After a few days of care, the children not only recovered physically, but their personalities also became much more lively. They realized that no one was hiding food anymore, probably because they understood that food was no longer like it used to be, where there was no guarantee of where the next meal would come from.

The people from the capital arrived quickly. Despite the bad weather, Xu Rao's men, with a large troop of soldiers, rushed over at breakneck speed.

With everyone present, the next step is training.

This is the most important thing. Not only does Xu Zhi value it, but Xu Rao, Chen Zhaoci, and even Xu Bai value it very much. Xu Bai is already very familiar with these children. They are all about the same age and have a lot in common. Xu Bai is also a person who likes to communicate with people. Among these children, Xu Bai and Lin Fang have the closest relationship.

After Xu Bai talked with Lin Fang a few times, he went home and told Xu Rao that Lin Fang was really talented. It was a waste of talent for someone like him not to participate in the imperial examination. After saying this many times, even Wu Muyue became somewhat interested in Lin Fang.

They hired a tutor to teach them academic subjects and a pastry chef. As for the cakes and breads that Xu Di and Xu Zhi mentioned, since they didn't have many things on hand, Xu Di could only write down a general recipe for Xu Zhi, and Xu Zhi asked the chef to help them study it together.

Xu Bai was a studious person. Since it was about baking bread and cakes, an oven was needed. Despite the cold weather, Xu Bai and a few servants built one in a corner of the kitchen using blue bricks and red mud. As for the baking results, they would have to wait and see how it turned out. Xu Bai had already told Xu Zhi that he would help modify the oven later, making sure it was easy to use and not too complicated to make.

Actually, according to Xu Bai's idea, he wanted to make some iron products. However, since salt and iron were now under the unified allocation of the imperial court, it was not very convenient to use iron to make some household items. Xu Bai considered it for a long time before giving up on using iron and instead using bricks and mud.

Given the opportunity to learn, these teenagers eagerly followed their teacher to learn. They were all children who had experienced hardship and knew that studying hard and mastering their skills was their only way out.

After meeting Lin Fang, Wu Muyue considered it for many days and had a detailed discussion with Xu Rao. He decided to let Lin Fang study hard and pass the imperial examinations in the future.

Lin Fang never expected to have such an encounter. Lin Fang's father only passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations (xiucai), and later supported his family by charging tuition fees to students at the school he ran.

Knowing his own limited knowledge, Lin's father placed his hopes on Lin Fang. Lin Fang was intelligent and quick-witted, showing great talent at a young age. Overjoyed, Lin's father started Lin Fang's education at the age of three and continued to teach him to read and write. By the time Lin's father passed away, Lin Fang had already mastered the Four Books and Five Classics. However, for reasons unknown, Lin's father never allowed Lin Fang to take the imperial examinations for the lowest level of education.

After Lin Fang's parents died, he was taken to an orphanage. Life in the orphanage was tough, and Lin Fang didn't care about anything else but to survive there. Who knew that he would be chosen by the daughter of Prefect Xu?

Lin Fang had made up his mind to learn skills properly to repay Xu Zhi's kindness in recognizing his talent, but who knew that another great opportunity was waiting for him.

Lin Fang hesitated. He knew in his heart that studying for the imperial examinations was a bright path for him and a way to fulfill his father's expectations. However, Lin Fang had already told Xu Zhi that he would definitely help Xu Zhi do good things and help her earn money.

Xu Zhi noticed Lin Fang's hesitation, and two days later, Lin Fang came to see Xu Zhi.

Lin Fang looked ashamed and said, "Madam, I think I should become a person who breaks his promise."

Xu Zhi naturally understood what Lin Fang meant and quickly said, "Lin Fang, since you have this ability, then do something that can better utilize your abilities. Working with me can only help some people, but what if you become an official in the future? How many people can you help then?"

Upon hearing Xu Zhi's words, Lin Fang disregarded propriety and stared at Xu Zhi with wide eyes in surprise.

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "When I was four years old, I went to Hexi with my parents from the capital. My father was the magistrate of Hexi at that time. Under my father's rule, Hexi County got better and better every day, and the people of Hexi lived better and better lives. Even later, when the Northern Di people borrowed the route of the Great Yan to attack Hexi from the rear, my father led our whole family and General Wei to drive the Northern Di people out. Lin Fang, in that battle, Hexi County was completely destroyed, but my father led the people of Hexi to build a brand new Hexi County on the site of the old Hexi County."

Lin Fang had naturally heard the story of Hexi back then, but hearing it from others was different from hearing it from Xu Zhi, who had experienced it firsthand.

Seeing that Lin Fang was listening attentively, Xu Zhi said earnestly, "Lin Fang, my father and my elder brother always said the same thing: 'If the prefectures and counties are well-governed, the country will be at peace; if the counties are strong, the nation will be prosperous.' My father is a very pragmatic person. He always does more than he talks, and it was the same in Ganzhou. He governed Ganzhou Prefecture very well. Lin Fang, the reason I'm telling you this is to tell you that you should study hard, do well in the imperial examinations, and when you become an official in the future, you should think about doing things for the people and doing more things that are beneficial to them. This will help more people and will have a more profound meaning than what I am doing now."

After listening to Xu Zhi's words, Lin Fang bowed and then silently went to his own courtyard.

When people face a crossroads in life, they always think about many things. Although Lin Fang is young, he is very clear that the choice he is making now is a very important matter for him and even his family. By choosing to follow Xu Zhi, he will soon be able to become Xu Zhi's right-hand man, help his benefactor do things, and repay his benefactor for recognizing and patronizing him.

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