“This is a few articles and poems written by the student. I humbly ask sir for your guidance!”

John Foster took the manuscript, flipped through it, and then smiled as he handed it back.

“Not bad! Do your best in the qualifying exam. I hope to hear good news from you.”

George Foster was so moved that tears almost fell, and his voice choked as he spoke.

“Sir’s teachings, I will always remember in my heart.”

Charles Foster also felt hopeful, and quickly seized the moment, saying, “I heard that Third Brother still has no disciples. Do you think it’s possible…”

Nathan Foster couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Grandfather actually wanted Fourth Uncle to become John Foster’s successor—he really could think of that!

Even with all his composure, John Foster couldn’t hold back at this point.

He quickly grabbed George Foster, who was about to kneel and kowtow, and said to Charles Foster, “I still have things to do today, so I’ll take my leave. I’ll visit Second Brother another day.”

At this moment, he didn’t want to stay even a moment longer. He turned to nod at Nathan Foster and Thomas Foster, then turned and left the courtyard.

“Could I trouble sir to give me some advice on this year’s qualifying exam?”

“I’m sorry, I’m not very familiar with the imperial exams anymore. I’m afraid I might mislead you!”

John Foster’s voice was already fading away.

George Foster hit a dead end and instantly lost all his spirit. He yawned sleepily and wandered home in a lazy manner.

Charles Foster’s face was full of disappointment. He truly couldn’t understand—his youngest son was so outstanding, why was he not favored by John Foster?

“Father, why don’t you come in and sit for a while?”

“No need!”

Charles Foster glanced back at Nathan Foster, only to find he was already gone, which made him a bit unhappy.

How could this child show no respect to his grandfather, running off without even a greeting?

“What about Ah-Dai? I heard you still want to send him to study in town?”

Thomas Foster quickly said, “Father, I just want to give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it.”

“Eldest, I really don’t think it’s necessary. Of course, as a grandfather, I feel for my own grandson, but feelings aside, he’s just not cut out for studying. We have to face reality.”

Charles Foster had always disapproved of Nathan Foster going to school. He pointed at the three shabby thatched huts.

“Look at how rundown your house is. Studying costs a lot of money. I don’t know how much I’ve spent sending Fourth to school—you should know that well. With the little you make from fishing, can you really afford to send your son to school?”

Thomas Foster lowered his head in silence. Seeing that his eldest daughter-in-law wasn’t around, Charles Foster took the opportunity to earnestly persuade his son.

“Eldest, it’s not that I’m criticizing you, but if you have spare money, wouldn’t it be better to fix up the house? Why insist on listening to your wife and sending Ah-Dai to school? In the past two years, you’ve spent at least ten strings of cash on his schooling! But how many characters has he learned? Ten strings of cash!”

“I’m willing to spend whatever it takes to send my son to school. It’s not for others to lecture me about it!”

Mary Bolton stormed out of the house, her face full of anger. She and her father-in-law Charles Foster had argued countless times over her son’s schooling, and the conflict had built up day by day.

Last spring, Mary Bolton insisted on continuing to send her son to the village school, which intensified the conflict and ultimately led to the family splitting up.

Every time Mary Bolton thought of the split, her heart filled with resentment.

“Speaking of the house being rundown, let me ask you—when the family split last year, what did you give Eldest? All the land and property had to go to Fourth. If not for my dowry, we wouldn’t even have these three rooms. And you still have the nerve to say the house is rundown?”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Eldest started fishing on the lake to support the family at fifteen. He’s done so much for the family. It’s one thing if you favor Fourth, but Eldest is your son too. Don’t you feel any guilt treating him like this?”

“I said at the time of the split that I really didn’t have any money to give, but I’ll make it up to Eldest in the future.”

Charles Foster’s face flushed red and then white. Of course he felt guilty, knowing he’d wronged his eldest son, but in front of his daughter-in-law, he would never show the slightest weakness.

“If we’re talking about unfairness, then I’ll be honest. My greatest wish in life is to have a son or grandson become an official. But Eldest fishes, Second does business, Third married into his wife’s family—none of them can be counted on. If Ah-Dai were a bit smarter, I could hope for him, but you know better than I do what he’s like. The two grandsons from Second’s family can’t be relied on either—they probably won’t even pass the county exam. As for Third’s son, that Lu kid, don’t even mention him. Right now, only Fourth is doing well in his studies and has the best chance of becoming an official. I’m counting on him to bring honor to the family and take care of me in my old age. So don’t blame me for favoring Fourth a bit more. Besides, if you treat Fourth well, that’s being filial to me.”

“Father, I never said you were being unfair.” Thomas Foster was caught between his wife and father, truly at a loss.

“But your wife did, hmph!”

Charles Foster was stubborn, but he was actually a bit afraid of his eldest daughter-in-law, who never spared his feelings when she spoke. He turned and left in a huff, but after a few steps, he came back, grabbed the basket of mandarin fish, and then left grumbling.

……

John Foster walked along the riverbank back to his lodging, feeling deeply moved.