Chapter 321 - 266: In Joy
Ye Shiqi, this girl, was smarter than her elder sisters, shattering adults’ perception that a woman without talent is virtuous. In the eyes of the elderly farmers, sons were the pillars of the household; the more sons a family had, the better. It was already difficult enough to provide for them, let alone afford their education.
A family would struggle to support just one or two book-loving and somewhat clever boys in their studies—a truly difficult endeavor.
The most renowned in the village was now the Scholar, with not a few emerging from the population. It was said to be due to the favorable feng shui of their ancestral graves which, despite never having been seen emitting blue smoke in this village, produced many strong men capable of becoming high-ranking officials in the capital.
Speaking of those who passed exams to become high-ranking officials in the capital, to have one or two in the entire county was already famous; so many people from countless provinces and cities vying for the narrow path to success was by no means easy.
If it was difficult for men to study, then of what use was it for a smart girl to learn to read? In the end, she’d just marry someone else and bear children.
More importantly, if there was money, it was to be prioritized for the boys’ education; it didn’t matter if girls could read or not, as long as they mastered needlework and household chores.
However, ever since Mrs. Li gave birth to Ye Shiqi, the family began to prosper. This little girl also brought along a younger brother, which could be said to have brought wealth to the family.