The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Do you remember the story of the Three Kingdoms that your older brother told you before?

"Of course I remember. It was after hearing your stories that I developed a deep admiration for those who were good at fighting."

"This is a crucial battle fought at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty between the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei and Cao Cao's army. At that time, Cao Cao led an army of 200,000 down the Yangtze River, while Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu as left and right commanders, and Lu Su as military advisor. Zhou Yu led 30,000 elite troops up the river to Xiakou, where they joined Liu Bei's army stationed at Fankou and advanced westward up the Yangtze River, where they encountered Cao Cao's army at Chibi..."

"In the end, Zhou Yu and his men defeated Cao Cao's army of 200,000 with only 30,000 men."

"This is the importance of reading. It is because they understand military strategy, are good at tactics, and know how to command that they achieved the final victory, even with fewer troops winning against more."

Shen Qing nodded as if he understood, though he didn't really understand any profound principles. But Zhou Yu had always been his idol, and since his idol was a scholar, he wanted to be a scholar too.

Shen Chen was very pleased to see that Shen Qing had taken his words to heart. His younger brother was still young, and he couldn't be pushed too hard.

"Knock knock knock..." The knocking sounded again.

"Big brother, it's me." Shen Wan's voice came from outside the door.

Shen Qing quickly ran over and opened the door for his second sister.

As soon as the door opened, Shen Wan rushed towards Shen Qing.

Fearing that his second sister might fall, Shen Chen immediately got up and went to meet her.

He picked up his second sister.

Shen Wan hugged Shen Qing's neck tightly, her voice choked with emotion.

"Big brother, I can't bear to part with you."

"The eldest brother also can't bear to part with the second sister."

Her sister once told her that her older brother was not a fish in a pond, but needed to go out to the sea to swim.

She couldn't stop her older brother.

“But, elder brother, I support your decision to go to the capital.”

“I know you’re going to the capital to study. Although I don’t understand what you’re going to do, the capital is definitely better than Xin’an County.”

"But you can't forget Wan'er."

Shen Chen wiped away his second sister's tears with his hand and said with a smile, "Don't worry, your older brother will definitely not forget Wan'er."

"Then you must think of Wan'er every day."

"it is good!"

"Hook!"

"Hook!"

Seeing that her older brother had made a pinky promise, Shen Wan quickly got off him. She was a grown woman now and couldn't let her older brother get tired.

After the rain cleared, Shen Wanyu smiled and took out a purse from her bosom.

"Brother, I heard the old lady next door say that you must have money when you go out, otherwise you can't do anything."

"This is money I secretly saved up. I originally planned to buy a silver hairpin for my eldest sister, but I'll give it to you first."

Shen Chen was deeply moved, and he gently rubbed his second sister's fluffy little head.

"Then what are you going to do with the money you gave your older sister to buy the silver hairpin for?"

Shen Wan spoke without hesitation, "My older sister isn't going out. Besides, it's almost Chinese New Year in a few months. Aren't there red envelopes for Chinese New Year? I'll save them up slowly then."

"Alright, then I'll accept your kind offer." Shen Chen accepted Shen Wan's purse.

Shen Wan showed no pity whatsoever; instead, she walked over and hugged his arm.

"Big brother, you'll be all alone in the capital from now on, so you'd better eat well."

Shen Chen remembered the time he fainted from hunger. Shen Wan was there at the time, and she must have been terrified.

Shen Chen squatted down and looked Shen Wan at eye level. "Big brother will remember, he will definitely remember."

"Big brother is so good." Shen Wan patted her older brother's head gently, mimicking how her older sister would praise her.

Shen Qing, standing to the side, felt a little embarrassed. He usually spent his money as soon as he got it, unlike his second sister who secretly saved it up.

When his elder brother passed away, he didn't have anything to give him.

He handed over his beloved dagger, saying, "Brother, this is for you. If you miss me while you're all alone in the capital, just take out this wooden dagger and look at it."

Shen Chen took the wooden dagger from Shen Qing. Unlike Shen Wan's indifference just now, he showed a hint of reluctance.

Shen Cao walked in and saw her younger siblings saying goodbye to their older brother.

"Brother, dinner is ready. Grand Tutor Zhou has arrived."

"it is good."

Shen Chen pulled Shen Wan and Shen Qing towards the main room, but Shen Cao stopped them.

"Wan'er, Qing'er, you two go to the kitchen to help your mother serve the dishes. I'll have a few more words with my older brother."

"Okay." The two let go of their older brother's hand and skipped and hopped to the kitchen.

"Grass, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Shen Chen was somewhat puzzled.

"Big brother, why are you leaving so soon? Aren't you going to say goodbye properly?"

"We haven't left yet!"

"Actually, it's nothing."

"I have something for you."

As she spoke, Shen Cao took out a small purse from her bosom and handed it over.

"What? You've saved up some money for me, just like Wan'er?"

“Sister, Father already gave me the money before. I accepted Wan’er’s money because I was afraid she would be sad.”

"As for your money, I absolutely cannot take it anymore. What you need to do requires a lot of money, and besides, Father has already given me enough."

Shen Cao took out the contents of her purse; it was a seal.

"Brother, this is the seal of the bank where I deposit my money."

“I went to the money exchange a couple of days ago and asked the manager. He said that the money exchange is owned by Shen Yu’an’s family and has branches all over the Great Xia Kingdom.”

"I asked him to issue me a duplicate stamp."

"I was going to tell Father that I should prepare less money for you, since it's not safe on the road."

"Who knew? I was too busy recently and forgot."

“I only remembered today that my father said he gave you the money he had prepared for you before.”

"With this seal, you can withdraw the money I deposited at any branch of the Shen Family Money Shop."

"Although I don't have much money saved, you can withdraw it all at once."

"This..." Shen Chen didn't expect his younger sister to entrust him with such a valuable item.

"Brother, we're all family. If you become successful in the future, will you abandon me?"

"Besides, I trust my elder brother completely. He is definitely not a person who indulges in pleasure. He will only use money for important matters."

"Besides, your scientific expedition won't be until next autumn at the earliest, which is a year away. The capital is not like Xin'an County."

"You may disdain making friends, socializing, and giving gifts, but you will definitely have to do these things in the future in officialdom."

"These things all require money. What if you need money urgently? Do you expect us to write back and send it to you?"

Shen Chen knew that his younger sister was right; the path he had chosen did indeed require money to pave the way.

He solemnly accepted the small, heavy seal.

Momentarily speechless.

Seeing that her elder brother had accepted the seal, Shen Cao smiled and said, "Alright, elder brother, let's go quickly, we shouldn't keep Grand Tutor Zhou waiting too long."

She took Shen Chen's arm and walked out of the study.

The two supported each other as they walked toward the source of the light.

Just like in the future, the two will always lend a helping hand to each other in times of crisis, constantly supporting one another.