Chapter 10 Section 1

  "Thank you, Second Brother Wang." Sheng Siyan looked up and smiled sweetly.

  The gate creaked open and Wang poked his head out, smiling: "Erxu, thanks for sending Sihyan back."

  Wang Erge smiled and waved his hand, then returned home.

  Sheng Siyan obediently followed Wang Shi into the courtyard, then washed up, changed into her nightclothes, and climbed onto the bed that Wang Shi had warmed up for her. Her eyes were soon unable to stay open.

  A golden house and a silver house are not as good as one's own doghouse...

  Sheng Siyan actually fell asleep.

  Wang originally had something to say to her, but seeing that she was asleep, he could only give up.

  The next day, after Sheng Siyan got up, Wang Shi pulled her over and said: "From today on, I'll teach you to read and learn medicine, are you willing or not?"

  Sheng Siyan nodded hastily, "I'm willing, of course I'm willing!" However, after nodding, she remembered what the old village chief said last night about Zhen Rong Girls' School and asked in a hurry: "Mother, can I also take the entrance exam for Zhen Rong Girls' School? If I pass, I'll attend school during the day and come back to learn medicine from you in the afternoon, okay?"

  "What's 'Rong Nu Xue'?" Wang furrowed her brow, "What is that thing?"

  Sheng Siyan painted a vivid picture for Wang Shi, "......the old village chief said that it was the imperial edict of the Empress Dowager, funded by Zheng Dainai, to establish one hundred schools for girls in the Great Xia Dynasty, saying it was her sister Zheng Xiangrong's last wish......" As she spoke, she carefully observed Wang Shi's expression.

  "Ah, it's Zheng Xiang Rong..." Wang said with a soft "ah", a smile spreading across her face as she stroked Sheng Si Yan's head. "The second young lady of the Zheng family is quite something, a renowned literary genius. Zheng Da Niang also remembers this deceased younger sister of hers, who was a kind and virtuous person... Alas..."

  Sheng Siyan cleverly didn't pursue that sigh, and instead teased Wang Shi about Zheng Xiangrong's affairs. "Mother, is the second Miss Zheng really so formidable?"

  "It's really extraordinary. The poems she writes, the essays she composes, those big men can't even catch up with her, a little girl like that, it's really giving us women a good reputation." Wang said as she ladled a bowl of snake soup congee for Sheng Siyan to eat for breakfast.

  Sheng Siyan sat down, took a spoon and carelessly scooped up a few mouthfuls to feed her, then asked: "Then why did she die so early? Such an intelligent and clever person must be very beautiful, right? Mother, have you seen her?"

  The Wang family also gave themselves a bowl of millet porridge, and just put out a few dishes of salted vegetables. His mind was not on this, and he said casually: "She, too, is unlucky. She fell ill and didn't get up, dragging on for a year before she passed away. If the Sheng family's Shen Nong Fu were still around, she might not have died so early. I've seen her in person once, and she was indeed very beautiful, but also very proud, not one to speak carelessly with others..." Only after finishing speaking did he come to his senses, and he couldn't help but sneak a glance at Sheng Siyan, seeing that she had her head lowered, seemingly focused on eating her porridge. He let out a sigh of relief, and changed the subject: "Although we have the surname Sheng, we don't actually have any relation to the Sheng family. When you're outside, don't go speaking randomly with people."

  Sheng Siyan made a face in her heart and secretly smiled at Wang's attempt to cover up, nodding her head. "I know, Mother, I won't speak out of turn. But isn't Zheng Dainai the gatekeeper disciple of Old Master Sheng? How could she not have cured Miss Zheng?"

  Wang shook his head, smiling: "You think Zheng is a living Bodhisattva who can cure any illness? Even if the great Sheng were to be reborn, there are still illnesses that cannot be cured. Look at the Sheng family's Shen Nong Ling - it only guarantees that Old Master Sheng will treat you once, but doesn't guarantee that he'll definitely cure you."

  "Oh." Sheng Siyan looked up at Wang and thought of something else, "I heard Wang Erge say that Zheng Dainai and Zheng Ernü are not from the same mother, what does it mean?"

  Wang finished a mouthful of porridge and ate a mouthful of salted vegetables, swallowing all the rice grains and vegetables before saying: "Zheng Dà Niángzi is the daughter of Zheng Lǎoyé's first wife. Zheng èr Xiǎojiě is the daughter of Zheng Lǎoyé's concubine, so they have different mothers but are both legitimate daughters."

  "So that's how it is." Sheng Siyan's confusion dissipated, and her curiosity also disappeared.

  After all, whether it was the Zheng family or the Wu family, even the Sheng family they worshiped year after year were too far away from her.

  Sheng Siyan didn't like to think too much or look too far ahead. She just wanted to live each day happily and comfortably.

  After breakfast, Wang began teaching Sheng Siyan to recognize characters and tested her on those medical books she had memorized.

  The mother and daughter taught and learned together, time passed quickly, and in a flash it was afternoon.

  Wang Er Ge came over and knocked on the door, loudly saying: "Is Wang Da Niang at home?"

  Wang opened the door and let him in. Seeing that he was carrying a snake basket, Wang smiled and said, "You're going to catch snakes again?"

  Wang Ergou handed the snake basket to Wang Shi and said, "This afternoon after school, I went up the mountain to take a look. Just in time, I saw two green snakes, thinking that although Siyan's eyes are fine now, she had been ill after all, so it's better to use more snake gallbladder to supplement."

  Wang also thought so and didn't stand on ceremony with him. Smiling, she thanked him and took the snake basket to the kitchen to deal with it.

  Wang Erge came to the main room and said to Sheng Siyan: "Siyan, you didn't go out today?"

  "No," replied Sheng Siyan with a smile. "I was really tired yesterday, so I'm taking it easy at home today."

  "What a delicate little girl." Wang Ergou patted her head again, then took out a small booklet from his bosom and placed it on the table in front of Sheng Siyan, saying: "This is what I heard from the government school. It's said that in August, there will be an entrance exam for girls' schools, divided by age group. The scope of the questions are roughly outlined in this booklet, not difficult, let Wang Dama help you prepare, and you'll definitely pass."

  "Thanks, Second Brother Wang!" Xing Siyan's eyes lit up as she pulled on Wang Erge's hand and swung it vigorously.

  Wang Ergou was dazed by her and smiled: "Okay, okay, you study well, I'll go back first. If there's anything you don't understand, you can come ask me."

  Sheng Siyan thanked him again solemnly and saw Wang Erge off with his eyes.

  At night, Wang's family looked at the things sent by Wang Erge and nodded: "It's not bad. Let's learn from this, I can also save some worry."

  Sheng Siyan then threw herself into intense "review and preparation".

  In August, Sheng Siyan, who had just turned six years old, followed hundreds of girls from the surrounding villages to take an entrance exam at the newly established Rongcun Girls' School in the village.

  She is the youngest in terms of age.

  But the final exam results were dizzying.

  Six-year-old Sheng Siyan scored first place in the entire school district!

  Of course, being the first doesn't count for much; if she takes the exam and gets first place again, she'll still have to think about how to get by in her school days. However, she won't have to get by in the beginner's class; she can directly go to the intermediate class and take classes with those 9- or 10-year-old girls.

  Sheng Siyan's answer sheet was also sent to Zheng Dainai in the capital according to regulations.

  All those who want to be the top scorer in the entrance examination for female students must send their papers to Mrs. Zheng, and they will receive an additional bonus.

  "Sheng Si Yan?" Zheng's grandmother stared silently at the name written in a somewhat crooked and twisted manner on the test paper, muttering it to herself as if she had chewed on an olive weighing several thousand catties, with an aftertaste that was endless.

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  Forgot to update, supplement now. Wish the high school girls a smooth journey and all get the first place!

  ……