Xu He, who had always been studious himself, was thrilled at the idea of sending Ruijin to study. The couple agreed to start Ruijin’s education next spring when the weather warmed up.
"Should we send him to the city for his studies?"
Zhang Fangyuan knew what Xu He was getting at: "There aren’t any good village schools nearby. I don’t plan to send him to the one in our village, and it’s not because of past grudges."
The truth was that Fei Lian, the village teacher, was not a suitable role model. After losing his youngest child, Fei Lian had been depressed for a while. But once the wound healed, the pain was forgotten, neglecting Xu Shaochun and spending all his time with his mistress.
[伤疤好了忘了痛 (shāng bā hǎo le wàng le tòng): lit. Once the wound heals, the pain is forgotten; fig. People forget past hardships once things improve.]
However, Xu Shaochun was quite resilient. She focused on raising her only son, and Fei’s mother, seeing how well she cared for the child, treated her kindly. Life was still manageable.
"We’ll send him to the city for his studies. I’ll look around and see if we should send him to a formal academy or a private tutor. The most important thing is to find a good teacher."
Xu He agreed: "I’ll go with you when the time comes. But I’ve been thinking, if we send the child to the city for his studies, it might be inconvenient to travel back and forth."
Zhang Fangyuan immediately understood: "Are you suggesting we buy a house in the city?"
"That’s up to you," Xu He said with a smile. "I can’t make that decision on my own."
Zhang Fangyuan thought for a moment. The house in the village was comfortable, and the money they had spent building it wouldn’t buy much in the city. Previously, their business had been tied to the village, so they hadn’t considered buying a house in the city.
But now, with Xu He bringing it up, Zhang Fangyuan realized the importance of having a place in the city. First, their business in the city was growing, and he often had to travel there. With the children growing up and needing to study in the city, having a place to stay would be more convenient.
Second, it was common for families to want a house in the city. It would be something to boast about and would make it easier to find a good match for the children in the future.
As the saying goes, parents who love their children plan for their future.
[父母之爱子则为之计深远 (fù mǔ zhī ài zǐ zé wèi zhī jì shēn yuǎn): lit. Parents who love their children plan for their future; fig. Parents make long-term plans for their children’s well-being.]
Zhang Fangyuan was finally experiencing this firsthand.
Without much deliberation, Zhang Fangyuan felt it was time to buy a house in the city. In the past, they had worried about money, but now they could easily afford a city property, it was just a matter of size.
The couple agreed to calculate their finances after the New Year. If they had enough savings, they would buy a larger, nicer house. If money was tight, they would settle for a smaller one for the time being.
By the end of the first lunar month, Zhang Fangyuan had sold off all the charcoal he had stockpiled, half a month earlier than expected. He went to return the warehouse.
After the New Year, the snow continued to fall, and the people were already filled with worry. However, Zhang Fangyuan knew that this was the tail end of the severe cold. Just like the "autumn tiger," after this fierce wave, the weather would change.
[秋老虎 (qiū lǎo hǔ): lit. Autumn tiger, a period of unseasonably hot weather after the start of autumn.]
This year, many people were affected by the disaster. Those who could afford charcoal and food managed to survive, but there were also many poor families who couldn’t afford charcoal or grain. Some froze to death, while others starved to death.
Those who were lucky enough to survive were left with illnesses. Walking through Qingshui Alley, one could hear the mournful sounds of coughing everywhere.
The county government did a good deed. After the New Year’s Eve, they started raising funds to provide relief to the disaster victims.
Originally, the Zhang family’s warehouse still had over a thousand catties of charcoal. Feeling pity for the victims, Zhang Fangyuan decided to donate all of it to the government to be used as disaster relief supplies.
The county government led the fundraising efforts, and the wealthy families in Siyang were very supportive. Not only did it give them a good impression with the government, but it also won them the hearts of the common people. This kind of win-win situation was something that far-sighted merchants were willing to participate in.
As a result, many people donated rice, cloth, silver, candles, and medicine, and the amounts were substantial. Zhang Fangyuan’s donation seemed rather modest in comparison.
But he had never intended to seek anything in return for his small act of kindness.
After wrapping up this business, Zhang Fangyuan didn’t plan to continue selling charcoal. He had taken advantage of the weather to make a profit, but it wasn’t a long-term business.
After settling the accounts, the couple calculated that they had initially invested over five hundred taels of silver in purchasing charcoal. Now that they had sold it all, their profits had tripled.
At the end of the year, the poultry business was doing well, and their income was quite substantial. After years of hard work, the family now had savings of several thousand taels of silver.
However, Zhang Fangyuan didn’t dare to slack off. Once the snow melted and spring arrived, the hundred mu of land that had been left idle for a year would need to be cultivated. Otherwise, it would be a waste of money and a loss.
With external businesses requiring funds to operate, the couple carefully calculated and decided to set aside one thousand taels to buy a house in the city.
In the village, one or two hundred taels could build a large house covering several mu of land. In the city, one thousand taels could buy a two-courtyard house, though the exact size would depend on the location.
Although they already had a house, the idea of buying a new one, especially in the city, excited the couple just as much as when they built their first house.
The couple went to the city together to look for a house. They had a budget in mind, but since they hadn’t yet found a tutor for Little Ruijin, they weren’t sure where to buy the house. Their search felt a bit aimless.
Fortunately, due to the disaster, the real estate agents in the city didn’t have much business, so they were particularly patient with the couple, meticulously showing them various houses in the city.
After a few days of looking, they had seen all the available houses in the city and had narrowed it down to three options.
The first was a house near the largest Bai Xiang Academy in the city. It was a bit over one courtyard in size, just a few steps away from the academy across the street. If they lived here, they could hear the scholars reciting poetry every day, and the academic atmosphere was very strong. It would also be very convenient for their child to attend school.
The downside was that the house was small, expensive, and the scholars’ early morning and late-night recitations, as well as the teachers’ lectures, could be quite disruptive to rest.
The second option was a two-courtyard house in the eastern part of the city. The house was large, the surroundings were very peaceful, and the environment was quiet. Many teachers and officials lived in the area. However, it was a bit remote, and without a carriage, it would be inconvenient to go into the city for entertainment or other activities.
The third option was in the bustling city center. The price was reasonable, and it was very convenient for eating, drinking, and entertainment. However, it was inevitably noisy. Although Siyang had a curfew, it would be quiet after nightfall, but the daytime would be quite noisy.
For a while, the couple was very hesitant and couldn’t decide which one to choose.
Thank you for the update!!!
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