The sun had set, leaving only a faint warmth. The Zhan family sat in the courtyard after dinner, enjoying the cool evening air, but the atmosphere was heavy.
"You can't stay still for a moment, Zhan Sanlang. Do you think you're going to fly to heaven?" Madam Xiao Yao glared at her youngest son, who was leaping around like a wild monkey, her temper flaring.
Madam Ma, who was feeding water to three-year-old Zhan Niuniu, glanced at the agile Zhan Sanlang and deliberately raised her voice. "Second sister-in-law, Sanlang's temperament isn't suited for studying."
Madam Xiao Yao's face instantly turned extremely unpleasant. Even though Da Lang secretly taught Sanlang for an extra half hour each day, the mischievous child was uncooperative, learning much but forgetting just as much.
He had run off to play early that morning and only returned for dinner. Madam Xiao Yao wished she could spank her younger son with a thin bamboo stick.
Zhan Feiyu sat silently on a small stool, disheartened and too weary to pay attention to the verbal sparring between her second and third aunts.
"Father, Mother," Madam Li suddenly stood up, her eyes cold as she looked at the Zhan men sitting together. "Xiaoyu finished reciting the *Three Character Classic* the day before yesterday. Should Xiaoyu be allowed to attend the private school?"
For a moment, the courtyard fell silent, save for the chirping of crickets in the corner. The elders and the young ones of the Zhan family were all surprised that the gentle and soft-spoken Madam Li would suddenly speak up.
"Mother?" Zhan Feiyu stared blankly at Madam Li, a warm current flowing through her heart. Mother was speaking up for her.
Madam Li cast a comforting glance at her daughter and looked resolutely at Old Master Zhan and Old Madam Zhan. Her own husband was unreliable, so she had to rely on herself to secure an opportunity for Xiaoyu. Mother and daughter shared a deep bond, and she knew better than anyone Xiaoyu's desire to study.
In the deathly silence, a sharp shout suddenly rang out, "Li Shi, shut your mouth!"
Old Madam Zhan shot to her feet, pointing a finger at Madam Li, spitting and scolding furiously. "Which family's daughter goes to private school? Do you think money grows on trees? Li Fengyu, if you don't want to live here anymore, then get out and go back to your mother's house!"
After scolding her eldest daughter-in-law, Old Madam Zhan turned and forcefully slapped Zhan Laoda on the back. Her thin lips moved, and her sharp scolding, accompanied by flying spittle, erupted.
"How could I have given birth to such a useless thing like you? The Old Zhan family is not a place for your wife to call the shots. What do you, the eldest branch, want? If Erlang and Sanlang don't study, and you let a girl go, will Erlang and Sanlang still have the face to see anyone in the future? Are there no men left in our Old Zhan family?"
Old Madam Zhan's voice was shrill, and her gnarled, rough hands, like chicken claws, slapped Zhan Laoda's back repeatedly with a force as if she were striking a sworn enemy.
"Mother, don't hit Eldest Brother. Eldest Brother is just worried about Xiaoyu," Zhan Lao Er quickly intervened, stopping the rampaging Old Madam Zhan from hitting Zhan Laoda further.
"Don't I care about my granddaughter? It's just that the family is short on money!" Old Madam Zhan's fierce gaze was fixed on Zhan Laoda, her wrinkled old face contorted as she cursed him harshly. "I'm not dead yet! When I die, you can do whatever you want!"
"Mother, I..." Zhan Laoda opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Hearing his mother repeatedly mention her death, Zhan Laoda could only remain silent, his face tense.
"I'll just smash my head against the wall right now to satisfy you!" Old Madam Zhan cried out tragically, trying to push away Zhan Lao Er, who was blocking her, as if she were truly going to hit the wall.
Although Zhan Lao San was lazy and gluttonous, he was also filial. He grabbed Old Madam Zhan, who was about to end her life, and hurriedly tried to placate her. "Mother, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"My son and daughter-in-law are trying to force me, their old mother, to death! I don't want to live anymore!" Leaning on her youngest son, Old Madam Zhan wailed loudly, her mournful voice piercing people's hearts like a soft blade.
"Laosan, help Mother sit down," Zhan Lao Er instructed. Seeing Zhan Lao San help the agitated Old Madam Zhan to sit, he then looked at Zhan Laoda, whose face was ashen, but in reality, filled with helplessness.
With a long sigh, Zhan Lao Er, having made up his mind, spoke, "Eldest Brother, how about letting my Sanlang go to the private school this year? We, the second branch, will pay the tuition ourselves. This year, let Father and Mother advance the money for us. When we save up later, I'll repay it."
Zhan Lao Er's attitude was sincere. After careful consideration, he continued, "Next year, Erláng will go to the private school. The tuition will be paid by the family. If Xiaoyu wants to read and write, let Da Lang and the others teach Xiaoyu in turns after they return from school. I, as her second uncle, will provide the ink and brushes."
Madam Xiao Yao immediately became displeased. They were all grandsons of the Zhan family; why should Sanlang's tuition be paid by themselves? Ten taels of silver for tuition a year – wouldn't that deplete the second branch's meager savings?
But before Madam Xiao Yao could complain, Zhan Lao Er gave her a cold warning glare.
Madam Xiao Yao pouted in dissatisfaction but dared not defy Zhan Lao Er's wishes, though her face was long.
Zhan Feiyu looked mockingly at her second uncle, who spoke so eloquently as if he were suffering a great loss. His calculations were truly astute!
If her second uncle sent Sanlang to the private school first, and it became an established fact after a year, then even if the family had no money next year, they couldn't possibly let Sanlang withdraw to let Erláng go instead.
The ultimate outcome would be that both Erláng and Sanlang would attend private school, and the dozen or so members of the Zhan family would have to tighten their belts to get by, while the first branch, who worked like oxen and horses, would suffer even more.
Madam Ma was also initially unhappy, but she was short-sighted and lacked intelligence. As soon as she heard that the second branch would bear Sanlang's tuition alone and not ask the public funds to pay, Madam Ma felt she was getting a great deal and didn't care that Erláng would go to school a year later.
"This is a good idea, but your second branch will have a hard time from now on. That's ten taels of silver for tuition this year, and ink, brushes, and paper also cost money," Old Master Zhan said, puffing on his pipe with a perfunctory attitude of appeasing the situation. Harmony in the family leads to prosperity. As long as there's no quarreling or fuss, that's fine.
"Father, it's alright. With two children from the second branch studying, we can't let Eldest Brother and Younger Brother suffer. When I deliver goods, I'll help with unloading and loading, and earn a little more money by working harder. I'll also ask my wife to borrow some from her mother's family, and let Da Lang earn some money for ink and brushes by copying books. We'll grit our teeth and get through it."
Zhan Lao Er concealed the calculations and shrewdness in his eyes, smiling magnanimously, "It's nothing if I work harder or suffer a little. Brotherly harmony is most important."
"Second Brother," Zhan Laoda looked at his second brother gratefully, a sense of shame rising within him.
From Madam Li's sudden outburst, Zhan Laoda had kept a stern face. He doted on his daughter but also understood the family's financial difficulties. Caught in a dilemma, Zhan Laoda was extremely agitated, his expression extremely unpleasant. He hadn't expected his second brother to voluntarily bear Sanlang's tuition, which should have been paid by the public funds.
"Second Brother, then it's as you said. My Erláng will go next year." With a hearty laugh, Zhan Lao San also agreed.
Zhan Lao San couldn't endure hardship, and Madam Ma was not a sensible person, so Zhan Lao San couldn't bring himself to say he would bear his son's tuition. His second brother's plan was good.