand things. Otherwise, one day, when someone writes down insults about her, she won't understand anything and will just be clapping for them like an idiot."

"this..."

Yun Niang did not object to her daughter's education, but the cost of education was considerable.

Seeing her condition, Xu Dan said, "I'll pay for Xiao Que'er's tuition. After all, I don't want her to become blind, and besides, it's not much money."

"How could I possibly accept this?"

Yunniang hesitated for a moment, but seeing Xu Dan's resolute attitude, she let him go. She had already considered this place her home; all she needed to do was work diligently and take good care of the young master.

Seeing that she agreed, Xu Dan took Xiao Que'er to school early the next morning.

Fearing he wouldn't understand, Yunniang followed him.

The little magpie didn't know what studying meant, but when it heard it was going to school, it jumped for joy, it couldn't be happier. The black bear followed closely behind, a complete lackey.

Jiusi Abode.

A gentleman considers nine things: when looking, he considers clarity; when listening, he considers discernment; when displaying a countenance, he considers gentleness; when behaving, he considers respect; when speaking, he considers loyalty; when acting, he considers reverence; when in doubt, he considers inquiry; when angry, he considers the consequences; when seeing gain, he considers righteousness.

There are more than one school in Jingning City, but only Jiusi Academy is open to both boys and girls regardless of their social status. Moreover, the teachers there are very knowledgeable and patient, making it a good choice for children's early education.

The owner of the hermitage was surnamed Ku and named Mo Li, and was known as "Master Ku".

But as the child kept calling out, it turned into "Bitter Teacher," which was both funny and exasperating. Fortunately, the teacher didn't seem to mind. When he heard someone calling him, he cheerfully nodded and greeted them.

On the way, Xu Dan bought a gift for Xiao Que'er to formally become an apprentice, and when they arrived at the place, he had her kowtow and present the gift.

Looking at the adorable little magpie with her two high braids and delicate features, the old man nodded repeatedly in praise, saying, "Good, good." He then told her to come and study tomorrow.

The school was still in session, so it wasn't appropriate to disturb them too much. After paying her respects to her master, Yunniang took her leave.

"Hey, isn't Xiao Lang here to study?" the withered scholar said, looking at Xu Dan.

Xu Dan quickly shook his head, "I can read, I can read at home by myself." His heart had already grown wings of freedom, how could he still be confined to this small space? Besides, how old is he? It would be embarrassing to be studying with a bunch of little kids.

"Alright, as long as you study, it doesn't matter whether you're at home or in school."

Master Ku turned around, took out a book, and handed it to Xu Dan, saying, "Take this copy of the Analects back and take a look. If you don't understand anything, you can come and ask me."

Well...

Xu Dan looked at the book in his hand, unsure of what to say. Although it was well-intentioned, he really didn't want to read it anymore. He could only bite the bullet and say, "Master, I've read this book before. Could you perhaps choose another one, like the *Classic of Poetry* or the *Book of Changes*?"

Compared to other Confucian classics that make people want to fall asleep, the Book of Songs is not bad.

Putting everything else aside, at least the lines from "Guan Ju" – "Guan guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river. A fair maiden, a gentleman's good match" – are pleasing to the eye.

The Book of Changes is also excellent. Its opening line, "As heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so should a gentleman constantly strive for self-improvement; as earth's condition is receptive, so should a gentleman cultivate virtue and bear all things with magnanimity," is profound and thought-provoking. Although a long time has passed, Xu Dan still feels a jolt of emotion and a cleansing of the soul whenever he recalls it. This is the charm of classics.

Besides, some of the hexagrams looked pretty good, and although he didn't understand anything about them, he felt they were very powerful.

"You really read it?" the old man asked, disbelieving.

"Yes," Xu Dan nodded.

"Then recite a few lines for me to hear," said the withered scholar.

Xu Dan immediately recited: "The Master said: 'Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?' The Master said: 'Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar?' The Master said: 'When three people walk together, one of them will be my teacher.' The Master said: 'Only women and petty men are difficult to deal with.' The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits." In China, who who has ever been to school doesn't know a few lines from the Analects?

When I was in school, we had a copy of the Analects at home. Seeing so many sayings by Confucius, I would circle them all with a pen, so the whole book was covered in circles.

Looking back on it now that I'm older, I find it quite interesting.

"Good, very good, you memorized it well." The old man praised him repeatedly. Seeing that he had actually read it, he turned around and gave him another book, which was the Book of Poetry that Xu Dan had wanted. "Take the book back with you. If you have any questions, you can come and ask me."

"Thank you, Master."

Xu Dan bowed respectfully.

As he left Jiusi Abode and stepped out the door, he saw a maidservant standing not far away, smiling at him. Needless to say, she was there to urge him to finish his work. He had only threatened to send a knife, and she had come straight to his door.

Helpless, he could only let Yunniang and her son go back first, while he and his maid walked towards Mingfeng Tower.