Song Lizheng brought Song Yan to the Qi family. As soon as they sat down, he excitedly spoke about the clan school.
Qi Zhenzhen was very surprised. She hadn't expected Song Lizheng to have such foresight. This matter would bring long-lasting benefits to Xinghua Village, blessing future generations. If any remarkable individuals emerged from the clan school, they naturally wouldn't forget their roots. Generation after generation, Xinghua Village would never just be a small village at the foot of the mountain.
Song Yan spoke eloquently, detailing how the harvest from the sacrificial fields should be utilized for the clan school and how it should be managed.
His demeanor was spirited, unlike that of a typical farm boy.
Qi Zhenzhen guessed that he must have fared quite well during his years away. At the very least, the people and things he encountered were on a very high level, otherwise, where would he get such ambition?
"Zhenzhen, I plan to entrust the management of this ten percent profit you've given me entirely to Song Yan. He was the one who proposed establishing the clan school. He is well-traveled and knowledgeable, and he will definitely do a good job," Song Lizheng said happily.
She thought to herself that although Song Lizheng was the village elder and a good person, he wouldn't have come up with the idea of establishing a clan school. It turned out to be this Song Yan. Song Yan had previously thought of replacing Song Lizheng, but now Song Lizheng didn't seem to mind.
Song Yan met Qi Zhenzhen's probing gaze generously. "I just hope the village gets better and better."
Was this an explanation for the incident at her home earlier? Now that he was giving up this ten percent profit, it was like giving a sum of money to someone full of business ideas. Once he received the funds, he would work hard to make the money generate more money. Now that the village had a greater hope, he just wanted to see this hope gradually realized?
He was truly an extraordinary person.
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. "The person Elder Song favors must be good. Next spring, the four hundred taels of silver will be delivered in full. Elder Song and Uncle Song can start thinking about which land is good and decide on it, so as not to delay the spring sowing."
Song Yan's expression was a little strange. He had inexplicably become an elder, which was truly...
Qi Zhenzhen calculated based on the elder's generation. She called the village elder "Grandpa," and Song Yan called the village elder "Uncle." Naturally, she had to call Song Yan "Uncle."
After seeing them off, Qi Zhenzhen went to Yun Shi's room. Song Mingyue was learning embroidery with Yun Shi. Seeing her enter, she excitedly handed her embroidery hoop to Qi Zhenzhen. "Zhenzhen, look, how is my plum blossom embroidery?"
"It resembles the form but lacks the spirit," Qi Zhenzhen commented.
Song Mingyue pouted. "Auntie said the same thing. My flowers look similar, but they always lack a certain vitality."
"Be content. In needlework, I'm only good at mending. How long have you been learning, and you can already embroider flowers?" Qi Zhenzhen said with a hint of grievance. "If you say any more, I'll think you're showing off in front of me."
Song Mingyue stuck out her tongue. "I'm not. My mother said that people have different strengths. You see, although your needlework isn't good, you can cook, and your cooking is better than any restaurant. You're also good at business. My mother said that in terms of business, you're much more capable than many men."
"Beautiful Mingyue, I'm more capable than men. Do you want to pledge yourself to me?" Qi Zhenzhen teased Song Mingyue with a mischievous smile. The little girl was startled and moved back, looking at Qi Zhenzhen warily.
"You can't have any ideas about me. My mother, my mother has chosen my cousin. He will move in next spring, so we are impossible," Song Mingyue said seriously. "Besides, how can women..."
She was so adorably naive. Qi Zhenzhen wanted to tease her even more. "How can't they? I like Mingyue, does Mingyue like me?"
Song Mingyue was a little confused. She did like Qi Zhenzhen, but it still felt a bit strange.
Yun Shi couldn't stand her daughter's lack of decorum. She gave her a reproachful look. "You girl, you're getting more and more mischievous. Be careful not to scare Mingyue away, or you'll have no playmates and no one to talk to. You're busy with the kimchi business every day, and Yi Ge is focused on his studies. I'm very lonely."
Qi Zhenzhen sat up properly. "I won't tease anymore, I won't tease anymore."
She grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the tiered box on the kang table and, while cracking them, told Yun Shi about the clan school.
Yun Shi was stunned, her expression unreadable as to whether she was happy or unhappy.
A clan school? Although smaller in scale than an academy, it was still a place for teaching and nurturing people. At first hearing about it, she felt a touch of nostalgia. If Yun Kai Academy were still there, would she not be so down on her luck? If she had her parents by her side and Qin Lang, who doted on her, she would surely be the happiest woman in the world.
"Mom, Mom!" Seeing Yun Shi lost in thought, Qi Zhenzhen called out twice.
Yun Shi came back to her senses. Everything in the past was gone. She was now a concubine driven out by the main wife. Fortunately, she had two children with her, and they were promising. Otherwise, how could she live such a comfortable life? Last winter, the three of them huddled together for warmth. This year, the room was heated by the underfloor heating, they wore warm cotton clothes, and although the meals were not as exquisite as those in the marquis's mansion, they were very appetizing. What more could she ask for?
"Mom was thinking about past events. Around this time last year, the three of us were shivering with cold..." Yun Shi said with emotion. "In just one year, we're living such comfortable lives. Mom feels like it's a dream."
"What is this? Your daughter will definitely make sure Mom lives a life no worse than theirs."
Yun Shi understood who Qi Zhenzhen was referring to: the women in the Changping Marquis's mansion. She felt that her current life was better than theirs. As a concubine, her children stayed with her, she didn't have to scheme, she managed her own affairs, and those women couldn't compare to her.
"It's already very good now. Zhenzhen, don't get too tired. Daughters eventually get married," Yun Shi said. "You're only a year younger than Mingyue, and your Aunt Song has already started looking for a match for Mingyue."
"Mom, I'm going out to see how the kimchi is doing today." Qi Zhenzhen jumped off the kang, put on her shoes, and ran out.
This made Yun Shi both amused and exasperated. Every time she mentioned marriage, her daughter either avoided the topic or was nonchalant and uncaring, completely lacking a girl's shyness. She was worried.
Seeing Yun Shi's helpless expression, Song Mingyue blinked her big, watery eyes. "Auntie, my mother said that marriage is decided by fate, and sometimes worrying is useless. Zhenzhen is still young. Even if she starts looking for a match at fifteen, it's not too late."
Yun Shi chuckled. That was true. What was she rushing for? Zhenzhen was only twelve years old, and her body hadn't even fully developed yet. She was worrying too early.
The working women greeted Qi Zhenzhen enthusiastically when they saw her. Qi Zhenzhen responded with a smile and sat down beside Yu Shi to watch.
She asked Yu Shi to manage these women for her for a few reasons: first, their families had a good relationship; second, Yu Shi had a straightforward personality, acted with method, and was very sociable; and third, because of Yu Shi's status as the village elder's daughter-in-law, everyone had to show her some respect. Such a person was naturally suited for management.