Scholar Tu continued, “However, seeing her insistence on her own opinion, I also began to waver. While it is true that being prudent and living an easy life is one of the greatest pleasures in life, there must always be people in the world who dare to explore and go against the current. Just like you, and just like Wenying, who has been influenced by you, she is now focused on her studies and has lofty ambitions.”
"I can't help but feel curious. With your abilities alone, how far can you go? If the opportunity arises, I also hope to witness that glorious day with my own eyes."
Half an hour later.
Having finished her lessons for the day, Tu Wenying strolled to the front hall, only to find Jiang Huaiyu alone. She asked in surprise, "Oh? Where is my grandfather?"
Jiang Huaiyu replied with a smile, "Scholar Tu has already taken his leave."
Tu Wenying was immediately relieved. "I thought my grandfather had come to the academy with such a large entourage today because he wanted to take me home. Sister Jiang, what ingenious plan did you use to persuade my grandfather to leave?"
"Why would I need to persuade you?"
Jiang Huaiyu said with a smile, "Scholar Tu was not truly angry, otherwise, why would he have let you leave on your own just now?"
Tu Wenying nodded slightly after hearing this.
"That's true, but my grandfather came all this way to find me. He traveled a long way from the county town. Did he come just to scold me?"
This is not like my grandfather's usual style.
She looked up at Jiang Huaiyu, and suddenly an idea struck her. She asked curiously, "By the way, why did you thank your grandfather just now? What did you talk about?"
Jiang Huaiyu simply smiled and did not answer.
Tu Wenying couldn't wait any longer and stepped forward to tickle her. "Fine, you won't tell me, huh? Everyone's hiding things from me. Am I just an outsider?"
Caught off guard, Jiang Huaiyu was accurately scratched in several sensitive spots, and hurriedly dodged and begged for mercy.
"I'll tell you as soon as you stop!"
Tu Wenying then gave up.
After catching his breath, Jiang Huaiyu said with some helplessness, "Scholar Tu's trip has actually been a great help to Fushun Academy. You will understand in a few days."
Sure enough, just two days later, news of Scholar Tu's visit to Fushun Academy spread throughout Wanfu County. People flocked to pay their respects, some bringing gifts, others coming to find out the truth and understand the significance of this new academy that Scholar Tu had shown such favor to.
Upon investigation, everyone was astonished.
No one expected that Tu Laoxue's granddaughter would actually be the teacher at Fushun Academy.
Moreover, she was a female tutor as outstanding as Jiang?
For a time, the topic of Fushun Academy employing a female teacher once again became the target of public criticism. The people of Wanfu County discussed it extensively, and the various academies had different positions. Some people still firmly opposed it, some strongly supported it, and some chose to remain neutral in view of the attitude of Scholar Tu towards Fushun Academy.
However, all this noise and commotion was merely a distant echo for Fushun Town, and had no real impact on the academy.
The only significant change at the academy was the increasing number of students flocking there. Not only that, but even the village chief's son, Scholar Chao, volunteered to take on a teaching position.
Jiang Huaiyu dared not act on his own, so he went to consult the village chief.
The village chief told him that his son had always been diligent in his studies, eager to succeed in the imperial examinations. However, for many years, aside from obtaining the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), he had repeatedly failed. Since failing the examinations again last autumn, he had become despondent, staying indoors and withdrawing from worldly affairs. The village chief had earnestly advised him to find another way to make a living, whether as a teacher or by seeking other means of livelihood in the county town; it would be better than wasting his time at home. After all, he had a family to support and couldn't always rely on his elderly father.
However, Chao Xiucai ignored these suggestions, and the village chief had no choice but to let things take their course.
Unexpectedly, after learning that Scholar Tu had visited Fushun Academy, Scholar Chao rekindled his fighting spirit and took the initiative to approach Jiang Huaiyu, expressing his willingness to join the academy as a teacher.
The village chief was unaware of this decision until Jiang Huaiyu came to consult him.
He knew in his heart that his son was nearing forty, and if he continued to insist on the path of the imperial examinations, it would probably be in vain. After all, not everyone was as gifted as Bai Yujing. Therefore, when he saw that his son had come to his senses and decided to leave home to make a living on his own, the village chief felt a sense of relief and naturally had no reason to refuse.
Thus, Fushun Academy welcomed a new Master Chao.
...
One morning, Jiang Huaiyu was having breakfast. She had just picked up her bowl of porridge to drink when the bowl suddenly cracked, and the scalding porridge spilled out, splashing all over her.
"oops!"
She screamed and immediately jumped up, covering the burned area with her hands.
Upon hearing the noise, Dou Shen rushed over and asked with concern, "Miss, are you alright?"
Looking at the broken pieces on the ground, he said angrily, "The items in this inn are truly disappointing. How could they cause a girl to get hurt? I must go and make a fuss about this!"
Yingxiang brought over a basin of cool water and said, "Miss, if this burn isn't treated promptly, it might leave a scar. Soak your hand in the cool water first, and I'll go get a doctor right away."
Jiang Huaiyu carefully examined her hands, then shook her head and said, "It's nothing. The porridge had cooled down considerably before I picked up the bowl, so it didn't cause any serious burns. It's just a little red and swollen, nothing serious. Miss Tu should be arriving soon. Help me change my clothes, and let's go downstairs."
“Miss…” Yingxiang still wanted to continue to persuade her.
However, Jiang Huaiyu simply stretched out his hand in front of her and said confidently, "Look, aren't you perfectly fine?"
Apart from being slightly red and swollen, the skin on the back of her hand did not show any signs of blisters, peeling, or ulceration from the burn.
Seeing that she was determined, Yingxiang had no choice but to say helplessly, "Alright, then so be it. But, young lady, when we return from the academy, we must go to the pharmacy to have a dose of ointment prepared. Although the injury is not serious, it is still related to your health, so we cannot be careless."
"Yes, whatever you say."
When Jiang Huaiyu changed her clothes and stepped out of the room, the Tu family's carriage had been waiting outside for a long time. She and Yingxiang got into the carriage together, and she apologized to Tu Wenying, saying, "Sister, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Tu Wenying didn't care at first, but when she looked up, she saw Yingxiang frowning and looking worried.
Yingxiang is usually lively and cheerful, and rarely shows such a worried expression.
Tu Wenying couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong, Yingxiang? Why do you look so preoccupied so early in the morning?"
Yingxiang glanced at Jiang Huaiyu and sighed, "Miss Tu, you must help me persuade my young lady. Just now, when she was drinking porridge, the bowl suddenly cracked, almost scalding her. I wanted her to rest at home and have a doctor come to examine her, but she resolutely refused. How can this not be worrying?"
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