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"Master, you just now..."

Back in the Shen Family’s guest room quarters, Bai Hua’s wife expressed her concern, "You should still be more polite, how could you be so straightforward? After all, the Shen Family... they’re a Sorcerer Family, isn’t our behavior... inappropriate?"

"What’s inappropriate about it?" Bai Hua gave his wife a look, "You just haven’t adjusted your thinking.

Times are different now. How much has our family, generation after generation of family heads, contributed to the Art Calculation and the study of properties?

At least forty percent of the Jiugong Arithmetic was written by our family; even the Ministry of Revenue uses that text as a teaching material for Art Calculation.

But has our family benefited from this? Let alone a Sorcerer Family, have those Scholarly Families that focus on the classics ever respected us? "

Lady Bai fell silent upon hearing this. Even in Jiangnan, the traditional Scholarly Families who prioritize the classics didn’t really look straight at the Bai Family.

The Bai Family earned the reputation of a family with eclectic knowledge, which actually had some negative impact on the academic examination and official careers of the family’s descendants.

She had actually wanted to say before, why persist in passing down eclectic knowledge? Not only do they receive disdain, it’s also time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Seeing the confusion in his wife’s eyes, Bai Hua snorted coldly, "That’s because our ancestors realized long ago that eclectic knowledge isn’t some heretical practices those families talk about.

On the contrary, it’s an important academic discipline that benefits the country and the people.

Most people only look at immediate benefits, focusing on the classics for the sake of imperial exams. But some things always need people to delve into and master them.

Our Bai Family has made so many sacrifices to preserve these things.

Generation after generation, we’ve faced so much disdain.

Now that the tables have finally turned, why should I be polite?

Did they ever show any courtesy to my Bai Family in the past? "

Lady Bai: "....."

"But... was it necessary to threaten like that... What if they become embarrassed and angry, wouldn’t your plan be in vain?"

Having understood her husband’s plans for so many years, Lady Bai saw right through them. One son was focusing on his career, the other had less talent, leading to the lord to set his sights on his newly born eldest grandson.

But now with Jiangnan Academy being so popular, even if her eldest grandson started his education now, it would be at least a decade before he could start applying to academies.

Besides, talent is unpredictable, who knows what kind of talent her eldest grandson has?

If he turns out to be inadequate, would they have to wait for the second grandson?

Lady Bai, being a lady of high status, also had her insights. Getting into Jiangnan Academy early could yield great benefits. Once it became overcrowded later on, it might not be as fair as it is now.

The performance of that young miss from the Shen Family just now clearly showed exceptional talent.

The academy did not discriminate against women and having such a girl marry her youngest son, with the lord’s full support in her training, would very likely result in a female magician for the family.

With marriage as a binding contract, there would at least be some guarantee.

If in the future sons were born into the second branch of the family, having such a mother would give them a higher starting point than ordinary families.

She actually agreed with her husband’s decision; it was just the attitude that was a bit too arrogant.

"Embarrassed and angry?" Bai Hua scoffed, "Didn’t you see the scene outside our eldest son’s house? Believe it or not, within a single day, there will be loads of nobles knocking on our door wanting to learn? Haha... I’m not bragging, Capital City may be large, but in the realm of Art Calculation, there are only one or two people that catch my eye, and they’re extremely unsuited for teaching.

Otherwise, would we have seen so many noble stewards scouring everywhere for talent on our way here? "

"If I guess correctly, over in Jiangnan right now, probably every learned man’s door has been knocked on until it’s broken, but that’s useless anyway.

You know what the situation is like over there, who living there would want to move to this godforsaken place?

" As he spoke, he picked up his teacup, then showed a face of disgust, "They don’t even have a decent cup of tea. .."

Lady Bai: "....."

Lord Chen really spoiled that bunch of old pedants, to actually call Capital City a godforsaken place?

Didn’t she remember how eagerly they had once wanted to move the whole family to Capital City to settle down?

Not in the mood to expose her husband’s newfound arrogance, Lady Bai could only remind him wistfully, "You’d better take it easy, don’t overdo it. Like you said, talent is rare. That young miss looks astute to me. If she ends up with another family, you might not be able to find someone like her."

"Hmm... I know..." Bai Hua nodded slightly; that was indeed the truth. A girl who could understand Three Elements Arithmetic in her teens was rare in his many years of life. If he had to name someone, it would only be that Yunke’er girl who had recently joined the academy.

She had the talent but not such a solid foundation, and lately, she had been getting quite close with Weichi Feihu, making her out of reach.

In Jiangnan, girls favored generals of the Warrior Army; his boy might look refined, but he lacked the charm compared to those tall and mighty warriors.

Moreover, with the sciences flourishing in Jiangnan and their educational system not lagging behind, his family’s competitive strength in that area was far inferior to here. Stumbling upon such an opportunity was rare, and naturally, he couldn’t let it slip by.

---------------------------------

In the Shen Family’s inner hall, Shen Xue and her mother, Fourth Aunt, were brought in. Fourth Aunt was quite nervous; after all this was a place where even the principal mothers of the Shen Family rarely had a chance to enter, and it was her first time with such status.

To her surprise, it turned out that they were brought in because someone had come to propose marriage!

"That’s roughly the situation. Xue’er, what do you think?" Shen Yan asked gently.

Shen Xue looked down, her gaze growing complex.

Father Shen Yan was indifferent to his legitimate sons who lacked qualifications and even more so to his concubine-born daughter in the past; had it been before, how could she have the right to interject in her own marriage matters?

Now, not only did he ask for her opinion but also brought her aunt into the inner hall. The rapid change in attitude was indeed lamentable...

But she was no ignorant little girl; she was very clear that, given the current situation, the Shen Family would definitely agree to Mister Bai’s request. The courtesy of asking her was merely to give her face.

If she knew what was good for her, then naturally it would be good for everyone. If she didn’t, the Shen Family could also cut off her last chance at a good future!

After finally having the opportunity to turn her life around, she certainly wouldn’t miss it.

"Marriage is decided by the parents, and the Bai Family is a Scholarly Family, a legitimate son’s legitimate wife. What could a daughter be dissatisfied with?"

These words also secretly relieved Fourth Aunt. She knew her niece was decisive; although she was her aunt, she couldn’t control her. If her niece clashed with the old master, she didn’t dare to imagine the consequences.

And she was very pleased with the marriage.

The Bai Family was said to be a renowned Scholarly Family, also highly regarded by the old masters. Her daughter marrying into that family would surely not suffer, and she would be the legitimate wife of a legitimate son to boot.

Although her own daughter came from a Sorcerer Family, in such a family, girls without qualifications were not easily married off.

Without inheriting the Magician’s abilities, ordinary Scholarly Families were mostly unwilling to marry concubine-born daughters.

Moreover, because she managed the Family’s miscellaneous affairs, it was likely that they would seek a son-in-law to join the family; but historically, how many sons-in-law who joined a family made a name for themselves?

Those storytelling tales of geniuses in disguise as worthless sons-in-law were purely nonsense. She had never heard of such a thing in reality.

Now, with the opportunity to marry out, and as a legitimate son’s legitimate wife, her family background was not bad either—what was there to pick at?

"Very good!" Shen Yan, seeing Shen Xue not opposed, immediately clapped his hands and laughed with delight, rarely having such a worry-free child.

Whether it was Shen Yuan or Shen Yu, both could infuriate people to the core.

"But..." Just as the family was rejoicing, a single "but" from Shen Xue suddenly made both Shen Yan and Fourth Aunt tense up again.

Shen Yan’s heart sank, but still, he patiently and gently asked, "Are there any conditions?"

The old master had repeatedly cautioned to try to keep Shen Xue from growing discontented.

The promising Shen Yuan was now lukewarm towards the Family, Shen Yu was of little use, and Shen Xue, even if she married out, could still seek significant benefits for the Family.

If she could be kept close, they would certainly try to do so.

Shen Xue smiled, "Father, although the Bai Family is good, it is after all an ordinary family. If I’m not mistaken, Mister Bai’s interest in me is likely due to my foundation in Art Calculation, even willing to use it as a negotiating point with the Shen Family.

If I am not wrong, Mister Bai’s second son probably does not have much talent; otherwise, he wouldn’t have set his sights on me.

I cannot count on my future husband, so once I’m there, I can only rely on myself, and many times, I might have to depend on my natal family to help. .."

"You don’t need to worry about that!" Shen Yan hurriedly waved his hand, "With such qualifications, even if you marry out, you still hold a position of focus in the Shen Family, and you will not lack any resources."

"Thank you, Father..." Shen Xue bowed in gratitude, but then she smiled again, "But after all, I will be married away, and some things should be planned for in advance."

At this, Shen Yan couldn’t help but frown, "What... exactly do you want? Speak plainly, if it’s within our power, the Shen Family will try to fulfill it."

Seeing this, Fourth Aunt quickly came forward to pull at her own daughter’s sleeve, attempting to smooth things over, but was pulled back by Shen Xue, "Since Father has said so, then I won’t beat around the bush!"

"I want to ask how many Techniques of the Shen Family I can take with me? If I give birth to children in the future, can they be passed on?"

Shen Yan: "!!!"