Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yan Qixun was extremely interested in ancient culture. Only the Monkey King was a little bitter because reading was too much of a hassle for him.
Yan Qixun was puzzled. “Brother Monkey, I think you would have read the Taoist classics in Lingtai Mountain. You had gone to the Western Heaven to obtain the Buddhist scriptures and read them. Whether it was Taoist scriptures or Buddhist scriptures, studying the whole collection of scriptures was challenging. You have read Taoist and Buddhists scriptures in your past life. I don’t see how it would be difficult for you to reread them.”
Brother Monkey then said, “Do you think everyone is an academic prodigy? So I have no choice but to participate.”
Yan Qixun thought to herself. ‘I still want to integrate some college programs into our small personal classroom, so you will have no choice but to participate.’
“Literature, history, philosophy, are all needed to understand the world better. Learning mathematics, physics, and chemistry would help too. I have to learn them all, and I have to study hard.
“I can’t wait to get started. Starting with rudimentary mathematics, physics, and chemistry every single day, I won’t shy away from learning about them wherever I am. There are also illustrations I can study.
“As an example, in the cultivation world, knowledge of physics and chemistry were needed for refining artifacts. Chemical biology was needed for alchemy, and mathematical astronomy was needed for rune arrays. Not to mention that people needed technology to improve their way of life. Even immortal cultivation required some form of science and technology.”
Yan Qixun’s family had a headache from her incessant rambling. Now they had no choice but to adjust their learning process. It was fortunate that they all had higher IQs compared to ordinary people. Therefore, Yan Qixun’s teaching methods were gratifying, and they gave her a sense of accomplishment. After all, the academic prodigies were always able to appreciate each other and reach the same goals through different paths.
Gongyu Mingxi had expected this. They could all learn something from each other. She could teach them about literature, poems, and songs as their mother. Their miracle doctor, Yan Lingsu, could teach them fundamental medical theories and medicinal herbs. Yan Qixun could teach them about some medical theories and hygiene habits from the future. Brother Monkey could teach them about cultivation.
The Godly Doctor could also teach them some martial arts. Yan Qixun was teaching them mathematics, physics, and chemistry. There were also some narratives from their past lives mixed in between. Everyone was highly motivated to start learning. Without further delay, the Yan Family School was in full swing.
Yan Qixun was squatting by the fermentation pond to observe the fermentation process of the straw when she heard someone call out to her from behind, “Xiao Xun, I heard from Second Aunt that you wanted to make paper.”
Yan Qixun turned around and saw her cousin, Yan Lingzhou. She did not get up. She only smiled and said, “I read about papermaking in one of Grandfather’s old books. I’m trying to see if it works. I can’t make good-quality paper, but I shouldn’t have any issues making straw paper. What brings you all the way here, cousin?”
Yan Lingzhou teased her. “I was just headed home, so I figured I would stop by.”
‘Isn’t it three or four o’clock in the afternoon? Shouldn’t he be home by now?’ Yan Qixun thought.
Yan Qixun did not care for his teasing. She rolled her eyes and said, “It’s late. If you don’t hurry, you won’t make it home in time for dinner. Didn’t Uncle Lu catch a deer when he went hunting with Second Brother the other day?”
“If you run home now, you might make it in time to have some of it for dinner. We still have some deer meat leftover. We have been eating deer meat for dinner these past few nights. Third Sister’s cooking is delicious.”
Her mother and Yan Lingsu were both fantastic chefs. They had always wanted Yan Lingsu to become a master chef. Although she had only been cooking for a few days, her culinary skills had improved tremendously.
Yan Lingzhou then patted Yan Qixun’s head and looked into the fermentation pond. “I’m tired of having deer meat for dinner. Your family was the one that sent us some deer meat a few days ago. We have been eating it for the past few days as well.”
“I came here to bring you guys some food. Your family taught us how to make tofu. Today is the first time that we have attempted to make some. My mother sent me to give your family some tofu to try.”
“Oh?” Yan Qixun’s interest was piqued when she heard about tofu. She quickly got up and pulled her eldest cousin. “Are those the tofu? Alright, let me take a look.”
Yan Lingzhou’s grandfather had approved of the idea of starting a tofu-making business. They were initially going to give the Yan family twenty percent of their profits. But this was their hard-earned money, even though the Yan family had provided them with the knowledge of tofu-making. However, Gongyu Mingxi’s family did not have to do anything physically, so they agreed only to take ten percent. It was a sign of respect toward their granduncle.
Yan Qixun then asked about her Great-grandfather’s health, “I have been busy these past few days. So, I couldn’t visit my great-grandfather. How is he?”
“He’s fine. He can now walk on his own, and it’s all thanks to Yan Lingsu.” He said.
Yan Lingsu had made adjustments to her great-grandfather’s medicine and performed acupuncture for him. Their great-grandfather’s condition had improved exponentially. Not only did his legs stop hurting, but he was also sleeping better.
Yan Qixun nodded. “That is good to hear. I shall visit Great-grandfather when I have the time.”
Her second brother had gone into the deep mountains recently, but he did not manage to catch a wolf or a tiger. Instead, he managed to catch a wild boar, two deer, some chickens, and some rabbits. The deer antlers, deer fetus, deer penis, and deer tendons were of the most value out of the bunch. Yan Lingsu simply had to cook them before selling them. She had received more than fifty taels of silver as a result, which considerably eased their family’s financial problems.
However, Second Brother was disappointed that he couldn’t hunt tigers and wolves. His dreams of having wolf and tiger skin were crushed. He still wanted his Grandfather to have a mattress made of wolf skin.
Seeing the serious expression on Yan Qixun’s face, Yan Lingzhou laughed and said, “You look busy. What are you doing?”
“I’m busy learning how to read and practice martial arts.” Yan Qixun pretended to shake her head and sigh. “Mother thinks that we are uneducated, so she is forcing us to study.”
This reminded Yan Qixun that Yan Lingzhou was preparing to take the entrance exam next spring, so she said, “My mother’s education is as good as my father’s. If there is anything you didn’t understand, feel free to ask her.”
Yan Qixun thought that her mother was incredibly talented, and she didn’t feel the need to hide it. Her mother was famous throughout the Song Dynasty in her past life, so there was no need to hide in the shadows in her current life.
The current empire was better compared to the Song Dynasty. Although the status of women was lower than the status of men, their customs were comparable to the Tang Dynasty in her past life. The two courts in the city would allow women to attend the same schools as men. Her mother probably had a student in her past life, making her a good teacher. She taught her children well. Gongyu Mingxi was kind and dutiful, but there would be chaos if they didn’t finish their homework.
When it came to teaching, their mother had the demeanor of a great teacher. She explained things very well, and the four siblings listened with great interest. However, their mother had admitted that Yan Lingyu was her favorite student. She also said that the other three were a bunch of useless scholars in her eyes. Neither Yan Qixun, Monkey King, or Miracle Doctor were willing to admit being useless.
Yan Lingzhou knew that his second aunt was a lady from a wealthy family and that she was proficient in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He didn’t know about her education levels, which means he also didn’t realize that her knowledge was on par with his second uncle, whom he admired the most.
His second uncle had gone to the city. His fifth uncle, who taught in the country, was also not home. So, whenever he encountered a problem with his studies, he would have no one around to consult..