CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: CLAN ACADEMY

Just then, Qin Xiao came over, and Xiao Li, seeing him, looked like she had seen her savior, "Uncle, is it really necessary to wear so many clothes to join the family register?"

"I’m about to collapse from exhaustion."

Qin Xiao laughed, "You’ve worked hard, it’ll be fine after these few days pass.

Now let’s go eat..."

The whole family went to the dining room, and as soon as they got there, they saw Mianmian sitting on a chair swinging her little legs. Xiao Li, who was still terribly tired a moment ago, instantly came back to life.

"Mianmian... Mommy’s darling... Mommy missed you so much!"

Xiao Li cried out dramatically and lunged at Mianmian...

Mianmian thought Xiao Li was playing with her, jumped down immediately, and ran forward with unsteady steps, then fell and crawled up on the carpet...

Seeing this, Xiao Li played with her for a while, and when everyone in the family was seated, she then sat at the dining table holding Mianmian...

Today’s dishes seemed a bit elaborate, from the utensils used, to the plating, and the dishes themselves, everything was exceptionally meticulous.

Xiao Li softly asked Qin Xiao, "Uncle, even eating requires such fuss after returning to the ancestral home?"

Qin Xiao smiled and explained, "The rules here at the ancestral home are a bit more, so everything is done with more care.

But it’s not overly meticulous; it’s just arranged this way today to show respect for you, the new daughter-in-law, joining the family register."

Actually, Qin Xiao’s reasons were only part of it; the main reason for today’s elaborate dishes was that these dishes were to be served at the banquet in a couple of days, so tonight’s dinner was a trial run...

Due to the banquet, Qin Xiao couldn’t mention it!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li nodded and said no more, concentrating on her meal...

These are the ancestral home’s rules, so she only needs to follow them.

During the meal, Qin Xiao would give Xiao Li a little of each dish and ask her how it tasted.

If Xiao Li found a dish particularly good, the servant standing by would immediately jot down the dish’s name.

If there was a dish that Xiao Li found just average, that dish would be removed from the selection.

Focused on eating, Xiao Li occasionally fed Mianmian a bite, completely unaware that she was unintentionally deciding which dishes would stay on the table and which wouldn’t...

After dinner, Mother Qin, using the excuse that Xiao Li was exhausted today, took Mianmian away, and Xiao Li indeed was tired, so she went along with Mother Qin.

Once Father Qin and Mother Qin left with Mianmian, Qin Xiao also took Xiao Li back to his courtyard in the ancestral home. Upon arrival, Xiao Li looked around and smiled, "Do you and your brother, and your parents all have your own courtyards?"

Qin Xiao nodded, "Yes, we each have our own courtyard. This estate is very large, and there are many courtyards like this one, most of them are empty..."

Xiao Li nodded, "Did you live here when you were a child?"

Qin Xiao nodded, "Yes, I did. The Qin Family had its own school, and when I was young, I had to come here every summer vacation to study at the family school."

Xiao Li blinked, "Did you come every year?"

Qin Xiao nodded, "Every year. I had told you before, this was the place I dreaded most as a child.

Every summer vacation I had to come here to study at the family school, which taught everything from the Four Books and Five Classics, to martial arts, to business management—there were many subjects.

The teachers were all talents from within the family, and their requirements were extremely strict. If we didn’t meet their requirements, we would be punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall..."

Xiao Li, "Kneel in the ancestral hall...?"

Qin Xiao nodded, "Yes, kneel in the ancestral hall. And once you knelt, you’d kneel the whole night, and after dawn, you’d have to change every candle that had burned out in the ancestral hall...

Just imagine, having knelt all night until your knees were aching, and then dragging your legs to change the candles—what a sight..."

Xiao Li said the picture was too vivid, and she didn’t want to imagine...

Xiao Li, "So when did you stop having to come back to the ancestral home to study?"

Qin Xiao laughed, "Once you finished all the subjects, you could be done. I learned quickly, so I didn’t have to come back starting my first year in college.

My brother didn’t finish until he was a junior in college.

As for some individuals from the collateral branches, some had already started working but still returned for two more years of study."

Hearing about collateral branches, Xiao Li was surprised, "I thought only those on the family register could come here; are there people from the collateral branches on the register?"

Qin Xiao shook his head, "Only main branch members can be on the register; by ancient standards, they must be legitimate heirs.

Collateral branch members cannot."

Xiao Li asked puzzledly, "Then how can collateral branch members come here to study?"

Qin Xiao smiled and explained, "They can come here for school but cannot live here.

Additionally, the family’s school courtyard is in the very front, so in strict terms, they only reach the front courtyard and cannot come back here...

As for kneeling in the ancestral hall, it’s located in the far left courtyard up front; there’s a separate path to the ancestral hall, they can’t come to the back."

Xiao Li, "I see, letting collateral branch members also attend the family school is actually to keep the family strong and ensure its future, right?

With such a large family, relying only on the main branch might be hard to sustain!"

A family’s strength has never rested on just one or two people.

It’s on everyone in the family, establishing a family school, survival of the fittest, selecting outstanding young members to carry on the torch—this is how the Qin family’s business has not declined over the years but grown stronger, all thanks to the numerous family rules of the Qin Family.

One must say, the Qin family’s ancestors had foresight.

Qin Xiao smiled, "You’re quite right; the main branch of the Qin family leads the family, like a powerful army. But merely having leaders is insufficient; they also need many like-minded followers...

Today, you are tired. Let’s talk about what you want to know later; let’s wash up and get some sleep first."

Xiao Li nodded, and Qin Xiao led her to the bathroom.

The room had an ancient charm, yet there was a modern bathroom, a blend of ancient and modern, which had its unique allure...

After freshening up, Xiao Li fell asleep almost instantly; she was too tired.

The next morning, Xiao Li was woken up by the sound of birds. When she opened her eyes, she saw a bird chirping on the windowsill; outside the window were rows of lush bamboo...

Xiao Li got up and looked out the window, seeing greenery and birds right from the start of the day—something you can’t enjoy living in the city...

Xiao Li took a deep breath, "The air up here in the mountains is lovely..."

When Qin Xiao returned from his morning exercise, he saw Xiao Li standing by the window. He walked over and stood behind her, "Awake? Hungry?"

Xiao Li shook her head, "Not hungry. Where did you go?"

She said this while turning to look at Qin Xiao...

Qin Xiao smiled, "Went for a morning workout. Let me take a shower first, and then we’ll have breakfast.

After breakfast, we have quite a few plans for the day..."

Qin Xiao concluded and went to bathe, leaving Xiao Li alone, to lift her head and wail...