Chapter 39: Enrolling in School

Upon waking, Sun Bomin sought out his second younger brother, Uncle Er, to confirm the arrangements for schooling.

Uncle Er asked in confusion, "Big Brother, are you really going to let Shan-zi go to school?"

His eldest brother had only one precious son, whom he usually coddled excessively, keeping him locked at home and only allowing him to visit his maternal grandfather once a year. Why this sudden decision to send him to school?

Sun Bomin sighed and said, "Third Brother's son, De-ge, is starting school this year, and Shan-zi has been clamoring to go. I thought it would be good for the two brothers to learn together and look out for each other."

Uncle Er nodded in agreement. "Learning together is good. De-ge is tall and sturdy; he’ll surely be able to protect Shan-zi at the schoolhouse."

He couldn't understand how his brother's family raised their children; the four daughters were thin and frail, and the son was the same. The house was never short of food or drink, yet they just couldn't seem to put on any weight.

They were due to register with Scholar Zheng in two days. Besides the tuition fees, they needed to prepare the formal gifts for the teacher. Sun Bomin arranged to go to the market with Uncle San to buy lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, and longans. They already had celery from the garden and ten strips of dried meat at home.

Seeing that the six formal gifts were ready, Madam Huang said, "Eldest, Third, here are two taels of silver. You two take one tael each to pay for the tuition."

Madam Huang stayed at home all day, wanting for nothing, and rarely spent money. She saved the pension money given to her by her eldest daughter every year, and whenever a male descendant in the family went to school, she would cover the first year's expenses. Sun Dingde and Sun Shan were no exceptions.

Uncle San accepted the silver with practiced ease, smiling as he said, "De-ge, come over and thank your grandmother. When you grow up, you must be filial to her."

De-ge loved his grandmother and enjoyed visiting his eldest uncle's house because there were always many treats in her room. He said happily, "Grandma, when I grow up, I will buy you delicious food." He paused and added, "And I'll buy you beautiful clothes, too." All girls loved new clothes; although his grandmother was old, she was still a girl at heart and would surely like them.

Madam Huang patted De-ge’s large head and said with gratification, "Grandma doesn't need anything. As long as you all grow up tall and strong, and live safely and soundly, Grandma will be content."

Sun Shan puffed out his small chest and said, "Grandma, you must live to be a hundred. I will go to the schoolhouse, pass the scholar exams, become a top scholar, and earn a noble title for you, so the government will give you money to spend."

The room erupted in laughter at these words. Thinking the child was just spouting nonsense, Madam Huang patted Sun Shan’s little head, satisfied, and said, "Good, good. I will wait for my precious grandson to earn me a noble title."

If it had been before, the Sun family wouldn't have known what a noble title was, but thanks to the eldest daughter, the family members understood the meaning to some extent.

Aunt San curled her lip, thinking, *Shan-zi looks honest, but he's actually quite sly. A little brat already learning to brag.* She glanced at Madam Huang, who was smiling with such happiness, and thought, *The silver my mother-in-law saves will surely end up in the eldest branch's pocket.* She regretted her youthful ignorance in offending Madam Huang, which made it exceptionally difficult for her to ask for money now.

When Madam Su heard Shan-zi talk about becoming a scholar and a top graduate, she knew it was impossible, but that didn't stop her from dreaming, hoping she too might rise in status through her son. People always needed something to look forward to in this life; what if it actually came true?

After the twentieth of the lunar month, Uncle San mentioned that his two eldest sons were to start school on the twenty-fifth. They decided to go to Zheng Village on the twenty-third.

Early in the morning, Sun Shan was roused for breakfast. Afterward, Madam Su brought out a brand-new set of clothes and said with a smile, "Shan-zi, we're going to register with Scholar Zheng today, so we must dress well to leave a good impression on the teacher."

Madam Su had asked Uncle Er’s wife and learned that one didn't need to wear scholar-style robes to the schoolhouse; they just wore their everyday clothes. The students at the Zheng family school were all farm boys from within a hundred miles, dressed simply, many with patches on their clothes. Madam Su decided not to make him stand out, so she quickly made two new sets of jackets and trousers so Sun Shan would have clothes to rotate.

Dressed and ready by around nine in the morning, Sun Bomin gathered the six gifts and the tuition money, and took Sun Shan to Uncle San's house. As soon as he entered, he called out, "Third, are you ready? Let’s not be too late."

Sun Bomin was very nervous and uneasy, wondering how Shan-zi would fare in school. As for the possibility of Scholar Zheng refusing to admit him, he had never even considered it. Because there were very few farm children who could afford to study, Scholar Zheng was always short of students; why would he turn away a paying customer?

Uncle San was much calmer and reassured him, "Big Brother, don't worry. Scholar Zheng will be at the schoolhouse these two days. He has always had a rule that the period from the twentieth to the twenty-fifth is for registration. Anyone who wants to attend just needs to go during this time; he will always be home waiting."

Uncle San had already sent two sons to the school and was very familiar with the process. Still, he understood his elder brother's anxiety, remembering how he, too, had been afraid of making a bad impression on Scholar Zheng when he first took Ding-guang to register. In truth, Scholar Zheng was easygoing with parents but strict with students; those who didn't study hard were sure to receive a rap on the knuckles or a spanking.

Once everything was ready, Sun Bomin and Uncle San set off. Zheng Village was in the neighborhood, not far from Sun Village, just a half-hour walk away.

De-ge walked behind, holding Sun Shan’s hand. Along the way, De-ge’s hands, feet, and mouth were constantly in motion. One moment he was running to a small stream to catch snails, the next he was dashing to the roadside to pick flowers. He chattered incessantly like a little bird.

Sun Shan followed him helplessly, certain that De-ge had ADHD. Thinking of the miserable scene of him sitting perfectly still in the schoolhouse later, he chuckled to himself. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of Zheng Village.

De-ge pointed to a small farmhouse not far away and said, "My maternal grandfather lives there. Shan-zi, I’ll take you to play at my grandfather’s house." Since Aunt San was from Zheng Village, De-ge’s maternal home was naturally there.

Uncle San gave De-ge a light pat and scolded with a smile, "We aren't going to your grandfather's house today; we are going to register." De-ge had been hoping to eat at his grandfather's, but since his father said no, he dropped it, wondering why he had been hit.

De-ge was also wearing a brand-new outfit today, identical in material and style to Sun Shan’s, only in a different color. To outsiders, it was clear they were of the same family.

The four of them walked into Zheng Village and, after a while, reached Scholar Zheng’s house. The house was in the center of the village, consisting of eight or nine green-brick tiled rooms enclosed by a wall, obscuring the view inside.

When Sun Bomin and Uncle San reached the gate, an elderly man with snow-white hair was guarding it. Uncle San said with a smile, "Uncle Zheng, we are here to register for school."

Uncle Zheng, who was missing a few teeth, smiled, revealing his gums, and said kindly, "Good, follow me in; I will go inform the Master."

The four from the Sun family were led into a reception room while Uncle Zheng went to find Scholar Zheng. Uncle San whispered, "Uncle Zheng isn't a servant of Scholar Zheng. He is a local from the village, and when the scholar saw he had no wife or children, he took him in."

Sun Shan thought to himself that Scholar Zheng must be a truly kind-hearted man.

Before long, Scholar Zheng appeared. The four from the Sun family quickly stood up to pay their respects. Scholar Zheng nodded, sat in the seat of honor, and asked gently, "Sun Ji-shu, have you brought your son to register?"

Scholar Zheng and the Sun family were distant relatives within the five-degree mourning relationship; he had attended the wedding, so he naturally recognized Uncle San. Moreover, since Guang-ge and Yong-ge had already been attending school for several years, Scholar Zheng was very familiar with Uncle San.

Uncle San dropped his playful demeanor and said earnestly, "Yes, Teacher, I have brought my son to register today." He then pointed to Sun Bomin and Sun Shan, adding, "This is my elder brother, and this is his son. They are here to register together as well."