Chapter 117: County School, Free Tuition and Scholarships

Chapter 117: County Schools – Free Education and Scholarships

"Husband, if we'd known Lord Bing could make it rain artificially, why’d we even get involved? We wanted to try to cash in, but instead, we ended up in jail." Proprietor Zou's wife wiped her tears with a white embroidered handkerchief. "Now we've played a trick and got tricked—what should we do?"

Proprietor Zou had no idea what was happening outside since being imprisoned, relying solely on updates from his wife during her visits.

Even now, Proprietor Zou found it hard to believe. "Make it rain artificially? County Magistrate Bing can summon rain? No way!"

"How is that not possible? Everyone in Dayong knows about it now!" His wife glared at him. "Lord Bing's skill caught the Emperor’s eye, who personally promoted him to a fifth-rank official."

Proprietor Han's wife chimed in, "It happened just yesterday. Now even the Prefect of Lin'an has to kowtow to Lord Bing—a prefect bowing to a county magistrate!"

Proprietor Han groaned, "Zhao Weihai screwed us over by dying. If we'd known Lord Bing had such abilities, why’d we even get involved in the first place?"

Proprietor Cheng gave a bitter smile. "Be glad. Zhao Weihai and Cao Weiyan, who opposed Lord Bing, are both dead. At least we're still alive."

Proprietor Zou pondered, "What do you think Lord Bing intends? If he wanted to punish us, he wouldn’t have treated us like this. Look—we paid bribes, and now each of us has a private room. Even the stench of the chamber pot was addressed with a separate latrine. Proprietor Han’s cell, for instance, barely resembles a prison—it’s decked out like home, complete with a bed. Visits are unrestricted, and we can do as we please—except leave."

The three sharp-eyed merchants looked at each other, their eyes shifting craftily.

Proprietor Zou gestured for his wife to lean in and whispered a few words. She looked skeptical. "Will this really work?"

"Whether it does or not, we have to try. Comfortable as it is, this is still a prison—we can’t stay here forever."

"My lord, Proprietor Zou’s wife is here to see you," Cong Lin announced as he entered.

"Let her in," Bing Wengu said, setting aside the case files.

Proprietor Zou’s wife stepped forward, bowed to Lord Bing, then rose, gripping her maid’s hand tightly. Scared he’d snap and lop her head off, she avoided meeting his gaze.

"L-Lord Bing," she stammered. "I—I’ve come to make a donation. I heard… that you lack funds for Jixian’s development. I… I wish to voluntarily contribute five hundred—no, a thousand strings of cash… for Jixian’s construction."

Drenched in sweat, she finally managed to voice her plea.

Seated above, Lord Bing gave a slight nod. "On behalf of Jixian’s people, I thank you for your generosity. Rest assured, every cent will go toward Jixian’s development—not a dime will go missing. All expenditures will be recorded, and you can check the books at any time. Additionally, your name will be engraved on the merit stele outside the yamen for all to admire."

After Proprietor Zou’s wife left, Cong Lin returned. "Proprietor Han’s wife is here to see you."

"Let her in," Lord Bing said. Then, to Cong Lin, he added, "Let Proprietor Zou go."

Cong Lin’s eyes widened in surprise. "My lord, you’re letting him walk free just like that?"

Lord Bing replied, "A thousand strings is a fortune—likely all they could scrounge up. It’ll do much good for Jixian’s people."

Proprietor Zou’s wife had sold grain and property to gather the thousand strings. The moment she handed over the money, her husband walked.

As Proprietor Zou was released, yamen officers also let Proprietors Han and Cheng go.

Proprietor Cheng asked, "How much did you two pay to get out?"

Proprietor Zou played dumb. "What money? I don’t know—I was suddenly released."

Proprietor Han shot him a sidelong glance. "Old Zou, don’t be like that. After being basically cellmates for so long, no need for secrets. Besides, given Lord Bing’s nitpicky ways, do you really think he’d let you walk free without a price? If you left with all your limbs intact, you’re lucky."

Proprietor Han added bluntly, "I won’t hide it—my wife donated a thousand strings, my entire fortune. That’s why I’m out."

Proprietor Zou sighed. "Same here."

Proprietor Cheng nodded. "Ditto."

"Slaving away for most of one's life, only to return to the destitution of the past in a single day."

"Ah well, at least we’re still alive."

In the past, Jixian County's treasury was short on funds, but under Bing Wengu's management, that was no longer an issue.

Bing Wengu renovated and expanded the dilapidated county school, which had been abandoned for years without any students.

Bing Wengu was a master at making the most of what others considered useless. The prisoners rotting in jail were free labor—might as well use 'em. So he hauled them all out to build the school. The men, being stronger, were worked like beasts of burden. The women, though weaker, were still pushed just as hard.

As for the prisoners bawling about being exhausted, Bing Wengu paid no heed.

But there was one benefit: though the food for these laborers wasn’t good, Bing Wengu ensured everyone had enough to eat.

If they’d just sat around in their cells, they wouldn’t even have gotten rotten slop, let alone full meals.

After just two days of this, neither male nor female prisoners complained anymore—in fact, they began fighting tooth and nail for work.

The reason? The top three hardest workers each day were rewarded with meat. To prevent others from stealing their rewards, Bing Wengu decreed that the meat had to be eaten on the spot under the supervision of yamen officers. That way, no one could take it from them.

As a result, the county school was quickly completed—and built to excellent quality.

Once the school was finished, Bing Wengu began enrolling students.

The yamen officers went door-to-door, traveling through every village, wearing themselves out pleading—yet few were willing to send their children to study.

"Sir, we’ve done our utmost to convince them, but the common folk still refuse," Cong Lin reported, his head bowed in shame for failing the task Bing Wengu had assigned.

Bing Wengu suddenly asked, "Cong Lin, do you have children?"

"Yes, three," Cong Lin replied.

"Have you sent them to the county school?" Bing Wengu pressed.

"I’ve failed you, sir—I haven’t sent my children to study. But, sir, it’s not that I don’t want to. My family’s flat broke."

He hurriedly explained, "Jixian County suffered three years of drought. My family lost everything and drowned in debt. I truly can’t afford to send my children to school now. But now that you’ve made artificial rain possible, this year’s crops should finally yield something. If you’d just give me a few years to repay my debts, I swear I’ll send my children to study."

"I understand your difficulties and don’t blame you," Bing Wengu said. Then he suddenly asked, "What sexes are your kids?"

"One boy and two girls." Though puzzled by the question, Cong Lin answered truthfully.

Bing Wengu pressed further, "If your family had the money in the future, which child would you send to school first?"

"My boy, of course," Cong Lin blurted out.

The moment the words left his mouth, he remembered Bing Wengu was an official who championed equality. His face paled. "Sir, it’s not that I favor sons over daughters. It’s just that even if a girl learns to read, at most she’ll just learn to read a little. But a boy who studies might have a chance at the imperial exams. If he’s lucky enough to pass as a scholar, our family could move up in the world—even the girls would benefit."

"I understand," Bing Wengu said. "The world is as it is, and your choice is the same as most."

Cong Lin watched Bing Wengu’s face closely. "Sir, I know you sympathize with the plight of women and Shuang Er here. But I must say, the women and Shuang Er here are already fortunate to have you."

"During the drought, families elsewhere sold their daughters and Shuang Er for a handful of grain, treating them like cattle. But here, thanks to your laws and firm leadership, any woman or Shuang Er with backbone was spared such suffering. You’ve done plenty already."

"Not nearly enough," Bing Wengu said.

"Sir, if you wish for all the women and Shuang Er here to be as exceptional as your husband, I fear that’s impossible. A man as cultured as your husband must’ve had tutors since he was a boy—something most families here can’t afford."

"You’re mistaken. Before marrying me, my husband had never read a book. Everything he knows, I taught him." Speaking of Nan Jinping, Bing Wengu’s expression softened.

"Ah?" Cong Lin was astonished. "Then your husband-lord is that brilliant? To be able to compose essays in such a short time?"

"Naturally," Bing Wengu replied with pride and satisfaction. "In fact, many women and Shuang Er [a term referring to a specific gender identity] are more intelligent and ambitious than men. Given equal opportunities, men might not necessarily come out on top."

"But, sir..."

Bing Wengu cut Cong Lin off. "Take your men and make another round through the villages. This time, tell them that if any household has daughters or Shuang Er aged six or older and sends all of them to the county school, then schooling for the boys, as well as all the girls and Shuang Er in the family, will be completely free."

"Wh-what?!" Cong Lin stared dumbfounded at Bing Wengu.

"What's more, would you be willing to send your daughters and Shuang Er to school?" Bing Wengu asked.

"Of course I would," Cong Lin answered immediately. "I would absolutely be willing. But some farmers might still object?"

Bing Wengu pondered briefly before saying, "Transportation and food costs?"

"Exactly. And children that age can already help with many household tasks," Cong Lin explained. "I see your good intentions, sir, but in reality, many villagers don’t truly grasp the importance of education. Or they might think their children aren’t cut out for it—that studying is a waste of time and earning money early is more important. Though it’s harsh to say, it’s the truth. They’re short-sighted."

Bing Wengu thought for a moment. "Then here’s the plan: all children enrolled in the county school will have their meals and lodging fully covered. Additionally, those who rank in the top three of their class in the final exams will receive scholarships ranging from one string of coins to a hundred coins. For the top ten in the entire school, the scholarships will range from ten strings to one string of coins."

As the saying goes, where there's reward, there's effort. However helpful a child is at home, their help is limited. And at such a young age, they likely wouldn’t earn much working outside.

But now, the scholarships could amount to serious money—one to ten strings of coins. For many villagers, this was more than they could save in an entire year of hard work.

Yet their own children had a chance to earn it. What's more? It cost them nothing—just one less pair of hands at home.

Most villagers weren’t afraid of hardship; they feared not making money. So Bing Wengu was certain that many children would come to study.

And this might just be the opportunity to change their fates.

Cong Lin fell to his knees this time. "Sir, how are you this virtuous? To think there truly exists an official like you, who cares so deeply for the people. What incredible luck must I have had in three lifetimes to serve under you and be one of the people you govern?"

"Just doing my job," Bing Wengu said as he helped Cong Lin up.

The main reason, of course, was that there was plenty in the coffers. With no intention of embezzling, Bing Wengu naturally chose to spend it.

Why leave it all behind when his term ended, only for the next magistrate to pocket it?

Bing Wengu’s plan was to exhaust the treasury before his tenure concluded. A more pragmatic way to put it: how could he turn these funds into achievements under his name?

Education was the perfect avenue.

Young children might not show immediate results, but this policy wasn’t age-restricted—it was based on residency. Students from other counties, upon hearing of this policy, would flood into Ji County.

By the imperial exams three years later, those who passed would all be proof of Bing Wengu’s successful policies.

It was a win-win: changing lives while boosting his own achievements.