The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Although the wool still comes from the sheep, the money could be considered as coming from the old madam. However, Xu Wan thought it could almost count as a birthday gift. If not, she could always make up for it with a better gift next year.

As she was pondering this, a maid announced that the little troublemaker wanted to see her and was waiting in the courtyard.

Xu Wan was startled, as if she had seen a ghost, and turned to Cui Zhi, saying, "Doesn’t he usually barge in, shouting at the top of his lungs?"

Cui Zhi was equally confused, "Yes... that’s right..."

How had Zong Jincheng suddenly become so polite in just a short while?

She remembered that Baili Weihong, the etiquette teacher, wasn’t scheduled to start teaching until the day after tomorrow.

Xu Wan mused, "He must have something to ask of me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this well-behaved."

Having dealt with her rebellious son for nearly half a year, Xu Wan knew him all too well.

"Let ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌‍him in. It’s cold outside at night."

"Yes."

The little troublemaker was brought in by Cui Zhi. His big eyes fixed on Xu Wan, a mix of embarrassment and unease in his expression. He awkwardly said, "You... you’re still awake?"

Xu Wan smiled and gestured for him to sit down as she took a seat herself. "I’ll be up for a while longer. What is it? Do you need something?"

It was rare for the mother and son to have such a peaceful moment together. The atmosphere was strange and awkward. Cui Zhi tactfully led the others away, leaving the two to talk privately.

The little troublemaker, likely traumatized by her strictness, only remembered her as unreasonable and difficult to communicate with. He was afraid that the moment he opened his mouth, he would be rejected. But he and his brother desperately needed money.

When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head.

A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm.

He silently hyped himself up in his mind before finally broaching the topic, "I... I just wanted to ask, do you recognize how much I’ve improved in my studies recently?"

Xu Wan glanced at him and answered truthfully, "I do."

The little troublemaker breathed a sigh of relief, feeling less tense. He seized the opportunity to press further, "Then... since I’ve improved so much, don’t I deserve some kind of reward? Even my grandmother knew to set two big rewards for you—those fifty thousand and a hundred thousand taels."

The old madam had mentioned the figures in front of him, so he knew about them.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Xu Wan smiled faintly, understanding now.

So, this kid was here to ask for money.

She said, "Ah, I see. So, you want me to share some with you? That’s not entirely out of the question. If you do well in the Child Prodigy Class exams and rank in the top three in three years, I’ll reluctantly reward you with ten thousand taels of silver."

By then, her mission of educating her rebellious son would be complete, and the Marquis’s fortune would be at his disposal. The ten thousand taels wouldn’t come out of her own pocket, so Xu Wan didn’t feel too stingy about it.

The little troublemaker grew anxious, "No, that goal is too far away! Three years? I’ll be dirt poor by then!"

"Then what do you suggest?" Xu Wan wanted to see what he could come up with.

Five months had passed, and she was curious to see how much he had grown.

The little troublemaker quickly said, "I think rewards should be practical and progressive. Aiming for the top three is too long-term, and it’s easy to lose motivation along the way. You should add more milestones and break down that fifty thousand. That way, I’ll have more motivation to help you achieve the goal!"

Xu Wan raised an eyebrow, "Help me?"

The little troublemaker: "..."

He had gotten too carried away with his persuasion and accidentally let that slip.

He and Xu Wan were sworn enemies—how could he possibly help her?

But if he wanted her to agree to increase his allowance, he had to appeal to her heart and make her consider it.

Being well-versed in the art of flattery, the little troublemaker clenched his fists and struggled internally for a moment before continuing, "This is a win-win situation, alright?"

To hell with being sworn enemies—my brother comes first.

Once I get the money, I’ll go back to being her enemy.

Though his body had surrendered, his mind hadn’t. That’s what the little troublemaker thought.

"Oh, a win-win? You even know that term?" Xu Wan said thoughtfully. "Then tell me, what kind of reward should I set for you?"

Zong Jincheng’s eyes lit up as they finally reached the part he was most excited about. He hurriedly said, "Set goals, set rewards, and set them for every stage! For example, next month I’ll take the twelve-year-old exam. If I pass, give me fifty taels. If I make it into the top fifty, give me a hundred taels. Top ten, two hundred taels! And then there’s the Child Prodigy Class test—it’s super, super hard. Even Luo Chen and Qin Shi from Hanlin North Academy couldn’t pass it. If I can get in, you should reward me with a thousand taels!"

Xu Wan: "..."

This kid really had it all figured out. Such incentives would indeed be effective in the short term, but the amounts were too high. Once he had enough money, he’d lose motivation to earn more.

Xu Wan, as an adult, would want that fifty thousand taels to secure her future, but Zong Jincheng, as a child, couldn’t think that far ahead. With his status as the Marquis’s grandson, he didn’t care about the fifty thousand taels.

Right now, he probably just wanted that one thousand taels.

But once he got his hands on that thousand taels, he’d become uncontrollable again.

Xu Wan asked him, "You don’t lack food or clothes. What do you need a thousand taels for?"

Of course, it was to buy a house for his brother’s family.

Houses in the capital were expensive.

But Zong Jincheng had promised his brother to keep it a secret, so he couldn’t tell Xu Wan the truth.

So he made up an excuse, "Of course, it’s to pay off the debt I owe you as soon as possible. Then I can go out and enjoy myself, living the good life I’ve missed out on for the past five months."

Afraid that Xu Wan might think he was planning to waste the money, he quickly added, "But don’t worry, I won’t squander it. I’ve learned how to manage money from my brother. I won’t do anything reckless."

The little troublemaker stared intently at Xu Wan’s expression, trying to gauge whether she was displeased or dissatisfied. But the woman was utterly unreadable—either smiling or expressionless—making it impossible for him to get a read on her.

She was even harder to deal with than Madam Liu from the Xu family.

Xu Wan said, "Oh, I’m sorry, but you haven’t convinced me."

The little troublemaker: "!!"

This stubborn, iron-hearted woman!

He knew it wouldn’t be that easy!

Zong Jincheng angrily shot up from his chair, on the verge of losing his temper.

But Xu Wan then said, "However, you have been doing well recently. I was planning to tell you tomorrow on your birthday, but since you’re so eager for money, I’ll let you know now. Starting this month, I’ll increase your monthly allowance by an extra ten taels. You don’t have to pay this back—it’s for you to spend as you please. How about it? Do you want it?"

Zong Jincheng wasn’t happy at all upon hearing this. Instead, he grew even angrier.

Ten taels. She was only going to give him ten taels.

What could ten taels even do? He couldn’t even buy a kitchen with that!

But even so, free money was free money. If he saved up, he could eventually afford a small kitchen.

The little troublemaker, with a fierce yet adorable expression, gritted his teeth and said, "I’ll take it!"