Jiang Huaiyu was still in shock, but Bai Qishi spoke first, her face full of disbelief.
"Let her teach? Village chief, are you mistaken? She's just a reclusive woman, how can she shoulder such an important task?"
The old village chief smiled slightly, a hint of wisdom in his eyes, "But haven't your grandchildren already been taught to be clever and quick-witted?"
Madam Bai's eyes widened, her tone resolute, "How can these be compared? Letting her teach the two children was originally just a temporary measure. Besides, as her aunt, she is teaching her own flesh and blood. How can a private school be compared to that? After all, those who open academies and run private schools are all renowned scholars and literati. How can she, a weak woman, be compared to those talented men?"
Yang was stunned. She never expected that her sister-in-law would attract the attention of the old village chief. This unexpected turn of events left her at a loss.
In the dimly lit room, Xie Wenying and Aunt Bai looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.
Xie Wenyin's mood changed rapidly. She was surprised and couldn't help but feel a spark of jealousy in her heart—how come Jiang always got the upper hand in every stroke of good luck?
Jiang Huaiyu's expression gradually returned to calm. He looked at the old village chief and said in a calm and polite tone, "Village chief, you flatter me. Even if the school in the town is forced to close, there are still many academies in the county for children to study. They are not far away, and the children may not necessarily lose the opportunity to receive an education. I am afraid I am not capable of taking on such a heavy responsibility."
Bai Qi pursed her lips slightly, her words tinged with sarcasm: "Indeed, village chief, are you joking? To have a village woman serve as a teacher, such a thing is unheard of, unbelievable!"
The old village chief sighed, a hint of helplessness and determination flashing in his eyes: "This may sound a bit unorthodox, but I have thought it through carefully and made this decision after much deliberation."
He turned to look at Jiang Huaiyu, his tone becoming serious: "Academies do exist in the county town, but they either have exorbitant tuition fees or only accept students with a certain academic foundation. This is undoubtedly an insurmountable chasm for children from impoverished backgrounds. They either need to pay exorbitant tuition fees of up to a hundred taels of silver a year, or they must pass extremely difficult entrance exams. I've heard that the vast majority of students who successfully pass these entrance exams have already obtained the qualification of a child scholar!"
“Children from wealthy families do not have to worry about where to go; however, most families still cannot afford the expensive tuition fees of the county academy, let alone pass the rigorous entrance examination.”
The old village chief sighed heavily, as if releasing all the worries in his heart. "Back then, when Scholar Zhang was in charge of teaching here, the children studied in the private school for four or five years, and the best among them were fortunate enough to enter the academy. Now, the private school is vacant, and the children's studies can only be left to fall into disrepair. This concerns the future of many young people, how can I not be extremely anxious..."
After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but sigh, realizing that receiving an education was such a difficult thing.
Bai Qi was secretly delighted, after all, her Yujing was a child to be proud of, and she had almost never had to worry about her studies.
Looking at the old village chief's worried expression, she asked curiously, "Village chief, you said that the private school lacks teachers, which is quite an exaggeration. Even though Scholar Zhang has left his post, there are still many talented scholars in the town. In addition, your son has also achieved academic success. Why not invite them to teach at the private school instead of placing your hopes on me, his daughter-in-law?"
The old village chief shook his head helplessly, his tone tinged with sorrow, "Sister-in-law Bai, do you think I haven't personally come to ask for help? However, as soon as those people heard that the fee was meager, they immediately shook their heads and refused. In addition, there's my good-for-nothing son. I'd like to ask Sister-in-law Bai first, would you be willing to let Yujing serve as a lecturer at the academy?"
"Absolutely impossible!"
Bai Qi frowned, her tone resolute, "Yujing is destined for an official career; how could she possibly ruin her future by becoming a lecturer?"
"That's exactly right. Half of those who rejected me did so because of insufficient tuition fees, and the other half because they were worried about jeopardizing their future. Therefore, I feel that Yujing's daughter-in-law is the best candidate."
The old village chief, a slight smile playing on his lips, gently stroked his beard and said sincerely, “Wife of Yujing, my visit today is no joke. As the village chief, I genuinely wish to invite you to teach at the private school. I have two reasons: First, you come from a family of scholars for generations, possess exceptional talent, and are fully capable of guiding students—the achievements of Fengyun and Huiyi are the most vivid examples; second, as a woman, you do not need to pursue fame and fortune, allowing you to dedicate more time and energy to education. Therefore, I am willing to break with convention and invite you to become the first female teacher in the history of Fushun Town. May I ask your opinion on this?”
The first female teacher in history?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu was visibly shaken, her joy evident in her expression.
It should be noted that in this era, it was virtually unheard of for a woman to serve as a lecturer in a private school.
Even the female lecturers that Bai Yujing mentioned were merely highly respected women invited by the powerful and wealthy to teach in their family schools or schools specifically for women, and the students were all women, which is completely different from the current situation.
From a young age, Jiang Huaiyu's father taught her to read, partly out of affection and partly because he recognized her intelligence and never gave up on her education. She was confident that her talents were no less than those of her brothers.
However, in her previous life, she was confined to a large, secluded mansion. In this life, after marrying into the Bai family, she only thought about how to make a living, manage the household, support her husband, raise her children, and live a peaceful life.
She never imagined that one day she would be invited to be a lecturer. This unexpected opportunity surprised her and filled her with longing.
Who doesn't yearn to use their talents to carve out their own niche in the world?
Whether it's doing business or teaching, the same principle applies.
After a moment's thought, Jiang Huaiyu made up her mind. "The old village chief has condescended to come to my door, how could I, a junior, dare to refuse? However, as a daughter-in-law of the Bai family, this matter still needs the approval of my mother-in-law and husband before it can be decided."
Hearing her promise, the old village chief finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned his gaze to Bai Qishi.
"Sister-in-law Bai, what do you think?"
Bai Qishi, however, remained in a dazed state.
Not long ago, she had been furious with Jiang Huaiyu for being too strict with her grandson, forcing her to compromise.
However, in the blink of an eye, she was personally invited by the old village chief to serve as a teacher in the private school.
Bai Qi was filled with confusion. What kind of charm did she, an ordinary woman, possess that could earn her such special treatment?
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