The System Wanted Me to Be a Landlady (GL) - Chapter 37: Interest Class

Chapter 37: Interest Class

After Tang Zhi went back, Du Yan finally figured out what Song Yuyan had been up to. He had thought that skills like grass weaving and bamboo weaving, which were easy to learn and start with, were nothing much for Song Yuyan. And the bamboo carving she knew was her real specialty. But he never expected that she even knew how to make candles!

His mood was just like Tang Zhi’s had been back then. But deep down, he felt more curiosity and empathy toward Song Yuyan. Back in his own youth, he had gone out to make his way in the world at a young age too, and he had learned all sorts of crafts. But after he gained respect from his wife’s family and started studying, he gradually forgot them all.

Song Yuyan happened to be testing whether the candles could burn successfully, so Du Yan wanted to watch too. Song Yuyan did not object. As for Bai Can, since the candles were done, he was overjoyed. When he looked at those candles, it was as if he saw copper coins gleaming right in front of his eyes. So he paid no attention to Du Yan at all.

The candles burned successfully. But Song Yuyan was still not quite satisfied, because the wick could not burn completely. In other words, the speed at which it burned fully could not keep up with the speed at which the candle melted. That way, after a while, the wick would easily fall into the melted wax, making the flame smaller or even go out.

Du Yan asked in confusion, “Ordinary families use candles and have to trim the wick. Why do you need to worry about these things?”

Song Yuyan paused for a moment. Then she remembered that the candles used in later generations were made from paraffin refined from petroleum, and the wicks were made through industrial processes. So there was no trouble with trimming the wick at all. When she had made candles before, she had used ready-made wicks too, so she had not noticed this issue.

She wanted to make it even better. But Bai Can and Du Yan both thought the candles she made were already perfect. Good quality white wax was pure white in color, clean and white as snow. The lesser wax was a bit yellowish, but not as purely yellow as beeswax.

But no matter which kind of candle it was, the only difference when burning was how strong the smell was. Besides that, the burning speed did not differ much. So these more than twenty candles they made could definitely sell for a good price.

Right now, a handheld tube-shaped candle like the kind Song Yuyan made could sell for forty coins each, more expensive than yellow wax—beeswax. As for candles made from common materials like grease, they were around fifteen coins.

As for why white wax could sell for such a high price, one reason was that white wax was hard, so it could be made longer without worrying that it would soften and sag like yellow wax. The second reason was that it burned for a long time with bright light.

Of course, there was another reason: white wax was still very scarce, at least in the Jiangzhe area. Forty coins was even considered cheap.

Bai Can held back his inner excitement and asked Song Yuyan how they should sell these candles. Although he had done almost all the work in making the candles, in this partnership, he still instinctively went by Song Yuyan’s opinion.

Song Yuyan needed to think it over carefully too. Actually, for her, this was a windfall. Plus, she did not have a steady supply of white wax raw materials coming in, so she naturally could not turn it into a long-term business. Since that was the case, she did not need to make detailed plans.

But she thought that if there was a chance in the future to raise white wax insects, then doing well with this one deal now might pave the way for the future…

After considering all aspects, she said, “We found the white wax insects by accident this time. In other words, this is a windfall. So I think we don’t need to be greedy for more.”

Bai Can nodded. “Big Brother Song is right!”

“Why don’t we sell them at a slightly lower price to those scholars? That way, we make money ourselves, and we can also ease the burden on those students.”

Before Bai Can could respond, Du Yan could not help clapping and praising her. “Big Brother Song is really righteous!”

Bai Can did not object either. After all, Song Yuyan’s earlier words still echoed in his ears. So he was not surprised at all by her decision.

Though it made his heart ache a bit, he comforted himself that it was money picked up anyway, so less was less. Plus, he thought that following Song Yuyan might bring more good luck. After all, Song Yuyan had seen and known a lot, and she even knew Juren Jie. Her future was bright, so he needed to leave a good impression on her.

After the two agreed, Du Yan said, “Since you two took the initiative to ease the burden on scholars, I have a request I hesitate to make… Why don’t you sell these candles to my friends?”

Du Yan still had quite a few friends in Mingzhou. After all, literati often met and got to know each other. A single elegant gathering, poetry meet, or outing could bring them together. As long as their ideas did not clash for the moment, they could become friends.

He also knew a few young scholars from poor families. This time, he was preparing to go to the capital for the exam, so he specially went to say goodbye to these friends. Later, passing through Cixi County, he remembered that Song Yuyan lived here, so he boldly came to visit.

Song Yuyan was quite surprised to hear that he was going to the capital for the exam. He said it was because a letter came from his wife of the Xiangli clan at home. In the letter, she vaguely mentioned that he had been out traveling for so long, so his studies must not have fallen behind. Why not take the exam and see what he could do.

Du Yan still had ambitions in his heart. Though he had failed the exam a few times, his will had not weakened. Seeing how his wife and children cared about him, he made up his mind.

For this, Song Yuyan naturally wished him success on the gold list. And since he had asked, she would not refuse to give him this favor.

Du Yan talked it over with her: thirty coins each for the best candles, twenty-five coins for the lesser ones. If the buyer came to get them, it would be at the price they agreed.

He did not want Song Yuyan to lose out either. He gave her some books he carried with him. And the value of these books far exceeded the money she lost on the candles.

Song Yuyan took the books, but gave more of the candle money to Bai Can. Bai Can was surprised by this way of dividing it up. Song Yuyan said, “We originally agreed to split it evenly after settling accounts. I gave you your share at a price a bit higher than the original. I can’t make you sell the candles cheap just because I want to help poor scholars.”

Bai Can pretended to be angry. “Big Brother Song, you’re wrong about this. You don’t treat me like a brother! I agreed to sell the candles cheap to scholars back then too. I can’t take more!”

“But I took the books. Books are priceless. How about I give you half?”

Bai Can waved his hands repeatedly. “I don’t know a single character. You’d be making things hard for me if you gave me books to read. In my eyes, these books aren’t worth more than bamboo sticks used to wipe my butt.”

Song Yuyan smiled helplessly but then got serious. “Even close brothers need to keep clear accounts. I don’t want money to hurt our harmony and cause hard feelings later.”

Since Song Yuyan insisted this way, Bai Can had to take the money. He thought Song Yuyan knew a lot, so there must be good reason for her to say that.

____

On the day Du Yan set off for the capital to take the exam, Song Yuyan went to see him off and gave him some Mingzhou specialties to take along.

When Du Yan left, his friends either gave him poems and lyrics, held farewell banquets for him, or gifted meaningful items. Something down-to-earth like Song Yuyan thinking the mats on the boat might be dirty and giving him a fine Ming mat, or thinking he might not eat good food for a long time on the boat and packing some food in a lunchbox—it was still quite rare.

But the mat and lunchbox were woven by Song Yuyan herself, and the food was bought from her Twenty-First Uncle’s shop. Plus, she had given him an armrest before. Du Yan felt he had nothing to complain about.

Those who came to see Du Yan off also included a few friends he had made. They ran into Song Yuyan. Among them was a young man she knew—the scholar who bought candles from her through Du Yan, named Wang Ci.

Wang Ci had just turned twenty this year. His family were farmers, and buying lamp oil was already quite hard for them, let alone candles. So through Du Yan’s connection, Song Yuyan sold the candles to him at a price much lower than the market. He felt grateful for her righteous act.

Now that the two met, after Du Yan left, they chatted a few words. The other scholars learned about Song Yuyan’s righteous deed too and praised her endlessly.

They were mostly from Cixi and Yin County. It was easy for them to gather on normal days. So when they set the next elegant gathering, they invited Song Yuyan along too.

After Song Yuyan agreed, she said goodbye to them and went home to keep working.

This time selling the candles, though she did not earn much, she still scraped together enough money to buy paper and ink. She planned to start teaching the two little radish heads at home to recognize characters. Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were essential, of course. As for the brush, she could make writing brushes herself, so she had no plan to buy one at all.

The two little radish heads did not realize yet that the paper and ink she brought back had to do with them. But the curious Sun’er kept glancing over there. It was a pity their “big brother” had always been good at staying calm and would not tell them yet why he suddenly bought these expensive things home.

It was not until Song Yuyan finished her own tasks and had time at night that she called them over and told them her plan. “Starting today, I will teach you to recognize characters. You can’t refuse to learn. If you don’t want to learn, no food for you.”

When little radish head Bing’er heard no food, it was as if her life was at stake. So she quickly showed her loyalty. “I will learn, I definitely will!”

The naughty child Sun’er was a bit dazed though. His nose felt sour. “Why do you want to teach us to write? Wouldn’t it be better not to teach?”

“Since I took on the responsibility of being the older brother, I will do my duty. Even if one day I am gone, you will have a skill and one more way to stay alive.”

Sun’er rubbed his nose and did not ask her why she would be gone. But when Song Yuyan taught him to recognize characters, he learned seriously.

Of course, when Song Yuyan taught them, she definitely started with dipping the writing brush in water and practicing on stones. Only when they had practiced enough would she bear to take out paper for them to use.

The time to let Sun’er practice on paper came a bit earlier. After all, Bing’er was at an age full of energy and love for moving around. She often could not sit still. Even if given paper to write on, she would waste it. For this, Song Yuyan had to harden her heart. Like a strict old teacher, she hit the palm of her hand to force her to pick up the writing brush.

When the little radish head’s palm was hit, at first she cried her heart out, because her big brother had never hit her before!

So feeling wronged, she ran to the Tang family to seek comfort from her Sister Ye, and hoped to get protection from Sister Tang Zhi.

When Song Yuyan went to the Tang family to find her, she hid behind Tang Ye, looking at Tang Zhi with pleading eyes. Her eyes seemed to say: Sister Tang, go on, quickly scold big brother away!

In this world, only Sister Tang could handle her big brother!

Tang Zhi: “…”

But her expectation was doomed to fall through. On this matter, not only did her Sister Tang not help hold back her big brother, she even took the initiative to send her back… Hmm, along with her Sister Ye.

Tang Zhi said, “I noticed this child sometimes picks up big brother’s brush holder to look it over, and she even asked me about bamboo carving. It seems she likes it a bit in her heart. It’s rare for her to like something, so I want to ask you to help teach her carving skills. If you think the skill can’t be passed on to outsiders, you can take her as an apprentice. If you need tuition fees, I can provide them too.”

That Tang Ye liked bamboo carving actually surprised Tang Zhi a bit. She thought she understood this sister of hers pretty well. Her sister was usually more introverted at home. She was more outgoing toward her and her brother, but as soon as she saw outsiders, she would get shy and hide.

Besides playing with Bing’er, she mostly followed her to work in the vegetable garden. So she had never shown her own talents or likes.

Until one night, she suddenly asked about the origin of that brush holder. And after hearing about bamboo carving skills from her brother, she felt a faint stir and probed Tang Zhi several times indirectly.

Tang Zhi naturally figured out her sister’s thoughts, so that was why she felt surprised. She never expected her sister to be interested in bamboo carving skills!

But she did not rashly go ask Song Yuyan to teach Tang Ye bamboo carving skills. After all, she knew that some craftsmen did not pass on their skills to outsiders. So she thought it over for so long before coming up with the idea of paying tuition fees, hoping Song Yuyan would teach her.

Song Yuyan thought Tang Zhi this older sister had quite the potential to be a parent. So early on, she was already thinking of signing kids up for interest classes.

Luckily, she as the “interest class teacher” did not treat bamboo carving skills as some exclusive secret technique. Plus, Tang Ye had stood up that day to protect Bing’er and played with her too. For that reason, she thought quite well of this child.

She asked Tang Ye, “Do you want to learn bamboo carving skills?”

Tang Ye glanced at her own older sister and nodded. “Yes.”

“Learning this is very hard work.”

“Taking care of the vegetable patch every day is hard, washing clothes and cooking are hard too, but I stuck with them. I am not afraid of hard work.”

Seeing she had this will, Song Yuyan agreed. As for the fee, she did not take it.

Tang Zhi insisted on giving it, so Song Yuyan simply discussed with her. “I am not carving bamboo all the time either. I only spend one hour a day on it, and the time she learns with me is just that one hour. So for however long she learns bamboo carving with me, you provide vegetables for that long as her tuition. How about that?”

Tang Zhi did some quick calculations in her heart. The Song family only needed one or two vegetable plants a day, worth just two coins. Compared to the tuition for apprenticeship, that was a real big discount!

“This is a friends’ price. Miss Tang doesn’t need to feel burdened.” Song Yuyan added.

Over this past half year, Tang Zhi had been brainwashed by all sorts of strange words from her, so she could already understand what she meant. She did not insist on giving tuition fees. In daily life, if there was anything, the Tang family would help the Song family too.

Bing’er saw that this trip for help not only failed to find outside aid, but even dragged in Sister Ye. She thought it was her fault that Sister Ye got involved. So after going home, she studied writing very seriously, hoping to learn soon and “free” her Sister Ye.

And Tang Ye saw the little radish head learning so seriously. Being quite a bit older, she needed to set an example and did not dare slack off.

Song Yuyan and the others did not clear up their misunderstanding either. They thought it was a good thing for the two to urge each other on.

…

Song Yuyan taught like this for half a year. And the three little radish heads followed her in learning, studying for half a year too.