As for Rosie, since no girls had ever gone to the academy before, the whole family felt that keeping her at home was only natural.
Kate had even promised her daughter a set of red skirts. She herself thought it was fair.
But now, Martha Liew had changed her mind. Since every family had money, there was no need to argue—each should be responsible for their own children.
Pressing a hand to her aching head, she let her son Logan help her into the house to lie down. In truth, she was simply avoiding the matter.
Seeing his two sons looking over, Old Walter Liew jabbed a finger at them, warning them to be sensible. With that much private silver hidden away, how could they still have the face to come asking their father for more?
"I'll head to the fields for a bit," Old Walter muttered, taking up his hoe and preparing to leave.
Passing by Clara, he glanced down at Chad and Deb. "You mean to send these two as well?"
Clara nodded. "Of course. With such a fine decree from the court, how could I not? Compared to the opportunity, the cost of brush and ink is nothing."
She turned to Kate. "Sister-in-law, you said a girl's learning was useless because she can't sit for the imperial exams. But I say, reading truly has its use."
Then, with pride, she pushed her own daughter forward. "Just look at my Deb—so clever and bright."
"Right now, it's only two years. But who can say what the future holds? Since the decree already allows both boys and girls into the academy, who's to say girls might not sit for the exams one day?
"And more than that—after these two years, who knows if there'll ever be another chance like this? If we let it pass by, wouldn't it be a great pity?"
Kate's heart had already ached at Rosie's stubborn tears. Now, looking at Deb, who was even younger yet could speak such reason, she felt herself waver.
Clara pressed on. "In the past, was it really only lack of money that kept children from going to school?"
Luther Liew shook his head. It wasn't just about tuition. As Mdm Zhang had said before, even when Lester was young, there were carriage fares, book fees, and the need for an adult to accompany little ones.
That was what truly daunted families.
Clara explained, "Everyone knows tuition alone isn't hard to pay. Bite down and grit your teeth, and any family could send a child or two. The real obstacle is the monopoly of knowledge.
"Of course, that might sound abstract. Let's put it another way: why do those who studied and had the chance to learn never want to take on students?"
"You all saw how much effort it took me to get Adam and Ben into the Ding family academy. Why? Because the circle is small. What was once the preserve of a few families—if shared widely—would threaten their own interests."
At that, Deb immediately added, "Mother means: 'Teach the apprentice and starve the master.'"
The Liews suddenly understood. That saying made the point crystal clear.
Clara gave a final, solemn reminder: "This opportunity might come only once."
Then she pulled Rosie out from behind her and pushed her forward. "Go tell your parents yourself." With that, she gathered her four children and headed home.
She'd said all she could. If the old house still couldn't see reason, nothing more could be done.
She had her own two little ones to prepare.
Adam and Ben went to make dinner on their own, while Clara fetched the handwritten books the siblings usually studied with, and sat with Chad and Deb to preview lessons.
No one knew what the exam would look like, but since it was about schooling, it would surely involve reading, writing, and recitation.
Chad and Deb both understood what a rare chance this was. Deb especially—she kept reciting the self-introduction Clara had helped her prepare, even after climbing into bed.
Chad, timid as ever yet with a big heart and a simple mind, fell asleep right away. He wasn't worried at all—he knew that even if he failed this time, he'd still have other chances.
But Deb was different. She knew this might be her only chance. What if the decree changed again next year?
Clara listened to her little girl's soft voice from the children's room next door, chanting into the night. Only deep in the night did the sound finally quiet.
At dawn, when the rooster crowed, Clara was already up.
The early bird catches the worm—and for a matter as big as this, being early could never be wrong.
After a quick bite to fill their stomachs, she hitched up the cart and took all four children toward Goldstone Town.
Halfway there, she stopped short—good heavens, ahead of them stretched a long fiery dragon of torches.
No wonder the village had been so quiet when they set out. Turns out, all the families that had loudly insisted they wouldn't go had slipped out at midnight, hauling their sons along under torchlight. Shameless!
Clara nearly laughed in disbelief. Too "doggish"!
The same shock struck Brandon and Caleb, who had set out only a little earlier. At the sight of the endless torches, both were stunned.
Hadn't they all said they weren't going? Yet here they were, racing harder than anyone.
An hour into their walk, the sound of wheels reached them from behind. The two brothers exchanged a glance. Sure enough, it was Clara's cart.
Caleb patted his daughter's shoulder, and Rosie at once cried out, "Aunt Clara!"
Perfect—seats secured.
But the cart only had space for six children. Clara squeezed herself in, lifted Deb onto her lap, and gave her seat to Rosie. The two brothers took over driving.
"Think you can handle it?" Clara asked skeptically. "Its Old Yeller. He's got a temper."
Brandon twirled the whip with confidence. "Don't worry, Sister-in-law, I've got this."
Caleb, delighted, added, "Good thing you came when you did. Otherwise we'd never have caught up to the front."
Clara slid open the window and frowned at the endless line of people behind them. "There are far too many…"
"Tell me about it," Brandon grumbled. "We thought we'd left early enough, but by the time we passed Riverbend Village, we learned some folk had set out right after dinner last night!"
Caleb's face tightened. "Then we must hurry. If the Ding family fills their quota, we'll be too late."
Brandon cracked the whip. The horse surged forward.
But even a cart can't fly. They could only be thankful that since most others had children in tow, their pace was slow. The cart still had some advantage.
Yet when they reached Goldstone Town, the sight made their hearts sink—
The line snaking out from the Ding family academy stretched all the way onto the official road.
Three full miles!
That was how scarce educational resources were in Goldstone Town. Within dozens of miles, the Ding clan's academy was the only one.
Caleb ran to the front to ask around, then came back shaking his head. "The cart can't get through. There are wealthy families' carriages blocking the way."
"That won't do!" Brandon scratched his head. "We'll have to walk it."
At a time like this, who cared about courtesy? Their children's future came first.
Clara slipped down from the cart. The three exchanged a glance. Brandon's eyes burned with resolve; Caleb still hesitated.
(End of Chapter)
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