The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 158: The Meaning of Reading

"Jingzhe, your mother knows that what you thought of as making a name for yourself was to leave Qinghe Bay, go to the city, go to the Capital. To pursue an official career, marry a virtuous wife, take beautiful concubines, and live the high life, leaving behind farmers, peddlers, and commoners. But have you ever thought about what it truly means to rise above others? Kings and ministers? They are all supported by countless commoners. Your origins are as a farmer, your mother and sister are among the common people who peddle. Is the purpose of your studies to leave behind farming, stepping on the peddlers to become what they call ’a man above men’?"

Gu Jingzhe looked at Tong Huaqiong with immense shock.

His mother not only saw through him but was able to articulate such thoughts.

He always felt that his mother was crude and unrefined in her actions. Though he was very filial, in his heart, he looked down on her.

Lately, he realized that her crudeness was merely an outward expression, and her understanding far surpassed that of a typical Qinghe Bay farmwife.

He didn’t know what had caused his mother to change; perhaps she was always this way.

It was just that she had been trapped by the Gu Family and Qinghe Bay before.

He didn’t know if his mother was influenced by that dream.

"Mother, I did think that way before," Gu Jingzhe said honestly, looking sincere.

"You have great talent; you are the most scholarly person in Qinghe Bay. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a name for yourself, but you should remember your roots. Remember your elder brother being driven away by officials while carrying sandbags at the docks, remember your sister being bullied while selling pastries in the market, remember the people of Qinghe Bay hoping for good weather during the wheat harvest, remember the wronged citizens of Yan Guan Town yearning for justice... If you remember these things, you’ll understand why you study. Pure study is for understanding; studying for the examination path is to enter officialdom, and the purpose of officialdom is to give people like your brother and sister a way to live, to ensure that the common people behind you can have land to plant, food to eat, and live without oppression," Tong Huaqiong told Gu Jingzhe.

Gu Jingzhe inherently had a good nature and was quite intelligent. In his past life, he was ruined by Tong Dajiao from a young age.

In this life, Tong Huaqiong hopes Gu Jingzhe can achieve something meaningful.

She is a modern person, and she holds the belief that all people are equal. If the son she raises enters officialdom only to exploit the people and lord over the weak while feasting on the efforts of ordinary folks, she can’t accept it.

Gu Jingzhe’s heart was pounding, greatly shaken.

It was as if a thunderclap exploded in his mind, illuminating the confusion that had weighed on him these past few days.

Gu Jingzhe kneeled in front of Tong Huaqiong with a thud.

Then tears flowed like a flood.

Tong Huaqiong: "..."

Tong Huaqiong feared such emotional scenes the most; what now, she had to embrace Gu Jingzhe and cry out "my son," then mother and son sob together?

This isn’t a melodrama.

She really couldn’t take it.

"Mother, I’ve taken your words to heart. I want to study, and I plan to go to the city to find a job, working and studying at the same time."

Gu Jingzhe expressed his intentions.

"Reading ten thousand books is no better than traveling ten thousand miles. I plan not just to go to the city; I want to change locations every year, earning money and studying," said Gu Jingzhe.

Tong Huaqiong was unmoved by Gu Jingzhe’s tears. After hearing his plan, she felt slightly speechless inside.

Gu Jingzhe is indeed a genius, but at the end of the day, he is only fourteen years old, having unrealistic fantasies about gaining knowledge through travel.

She had to wake him up.

Tong Huaqiong took a deep breath, and calmly said, "Since I let you study, I certainly won’t let you run so far. Our family shop is operating now. We can grit our teeth and support your studies."

Gu Jingzhe suddenly looked up, tears still at the corners of his eyes. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Gu Jingzhe didn’t expect Tong Huaqiong to be willing to continue supporting his studies.

Tong Huaqiong mused that, with such a tearful face, he could easily gain a wave of fans in her past life’s entertainment circle.

"Although it’s said that reading ten thousand books is no better than traveling ten thousand miles, that requires reaching a certain age and ability. You’re still young. If I send you to the city, and you get blinded by its glitzy world, failing to complete either your journey or study, wouldn’t that be the end of it?" Tong Huaqiong expressed her disapproval, "If you are going to study, do it earnestly. Don’t keep thinking about this or that."

"Moreover, your aim to travel ten thousand miles is merely to experience various customs and culture. In my view, our local Yan Guan Town area and even Pingchuan County would more than suffice for your exploration. Truly understanding customs and people is better done by going deep into farmlands and alleyways. Understand the hardships of farmers, understand the struggles of commoners—this would benefit you both in imperial examinations and in official duties in the future," Tong Huaqiong said.

After hearing these words, Gu Jingzhe felt he was still too immature before his mother.

"Starting tomorrow, you will return to the private school; I have already spoken with Mr. Su," Tong Huaqiong stated her decision and then asked, "Your reputation in the school has been tarnished because of the Zheng Family. Are you ready to endure ridicule from your peers? If you can’t handle it, it might be better to stay home and farm."

If Gu Jingzhe was going to study, it would be better to send him to the private school tomorrow.

But Tong Huaqiong worried that the proud Gu Jingzhe might not endure his schoolmates’ ridicule, fearing that the child she painstakingly corrected would not suffer a psychological upheaval again.

Gu Jingzhe, excitedly said, "Mother, I will study hard. As long as I can study, what does the ridicule from classmates matter?"

There is no ridicule more frightening than not being able to study.

"Moreover, even if I study, I won’t let it hinder my work at the shop and household duties," Gu Jingzhe promised.

Tong Huaqiong nodded, thought for a moment, and suddenly said, "Studying will cost quite a bit of silver. Later on, when you go to the city for exams, study at Wanliu Academy, travel to the Capital for exams... everywhere requires money. I cannot support you for free. Though if you succeed, you could bring me honor and status, but if not, wouldn’t my silver be wasted?"

"So, every piece of silver you spend, whether large like fees for exams and tests, or small like a pen or paper, write it all down for me. Whether or not you succeed in your studies, you will need to pay me back," Tong Huaqiong wanted to press Gu Jingzhe, making him constantly aware of the silver spent on his studies.

Otherwise, he might think he accomplished everything solely with his own intellect.

"Mother, I’ll keep a separate ledger for everything," Gu Jingzhe said.

"Good," Tong Huaqiong replied, "You pack up and head to the private school tomorrow."

Gu Jingzhe, wiping away tears, agreed!

The next day, as dawn barely broke, the Gu Family was already up.

Since the shop opened, Tong Huaqiong had never slept in, always starting her day under the stars.

Gu Jingzhe woke up especially early; by the time Tong Huaqiong and others awoke, Gu Jingzhe had already swept the yard, and kept the stove burning with porridge and steamed buns heating up.

Gu Jingzhe, who could return to the private school, was more diligent than ever before.

At the breakfast table, Tong Huaqiong announced the news of Gu Jingzhe returning to the private school.

The family didn’t react too much to the news, as in Gu Dahuan and others’ minds, Gu Jingzhe belonged in private school, not in the fields or behind the shop counter.

"Uncle, you must study hard from now on. Our family now has money, so don’t think about selling Man Er," the innocent little Man Er spoke directly, poking Gu Jingzhe’s biggest scandal.

Gu Jingzhe was ashamed beyond words, repeatedly assuring the whole family that he would no longer have any thoughts of sacrificing them.