Chapter 540 Establishing the Capital Reading Pavilion

The courtyard that Cheng Zhao rented was next door. It used to be where several successful candidates lived. After they failed the exam, they returned to their hometowns and the place was vacant. Before the exam, the rent was as high as fifty taels of silver a month, but now that the exam is over, it only costs twenty taels a month.

The courtyard also has four side rooms, which is enough for her and her subordinates to stay temporarily.

She let Cheng Ding and A Fu move in as well, otherwise there simply wouldn't be enough room there.

Cheng Wanwan didn't sleep well that night. She was in a different place, on a different bed, and the air was different, so she felt a little uncomfortable.

Early in the morning, I saw Cheng Zhao carrying a large bag of vegetables, chicken, duck, fish and meat into the yard, and following Granny Qi into the kitchen to start working.

She quickly called Cheng Zhao over: "You've worked hard during the imperial examination period, why didn't you sleep a little longer instead of being busy so early in the morning?"

“These past few months, Cheng Ding and Afu have been busy with everything for the imperial examinations. Now that I have fifteen days off, I should do more.” After placing all the dishes on the stove, Cheng Zhao washed his hands and sat down with Cheng Wanwan in the courtyard. He took out several silver notes from his waist. “I only found out last night that my grandmother borrowed five hundred taels of silver from my second aunt. My second aunt’s contributions to me over the years are not just these five hundred taels of silver, but I can only repay this much at the moment. My second aunt must accept them.”

Cheng Wanwan accepted the silver note without hesitation and then inquired about Cheng Zhao's official career.

Cheng Zhaozai explained everything in detail.

The emperor personally selected the top scholars in court. The top scholar was granted a sixth-rank official position in the Hanlin Academy, while the third and second scholars were appointed as seventh-rank editors in the Hanlin Academy.

Don't underestimate the sixth or seventh rank; these are core central government positions. Later high-ranking officials such as Grand Tutor, Prime Minister, Ministers of the Six Ministries, and Governors were mostly selected from the Hanlin Academy.

He officially took office fifteen days later.

However, these fifteen days do not mean that they are really on vacation. Some Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) will take the opportunity to make connections and secure a good official position. For example, the top scholar Fu Zheli comes from an extraordinary family. During this period, Lord Fu can freely visit the Hanlin Academy and find a high-ranking official to guide him. In that case, Fu Zheli will not have to worry about his official career at all. The second-place finisher, Bangyan, also comes from a prominent family in the capital. He will likely be able to secure a real position in the Hanlin Academy as well.

Cheng Zhao, with no background or family connections, possessed only exceptional talent. It was easy to imagine that once he entered the company, he would be relegated to menial tasks.

“They are all from Beijing and grew up in this circle. They know everything, while I know nothing,” Cheng Zhao said with a smile. “I need to learn everything, and everything I do is a learning experience. Second Aunt doesn’t need to worry about me.”

Cheng Wanwan nodded: "If you can have this kind of mindset, then I don't need to worry about you."

"There's one more thing I'd like to discuss with my second aunt," Cheng Zhao said seriously. "My teacher wrote in his last letter that my second aunt is planning to build a reading pavilion in Dahe Village, where scholars can read freely for just ten coins a month..."

Cheng Wanwan did discuss this matter with Master Yu. She wanted to build a free library for the children of Dahe Village, which would also make it easier for villagers to access agricultural knowledge. However, Master Yu was a scholar who cherished books and was afraid that the free books would be wasted. After discussion, they set the price at ten coins per month. People who did not study would not waste this money, but those who loved reading but were from poor families could afford it, which would benefit many poor students.

If you only want to go into the library to look up information, it costs two coins to enter once, which is well within your budget.

After some details were agreed upon, the matter was handed over to Master Yu to take full responsibility.

"Throughout my journey through the imperial examinations, I've heard countless people mention my teacher's name. The looks they gave him were of disdain, mockery, and contempt… The incident over twenty years ago ruined his reputation, and he hasn't been able to return to his hometown to see his elderly mother since." Cheng Zhao's voice was extremely heavy. "As his student, I have a responsibility and an obligation to clear his name, but… I lack the ability and have no voice in the capital. If I were to mention his name, it would only provoke a fierce backlash from the scholars…"

Cheng Wanwan vaguely understood what he wanted to say.

However, this child is far too impatient. He hasn't even stepped into the Hanlin Academy yet, but he can't wait to repay the Cheng family and clear his mentor's name. Why doesn't he put these clever ideas into his own future?

“I want to open a reading room in the capital in the names of my second aunt and my teacher. My second aunt will be in the open, and my teacher in the shadows. If my teacher ever has a chance to be exonerated, this reading room will be the strongest evidence,” Cheng Zhao continued. “During my time in the capital, I often heard people mention the people of Sui’an. My second aunt’s promotion was too fast, arousing the jealousy of too many people… The establishment of this reading room will allow my second aunt to establish her reputation among the people. If one day something like what happened to my teacher happens to my second aunt, she will not be helpless…”

"You child..."

Cheng Wanwan sighed.

As a court lady with no real power, she was merely the object of those people's jealousy, and they wouldn't cause her any real harm.

But he was different. A newly promoted third-ranked scholar and a seventh-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he must have been the envy of many. He should have been trying to avoid risks for himself, so why was he thinking of his second aunt and Master Yu in every way?

“Then let’s establish a reading pavilion in the name of the three of us,” Cheng Wanwan said. “You provide the labor, I’ll provide the money, and Master Yu will be responsible for compiling the book catalog.”

Cheng Zhao laughed: "Second Aunt, I have money."

He took out the remaining money from his purse. This was the 1,400 taels of silver that Old Madam Cheng had given him last night. He had returned 500 taels to Cheng Wanwan, leaving him with 900 taels.

"This money is enough to rent a farmhouse in the suburbs of Beijing for three years. After some renovations, it can be used as a reading room. As for books, I plan to encourage writers to donate two or three books each. Once this trend starts, we won't have to worry about the supply of books..."

Cheng Wanwan nodded. Before the child even spoke, he had already thought through all the details, so she didn't need to worry about it at all.

However, since it's using her name, the reading room can't be too shabby.

She took out three silver notes worth one thousand taels each from her spatial storage and said, "The farmhouse is too far away and inconvenient for scholars to study. Let's find a house in the suburbs outside the capital. As for the specifics of the renovation, you can wait for my design drawings..."

As the two were discussing, Sister-in-law Cheng's voice came from the courtyard gate: "Zhao'er, what are you doing here? We told you last night that we were going to visit your future in-laws' house this morning. It's getting late, hurry up and change your clothes and get ready to go..."

Today is April 30th, and the wedding date is set for May 8th. With the wedding date fast approaching, the two families have not yet met, so it's no wonder that Sister-in-law Cheng is so anxious.

Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Go ahead and get busy. We'll talk again when you have some free time."

Cheng Zhao got up to change her clothes when Old Madam Cheng stepped in from the doorway and said with a smile, "Wanwan, if you don't have any plans today, why don't you come along? Zhao'er's marriage can be considered as you mediating, so it wouldn't be right for your second aunt not to go."

Sister-in-law Cheng muttered to herself, "This is a matter for our Cheng family. What kind of behavior is it to send an aunt who married out of the family to handle this..."

She was Zhao'er's biological mother, but whenever Cheng Wanwan was around, Zhao'er only had eyes for this second aunt, which made her very dissatisfied.

Grandma Cheng glared fiercely at her eldest daughter-in-law.

What would a bunch of country bumpkins talk about at the Situ residence? Would they talk about the busy farming season, the harvest, or gossip about the village? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

The only family that can compare to the Situ family is Wanwan, so Wanwan has to go.