Quick Wear Beauty

Chapter 64: The Herbalist is Charming (61)

Chapter 64: The Herbalist is Charming (Sixty-one)

Liu Ya was thinking that if she could learn medicine and become a master, she could find a husband in a wealthy family when she grew up and treat the female members of the family there. But it seems that this is not going to work.

Liu Ya thought for a moment and spoke first, "Since Sister Li is staying here temporarily, and she's willing to teach us, I'll try to memorize as much as I can. Sister said that if I know some pharmacology, I'll at least know what's going on if I or a loved one gets sick in the future, and I can take preventative measures. It's too difficult to learn medicine from those old doctors; they don't accept female apprentices. And my mother said that if I can learn medicine from Sister Li, then I should. If not, she'll give me some money and send me to the most famous embroiderer in town to learn embroidery for a few months. It's both respectable and can help supplement the family income."

Liu Ya had one more thing she didn't say. Her mother said that if she learned embroidery, it would be easier for her to get married in the future. Most people in the neighborhood near their home could only weave linen and mend things, but only a few could embroider. Not many handkerchiefs could be sold for money because their embroidery skills were average and could not be sold for more than a few copper coins.

The embroiderer, known as Lady Qin, made two sets of clothes for the wife of a clerk, and her processing fee was one tael of silver! At that time, many people in the town went to Lady Qin's tailor shop to see what kind of clothes she could make. Not counting the cost of the fabric, they could get one tael of silver just for the clothing! Later, they found that the clothes were indeed not something they could make.

Unfortunately, Madam Qin's asking price was too high. The apprenticeship fee for half a year was ten taels of silver. My father only earned two taels of silver a month, which was considered good in the town.

Her mother was reluctant to spend so much money to let her become an apprentice. After she diagnosed that she was pregnant, her mother told her to wait for another five or six years, until she was old enough to get married, and then she could find an embroiderer to become her apprentice and learn the craft.

Liu Ya thought after hearing this, she was only eight years old, why were they telling her about getting married? That was going to happen many years in the future!

She thought again, it was just for the sake of marriage dignity, not really for her to learn embroidery and become as skilled as an embroiderer so that she could run a tailor shop.

Then I thought, maybe it was just an excuse for her mother to refuse, and she would not send her to school even when she was able to get married.

Because if a younger brother is born, the mother will definitely value her own son more, so how can she be willing to spend so much silver? Now it is ten taels, so how much silver will it be in the future!

People living near their family all use their daughters’ betrothal money to marry off their sons!

Recently, my mother is planning to find a husband for my sister. She will first look at the betrothal gift and then his character and appearance. Last year, my mother said that as long as the man is ambitious and polite, it doesn't matter if he is rich or poor, and she can make a living with him, even if he is a poor scholar.

As a result, after she became pregnant, she asked the matchmaker to change a group of candidates, and they must have good family backgrounds so that they could pave the way for her younger brother.

Thinking of this, Liu Ya pursed her lips and remained silent for a moment. She was so troubled at such a young age!

Xiwa touched his head and said, "I told my father that I wanted to study medicine, but he just thought I was playing around and didn't take it seriously. I'm not a child anymore! I go to the academy every day. My father told me to study hard so that I can pass the imperial examination and become an official to bring honor to our family. Unfortunately, I don't think I have the ability to become an official. Liu Ya's father was a scholar, but he didn't become an official either. How can it be that easy to become an official?"

Murong Feng: "Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans. No wonder your father wants you to take the imperial examination."

Murong Feng smiled and nodded. He understood Xiwa's father. It should be said that Xiwa's name, Zhao Yaozu, indicated the high hopes his family had for him. Jianghu people disliked restraint, and few would allow their children to take the imperial examinations. His father had never mentioned it either.

"But I'm really not cut out for studying! But I'd love to learn more. It would be great if I could become an accountant."

Hearing this, Liu Ya nodded. "It's good to know how to read!" She felt that she was smarter after learning more knowledge.