Chapter 41 Essay Contest: Why Do We Read?

Household registration and taxation were originally one entity, but with a wave of her hand, the goddess separated them into civil affairs and finance.

Mo Jingchun took over the work in the civil affairs sector and was jokingly referred to as Minister Mo by everyone.

For a long time, Mo Jingchun worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk.

She led a team to visit every village in every county, inspecting land surveys and population statistics in various places.

The information was then compiled, presented at an administrative meeting, and then given to the goddess.

The next step is to re-register the household registration and establish new households.

“The population of a certain village is very small, so migrants who did not previously have local household registration can move in.”

"There are a few uninhabited houses in a certain village. Hmm, it's best to have them inspected so they don't collapse when a heavy rain comes."

"This family consists only of her and her elderly mother? Isn't that the same as mine? Registered under her own name."

"For elderly people without children and children without parents, we previously discussed in a meeting the need to build nursing homes and orphanages. This work needs to be coordinated with the finance department."

...

After the household registration work was completed, the next step was to allocate land to the people.

Mo Jingchun rubbed his temples and continued working.

"The goddess has compassion for all living beings, and of course, she will give them land regardless of gender or age."

"It's alright, we already have enough land, more than enough to go around." If we don't have enough, we'll work hard to expand our territory.

"Don't worry about the tax issue. Yun Youning and Zhu Youchuan have been holding meetings with two departments recently to discuss things like the 'Equal Land Distribution Order,' the 'Single Whip Law,' and the 'Land and Tax Consolidation.' Let's wait until they finish arguing before we talk about it."

When He Qinglan saw Mo Jingchun, she was startled by her dark circles under her eyes.

The goddess was silent for a moment, then raised her hand and patted Mo Jingchun's shoulder, earnestly advising him, "Household registration and land allocation are two long-term tasks. If it doesn't work in one year, try two years, and if it doesn't work in two years, try three years. You don't need to rush."

Mo Jingchun: "?"

He Qinglan smiled faintly, "We'll be staying in Anling County for a few years."

Naturally, it will take several years to develop.

No factory or workshop can be profitable immediately after it is built.

The same applies to military camps.

After recruiting soldiers, Hu Dazhu, Ning Huai'an, Xiang Yuesheng, and Fang Qin established vanguard battalions, cavalry battalions, archer battalions, light infantry battalions, and heavy infantry battalions in batches.

While strengthening the soldiers' physical and skill training according to military texts, they were also taught cultural knowledge and basic military tactics.

Running, climbing, stabbing, shooting, horseback riding.

Reading and writing.

At first, not only the soldiers in the barracks, but even the four of them were unsure whether it was a waste of time to make the soldiers read and write. However, since the goddess required adults to learn to read and write, they gritted their teeth and persevered.

Day after day, month after month.

At the same time, everyone, whether they were laborers or farmers, started attending night school.

In each village and workshop, "cultured people" were assigned to give lectures.

He Qinglan said, "I don't expect you to be outstanding in your studies. I only hope that you can do simple reading and simple calculations."

"I hope there are no completely illiterate people under my rule."

"To enable you to study better, each county has built a candle factory to specially supply 'night schools'."

"If anyone is unwilling to study and makes me angry, then you'll have to leave my jurisdiction."

The goddess was as straightforward and blunt as ever.

The people had no choice but to swallow their anger and begin studying.

Qinglan Academy (Anling Campus).

Several teachers were reading, grading assignments, and chatting in the newly built library.

"I cannot understand why the goddess insists on doing such a thankless and arduous task," a scholar frowned. "Throughout history, rulers and officials have advocated keeping the people ignorant, but the goddess is doing the opposite. Isn't she afraid...?"

Another teacher put down his pen and said, "If you are willing to learn, then so be it. The goddess has given everyone an opportunity."

"Not everyone is interested in learning."

"That's right. Some people are dull-witted but can hardly see any results no matter how hard they study, while some are lazy and unwilling to put in the effort and waste time."

An older scholar stroked his beard and asked, "Did the goddess insist on letting the people know this simply to prove that she is different from others?"

Because she loves all living beings.

She is different from others.

The scholars looked at each other and said nothing more.

The goddess was different from everyone else.

However, she rarely shows her stubborn side, and so far there have only been two instances: women entering politics and people pursuing education.

It's alright for a woman to enter politics, after all, she was one of the people who followed the goddess from the beginning, she did a good job, and she firmly supported the goddess.

This matter of making the common people understandable to many. Why did the goddess not allow those who wanted to read to read, and those who did not want to read not to read, but insisted on making everyone read?

Why?

He Qinglan looked at Qiu Tang, who was sitting obediently in front of her, and smiled calmly. "That's a good question. Go tell Qian Shiwen that I want to hold a month-long essay contest on the topic of 'Why do we study?' The teachers of their academy will be the judges, and I will be the chief judge. The top three will be selected, and I will award them prizes."

Qiu Tang stared blankly, "Huh?"

Qian Shiwen, who received the task: "..."

He couldn't help but laugh. The goddess was really something; she had thrown the answer back at him instead of the question she should have answered.

Very well, let's see how the people of Anling respond.

News of the essay contest quickly spread throughout Anling County.

Title: Why We Read

Dates: May 15 to June 14.

Subject matter: Any subject matter except poetry.

Requirements: 800 words or more, original work, submission of an essay constitutes participation.

Prizes: One first prize winner will receive a bicycle;

Two second-prize winners will each receive a solar-powered desk lamp.

Three third-prize winners will each receive a calculator.

The news caused an uproar throughout most of Anling County.

Xue Guizhi: "The goddess's move..."

Zhao Yong: "Calculator, calculation, sounds like a magical tool that helps with arithmetic?"

Yun Youning (excitedly): "No matter what it is! I'm taking this calculator!"

Ning Huai'an: "What kind of bicycle is it? Second Uncle, why don't you try your best to get first place?"

Hu Dazhu (excitedly): "That's right, that's right! Let's all work hard to win the bicycle back and show it to us!"

Zhang Yiwen: "Sun, energy, desk lamp? What kind of magical device is this?"

Wang Heren: "It looks like a magical artifact related to the sun."

Aunt Feng: "The goddess is actually willing to bestow a divine artifact."

Gu Lanying: "It was because we didn't do our job properly that the goddess decided to hold the essay contest."

Qin Dongkui: "I'm really looking forward to seeing the amazing tool. Everyone, keep up the good work with your articles!"

Li Ping: "...Dean Qian, can we make a deal? I'll dictate, and you can write it down for me."

Zhu Youchuan: Writing furiously.

Mo Jingchun: Keep working.

Qiu Tang (raising her hand): Can children participate?

Cheng Hui (smiling): The Goddess has not restricted the age of the participants; students from the academy can also participate.

Qian Shiwen: Yes, everyone is welcome to participate except for the organizers of our essay contest.

No one questioned why the goddess forced the people to study anymore; everyone was seriously thinking about and discussing "why we need to study."

Reading makes one wise.

Reading teaches people manners.

Reading allows us to inherit the wisdom of our ancestors.

Reading can teach you useful skills.

...

One viewpoint after another was presented.

He Qinglan changed into a short-sleeved shirt and trousers, lay down on a bamboo rocking chair, and slowly rocked back and forth.

While unlocking the "stinky mandarin fish" with the system, she sent a message to the "Maple Leaf Series All-Award Best Actress".

He Qinglan: [Send me the bicycle, solar-powered desk lamp, and calculator.]

Maple Leaf Galaxy's All-Around Award-Winning Actress: 【…You actually gave them these as prizes?】

Maple Leaf Galaxy's Grand Prize-winning actress: [I can't imagine what kind of expression future generations will have if they unearth these items during archaeological digs a thousand years from now.]

He Qinglan: [Hehe, why should I care about what happens after I'm gone?]

Maple Leaf Galaxy's Grand Prize-winning actress: [Why didn't you just give me a few elixir pills?]

He Qinglan: [Because a "bicycle" can be obtained through effort, while a "magic pill" cannot.]

The system snapped: "Why are you spacing out again?!"

He Qinglan replied perfunctorily, "I wasn't daydreaming, I wasn't daydreaming. Mandarin fish, ginger, garlic sprouts, scallions, oil, salt, MSG, cooking wine, sugar, is that alright?"

System: [Unlock failed.]

He Qinglan: [...]

She was used to it and began to speculate: "Was there too little seasoning? Or too few ingredients?"

He Qinglan: [Although the dish is made with mandarin fish, is it possible to add pork or chicken?]

System: [Does it enhance the flavor?]

He Qinglan: [Let's try it, and next time we'll add pork.]

A month passed quickly.

He Qinglan successfully unlocked several dishes, including stinky mandarin fish, steamed stone chicken, jade shrimp, Sanhe crispy duck, and Wenzheng mountain bamboo shoots.

The people of Anling County, while working and farming during the day and attending night school to learn to read and write, did their best to submit an essay for the competition.

Qian Shiwen and the teachers of Qinglan Academy received thousands of essays submitted by various counties.

Including the submissions from Anling County itself, there were approximately 10,000 entries.

The scholars were shocked to see so much paper and bamboo slips filling several rooms: How could there be so much?

Qian Shiwen chuckled: "This is one answer to 'Why do we study?'" After several months of study, many people can now write simple articles.

"I think the goddess's prize is too tempting." Unfortunately, their academy's teachers, who are judges for this competition, are strictly prohibited from participating.

The scholars began reading the text.

Half an hour later.

One of the scholars looked up expressionlessly and said, “Although there are many, very few are of excellent quality.”

The other scholars echoed his sentiments.

"Yes, there are many typos."

The sentences are not grammatically correct.

"I don't know what he was trying to say throughout the whole thing."

"I have a piece of writing here that isn't very well-written, but it makes a lot of sense, so I've made it into the semi-finals."

Qian Shiwen laughed and said, "Many people have only studied for a few months since birth, and it is already very good if they can write an article."

One of the teachers said in a serious tone, "This is the current level. If you study for another year, you may not be at the same level."

Another teacher raised an eyebrow, "If tens of thousands of people all studied for three to five years..."

Upon hearing this, the other scholars sighed, "Is this the goddess's purpose?"

The preliminary round eliminated thousands of submissions that had numerous typos, were under-worded, or went off-topic.

Two thousand articles advanced to the semi-finals.

After cross-reviewing and scoring, the scholars selected the best of the best, choosing one hundred entries to enter the final round.

These one hundred articles were placed in front of He Qinglan.

She will select the six articles she considers the best.

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Author's Note: 13000/21000