Chapter 73 Proposal to establish a mathematics society

In Longchang Academy, Zhu Lan and Qiao Youyou knocked on Ouyang Ye’s study door.

Ouyang Ye asked the two of them to come in. Qiao Youyou looked excited and expectant. She gently pushed Zhu Lan and told her to go quickly.

Everyone knows that Ouyang Ye admires Zhu Lan as a student. If she were to ask him to propose setting up a club, Ouyang Ye would probably agree!

Zhu Lan was unsure, how could Ouyang Ye be such an easy person to talk to?

When she met Ouyang Ye, she bowed and told him that she wanted to start a club in the academy.

Ouyang Ye usually treated Zhu Lan with a kind expression, but when he heard the word "society", his expression suddenly darkened.

Could it be another card club?

How come even she is following that kid Liang Zhou in making trouble!

"Longchang Academy is a place for teaching and educating people, and studying knowledge. How can we allow you to have fun here?"

Ouyang Ye scolded and planned to let Zhu Lan go out.

"You misunderstood, it's not a card club..." Zhu Lan knew that Liang Zhou's fuss would make this matter more difficult.

“We in Daliang value civil service over military service, and we select people with both talent and virtue through the imperial examination.

Students believe that in order to benefit the people, studying the classics, history, and literature is important, but one should also have a broad range of interests.

As early as when Confucius was alive, Confucianism advocated learning the six arts of a gentleman: etiquette, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. It can be seen that he also agreed that a gentleman should be fully cultivated in different aspects. "

Seeing Ouyang Ye lost in thought, Zhu Lan struck while the iron was hot.

"Take mathematics for example. Daliang does not have mathematics exams now, and the academy has not started any corresponding courses. Does this mean that mathematics is useless? No!

Studying mathematics can help regulate the expenditure of the entire country, and it can also benefit the people and bring many conveniences to their lives.”

Qiao Youyou, who was following beside him, nodded like a chick pecking at rice and couldn't help but say:

"Yes, Master Dean, I have noticed that many students in our academy can memorize articles by heart, but they can't even figure out the cost of buying groceries!"

Ouyang Ye glared at her lightly but did not refute. He felt that there was some truth in what she said.

Zhu Lan lowered his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then said boldly:

"Forgive me for speaking frankly... the books of saints are meant to be read by people. If you use them to do things..."

It is completely useless.

Zhu Lan didn't finish his words, but Ouyang Ye could certainly understand what he meant.

He also disagreed with the imperial court's practice of selecting scholars through the imperial examination system, which only examined the essays and classics. To be honest, this was a trend left over from the previous dynasty.

Today, His Majesty is open-minded, as can be seen from the fact that he allows girls to enter school. He vigorously promotes reforms and promotes people based on their talents, but he ignores the fact that the cultivation of talents must start from academies.

As a result, even today in the court, there are still many people who sit and talk and boast.

If Longchang Academy can really reform and innovate, it may be a great feat.

Ouyang Ye turned his gaze to Qiao Youyou, "Do you want to start a mathematics club?"

Qiao Youyou's eyes sparkled and she nodded.

Ouyang Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, "When did you study mathematics?"

As far as he could remember, this student's grades in college were very poor before, but he had recently made rapid progress.

"I just...learned it secretly." Qiao Youyou explained it as a hobby without changing her expression.

Zhu Lan was afraid that Ouyang Ye would delve into the matter, so he quickly suggested that if Ouyang Ye didn't believe it, he could invite a scholar who understood mathematics to discuss it with Qiao Youyou.

"You two go down first, I will take care of this matter."

After Zhu Lan and Qiao Youyou came out and closed the door, Qiao Youyou immediately jumped three feet high.

"Lanlan! I know that if you come forward, Ouyang Jiabei will definitely agree!"

"Don't be too happy, he hasn't agreed yet. If someone comes to compete with you in a few days, you must not lose."

Qiao Youyou patted his chest and said that he couldn't lose.

Are you kidding? How can she lose in mathematics compared to the ancients?

Come on, let her give this era a little Archimedean shock!

The two returned to the study. They had no classes this afternoon and were free to move around.

At this time, Qin Yuwei in the study was about to go out. She wanted to go to the shop.

Ever since sending the Wei mother and son to jail, I have felt refreshed.

She had asked the people at the government office a few days ago. In cases like Wei and Qin Hu, they would have to spend at least half a year in jail and also serve reform service.

But it’s only been half a year, so it’s still a good deal for them!

As for Xiaolian, the county government has found sufficient evidence to prove that she did steal goods from Xianglai'er's shop, causing huge losses to the shop.

Now the stolen money has been recovered and compensated to Qin Yuwei. Xiaolian herself, like the Wei mother and son, has to go to jail for reform.

Qin Yuwei now plans to go to the shop and tell Zhang Sigu about her revised management plan to plug the loopholes and prevent similar incidents of stealing goods from happening in the future.

When Zhu Lan and the other person entered the room, they happened to meet Qin Yuwei who was about to go out.

"Hey, has Xiao Wan gone home yet?"

"Yes." Qin Yuwei blinked and said with a smile, her tone a little gossipy.

"And——Zhao Sicheng is also in the Xiao Mansion now!"

…

"Hurry up and put all these potted plants in a row!"

"Where are the scissors? Are they ready?"

In the garden of the Xiao Mansion, three or four servants were busy moving seven or eight potted plants of the same type and similar size into the yard and lining them up in a row.

One of the maids urged, "Hurry up, the Madam and Miss will be here soon!"

Not far away in the corridor, Mrs. Xiao was walking towards this side with Xiao Wan.

"Wan'er has really grown up. She can help mother with the affairs of the mansion now."

Xiao Wan answered obediently: "What's that, mother? This is what Wan'er should do."

Mrs. Xiao smiled with relief.

A few days ago, some of the flowers and plants planted in my house were infested with insects, which was very distressing.

The Xiao family did not hire a gardener. It had always been taken care of by the servants in the mansion. I guess they had no experience in taking care of flowers and plants, so something went wrong.

Just as she was thinking of a solution, Xiao Wan came to her and said that she had already found seven or eight gardeners with good skills in Jiangzhou City and arranged a selection for today.

Mrs. Xiao was a little hesitant at first.

Why is there no gardener in your house?

Of course it’s because I’m poor!

The Xiao family is a declining aristocratic family, and now they only have a few acres of thin land to maintain their expenses.

She originally wanted to dismiss all the servants in the mansion, but the master disagreed, saying that it would be so shabby and disgraceful for such a big mansion to not have even a single servant.

Mrs. Xiao, who was in charge of the household affairs, was speechless.

Decent, decent, I know how to be decent day by day, doesn’t decency cost money?

Fortunately, Xiao Wan was also aware of the family's situation and said that she had inquired about these gardeners. They were of good quality and inexpensive, and would not cost much!

A maid came over, "Madam, Miss, everything is ready."

Madam Xiao nodded slightly, “Let them all come in.”

Several people of different ages, dressed in coarse cloth, came in one after another.

Xiao Wan saw Zhao Sicheng, the last person to come in, and smiled slightly.