"Haste makes waste, you are still young," Master Lin said gently, patting Zhan Feiyu's head to comfort her. He understood her urgency, "Little Yu, rewrite these characters for me."
Zhan Feiyu was grateful for Master Lin's extra guidance but had no intention of slacking off. Only by passing the Tong Sheng exam could she continue her studies.
She carefully ground the ink, dipped her brush, and straightened her lotus-root-like arms. Zhan Feiyu began to copy the calligraphy model. Master Lin, standing beside her, occasionally pointed out areas that needed attention. The originally neat and orderly large characters gradually took on structure and spirit.
It was酉时 (yǒushí, 5-7 PM) when the private school let out. It was now酉时三刻 (yǒushí sānkè, 6:45 PM), and dusk was settling in.
Master Lin lit an oil lamp and watched Zhan Feiyu diligently copying the calligraphy model. He then picked up a book to read himself.
"Your father's favoritism is boundless," Madam Wang said, frowning as she looked at the brightly lit study, her expression growing more displeased.
For the same ten taels of silver in tuition fees, he not only gave this girl extra instruction after school every day but also provided writing brushes, ink, paper, and calligraphy models for free. Anyone would think she was Master Lin's own daughter!
"Mother, my aptitude is average, and my health is poor. Father teaching Little Yu more is for the family's benefit." Lin Xiuyuan was the same age as Zhan Dalang but much thinner, his face a sickly pale, a frailty he had carried since birth.
His father could have opened a private school in the county back then, but he was squeezed out and suppressed by Scholar Zhang of Hongyuan Private School, forcing him to open a private school in the village to make a living.
Lin Xiuyuan desperately wanted to bring honor to his father, but his weak health prevented it. Moreover, the students at the private school were mostly from farming families, with few talented ones, and none possessed the diligence of "hanging their heads on a beam and piercing their thighs with an awl."
Facing Scholar Zhang's constant mockery and ridicule at the county examinations held in February and July each year, Lin Xiuyuan only hated his own incompetence. Now that his father had taken on such a talented student as Little Yu, it was only natural that he would pay extra attention to her.
Madam Wang looked at her son, who was already wearing a padded jacket in October, and her heart ached as if it were being pierced by needles.
If she hadn't fallen and given birth prematurely back then, Xiuyuan wouldn't have had to take medicine before he could even suckle. For years, he couldn't tolerate the cold or the heat, and every sudden drop in temperature would make him sick.
Madam Wang clasped Lin Xiuyuan's cold hand, her heart overwhelmed by self-blame and guilt. "Xiuyuan, it's Mother's fault."
"Mother, the doctor said as long as I'm properly cared for, I'm no different from anyone else," Lin Xiuyuan said with a cheerful smile, supporting Madam Wang as they walked into the house.
However, as he glanced back at the illuminated study, his eyes were filled with deep envy. His own body was useless, and his father's hopes could only be placed on Little Yu.
In the study, Master Lin examined the large characters Zhan Feiyu had copied and nodded with satisfaction. "Take these two books, 'Thousand Family Poems' and 'Rhyme and Rhythm Primer,' back with you to read. Lord Chen was renowned for his poetry in his early years, and the trial poems for the county examinations were personally set by Lord Chen each year."
The trial poems for the county examinations were generally five characters with six rhymes or five characters with eight rhymes. As long as the parallelism and rhyme were correct, it was sufficient, and the intention and literary flair were not emphasized. However, Lord Chen loved poetry, and if the trial poems were outstanding, it would naturally be a bonus.
Compared to the cultural immersion of children from scholarly families, rural students often lacked in poetic rhythm. Master Lin had noticed that Zhan Feiyu was different from other students; she was aiming for the imperial examinations, so her poetry and prose needed to be honed.
"Yes, Master," Zhan Feiyu nodded, suppressing the surge of gratitude in her heart. She was only a seven-year-old student; gratitude and repaying kindness were empty words for now. She would wait for the future.
By the time Zhan Feiyu left the private school, it was nearly dark. Fortunately, it was only a fifteen-minute walk home. Zhan Feiyu slowly strolled towards the village with her schoolbag, treating it as exercise.
Suddenly, she felt a prickle on her back. Zhan Feiyu looked back; there was no one on the road, but there were still people working in the fields not far away, and the mountain forest to her left was silent.
"Woof woof!" Da Huang, wagging its tail, ran towards Zhan Feiyu from the other end of the dirt road.
"Da Huang!" Zhan Feiyu called out crisply, her short legs speeding up. Da Huang was intelligent and always came to the road to pick up Feiyu on her way home. This was also why Old Master Zhan and Madam Li had not come to pick her up.
Patting Da Huang's head, Zhan Feiyu led Da Huang proudly towards home. At this moment, from the dark forest, a hunched figure peered out, its gloomy gaze fixed on the departing person and dog.
At the Zhan family's home.
"Mother, what happened?" Zhan Feiyu, upon returning home, keenly sensed that the atmosphere was wrong.
The main hall was pitch black. At this time of day, candles would usually be lit. Mother, Second Aunt, and Third Aunt would be mending clothes by lamplight, Father would be repairing farm tools, and Second Uncle would be sharing news from the county with his younger uncle.
Placing the sweet potatoes and steamed buns on the table, Madam Li sat down and said in a low voice, "Your Third Aunt was hit by your grandmother at noon. She's making a fuss about separating the household and has returned to her maiden home with Er Lang and Niu Niu."
Tomorrow, the fifth day, was a rest day for the private school. Madam Li planned to take Zhan Feiyu to the county to buy paper for practicing calligraphy and would return home in the morning. Her maiden family only had three siblings, and Madam Li was the youngest. Her elder brother, who was now in charge, also doted on her. Madam Li went back to borrow some money and only learned in the afternoon that Madam Ma had been beaten by Old Madam Zhan.
Zhan Feiyu paused her chewing of the steamed bun. Not that she was being overly malicious, but after hearing the cause and effect, if this wasn't instigated by the second branch, she would write her name backward.
"Second Uncle and Second Aunt won't separate the household," Zhan Feiyu said, her chubby face furrowed in thought. Instigating Third Aunt to cause a household separation was definitely a smokescreen, but Zhan Feiyu couldn't figure out the intention behind it for the moment.
Madam Li looked at Zhan Feiyu, who was frowning and acting like a little adult, and couldn't help but smile. "Your going to school was approved by the county magistrate. In a couple of years, after you pass the Tong Sheng exam, I'll sell everything I own to support your studies."
Dalang had studied for four years without passing the county examination, but Madam Li had secretly asked Master Lin. With Little Yu's intelligence and diligence, she would definitely pass the Tong Sheng exam in two years. Once she had the title of a female Tong Sheng, even if the second branch caused trouble, the village chief and the Zhan family elder would never agree.
Zhan Feiyu lowered her head and continued to eat her steamed bun. Mother was still too kind. The bruise on her waist took over a month to heal, yet Second Uncle could heartlessly kick her at that time. How could he possibly allow her to continue studying? Once the first branch became established, how could they continue to be beasts of burden for the second branch?