Chapter 353: Can You Bear It?
They entered the house. The teacher let them make themselves at home, and poured them tea.
During this time, Liu Duo looked around, examining her surroundings. It wasn’t big, but it held a lot of books.
“I wonder, what is it that you’d like to ask?” The teacher poured them tea, and sat aside, looking at them wisely.
Liu Duo said politely, “It’s like this, sir. I would like my brother to be enrolled here as a student. I’m wondering how much the fees are and whether there are other requirements.”
The teacher brushed his beard, “How old is he? What name does he go by?”
Liu Ran was on the skinnier side, and lack of nourishment had taken a toll on him. He didn’t look like a ten-year-old boy.
“Sir, I’m ten. My name’s Liu Ran,” he said politely, respectfully, and in all seriousness.
He admired scholars who had passed down a great deal of knowledge.
The teacher sipped his tea and said leisurely, “A little old. Yuan Fang started more than three months ago. You’ll have to work hard to catch up with us. Can you bear it?
They usually enrolled new students at the end of each year. It was the end of April – almost May. Obviously Liu Ran was lagging behind, and it would be tough for him to catch up.
Liu Ran nodded, “I’ll work harder.”
Liu Duo acknowledged his determination and patted him on the head. She’d teach him whenever she was free. Otherwise, he’d have too much to catch up on.
The teacher smiled and nodded, impressed by the boy’s confidence, “Alright then, I hope that, as you said, you won’t give up halfway.”
He had heard similar replies more than once.
Then he turned to Liu Duo, “The fees are three taels of silver every six months. He can only return home for two days after every five. Other than his own blanket, there’s nothing else to worry about.”
Liu Duo nodded. She didn’t think the fees were expensive. It was basically the cost of lodging at the school. “Then can he return home every day and go again every morning?”
She would very much prefer that Liu Ran were a day student. That way she could give him guidance every day, and she would feel better if he ate at home.
The teacher brushed his beard some more, “No, other than bedtime, and a little time for themselves, they shall spend most of it studying in school.”
Returning home and going again the next day would waste some time, wouldn’t it?
Having heard that, Liu Duo said nothing else. She wouldn’t want Liu Ran to be the special kid. “Sure, then I’ll pay his fees first and come back tomorrow. There are clothes to pack.”
She handed him the three taels of silver from her money bag.
On the way home from the school, Liu Ran looked up at Liu Duo, “Sis, I’ll study really hard. I won’t waste your money.”
“Yes, I believe you,” Liu Duo smiled and patted him on the head.
Liu Duo walked slowly with Liu Ran. At the intersection, they met Grandmother Liu and a few other family members. Did they seem to be heading to her house?
She pretended to have not seen them and attempted to walk past, but she was stopped.
She held on to Liu Ran and looked at them, lacking expression, wondering what they were up to!
Grandmother Liu went green with envy when she noticed the brocade cloth Liu Ran was wearing, which was the same as Liu Duo’s. “Liu Duo, something happened to your big brother and we need money urgently. Go back and bring some!”
Liu Duo thought the old hag was just sick in the head!
Why should she? On what grounds could she demand her to get money?
“Who are you to say that to my sister? We don’t have a big brother!” Liu Ran furrowed his brow.
Liu Duo was very happy to hear what Liu Ran had just said! He was worthy to be called her brother!