Chapter 4, The Kang

As soon as they arrived at the door, the lights in the stable turned on. A half-grown black horse, hearing the noise, let out a cheerful snort. Bai Gui, as usual, added hay and beans to the horse feed, and casually collected an egg.

Uncovering the quilt, Bai Gui replied without pain or discomfort, "I sleep in my clothes."

Scholar Xu nodded, displaying his appreciation, and said no more

In Qin Province, the older generation commonly refers to teachers as 'Mr.'

To retrieve the bundle of repairs undoubtedly offends the gentleman, and he does not dare to do so, fearing it will provoke ridicule from others

But I am also afraid that Bai Gui will become angry with him

He said: "Dad, I went to the mountains this morning and caught four rabbits and two chickens. I sold them at the food shop run by my uncle in town, and he gave me one tael and one cash. I went to the grain store and bought a dou of grain, half of which I gave to the teacher at the ancestral hall. Tomorrow, I will go to school at the ancestral hall."

After the age of fifteen, it is the education referred to by Zhu Xi as "Da Xue". It transitions from the "learning of practical matters" in primary school to the "clarification of principles" in university

Do not be deceived by Xu Xiucai's somewhat downcast appearance; his family is among the wealthiest in Dongyuan Xujia Garden, a prominent household. They can afford education, support his repeated attempts at the imperial examination, and maintain the expenses of his unsuccessful endeavors, which cannot be attributed to a small household

Bai Youde was taken aback, his hand that was touching Bai Guiding's forehead stiffened. His cracked and rough hand brushed against the smooth forehead, and he suddenly felt that the son lying beside his bed was somewhat different.

In the corner lies a pile of rolled straw mats

However, he deliberately did not mention the matter of exchanging one or two taels of silver for a dragon coin. It is likely that the penny-pinching Manager Wang would not proudly announce this to everyone in front of Bai Youde.

Writing on a wooden board dipped in water is indeed a method

He can bestow an old brush and an old inkstone, as a gesture of respect towards Bai Gui for this occasion. However, he does not hold much hope for Bai Gui's success in his studies. Starting to learn at the age of thirteen or fourteen is rather late; even learning to read will take several years, and he no longer possesses the memory of childhood.

Bai Youde expressed some unease

Your mother passed away early, and you were raised by us. We do not go to the mountains, nor do we covet that cheapness, for you are the only child in our family

Then... what about the other silver? Father will keep it for you

At the same time, there is a glimmer of hope in my heart, hoping that Bai Guixue will turn out to be a person of merit. I do not seek great wealth or high status, as long as he is better than before

When Bai Gui departed, the grain bag that had just been filled with fine rice was instead filled with an old pen and an old inkstone

In the darkness, following the memory, Bai Gui walked into a courtyard.

When enrolling, remember to bring a desk and stool

There is no large wooden tub for bathing at home, and such a tub cannot be made simply by chopping some firewood. The wooden tub crafted by a skilled artisan is securely bound with iron hoops, and with their craftsmanship, they need not worry about food and drink.

In the third year of Shaosheng, Su Shi purchased two brushes in Lingnan for twenty wen, which were not only poorly shaped, resembling coarse pens, but also had ink that floated and scattered, confirming that there were indeed no good brushes in Lingnan

Be careful in the mountains, or the wolf will catch you, you coward!

The orange-yellow flames of the stove flickered through the gaps blocked by the hard firewood, casting reflections on the earthen walls of the house

"Going to school is something for young masters; we are destined to be horse grooms, not comparable to..."

During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song, a large calligraphy brush sold in Kaifeng cost one hundred wen. This is recorded in Yang Yi's "Talks of Yang Wengong," which states, "The brush for large calligraphy is very large, made entirely of strong hair, known as the San Zhuo brush, and it is sold in the market for one hundred coins per piece"

Although it is suspected of regional bias, a pen priced at ten cents is indeed of extremely poor quality

In the bookstore of Bailu Town, the cheapest wool brush costs at least 8 wen, while better wolf hair brushes vary in price from 20 to 30 wen or more

He also noticed Xu Xiucai's inner turmoil; it was already quite commendable that Xu Xiucai could offer him a brush and an inkstone

The corn stalks crackled and popped as they were consumed by the fire

I have given it some thought

Hastily passing through the hall, he made his way towards one side of the stable

He has never encountered it

It is the residence of the Lu family in Bailu Village

This is a three-entry courtyard

Go to the mountains to gather some wild produce

As Zhu Xi stated: "At the age of eight, all children, from the nobility to the commoners, enter primary school, where they are taught the principles of cleanliness, etiquette, and the proper conduct of entering and exiting, as well as the studies of rites, music, archery, charioteering, writing, and mathematics"

The eldest son of the Bai family's long-term worker, Lu San, also went to the ancestral hall school, ha, what a match that is. Among those studying in the village, he is the slowest learner. Listening to his father, the grain given to the teacher... well, the teacher is the teacher, that's fine. You should take this opportunity to learn as much as you can.

In his previous life, when he practiced calligraphy in elementary school, a brush cost only about 4 yuan

Hmm

In the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province, clothing has traditionally been referred to as "yishang," an ancient term

He did not conceal it, and this matter cannot be hidden.

Bai Youde leaned close to Bai Gui, the strong odor of sweat emanating from his armpits enveloping Bai Gui. He touched Bai Gui's forehead and began to chatter on.

Bai Youde covered his body with a quilt, bare-chested, wearing a set of tattered trousers underneath, and a hemp garment over it. He extinguished the candle by pinching the wick and cursed, "You coward, you took my clothes today, causing me to be scolded by the master. Where have you gone, you scoundrel?"

Bai Gui secured the remaining silver on his person and said

Going to school

The brush, made of wolf hair, can be sold for thirty wen in the bookstore. Although it has lost some hair and the lacquer on the brush holder has also chipped, it can still be worth five to six wen. The material of the old inkstone is not very clear, but it is quite heavy and is a decent inkstone.

The bed was permeated with the smell of sweat, and he slightly distanced himself from Bai Youde. Qin Province is arid and receives little rainfall, and the villagers are not particular about cleanliness; they rarely bathe regularly, usually just washing in the river when they can. Now it is winter, and the river water is icy, making winter swimming impossible. At this time, there is no amoxicillin available, and contracting typhoid fever could be a life-threatening illness

Bai Youde withdrew his hand, uneasily placing it on the quilt, yet feeling that the air on the quilt was too cold, and his palm was too cold. He retracted into the bedding, then took it out again.

Bai Youde was taken aback as the light was rekindled by the fire starter. He quickly got up and approached Bai Gui, examining him closely and finding no injuries. He felt a sigh of relief in his heart, but immediately put on a stern face, his pale lips tightly pressed together. After a moment, he burst out with a remark, "If you dare to go into the mountains again, I will break your legs! Let you know the difference between right and wrong!"

Pushing the door open, one enters a heated kang.

Reading? Engaging in academic exchanges?

He is afraid that Bai Gui will spend money recklessly

Children from other families spend their money on snacks such as canned bread, old candies, and candied hawthorns, indulging in various treats

Bai Gui remained silent for a moment, not avoiding it

Tomorrow, the young master wishes to eat crystal cakes. Come with me to the city to buy some for him, and you will also have the chance to taste them and enjoy a change. Haven't you been clamoring to go to Xi'an city? Your father will take you there tomorrow.

As for the inkstone, the price varies depending on the materials and quality used in its production

Father, the remaining amount of money is needed for education. The Four Books and Five Classics, the Thousand Character Classic, and the Three Character Classic all require funds, and it is still far from sufficient. Look at the books that the two young masters are carrying; each one costs several taels of silver.

Bai Guiyan was concise and to the point. He took off his fur coat and handed it to Bai Youde, stating that this was the only winter clothing in the house. If one person wore it outside, the other could only stay on the kang at home

An elderly man with dark skin is lying on the kang, his hair is grizzled, and his face is lined with deep creases, seemingly mixed with yellow earth, appearing grayish.

It is too late