The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 332: Defend the Eight Front Teeth (6)_1

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Defend the Eight Front Teeth (6)_1

Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin had just returned from school, bringing with them two fish to show off, "Elder sister! We won these two fish with a bet!" Seeing Old Scholar Fang was also there, Pei Wendong respectfully greeted him, addressing him as Grandpa.

Old Scholar Fang heaved another sigh, thinking that if Wendong were older and had some achievements to his name, it would raise Qinqin’s status as well.

Pei Qian looked at the two fish, each weighing over a pound, and picked them up, "What bet did you make?"

"Someone dropped something into the ditch and couldn’t retrieve it. We suggested using a fishing hook, but someone else thought a bamboo pole would work. We bet on which would be the right length, and it turns out we were correct, so we got these two fish!" Pei Wendong said with a smile.

When Pei Qin taught them basic arithmetic, she included some simple geometry. As for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, just practicing more problems every day would suffice. The key was real-life applications, which required thinking.

"Well done!" Pei Qin praised the two Little Radishes without holding back, patting their heads with pride.

The two of them grinned, their faces shining bright as if they were glowing.

Waiting for Pei Qin to start cooking, Old Scholar Fang called Pei Wendong over to test his knowledge. Since Chang Yonglin was Landlord Chang’s young master, it was not his place to inquire, but he could not neglect his own grandson’s studies.

Pei Wendong reported what he knew and admitted what he did not.

Old Scholar Fang found that although his knowledge had improved, it was not as marked as the previous year. He thought that the broader range of subjects and deeper knowledge had dispersed Wendong’s focus. He gave him some pointers where Teacher Sun’s teaching fell short, advising him not to rush but to solidify his knowledge.

Just when Pei Wendong wished he could bury himself in his books, Pei Qin pulled him out for a lecture, after which Wendong never erred again, studying steadily. His instruction, supplemented by Mo Heng’s teachings, meant that his scholarly knowledge was much better than that of his peers.

Seeing Shen Songming sitting composed at the table, eating with Pei Qin, Old Scholar Fang felt somewhat uneasy and asked, "Young Master Shen, when do you plan to depart this time?"

Another one eager to see him leave... Irritated, Shen Songming retorted, "I’ve got to stay for a few days at least!"

Old Scholar Fang was taken aback by his retort. After finishing dinner, he invited Pei Qin to accompany him to Taiping Mountain.

The current Taiping Mountain was barren, with only some slopes planted with sweet potatoes; there was not much to see. But since he wanted to go, Pei Qin accompanied him to take a look.

On the way, Old Scholar Fang spoke to her about the sweet potato rewards, "... I asked Young Master Shen this morning; the rewards are expected to be issued by the end of this year. After your mourning period ends next March, we should start thinking about your betrothal. You are thoughtful, and with your mother no longer here, I will speak directly to you. I’m planning to visit Landlord Chang and Landlord Zhao in town after the summer sweet potato harvest. We mostly associate with ordinary people, so to find you a suitable match, these landlords, who have wide contacts, are our best option. What do you think?"

Pei Qin looked down at her chest. She had just begun menstruating last winter, and her body was still like a tiny sprout. Even if she were a foxtail flower, getting married at sixteen would be like recklessly destroying a flower! Did they think because foxtail flowers were abundant, they could be treated carelessly?

"Grandpa! There’s no rush for this; we can talk about it a few years later! At least wait until Wendong is older. As the eldest sister, I must raise the three of them well!" Pei Qin said earnestly. If they insisted she marry now, could they even force her?

Old Scholar Fang looked at her deeply, "After the mourning period, when we arrange the marriage, you will be seventeen, not that young anymore."

"I am still very young..." An eighteen-year-old girl is like a blossoming flower, and she was not yet close to eighteen. She wondered how much taller she could grow in the next few years. Worrisome!

Old Scholar Fang sighed, feeling anxious as well.