Chapter 57: Chapter 57
Xia Zhaodi nodded in agreement from the side. She had been keeping a close eye on things for Third Sister's sake, and from the moment those people arrived until they left, Siya hadn't shown her face at all. So how could they have taken a liking to her?
The Xie family members exchanged confused glances, until Fourth Uncle Xie's wife, being slightly more worldly, spoke up: "Perhaps they heard about how clever our Siya is from somewhere?"
Aunt Xie blurted out without thinking: "Since when is cleverness so valuable?" They hadn't even seen her face, yet even officials' families were interested.
Fourth Uncle Xie's wife clicked her tongue disapprovingly, clearly looking down on her sister-in-law's narrow perspective: "Cleverness might not usually be worth much, but when it reaches our Siya's level, combined with her reading ability? That's priceless!" Otherwise, how did those two scholars from the village come about?
Even without a single day of proper schooling, just by studying the books at the village study, she had managed to teach two scholars. How brilliant must that mind be? Photographic memory - even the top scholar might not possess such ability.
She'd heard that before knowing her niece, the village chief's grandson hadn't been doing well in studies at all, constantly chased around with a stick by Xie Youcheng! If not for knowing this match was beyond their reach, who wouldn't be tempted?
Marrying such a girl could mean adding several scholars to the family. Given more time and books, even a provincial scholar wasn't impossible to imagine. With better luck, having children as smart as Siya - that would be like seeing blue smoke rise from the ancestral graves in broad daylight!
"Father, mother, don't worry. Those wealthy families in the county are smart enough - they wouldn't make a losing deal!"
This seemed reasonable... The Xie family exchanged glances, while Little Chen visibly relaxed. Even as a country woman with no worldly experience, she knew beauty was the least reliable asset. Having her daughter valued for her intelligence rather than looks gave Little Chen much more peace of mind. After all, her daughter's intelligence was undeniable - in Little Chen's eyes, no one in the world could be smarter than her Siya.
The Xie family: "..."
The system was equally puzzled. Watching its host who showed no surprise, as if having predicted everything, the half-grown dog spirit looked dazed: "Host, you're amazing! Without even showing your face, you knew they'd be competing to propose?"
"This isn't amazing." Putting down the calligraphy in her hands, An Ning spoke calmly as if discussing trivial matters rather than her own marriage. "When the benefits are sufficient, other factors become unimportant, don't they?"
Marriage, especially in ancient times, was essentially an exchange of interests. As long as you brought enough benefits, what did looks or temperament matter? So why should she show herself or rush forward? This world had always been pragmatic.
Had she been just an ordinary farm girl with no advantages to offer, no matter how beautiful, none would have come proposing. Was beauty important? Undoubtedly. But in smaller places, the conversion rate of beauty was actually lowest, almost negligible.
Were those carefully trained Yangzhou "thin horses" not beautiful? Yet in this era, who truly valued such women? Without her current intellect, even if Xie Sanwa had still passed the imperial exams, what would await her? Marrying some impoverished scholar, toiling her life away managing household affairs, bearing children, while guarding against becoming the despised "chaff wife" once he succeeded?
Or perhaps some opportunistic small landlord or merchant, entrusting everything to the man's conscience and her brother's future achievements?
"Host, if you don't want to marry, that's fine too! You could start your own school, like the tutoring classes from your past life. Many would surely be willing!" Sensing its host's mood, the system suddenly suggested: "You might become a respected female teacher!"
Setting down her brush, An Ning couldn't help laughing: "Setting aside the strict gender segregation here, tell me - how many men in this era would admit being taught by an unrelated woman? Perhaps when struggling they might bow their heads. But tell me..." Holding up her freshly painted artwork, she continued lightly: "Once successful, would they thank their female teacher, or consider her existence a stain to be erased?"
Her tone was light, but the system shuddered. "Surely... surely not! But Chubby Boy and your brother are quite grateful!" The village chief's family still regularly sent gifts!
"Yes, they're grateful now." An Ning nodded without denying. The system: "..." Something felt off.
"Moreover, whether Chubby Boy or my brother, we're connected by blood. An elder sister teaching younger brothers is considered admirable, not gossip material. But others? Are you sure?"
"Alright then!" The dog spirit shook its head vigorously, then perked up: "Host, don't worry! I'll thoroughly investigate these candidates - won't let you fall into any traps! By the way, do you favor any of them?"
"Mm... investigate that Lin family thoroughly." An Ning answered without hesitation.
"The Lin family? Merchants? I thought you'd choose the Zhang family!" The system was surprised. A scholarly family seemed more fitting for its host. As for the magistrate's family - with one legitimate son already married, the remaining option was obvious. Given its host's dislike for trouble, that seemed unlikely.
Nevertheless, the system promptly checked the Lin family records: "Host, the one proposing is their legitimate eldest son, Lin Xiuyuan, eighteen. Besides two younger half-brothers, there's an already married elder sister. The Lin family started with fabric business - they own most major cloth shops in our county, with good operations in the prefecture city too. Multiple estates."
"Their assets are indeed considerable, ranking high in the entire prefecture. Master Lin's cousin passed the imperial exams years ago and married advantageously - now a fourth-rank Court Judicial Commissioner. Under his protection, the Lin family develops steadily. Though they send large sums to the capital cousin yearly."
"Host, they seem to lack scholarly talent though. That Lin Xiuyuan only passed the preliminary exams at fifteen. Despite excellent resources - materials from his capital uncle, even the magistrate arranged county school access for favor-currying - he still hasn't passed the provincial exams. His brothers are worse, not even passing preliminary exams, already given shops and pushed out."
"But Lin Xiuyuan has good business acumen, handling operations more sharply than his father. At least he's no spendthrift." Just that his talents lay elsewhere - becoming an official's wife seemed unlikely if she married in.
"The Zhang family, though a branch line, has decent assets. As a scholarly family, educational resources are abundant. That young man seems genuinely talented - a provincial scholar at sixteen. With your help, higher degrees might be possible..."
"No need." An Ning decisively refused. When Little Chen came over hesitantly seeking her opinion, An Ning stated directly: "Mother, if possible, I'd like to meet this Young Master Lin..."