Chapter 102 Come and get some free stuff

The three courses just now had already captivated the men, women, and children of Taohua Village. They had already decided to send their children to study there.

After the children have learned it, I can come back and teach them, hehe.

Now it was the children's turn to give lectures, and they all applauded and welcomed them with great respect.

Zhang Chuyan straightened his clothes.

This piece of clothing was washed overnight for him by his mother. It was the best piece of clothing in the family. He could not wear it on ordinary days. He could only wear it for a few hours during the New Year when he visited relatives.

"Hey, isn't this Goudan from Zhang Shuigen's family? Why did he change his name?" someone asked in confusion.

"You don't know, do you? I heard from Goudan's mother that he has been studying with Jiayue for a long time. This name was given to Goudan by Jiayue."

"Oh, that's no wonder. Being educated is different. Even the names I choose are so nice."

The people in the audience were talking in low voices. After Zhang Chuyan came on stage, he imitated the teachers and struck the gong first.

Tongluo: I am the busiest person today.

"Hello everyone, I'm Zhang Chuyan, a student at Qiushi Academy. Today, I'm going to talk to you about the first four lines of the Three Character Classic: 'When a man is born, his nature is good...' What do these four lines mean? I have to mention someone in particular..."

Zhang Chuyan imitated the way Gu Jiayue taught them. He first used a short story to attract the students' attention, then explained the meaning of the sentence, and finally asked the students to read along based on their understanding.

Next, Gu Bailu came on stage and told the villagers a story about "Hundred Family Surnames".

She was very smart. She did not recite the Hundred Family Surnames in the order in the book. Instead, she picked out the three most common surnames in Taohua Village and explained their origins to everyone.

"Oh, so that's how our surname 'Gu' came about."

"Hey, our surname 'Zhang' is so noble! From now on, you can't just say you're not noble enough. Who can be nobler than the Jade Emperor?"

....

Then came Gu Yuhe, who talked to everyone about arithmetic.

He brought a basket of eggs and a basket of various vegetables from home, and placed them on the table one by one. In an instant, he became the boss of the vegetable vendor.

The Gu Zhigeng sisters, Sun Hai and Zhang Chuyan were customers who came to buy vegetables.

What each person wants and the weight are different, and Gu Yuhe can calculate them quickly.

For a moment, everyone was curious about how he could do this.

Thus, his course truly began.

The last person to take the stage was Gu Zhigeng, who taught everyone how to draw water from a well with less effort.

She did a little experiment in front of everyone, and everyone's mouths opened wide.

"Wow, there's so much to learn just to get some water."

"Haha, I think if we use Robin's method, a ten-year-old child can bring up the water."

"It's possible, but it's too dangerous for a child too young to go to the well."

....

Thus, all the lectures for today are over.

Gu Jiayue brought all the teachers and students to the stage and once again invited our old actor - Tongluo.

"Fellow villagers, the first Qiushi Academy lecture has concluded here. What do you think of our lecture?"

The villagers waved their hands enthusiastically. "Okay!"

"Well, since the villagers recognize our abilities, I must give back to the vast majority of the elders and fellow villagers."

"The village chief's eldest grandson attends a private school in the county town. How much does he pay in tuition per year?"

Gu Yuhe struck the gong. "One tael of silver, plus various festival gifts!"

“Do you think it’s expensive?”

Gu Yuhe struck the gong; "Gui!"

"But now Qiushi Academy is giving back to its fellow villagers. All students who register today will not only be exempted from one year's tuition, but will also receive a set of school uniforms. Isn't that awesome?"

Gu Yuhe struck the gong three times in a row. "Awesome!"

"If you can make it into the top ten in the monthly exams, the school will reward you with things like pens, inkstones, paper, pork, and more. Isn't that impressive?"

Gu Yuhe struck the gong loudly. "Awesome!"

"I come from Kyoto, where the buildings are decorated with carvings of dragons and phoenixes; the roads are wide and flat; the people are dressed in silk and satin; and the dogs are all sleek and shiny. Can you imagine? Would you want your children to live that kind of life?"

This time, Gu Yuhe didn't need to ring the gong; the villagers shouted spontaneously. "Want!"

"Look at our village again. The houses are made of straw, the roads are muddy, and the people are poor. Everyone works from dawn to dusk just to get a bite to eat. Year after year, day after day. There's no hope, no prospects. Do you want your children and grandchildren to be like you?"

The villagers excitedly shouted from the depths of their souls: "No!"

"Uncles, aunts, studying can change your family's status. If your child becomes a scholar, your family will no longer have to pay taxes. If he becomes a juren, you can hire servants to help with housework and service. If your child is smart, he can wear a red robe, pass the imperial examination, and become an official in the court. What an honor it is to be a child from a humble family and become a noble!"

Gu Jiayue spoke simply, without quibbling over words. She wanted to awaken the hearts of these numb villagers and get them thinking. Life isn't good right now, and we need a change.

The future Gu Jiayue described was so rosy that the villagers in the courtyard couldn't help but imagine what she was saying.

My child is so smart, as long as he has the opportunity to study, he will definitely become an official!

By then, I would be the parents of an official, no longer needing to work, and I could even buy and sell servants at home...

The picture is so beautiful that my blood boils just thinking about it.

"My fellow villagers, I believe you have all witnessed my character, Gu Jiayue, over the past period of time. You have all just experienced firsthand the strength of our Qiushi Academy. Send your child to Qiushi Academy. If you trust me today, I will give you a brand new child tomorrow! Okay?"

Villagers: “Okay!”

Gu Jiayue: "Okay folks, now that you're all ready, I'll count down to three, and our registration meeting will officially begin. If you miss today, you'll have to pay one or two taels of silver to register for our school tomorrow."

"Come on, three, two, one. Registration begins!"

"I want to sign up my Sandan."

"My second son also wants to sign up."

"And there's also my Shuanzi."

Everyone's enthusiasm was unprecedentedly high, and almost everyone with children at home was rushing to sign up.

Anyway, there is no tuition fee. Not only can you study but you can also learn various skills. It’s always a good deal.

"Everyone, don't be anxious, just line up slowly. As long as you are willing to send your children to study, we welcome you." Gu Jiayue struggled to maintain order.

But everyone was too excited, fearing that if they were late, their children would not be able to learn anything.

What if other children pass the exam and become the top scorer before his child?

No, her child must register first!

No matter if they are male or female, as long as they are still young, please sign me up.

Gu Jiayue's throat was hoarse from shouting, but no one listened to him and still wanted to squeeze into the registration area.

In the end, it was Hu Zi and the Gu family who came to stop them with a bamboo pole. The village chief used his authority to calm everyone down and line up to sign up.

The villagers are fertile, and almost every family has several children.

Except for those who are a little older and are about to get married, basically everyone has signed up to take advantage of the opportunity.

It doesn’t cost money anyway.

Gu Yuhe no longer knew how many people's names he had written, he just kept writing and writing.

By the end of writing, he was numb, and the light in his eyes had faded.

He thought that it was not necessary to go to the provincial capital. He had not been there since he was a child, but he had not grown any younger.

But now that things have come to this, he can't withdraw and can only accept his fate and register.