Chapter 795 Motivation for Learning
The parents sitting below understood perfectly well that the dog hole was made by these six people.
The purpose of a dog hole is obvious even to someone with their toes.
The feelings of the Marquis of Huainan and his wife were quite turbulent. Just a moment ago they were very excited, but now they were blushing with embarrassment.
In particular, Mrs. Sui praised them with a smile, without uttering a single harsh word, and that smile made them feel even more ashamed to face others.
"You bastard!" the Marquis of Huainan roared. "When we get back, we'll smash him to death with that blue brick."
"Jian'er is a good boy..." Lady Huainan was also angry, but she was even more afraid that her husband would get angry and hit her, so she quickly advised, "Someone must have instigated it, that's why Jian'er..."
"Does the Lady of Huainan mean that my Jie'er is a bad child?" Lady Pang pursed her lips. "The two children grew up together and always conspired together. We can't let Jie'er be blamed for everything."
Lady Huainan immediately said, "Our Jian'er is timid, while Jie'er is bold. It's obvious who led the way. Besides, our Jian'er has earned Lady Sui's recognition as the number one this time..."
"Hmph, you must have secretly given Madam Sui a gift." Madam Pang sneered. "Otherwise, why would you give first place to that good-for-nothing son?"
"Who are you calling a loser!"
The two ladies started arguing.
The two women lived next door to each other. When things were good, they were as close as sisters. When they argued, they didn't hold back at all. People in the circle were used to it. If anyone dared to go and mediate, these two ladies would definitely turn their anger towards the outsider. Besides, they always made up the day after they argued, and no one wanted to go and cause trouble by mediating.
"The school will keep this dog hole forever," Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. "Every month, we will award prizes to the students who use the dog hole the most."
Pang Jie: "..."
Li Jian: "..."
The other four: "..."
This isn't a reward; it's a public execution.
They were both around twenty years old, yet they were still climbing through dog holes. If word got out, they would be too ashamed to show their faces.
Cheng Wanwan dismissed all the students and looked at the parents below, saying, "From now on, the school will hold a parent-teacher meeting once a month, inviting parents to witness their children's progress..."
Some parents felt like dying.
A parent-teacher meeting once a month, a public embarrassment once a month... They are all high-ranking officials of the first, second, or third rank in the imperial court, yet they are ridiculed because of their disappointing son. Just thinking about it makes them angry.
Unable to swallow their anger, the six parents found their children after the meeting and took them to a corner to discipline them.
"Jian'er, you stop right there!" The Marquis of Huainan grabbed his son by the collar. "Don't think that just because you got first place, I won't beat you. Tell me, what was that dog hole all about? What did you go out through the dog hole to do? Explain everything clearly, or you'll be punished according to family rules."
"Dad, that dog hole was Pang Jie's idea..." Li Jian was being dragged along like a weak chicken, sobbing, "School was so boring, so we went out to play for one day, just one day, really, only one day..."
Lady Huainan said, "I told you long ago not to get too close to Pang Jie. Look, winning first place is a good thing, but because of this dog hole, our Huainan Marquis's mansion has become a laughing stock. Jian'er, promise your mother that you won't play with Pang Jie anymore..."
"That's exactly what I was thinking too." Madam Pang's voice came from behind. She walked over with one hand on her hip and the other grabbing Pang Jie's ear. She said coldly, "You good-for-nothing, remember this: you are not allowed to associate with Li Jian from now on. If you have the ability, take his first place. Otherwise, I'll make you kneel in the ancestral hall for a month!"
Lady Huainan immediately said, "Jian'er, if your first place is taken away from me, I will pretend I never had a son like you."
Madam Pang sneered, "Jie'er, if you can't even compare to Li Jian, then you shouldn't be living and making a fool of yourself."
Li Jian: "..."
Pang Jie: "..."
It's like you're making it sound like getting first place is easy...
Not far away, other adults and women were also giving their children instructions.
"That brat Li Jian can get first place, you hang out with him every day, why can't you?"
"Pang Jie and Li Jian are going to compete for first place, so you have to go too. I'm not counting on first place, but second place is fine, right?"
“Those two notorious playboys know how to be ambitious. If you keep messing around with them, I’ll beat you to death.”
"It's understandable that you can't compare to those poor scholars who study hard every day. But if you can't even compare to Pang Jie, you might as well find a block of tofu and smash your head against it."
"..."
In an instant, the corners of the school were filled with the sounds of spoiled brats begging for mercy.
"Hahaha!" King Qin laughed loudly, "Lady Sui, you are indeed the best."
Cheng Wanwan said, "This is only a temporary solution, not a permanent one."
If you compare the纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who are spoiled and dissolute) with the 秀才 (scholars who are learned and successful), they know they are no match for the 秀才, so they have no desire to make any effort.
If they were to compete with their childhood friends, the sense of crisis would immediately arise.
That's how people are. It's okay to be overshadowed by strangers, but if you're overtaken by someone you know well, your mindset will become unbalanced.
However, such an unbalanced mindset is not enough to be a long-term motivation for learning.
She turned to look at the King of Qin: "I have an idea that Your Highness may listen to. If it works, it may change the atmosphere of the school."
The King of Qin immediately became interested: "Lady Sui, please speak quickly."
“Xiao Qin Academy is an international academy, and students will be sent abroad to study in the future. Without sufficient incentive to restrain them, they will only become more unrestrained abroad.” She explained carefully, “Every student is a true citizen of the Great Yu Kingdom, with the blood of the Great Yu Kingdom flowing in their veins. Because we are now in a peaceful and prosperous era, their patriotic feelings are suppressed deep in their bones… If we can arouse their patriotism, that will become the greatest motivation.”
The King of Qin agreed with her words.
Normally, he didn't feel much about the Xiao family's empire, and his relationship with his elder brother was lukewarm. However, on New Year's Eve half a year ago, the former Crown Prince Xiao Jue suddenly launched a palace coup, which aroused his brotherly affection. He would rather die than let his brother's empire be destroyed... The events were not the same, but the principle was the same.
He immediately pressed, "What does Mrs. Sui mean?"
"After this break, organize all students to take a trip to the outskirts of Beijing." Cheng Wanwan smiled. "Your Highness should know exactly how to do it."
The King of Qin smiled and said, "Then let's do it that way."
The parents' meeting at Xiao Qin University Hall sparked considerable discussion in Beijing.
The people of the capital knew that these playboys were uncouth, but they never expected them to be this uncouth.
"Tsk tsk, a twenty-year-old man, yet he digs dog holes and climbs through them. I really don't know how high-ranking officials like Grand Secretary and Marquis of Huainan raise their sons."
"They are bullying Madam Sui, who is just a woman. We can't do anything to them, can we? This is simply outrageous."
"Madam Sui has made so many contributions to the country and the people, why should she suffer this injustice? We ordinary people feel sorry for Madam Sui."
"Girls' schools never caused these kinds of troubles, but it's a pity that no matter how outstanding a woman is, it's difficult for her to enter the court as an official."
"..."
Cheng Wanwan was completely unaware of the gossip circulating in the streets and alleys. For the past two days, she and the King of Qin had been discussing the specific address and strategy.
The announcement was made on the first day after the school's break ended.
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