Chapter 102: Inheriting Farming and Education

Chapter 102: Inheriting Farming and Education

When Du Yunse wrote the letter, the various regulations of the Clan School had not yet been fully established. In the letter, Du Yunse simply invited Liao Cang to come to the Du Village Clan School as a teacher, offering food, a small residence, and a monthly salary of two taels of silver. Other details were left unspecified.

Liao Cang was now twenty-four years old. Due to his poor family background, he had been devoted to the imperial examinations and had observed a year of mourning each for his grandfather and grandmother. As a result, he had not yet married.

At this age, he was no longer in a hurry. He thought it would be better to wait for someone who truly clicked with him, so he had turned away all the matchmakers who came to his door.

Thus, he was now unburdened. After receiving Du Yunse’s invitation, he first left Qingfeng Academy, then visited his family, packed his bags, and set off.

"The Du Village Clan School allows all the children of the villagers to study for free. Indeed, every household can afford to send their children to school."

Liao Cang was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "The Township Lord must have funded this."

The profitability of Lady Qishu’s Qiu’s Six Staples shop, and the popularity of products like oyster sauce, floral essence, and cooling oil, were well-known to anyone living in Xiangping Prefecture.

Du Yunse, the husband of Lady Qishu, was often teased by his friends.

At such times, the usually noble and self-respecting Du Yunse didn’t get flustered or annoyed. Instead, he showed a touch of pride, leaving his friends envious.

Liao Cang considered the size of Du Village and guessed there wouldn’t be many students—a dozen or so at most.

However, Qiu Huanian handed him the student list and said, "Mr. Liao, please take a look. The Clan School currently has thirty-one students, and a few more will join after the New Year."

Liao Cang’s face clearly showed a "What?"

Qiu Huanian couldn’t help but laugh. He should have explained everything to Liao Cang all at once, but it seemed Yunse wanted to tease him.

As his husband, he naturally played along.

Whether Du Yunse had been influenced by Qiu Huanian over time or naturally had a bit of a playful streak, the couple’s sense of humor was becoming increasingly similar.

Qiu Huanian nodded toward the roster and said, "The Clan School enrolls not just boys but also girls and young lads. Not only the children of the village men but also the children of married women and lads can return to study."

These two simple sentences left Liao Cang completely baffled.

Qiu Huanian observed his reaction. Although Du Yunse’s judgment was usually sound, it was uncommon in the Yu Dynasty to allow women and lads to attend school on such a scale. If Liao Cang had any prejudices, it would be problematic.

Fortunately, Liao Cang was only stunned for a moment before regaining his composure.

"Thirty or so students who need enlightenment, Yunse. This job of yours is no walk in the park."

Liao Cang didn’t question the idea of boys and girls studying together. He was from a village himself and knew that villagers weren’t so particular about such things. Teenagers often played together, regardless of gender.

He had heard that the south was stricter, but in the countryside of Liaozhou, there was no custom of keeping women and lads confined to their homes. Liao Cang thought this was due to the climate and terrain. The north was sparsely populated, with vast tracts of land to cultivate. If women and lads weren’t allowed to work outside, how could all that land be managed?

He shook off these odd thoughts and said to Du Yunse, "I’m at a disadvantage here. You’d better sweeten the deal for me."

"..."

Qiu Huanian couldn’t help but laugh. He understood why Du Yunse wanted to tease Liao Cang. Liao Cang was indeed quite interesting.

Du Yunse looked at him indifferently and said, "If the teachers at the academy knew you were still so focused on money and profit, they’d surely scold you again."

Liao Cang shrugged. "Didn’t I leave the academy? Can they still chase after me to scold me?"

He muttered loud enough for all three to hear, "Your husband knows how to make money, so it’s easy for you to talk without feeling the pressure."

"..."

Qiu Huanian noticed Du Yunse was on the verge of laughter.

She coughed and asked Liao Cang, "I hear you’ve got a knack for math, Mr. Liao?"

"I’m no match for the Township Lord, but I’ve read 'The Classic of Mathematics' and finished 'Elementary Mathematics: Equations.'"

One of the main reasons Du Yunse chose Liao Cang was his keen interest in mathematics and his solid foundation in the subject.

Qiu Huanian felt reassured. "The Du clan set up the school so all kids can learn to read and gain practical knowledge, not just to pass the imperial exams. Mr. Liao, please add a mathematics class to your teaching schedule."

She had already ordered over ten copies of 'Elementary Mathematics: Equations' from Xiangping Prefecture as school textbooks. The children could share a book initially, and once they learned to write, they could copy the books themselves.

Liao Cang’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the stack of new books on the desk.

He glanced at Du Yunse but his eyes kept darting toward Qiu Huanian.

"Using 'Elementary Mathematics: Equations' is fine, but since the school isn’t just for exams, why not teach other subjects too?"

Liao Cang tried to maintain a normal expression. "The books from Qimin Bookstore are great. Let’s send two new ones to the school every month."

Qimin Bookstore releases one or two practical books monthly, gaining fame for their quality and Qiu Huanian’s math book, which the emperor praised. On the day new books are released, countless scholars and booksellers queue up at the bookstore to buy them.

Liao Cang loves Qimin Bookstore, but he can’t afford to buy every new book. Before, he’d go begging and borrowing just to get his hands on new books—it was a hassle.

If Lady Qishu sent new books to the school, he’d get to read them too, as the teacher.

Liao Cang’s little scheme was already taking shape.

Qiu Huanian grinned, "Does this count as a little bonus for Mr. Liao?"

"Absolutely!"

He’d been scheming to get Du Yunse to buy him more books.

But Liao Cang knew that for money matters, Lady Qishu was the one to talk to.

Du, the top scholar, wasn’t much help.

Liao Cang stayed in the guest room for a few days, and every day, folks wanted to catch a glimpse of the new teacher. Every time he stepped out, he’d be swarmed by a crowd of kids and adults.

Luckily, he was a well-read scholar, so he handled it without a hitch. After a few days, he’d gotten to know the villagers pretty well.

For the first time in generations, the Du clan had a school, and everyone was buzzing with curiosity and excitement.

On the school’s opening day, the villagers pitched in for firecrackers and a feast to thank the craftsmen for their hard work.

The plaque on the school’s gate, handwritten by Du Yunse, bore the words 'Farming and Reading Passed Down Through Generations', gleaming in the sun.

Flanking the gate was an old couplet: "Learn every word, read every book."

The teacher’s small courtyard was finished too. It had one entrance, with a living room, study, and kitchen. A peach tree and stone table completed the cozy setup.

Liao Cang was pleased. For the next three years, he’d teach here while studying for the exams.

The students were a bunch of kids, aged five to twelve. Except for a few like Yun Kang, most couldn’t read a single word.

Fortunately, the deep-rooted respect for teachers and education ensured that the children had been repeatedly reminded by their parents before attending the school, so there were no disruptions in class.

After consulting with Liao Cang and Du Yunse, Qiu Huanian divided the school day into four periods.

The morning's first period was for reciting basic texts and the multiplication table, while the second period involved learning characters and hearing explanations of passages from the Four Books and Five Classics.

In the afternoon, the first period focused on mathematics and other miscellaneous subjects, and the second period was for the newly initiated children to practice tracing characters. Those with a foundation, like Yun Kang, received separate tutoring on how to write imperial examination essays.

Liao Cang, young and charismatic, with a kind and patient demeanor and a refreshingly non-pedantic approach to teaching, quickly won over the entire class.

On the first day of class, Qiu Huanian's family observed the proceedings and found everything in order.

Chun Sheng was reluctant to leave Yun Kang and even toyed with the idea of staying in Du Village to attend the clan school, but the thought of being separated from his siblings and missing Yuan Ruo made him reconsider.

Before they knew it, October had arrived. The autumn wind had swept away the withered yellow leaves, and the village was left in a cold, desolate gray.

With the clan school's affairs in order, Qiu Huanian made plans to return to the prefecture city for the winter.

Qiu Huanian tallied up the expenses of this trip, with the bulk of the spending going toward the clan school.

Constructing the building, purchasing materials, and hiring craftsmen totaled thirty taels of silver. Buying thirty acres of land in Zhang County, including ten acres of paddy fields and twenty acres of dry land, cost fifty taels. Prepaying Liao Cang's annual salary came to twenty-four taels, and sixteen taels were allocated for paper and brushes for the clan school children, managed by Bao Ren.

Adding up all these expenses, the total came to one hundred and twenty taels of silver—the largest sum Qiu Huanian had spent in months.

But for the sake of education, it was a worthwhile investment.

The first year was the most expensive, but from the second year on, the income from the thirty acres rented to tenant farmers would cover the clan school's annual expenses, eliminating the need for additional subsidies.

Qiu Huanian put Bao Ren and Meng Fuyue in charge of managing the income from the thirty acres and the clan school's expenses, requiring them to submit an annual report. Hu Qiuyan, Wei Liuhua, and others were tasked with oversight to ensure everything ran smoothly.

After taking care of various matters, Qiu Huanian had Jin San and old lady Jin inspect the doors and windows of the old house, put out any embers, and pack up items that couldn't be taken, making sure everything was in order.

Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling had been back for over half a month, and it was time to head back to the prefecture city. Meng Yuanling was preoccupied with the business of Qiu's Six Staples, while Yun Cheng was set to continue his studies at Qingfeng Academy, aiming to pass the academy exam the following year and take on the provincial examination three years later.

After Du Yunse passed the provincial examination, Yun Cheng was deeply motivated. Du Yunse shared all his insights on the imperial examination, helping Yun Cheng steer clear of unnecessary pitfalls.

A family that produces one successful candidate often produces a second and a third, as having a trailblazer makes the path easier for those who come after.

This is why children from prominent families often earn scholarly honors, while those from common families find the imperial examination a struggle. It's not that commoners are less intelligent, but that they have far fewer educational resources and lack the insider knowledge of those who have succeeded.

The imperial examination, where millions vie for a single spot and success can catapult one to a higher status, is about far more than just the Four Books and Five Classics.

On the day Qiu Huanian and the others left, all the villagers of Du Village came to see them off, and the Meng family from Qingfu Town also came to bid farewell to Meng Yuanling. Qiu Huanian finally caught sight of Meng Wudong again.

Meng Wudong stood with his parents and siblings, but there was little interaction among them, hinting at some underlying tension.

Qiu Huanian glanced at Meng Yuanling, who shook his head, his big round eyes downcast.

The carriages Jin San had rented from the county carriage bureau arrived. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse took one, Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng another, Meng Yuanling and Yun Cheng a third, and two more were loaded with luggage.

The luggage was loaded onto the carriages one by one, and old lady Jin locked up the house and handed the keys to Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian and the others waved goodbye to the villagers, and the coachman, at the signal, whipped the horses into a trot, kicking up dry dust that hung in the air like an unshakable yellow haze.

The carriages picked up speed, racing down the empty field paths until they vanished from the villagers' view.

There will always be those who leave the land that nurtured them, for life is a tapestry woven from meetings and farewells.

The group pressed on with their journey, traveling and resting as needed, always prioritizing comfort. With the whole family together, chatting and laughing, the trip was anything but dull.

During their evening rest at the inn, Qiu Huanian curiously asked Meng Yuanling about Meng Wudong.

"I'm just curious. If it's not something you can talk about, then never mind."

Meng Yuanling puffed out her cheeks as she swallowed her food, her big round eyes blinking like a greedy little squirrel.

"It's no big deal telling Brother Hua. After all, you've already met Miss Shen Sai that day."

"Is your second brother interested in her?"

Meng Yuanling nodded, "But my parents aren't happy, and my second brother won't give in, staying in the county town instead of coming home."

"Miss Shen Sai seems healthy, quick, and capable. What's wrong with her?"

Meng Yuanling lowered her voice, "My mother told me she had someone look into it. Miss Shen Sai's mother lost two husbands in a row in the neighboring county, and another died after marrying into Zhang County. Miss Shen Sai herself was once engaged, but her fiancé fell ill and died before the wedding... People in the neighboring county say the mother and daughter are cursed."

"..."

Meng Yuanling whispered, "I don't think it's right to blame Miss Shen Sai and her mom. After so many incidents, Miss Shen Sai still managed to open a food shop. That's impressive."

"But my parents believe it's better to be cautious. After all, these things are quite mysterious. If there's any truth to it, what if it harms our whole family..."

"Does Brother Wudong know about this?"

"He knows, but he's set on Miss Shen Sai. He even suggested splitting the family and creating a separate branch in the family tree, so if there's any misfortune, it would only affect him. This made my parents so mad they threw him out with a broom."

"Anyway, things are still stuck. My parents won't budge, and my second brother won't come home. Sigh!"

Qiu Huanian grabbed a piece of tuckahoe cake and popped it into Meng Yuanling's mouth as she sighed. Meng Yuanling mumbled a bit and started chewing.

This is a family matter of the Mengs. Meng Wudong is resolute, but the concerns of the elderly Mengs are understandable. Qiu Huanian and Meng Yuanling have already left Zhang County, and they are too far away to intervene. They can only wait and see who will ultimately persuade whom.

After her late-night snack, Meng Yuanling patted her slightly full belly, planning to head back to her room for a massage from Yun Cheng.

Of course, since they are still on the road, it can only be a massage.

Author's Note:

Note 1: This couplet is said to have been written by Su Shi.