Chapter 9: Agreed

Zhou Huaihai was a Tongsheng.^[1]

His high status in the family was evident.

Back then, he did entertain the thought of earning money by copying books, and visited many bookstores in the town, but the bookstore owners refused him. 

These bookstore owners considered this an investment in the scholars.

They usually favored poor but talented students with good handwriting to copy books, as a way to build good relationships in advance.

Given Zhou Huaihai’s performance, this opportunity did not come to him.

He never mentioned this failed endeavor to his family, fearing it might affect his standing within the household.

Now that Zhou Ping asked this...

If he denied it, how could he explain why he hadn’t earned money by copying books to support the family back then? 

After all, his second brother had given up his studies for him.

But if he admitted it...

Qing had already stated things so clearly; what if she had already secured a bookstore willing to accept second brother’s work?

How would he save face?

Zhou Huaihai felt a surge of frustration. 

What kind of foolish bookstore would allow his rough and uneducated second brother to copy books?

Ignoring Zhou Ping's question, Zhou Huaihai spoke earnestly, "Qing, you’re already of marriageable age. You can’t be so capricious. Your father has been farming for so many years, do you think it’s realistic for him to suddenly start studying? It's just a waste of money."

Zhou Qing replied, "It is realistic. We won’t know unless we try."

Zhou Huaihai showed a face full of disappointment. 

"You’re being selfish, thinking only of your father. Have you thought about your third uncle? How will he feel if your father goes to study..."

Before Zhou Huaihai could finish, Zhou Ping kicked Zhou Huailin under the table, giving him a look that said, "Retort! Retort! Retort!"

Zhou Huailin...

Zhou Huailin got the message. "I support second brother’s decision to study."

Zhou Huaihai...

His eye twitched, he thought, 'Are you stupid!'

"Back then, I supported big brother’s studies, and now I support second brother’s."

Zhou Huaihai...

His chest tightened further.

Sun spat, "Your second brother isn’t comparable to your elder brother."

"Big brother and second brother are indeed different. For big brother’s studies, the whole family sacrificed everything to support him. For second brother, he doesn’t need our help or sacrifices. Whether he succeeds or fails, he bears it himself. Why shouldn’t I support him? It’s not like it costs me anything. Moreover, I don’t understand why you oppose this."

Zhou Huailin’s words were full of long-held grievances.

Old Zhou sighed.

Zhou Huaihai looked at Zhou Huailin in shock, "Third Brother, do you resent me?"

Zhou Huailin nodded, "We supported you when you studied, and we also support your son. Why can’t my son study?"

Zhou Huaihai was about to speak when Old Zhou slammed the table. "Enough."

Sun glared fiercely at Zhou Qing, "It’s all because of you. If it weren’t for your troublemaking, the family wouldn’t be in constant turmoil."

Zhou Qing replied calmly, "Grandma, I don’t like what you said. How have I caused trouble? Have I ever asked the family for money or eaten without working? Some people eat and drink from the family, ask for money all the time, and do no work, yet you say nothing. Why do you oppose my father studying? I don’t understand. Why not just split the family!"

Because of the issue with Wang Qiang, Wang had been upset all day, "How can you speak like this? You’re about to get married, and you’ll speak to your in-laws like this?"

Zhou Qing retorted, “Who’s getting married? Aunt, are you talking about me? Who am I marrying? The crippled Wang Qiang who frequents brothels visitor and was beaten by me on the street?”

Wang, hit by Zhou Qing’s words, teared up in anger.

Zhou Huaihai was stunned by a trio of questions in his mind: Wang Qiang? Brothels? Beaten by Zhou Qing?

Wang kept quiet, while Zhou Qing turned to Old Zhou, "Grandpa, let’s settle this. Tomorrow, my father will start copying and studying. You should hire someone to help third uncle with the farming."

Sun spat angrily, "Settle what? Where will the money come from? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You can forget about it!"

Zhou Qing glanced at Sun and took out a handful of copper coins. 

As she touched the coins, she felt something unusual. 

It was a piece of silver!

Huh?

She remembered leaving it on the counter at the calligraphy shop, so how did it ended up back with her?

What was going on?

She brushed aside the mystery and placed the copper coins in front of Old Zhou.

"Grandpa, this is one hundred coins. It should be enough for three or four days. I’ll get more money in a few days. If I can continue to provide, we’ll keep hiring help. If not, my father will return to farming. We won’t ask the family for money."

Zhou Qing’s words left Sun speechless.

Wang, wiping her tears, suggested, "I see now why Qing is so determined to make her father study. Did she find some shady job outside to earn this much money?"

Sun immediately jumped on this, "You sneaky brat, hiding private money from us. Hand it all over. The Zhou family won’t do disgraceful things."

As she spoke, Sun was about to get up, ready to search Zhou Qing, but Old Zhou grabbed her and pulled her back. Still, she sat there, staring daggers at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing glared at Wang. "Just because you’re dirty, don't assume others are."

Wang was extremely angry, so much that she could hardly breathe.

Zhou Qing then took out the rest of the money and slammed it on the table.

"This is the money I borrowed from Cheng Wu, leftover from buying ink and brush. There's still this much left. If you want, I can hand it over now, but let me make it clear. This is borrowed money. If I can't earn enough to pay it back and it's spent, will you help repay it?"

These words made Sun's momentum falter, but she still retorted sharply, "If you can't earn money now, how will you repay it later? Won't it still come from the family?"

Zhou Qing replied coldly, "In this family, who else takes money except the first branch?"

The Old Zhou glared at Sun, shouting, "Eat! Can't even eat in peace!"

Then he turned to Zhou Qing, "Your father's matter is settled. As for you, as before, you can go out to find work, but it shouldn't interfere with your chores. Don't cause trouble outside."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

The Old Zhou's decision made Zhou Qing feel more at ease.

Now, with this money accounted for, she didn't need to hide it anymore.

Carrying such a string of copper coins was burdensome, and it couldn't be exchanged for silver, as poor families rarely used silver.

As for the chickens and pigs, the original owner fed them morning and evening, with Zhou Ping helping in between.

When she went to the town, she would cook dinner early and keep it warm in the pot.

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms.

As Zhou Qing entered the second room, she saw Zhou Huaishan busy at the stove.

Zhou Qing...

Her eye twitched, and she asked in shock, "Did you kill another chicken? When?"

_____

Footnotes:

[1] Tongsheng (童生) is a term from ancient China that refers to a young scholar or a candidate who was preparing for the imperial examinations but had not yet passed the initial level known as the county or prefectural exam.