Chapter 296 Decision

Chapter 296 Decision

Back at the He family’s compound, He Shuyu told the result.

Aunt Sun was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, "I didn't expect this result, oh."

Uncle He never thought that Sun Shan would be on the second place list. He thought he would fail again this time.

After all, I was not admitted to the first three colleges, so the last one should be about the same.

When the habit fails, suddenly there is a half-failure or half-success, which makes you laugh or cry.

Aunt Sun asked, "Shanzi, what do you think?"

Sun Shan thought about it again and again on his way back and finally figured out what to do.

In any case, you can't be hesitant when making decisions, you have to be decisive.

He said to Aunt Sun and Uncle He, "Aunt, Uncle, I won't go to school anymore. 100 taels a year is too expensive. I can't afford it."

100 taels is just the tuition fee, there are also accommodation fees, living expenses, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone fees, as well as social interaction fees.

With all these expenses, you can't make it without 200 taels a year.

It is impossible for Sun Shan to read such expensive books.

Aunt Su opened her eyes wide. She was a little surprised. She didn't expect Sun Shan to make the decision so quickly.

He said gently, "Shanzi, don't make a decision so quickly. You still have five days. Think carefully. The tuition fee of 5 taels a year is a bit expensive, but it will do you no harm to study in the academy. Yuehua Academy is a good academy. Many people try their best but fail to get in. You have another chance now. You shouldn't give up so easily."

After saying that, he looked at Uncle He.

Uncle He understood immediately and said to Sun Shan, "Shanzi, we know you are worried about the tuition. 100 taels is indeed very expensive. It is indeed difficult for your family to support it. You should listen to your uncle's words. How about this, your eldest aunt and I will help you pay for the tuition, and your father and mother will pay for accommodation and living expenses. What do you think?"

100 taels was not a small sum for Aunt Sun and Uncle He, but they could always squeeze it out.

The biggest expense now is Jing'er's tuition and living expenses. The second biggest expense is Han'er's tuition. Yu'er and Sheng'er are no longer studying, but they still earn money.

Uncle He thought about it and felt that his current burden was not very heavy. He had food, clothing and shelter at home. They had land and shops, and the income was okay.

Uncle He thought of giving Shanzi 100 taels a year. By the time Shanzi took the provincial examination in five years, that would be 5 taels, which he could still afford.

If he still can't pass the exam after 5 years, he can only drop out of school. After all, Shanzi's surname is Sun, not He, and he is also worried about the children at home making trouble.

When Sun Shan heard that Uncle He and Aunt Sun were paying for his tuition, he immediately shook his head and said, "Uncle, Aunt, I have decided not to study anymore."

Aunt Sun said anxiously, "How can you not study? It's not that you can't afford it. You can always get the money together. Don't worry, I and my uncle can afford this little money. Of course, I have to make it clear to you that you can't study all the time. If you do, I can't afford it."

Aunt Sun was afraid that Uncle He and his son and daughter-in-law would have objections, so if Sun Shan failed to pass the imperial examination, she would definitely not be able to continue to support him.

This point must be made clear to avoid any guessing.

Sun Shan was so moved that he gave his aunt and uncle the 100 taels without hesitation.

No, it’s more than 100 taels. From what they said, it must be enough for me to take the provincial examination.

However, Sun Shan had already said that he would take the provincial examination five years later.

Firstly, he was in poor health and planned to exercise well so that he would have the strength to enter the venue again.

Secondly, if one wants to take the provincial examination, one must pass the annual examination and the imperial examination. At present, Sun Shan has not yet obtained the qualification for the provincial examination.

In other words, Aunt Sun and Uncle He must invest at least 500 taels in Sun Shan.

This is a huge sum of money, and they are not wealthy businessmen, so it will be difficult for them to handle it.

Sun Shan didn't want the quality of life of people around him to decline because of his studying. This was not his original intention for studying.

Sun Shan settled accounts with Aunt Sun and Uncle He one by one: "Uncle, Aunt, thank you. But I have decided not to go to school. You two listen to me."

After a pause, Sun Shan continued, "Even if you are willing to give me 100 taels, my family will have a hard time affording the accommodation and living expenses."

The accommodation fee is 10 taels, there is no upper limit on the food expenses, and there are more expenses for other social interactions, pens, ink, paper and inkstone.

Sun Shan analyzed the Sun family's income to Aunt Sun and Uncle He.

Although the Sun family did not have to pay taxes on their land income, it was already a lot to have five taels left at the end of the year.

The three brothers and Huang jointly owned the tangerine orchard. Even if they didn't want it, they could just use it as a subsidy to Sun Shan, which would only be 50 taels a year. Besides, it was impossible for the whole thing to belong to the eldest wife. Uncle Sun might agree to it, but Uncle Sun would definitely not.

After deducting the cost, the flowers grown by Sun Shan's family can earn about 80 taels a year, which is considered a good year.

The eldest wife of the Sun family could earn at most 120 taels a year. This was only a theoretical 120 taels. After deducting the social relations of the Sun family, medical treatment, medicine, eating, drinking, defecating, weddings and funerals, there was no way to have 120 taels left.

If Sun Shan wanted to study at Yuehua Academy, he would have to spend at least 100 taels, which would really drain the Sun family's income.

Sun Bomin and Su worked hard and busy all year, but all their time was spent on Sun Shan's studies.

Sun Bomin and Su were happy with it, but Sun Shan was not.

He couldn't afford to spend all his parents' money just to study.

Sun Shan said firmly, "Uncle, aunt, I will always remember your kindness. But my family's current situation does not allow me to study expensive books. I don't want my grandma, dad, and mom to be reluctant to buy a piece of cloth because of my studies. I don't want your life to be worse than before because of my studies."

Sun Shan took a deep breath and exhaled deeply: "Uncle, aunt, if I were made of gold, I would shine wherever I study. If I were not made of gold, even if I were blessed by a master, I would not shine.

Uncle, aunt, that’s why I study.

Firstly, it’s because I like it, and secondly, I want my family to have a good life.

Now that I have passed the imperial examination, our family is getting better and better. My father, mother, and grandmother walk around Sunjia Village with their heads held high. Being an imperial scholar is already a great achievement for the Sun family."

Aunt Sun's eyes were red as she hugged Sun Shan and said with emotion: "Our Shanzi is really sensible and thoughtful."

Uncle He was also very moved that Shanzi, at such a young age, had such far-sighted and deep thoughts. He did not want to implicate his relatives just for the sake of his own goal.

Uncle He smiled and said, "Shanzi, you should think about it again and don't make a decision so early. If you want to go further, you still need to find a good teacher. The tuition fee is not ridiculously expensive. If your aunt, your father and mother and I save some money, we can still afford it."

Sun Shan shook his head and said solemnly, "Uncle, your kindness has cooled my heart. I have made up my mind. I will not go to school. I will continue to take the entrance exams to other academies. If I fail, I will return to Zhangzhou Prefecture to study. Uncle, don't worry. There are also good teachers in the official school in Zhangzhou Prefecture. I can study there."

No matter what, Sun Shan would not read expensive books. He just came from the village and could not afford to go to school. He would not confiscate his family's property to go to school. He did not want his family to become poor again because of his studies.

Sun Shan smiled and comforted Aunt Sun and Uncle He: "Uncle, Aunt, no matter where I study, I will study hard and strive to pass the imperial examinations. Hehe, I am so smart, you must believe me."

Aunt Sun smiled gently and said, "Okay, Aunt, wait for our Shanzi to take the imperial examinations and then the imperial examinations."