Chapter 166: Bullying the Younger Sister-in-law is a Great Pleasure in Life
Opening his eyes, he saw the familiar ceiling.
Bai Wei sat up from the bed, looked at the lines on his palm, took a moment to adjust, and confirmed that he had indeed returned to Yingzhou.
He almost thought he wouldn't be able to come back, that he might turn into a wandering ghost and drift away to another place, possessing someone else's body for reincarnation.
Fortunately, he wasn't a completely ordinary mortal body; otherwise, he might have suffered from an inexplicable soul transfer.
After actually experiencing it once, Bai Wei realized that this method of soul transfer wasn't actually complicated.
His physical body and soul were temporarily severed from their connection for several hours, and because it was difficult to maintain a conscious self during sleep, his consciousness gradually deviated from its position in the ocean of the spiritual world. Soon, his soul was like a lonely sail without an anchor, carried away by the tides to a remote place. Due to the mismatch in coordinates between the spiritual world and reality, what seemed like a short distance could actually span across oceans.
It was an ambush!
Being targeted isn't necessarily a bad thing; using oneself as bait to lure the opponent out and catch them all in one fell swoop is a trick that never fails.
That's how cultivation fantasy novels are written.
It's a pity that the other party came too stealthily. After a failed transfer, they might become wary and may not attempt a second time.
“I'm actually looking forward to having a few more experiences like this."
“Experiences of free hours-long sea travel like this are quite rare."
Bai Wei was enjoying himself.
He visited the Allied Nation and witnessed the changes of the new era, which could be considered as achieving his wish.
Not everyone has the opportunity to see what the world they personally built looks like hundreds of years later.
The typhoon had passed, and the sky cleared up again, crystal clear and blue.
With the weather cleared, everyone's mood returned to normal, as if the previous significant event was of little importance.
After all the ups and downs, life eventually returns to normal, with plain and simple daily routines.
Yagyū Simozi still had to continue attending classes at Far East University, but without Saki Jingūji, her enthusiasm for school seemed noticeably diminished.
She indeed didn't care much about the diploma from Far East University. As a reckless individual... woman, she wanted to regain her glory, and for that, she must obtain the general's bestowed tablet. Since she chose the path of a warrior, she wouldn't strive too much for long-term stability.
Hokusinn Kichyō was in a good mood. She didn't have to go to school, even though she was of school age. She attended a prestigious private school for young ladies, and the course schedule wasn't as tight. With her family background, she didn't need to strive for more titles on her own.
Hokusinn Kichyō answered, "The private academy is divided into two types of people, those who pass the public examinations and those who pay to attend."
The former is mostly progressive women who respond to the call of the shogunate general, with a high probability of entering the shogunate or bureaucracy, or pursuing a political career in the future.
The reason for this situation in Yingzhou, where men are superior and women are inferior, is not only due to changing societal norms but also because the unequal gender ratio has led to a shortage of manpower in society. The shogunate general, observing the growing economy, waved a hand and declared that both men and women should work for him. In response to the call of the general, progressive women naturally stepped forward, entering the workforce and even aspiring to become politicians.
The latter refers to the young ladies who pay to attend school. They often come from distinguished families, and the elite classes have always sought to monopolize educational resources. Even if they are mediocre, going through elite education ensures that they will become elites surpassing the ordinary class upon graduation.
“So, you belong to the latter group, right?" Yagyū Simozi teased. "Since it's elite education, why don't you go to school?"
"It's different," Hokusinn Kichyō casually replied. "The educational style of this private academy is all about freedom. Besides a few required courses, everything else is elective, and no one forces you to study."
This is completely different from the rigorous style of the Swordflower Alliance and the mandatory credit and attendance requirements of Far East University.
"Why?" Yagyū Simozi didn't understand. "Aren't private academies supposed to be strict? And since it's a school for young ladies, shouldn't you learn more about flower arrangement, tea ceremony, calligraphy, or shamisen...?"
"Shamisen is more commonly used by geishas. If I were to learn, it would be the shakuhachi or piano," Hokusinn Kichyō retorted.
"Art knows no boundaries."
"But those who utilize art can be distinguished by their skill."
"Are you looking down on geishas?"
"I sympathize with their difficult and precarious lives."
"That's beside the point." Bai Wei coughed and corrected their tangential argument. "Let's get back on track... So, why don't you have to go to school?"
"Because I paid," Hokusinn Kichyō answered straightforwardly.
"?"
"Tuition fees are not cheap, 5 million yen per academic year."
"...?" Yagyū Simozi was immediately stunned. "It equals 300,000 Ming coins, is the private academy that expensive?"
"The public examinations are much cheaper, only 300,000." Hokusinn Kichyō added, "I originally planned to take the public examinations, and I actually have the ability to pass. But my father said that even if I choose to take the public examinations, I still have to pay the tuition fees as usual. It's a matter of the Hokusinn family's reputation that cannot be compromised."
"That's interesting," Bai Wei drank his soy milk and found it amusing. "According to what you said, it sounds like it's the wealthy people who pay for the education of ordinary people, and the strong faculty is actually cheaper for students who enter through the public exams."
But the tuition fee is too expensive." A large portion of Yagyū Simozi's tuition fee at Far East University is subsidized by the Shogunate.
National universities, whether in the Ming Country or Yingzhou, are assumed to be subsidized by the government for a significant portion of the tuition, accommodation, and other expenses, with the highest ratio reaching nine to one.
Why must individuals bear a portion of the cost? It is naturally to control expenses... The tuition fee is not really cheap but is rather invisibly distributed. Otherwise, the small amount of dormitory fees each year would be far from enough to cover the building and maintenance costs.
Hokusinn Kichyō casually said, "There are even more expensive ones, but they are boarding schools."
"Are there even more expensive ones?"
"Yes, 10 million yen per year, but they only accept a little over fifty students each time," Hokusinn Kichyō said. "But most of the girls who graduate from there will directly marry, either to business entrepreneurs or promising local politicians. Some even marry directly into prominent families in the Shogunate..."
Yagyū Simozi sneered, "So it's a matchmaking place."
"The students who are admitted there are at least from well-known families in the area," Hokusinn Kichyō said with a smile. "Don't underestimate them, once they enter the school, political marriages are the norm. I thought you had been living in the Ming Country for so long, you should be accustomed to it."
Bai Wei forced a smile, "I'm sorry, my family in the Ming Country is just ordinary commoners, and social mobility is not insignificant in the Ming Country... I don't really understand this kind of high-level social marriage system."
Yagyū Simozi complained, "Why don't you go to such a school?"
Hokusinn Kichyō said, "I was supposed to go, but I am the only daughter in my family."
As the only daughter, she is destined to inherit the Hokusinn family. Even if she marries into another family, she cannot just be a figurehead. She must actively support and manage the household.
The social class division in Yingzhou is quite severe. Men work in companies, and women do not stay at home all day either. Larger companies inevitably have social clubs for wives, which is another battlefield different from the workplace.
Whether good or bad, it is all about one's background... This is an innate advantage, as well as an undeniable responsibility.
She glanced at Yagyū Simozi, then let out a soft sigh. "Simozi, you wouldn't understand."
Yagyū raised an incredulous eyebrow but didn't say anything further.
She knew that whatever she said at this point would be of no use; she wasn't trapped in this cage anyway.
"I'm going to school." She glanced at the time and left in a hurry.
Bai Wei started to clean up the dishes and skillfully began washing them. "Simozi speaks her mind quickly, which often makes her an easy target for bullying. When she spends time with Jingūji, she may think that her verbal skills are formidable, but when confronted with a difficult person, she immediately backs down..."
Bai Wei remained noncommittal, "You can tease her, but not too much. It's good for her to learn a lesson."
Hokusinn Kichyō shook her head, "It's difficult."
"Why?"
"Because she's your younger sister..."
...Teasing a younger sister-in-law is the most fun.
Hokusinn Kichyō smiled, "Actually, it's because I'm really envious..."
After speaking, she got up from her seat and stretched lazily, "She's going to school, it's time for me to leave."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going back home for some matters." Hokusinn Kichyō waved her hand, "Don't worry, I'll be back before evening."
Bai Wei wiped his hands, "Let me walk you to the door."
Hokusinn Kichyō's eyes brightened, she shook her head, "No need, no need... You're so good, I really don't want to leave."
Bai Wei responded readily, "Alright, take care on the way."
Hokusinn Kichyō arrived at the door, closed the gate of the courtyard, and the vehicle was already waiting outside. She composed herself and said, "Let's go."
Going to visit the graves.
