Tong Huaqiong looked at everyone’s reactions, knowing that the resistance to the girls in the clan learning to read had finally disappeared.
Next came the matters of sacrificial land purchases and allocating silver for the clan’s education.
Tong Huaqiong delegated the sacrificial land matters to Gu Dahuan and Gu Fengnian, while the education matters were handed over to Gu Daqiao.
The task of teaching the girls to read was managed entirely by Su Qing.
Once everything was arranged, the meeting quickly dispersed.
The Clan Leader felt a bit displeased, as Tong Huaqiong was taking over the duties of the Clan Leader, but thinking about how his great-grandson could attend school for free, his mood improved slightly.
The Clan Leader approached to speak with Tong Huaqiong, but she still kept a cold face.
The Clan Leader had no choice but to chat casually with Mr. Gu.
The boys in the clan were thrilled, many imagining they would become scholars like Jingzhe, or even high-ranking officials.
After all, Tong Huaqiong had said that those with a talent for studying would have all their educational expenses covered from elementary learning to studying in Shengjing.
Seeing everyone’s joyful faces, Tong Huaqiong thought that having aspirations was a good thing, but these free studies were no easy path; anyone with poor character or those who slacked off using the free education as an excuse would all be removed.
As Tong Huaqiong left the meeting place, Wu Na approached her.
"Aunt, there are so many nephews in our clan wanting to study, but with just one Mr. Su in the private school, it’s not enough. How about letting my Rui Nian serve as the teacher for our Gu family nephews?" Wu Na smiled, adding, "Rui Nian is literate and knowledgeable; he almost became a scholar back then. He can certainly train many for the Gu family."
Ever since Tong Huaqiong suggested funding talented Gu family members’ education, Wu Na had been pushing Gu Ruinian to seek a teaching position from Tong Huaqiong.
But Gu Ruinian was unwilling.
Since he learned that Tong Huaqiong was a fellow villager and saw through his true nature, he avoided her like the plague.
He felt capable of being a teacher since, in modern times, he was the only member of his village who attended a top university.
Becoming a teacher meant no more laboring in the fields.
But the thought of pleading with Tong Huaqiong was more unbearable than death to him.
So, he refused to seek out Tong Huaqiong, sending Wu Na instead.
Wu Na, without a second thought, approached Tong Huaqiong.
The baby was due soon, and without silver, even getting an egg required a tantrum; living like this was too painful.
If Gu Ruinian could become a teacher, earning monthly grain, she could separate from the main family and live on their own.
Tong Huaqiong smiled and directly refused Wu Na’s request.
"Aunt, why do you have such a big problem with Rui Nian? He would make a good teacher. If you’re worried about his academics, let him teach the girls to read; that doesn’t require much knowledge." Wu Na clung onto Tong Huaqiong.
She was determined to secure this teaching position.
Tong Huaqiong thought, what had the clan’s girls done to deserve a teacher like Gu Ruinian?
Given Gu Ruinian’s ambitions comparable to Yaozu and Long Aotian, he might not respect the girls, and perhaps even have ulterior motives.
She wouldn’t want Jingzhe harming the girls in the clan.
Gu Ruinian was like a venomous snake, forced to hide his venom for now, but would release it once he had the chance.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Anyone else is fine, but not Rui Nian; you don’t need to ask anymore—it’s useless."
With that, she lifted her leg and walked out.
A hateful glare fell on Tong Huaqiong.
Turning, Tong Huaqiong saw Gu Ruinian shiver and quickly avoid eye contact.
"Coward," Tong Huaqiong cursed.
After Tong Huaqiong left, Wu Na tugged at Jingzhe and said, "Why didn’t you plead with Aunt earlier? You asked me to plead, but I don’t have much influence with her. Aunt really holds a grudge, just because I’m from the Wu family and Tong Pandi has a feud with us, so she’s holding it against me. You can read and write; even if you can’t teach the boys to study for exams, you could at least teach the girls to read. Isn’t that better than hiring an outside teacher? Yet, she won’t give any face."
Gu Ruinian wore a gloomy look.
Ignoring Wu Na, he turned and walked away.
Wu Na then turned to grab Mr. Gu and Mrs. Wei and said, "Grandpa, Grandma, you need to help us. Rui Nian can teach the girls in the clan to read. I asked Aunt just now and she flat out refused; she won’t agree to let Rui Nian become a teacher."
"Please, you help us ask Aunt. I’m about to give birth, and there’s no silver at home. Just trying to raise a child by farming is tough. If Rui Nian could become a teacher, life wouldn’t be so hard."
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Wei rarely agreed with Wu Na’s proposal.
Yet, thinking about their eldest daughter-in-law’s cold face, they couldn’t bring themselves to ask; even if they did, she wouldn’t agree.
Mrs. Wei thought of her own sister-in-law.
Tong Huaqiong treated her sister-in-law with far more respect, often calling her "Second Auntie" more kindly than she called her.
Mrs. Wei set aside her feelings and approached her sister-in-law, hoping she would ask Tong Huaqiong to let Gu Ruinian teach the girls in the clan.
"... Even if there’s a little less silver, some earnings would supplement the family." Mrs. Wei looked at her sister-in-law with hopeful eyes.
The sister-in-law waved her hand and said coldly, "Don’t ask me about this. You know Rui Nian’s situation better than anyone. Probably no one will follow him to learn to read, and I’m embarrassed to ask your daughter-in-law so brazenly."
Mrs. Wei ground her teeth in frustration.
She had humbled herself, yet her sister-in-law showed no regard.
Mr. Gu scanned around, his gaze fixing on Mrs. Wei and Gu Fengnian, scaring his grandson and granddaughter-in-law to scamper away.
Gu Fengnian was grateful countless times for turning back to the right path and following his wife and sister to seek support from Aunt.
Gu Fengnian thought his family of three, plus his sister, now lived well under Aunt’s care; he couldn’t let his brother drag them down.
After Mr. Gu and Mrs. Wei had asked around, no one dared to approach Tong Huaqiong to plead for Gu Ruinian.
People in the clan whispered, if even Tong Huaqiong’s in-laws didn’t dare to ask, neither would they.
With no choice, the Gu family members at the old house gave up on the idea of Gu Ruinian becoming a teacher.
Wu Na raged at home, lamenting her hard life, blaming Mr. Gu and Mrs. Wei for not caring about her and Ruinian’s fate.
Mrs. Wei scolded Wu Na in anger.
Amidst the commotion, the day of Gu Honglian’s marriage arrived.
As the only daughter born in old age, Mr. Gu and Mrs. Wei naturally wanted a grand wedding.
But the family’s finances wouldn’t allow it.
Gu Honglian was quite resourceful, managing to swindle fifty taels of silver from Fan Tong.
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Wei, using the fifty taels of silver Gu Honglian had swindled, along with the silver Mrs. Wei had gathered from Mrs. Jia and twenty taels sent from her own family, managed to hold a lively event.
The members of the Gu Family all attended, and as the eldest sister-in-law, Tong Huaqiong naturally also had to attend.