Chapter 245: Meeting the teacher

Ah Jian drove the donkey cart with Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Che sitting behind him. A bamboo basket was placed on the cart and filled with gifts for Teacher Meng according to the rules.

There was celery, which meant hard work, diligence, and perseverance; lotus seeds, which were ‘hard-hearted and meant painstaking education; red beans, meaning good fortune and success; red dates, which meant learning early; logans, which meant perfect merit; and dried lean meat stripes, to express the student’s thoughts.

In addition to these things that must be prepared in accordance to the rules of etiquette, the other basket, which was being held by Lian Fang Zhou, contained the dried pheasant given by the Sun family, a hanging sausage from the Su family, and twenty eggs. Of course, there was also a red envelop that contained two taels of silver.

Lian Che had just started and did not live in the same village. In order to make a good impression on the teacher and have him spend more time on Lian Che, Lian Fang Zhou needed to spend this money.

Wearing a brand-new, lake-green cross-neck robe and thick-soled black cloth shoes, Lian Che was neatly dressed and looking very nervous, twisting his two small hands uneasily and looking aside from time to time before looking at his sister.

Finally, they arrived. Ah Jian parked the donkey cart and the three got out.

Ah Jian waited behind while Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Che carried the baskets to Teacher Meng’s house.

“Sister…” Lian Che suddenly pulled Lian Fang Zhou’s sleeve and stopped. He raised his head and looked at her with bright eyes, pursing his lips as he whispered: “I, I’m a little scared! Sister! You said that Teacher Meng would like me? That I can learn well?”

After all, Lian Che was still a child and had never left his house or his siblings since childhood. And after the death of his parents, he and Lian Fang Qing had become especially dependent on their sister. Now that he was suddenly throwing himself into a strange environment, facing strangers, it was inevitable to feel a little nervous.

Lian Fang Zhou patted his shoulder lightly and smiled softly: “As long as you are obedient and study hard, Teach Meng will definitely like you! You see, when we were at home, Brother Ah Jian taught you everything that Brother Ah Jian had learned, right? Teacher Meng should teach the same way, you can definitely learn well!”

Lian Che’s face showed a slight smile and his eyebrows stretched as he nodded, eyes bright. “Well, I will definitely listen to what my sister says! I will study hard and take the examination for scholars and imperial examinations in the future! No one will dare to bully our family!”

“My Che’er is the most ambitious!” Lian Fang Zhou said, a warm smile in her heart.

The two of them walked forward together.

In the past few days, people had been coming to sign up one after another. Teacher Meng no longer went out and only waited at home.

Lian Fang Zhou called out “Teacher Meng!” politely and brough Lian Che forward, saying respectfully: “I wish to send my younger brother to school and will ask Teacher Meng to teach him more in the future!”

Lian Che stepped forward with firm steps and bowed deeply to Teacher Meng: “Lian Che from Dafang village greets Teacher Meng!”

Teacher Meng couldn’t help but look at them more.

The two siblings were beautiful, neatly dressed, and very well mannered. Teacher Meng had a good feeling in his heart.

Moreover, he had never seen a sister come to send her younger brother to school, usually this was done by a father or grandfather.

“Alright, no need to be so formal!” Teacher Meng couldn’t help but ask: “Why is the sister sending the student? Where are the adults in your family?”

Lian Fang Zhou said hurriedly: “It’s not our intention to be rude, it’s just that, father and mother, no longer…”

Teacher Meng’s eyes brightened sharply and he hurried to say: “This old man was too abrupt!” His face was a bit stern. “Has this miss thought about it clearly? It is not an overnight effort to go to school and the more money you spend now, the more you will spend later… Miss…”

Teacher Meng did not say it directly but the meaning could not be clearer: studying cost a lot of money, could she afford it as a little girl? How long could it be sustained? Depending on her age, it was also almost time to get married, right?”

“Thank you, Teacher Meng, for your kind suggestions!” Lian Fang Zhou smiled gratefully and said in a firm tone: “Teacher, rest assured, since this girl has sent her brother to school today, as long as he studies well, this girl will definitely support him!”

Teacher Meng smiled slightly and nodded: “This miss’ hard word in admirable! Come here on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. Remember to bring some lunch and firewood. Dafang village is not too close to here. I will have a fire going at noon, which can be used to heat up meals. Many students do this.”

Lian Fang Zhou hurriedly agreed with a smile and thanked him. She offered up the gifts: “Respectfully, please accept these!”

When Lian Che saw that the teacher was very gentle with others and looked quite elegant, he was relieved. Seeing that the gentleman agreed to accept him, he was overjoyed and hurried forward to bow down.

Teacher Meng saw that he was very clever and liked him very much. He smiled and raised his hand to instruct him to get up.

He glanced at the very generous gifts given by Lian Fang Zhou and believed her words. However, he took the red envelope and returned it to her: “These are enough things so take this silver back! There will be more money in the future!”

Seeing that he was resolute, Lian Fang Zhou did not refuse his kindness. She though that the generous preparations for the New Years Day would be enough, so she gratefully thanked him and accepted it.

Teacher Meng couldn’t help but give her another look and smiled.

“Okay, come back on the seventeenth, go back first!”

Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Che retired and left.

Lian Che’s spirit had changed. He was completely different from his anxiety just now. He walked briskly and smiled excitedly, brimming with happiness: “Sister, Elder sister! Teacher looks very gentle and treats others well!”

From his tone, it was clear that he couldn’t wait to go to school.

Lian Fang Zhou’s heart was in her stomach and she smiled: “Now you can rest assured? Follow Teacher Meng to study well. Don’t be naughty with your classmates!”

Lian Fang Zhou originally had been worried that this Teacher Meng would be a pedantic and stereotyped person, who would only shake his head and sway. Without understanding the world, he could only read books and teach people to rely on texts. Weren’t the usually private school teachers all depressed and sour Confucians?

If this had been the case, she would have had to use her own way to raise a lot of points and influence Lian Che.

Unexpectedly, this Teacher Meng was a very good person, very much in line with the image of a scholar in Lian Fang Zhou’s mind. She was satisfied.

Lian Che nodded again and again: “Yes, Sister, don’t worry, I must study hard!”

The two brothers and sisters looked at each other and smiled, chatting as they walked back to the cart.

“Is it alright? How was it?” Ah Jian was leaning against the donkey cart with one hand. When he saw them, he stood up straight and smiled.

“Teacher Meng is really good! I can rest assured with Che’er there!” Lian Fang Zhou smiled.

“That’s good!” Ah Jian said.