29 County School? Did you hear that?

◎Wang Cuihua must want to learn to read and become a court lady!◎

Ye Yunzhao finally chose a set of ruqun and trousers. Fangniang was also very considerate and deliberately left half an inch of material so that there was no feeling of restraint when working. Ye Yunzhao was very satisfied.

Her material was green, and Aunt Wang's material was provided by Qiluofang. Fangniang chose a dark red fabric for her, which looked very festive when she wore it. The two of them agreed with Fangniang to come back in three days to pick up the clothes.

Before Ye Yunzhao left, he reminded her, "Fang Niang, I'm sorry to bother you with the silkworm droppings."

Fang Niang said, "I will try my best."

After the three of them parted ways, Aunt Wang curiously asked, "County Magistrate Ye, what do you want the silkworm manure for?"

Ye Yunzhao tilted his head and smiled, "Making fertilizer. I noticed the germination rate of the wheat seedlings in Xixiang was not high a few days ago, so I need to spread some manure."

Aunt Wang was a little confused: "Doesn't every household already ferment manure? Is this not allowed?"

Ye Yunzhao patiently explained, "The wheat seeds have already been planted in the fields. Spreading the fermented manure during the emergence stage won't be very effective and may even burn the roots. So I asked Fangniang to help us find out how much the silkworm manure from the embroidery workshop is selling."

"Ah, isn't silkworm feces just the feces of silkworm pupae? How is it different from human feces?"

Seeing that he couldn't explain it clearly to her, Ye Yunzhao said succinctly: "Now that we've spread the silkworm manure, the wheat seedlings might grow more. Don't you want to?"

"Of course I do!" Aunt Wang scratched her head sheepishly. "But what if the embroidery shop doesn't sell its silkworm manure?"

This was true. If the silkworm manure from the embroidery workshop was not for sale or the price was not right, Ye Yunzhao would need to think of other ways. She pondered for a moment, her eyes slightly brightening:

"We can only wait for news from Fangniang."

Speaking of Fang Niang, Aunt Wang became happier, as if she could see the worry between Ye Yunzhao's brows. "Don't worry, County Magistrate Ye. My Fang Niang is very talkative and hardworking. I'm sure this will be accomplished."

"I hope so."

Ye Yunzhao had been to the former county school two days ago. It was now overgrown with weeds. Fortunately, the house was still quite sturdy. The previous statement about the collapsed wall was naturally a lie to the Yuezhou prefect. In any case, he would not come to such a remote place.

In the past few days, Ye Yunzhao specially asked Liu Mazi to bring two yamen runners to search the courtyard of the county school. Thinking that it was almost done, Ye Yunzhao planned to put the matter of teaching women crafts on the agenda as soon as possible.

But now is the autumn plowing season. If Ye Yunzhao publicizes this matter, the effect will be mediocre. It is better to find someone to spread the word for her. The chatterbox Aunt Wang is a perfect candidate.

When the two were about to arrive in Lingnan County, Ye Yunzhao took the initiative to speak: "When Aunt Wang returns home today, please go find Madam Cuihua and ask her to wait for me at the gate of the county school at 2:30 am tomorrow."

As expected, Aunt Wang rolled her eyes and lowered her voice, "County school? County Magistrate Ye, where is there a county school in our county?"

"Of course it's the former county school, at the intersection of two roads east of the county government office. Could it be that Aunt Wang has never been there?" Ye Yunzhao spoke in surprise and explained it clearly.

East of the county government office? It's true there's a county school there, but didn't County Magistrate Han say it was abandoned? What does this mean now? Could it be that the county is planning to reopen the school?

The more Aunt Wang thought about it, the more certain she became that the county must be planning to reopen the county school. But why did County Magistrate Ye only look for Madam Cuihua?

She didn't speak directly of these thoughts, but pretended to be enlightened and smiled at Ye Yunzhao: "Ah! Yes, yes, there is a county school over there. Don't worry, County Magistrate Ye, I will definitely convey this to Madam Cuihua."

Ye Yunzhao lowered his voice mysteriously and said, "Auntie Wang, this matter must not be made public."

Aunt Wang was startled when she heard this, then nodded hurriedly, "Don't worry, County Magistrate Ye, I won't tell anyone else."

Ye Yunzhao appeared relieved, but he was not entirely sure in his heart. He just hoped that Aunt Wang would stop being so tight-lipped and speak more for him.

The two of them walked to the front of the county government office and saw Ye Yunzhao walking away. When they reached the gate of the county government office, the yamen runner Liu happened to meet her face to face. Aunt Wang heard from afar that the yamen runner Liu said "ready" and "just give it a try", and her heart became more convinced:

The county school needs to be reopened!

Aunt Wang was walking and running all the way to Xixiang. When she passed her own house, she didn't go in. Erya, who was standing at the door, ran up and grabbed her sleeve, "Grandma, why don't you go home? How is Mom?"

Aunt Wang smiled from ear to ear, feeling as if she had discovered a great secret. She quickly squatted down and rubbed Erya's chubby little face: "Good! Good! Good! Erya, be good. Just wait and wait to go to the county school!"

After saying that, without waiting for Erya to react, he walked towards Wang Cuihua's house like the wind.

Madam Cuihua's courtyard door was tightly closed. Aunt Wang raised her hand and knocked twice, then hurriedly called out, "Madam Cuihua? Madam Cuihua?"

A "Hey" came from the yard, and soon the gate opened. Madam Cuihua looked out and hurriedly welcomed Aunt Wang into the yard.

Aunt Wang waved her hands, her heart filled with anxiety. She looked around, and after making sure no one was around, she lowered her voice and said, "County Magistrate Ye told you to wait for her at the county school gate at 2:30 am tomorrow."

"County school?" Madam Cuihua was startled, then asked, "Auntie Wang, did you hear that? It's indeed the county school, not the county government office?"

"Oh! I heard it clearly, it's the county school!"

Aunt Wang spoke with such finality that Madam Cuihua finally came to her senses and remembered the "pie" that had fallen on her before - learning how to make crystal cakes from County Magistrate Ye.

She quickly said, "Thank you, Aunt Wang. I understand."

Seeing her attitude change so quickly, Aunt Wang took her hand and asked her affectionately, "Cuihua, tell me, is County Magistrate Ye going to teach you how to read? Is the county school secretly open?"

Madam Cuihua couldn't say anything, and she couldn't say anything either. She could only vaguely say, "I don't know about these things. If we were to run a county school... I'm sure County Magistrate Ye would tell me about it."

"Oh! Sweet Cuihua, tell me about it."

"Auntie Wang, I really don't know."

Hearing this, Aunt Wang put away her previous smile, her lips drooping, and she shook off Cuihua's hand and said, "Okay, then pretend I never asked."

After that, he turned and left without giving her time to explain.

Madam Cuihua was not the type to be manipulated by others. She slammed the gate shut. To be selfish, she did not want others to know that County Magistrate Ye wanted to teach her a skill. If one more person learned, wouldn't that mean one more person stealing her business?

What's more, if County Magistrate Ye wanted to say something, he would have explained it clearly to her just now. Since Aunt Wang didn't know the secret, why should she, Wang Cuihua, take the initiative to tell her?

Although Madam Cuihua felt a little apologetic, when she looked at the pile of radishes she had dug long ago, her thoughts were immediately distracted by the good news of going to the county school tomorrow.

On the other side, Aunt Wang was just the opposite. She walked home in a righteous manner, without looking around, and had a bad face when she met anyone.

He must be setting up a county school secretly without telling anyone!

When she got home, Wang Laiwang and the others had been waiting for her for a long time. "Mom, I heard Erya say that you want her to go to the county school to learn to read."

When this matter was mentioned, Aunt Wang became furious and her face darkened: "It just worked, and now it doesn't work anymore."

"Why not?"

Wang Laiwang was very supportive of letting his children go to the county school to learn to read. His family was relatively wealthy and his children were of the right age. They couldn't just stay at home doing chores every day. What's more, the teachers in the county school were quite knowledgeable and the gift of apprenticeship was not that much.

Aunt Wang saw the dustpan in the corner of her yard, and her eyes lit up. "Laiwang, aren't you working with Lu Dayuan to build a house? I heard that County Magistrate Ye goes on inspections every day. Find a chance tomorrow and talk to County Magistrate Ye about letting our Erya and Erdan go to the county school to learn to read."

"But isn't the county school closed?"

Everyone in Lingnan County knew about the closure of the county school. As the county became poorer and poorer, ordinary people had no intention of sending their children to learn to read. After all, it cost one or two taels of silver to send their children to a private school to learn to read!

"I think it's about to open." Aunt Wang ruffled Erya's hair.

She told Wang Laiwang everything that happened today, and even exaggerated Cuihua's unwillingness to tell the truth:

"If it wasn't a good thing, would someone as smart as Cuihua go there? If it was a good thing, think about it, what else could it be? Going to the county school, it must be to learn to read!"

Wang Laiwang disagreed: "Mom, don't you see how old Wang Cuihua is? Why would she go to the county school to learn to read?"

What he said made sense, and Aunt Wang was speechless. Yes, Madam Cuihua had been married for a long time, and she was not a seven or eight-year-old child. Why did she need to go to the county school to learn to read?

Seeing that she remained silent, Wang Laiwang casually said, "I guess County Magistrate Ye wants to see her about something. I'll think about Erya and Erdan learning to read. At worst, I can ask the village head to give me some money and ask him to teach them..."

"Why would you cut meat for him? You're really confused. Even though the headman can read, he's already so old! I'm afraid he's forgotten everything." Aunt Wang sighed. "Forget it, it's useless to count on you. I'll think about it again."

Wang Laiwang continued, "But today I heard from Liu Yashi that they have indeed been repairing the courtyard of the county school these past two days..."

Aunt Wang suddenly stood up and said, "Oh! Look! Look! What did I say? The county school must be reopening!"

Wang Laiwang saw that his mother seemed to be crazy and could not sit still. She walked back and forth in the yard, muttering to herself, and felt very regretful for mentioning Liu the yamen runner.

*

At three o'clock in the morning, Aunt Wang woke up suddenly, sat up abruptly, and slapped her thigh hard.

Wang Cuihua must want to learn to read and become a female official from County Magistrate Ye!

Ye Yunzhao and Madam Cuihua were naturally unaware of these things. Three hours later, when the sky was slightly brighter, Madam Cuihua went out carrying a large bamboo basket.

But she didn't know that not far behind her, there was an Aunt Wang who was secretly following her.

Aunt Wang looked at Madam Cuihua's backpack from afar. It was so big. Could it be that it contained her gift for becoming a disciple?

What on earth could it be that holds so much?

Aunt Wang followed Madam Cuihua carefully all the way, but she could vaguely see the green leaves in the bamboo basket.

It seems to be... wild vegetables from Xixiang Mountain...

Could it be that I should fill a basket with wild vegetables as a gift to my master?

This shouldn't be the case...

She was curious and confused, and only after watching Madam Cuihua sneak in through the crack in the door of the county school did she leave, looking back every few steps.

When Madam Cuihua entered the county school, Ye Yunzhao had already arrived, but she was not alone. There was a thin and dark woman beside her - Zhuang Xue.

"Today I'm going to teach you two how to make crystal cakes." Ye Yunzhao yawned and pointed to something on the ground. "This is what I asked Xue Niang to dig up yesterday. It's not much."

After hearing this, Madam Cuihua hurriedly took off her bamboo basket, took out the wild ferns on the top layer, and then poured out more than a dozen huge ground radishes.

The agility of her movements startled Ye Yunzhao. "Madam Cuihua, how did you carry so many radishes? Did you dig them overnight?"

Madam Cuihua lowered her head in embarrassment. "County Magistrate Ye, last time you said you would teach me how to make crystal cakes, so I went back and dug up a lot... and piled them up at home. I brought some here today..."

She was not as enthusiastic as usual when she said this, not for any other reason, but because Ye Yunzhao knew that the radishes in the mountain field were ownerless, and she had dug up a lot of them for her own selfish desires. After all, she felt ashamed when she said this.

But Ye Yunzhao did not make any remarks to ridicule him. His expression remained the same as usual. He asked curiously, "Why did you bring so many wild ferns?"

"I was afraid that others would see the radishes, so I covered them with bracken."

Right now, learning to make crystal cakes was still a relatively secretive matter. But after a while, if Madam Cuihua really made money and could afford to eat meat and buy clothes, others would surely be curious. For now, they were using the bracken to hide it. As long as they kept quiet, they could drag it out for quite a while. This Madam Cuihua before them was truly a person of great intelligence.

Ye Yunzhao nodded in understanding and asked Xueniang to bring out the prepared wooden stools, wooden basins and stones, intending to teach them how to grind the pulp.

"It's very simple to make pulp. Just put a rough stone slab in a wooden basin and grind the cleaned radish into pulp on it."

As Ye Yunzhao spoke, his hands kept moving. Both of them were farm women, so they were naturally very fast at the job. In a short while, they had ground two wooden basins of radish pulp.

The next step is to teach them how to filter the radish residue. This step is very similar to the process of making tofu in a tofu shop.

After the gauze filtered out all the water from the radish pulp, leaving only the radish residue, Ye Yunzhao casually covered the wooden barrel with a bamboo basket:

"The shredded radish can be fried and eaten. It tastes even better if you add some eggs and spread it into a pancake. You can take it home and try it."

"Go home?" Madam Cuihua thought she had misheard and asked again, "County Magistrate Ye, are you going home now?"

Ye Yunzhao said, "Yes, the radish juice needs to be filtered, which will take several hours. Let's go home first and come back in the evening."

Madam Cuihua nodded quickly. She had tasted the soft, sweet crystal cake before, so she believed Ye Yunzhao's words without a doubt: "Okay!"

The three of them divided the radish scraps and were about to leave the county school when Ye Yunzhao stopped them and said, "Do you remember? I asked you earlier if you would like to learn how to make crystal cakes from me."

Madam Cuihua laughed and said, "How could I not remember?"

Xue Niang murmured and nodded: "I remember."

"I also know that this method can make money, but how much money you can make depends on your own ability." Ye Yunzhao said.

"If you all set up stalls selling crystal cakes in Yuezhou City, you'll definitely have competition. I think it's better to do the opposite."

"How about one person setting up a stall in the city and the other hawking in the countryside?"