"Your Highness, you've arrived! Everyone has been waiting for you."
Just then, Headmaster Chu came downstairs and saw Zhen Wanwan at the door, smiling like a Buddha.
Besides him, all the teachers from Rende Academy also came.
"Headmaster, Brother Qu, and all the teachers, hello."
Everyone bowed respectfully to Zhen Wanwan, exchanged a few brief pleasantries, and then walked around the library.
She nodded in satisfaction. The layout of the library was similar to that of her previous life's library, but the arrangement of the walls, books, and chairs was quite different.
Looking at the antique-style decorations that suited the current reading atmosphere, Zhen Wanwan let out a shameless exclamation.
Her aesthetic sense is still not as stunning as that of the ancients. Everywhere you look at the scene is full of artistic conception, making her look like a country bumpkin.
Fan Jian was somewhat apprehensive. This library was the work he was most satisfied with in his life. He personally oversaw every detail and it took three years to complete.
"Madam Zhen, is there anything else that needs to be changed?"
Fan Jian excitedly called her by her old name, looking at her with expectant eyes.
"Lord Fan's skillful craftsmanship is truly admirable. You have done a great job."
Zhen Wanwan gave him a thumbs up, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, her eyes gleaming with undisguised joy.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this building will be passed down for a hundred years, or even a thousand years. All people of our country, regardless of their status, profession, gender, age, or gender, may enter and read it for free."
She paused for a few seconds, then continued, "From now on, all people will be able to read books."
Headmaster Chu and the other teachers looked at Zhen Wanwan with tears in their eyes. If others had said that, they would have thought they were just bragging or showing off.
However, they had already looked around the place. The bookshelves were filled with a wide variety of books, covering all walks of life, from studying for the imperial examinations to farming, and the content was detailed and exquisite.
For example, irrigating farmland and planting crops can be done by people who have never farmed before, as long as they follow the instructions in the book.
This is something that benefits the country and its people!
When the teacher received the book, he was so happy he almost fainted. They shouted and yelled upstairs, completely abandoning his usual solemnity and calmness, and acting like a group of madmen.
It took him quite a while to avoid being impolite in front of Zhen Wanwan.
Many of the teachers present were from farming families, and they had studied diligently for ten years. Only they themselves could truly understand the hardships and difficulties they had endured along the way.
Noble families have abundant resources and don't have to worry about buying books and paper or finding famous teachers to teach them. Their careers are also easier than those of ordinary families.
For families of modest means like theirs to have the opportunity to take the imperial examinations, it was thanks to the combined efforts of the entire clan.
Upon hearing Zhen Wanwan say this, some teachers turned away to wipe their tears, trying their best not to cry out loud.
"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated; on behalf of all the people of the world, I thank you!"
Headmaster Chu was trembling with excitement. Looking at the woman in front of him, who was only in her twenties, he realized that even the most talented man could not match her magnanimity.
Looking back on her achievements and looking to the future, perhaps no one can match them.
Such a person is the future Empress, who will rule the world. Headmaster Chu thought that if he could meet a woman like Zhen Wanwan in his lifetime and witness the establishment of the library, he would have no regrets even if he died.
Facing the intense gazes of the crowd, Zhen Wanwan felt the pressure increase, but her heart was filled with pride.
She did it! Although it was just a small step, and it was limited to the small Guangling County, she had already made this breakthrough. There was still a long future ahead, and she had plenty of time.
Of course, this is all predicated on her having enough money to support it.
The department store business was booming, and she gradually saved several million taels of silver, but the speed at which she earned money often lagged behind the speed at which she spent it.
Despite the department store making hundreds of dollars a day, her own private coffers remained empty.
Almost as soon as the department store distributed the money to her, she would spend it all in the next second, leaving nothing behind, and there were even times when she didn't have enough.
Thanks to Zhu Yuan's campaigns abroad, each victory would bring her a sum of money from corrupt officials, which allowed her to make up for the deficit and have the funds to develop infrastructure and businesses.
Fortunately, in the past year, the Happiness Home and the entertainment company have started to make a profit, and she has managed to save a little over 100,000 taels of silver.
But what military campaign doesn't cost money? Soldiers' food, clothing, lodging, military pay, weapons, medicine, etc., all require a lot of money.
Fortunately, with the Yu family as her golden touch, Zhen Wanwan was able to have such an easy time; otherwise, she really would have wanted to work with Boss Hu's family selling coffins.
While Zhen Wanwan was worried about how to earn money, the teachers saw it as her not caring about fame and wanting to benefit the people.
They asked themselves if they were in Zhen Wanwan's position and could they do the same as her, not being greedy for power or money.
The answer from the crowd was naturally no. Even though they themselves had lofty ambitions, when it came to interests, they would prioritize their own interests over their own.
The spirit of being the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures is not so easy to achieve.
Therefore, all the teachers, including Headmaster Chu and Qu Huaiyuan, felt extremely inferior in front of Zhen Wanwan and were also reflecting on themselves.
Qu Huaiyuan, in particular, felt inferior ever since Zhen Wanwan started running the department store, believing he was not good enough for her.
It turns out it's true!
The department store was just an appetizer; what followed was what truly shattered his resolve.
He felt sorry for his previous naiveté, which was also the reason he avoided her. Not everyone can happily accept being outmaneuvered, especially in front of someone they like.
Qu Huaiyuan's face turned pale and then red, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Hadn't he known all along that they were never from the same world?
Looking at Zhen Wanwan, who remained calm and composed even as her head was being held up, he finally felt relieved.
He overcame the mountain that had been weighing on his heart.
He stepped forward, gazed deeply at Zhen Wanwan, and revealed the same relaxed and cheerful smile he had shown when he first met her: "Madam Zhen is very kind and cares deeply for the common people. I admire her greatly and would like to offer my bow."
After speaking, Qu Huaiyuan bowed respectfully to Zhen Wanwan. This bow was not because of her status, but because he was impressed by her and was willing to do so, as if he were facing a hero.
Behind him, Headmaster Chu and the other teachers bowed to her in gratitude.
When Zhen Wanwan came to her senses, she felt surprised, a little sad, and touched.
She was just an ordinary person with emotions and desires. She did these things simply to express her own feelings, which is also ingrained in the Chinese people's bones: those who are successful should help others.
Upon arriving here, she received a spatial treasure bestowed by heaven, met a loving family, and also found her true love.
She is very lucky and very happy, and she wants to do her best to help people all over the world live a good life.
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