But right on the very edge, there was actually one household without any cooking smoke.

"Young master, this is the Ma family, just a widow and her orphaned child. They fled here from the south two years ago. The steward couldn't bear to see them suffer, so he let the mother and son stay on the estate."

Mr. King seemed to know everything about the estate like the back of his hand.

William Foster frowned and said, "Could it be that the son is lazy and idle? Otherwise, why haven't they started cooking?"

Mr. King shook his head. "No, that Samuel Moore is only fifteen. It's said he's a scholar, so his mother won't let him do manual labor, only lets him study every day."

"Tsk! Then how do they make a living?" William Foster found it a bit unbelievable.

Mr. King chuckled. "That The Smith Family is skillful with her hands. She often does needlework and sells it in town, so she manages to support her son."

"A gentleman is open and poised."

While the master and servant were talking about this family, the wooden gate opened, and a young man in a patched blue robe walked out, holding a book in his hand. Judging by how worn the book was, he must have memorized it by heart.

The boy's complexion was a bit pale, but his face was full of stubbornness as he stared straight at William Foster.

William Foster cleared his throat and said, "You must be Samuel Moore, right?"

The boy bowed and said, "That's me, thank you, Mr. Foster, for looking after my mother and me."

Oh! The kid is pretty clever!

William Foster said appreciatively, "Little Ma—oh no, Samuel Moore, do you plan to take the imperial exams?"

This mother and son were only guests at Foster Village, not of lowly status, so they could take the imperial exams.

Samuel Moore raised his head and said confidently, "Of course I will, just wait until next year."

William Foster was a bit stunned. Are kids these days all this sensible?

William Foster glanced inside and saw a middle-aged woman leaning against the door, looking over here with some worry.

A wooden house—in this place, wooden houses are hard to endure in winter, so William Foster asked, "Do you have enough food?"

Even for guests, William Foster felt it necessary to show some concern.

Samuel Moore looked at William Foster warily and said, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Foster, we have enough."

Forget it, a widow and her orphaned son, acting like startled birds at the sight of outsiders. William Foster didn't argue with him, but just said to Mr. King behind him, "Have the steward make arrangements later and put Samuel Moore on the cleaning crew."

"No!"

William Foster was taken aback and turned to look at the stubborn-faced Samuel Moore, frowning as he said, "Do you think you're above working with the tenants? Or do you believe that 'there are thousands of bushels of grain in books'?"

Samuel Moore stiffened his neck. "The poor do not accept charity food!"

William Foster took a deep breath and scolded, "Your mother is still alive, and you still have the nerve to show off your learning? Take care of your own mother first!"

"Studying has made you stupid!"

William Foster stormed off angrily. The Smith Family worriedly came over, and seeing the stubbornness in her son's eyes, she said softly, "Su'er, don't mind it, Mr. Foster is a good man."

Yes, ever since William Foster woke up, he's done plenty of "good deeds," and everyone on the estate feels lucky to have chosen the right master.

Mr. King saw that William Foster was angry and grinned foolishly. "Young master, the steward tried to get this kid to sign a contract, but he just wouldn't do it!"

William Foster slapped him on the head and said irritably, "He has lofty ambitions, of course he won't sell himself."

Back at home, not long after, the bell hanging outside the main gate rang. This was the call for the tenants to come and clean up.

Chapter 14: My Knowledge Is Unique in the World

Leisurely days always pass quickly. When William Foster saw Samuel Moore among the people cleaning the estate, he nodded and beckoned him over.

Samuel Moore lowered his head, holding a broom, and shuffled over to William Foster.

William Foster looked at his thin clothes and asked, "Do you feel ashamed?"

Samuel Moore first nodded, then shook his head. "No, I understand what you mean. I should take good care of my mother, otherwise all my studying is for nothing."

"A teachable child!"

William Foster patted him on the shoulder approvingly and said, "Come to my study later. I want to see what you know."

Really?

Samuel Moore looked up in surprise. You know, William Foster had passed the provincial exam as a youth. If it weren't for being dragged down by Henry Foster, he might already be an official by now.

If he could have such a teacher, his chances at the imperial exams would be much greater.

But what William Foster said next left Samuel Moore a bit confused.

"I won't teach you about the exams, nor will I talk about the Four Books and Five Classics. If you're interested in miscellaneous studies, then come."

William Foster turned and left, hoping Samuel Moore would follow.

In this unfamiliar era, William Foster always felt a sense of crisis. And the only way to suppress that feeling was to strengthen his own power.

"If I teach a few disciples, and when they enter officialdom in the future..."

Samuel Moore stood there in a daze. Jason Foster, who had been listening on the side, said enviously, "Aren't you going? The young master wants to take on a disciple!"

"But I haven't finished my work yet."

The work these days is counted by the day. If you leave early, you won't even get a tael of flour, let alone three.

Thinking of the dumplings he ate yesterday, Samuel Moore felt a hard-to-describe sense of shame.

Have I fallen?

Jason Foster laughed and said, "Go on, would you ever lack anything if you follow the young master?"