It's already the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, and Zeng Rui-xiang brought the children back home before dinner. After dinner, the whole family gathered in the east room to warm themselves by the fire. Shen Shi pointed out that Zi Qing was making a new jacket for Tian Shi's New Year's celebration. This time, Shen Shi had also figured it out - instead of sending over some fabric, which Tian Shi would just use to make something else, she might as well have Zi Qing make it directly according to Tian Shi and the old master's measurements. This time, Zi Qing was making a jacket with a slanted collar and standing lapel, different from the previous ones that were designed for children. The mother-daughter duo was discussing this in hushed tones when Zeng Rui-xiang spoke up, saying: "I've already made up my mind to resign from the academy this time I'm back home. Yu Mei, have you thought it through?" He called out his wife's given name.

  "Dad, you want to resign? Why?" asked Zifu.

  "I actually had this plan last year, originally thinking that after the new year I would take Zilu to the government school for a year and then resign. Who knew your mother would get pregnant and give birth this year, so I had to move my plans forward by a year. This is also why I rushed to take Zilu to the government school in the summer. Fu'er, next year you'll be 13 too, and you've been at the government school for two years now. You can stay there with Zilu and take care of him, right? Your mother has worked hard all these years, previously it was because we were forced by our living situation, I had to leave her. Now, our family's income is pretty stable, you kids know that too, so I don't lack the 18 taels of silver as a father. So I want to stay at home and be with her, accompany her well, make up for these years of regret. Also, I plan to open a private school in the village, Zishou is also going to start learning soon, there are many children in our family who haven't started learning yet, I won't limit it to just a few students or a fixed number of kids, we'll take it slow."

  He was relieved to hear that it was for his own mother, and he didn't want to say anything more. After all, he knew better than his younger siblings how hard their mother had worked over the years, so he felt even more bitter in his heart. He had been studying hard every day, hoping to let his mother live a good life one day. Now that they were separated from the family, thanks to Zi Qing's reckless behavior, they had planted watermelons on their own land and their days were getting better and better. His heart no longer had that urgent desire to stand out, and he was more calm and composed. His reading vision had broadened, and his progress was even more pronounced. Thinking of this, he said: "Dad, don't worry, I will take good care of myself and Zi Lu. And I will also urge myself to make progress. It's just that, on the side of Grandma and Grandpa, you still need to talk to them properly."

  "This is naturally. And starting tomorrow, you and Ziru can think about writing couplets or making lanterns to sell on your own. Your handwriting has made significant progress in the past two years. Keep the silver coins you earn for yourselves. I want to see if you can earn enough to cover next year's school expenses. The tuition is four taels per person, and this time it cannot be exempted. Fifteen taels a year will be sufficient for both of you."

  "Alright. We'll start tomorrow." Zifu and Zilu replied in unison.

  "Look at you, still so young, and you're already abandoning them without a care?" Shen Shi said with a pout.

  "Who says it's not good for them? This is an opportunity for them to temper themselves, be a real man. When there's a chance, go out and experience the world. The ancients said, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling a thousand miles.' I've been training them since they were young, isn't it all for their own good? Moreover, after this year, Fu'er can start working in the fields. This year, Fu'er, you must work hard." Zi Fu and Zi Lu hastily responded.

  The family agreed, Shen thought that from now on, every day would be taken care of by her husband, accompanied by warmth that could overflow from her eyes and heart. This made Zeng Rui Xiang's heart itch, and he quickly sent the children to wash up and sleep. He himself also hastily took a bath, and after the couple put down the curtains, they whispered softly for a long time. Only when they were sure that Zi Shou and Zi Xi had fallen asleep did the sound of their suppressed moans come out.

  The next day, Zeng Ruixiang took Zi Fu and Zi Lu to the old house to deliver the silver, and planned to bring up his own resignation. Zi Qing wanted to buy some things, so she followed along. After entering the door, Tian Shi and Zhou Shi were sitting in the hall playing with Zi He. After greeting them, Zeng Ruixiang asked: "Mother, where is Father?"

  "I've gone to the vegetable garden," said Tian Shi, "I'll just pick some vegetables and come back, it's almost done."

  Zeng Rui-xiang handed over two five-tael silver ingots and a small two-tael silver ingot. Madame Zhou's eyes stared blankly at the silver, when Old Master Zeng walked in with a bunch of small white vegetables in his hand. The three of them stood up and exchanged a few pleasantries. Zeng Rui-xiang said: "Father, Mother, I have something to tell you both. I've resigned from my position as a county official student. Starting next year, I won't be going to the county town anymore."

  "What? You didn't go to the county town? Did you find a better place and earn more silver?" Tian Shi asked.

  "No, mother, I don't plan to go out and teach anymore. These years, Yumei has been taking care of the children alone, busy with household chores, it's very tiring. Now that Zifeng and the others have grown up and need to go out to study, there is only her left at home to take care of the younger ones, and Ziyu is just over two months old, I really can't bear to part with them. I think I'll just open a small school at home, on one hand, I can accompany her, on the other hand, the children in the village or clan will also have a place to study for a couple of years, it's also doing a good deed." Zeng Ruixiang said.

  "Who said she's raising the kids alone? Haven't we been helping her all along? Hasn't she been complaining to you? Hasn't she been crying to you? You only have eyes for her, can see her hardships but not your parents'? Which woman doesn't live a hard life like this? Talking about hardship, isn't your older sister suffering more than her, yet you don't show any sympathy towards her. Her tears are just tears, while your mother and sister's tears are just foot-washing water? I'm asking you one thing, what will you use to support us when you lose your salary?" Tian shouted.

  Zi Qing listened with wide eyes staring at Tian Shi, and said with her eyes open that this is how nonsense comes about. At this time, Zi Fu reached out to hold Zi Qing's hand and shook his head.

  "Old lady, you're being muddle-headed again! Listen carefully to your son, he must have his reasons for saying that, and it'll save you a few taels of silver!" Old Master said.

  "Yes, Father and Mother, our family's income is still manageable now, we won't be short of money for you. Mother, don't worry, I'll send twelve taels of silver to you every year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month." Zeng Rui Xiang said.

  "Second brother, that's eighteen taels of silver! You say you don't want it and it's gone. Think carefully, how many taels of silver can be earned from farming? Even if you grow watermelons, in a year it's only tens of taels at most. In this broken place, opening a private school, will there be any silver to collect? Among the village and clan children, how many can read books? Moreover, there is another private school in the town. Eighteen taels of silver, you say give up and it's given up!" Zhou Shi was so angry she wished she could replace him.

  "Yes, Second Brother, you'd better think carefully. If you regret it later, it won't be easy to find another job as good as this one." Qiu Yu also advised. Today was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, and she happened to have returned to her natal family's home for a visit, not expecting to run into this situation.

  "Xiang Er, you're so big now, you should take care of your own affairs, don't listen to their nonsense. We're old too, and can't bother with those things anymore. Having a son by our side isn't a bad thing either." The old man said, but in his heart he was thinking that having a son around would mean more silver coins, and it wouldn't hurt to have someone to order around. Unfortunately, this wasn't something he could say out loud in front of everyone. This old woman, with her long hair but short sight... the old man sighed.

  "It doesn't matter if we say ten sentences, it's still no match for one sentence from your wife. What are you asking us for? Just do whatever you want." Tian Shi was still fuming.

  The old man waved his hand and Zeng Rui Xiang led the children out. Although everyone was still feeling suffocated, they had finally passed this hurdle and felt a sense of relief.

  Zeng Ruixiang returned home and told his wife, jokingly saying: "From now on, I'll rely on you to support me."

  Shen's face turned red, and seeing that the children were not around, she muttered: "In these years, you haven't taken care of us either, you only take care of your parents and sister."

  Two people were affectionately bickering with each other when Zi Qing rushed in.