Chapter 49: Chapter 49

The various family members spent a long time gossiping about Second Ya's recent changes. By the next day, when Second Uncle Xie borrowed a donkey cart from the village chief to send Second Ya to the county embroidery workshop, everyone had silently agreed not to show their true feelings.

Even Aunt Xie, who usually wore her emotions on her sleeve, now had a seemingly sincere smile on her face: "Second Ya, you must study hard and strive to graduate early."

"I know, Auntie," Second Ya replied. Perhaps the recent scolding had taught her some sense, as she didn't argue back this time, only nodding meekly while her small hands hidden in her sleeves nearly drew blood from how hard she was clenching them.

Before leaving, she still couldn't resist shooting a hidden glare toward An Ning's room.

What grudge? What resentment?

As a patient, An Ning had been ordered by Little Chen to rest in her room these past few days, with even meals being specially delivered by either her little brother or mother. Naturally, she couldn't appear in the "send-off" group. Yet even so, she still earned resentment.

Slowly swallowing the coarse sweet potato porridge that scraped her throat, An Ning forced herself not to show any unusual expression.

Ancient grain processing techniques were primitive, with refined rice being something only wealthy families could afford. The small amount of millet in her bowl was specially added by Little Chen because her daughter was sick.

Watching her host struggle with the meal, the system's mouth twitched: "Host, you'd better recover quickly and think about how to make a fortune!"

Holding the chipped small bowl, An Ning rolled her eyes at the dog-like system: "System, those female protagonists who transmigrate and suddenly change personalities to make fortunes - do you think their families are truly careless or just pretending to be oblivious?"

How much of that so-called kindness was genuine, and how much was self-interest?

"Ah, they're just villagers who can't read and have never seen the world. Host doesn't need to be so cautious!" The system didn't understand.

"Could host be worried about that cheap cousin? Weren't you just complaining about how stupid she was?"

Obviously, An Ning mentally rolled her eyes again.

Precisely because she's stupid that she's most likely to cause trouble and needs the most guarding against.

Actually, when she first arrived, An Ning had considered simply eliminating her.

No other reason - she was too stupid.

Smart people's actions could be predicted and controlled, like her cheap stepmother in her previous life. But stupid people - you never knew what kind of mess they might stir up.

Especially when this person might have come from the same place as you, with unknown cheat abilities.

But after turning this idea over in her mind, An Ning ultimately chose to painfully give it up.

Not to mention the risk of acting before confirming whether the other had cheat abilities.

Honestly, if she really did this, the original wish-maker probably wouldn't be satisfied. Someone who ruined her future, doomed her to a lifetime of mediocrity and suffering, making her die with eyes wide open - for such a person to die so simply? If it were An Ning, she'd definitely leave a bad review.

Forget it, there were other ways.

Fortunately, she'd spent a fortune earlier to upgrade her space. After swallowing the just-retrieved cloud-shaped cake, An Ning leisurely pulled out a poetry collection from her space to read.

"At birth, humans are inherently good..."

In the morning, clear recitation sounds continuously came from the small house at the village center.

Xie Village wasn't too far from the county town. Besides farming, the village men often went to the county for odd jobs. Thus, while life wasn't exactly prosperous, families with plans could still save some money.

Even so, the large schoolhouse currently only had three or five young children sitting inside.

An Ning was currently leaning against the wooden window outside, wide-eyed and seemingly absorbed, listening to the old scholar dryly recite scriptures.

After listening carefully for a while, An Ning finally understood why, despite repeated reforms by rulers, aristocratic education monopolies remained so severe in this era.

Flat, mechanical reading without any interest - this teaching method not only made the children below drowsy, but even An Ning herself nearly fell asleep.

This was the normal rural education standard. And this old scholar, Mr. Xu, had actually passed the child scholar exam!

But if it was just the child scholar exam, as long as one had solid fundamentals, passing wasn't impossible.

As An Ning pondered, she saw Mr. Xu's daughter-in-law approaching with a food box.

Realizing class was about to end, An Ning hurriedly pretended to clumsily climb down from the windowsill, not forgetting to take the small wooden stool she'd stood on.

"Isn't this Siya? It's almost mealtime, what are you doing here?"

An Ning quickly imitated the original body's manner and smiled as she called out, though her face remained pale and her tone less lively than usual.

Remembering the Xie family drama earlier, pity quickly flashed in Little Lin's eyes, and her tone softened considerably:

"An Ning, tell auntie, why did you come here?"

An Ning blinked, forcing back tears: "It's... it's Fatty Girl and Pandi, they all say... say I can't work anymore, that I'm useless, that when I grow up I'll be sold to be a cripple's wife."

"Auntie Lin, Siya doesn't want to be sold, doesn't want to marry a cripple."

"Siya wants to learn characters, then can work in the county like Fourth Uncle later."

As if thinking of something, the little girl's pale face suddenly brightened, making Little Lin's heart ache.

Little Lin couldn't help sighing.

Girls weren't boys. Besides embroidery workshops, where else would hire them? But seeing An Ning's tearful, pale face, Auntie Lin ultimately didn't voice this "harsh truth."

Thinking it was better for Siya to have some hope rather than stay home all day obsessing, and considering the child was quite pretty - if she could recite some classics later, she might really marry into a family where she wouldn't have to work!

Of course, the latter part was just wishful thinking. For village girls, marrying up was easier said than done.

"Alright, Siya can listen if she wants. My father-in-law won't say anything."

Among all the village families, only a few could afford schooling. Other children had eavesdropped before, but lost interest quickly and disappeared.

Her father-in-law had been unhappy before, thinking those children lacked perseverance.

After a few more words, Auntie Lin hurried into the schoolhouse with the food box.

Seizing the opportunity, An Ning borrowed textbook privileges from the village chief's chubby grandson for half an hour in exchange for a grass-folded grasshopper.

One good thing about Scholar Xu was that before lecturing, he liked to mechanically recite the day's material.

An Ning just needed the chubby boy to point out the content, then match it with what was recited. With her photographic memory, she could basically recognize all the characters.

Thus, in just over half a month, on the surface An Ning had mastered the "Three Character Classic," even able to write it out character by character with a small stick.

When confirmed, the seven-year-old chubby boy was so shocked his mouth hung open.

"Wait Siya, you can really remember everything Teacher says after hearing it once?"

The adult-souled An Ning nodded without hesitation.

Actually, in this life, she really could.

When An Ning perfectly recited that day's entire lesson from memory, the chubby boy looked like his soul had left his body, almost literally:

"No wonder my dad says I don't study well, always feeling something's missing - now I know!" The chubby boy slapped his forehead as if finally understanding:

"It's because I'm missing your brain, Siya!"

At this moment, the chubby boy completely made peace with his past self.

"Siya, since you're so smart, can you do my homework for me?"

Pulling out a bag of still-warm sweet potato chips from his pocket, the chubby boy looked at his little friend with eager eyes.

This gaze... looked strangely familiar!

From then on, the two successfully established three principles of friendly mutual assistance.

Several months later, Third Uncle Xie and his wife nearly lost their souls in shock too.