Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 720: Each Unfortunate Family Has Its Own Misfortune
Nowadays, many families’ sons seem to be picked up, and according to later generations, they are given away as a gift when they top up their phone bills.
Apart from the most natural idea of passing on the family line from ancient times to the present, poor families give birth to sons so that the family can always have enough young labor force and be able to take care of the elderly; rich families give birth to sons so that they can pass on the family business and always have someone to bring honor to the family... Therefore, when a son sees his father, it is like a mouse seeing a cat, and when a father sees his son, he also looks ferocious.
Therefore, in this era, Zhu Er's situation as a son is already very good. Although Zhu Jing was quite strict with him, at least he did not scold him all day long. Even though he strategically gave up this son before the Northern Expedition, he still handed the family over to him. Even when Zhu Er wanted to marry Zhu Ying to Lu Sanlang, after coming back and scolding him once, he never beat him three times a day. At most, he would often scold him in comparison with his brother Zhu Tingfang.
At this time, in the Outer City Public School, in front of Zhang Shou, there was a poor child with a tearful face, claiming that he could no longer go to school. Next to him, there were two other peers who were also dejected, with tears in their eyes. In comparison, these three sons were the most pitiful.
All three of them were from the intermediate class and knew a little reading and writing before entering the public school - of course, they knew more about recognizing words and could stutter out part of the Three Character Classic, but apart from their own names and their parents' names, they could only write about a hundred words.
Although Zhang Shou didn't know them originally, he remembered that the students who usually substituted for the class at Jiuzhang Hall said that even the students in the intermediate class were almost all very ordinary in terms of qualifications. When they were selected from the applicants, they were just picking the tallest among the short ones. After all, being able to read and write was good enough. Therefore, it was certain that the three of them were not the kind of people who would turn into dragons when they encountered storms.
Zhang Shou also knew that in the intermediate class, even if most people studied diligently, took classes once every seven days, and spent several years in the intermediate class, when they finally graduated they would be able to perform the four arithmetic operations skillfully, be able to read those notices and official documents skillfully, and the best among them might be able to practice fairly neat calligraphy and write fairly fluent articles, but this was already the limit.
In fact, many graduates from ordinary universities in later generations who work as ordinary clerks actually only have similar skills, except that they are proficient in calligraphy and use computers and office software, and that's all.
However, even if the students in the intermediate class could never become officials in their lifetime, it was not a reason for him to calmly accept the three people dropping out of school. At this moment, seeing that the child who was crying the most had a big face, he glanced at the fourth prince who came with the three people, and then handed him a handkerchief as he had done in the past to comfort the naughty child.
"Okay, stop crying, talk slowly, and wipe your face first."
This was just a very ordinary consolation, however, the child, who was about ten years old, took the handkerchief handed over by Zhang Shou in a daze, looked down at it for a long time, and finally returned it with a face full of panic, stammering, not knowing what to say. Fortunately, the other two children behind him were slightly older than him, and one of them explained for him.
"Master Zhang, your handkerchief is made of silk. It would be a waste to use it to wipe Chen San's face. He wouldn't dare to waste it like this!"
The fourth prince's eyes widened immediately, and then he thought with a guilty conscience that he seemed to have wasted many of Zhang Shou's handkerchiefs, but because Zhang Shou said that they were not given by Zhu Ying, he didn't take them seriously. Most of the handkerchiefs were wrinkled and dirty after wiping their faces and could not be used again, and he didn't even pay attention to where they went.
Zhang Shou realized after the accident that the three children in front of him were of lower birth than the students of Jiuzhang Hall, and they really felt that their face was not as good as silk. Therefore, he did not insist, took back his handkerchief with a smile, and then said gently: "You just said that your family does not allow you to study here, because you have difficulties in making a living and can't even squeeze out four days a month?"
The three children looked at each other, and finally, the tall child who had just explained spoke up again, "Our parents saw that the restaurants near Xinglong Tea House were very prosperous, so they planned to push a cart to sell food. But because there were too many people making food, and they only knew a little bit of home cooking skills, so they let us go to a big store to be apprentices and try to learn a few tricks."
"There is no rest for apprentices, so we probably won't be able to come to school anymore."
Hearing this, the fourth prince could not help but said, "But I heard that apprentices only provide food and lodging, and no wages. You come to class once every seven days, and the public school also provides you with three meals. You can do other work in the remaining six days. Isn't this better? Besides, it's not that easy to steal someone else's skills. Every shop's skills are hidden, for fear that others will learn them!"
"Your parents are too short-sighted. They are picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons!"
"What do you know!"
Chen San, who had been crying the hardest just now, sniffed hard and his face turned red with anger.
"You came to this public school to study because your elders have a good relationship with Master Zhang, so they pushed you here. But in my family, if you don't work, you will go hungry! I come to class one day every seven days, and I can do other work in the remaining six days, but I can only do odd jobs, such as chopping wood and fetching water. Which shop wants someone to rest all the time?"
"Besides, if I wanted to work, I could only be an apprentice because I didn't have any skills. If I wanted to learn a skill, I had to work like a slave for my master and serve him carefully before I could learn a few tricks... I was able to learn to read and write before I went to public school because my father worked as an accountant and earned a lot of money. But since he broke his right hand, my family couldn't afford to send me to a private school."
"But the family still had to make a living, so my father had no choice but to take on some simple copying jobs that didn't require beautiful handwriting. After he learned to write with his left hand, he taught me while wanting to go back to work as an accountant. But people who were jealous of him spread rumors that he didn't break his hand, but was broken by his master because of corruption, so no one wanted him!"
"Because my father has to help support the family, he has to copy under the sun during the day and by the light of the fire at night. His eyes are also injured and now he can hardly see anything. So, since mother wants to go into catering in the future and has found a way for me to be an apprentice in those big stores, how can I not go just because I want to study! If I don't go, what will happen to my father!"
The Fourth Prince had never been yelled at like this by someone of lower status than him - but at this moment, he did not get angry. Instead, he stood there awkwardly, without the aura of an impulsive child at all.
Although he had only been in the public school for two days in total, and was one of the few children from other families—referring to children from wealthy families, regardless of their academic performance—the usually outgoing Fourth Prince still managed to chat with a number of students from the two intermediate classes that came to the public school with his attentive smile, and found out a little about the situation.
For example, he already knew that most of the students in this class were from poor families. At first, he thought that this was what it meant to be a poor family, but Xiao Huasheng just curled his lips. However, Xiao Cheng, who was serious last night, contradicted him so much that he could not say a word.
"Not all poor families are qualified to be called poor families. Brother Zhu once told me that in the Wei and Jin dynasties, there were no poor families in the upper class and no gentry in the lower class. Poor families are common people, but at least they are well-off families with officials in their family! If you tell those adults in the court that the students in this public school are from poor families, they will laugh their heads off!"
However, the Fourth Prince was just asking in general. He couldn't possibly chase people and ask what their parents do and how they live their daily lives... Even if the naughty child didn't understand the ways of the world, he wasn't stupid enough to be this stupid.
Therefore, facing this all too real confession and emotion, he was really at a loss. In the end, it was another student who was a little better than Chen San who helped him out.
"Chen San really had no choice, so he had to listen to his family. His parents were very good to him. My family's situation was different. My eldest brother had a good memory since he was young. He secretly studied in a private school for a few months, and was praised by the teacher as a seed of learning, so he was taught for free. But even if he didn't have to pay tuition, books, paper, pens and ink still had to be bought with money. So in addition to my parents, my sister and I have also tried our best to do what we can since we were young, hoping to support him."
"My tutor said that my eldest brother has a good chance of passing the county exam next year, but he needs to meet more friends and work on his essays, which all cost money. He also taught me how to read when I was a child, but my talent is far inferior to his. So when my mother heard that I might not learn any skills even if I studied in the public school for three years, she thought of letting me drop out of school and become an apprentice, even if I could learn to cook one or two famous dishes... They said so, and I couldn't refuse."
And when he heard the third student stammering that his eldest brother was addicted to gambling and lost all the family property, so he almost sold him to be a servant, and his parents were so scared that they planned to send him to be an apprentice. The so-called future catering business was just an excuse. Zhang Shou finally couldn't help rubbing his brows.
Happy families are all alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way... Tolstoy's words are always true.
He saw the Fourth Prince's expression change from shock to bewilderment, and then from bewilderment to anger, but finally from anger to frustration. He said calmly: "I know that you all had to drop out of school because of family reasons, and I also know that your parents and elders have their own reasons. But, when you first entered school, you all signed the corresponding contract, do you remember?"
Seeing the three students looking at each other in bewilderment, and then nodding hesitantly, Zhang Shou chuckled, "When Lu Jijiu first opened the public school, he considered the problem of students not being able to stay long, so when recruiting students, he should have repeatedly emphasized to your elders that unless you can temporarily stop studying due to birth, old age, illness or death, otherwise, you cannot drop out early."
"After all, you have enjoyed free meals, free books, and even a monthly study allowance of 100 coins at the public school. Even though it was not for a long time, you have enjoyed all these things after all, and this is your right."
"But you also have obligations that you must fulfill! That is, you must study here for at least three years. If not, according to the contract, you must compensate the public school for the investment it has made in you, based on the standard of twenty cents for each class, ten cents for food, one thousand cents for books, and one thousand cents for writing materials."
This time, the three students all turned pale at the same time. The fourth prince, who had been defending them in his heart, showed a puzzled expression. In his opinion, this was clearly a great opportunity to go back and persuade his parents and elders to stay in the public school to continue studying. Why were these three guys so stupid?
"Master Zhang...is this really not possible?"
Chen San, who had just cried, had red eyes again. After stuttering to ask a question, he couldn't help but raised his sleeves to wipe his eyes fiercely, and then muttered to himself: "But my parents have no choice, I also want to reduce their burden..."
"I don't know which store near Xinglong Tea House you want to be an apprentice to. I only know that those big stores are all gearing up for next year's imperial chef selection competition, so they will certainly accept apprentices, but they are only miscellaneous apprentices and will never be able to enter the kitchen . Think about it, why don't these famous chefs use their own children, nephews, and fellow villagers to help out, but instead use you?"
Zhang Shou's words silenced the three children, and he said slowly, "Besides, no matter whether your parents really want to start a catering business, it's probably too late to squeeze in now. The streets and alleys near Xinglong Tea House have already been allocated fixed areas, with a fixed group of vendors and groups. It's not something that outsiders can interfere with just because they want to."
"Besides, the Xinglong Tea House and the surrounding area are now prosperous because of my planning. If your family is in trouble, don't you know to first bring it up with your tutor to see if there is a solution that will achieve the best of both worlds? Even if the public school comes forward and lets you be an apprentice for six days and study for one day, it won't be a difficult matter."
If the three children were frightened out of their wits by the word "compensation" that Zhang Shou had just blurted out, then Zhang Shou's last sentence at this moment was like injecting a new breath of energy into them, making them come alive again.
Even if their qualifications are mediocre, they were able to pass the assessment and be admitted to study. They had at least one characteristic, that is, studious and clever. People who are studious and clever would definitely know about the Imperial Chef Selection Competition that has caused a sensation in the capital, and would definitely know the role that Zhang Shou played in it.
If Zhang Shou was really willing to say something, then perhaps they would be able to live up to their family and continue their studies at the same time!
Next, Zhang Shou effortlessly asked the three people where they wanted to be apprentices. When he learned that it was the Gusu Restaurant under the Suzhou Guild Hall, he couldn't help but smile. But at this moment, the Fourth Prince suddenly asked in a low voice: "The richest man in Suzhou, Mr. Hua Si, and the head of the Suzhou Guild Hall, Hua Hui, seem to be very smart people. Is this Gusu Restaurant accepting students from public schools as apprentices?"
The three children were still a little confused, but Zhang Shou secretly admired the Fourth Prince's words. Then, he narrowed his eyes and laughed, "After hearing what you said, Zheng Yan, it seems that I really need to ask those two questions. Okay, you go back first. You keep my words confidential for now. As for the apprenticeship, I will ask clearly and give you an answer."
Seeing the three children wipe their tears and leave with gratitude, Zhang Shou saw that the Fourth Prince seemed to be unable to hold back his words, so he smiled and said, "Zheng Yan, didn't your father ask you to accomplish one thing before returning to the palace? Since you think there is something wrong, then I will lend you Xiao Huasheng and Xiao Cheng, and I will also lend you Ah Liu, and you have to find out the truth for me."
