Chapter 429 Confidant

When the village chief learned that the county school teacher was coming to interview the children, he immediately stopped work and asked the men to go home and bring all their children, regardless of age, to the teacher for an interview.

So children ranging from thirteen or fourteen years old to two or three years old were sent for interviews.

The students did not expect the villagers of Baimao Village to be so enthusiastic. Instead of being disgusted, they interviewed each of them seriously.

Finally, three children were selected.

The villagers whose children were chosen were so excited that they kept shouting "Thank you, sir" and said they would go back and cook brown sugar eggs for him.

The students declined politely, but the villagers were so enthusiastic that they had to accept it.

The other children looked on enviously, and quite a few girls watched from afar.

"Do you want to study?" Su Ying asked the girls.

"Hmm!" The girls looked shy, "Can girls go to school?"

"Maybe that day will come!" Su Ying smiled.

"Sir, is it true? When?" The girls' eyes were shining with hope.

"If it's fast, it will take one year; if it's slow, it will take two to three years!" Su Ying said gently.

"Oh!" The light in the girls' eyes gradually dimmed.

"What's wrong?" Su Ying thought the girls would be happy, but they all looked lost.

"Next year or the year after, I'll either be engaged or married, and I won't have the chance to study!" a girl whispered.

"?" Su Ying was surprised. These girls were less than ten years old, only eight or nine years old.

According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, girls could get married at the age of thirteen, but since no one in her family, especially herself, had arranged a marriage for her, she had the illusion that she could grow up without any restrictions.

The original owner's parents loved her and did not put any pressure on her.

But these girls come from poor families and have a hard time making a living. They get married early when they reach age, leaving one less mouth to feed at home.

Girls don’t know why they study, they only know that studying can make them respected!

Su Ying didn't say anything and patted the girls silently.

Not daring to make promises, and making promises but not being able to fulfill them will make people more disappointed.

"Lord Lin, what do you think?" On the way out, Su Ying felt a little heavy-hearted.

I originally thought that after one or two years, when the county school became established, I could then put the official school for girls on the agenda.

But I left in September. Can the women's official school really be established?

"Oh! Aying, if you were here, we would work together and maybe we could accomplish it, but if you left..." County Magistrate Lin didn't say anything else, just shook his head.

Girls' official schools faced even greater difficulties, not only the tuition fees, but also the disapproval from all walks of life, including the girls' parents.

Girls from wealthy families face less resistance and most of them will hire a teacher to teach their children how to read and write.

Girls from poor families are considered half laborers and have to work.

They were married off hastily when they were twelve or thirteen years old. Sending them to school meant that there was no one to do the housework.

After finishing school, I am of marriageable age, and in the end I will be married to my husband's family, which is not a good deal no matter how you look at it.

The two groups parted ways at Guandaokou. Su Ying returned to Wu County, and County Magistrate Lin took the students back to Tong County.

"Aying, why don't you set up a girls' government school? While you have several capable girls there!

"When you leave in September, there will be no female teachers left. How can we manage this?" County Magistrate Lin suggested tentatively.

"Let me think about it when I get back and discuss it with them!" Su Ying was moved.

I have been here for almost two years and have done a lot for Lingnan, but I have never considered the girls.

I returned to Wuxian with worries in my mind.

"Gee!" A group of people rushed out from a village road.

Su Ying hurriedly pulled the reins to avoid a collision.

"Hey, Master Su!" Fuxi, who was at the front, saw him and said in surprise, "Is he coming back from the provincial capital or Baimao Village?"

"All of them!" Su Ying smiled, "Hasn't the handover been completed yet?"

"It's finally over!" Fuxi breathed a sigh of relief and introduced, "This is the new magistrate of Wu County, Lord Song! And this is Master Liu!"

Su Ying bowed to Song Xuanyu and Liu Jidao, and they returned the greeting.

"Master Xiao Su! I've heard a lot about you!" Song Xuanyu said with a smile.

He was in his early thirties, handsome, but dusty from the journey, his official robe was a little wrinkled, and his official boots were covered in mud. He was a practical official.

The legal advisor following behind him looked to be of the same age. He was wearing a fine gauze robe with a slightly open collar, which gave him a rather unrestrained and bold look.

"After finishing the race in Wu County, what are your thoughts, Lord Song?" Su Ying asked.

Su Ying and Song Xuanyu rode their horses side by side, chatting as they walked.

"Such a good place has a population of less than 2,000 households. What a pity!" Song Xuanyu said frankly.

"Last year, many refugees migrated from Henan and Hebei Provinces. If we take over all of them, it will be upgraded to a medium-sized county by the end of the year!

Two crops of rice, winter wheat, soybeans, sugarcane, vermicelli, tea oil, and honey—so abundant that hundreds of refugee families could easily consume them all!

His tone was decisive and decisive, unlike County Magistrate Hu who was timid and afraid of everything.

As a result, the refugees who followed were intercepted by Governor Lu and diverted to other counties, and not a single county was upgraded to a middle-level county.

"Where are you from, sir? How can you have such extraordinary views?" Su Ying was curious.

"I'm from Guangping, Xingzhou!" Song Xuanyu said frankly, without any hesitation. "My ancestors served as officials in the Northern Wei Dynasty."

"Disrespect, disrespect!" Su Ying held her hand.

As soon as Song Xuanyu said that, Su Ying knew who the Song family in Guangping, Xingzhou was, Song Bian, the Minister of Personnel of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

His seventh-generation grandson Song Jing was a famous prime minister of the Kaiyuan period, who was known as "Yao and Song" together with Yao Chong. He was also a famous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, along with "Fang and Du" of the Zhenguan period.

"From what Lord Song said, does he want to upgrade Wu County to a Zhong County?" Su Ying asked.

"If it's a three-year term, I'll strive to be promoted to Baozhong. If it's a six-year term, I'll strive to be promoted to a county!" Song Xuanyu said without hesitation.

"Master Xiao Su, you won't think Song is arrogant, right? Haha!"

"How could that be! Su actually hopes that there will be more county magistrates like Mr. Song in Lingnan.

"Lingnan is full of courage, initiative, ideas, and youthful energy! This kind of people are full of vitality!" Su Ying said sincerely.

"Haha! I like to hear that! It's hard to believe that Lady Su is a girl with such insight!" Song Xuanyu looked at Su Ying a few times, his eyes revealing regret.

Some people can speak to your heart with just one sentence, while others are not interested in talking at all.

This young Master Su is very much to his liking. If he were a man, he could have made him his confidant! He could have held her and talked all night long, but it was a pity that she was a woman!

The changes in Wu County originated from this young Mr. Su. The more I walked and looked, the more amazed I was.

The more I read, the more regretful I feel. The former County Magistrate Hu was such a mediocre person that he actually left such a talented person unused.

If it were him, he would pester Su Ying every day to plan together, and make drastic changes!

"Master Song, why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face?" Su Ying felt uncomfortable being stared at.

"Haha, I was wondering if Lord Su could come to the yamen with me to have a chat. I want to hear Lord Su's opinion!" Song Xuanyu was half joking and half serious.

"Well, okay!" Su Ying pondered for a moment and agreed happily.

This Lord Song is quite insightful. It would be a good opportunity for us to have a chat and discuss the women's official education to see what he thinks!