Chapter 11: Dividing the Cake

  She decided to slowly and secretly teach them to read, but how to keep them from talking about it was a problem. After all, if she could read, it would be very strange.

  It's troublesome for her to explain it, and here, she hasn't been in contact with any teachers.

  Traditional characters... Anyway, although she doesn't recognize many of them, she can still write quite a few. I'll think of ways to teach her slowly. Maybe the three brothers can become scholars or something, which would be beneficial for the village too. In the Great Yu dynasty, having a scholar in the family meant that their land was exempt from taxes... This is a very important point, especially in ancient times when taxes were heavy. How much food could be saved...

  Moreover, although a Xiucai cannot become an official, they have status. There isn't even one Xiucai in this village yet. The Da Yu dynasty also has preferential policies for Xiucai, especially when meeting officials, they can be exempt from bowing. In the village, even if it's just a regular person or a clan leader, they will still give three points of face to a Xiucai. Not to mention going out on business, having the honor of being a Xiucai will make things much easier and there will be fewer obstacles encountered when going out.

  She knew this because the villagers in the village mentioned Wang Xiucun from the neighboring village with great envy, saying that his family had so many fields, tax-free, and the head of the clan would give him some face, even if he went to the county government to do things, he would receive courtesy... Having heard it many times, Shen Sisi naturally became concerned. In the past, she was poor and couldn't think about reading books, but now... She had space in her hands and couldn't help but think about it.

  It would be best if at least one of the three brothers could pass the imperial examination to become a Xiucai, and it would be even better if he could become a Juren, as this would bring more benefits.

  Being an official is just a fleeting dream, and she didn't want her three brothers at home to really step into the official circle, especially since they had no connections or background. If they really got involved, it would be a lowly position... The reason for seeking this honor was that Shen Sisi feared that if their family became prosperous in the future, without an honorable title to protect them, many of their possessions would not be secure.

  Wealth and power provoke envy, she knew that in ancient times, the rights of clan leaders and village heads were very great. If at that time there was not enough strength to protect one's own things, then wait for others to rob them away.

  Eight years of life experience have taught Shen Sisi that when it comes to life, you must never be complacent, because if you are not prepared, life can strike you unprepared, so everything that needs to be thought of, Shen Sisi has thought of.

  Later on, we will make detailed plans and implement them step by step. Our family will definitely become rich. Thinking of this, she glanced at her three brothers several times.

  The three brothers were frightened by her gaze, swallowed their saliva, and San Bao couldn't help but ask her, "Tuni, are you still hungry?! Otherwise I'll share half a pancake with you..."

  San Bao thought she was still thinking about the fish soup in the afternoon, so he looked at her with great unease and guilt, struggling for a long time before being willing to give up half of his pancake.

  She smiled and stretched out her hand to gently pat his head, narrowing her eyes as she said, "You eat yours, I've had enough..."

  She smiled like that, San Bao felt even more uneasy, swallowed his saliva, carefully looked at her as if she was telling the truth, and then lowered his head to continue eating.

  Zhong Gensheng watched with a warm feeling in his heart, delighted by the siblings' understanding and also guilty about the family's poverty. He glanced at the four thin little dings, his intestines twisting with anxiety, and finally saved one pancake, saying: "You four share it and eat, I'm not very hungry today..."