The Legend of the Farm Girl

After Yunfang's mother came back, she saw that Yunfeng, who seemed unhappy when he left, had become happy now. She was also quite moved. Fang'er really had a way with her brother!

Yunfang's mother came back with ten blank handkerchiefs and one or two taels of silver. She told Yunfang about her visit to Shanhai Embroidery Workshop today.

"When Manager Huang saw me, he told me that the plum blossom handkerchief you embroidered sold very well in the city at the end of last year. Originally, casual embroiderers like us were not given year-end bonuses, but the boss said that we only supply Shanhai Embroidery Workshop, and our embroidery has added to its reputation, so he rewarded us with one or two taels of silver. Manager Huang also said that this time he would assign us a job and we would need handkerchiefs with words like "Gold List Nomination" or "Nominated". He said that the imperial examination will be held soon, and if you pass the exam, you will become a scholar. Many wealthy families have replaced the handkerchiefs of their women with such words to bring good luck. Manager Huang said that he would charge 40 cents for each of these handkerchiefs. Since we came late, he assigned me ten."

Yunfang nodded and said, "Okay, mother, I will learn and practice in the system tonight, and start embroidering tomorrow. I think this expensive handkerchief must be embroidered as soon as possible, otherwise it will not be able to be sold after the exam."

Yun Fangniang nodded and said, "You are right, Fang'er, let's follow your plan."

After practicing on the system for a whole night, Yunfang's embroidery of passing the imperial examination could not get the system's approval.

After getting up in the morning, Yunfang was a little worried, but she also tried to embroider the handkerchief because it was an urgent task and could not be delayed.

Three days later, Yunfang had finished embroidering ten handkerchiefs. On each of the handkerchiefs were words like "top of the list of successful candidates" and "a bright future" embroidered. Because the words were not accepted, Yunfang also added animals with good meanings such as magpies and bats to make the handkerchiefs look more vivid.

When Yun Fangniang took the handkerchief to the shopkeeper Huang, she only received twenty-five cents for it.

Huang the shopkeeper said to Yun Fangniang, "These little animals are well embroidered, adding a lot of color to the handkerchief, but the calligraphy is too ordinary, with the immaturity of a beginner, without any strokes. Those who buy this kind of handkerchief are all educated people, and they can tell the quality of calligraphy at a glance. It's also because I didn't think it through. Your daughter is only eight years old, and she can't even recognize a few words. I shouldn't assign this kind of work to you, so I still accept your handkerchief, but I can't give you forty cents."

After hearing what Huang said, Yun Fang Niang admitted that he was right. She thanked him and said with a smile, "Thank you very much, boss. I will find a chance for Fang Er to practice calligraphy when I get home. I'll take on this kind of job again in the future!"

"You're right. The best-selling embroidery at any time is always the one with words. If you can embroider your own characteristics, become famous, and get recognition from scholars, then a good work can be worth a thousand gold! But don't be impatient. This takes time to settle."

Shopkeeper Huang's words made Yun Fangniang feel hot in her heart.

Huang and Yun Fangniang had talked a lot. Many embroiderers had come to hand in their embroidery work. Huang quickly took out fifty blank handkerchiefs and embroidery threads and said to Yun Fangniang, "I see that your daughter's embroidery of these little animals is very vivid. So don't embroider words, just embroider some animals with good meanings! It doesn't matter when you are done. Just bring them to me. I'll give you thirty coins each."

Seeing that Manager Huang was busy, Yunfang's mother didn't delay any longer. She took the things and quickly walked back home. She had to discuss the writing matter with Yunfang.

After returning home, Yunfang's mother told Yunfang what Huang had said. Yunfang was prepared for her poor handwriting. The system had never recognized her handwriting embroidery, and learning calligraphy should be put on the agenda.

Yunfang thought for a while and said to her mother: "Mom, I have to have a reason to learn characters. I can't just learn them suddenly. I think it's better to send Xiaofeng to school, and then let Xiaofeng come back to teach me. I will learn in the system. This way, I won't arouse suspicion. In turn, I can tutor Xiaofeng, and Xiaoying will be able to go to school in the future. No matter who can read some books, it will be better for the future!"

Yun Fangniang thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll go pay the rent tomorrow and ask the landlord."

The next morning, Yunfang's mother took her three children to the neighbor's landlord's house. After entering the house, Aunt Li saw the three children Yunfang brought with her, the steady and generous Yunfang, the gentle and handsome Yunfeng, and the lively and lovely Yunying. Aunt Li liked them very much and said to Yunfang's mother, "It's not easy for you to raise three children by yourself. Fortunately, your daughter has grown up, and the two little ones are also good. When they grow up, you will have more blessings!"

Yunfang's mother has heard many people reassuring her that good fortune is yet to come. If it weren't for Yunfang and the learning system, she would never have dared to think about the future. But because of Yunfang, she believes that her family will get better and better.

Yun Fangniang smiled and said to Aunt Li: "Thank you for your kind words. I'm here to pay the remaining rent. Here's two taels and eight cents of silver. Would you like to count it?" As she spoke, she handed the money she had been holding in her hand to Aunt Li. Aunt Li took the money and smiled even brighter.

After seeing Aunt Li put away the money, Yun Fangniang asked again, "Aunt, my older boy is five years old this year. I want to send him to school for enlightenment, but I don't know where it would be more convenient to send him, so I want to ask you."

Aunt Li said hesitantly, "Studying is the most expensive thing. Can you afford it, an orphan and a widow?"

What Aunt Li didn’t say was how many embroiderers had damaged their eyes and bodies at a young age in order to support their sons or brothers’ studies, but in the end, they didn’t get any results!

Yun Fang's mother saw that Aunt Li was hesitant to speak, and said to Aunt Li, "I just want him to learn a few words, so that he can find a job in the city in the future. You know the situation of my family. My husband is gone, and we sold all our land to pay for his medical treatment. In the end, we were left with nothing. If Yun Feng can go to school and learn a few words, I will send him to be an apprentice when he is older. It will also be a way out, right?"

Aunt Li agreed with Yun Fangniang's opinion and said, "You are right. If you only know a few words and have no ambition to pass the imperial examination, it really won't cost much. Besides, knowing a few words will give you more options for careers. It is indeed easier to gain a foothold in this county."

Aunt Li thought about it for a while and continued, "Before, the child of your sister Zhang from the Liu family was educated at Master Feng's house nearby. Master Feng is an old student, and he has no problem edifying children and teaching them to recognize some characters. As he is old, he no longer has the ambition to take the exam for a scholar, so he makes a living by edifying students. He and I are old acquaintances, and he is a very reliable person when it comes to teaching students."

Yun Fang's mother was very surprised. She thought that she had to send her child to the south of the city to study! It would be very inconvenient to send her child to the south of the city. She thought about it and said these words.

Aunt Li replied, "You saw your sister Zhang's child go to the south of the city. Most of the schools in the south of the city are run by scholars. Scholars must teach better, but the tuition they charge is expensive. To study in the south of the city, the tuition costs six taels of silver a year, plus various festival gifts, writing brushes, inkstones, and paper. The total cost of studying alone is at least twenty taels of silver a year. It's really like burning money."

Yun Fang's mother was also shocked that it cost so much money!

Then he hurriedly asked Aunt Li: "What about Master Feng's place?"

Aunt Li said soothingly, "At Master Feng's place, the annual tuition is two taels of silver, and the gifts for festivals don't have to be too expensive, but you still have to prepare pens, ink, paper, and inkstone. But your Yunfeng is young, and he's not aiming for a good imperial examination, so he won't need much, five or six taels will be enough."

After hearing what Aunt Li said, Yunfang's mother still felt heavy-hearted, but she was determined to send Yunfeng to school. She said to Aunt Li, "Aunt Li, please take me to Master Feng when you have time. I will send Yunfeng there to study."

Aunt Li replied, "Okay, let's do it tomorrow. Go buy the six gifts for becoming a disciple, plus two taels of silver as a tuition fee, and I'll take you there tomorrow."