Chapter 158 The meaning of reading
"Jingzhe, mother knows that what you wanted to achieve in life was to leave Qinghewan, go to the capital, go to Shengjing. To pursue a career in government, marry a virtuous wife and concubines, and live a life of superiority. You will never associate with farmers, peddlers or porters. But have you ever thought that there is no such thing as superiority? Emperors and generals? Emperors and generals are also supported by countless people. You were born in a farming family, and your mother and sister are also peddlers. Is your purpose of studying to leave the farming family and step on peddlers to become a so-called superior person?"
Gu Jingzhe looked at Tong Huaqiong in great shock.
Not only did my mother see through him, but she could also say such words.
He always thought that his mother was vulgar and did things not decently enough. Although he was very filial, he looked down on his mother in his heart.
During this period of time, he realized that vulgarity was just his mother's outward expression, and her cognition far exceeded that of a peasant woman in Qinghe Bay.
He didn't know why his mother changed, maybe she was just that kind of person.
It’s just that I was trapped in the Gu family and Qinghe Bay before.
He didn't know whether his mother was affected by the dream.
"Mom, I really thought so before." Gu Jingzhe said frankly.
"You are very talented and the most studious person in our Qinghe Bay. It's right that you want to make a name for yourself, but you must remember your origins, remember your elder brother who was driven away by yamen runners for carrying sandbags at the dock, remember your sister who was bullied for selling cakes at the market, remember the people of Qinghe Bay who were looking forward to a good day during the wheat harvest, remember the people of Yanguan Town who wanted justice when they encountered injustice... As long as you remember these, you will understand why you study. Purely studying is for the sake of gaining knowledge, while studying for the imperial examinations is for a career in officialdom. The purpose of a career in officialdom is to allow peddlers like your elder brother and sister to have a way to make a living, and to allow the people behind you to live a life with land to grow crops and food to eat without being oppressed." Tong Huaqiong said to Gu Jingzhe.
Gu Jingzhe is not a bad person by nature and is very intelligent. However, he was spoiled by Tong Dajiao in his previous life.
In this life, Tong Huaqiong hopes that Gu Jingzhe can do something practical.
She is a modern person, and she accepts the idea that everyone is equal. If the son she raises goes into politics in order to drink the blood of the people and eat the flesh of ordinary people, and then sits in a high position and dominates the weak, she cannot accept it.
Gu Jingzhe's heart was beating like a drum, and he had to say that he was greatly shocked.
It was like a thunderclap in my head, instantly illuminating the confusion that had been weighing on my mind for days.
Gu Jingzhe knelt down in front of Tong Huaqiong with a plop.
Then the tears welled up.
Tong Huaqiong: “…”
Tong Huaqiong was most afraid of such sentimental scenes. Why did she have to hug Gu Jingzhe and shout "my son", and then the mother and son would hug each other and cry bitterly?
This is not acting like a sissy.
I can't stand it.
"Mom, I've taken note of what you said. I want to study, and I plan to go to the capital to find a job and study while working."
Gu Jingzhe then told them his plan.
"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I plan to go not only to the provincial capital, but also to a different place every year, making money while studying." Gu Jingzhe said.
Tong Huaqiong was indifferent to Gu Jingzhe's tears, and was speechless when she heard his plan.
It is true that Gu Jingzhe is a genius, but he is only fourteen years old after all, and he has unrealistic fantasies about accumulating knowledge through traveling.
She had to wake him up.
Tong Huaqiong took a deep breath and said slowly: "Since I let you study, I will definitely not let you go so far. Our family has opened a shop now, and we can still afford to support your studies if we grit our teeth."
Gu Jingzhe suddenly raised his head, tears still in the corners of his eyes.
Gu Jingzhe didn't expect that Tong Huaqiong would be willing to continue to support his studies.
Tong Huaqiong sighed, saying that if she had entered the entertainment industry in her previous life, this tearful image would have definitely tormented a lot of her fans.
"Although it is said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, that requires growth to have certain abilities. You are still young now. If I let you go to the capital, you will be dazzled by the colorful world. You will not be able to finish your journey and study well, then you will be doomed." Tong Huaqiong expressed his objection, "Since you want to study, calm down and study hard, don't think about other things."
"Besides, you travel thousands of miles just to see the local customs and practices of different places. In my opinion, the area around Yanguan Town and even Pingchuan County is enough for you to see. It is better to go deep into the fields and streets to understand the hardships of farmers and peddlers. This will be beneficial to you in the future, whether you are taking the imperial examination or pursuing a career in politics."
After hearing this, Gu Jingzhe felt that he was still too immature in front of his mother.
"You will return to the private school from tomorrow. I have already told Master Su about it." Tong Huaqiong said her decision and then asked, "Your reputation in the private school is not good because of the Zheng family's affairs. Can you bear the ridicule from your classmates? If you can't bear it, you might as well stay at home and farm."
Since Gu Jingzhe is allowed to study, it is better to send him to a private school tomorrow.
But Tong Huaqiong was worried that Gu Jingzhe, who had always been arrogant, would not be able to stand the ridicule of his classmates in the private school, and that the child's psychology, which she had finally straightened out, would be distorted again by the shock.
Gu Jingzhe said excitedly: "Mom, I will study hard. As long as I can study, the ridicule from my classmates doesn't matter."
There is nothing more terrifying than being ridiculed by classmates than not being able to study.
"Also, even if I study, it won't interfere with my work at the shop or at home."
Gu Jingzhe made a promise.
Tong Huaqiong nodded, thought for a moment, and suddenly said, "Your education will cost a lot of money. You will go to the capital to take the exam, go to Wanliu Academy to study, go to the capital to take the exam... Everything will cost money, I can't support you for nothing. Although if you can finish your studies, you can earn me an imperial edict, but if you don't, my money will be wasted."
"How about this, write down every penny you spend, from the big money for tuition and exam fees to the small money for a pen and a piece of paper. No matter whether you can read it or not, you must pay it back to me in the future."
Tong Huaqiong wanted to put pressure on Gu Jingzhe to make him always keep a clear eye on the money he spent on his studies.
Otherwise, he would have thought that he had read it all with his own brain.
"Mom, I will use an account book to record it." Gu Jingzhe said.
"Okay." Tong Huaqiong said, "Pack up and go to the private school tomorrow."
Gu Jingzhe wiped his tears and agreed!
The next day, the Gu family got up at dawn.
Since the shop opened, Tong Huaqiong has never slept in, and always works until dawn.
Gu Jingzhe got up especially early. By the time Tong Huaqiong and others woke up, Gu Jingzhe had already swept the yard and was cooking porridge and steamed buns on the stove.
Gu Jingzhe, who was able to return to the private school, worked harder than ever before.
At the dinner table, Tong Huaqiong announced the news that Gu Jingzhe would return to the private school.
No one was too touched by this news. After all, in the minds of Gu Dahan and others, Gu Jingzhe should be in a private school instead of behind the counter in the countryside.
"Uncle, you must study hard in the future. Our family is rich now. Don't think about selling Maner." Maner was a naive child who spoke directly and exposed Gu Jingzhe's biggest black material.
Gu Jingzhe was so ashamed that he kept assuring his family that he would never think of sacrificing anyone in his family.