Chapter 28: The Whole Family’s Hope
“Third Child ah! You don’t understand the economic situation at home, the family’s purse has already been opened to the limit for us to be able to afford the Eldest Master’s imperial examination and Yuwen’s studies. The family really can’t fork out so much money!” Patriarch Li softly said, his face gently contorting as if he couldn’t help the current situation.
Bailian scoffed at the old man. This man looked very elegant, like a true gentleman, but hiding under that gentle mask was actually a wizened, biased personality willing to go to great lengths to get what they want!
Hearing their Grandfather’s explanation, Yuhang and Yuhang silently watched on, saying nothing.
Although they were a little disappointed, it was expected.
After so many years, they didn’t place much faith or hope in the Li Family.
“But, Father, once Yuhang and Yuyang begin their studies, I will definitely work hard in the future to make up for the monetary costs!” The Third Master was a little unwilling to give up, after all, he already went so far. Clenching his fist tightly he expressed what he was feeling in his heart, “I don’t want Yuhang and Yuyang to be so illiterate that they don’t even know how to write their own names! Let them study like Yuwen, how about it?”
In the end, the Third Master had no choice but to plead desperately, reminding him of his childhood days when he had similarly begged to study like his eldest brother.
Or, learn a useful craft and be an apprentice like his Second Brother.
“Bah!” Matriarch Wang, hearing the Third Master’s pleas, immediately poured cold water, dousing his wishes with one malicious sneer, “Just what useless thing are you!”
The Eldest Master silently pulled at Matriarch Wang’s sleeve, leaving her to stare and scoff at the Third Master, but she didn’t continue to curse at him.
“My Father is the same as my Uncle, so whatever my Father is, then what is Uncle?” Bailian raised her eyes and calmly looked at her Eldest Uncle.
The Eldest Master’s face stiffened, internally feeling insulted, and upset.
But this Bailian girl had truly been too aggressive recently, she had gone overboard this time.
The most important thing to consider was that he was truly afraid that the actions of the Li Family would affect his future official position.
This imperial examination was his only chance!
The Eldest Uncle restrained the seething Matriarch Wang and amicably consoled, “Fifth girl is right, Third and I are brothers.
“It’s just that, as for Yuhang and Yuhang’s studies, there simply isn’t enough money in the family right now. Just wait until Uncle passes the imperial examination, then I will definitely provide the means for Yuhang and Yuhang to pursue their studies!” the Eldest Master exclaimed with a firm face.
“Hehe, I hope my Uncle will become an official soon!” Bailian laughed disdainfully, looking unimpressed with his claims.
Seeing Bailian so blatantly make fun of him, the Eldest Master internally became very annoyed, but there was no lapse in his facial expression or demeanor. Instead, thinking of himself as a refined, dignified scholar who was above these poor farmers, he smiled elegantly, fully acting as if was he was truly a pedantic scholar unfazed by these small-minded people.
Liu Meijun stiffly put on a cordial smile and reassured Bailian, “My husband is right, he will definitely let Yuhang and Yuyang study in the future.”
Bailian took a peek at her Grandfather’s dark expression, sniggering silently.
Patriarch Li was feeling very incensed and roiled up at the moment and had felt that Bailian was becoming the disaster star of the family recently.
The family had been fine before, but now Bailian doesn’t even respect her elders and even dares to ridicule his Eldest son!
One should know, the Eldest son was the hope of the whole family ah!
Moreover, it was already considered very difficult for an agricultural, farming family to support his studies. In addition to the Eldest Master of the Li Family, they also had the First Branch’s Eldest Young Master, Li Yuwen to take care of.
The family’s finances were currently in dire straits. After all, Grandmother Ciying’s dowry had finally been used up.
The Eldest and Second Master’s were married, they also renovated part of the residence recently, and also needed money for his studies…
The Second Master worked as a shopkeeper in town. Usually, the Second Branch and family did not live with the rest of the family but occasionally brought back some money.
However, it wasn’t much.
After all, it was quite expensive for the Second Branch to rent a residence in town.
As a result, the rest of the Li Family entirely depended on Grandmother Ciying’s dowry to live!
Even so, Patriarch Li only recognized Yuwen as his grandchild.
The Second Branch only had two daughters, but the Third Branch had two sons.
However, they were considered “concubine-born”.
In the eyes of the muddleheaded Patriarch Li, it was still his Eldest son who had the most promise for the future!
However, recently, Bailian kept bringing up the topic of Secondary Wife and equal status, making him feel very uncomfortable.
He had been enjoying a grand lifestyle with his main wife and concubine. He was a true intellectual, the head of a grand family, just like those officials he admired.
But he also knew, that if he continued to suppress them ignorantly, it could lead others to think that the Li Family wasn’t upright and principled, and it could end up affecting his Eldest son’s future endeavors.
Therefore, he was very unwilling to support Yuhang and Yuyang’s studies in his heart and already believed that he had been very generous by letting them live for this long.
He didn’t know what was going on with Bailain, his beady, black eyes darting around, his heart feeling a little guilty.
“Third, your Eldest Brother already assured you, he will support Yuhang and Yuyang’s studies when we have more money in the future, so please causing trouble already.” The old man affably said, looking at his youngest son with a gentle expression.
‘Noisy’, Bailian could see it written all over that old man’s face. It seemed that this Grandfather’s person really didn’t treat his son as a person.
Clearly, the Third Master worked and labored the hardest in the Li Family and Grandmother Ciying had a rather large dowry, but they still hadn’t expected for the Third Branch to make a fuss and request Yuhang and Yuhang be sent outside to study.
Ha, if it wasn’t for Grandma’s dowry and the ten acres of land that came with it, how could this Patriarch Li be living so comfortably?
With just the Li Family’s five measly acres of farmland and that Patriarch Li’s trifling salary, did they really think it could support my Eldest Uncle’s and Yuwen’s studies?
Bailian wryly looked on at Patriarch Li.
Whatever, I’m going to find a way to separate from them in the future, it’s better to let my Father see Li Family’s real personalities, once and for all! Currently, Bailian didn’t even want that old man to be kind enough to let her two brothers go to school!
“Father, Yuhang..is already seven-years-old…” the Third Master begged, “If we wait a couple of years, the prime time for him to learn will have already passed!”
“Then don’t study!” Matriarch Wang spitefully rolled her eyes.
She didn’t want her son to pass the imperial exam, then it would be too convenient for the grandson of that vixen!
“Mother…Old Madam…” The Third Master felt as if his throat was blocked by something, and couldn’t say another word, choked up from disbelief.
Bailian knowingly observed and smiled. Although the Third Master longed for his father’s love from Patriarch Li in his heart, it seemed that he just wasn’t fated to have any good fortune with Matriarch Wang.
Before, he had called Matriarch Wang “Mother”, but now everyone from the Third Branch had changed to calling her “Old Madam”.
It seemed it wasn’t entirely hopeless.
Yuhang’s head was lowered, his expression unreadable.
“Third, let’s just decide things like this, you go and work!” Patriarch Li vexedly brandished a wave with his hand and then began to eat his now cold meal.
“Father, it’s okay.” Yuhang tilted his head up, his face fixed in determination, a stubborn glint in his eyes.
Today, he clearly saw the true character of the Li Family, and coupled with the Bailian’s brainwashing from earlier, he actually felt that it would be better if they didn’t spend Li Family’s money to support his studies.
In the end, the Third Master slowly shuffled back to the hot fields with an extremely dejected look.
Grandmother Ciying and Madam Zhao swept the courtyard, while Yuhang and Yuyang dig up ragweed for the pig’s feed.
After they were finished, they would have to go to the farm fields to help the Third Master. With the Li Family’s fifteen acres of land, the Third Master alone wouldn’t be able to tend to all the fields.
As the rest of the Third Branch went to work, Bailian didn’t miss the Fourth Master’s scheming gaze so she purposely didn’t go do any chores. She cleverly made up an excuse, saying she felt dizzy and needed to rest a bit. Patriarch Li stopped Matriarch Wang from making a fuss.
Finally, when there was Bailian left in the Third Branch’s room, the Fourth Master wandered into the Third Branch’s quarters.
At this time, Patriarch Li was studying with his Eldest son and the women were currently embroidering and chatting with Matriarch Wang, except for the lazy Li Jinyu who had retired to her own room to sleep after lunch.
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