CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: I WANT TO START A CLAN SCHOOL

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

The Lin Guofu family watched as the duck they had in hand flew away, feeling as though their hearts were fried in oil.

Lin Guofu’s elderly wife even sat on the ground, throwing a tantrum: "Oh, Clan Leader Brother! Why hasn’t our family raised her? Ever since my second son was bitten to death by a shark, this brat was raised by this old woman with my own hands and hard work. At that time, she was as small as chopsticks. If I hadn’t raised her, could she have grown up facing the wind?

Clan Leader Brother, you’ve wronged us! Look at the girls in our family, which one has clothes? My eldest granddaughter is already ten years old, the family is poor, she doesn’t dare to go out because she has no clothes. Even so, my younger daughter-in-law still took the brat to the town to play..."

Little Qingyu heard her grandmother’s sharp voice, and was so frightened that she hugged Lin Wanwan’s neck tightly, burying her face completely in her neck.

She was her only refuge.

Lin Wanwan felt the dependence of little Qingyu, and her heart was sour, bitter, and sweet. She gently touched the Lin Clan Leader.

The Lin Clan Leader, his face ashen, looked sternly at Lin Guofu and interrupted sharply: "Do you think what I said is wrong, and you don’t accept my leadership?"

Lin Guofu’s heart trembled upon seeing this, and he quickly pulled up his elderly wife, nodding and bowing repeatedly: "I dare not, I dare not, whatever Big Brother says goes. Stop talking, old woman, stop talking."

The Lin Clan Leader said to Lin Wanwan: "Adopting a girl is not a big deal, no need to specially host a clan banquet. But after building your house, you’ll have a topping-out ceremony for the house. Both events can be held together."

Lin Wanwan smiled and said: "Alright, I’ll listen to Clan Leader Uncle."

After walking a distance away from Lin Guofu’s house, little Qingyu finally let go of Lin Wanwan’s neck, took one last look at the low house, then immediately turned around, whispering to Lin Wanwan: "Mother, did Grandpa and Grandma give me to you? Will I never have to come back again?"

Lin Wanwan assuredly replied: "Yes! From now on, you’re my treasure, it will never change, and no one can take you away."

Upon hearing this, little Qingyu revealed a set of small white teeth, with dimples rippling on her little face.

At this time, inside Lin Guofu’s house, the three girls who had been hiding behind the door watching only let out a long sigh when they could no longer see the figures.

The eldest, named Daniu, spoke with envy: "The brat, no, it’s little Yu’er, did you see? Her new mother is as beautiful as a fairy, and dresses her like a little fairy too! Oh my, she’s wearing such a beautiful silk dress, it must be very smooth and comfortable."

"Yes, yes, and her mother speaks so gently, and took out such a golden gold ingot."

"Little Yu’er is really lucky, I really wish a beautiful mother would adopt me too."

They wore ordinary green hemp and yellow linen clothes which they rotated among themselves. The family only had one summer outfit for Daniu, which the three girls took turns wearing. Usually, they weren’t allowed to wear it, only when going out.

In the family, only the two boys were regarded as treasures, the three girls were considered worthless. They wished to be thrown away, then picked up by a wealthy family.

Lin Wanwan returned to Lin Mengbo’s home holding little Qingyu, still feeling uncomfortable from what she had witnessed. She watched little Qingyu play on the mat with Dayi and tiny Crab, while she pondered over future plans.

Now that little Qingyu was a bond, she was certain her life in the Great Tang would be long. Although she could count money leisurely because of the pepper and relax, without sufficient self-preservation strength, wealth could become a death warrant.

How should she protect herself? Relying on the family is one way, but it’s not enough.

Currently, Lin Wanwan was quite exposed when it came to wealth. During her stay in the town, since moving from the inn to renting her own courtyard house, she’d encountered twice where robbers attempted to climb over the wall at night to steal.

Luckily, Lin Wanwan had prepared a stun baton, knocked down the thieves, and threw them onto the street, twice in total. This made the petty rogues on the small town instantly understand that this expert from the mountain was an adept martial artist, suppressing some people’s greed.

Returning to the clan now, Lin Wanwan was quite satisfied with the seaside environment. She just checked the land for housing; building a small building here, she’ll live facing the sea, with blooming spring flowers, very beautiful. Since that’s the case, it’s time to consider the future.

Returning to the Lin family now was essentially coming back gloriously. People’s hearts couldn’t withstand tests, even among the same clan, when the benefits are enough, nothing is certain. Furthermore, sometimes for women, the same clan is more dangerous, because they can legally inherit your property.

Long-term planning was necessary, Lin Wanwan decided to set up clan school within the clan. Ten years to grow trees, a hundred years to rear people; the foundation starting from children was key!

She decided to make every child in the clan her student, establishing her prestige!

Once the thought occurred, with little Qingyu playing with Lin Mengbo’s two children, she wore a hat and went to find the Lin Clan Leader.

At this time, the Lin Clan Leader’s family was preparing for a noon nap.

Great Tang people didn’t eat lunch, especially not in the hot summer afternoons when they couldn’t work, so they took naps. Quietness brings coolness, and less movement meant less hunger.

Upon seeing Lin Wanwan enter, the Lin Clan Leader’s daughter-in-law, Lin Qian, hastily woke her father-in-law, and smilingly cleaned the mat, inviting Lin Wanwan to sit.

That noon, they all ate the big fragrant pears Lin Wanwan sent in the morning. One big pear was divided into eight pieces, boiled in water, and consumed with the pear water, delighting them immensely. Moreover, Lin Qian heard Lin Wanwan had brought a gold ingot, planning to hold a clan banquet, this was a God of Wealth indeed! They must host her well!

Lin Wanwan directly brought up the idea of starting a clan school to the Lin Clan Leader, who nearly jumped three feet high, excitedly pulling Lin Wanwan towards his simple study.

Studying was a major event!

"Can you read? Are you willing to teach the clan’s children to read for free?"

Lin Wanwan nodded, casually recited a line: "The road is long and winding, I will seek it high and low."

The Lin Clan Leader was nearly in tears: "Oh, oh! That’s wonderful! Yes, you followed the old fairy, what wouldn’t you know, of course you can read!

Too wonderful, ancestors blessed us by sending back a seed of scholars like you, it’s time for our branch to rise. Illiteracy invites bullying, our Lin branch has fallen, can’t afford to send children to school, often duped by heartless innkeepers when selling fish, losing the life-risking catch from the sea."

Lin Wanwan hadn’t expected the Lin Clan Leader to be so excited about this matter; she opened her mouth but didn’t know what expression to show.

For people of the Great Tang, knowledge was truly invaluable.