Chapter 50: Seeking the Village Head to Purchase Land

Li Su dropped one bombshell after another, leaving the whole Li family stunned and speechless. Back then, it had been difficult enough to support just Li Su through his schooling; sending all the children would have been nearly impossible. The girls weren’t even accepted by the private academies, but if they could be sent too, that would make three children studying—including Li Su—which seemed rather… extravagant.

“Fourth, let’s take things one step at a time,” Li Daping said earnestly, considering Li Su’s suggestion. “It’s a good thing to send the children to school, but we ought to wait until the household is a bit more settled.”

Li Ziliang’s eyes lit up, surprised his uncle had actually brought it up, but at Li Daping’s words, his gaze dropped with disappointment.

“I did some business with my master,” Li Su continued, “and my share was eight thousand taels. I’ve already left it all with mother for the family account, so you don’t have to worry about the costs of sending the kids to school.”

“Education broadens horizons. No matter what comes, being literate is always a good thing. Even without taking the imperial exams, they’ll have more choices in life.” There were more ways to live than tilling fields with one’s back to the sky.

The Li family did not know what to be more shocked by—the suggestion or the eight thousand taels, an enormous sum! Yet it made them all the more convinced that sending the children to school was right. After all, it was because Fourth had studied that he now possessed such abilities.

Jiang Yu and Dong Fangfang, the mothers of two of the children, saw clearly how this benefited them. They looked at Li Su with gratitude—had he not mentioned it, it would never have crossed their minds.

Li Daping felt that Fourth always looked far ahead, and whatever he set his mind to, he would find a way to accomplish.

“Fourth, are you sure you want to put all eight thousand taels into the family account with your mother?” Li Daping asked. “Even if you didn’t, no one would blame you. That’s a huge sum, and the family’s recent ventures have all been your ideas.”

The whole family nodded in agreement. Feng Cuicui added, “We have no objection to sending the children to school. I think it’s great, but we can wait a bit longer, earn some more, and then send them.”

Li Su hadn’t told Feng Cuicui in advance about giving her the money, so she was startled too.

“Here, take it. Back then, eldest and second brother gave all their earnings to mother, too,” Li Su said softly.

Feng Cuicui retorted, “But how much could they have given—just a handful of coppers! This is thousands of taels—how could it be the same?”

Li Su blinked at his family. “You were the ones who supported me through my studies. All my abilities now are thanks to you. If I earn money, I want to give it to my family—simply because I want to.” If he hadn’t wanted to, no one could have taken a coin from him.

The Li family was left speechless, overcome with a strange urge to tears.

Li Su, meanwhile, was a bit flustered by their reddened eyes all fixed on him.

“That’s settled then. Let’s eat.” In truth, Li Su’s fortune was not eight thousand but eighty thousand taels; eight thousand was but a trifle to him. Though it was only natural for wealth to tempt people, the Li family’s response made him smile.

They truly were a good family.

As for the rest of the money, he’d think it over first and figure out a way for both his uncles’ families to earn together—a business big enough for all.

That day’s meal was a feast. The family kept piling food into Li Su’s bowl, so much that he eventually could eat no more.

Li Ziru poked at the food in her bowl. “Uncle, does that mean my sister Xixi can go to school, too?”

Li Su knew the local academies didn’t accept girls, and there were no female officials.

Seeing the looks on Li Ziru and Li Xixi’s faces, the family fell silent. After a moment’s thought, Li Su said, “If you want to learn, your brothers can teach you and Xixi. I’ve already bought writing supplies for each of you; everyone gets a set.”

Li Xixi looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t even considered that she could study—girls of this era simply weren’t allowed in the classroom.

“Really?”

Li Ziliang and Li Zilin promised earnestly, “Sisters, we’ll study hard at the academy, and when we’ve learned enough, we’ll come home and teach you.”

“Alright!” Li Ziru’s joy returned.

“Now, eat up,” Jiang Yu said, serving her another chopstick of meat.

Li Zhengping looked at Li Su gratefully. “Fourth, thank you…” She had never dared imagine that Xixi would have the chance to read and write.

“Third sister, what’s the point of thanks among family? Xixi is part of our Li family too,” Li Su said with a smile.

After the meal, Li Daping took Li Su to the village headman’s house to discuss a location for a new homestead.

Li Daping brought a box of pastries, also bought by Li Su. “Father, I’ll leave the business of building the house to you.”

Li Daping was delighted with the task, nodding vigorously. “No problem.” This was something he could handle; it wasn’t the busy season, and most of the villagers had time to spare.

There was an unspoken understanding among rural folk: if someone was building a house and others were free, they’d lend a hand. The host only needed to provide three meals a day—nothing lavish, just simple farm fare to fill the belly.

However, skilled builders still had to be hired and paid, and materials prepared by the family. The main expense in building a new house was in materials and the foundation; everything else was minor by comparison.

Li Su wasn’t familiar with choosing materials, so he left that to the family.

Li Daping knocked on the village headman’s door, which was answered by the headman’s wife. “Daping? Is there something you need?”

Li Daping smiled at her. “Sister-in-law, I’d like to discuss something with the headman—we want to buy a plot for a homestead.”

She welcomed them in with a smile. “And this must be Su, right? He’s grown so much.”

Li Su’s bearing set him apart from the rest of the family; the headman’s wife immediately recognized him as a scholar, and indeed, he was the only one in the Li family who had studied.

Li Su nodded politely. “Hello, auntie.”

“Ah, a scholar really is different—so distinguished,” she said, satisfied. “Old Qian is inside; come in.”

After a bit of small talk, Li Daping moved straight to business, and they agreed on a site, purchasing the land at two taels per mu. They would visit the county office the next day to formalize the process.

“These pastries are for you,” Li Daping said, pointing to the box on the table. “We’ll be off now.”

The headman and his wife were briefly taken aback. It was common for people to bring small gifts when asking for favors, but pastries were rare. They’d assumed the pastries were for the Li family to take home, not as a gift for them.

The headman’s wife protested politely, “You shouldn’t have—this is just something my husband is supposed to do.” But her eyes lingered on the pastries with longing.

Though their family was better off than most, pastries were still a rare treat, and quite expensive. With that money, one could buy far more meat or rice.

Of course, Li Daping and Li Su did not take the pastries back. After they left, the headman’s wife sighed, “The Li family is really doing well these days—building a new house already.”

“But their current house is pretty nice. Why build a new one? Are they planning to split the family?”

The headman shook his head. “I don’t think so. Probably just want a larger place. There are plenty of them—three sons, and a divorced daughter with her child living at home.”

“Seems the business they did in town made quite a profit.”

“Everyone has their own fate.”

The couple felt a bit uneasy, suspecting the Lis might soon outshine their own household.

The next day, the Li family went to the county seat to finalize the land purchase. With their new ox-cart, the whole family—young and old—went into town. The streets were bustling, so they took the children to see the sights as well.