When it came to studying, the Yang Family was indeed ahead of the other villagers. The old Yang man had his heart set on raising a scholar. All of his sons had been educated, but unfortunately, only his eldest son, Yang Baiyue, passed the scholar examination in one go, becoming the Yue Family's focal point for cultivation. Although it took him two tries to become a Scholar, that still meant he was being fed by the state. It was just that his life was too short.
With no hope left in their son, they began to cultivate their grandsons.
Although Yang Baichuan, the second son, wasn't cut out for studying, his eldest son, Yang Rusong, followed in his uncle's footsteps and had already become a scholar. This September, he would sit the academy examinations alongside Guan Qingshu. As long as he passed, he would be a Scholar, and at the tender age of fourteen, he was even a year younger than Guan Qingshu, and younger still than when his uncle had achieved the same status.
Despite Yang Baiyue's death, if Yang Rusong also became a Scholar, then the Yang Family would have produced two Scholars, a matter of considerable pride. Should there emerge an imperial advanced scholar in the future, the family's ancestral grave would emit green smoke, truly transforming their station in life.
Even without an advanced scholar yet, Old Master Yang still walked through the village with his back straight, and everyone who saw him greeted him respectfully.
At this moment, Yang Anshi, hearing that her oldest grandson might be affected, immediately became even more infuriated. Her blows with the rattan stick grew even harsher: "Let you cry again... harbinger of doom... ill-fated star... keeping you two will just ruin the food... raising a dog would at least help guard and protect the house, but you only know how to talk back and anger me... I'll beat you to death today, let you cry your heart out..." The crackling sound grew louder, but the suppressed cries were no longer heard, and even the children's wailing had disappeared...
Yang Ruxin simply couldn't lie there any longer. With her fiery temper, she couldn't stand seeing anyone bullied, especially since the ones being mistreated were now her own kin, her own body. How could she allow that?
But due to the body's long-term malnutrition, it was severely undernourished. After sitting up, her vision suddenly went dark. She quickly clenched her eyes shut and took a moment to regain her bearings before she felt normal again.
"Big sister, you finally woke up." A skinny little bun standing beside the bed urgently grasped Yang Ruxin's hand, wiping away tears as he spoke, "Mother... they... Granny is angry..." His mother wouldn't let him go out and told him to properly watch his big sister, but he knew mother and his sisters were being beaten.
Yang Ruxin looked at the little dark-faced bun in front of her. He was her younger brother in this world, the brother from the boy and girl twins who should only be four years old, but appeared closer to two, his thin neck supporting an oversized head, more destitute than an African refugee, which made her furrow her brows.
Feeling the gaze of his older sister, Yang Rufeng shrank back a step, subconsciously: "Big sister..."
Yang Ruxin sighed in her heart. Having memories was one thing, but the shock of truly seeing such kin was all the more striking. Just by looking at this little one, it was clear that the circumstances of the others were not much better. This family's plight couldn't simply be described as tragic. Oh, heavens, what kind of mess had she been handed? But since she was here, she might as well live the best she could.
The outside clamor hadn't lessened at all, and the sounds of beating were even more resonant.
Yang Ruxin got off the kang and gently touched her little brother's head: "Stay well inside the house..." She turned and walked outside.