When the enrollment process began, Meng Zhao also helped out for two days.

Standing on the bustling street, waving flyers, she shouted in a loud voice: "Are you still worried about not having a skill? Are you still secretly distressed about not being able to find work? Don't be sad, don't be discouraged, Baigong Vocational Technical Academy! Your best academy to learn a trade!"

Her voice attracted the attention of passersby. A young woman walked by, and Meng Zhao immediately went up to her with a smile and said, "Young lady, I see that you are very skillful. Have you ever thought about learning a skill? Our academy's teacher who teaches weaving and embroidery came from the palace. His skills are first-class. Would you like to come and have a look?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, but a hint of interest flashed in her eyes. Seeing this, Meng Zhao quickly handed her a flyer and began to introduce the product with great enthusiasm.

Xiao Chuan noticed a burly man resting by the roadside, tired from carrying goods. He quickly approached him and said, "Brother, no matter how much you carry in a day, you'll probably only earn a few dozen coins. I see you're tall and strong, which is perfect for learning stone carving. Why don't you come and check out our academy? Our stone carving instructors have decades of experience."

The man scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "Really? I really hadn't thought about learning this."

Seeing the man's interest, Xiao Chuan immediately handed him a flyer, his tone sincere: "Of course it's true! Our academy's teachers are all top experts in their fields, guaranteed to teach you everything! Come and take a look, you definitely won't regret it!"

"Baigong Vocational Technical Academy, your best academy for learning skills. Join us, learn a craft, earn big money, and easily realize your life's dreams!"

After shouting all morning, Xiao Chuan's voice was hoarse. He couldn't hold on any longer, so he found a roadside tea stall to sit down and, panting heavily, shouted to Meng Zhao, "Sister Meng Zhao, I can't take it anymore, my throat is practically on fire!"

Meng Zhao was also exhausted. She walked over and plopped down next to him, grabbed the teacup and gulped down a large bowl of tea. Then, weakly, she called out to the stall owner, "Grandma, another bowl!"

The tea stall was run by an elderly couple. The old woman came over with a teapot, poured a bowl of tea for each of them with a smile, and casually asked, "Young ladies, I was too far away to hear you clearly. What were you shouting about?"

Meng Zhao looked up, wiped the tea from the corner of her mouth, and explained with a smile, "Grandma, we're recruiting students for the Hundred Crafts Vocational Technical Academy! We teach people skills like cooking, carpentry, and embroidery. Once they learn these skills, they can earn money to support their families."

The old woman's eyes lit up: "Oh my, this is great news! My little grandson idles away his days, and I'm really worried he has nothing to do. Where is your academy? Is the tuition expensive?"

Meng Zhao was about to answer when a sneer came from the side, "Pfft, cooking? Anyone can do that, why would you need to go to the academy to learn it? What a joke!"

The man was also a customer drinking tea at the tea stall. Hearing what Meng Zhao said, he looked disdainful.

Xiao Chuan, who had been panting from exhaustion, was now brimming with energy, glaring at her and retorting, "Why don't you need to learn? Did you know how to cook from the moment you were born? Besides, the teachers in our academy are all seasoned chefs who have worked in high-end restaurants for over ten years! Their skills are superb. Once you've completed your apprenticeship, you can either open your own snack stall or become a head chef in a restaurant. Don't you know how much those restaurant chefs earn?"

The man was speechless. Although most people can cook, they can't compare to those master chefs. The chefs in those restaurants earn very high wages, at least four or five taels of silver a month. Naturally, not everyone can do that job.

Seeing this, the old woman at the tea stall quickly asked, "How much would it cost to learn the trade from you?"

"The tuition fees may vary depending on the skill. For example, cooking skills are divided into basic and advanced classes. The basic class lasts for six months and costs ten taels of silver, while the advanced class lasts for one year and costs a total of twenty-five taels of silver. At the same time, the academy also teaches reading, writing, and accounting."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's joy vanished instantly, and she shook her head repeatedly: "No, no, it's too expensive! Where would I get that much money? There's a boy in our village who's working as a cook in a restaurant right now, and he learned the trade without spending a single penny."

Meng Zhao smiled slightly and asked calmly, "Grandma, may I ask you something? When did that boy you mentioned become an apprentice? How old is he now?"

The old woman frowned in thought. She didn't know the details, only that he had become wealthy and could earn several taels of silver a month. The old man next to her knew more, so he chimed in: "That boy seems to have become an apprentice when he was eleven or twelve years old. He studied for five or six years and only graduated a couple of years ago."

Meng Zhao nodded and continued, "Then let me ask you two, in the five or six years he's been learning this craft, has he ever received any wages?"

The old woman immediately waved her hand: "He's learning a trade, how can he be paid? We provide him with food and lodging. His master usually gives him some rice and flour from the shop, and some pork to take home for the New Year. That's already quite good. I remember that I paid quite a lot of gifts to become his apprentice."

Seizing the opportunity, Meng Zhao said sincerely, "Isn't that right? You see, although you don't pay money on the surface, you still have to buy gifts for your master, beg him to teach you, and do odd jobs for him. You won't get paid for years. But it's different at our academy. Once you pay, our teachers will definitely teach you with their hearts. You only need to study for half a year or a year to graduate. Then you can work and earn wages for the rest of the time. You can earn back the tuition fees of two or three years!"

Meng Zhao's words were indeed reasonable, but the price was still too expensive for the old couple. They had worked all their lives and only saved a few dozen taels of silver, which they originally intended to use to help their grandson get married and for their own retirement. If they used it to pay tuition, what would they do if they couldn't find work after completing their studies?

Meng Zhao could guess their concerns, and her tone became even gentler: "Besides, after you enroll in the advanced training program and graduate, they'll even help you find a job."

The old woman's eyes lit up again, and she asked with some doubt, "Really?"

Meng Zhao nodded, her tone firm: "Yes, this is a benefit for our first batch of students. The teachers in our academy are all veterans in this field, and they all have connections. Moreover, the academy also has partner shops. Once we graduate, we'll be guaranteed to find work."

The old woman and the old man exchanged a glance, a hint of interest igniting within them, and then said in a low voice, "Alright, we'll think about it!"

The enrollment period lasted for half a month, with five elective classes. The original plan was to enroll seven to ten students in each class. However, by the end of the enrollment period, only the culinary and carpentry classes were full; the others were not.

But considering it's only the first year, this is already a very good result.