USWHC -Chapter 170 Flying Flower Snow (Part 10)

Zhu Jie leaned against the window, watching Old Madam Ji bustle in and out. These past few days, there had been no movement at the Sun household at all, but the Ji family was in a constant flurry of activity.

She saw Ji Mei changing into a newly made outfit in the courtyard to show off, then picking up a hairpin and staring at it in the sunlight. Zhu Jie sighed softly and asked Ji Yi beside her, “I heard Ji Mei and Hua Xue were both taught by you. Is that true?”

“It’s not really about teaching,” Ji Yi said quietly, sighing as well. “I just guided them a bit when they were young, helping them recognize some characters. Meizi wasn’t very interested—her pages were full of mistakes—so she only managed to learn a little. Xue’er, for some reason, fell in love with poetry and books. She kept reading, and that’s how she became what she is today.”

Zhu Jie turned to him with a serious expression. “I’m not asking about that. I want to know—what exactly did you teach them? How did you end up raising them to be so ambitious, so high-minded? Each of them wants a lofty marriage? Is climbing to a better match really that fun?”

“I never taught them that!” Ji Yi immediately said indignantly. “It’s just that maybe they learned a bit more. In this rural village, they naturally stand out a little!”

Indeed, in this era where most people couldn’t even read, women who went to school were extremely rare. Usually, only daughters from well-off families would learn characters and study poetry. As for common village women? They might not even recognize a single character. It was inevitable that Ji Mei and the others, in this world of almost total illiteracy, had a slightly skewed sense of their own position.

But family background is what it is. In this time, even more so than illiteracy, people valued social matches and proper family status. For girls of their background to aim high was a bit of wishful thinking.

Zhu Jie let out a soft sigh. “Knowledge really does change destiny.”

“Yes… I probably shouldn’t have taught them,” Ji Yi sighed along with her.

“But knowledge changing destiny isn’t necessarily a bad thing!” Zhu Jie suddenly shifted her tone, giving a mischievous smile. “I found out—after the first month of the year, your county exams are coming up. I’ve already signed you up!”

“What?” Ji Yi was stunned. “Signed me up for what?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Marry a wealthy, beautiful lady, step onto the road to success, take the county exam, become a top scholar, rise through officialdom!” Zhu Jie said with a sly grin.

“Ah? I don’t know how! How do I take the exam?” Ji Yi’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Of course!” Zhu Jie chuckled. “Don’t worry. With my years of exam experience, I’ve already bought all the county exam questions from recent years. We’ll study according to them!”

“But taking this exam won’t help me at all!” Ji Yi objected.

Zhu Jie quietly walked up to him, tapped his shoulder meaningfully, and struck a scholarly pose. “It’ll come in handy. I’ve already planned your life path!”

“But people study for years and still can’t become top scholars! I’m just a farmer! You want me to become a top scholar—are you joking?” Ji Yi looked almost ready to cry. These girls really loved teasing—did she even get his consent to plan his life?

Zhu Jie patted his shoulder again. “Relax, I’ve got this!” Then she excitedly jumped onto the bed. What was she doing?

Well… she just wanted to grab something from the chest. With a “smack,” a thick stack of shiny books appeared before Ji Yi. He was stunned. “When did you buy these?”

“Just today!” Zhu Jie said proudly. “Come on, baby, time to study!”

“You’re despicable! What use is studying to me!” Ji Yi shouted in protest.

Zhu Jie shivered playfully, pressed his head onto the bed, and said, “Quickly, study hard. Open the Analects first—this is easy to learn. Memorize it!”

“Ah? That’s how you teach?” Ji Yi’s eyes widened. “These books are so thick, you want me to memorize all of it?”

“Yes, I’ll check tomorrow!” Zhu Jie said seriously.

“Impossible!” Ji Yi screamed.

Zhu Jie bit her lip coquettishly, tugged her clothes slightly to reveal half a shoulder, and said seductively, “There’s a reward if you memorize it!”

Pfft—Ji Yi’s nose immediately bled. This reward was way too tempting. Could he even say no?