Chapter 78 - 78: Your Words Represent You

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the Great Ming Dynasty, land ownership required formal recognition. The taxes to be paid were determined, making it convenient for the court to oversee and prevent tax evasion. Other aspects were similar to other dynasties.

Officials were allowed to own land under their names but were prohibited from engaging in business activities. Starting from the rank of an exam candidate, they were entitled to a certain amount of tax exemption as they moved up the ranks.

Becoming a high-ranking official didn’t mean endless tax exemption. After all, how could the court sustain its military without revenue?

Qiao Mai had inquired and learned that an exam candidate could be exempted from taxes for five acres of land; Elementary Scholars could be exempted for twenty acres; Recommended Scholars for fifty acres; Tribute Scholars for one hundred acres; Advanced Scholars for five hundred acres; and a Grand Academician for one thousand acres.

For individuals below the rank of a Tribute Scholar, the court would cease providing salaries once tax exemption was granted. Those without land would receive five taels of silver per month. Elementary Scholars would receive one hundred grams of flour, and an exam candidate would receive ten grams.

It appeared that the Great Ming Dynasty’s laws were relatively well-established and reasonably distributed, especially in matters of taxation. Qiao Mai, a modern person, felt a hint of fairness.

Of course, it was just a hint, as this was still a feudal society and true fairness was absent.

All systems were designed to serve the rulers and govern the country more effectively.

After signing the documents, Qiao Mai paid a deposit of five hundred taels of silver notes before taking Ling’er back home.

Upon arriving home, they found Wang Jiaru’s carriage parked at their door.

“Grandfather, this is Sister Qiao’s home.”

“The estate isn’t very big.”

“She mentioned buying a new estate after the New Year.”

“Hmph, you’re quite protective of her.”

“Naturally. She’s the only woman I acknowledge. Otherwise, who would I address as a sister?”

“Hmph, spare me. I know your little scheming mind well. You and your brother are eyeing their delicacies.”

“Hehe, Grandfather, don’t you like those delicacies too?”

“Hmph!”

Wang Zihan also came, knocking on the door. Yuan Jiaqi opened it.

Seeing so many people, he only recognized Wang Jiaru and hurriedly bowed his head, saluting.

“Miss Wang has come. Please come in.” “Yes, I brought the teacher to visit our home.”

“Greetings, Teacher!”

Wang Jiaru led her grandfather and brother inside. Upon entering the living room, they saw Feng’er, Yun’er, and Chuan’er reading and writing. Seeing guests, they set aside their books and stood up to greet them.

“Auntie, greetings. Nice to meet all of you.” “Ah, they’re becoming more sensible and polite. It’s quite pleasing.”

“Please, have a seat. We’ll make some tea.”

In her bedroom, Qiao Mai heard the commotion. Holding Ling’er, she entered the living room and understood the situation immediately.

Glancing at the three men’s appearances, she immediately recognized the old gentleman.

“Let me pay my respects.”

“You must be Madam Qiao?”

“That’s correct.”

The elder sized her up. She looked like an ordinary person, but her spirit and demeanor were beyond what one could find in a small town.

Wang Jiaru approached, grabbing Qiao Mai’s clothes. “Sister Qiao, we were busy during the New Year, so we didn’t come. Please don’t be upset.”

“Your words are too kind. If the journey weren’t difficult, I would have brought my family to pay for a New Year’s visit.”

“Hehe, since you’ve recognized the teacher, I won’t keep it from you. This is my grandfather, who’s always complaining about being bored. I thought of finding him something to do; gifts do not matter. It’s about making sure he eats and drinks well. He’s just as fond of good food as my brother and me.”

After saying this, she winked at Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai smiled, “No problem.”

“My grandfather was a Tribute Scholar, which is a hundred times superior to a Recommended Scholar.”

By this time, the children had served the tea. Old Mister Wang looked at the three children in this household. Observing the lively gleam in their eyes, he knew that these children were teachable.

Wang Zihan spotted the two shelves in the corner of the room and pointed, saying, “Eat.”

The twins, along with Chuan’er, glanced at Qiao Mai. She nodded, and the three youngsters went to the kitchen to get plates. They filled them up and brought them to the table.

With food on the table, Wang Zihan stopped being restless. He obediently sat down and started eating.

Chuan’er approached and held Old Mister Wang’s hand, saying, “Grandfather, come eat. My mother made this. It’s clean and delicious. Would you like to try

Old Mister Wang was delighted by Chuan’er’s gesture. He sat at the table, sipped tea, and began asking questions. Yuan Jiaqi was on the side, accompanying them.

Old Mister Wang began with the children and ended with Yuan Jiaqi.

“I heard you transcribe books at home?”

“Yes.”

“May I see them?”

Yuan Jiaqi returned to the room, bringing a half-transcribed book to Old Mister Wang.

After looking at Yuan Jiaqi’s handwriting, Old Mister Wang nodded. “Your handwriting is good, but it’s too conventional. You must have your own style. Your words should represent you.”

“That’s true, Sir.”

“I heard you never attended school?”

“We were poor, so I listened outside the school when I was a child.”

“Have you read any books?”

Yuan Jiaqi smiled bitterly. “Without money to buy books, I practiced calligraphy diligently to access books. I managed to read a fair amount of books through copying.’

“None of you have a strong foundation. Remember, a solid foundation is the most important. Just like a child’s health, if their foundation is weak, their body will be feeble, always falling ill. But if you only aim to recognize characters, what you’ve learned is sufficient.”

“Please teach us further, as learning has no end. Students desire to acquire more knowledge.”

Old Mister Wang looked at him, then at the three children. He didn’t answer immediately. Chuan’er handed a chestnut to him, putting it in his mouth.

“Grandfather, my father is intelligent and ambitious.”

“Oh? Tell me more about these aspirations.”

“To travel a thousand miles and read ten thousand books, to learn and apply knowledge for the court, the people, and the nation, becoming a useful person.”

A gleam appeared in Old Mister Wang’s eyes. “Correct, becoming a useful person, whether for one’s family, for the people, or the nation. In reality, no matter the scale of one’s achievements, everyone is useful while alive. Being useful is not limited to becoming an official through reading.”

“This student understands. There’s great use in the grand and small.”

“Wrong. A drop of water can pierce a rock. An army’s strength isn’t derived from generals alone. What you learn is useless without the soldiers. Your studies, without them, are mere theoretical talk.”

“Please guide us, Sir.”

At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi realized Old Mister Wang was a true scholar.

“Very well, I’m hungry. Let’s have lunch.”

Wang Jiaru chuckled and tugged Qiao Mai’s clothes.

“You can start cooking. My grandfather’s hungry!”

Qiao Mai wasn’t reserved and handed Ling’er to Wang Jiaru. “Look after the child. I’ll treat you all to a good meal at noon.”

“Hey, can we get some fresh ones?”

“Does your grandfather like fish and shrimp?”

“He loves it.” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“That simplifies things.”

Qiao Mai rolled up her sleeves and entered the kitchen, retrieving the pre-prepared dishes from her modern world’s freezer.

Sour and Spicy Fish, Braised Red Prawns, Spicy Hot Pot with Mixed

Ingredients, Garlic Stir-Fried Clams, Stir-Fried Squid Rolls, Steamed Crabs, Scallop Vermicelli, Steamed Sea Bass, Sautéed Sea Cucumber, Sautéed Clam Meat, Cheese Prawn Balls, and finally, an Australian Salt and Pepper Lobster.

All ready-made, with many more seafood dishes left unmentioned.

Qiao Mai intended to heat these dishes, whetting Old Mister Wang’s appetite. In the future, she could occasionally bring out one or two to keep him interested. Otherwise, if he had them all at once, what would she use to attract him later?

Fortunately, her space had a replication function. Otherwise, she’d hesitate to bring these out.

These were her favorites, and she had never had the chance to enjoy them after they were delivered. If it weren’t for this man’s love for food, she wouldn’t have used them to retain his presence.

Some dishes were reheated in a large pot, some roasted in her space’s oven, and others microwaved.

With the kitchen door closed, she worked for a while. The dishes were finally ready.

Old Mister Wang gazed at the table filled with fish, shrimp, and seafood dishes, his eyes widening. Excitedly, he pointed at them.