Chapter 59: Working Together
After everyone relaxed, Su Shengsheng continued, "I had originally intended to inform the elders after everything was arranged. Since today is the Mid-Autumn Festival and everyone is gathered together, I decided to tell them all at once so we can celebrate together."
"Now that the night market has reopened, Sheng'er would like to add some evening classes in the bookshop and the bookstore. I hope the elders can be so kind as to help."
She had defined that money as being used to benefit the people. Given Old Master Su's integrity, naturally no one in the Su family dared to covet this money.
When Su Ruilin heard that he was asked to give a lecture, his eyes immediately lit up.
After learning that the night market was reopening, he thought about finding another job, even if it was just a job to pay someone for writing.
However, they never expected that Su Shengsheng actually planned to let them all teach.
"This..." Su Ruilin hesitated slightly, "Now that the Su family is under house arrest, will there still be students willing to come and attend the class?"
When Su Jingshan and Su Hengji heard this, they couldn't help but feel worried.
What they were worried about was that Su Shengsheng had finally established a foothold in the bookstore, and her reputation would be ruined because of them.
Su Shengsheng added vegetables to the broth and replied with a laugh, "The students are already respecting Grandfather, and you're worrying too much, Uncle."
Su Ruilin fell silent after hearing this.
He looked at Su Shengsheng's relaxed expression and thought to himself, could it be that I'm overthinking it?
However, everyone was uneasy because of her words.
What Su Shengsheng said made sense. Their top priority now was survival, and the rest was secondary.
But there is no arable land in this place, they don't know how to hunt, and it is even more difficult to collect ginseng at night.
Now that the night market has reopened, it has really brought a lot of turning points for them.
Hearing Su Shengsheng bring this up, it was clear that she was genuinely willing to help. Jiao stopped being polite and asked, "What does Sixth Girl want your uncle to teach her?"
Su Shengsheng chuckled, "This time, I want to invite not only my uncle and his family, but also my aunt and a few elders."
Jiao was startled when she heard this. She looked at Su Shengsheng's genuine expression and said bewilderedly, "What can my aunt teach me?"
"Don't misunderstand, Auntie. Sheng'er is talking about teaching female students."
"Female student?" Both Jiao and Zhong were shocked.
Facing the puzzled looks of everyone at the table, Su Shengsheng didn't keep it a secret any longer, "Sheng'er is planning to open a girls' school."
Girls' school?
Everyone's expressions were serious.
Old Master Su also stopped coughing and asked, "Sheng girl wants to open a girls' school?"
It’s no wonder they all reacted this way, as Nanling Country has never had a private school for girls.
Either pass it on orally at home, or hire a female teacher.
Not to mention the entire Nanling, even in Beirong and Baishang Kingdom, there are very few women who can read.
Besides, in a place where people can't even get enough food to eat, would anyone really be willing to spend money to teach women how to read?
However, now I don’t have to worry about not having food to eat…
Upon hearing this, Su Yuanling looked at Su Shengsheng thoughtfully.
"Isn't this also for the benefit of the people? And it doesn't cost a thing. My uncle and his friends teach in the evenings, so the library is empty anyway. Why not ask my aunt to teach the girls accounting, my second aunt to teach weaving, and my sister-in-law to teach embroidery..."
Su Shengsheng explained the plan in detail, her eyes moving across everyone's faces one by one.
Compulsory education is not even available to boys here, let alone girls.
But it is unrealistic to ask so many poor children to spend so much time studying.
So she simply opened a night school in cooperation with the night market.
She had the idea of opening a school for girls a long time ago, but due to the actual situation, she could only open a night school for now.
If it weren't for her fourth uncle making such a fuss, she would have wanted to wait until after the enrollment to explain it to the elders.
But it would be better to say it in advance now, so as to avoid any rift between people over a little money.
Su Yuanling took the initiative to speak this time, "So what does Sixth Sister want me to teach you?"
Although she was asking someone to do something for her, and she had a grudge against Su Shengsheng, she felt a little uncomfortable.
But the family situation was such that if she didn't want to do the laundry and mending work, she would have to ask Su Shengsheng for help.
"Fourth sister is an outstanding pianist, so naturally she should teach her."
When Su Yuanling heard that Su Shengsheng really agreed to let her teach, she felt relieved, but then she became tense again.
"But I don't have a piano right now, and... there aren't many female students here who can afford to buy a piano."
Su Shengsheng smiled and said, "Don't worry about the profit, Fourth Sister. This is to benefit the people. I will take care of the rest."
After hearing her say this, Su Yuanling finally felt relieved.
Mrs. Zhong was still thinking about Su Wenxuan, "What does Miss Sheng plan to ask your second brother to teach?"
"My second brother is very talented in writing, so he is naturally a professor."
Su Wenxuan has become more calm since his father's death, but when he heard Su Shengsheng's words, he was instantly moved.
He was full of knowledge, but he could only choke out a few words, "Thank you, Sixth Sister."
Su Shengsheng smiled and waved her hand, "We'll be fighting side by side in the future, so there's no need to be so polite."
The Su family are all weak scholars. After leaving the mine, if they want to find a job, even if they are willing to work hard, I am afraid that others will not hire them.
Teaching is a perfect job as it is easy and does not require you to abandon what you have learned.
Su Shengsheng's next words were like a warm spring breeze, nourishing the dry and dry hearts of everyone in the Su family.
Even the old lady's face was filled with a long-lost smile. However, Li became anxious after hearing Su Shengsheng's arrangements without mentioning herself.
"Sheng'er, where's mother?"
Su Shengsheng smiled and picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks and handed it to her mother. "If we all go out, who will keep grandma happy? Mother has the heaviest responsibility."
Mrs. Li knew very well that her daughter didn't want her to go out and suffer.
She has not been in good health since she gave birth to Brother Heng. If it weren't for Su Shengsheng's meticulous care and nursing, she would probably have died on the road of exile this time.
Seeing that she had everything in order, Li simply wiped her tears with her handkerchief, feeling relieved.
When Su Nianwei heard that Su Shengsheng had also arranged for her to teach embroidery, she couldn't help but wonder, "Sixth sister, if we all teach embroidery, won't there be too many people?"
Su Shengsheng explained, "Seventh sister is patient and is the most suitable person to teach girls how to start embroidery. Eldest sister-in-law is the best and is the most suitable person to teach the young wives who are about to get married. Second aunt is the one to teach the girls who want to help support the family."
Hearing her thoughtful arrangements, everyone nodded.
Su Nianwei asked hesitantly, "If we teach embroidery to everyone, will the class hours be extended? After all, they are all female students, and it might be unsafe for them to go home too late."
Su Shengsheng nodded in agreement. She hadn't given much thought to the problems of this era. "I was originally planning to buy another school, but I haven't chosen a location yet. In that case, why not spread out the embroidery classes, so each student can have two classes every seven days?"
The art of embroidery is different from other subjects and requires much more time than classroom study. Therefore, this arrangement is reasonable.
The women at the table nodded in agreement.
At the table, everyone began to discuss how to stabilize the student population and how to ensure the safety of teachers and students.
Ji Yanli looked at Su Shengsheng, who had diverted the attention of everyone in the Su family with just a few words, and for the first time, a sense of strangeness surged in his heart.
He suddenly realized that he had never really understood her.
Even the head of the family, Old Master Su, found it difficult to suppress the arrogance of the fourth branch today. However, as she chatted and laughed, Su Deyong dared not even say a harsh word and left in disgrace.
If someone said that Su Shengsheng was a girl who had never experienced such an occasion, he would not believe it at all.
In particular, she heard that the Su family was able to save their lives and arrive safely in southern Xinjiang, and all the expenses along the way were earned by her secret painting.
He became even more convinced that she was not as simple as she seemed.
In fact, Su Shengsheng ran a family business in his previous life and had experienced many ups and downs. Those ups and downs were definitely not something that Su Deyong, who only knew how to show off his strength and fight, could handle.
Seeing that the atmosphere became harmonious again, Su Shengsheng stopped talking, picked up the teacup to drink, but caught a glimpse of Ji Yanli opposite who was staring at her intently.
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