Chapter 372 Tao Jing is forced to study

The sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly.

Although Xinglong Restaurant did not become an instant hit as expected, it replaced the original Bafanglaike and stabilized its position in Hefeng Town.

Seeing that everything was on track, Wan Qiqi called Chen Yongliang, who was helping on the first floor, away, and walked through the streets and alleys to the entrance of Hefeng Academy.

Chen Yongliang stared at the words "Hefeng Academy" with longing in his eyes.

Who wouldn't want to study and then get the opportunity to conduct scientific expeditions?

The imperial examinations were divided into county examinations, prefectural examinations, provincial examinations, township examinations, metropolitan examinations, and palace examinations.

Hefeng Academy was a private school that enrolled students aged six to fifteen who had not taken the county examinations.

If you are over fifteen years old and have failed the county examination, the academy will no longer accept you.

The county examination is the most basic one; if you can't even pass the county examination, it's even more impossible to pass the prefectural examination later.

Those who pass the county examination will naturally want to find a better school to improve their skills, and will certainly not choose an academy for their initial education.

Over time, Hefeng Academy came to only admit students aged six to fifteen.

Clearly, Chen Yongliang is over fifteen.

If you really want to learn, there are actually academies available.

In Baizhi Town, there are academies that accept students of all ages.

However, the tuition was more expensive than that of ordinary academies, so only wealthy families who insisted on taking the imperial examinations would choose to study there.

Chen Yongliang stared at it for a while, then turned his head and asked, "Sister-in-law, what brings you to the academy?"

He looked at the bulging cloth bag in Wan Qiqi's hand with a hint of doubt.

"I'm looking for Headmaster Tao." Wan Qiqi glanced at the main entrance and continued walking forward.

Chen Yongliang became increasingly puzzled.

Doesn't my sister-in-law usually call me Brother Tao? Why is she calling me Headmaster Tao today?

If we're looking for Tao Ran, are we going to go through the back door instead of the front?

Just as Chen Yongliang had guessed, Wan Qiqi stopped at the back gate of the academy.

They were very familiar with this door, and even felt a little nostalgic about it.

When they first started doing business, they would often wait behind the delivery person when it came to deliver honey grapefruit jam.

In just a few months, Wan Qiqi had transformed herself into the manager of the restaurant.

Ah Jiu was busy in the backyard as usual. As she walked by, she caught sight of a figure at the door and paused. "Manager Wan? Yongliang?"

He rubbed his eyes, making sure he hadn't noticed anything, before putting down what he was holding and walking over. "Manager Wan, what brings you here?"

Wan Qiqi smiled and said, "I've come to see Headmaster Tao. I have something to discuss. When is he available?"

"The headmaster is giving a lecture and it will probably take another quarter of an hour. Please come in first!" Ajiu said as she ushered Wan Qiqi and Chen Yongliang inside.

"A-Jiu, who's here?"

A woman's voice suddenly came from the kitchen, followed by a girl's head popping out.

"Sister Qi, Brother Yongliang, what brings you here?"

As Tao Jing spoke, she ran outside, her face still covered in flour, looking like a little kitten, which made her seem adorable.

She stopped in front of Wan Qiqi, patted the flour off her hands, and looked up, saying, "Wan Qiqi, how do you make the glutinous rice balls in your shop? I'd like to make them too, but I don't think I can do it well."

As she spoke, she lowered her head.

Wan Qiqi smiled faintly and beckoned to Chen Yongliang, saying, "You teach Xiaojing."

"Oh." Chen Yongliang touched his nose and followed Tao Jing into the kitchen.

Ajiu stared at the kitchen, her brows furrowing as she sighed, "Alas, if the headmaster knew that Miss wasn't studying diligently, he'd probably scold her again!"

Wan Qiqi raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "It is said that women should stay in their boudoirs, so why does Headmaster Tao always send Xiao Jing to the academy?"

Ajiu scratched her head, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "I don't know either. I just feel that the headmaster is a bit obsessed with Miss's studies, and no one can stop him!"

He paused, then sighed, "If Miss were a man, she would have already passed the imperial examination and become a scholar!"

Wan Qiqi suddenly felt something was strange.

According to her understanding, Tao Ran is quite traditional. Married women stay at home to take care of their husbands and raise their children, while unmarried women should stay in their boudoirs and read books such as "Women's Instructions" and "Women's Admonitions".

From Ajiu's words, it can be inferred that what Taoran had Tao Jing read was definitely not a book like "Admonitions for Women," but rather the Four Books and Five Classics, which men read like men.

In ancient times, it would have been unacceptable for women to study the Four Books and Five Classics.

Even if Tao Ran is the dean of Hefeng Academy, he wouldn't make Tao Jing learn this.

Wan Qiqi suddenly realized that Tao Ran was not as simple as he seemed.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

"It's done! It's done! I can make tangyuan now, hahaha~" Tao Jing's cheers came from the kitchen.

"Sister Qi, come and try the homemade glutinous rice balls!"

Carrying a steaming bowl of glutinous rice balls, she leaped over two stone steps and rushed to Wan Qiqi.

However, her joy lasted only a short while before a reprimand came.

"Ah Jing, where is the demeanor of a young lady from a noble family? Have you finished copying the books I asked you to copy?"

Tao Jing's smile immediately vanished.

She pouted and complained, "Brother, other young ladies learn needlework and read the 'Admonitions for Women' at home, and even hire people to teach them cooking. Why do I have to read those books that men read all day long?"

Tao Ran was stunned, seemingly not expecting Tao Jing to refute him.

Then, as if she had touched a nerve, his anger flared up.

Tao Jing was so frightened that she dropped the bowl on the ground and timidly shrank behind Wan Qiqi.

The smooth, white glutinous rice ball rolled around on the ground a few times, getting covered in mud, before stopping at Tao Ran's feet.

Wan Qiqi looked on without saying a word.

Ajiu immediately explained, "Headmaster, Miss wasn't slacking off. She just wanted to learn how to make tangyuan (sweet rice balls) for you since Manager Wan is here..."

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