Chapter 247: School Opening

Chapter 247: School Begins

It goes without saying that the scholars who thought they were coming to reclaim wasteland were surprised to find their families already settled into detached homes.

The next day, at the Song family residence in Heshan County, Meng Wan hosted several banquet tables for the guests who had traveled from afar.

Because of the haste and with only Xue Sheng and Huang Ye by his side, there was no time or manpower to prepare, so he had to enlist staff from a restaurant to bring ingredients, tables, and chairs and cook the dishes right in his home.

In ancient times, hosting a banquet at home signified a mark of great respect; otherwise, it would have been far less trouble to simply hold the feast directly at a restaurant.

After the banquet, Meng Wan had the courtyard cleaned. Then he and Song Tingzhou set out again for Heiye County.

Li Sui'an, the former magistrate of Heiye County, had requested retirement, and the new magistrate was no spring chicken—forty-eight years old, with grandchildren already born. He was an impossibly honest and meek man.

If not for Song Tingzhou's fearsome reputation upon arriving at Xiwu Prefecture—having executed so many people that the local gentry and landowners had cowered and dared not stir up trouble—the new magistrate of Heiye County would surely have been thoroughly bullied and worn down.

Magistrate Zhang from the prefectural office brought such a large group of scholars to the Heiye County school, and the County Magistrate received them with trembling unease. By rank, he outranked Magistrate Zhang, yet he behaved as if Magistrate Zhang were his superior.

"Magistrate Zhang, this… the Heiye County school has only been half built," the County Magistrate said nervously. He had just taken office and hadn't even sorted out his duties before this major task was dropped on him.

It was a ready-made free achievement if done well, but the problem was he hadn't had time to prepare!

Now that the Prefect had sent the scholars over, he was running in circles, terrified of being reprimanded.

Magistrate Zhang had never seen such a timid official. He bowed helplessly and said, "Your Honor, do not be anxious. Only the school in Heshan is nearly finished; the others are still behind schedule. That is perfectly normal. The Prefect will not blame you. However, these scholars have come from afar to teach the students of Xiwu Prefecture, and the Prefect has ordered all county magistrates to treat them with courtesy."

The County Magistrate pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his sweat repeatedly. "Of course, of course."

Song Tingzhou came for a visit and, seeing that the arrangements were decent—food, lodging, and other necessities well prepared—said nothing further.

However, there were a few scholars from the Song clan school in Heiye County, so Song Tingzhou met with them privately to warn his clansmen. Meng Wan then played the good cop, comforting them and expressing his gratitude for their long journey, promising to visit the prefectural city during festivals to keep in touch.

With the couple's combined approach, the scholars felt both a sense of distance and awe toward Song Tingzhou, while also being moved that Meng Wan still remembered these poor relatives. For the time being, they should behave within bounds.

"Dealing with great clans—enjoying the glory of the clan while bearing the risk that the clan's glory depends on each member's rise and its ruin depends on each member's fall… honestly, I'm a little scared," Meng Wan said to Song Tingzhou as they sat in the carriage. They had only stayed one day in Heiye County before hurrying on to Deqing County.

Song Tingzhou always took Meng Wan's words seriously. He frowned slightly. "That is indeed the case, but there is no solution. If my career goes smoothly, the clan will inevitably become arrogant. It's human nature; unavoidable."

Meng Wan leaned back onto Song Tingzhou's shoulder, his tone not overly worried. "If one person commits a crime, punish just that person. Why implicate the whole family?"

Song Tingzhou turned and pressed his lips to Meng Wan's, then pulled back after a moment. "Don't complain about the laws of the land; it will cause trouble."

Meng Wan touched his lips with his index and middle fingers and whispered, "I know I must revere the imperial power. In our own territory, speaking very, very softly is okay, isn't it?"

His eyes were full of complete trust in Song Tingzhou. Song Tingzhou found it irresistible. He cupped the back of Meng Wan's head, tilted it, and kissed him again on his crimson lips.

By the time they finished their inspections and returned to the prefectural city, another month had passed.

They had kept their two mentors waiting for so long. Fortunately, the elders understood their busy schedules. Chang Jinhua stayed home to entertain the guests, so no one complained.

After returning, Song Tingzhou went with Teacher Nie and Lin Yi to the prefectural school to discuss matters. Meng Wan had a slightly lighter schedule, so he took Xiang Yun and her husband along with Nie's husband for a stroll around the streets.

"Master, you and Uncle Second picked the hottest time to come. But now that it's September, it's a bit better."

Neither of the elders had endured much hardship. They had heard that Lingnan was tough, but they hadn't expected such intense heat.

Xiang Yun, maintaining her elder's dignity, refused to admit how difficult the journey had been. "The boat ride was fine at first; it was only the overland part that was tough. But once we entered Xiwu Prefecture, the roads were fast and easy. We didn't suffer much."

Nie's husband fanned himself without pause. Changping Prefecture had a dry climate—the heat there was dry heat, completely different from Lingnan's humidity. Even after a month, he still couldn't get used to it; his clothes always felt sticky against his skin.

"What the master says is true. The roads in Xiwu Prefecture are indeed flat. Is this the road built with gray powder, the one you mentioned when you were in Heshan?"

Meng Wan pointed at the city roads, a hint of pride in his smiling eyes. "Uncle Second is right. Now, all of Xiwu Prefecture—not just the main roads, but even ordinary village paths—are being repaved."

Xiang Yun nodded approvingly. "No wonder you've started reorganizing education. Excellent. If the countryside roads are good, the young people there can come out to study more easily. I've already been to your Songyun Academy; it's built well."

She was already a woman with advanced ideas for her era, yet she was still shocked by Meng Wan's unconventional approach.

After Lin Yi retired, the couple had planned to wait out their old age back home. But the academy Meng Wan founded stirred their restless minds. To see an academy for women and effeminate men come into existence in their lifetime would be a dream fulfilled, so they didn't hesitate to embark on the journey to Xiwu Prefecture.

Meng Wan bowed respectfully to Xiang Yun. "I haven't yet thanked Master for worrying about my affairs and finding so many teachers willing to come to Lingnan."

A faint smile appeared on Xiang Yun's aged, thin face. She had aged terribly over the years, but her mind had grown younger. "They're just some poor souls I knew years ago, with no home to return to. When they heard about becoming female teachers in Lingnan, they were more astonished than anyone. The lodgings you arranged are also very good. They're gathered together now, having an incredible time. In a few days, I want to move into the academy myself."

Meng Wan took Xiang Yun's arm. "Well, living in the academy is nice, but you came all this way—you must miss me, right? Stay with me for a while. When you get tired of me, then we'll talk."

"Tired of you?" Xiang Yun laughed at his words. "Our dear Wan Ge'er is loved by everyone. Who would ever get tired of him?"

Nie's husband also chimed in with a laugh. "What the master says is very true."

Meng Wan spent two days with Xiang Yun, and then the academy's opening day arrived. For both the county schools and Songyun Academy, in order to cut costs, the books were printed by Yu family bookstores, and Old Yu only charged the cost price.

For Songyun Academy in particular—only a few volumes of the Thousand Character Classic—the cost wasn't a huge item. The academy didn't have many teachers yet, just a handful, but the benefits Meng Wan offered were generous: room and board included, plus a salary. It truly was, as Xiang Yun said, a good place to retire.

The teachers she found for Meng Wan were of all ages, but they all shared one trait: they lived alone, were widowed mothers, or had never married. Each had a story to tell, but their talents were indisputable. Meng Wan had no intention of poking into their painful pasts; as long as the teaching quality met standards, that was enough.

From letters delivered by courier from the four counties, besides the prefectural school, only Heshan County's residents were relatively enthusiastic. In the other three counties, Heiye County's Yao girls and effeminate men mostly went to the academy. Shakeng and Deqing counties had pitifully few students; most were children of local merchants sent there to curry favor with Meng Wan.

Meng Wan's Songyun Academy charged each person one tael of silver per year for tuition and food. Lodging was free. The school accepted girls and minor effeminate boys aged six to fifteen.

This one tael wasn't meant as a barrier to schooling; rather, it was to prevent people from abandoning their children, thinking they could dump them at the academy for free.

Compared to Songyun Academy's minimal costs, the county schools were the opposite. Song Tingzhou printed all the books he had once used, which already amounted to an enormous number.

For the four counties and the prefectural city, he printed at least five copies per book, all at his own expense, not using government funds.

This made it almost impossible to provide a set of the basic Five Classics and Four Books to every student.

Therefore, the first thing enrolled students did was copy books. Each county school had a library with thousands of volumes—donated not only by Song Tingzhou but also by Lin Yi and Teacher Nie.

The library had three levels: those without any degree could only copy books from the first level; student candidates could access the second; and xiucai (degree holders) the third.

With the book problem solved, lodging was free, but students paid for their own food. However, the prices were low, and kitchens were provided for poor students to cook their own rice porridge.

Monthly exams were held: the top five in the beginner class without degrees each received five hundred copper coins; the top five in the student candidate class each received one tael; the top three in the xiucai class each received three taels; and the top three in the juren candidate class each received five taels.

In his first month as prefect, Song Tingzhou submitted a memorial to the court to implement the land-and-head-tax merger reform across the entire Xiwu Prefecture. The emperor had approved it.

Poor families' taxes were correspondingly reduced, and they were no longer as resistant to paying taxes as before. Ordinary people could also save some money.

Song Tingzhou's prestige in Xiwu Prefecture was extremely high. He ordered Tao Ba to send men to every village to preach the benefits of education. Those with foresight gritted their teeth and sent their sons and grandsons to school. But they were reluctant to spend that one tael of silver on their daughters and effeminate boys.

Thus, unlike the nearly empty Songyun Academy, the county schools were full to bursting from the start of term in early September. Even some middle-aged men in their thirties and forties wanted to join the crowd.

But the county school's enrollment conditions were: those without degrees must be between six and twelve years old; those with the student candidate title must not exceed twenty-five.

Thus, anyone exceeding the age limit was turned away.

"Papa, I won't go! Waaah... I won't leave you!" A Yan had two neat little buns on his head, wore a blue outfit, and carried a small satchel sewn by Chang Jinhua. He hugged Meng Wan's leg, wailing and crying, smearing tears and snot all over Meng Wan's clothes.

Meng Wan fought back his nausea, took the wet cloth from Huang Ye, wiped it roughly over his son's face, not daring to glance at the used cloth, and tossed it far away.

He said perfunctorily, "Son, listen, a real man. Even Yuniang, who often goes to Grandma's shop for crispy chicken, has started school. And remember Juan Niang, who stayed in our home? She's also gone to school."

A Yan's crying gradually subsided. He sniffled and asked, "So if I go, I can see them and play with them?"

Meng Wan tugged at his own clothes and gave a forced smile. "No."

"Then I don't want to go! I don't want to be a real man!" A Yan opened his mouth to howl again.

Meng Wan took advantage of his son's open mouth, grabbed a steamed bun from the tray Zhu Yan was carrying, stuffed it into A Yan's mouth, then swiftly handed him to Xue Sheng. "Hurry, get A Yan to the district school."

Xue Sheng shouldered A Yan and left, with Chu Ci following behind, carrying the same style of satchel, his face full of pain.

Chu Ci didn't want to go to school either.

Chang Jinhua's head was swimming from A Yan's crying. She held her forehead and said, "Wan Ge, isn't A Yan too young? Didn't you say the school only accepts children over six?"

Meng Wan waved casually at Chu Ci, who kept looking back, and said, "Don't worry, Mom. My husband has already instructed the teacher. Besides, isn't Xiao Ci there to keep an eye on him?"

Aside from their own child, even Na Tuo was sent to the prefectural school nearby — he had been recruited by Meng Wan into the post station — along with Chi Yu, a guard recruited by Song Tingzhou.

After sending the two kids off, the couple each went about their own work. They finally had some free days, and before they knew it, it was time for the autumn harvest.

The autumn harvest was the most important event of the year. Notably, this year, two new small workshops opened in Hexiang County.

Meng Wan was pleasantly surprised and sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts.

Once the fruits were harvested, the Zhen Guan Workshop started working. Meng Wan's drying workshop was built quietly, though it was smaller in scale compared to the sugar workshop and Zhen Guan Workshop. However, it was expensive, and Meng Wan fretted whether he could recoup the investment.

Due to the special weather in Lingnan, natural sun-drying was extremely difficult, and large-scale sun-drying of fruit was likely to spoil. So besides the baking process, Meng Wan's drying workshop also built several small sunrooms using glass pieces at great expense.

He went to the workshop and watched as the emblic myrobalans from Lianzhou were dried into dried fruit pieces, thinking that if it didn't make money, he'd just keep them for his family to eat—it wouldn't be a big deal to call the investment a failure.

Meng Wan carried a small basket of dried fruit home, but no one was there. Chang Jinhua was busy with her new shop opening soon.

Since the prefectural school was empty now, Teacher Nie had gone to teach at the district school, and Nie Erfulang followed him to Hexiang County. Lin Yi and Xiang Yun were said to have gone to stroll around Songyun College.

Meng Wan looked up at the sky and decided it was still early, so he picked up his bamboo basket and headed to Songyun College in the prefectural city.

The two women guarding the gate recognized Meng Wan and hurried out from the gatehouse to open the door. "Meng Fulang, you're here."

Meng Wan said casually, "Sister Chen, go about your business. I'm just taking a look around."

At that time, almost none of the enrolled boys and girls could read, so the Wisdom Class hadn't started yet; everyone was in a literacy program.

The reading in the Intelligence Class was more pleasant than the song of a thrush. Lin Yi and his wife Xiang Yun sat on chairs under a tree, sipping tea. When they saw Meng Wan coming, they silently beckoned him over.

Meng Wan walked over to them, lifted the linen cloth from the bamboo basket, and said in a low voice, "Master, Madam, please try the dried fruit my workshop made."

Lin Yi smiled kindly. "I can't bite into these dried fruits with my teeth. But I could eat dozens of lychees."

Meng Wan handed him a small handful of raisins. "Madam, don't eat too many lychees—they can make you overheated."

Raisins were common in Shengjing, but Xiang Yun was more interested in the dark yellow dried mango in Meng Wan's basket. "What is this?"

Meng Wan handed her a small piece. "It's dried emblic myrobalan from Lianzhou. Madam, didn't you and Master Lin have fresh emblic myrobalan two days ago?"

Xiang Yun tore the dried mango into small pieces and put them in her mouth to savor. "Indeed. Besides that, I've eaten plenty of different fruits."