As soon as you enter the academy, you can see a wall with names engraved on it. The names on the wall are those of people who donated silver for the construction of the academy. The silver donated is followed by their names. Even those who have no money but donated rice and grain have their names engraved

on them. As for engraving the names of all those who donated rice and grain here, this was Cao Xiangnan's insistence. Regardless of whether they are people who want to leave their names on the wall of the academy or people who sincerely help build the academy, he thinks that their names should be left here so that future generations can witness the history of the academy through this wall.

As soon as County Magistrate Zhao entered the academy, he noticed the wall. Cao Xiangnan followed the County Magistrate to the wall and introduced the wall to him. He also specifically mentioned that even families without silver donated some rice and grain, and that the academy was built thanks to everyone.

Zhao Xianzhi stood here and saw the names on the wall. He knew that many people donated silver to build this academy. The meaning of this wall gave him a lot of inspiration and laid a solid foundation for him to cheat officials in the court in the future.

"Sir, let's go this way." Cao Xiangnan gestured and led County Magistrate Zhao inside.

As soon as they walked in, they heard the sound of children reading aloud. The academy had already started classes. Zhao Xianzhi had not heard the sound of children reading for a long time. He recalled that when he was a teenager, he was studying in the academy. Every day, he heard the sound of reading. So many years had passed in a flash.

"Sir, why don't we go over there and take a look." Seeing that Zhao County Magistrate was staying here, Cao Xiangnan understood and led Zhao County Magistrate over there.

They stood outside the window and looked inside. In the clean classroom, there were rows of neatly arranged tables and chairs. The teacher stood on the podium and gave a lecture, and the children sat there and read with their heads shaking.

The wall was painted black with white writing on it. Zhao Xianzhi asked, "What is that?"

"Oh, sir, that's a blackboard. You can write on it with chalk." Cao Xiangnan just remembered that there was no such thing as a blackboard in this era. Every classroom here was painted with a blackboard for teaching purposes.

The academy was not that big, and the unfinished part at the back was still under construction. They walked around the academy very quickly. Along the way, Cao Xiangnan introduced the academy to Zhao Xianling. Sometimes they would stop and take a look. The bell

of the academy rang, and it was time for the children to go out and play.

The children who ran out stood in the corridor and stared at the adults curiously, but did not approach them. They gathered in groups of three or two, whispering, laughing and playing. Seeing the children's playful appearance, Zhao Xianzhi smiled faintly.

The brave children ran over, Cao Xiangnan touched the children's heads and let them play.

"I see that the children are very familiar with you, and they like you very much." Zhao Xianzhi said.

"I often come here, so the children naturally know me. Sir, please come here more often when you are free. I think the children will definitely like you." Cao Xiangnan smiled and said, "Sir, why don't you come here to teach the children and be their teacher when you are free? What do you think?"

"Well, it can be considered." Zhao Xianzhi also smiled and said.

This was his first time to walk into Lutong Academy. It gave him a strange feeling. He had been to the best Imperial Academy in Feng Dynasty, where people were trained to study in a disciplined manner. The atmosphere in this place was casual, and the children were innocent and happy.

In his conversation with Cao Xiangnan, he realized something he had never understood before.

Studying is not just for becoming an official, but for living a better life. The academy here first teaches children the skills to live better in the future, and then cultivates people to study and embark on an official career. The purpose of being an official is to make people's lives better and live and work in peace and contentment.

I wonder if he has done this in all these years as an official? I'm afraid he hasn't.

"It's a pity that you don't become an official." Zhao Xianzhi suddenly said. He suspected that Cao Xiangnan was really just a businessman. It was no wonder that their master asked him to come to this place to get close to this man named Cao Xiangnan.

"I'm afraid that the adults promoted me. I am just a paper warrior, but I don't have the ability to be an official." Cao Xiangnan never thought about becoming an official. Officials receive a little salary from the court and have to work hard for the court. Not to mention the hard work, if they make a mistake by mistake, they will be executed. It's better for him to do small things by himself, so that he can have a full and satisfied life, and let his wife and children live a good life.

He dare not think about being an official, and he has never thought about it. He doesn't have that ability.

It was almost noon at this time, and the smell of rice came from the cafeteria.

When they passed by the canteen, Cao Xiangnan told Magistrate Zhao that this was the canteen of the academy, and they walked in.

Today's canteen provided steamed buns and coarse grain porridge for lunch, and also fried two side dishes to go with the porridge. These were simple meals that could fill the children's stomachs and allow them to study. Cao Xiangnan led the county magistrate in, and the maternal grandmother who worked in the canteen recognized him and called them over to eat.

"We just came in to take a look, and we won't leave any food here." The food in the canteen was prepared in a certain amount every day, and it was not convenient for them to stay here to eat with so many people, fearing that the children would not have enough to eat later, so Cao Xiangnan quickly refused.

Just as the steamed buns in the basket were cooked and brought out, Ah Ma opened the lid and took out two buns and handed them over.

Two buns made of coarse grains were still stuffed into his hands. Cao Xiangnan took one helplessly, broke half of it and gave it to County Magistrate Zhao, saying, "My lord, please try it. This is a bun made of coarse grains. The children usually eat this."

He gave the remaining half to others to try the food in the canteen. These were the meals that the children ate. He would come to take a look when he had time, so he had a clear understanding of the food in the academy.

Zhao Xianzhi took it. The steamed bun was still emitting heat. He lowered his head and took a bite. It tasted sweet and better than the steamed buns he had eaten before. He said, "Well, it's delicious."

"It's just to fill the children's stomachs. As long as the adults like it, it's fine. My lord, it's almost noon. This place is not far from my home. Why don't we go to my home for a quick meal? What do you think?" Cao Xiangnan thought about it. It would not be a good time to take people to Yipinzhai for a meal at this time. Wouldn't that be a clear sign of corruption? So the best thing would be to take them to his home for lunch.

"Well, it happens that I haven't been to Caojia Village yet. Why don't I take a look today? Then I will go to your home to bother you." Zhao Xianzhi originally wanted to refuse, but on second thought, he agreed.

It's a good opportunity to go to Caojia Village, maybe we can meet General Cao.

The group came out of the academy and walked along the built road to Caojia Village. Li Zheng was the most familiar with Caojia Village. Cao Xiangnan didn't take up this job, but asked Li Zheng to introduce their Caojia Village to Lord Zhao.

At this time, someone was already turning the soil in the field, and it would be ready for spring sowing soon.

Wang Dahu, who was leading a group of men working in the fields, saw Cao Xiangnan and his group from a distance. He walked over from the other end of the field with big strides and jumped up from the bottom. When he saw County Magistrate Zhao who was with Cao Xiangnan, he saluted Zhao Xianzhi and called him "Mr. County Magistrate."

Zhao Xianzhi nodded to Deputy General Wang as a response.

"How is the work in the fields?" Cao Xiangnan threw the dozens of acres of land he bought to Wang Dahu to lead the team to plant. He grinned brilliantly. If he had to plant such a large piece of land by himself, he would have to work until his waist was hunched and he couldn't finish it. However, it would be different if Wang Dahu led people to plant.

Anyway, he was not planting it, so he didn't care about other people's life or death.

The two of them greeted each other and talked for a few words while standing there. Cao Xiangnan saw Liu Baishu still standing there, and told Wang Dahu that he was bringing the county magistrate to his home as a guest, and asked Wang Dahu if he wanted to go over to eat with Liu Baishu.

Fortunately, the sun was not too scorching at this time, and it was not very sunny for them to work in the fields. They still had work to do over there, so Wang Dahu waved his hand and didn't want to go with them.

He glanced at Zhao Xianzhi, and Zhao Xianzhi also looked at him. Both of them worked for the same master, but one was civil and the other was military, and they were in different positions. Wang Dahu didn't know how Zhao Xianzhi came to Fenshui Town to be a small county magistrate, but it went without saying that it was definitely the order of their Fourth Master. However, they were all their own people, so it was much more convenient to do things.

When they returned to the village, everyone had dispersed. Cao Xiangnan took the county magistrate to the end of the village and went to his home. From a distance, Zhao Xianzhi saw two similar courtyards. He followed Cao Xiangnan to one of them and asked whose house was across the street.

"Oh, that's the house of our village chief Cao Gang." Cao Xiangnan said.

Zhao Xianzhi realized that it was General Cao's house. He looked over there and saw that the door of the courtyard was closed and he couldn't see inside.

Qi Wanfeng, who was in the house, heard the sound and came out.

"Fu Lang 0" Seeing Fu Lang bringing a boy to their home, Qi Wanfeng looked at the person Fu Lang brought back with some curiosity. When he heard Fu Lang say it was the county magistrate, he made a gesture to kneel down and salute.

"Madam, please don't be so polite." Seeing this, Zhao Xianzhi hurriedly reached out his hand to help the man up and said, "Today, I am the official who is bothering you. I hope you don't mind me."

"Madam, just treat me as Xiangnan's friend. Don't be too polite." He glanced at Cao Xiangnan and said.

"No, no, we can't wait to welcome you. Please come in." It was the first time that an official came to his house, so Qi Wanfeng was naturally very nervous. It was also the first time he saw a boy serving as an official. It's not that Fengchao can't have boys serving as officials, but boys serving as officials can't marry and have children. I'm afraid that the county magistrate hasn't married yet.

Cao Xiangnan held his wife's hand and squeezed it, telling him not to be nervous.

Qi Wanfeng glanced at her husband. How could I not be nervous? They led the county magistrate inside.