41 Will the county school really be reopened?
"Could it be that County Magistrate Ye despises me and deliberately found an excuse?"
"Of course it's Xi..." Dongbai's mother suddenly came to her senses and swallowed back the words "Auntie Wang of Xixiang" that she hadn't uttered yet. She said, "County Magistrate Han, no matter who said it, just hurry up and get my Dongbai enrolled in the county school."
Looking at her, County Magistrate Han guessed that there must be some rumors behind her, otherwise, why would a group of people come to the county government office at the same time?
However, he was not very clear about this matter. He just heard Ye Yunzhao mention it casually a few days ago, so he quickly waved his hand to appease everyone:
"I know about this. You guys go home and wait. If I have any news, I'll send someone to post a notice as soon as possible."
There were still some reluctance in the crowd, but Dongbai Niang knew when to stop, completely different from her previous outburst:
"County Magistrate Han is indeed the best county magistrate in Lingnan County. No one can compare to him!"
Then he turned to those who were dissatisfied and said, "Come on, come on. County Magistrate Han said he would inform us if there was any news. Would he lie to us ordinary people? Just put your worries at ease and go home and wait!"
After saying this, Dong Bai Niang bowed in a formal manner, then pushed through the crowd and walked farther and farther away with the basket on her shoulder.
Without a backbone, the others naturally scattered like birds and beasts. County Magistrate Han explained sincerely to the few "nails", and only then did the solemnity in front of the county government office return to its usual state.
County Magistrate Han stepped up the stairs and waved to Liu Mazi, who was not far away. "Do you know anything about the county school?"
Seeing that some people were causing trouble because of the county school, Liu Mazi didn't know whether he could tell the Magistrate Ye that he was sent to clean the county school. On one side was Magistrate Ye who sent him to do the job, and on the other side was County Magistrate Han who was surrounded by the people in front of the county government office because of this matter.
Therefore, even though he saw County Magistrate Ye sneak into the county school, he only gave an ambiguous answer:
"I don't know, but County Magistrate Ye did send his men to repair the county school."
County Magistrate Han asked suspiciously, "Didn't she hire a teacher to teach her?"
Liu Mazi said firmly: "No."
Without getting any information out of the question, County Magistrate Han flicked his sleeves and walked quickly into the county office. Liu Mazi wiped the sweat from his forehead and wanted to inform County Magistrate Ye first, but he couldn't remember when he had seen her today.
In the evening, when the warm yellow sun hung on the top of the mountain, emitting the remaining warmth, Ye Yunzhao returned to the county government office with a backpack on his back.
She was let into the county government office, and County Magistrate Han got the news in the house. He hurried out and met Ye Yunzhao in the yard.
Ye Yunzhao greeted him and was about to pass by sideways, but County Magistrate Han took two steps to the side, blocking her completely.
Ye Yunzhao didn't know what he meant, so he looked up at him and found that his brows were furrowed and his face looked not very good.
County Magistrate Han said, "County Magistrate Ye, I heard something today."
"What is it?"
"I heard that you have already reopened the county school. Is that true?"
County Magistrate Han said this with certainty, intending to deceive her and trick her into revealing the truth, but he didn't know that Ye Yunzhao had been waiting for this day and her patience was almost running out.
She said happily, "Did someone really ask?"
County Magistrate Han didn't answer directly: "Could it be that you really have reopened the county school? Then what others say about the county school already having classes is also true!?"
Ye Yunzhao was in a good mood. She had been looking forward to Aunt Wang spreading the word for her, but it became quieter day by day. It was not until today that she heard the good news she had been longing for.
She thought for a moment. Although there were no teachers teaching in the county school, how could she not be considered teaching when she taught Cuihua and Xueniang how to make crystal cakes? So, with a smile on her face,
"That's natural."
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Han felt dizzy. When Ye Yunzhao told him that he wanted to reopen the county school, he did not take it seriously. But later he felt that Ye Yunzhao's proposal made some sense, so he thought that after the matter of spreading silkworm manure was finished, he would start this matter and invite a teacher.
First, it would win the admiration of the people, and second, this matter could be considered a political achievement. When he asked others for promotion, he would have something to show for it.
However, County Magistrate Han never expected that Ye Yunzhao would be so decisive and resolute. It had only been a dozen days since he mentioned it, and it was already done! ?
Seeing that the political achievements he had achieved fell on her, County Magistrate Han could no longer smile:
"How could you not discuss this with me first? Someone even went to the county government office to make a scene today!"
Ye Yunzhao not only had his own little thoughts in mind, but also said sincerely: "Han County Magistrate, are you too busy to forget? I have studied and discussed it with you."
The corners of her mouth curled up, "Next time someone comes to cause trouble, just tell them to find me."
After saying that, Ye Yunzhao hummed a little tune and walked towards his own courtyard, leaving County Magistrate Han alone here feeling sad.
The next morning, Ye Yunzhao specially opened the door of the county school. Liu Mazi followed her instructions and placed a desk in front of the county school. Ye Yunzhao sat in front of the desk and closed his eyes to rest.
After a while, some people came to the side to watch her, and even whispered, "What is County Magistrate Ye doing?"
"Why is the door of the county school open?"
Some people, after hearing this, stood in front of the county school with their children in hand and whispered to Ye Yunzhao, who had his eyes closed:
"County Magistrate Ye?"
Ye Yunzhao slowly opened his eyes and looked at the people surrounding him. There were quite a few people.
"What is it?"
The woman holding the child smiled shyly and asked, "County Magistrate Ye, I see the county school is open. Does that mean the children can learn to read and write now?"
"It's true that the county school is open..."
Before she could finish, the crowd seemed to be boiling with excitement. The woman in front of her smiled even more broadly. She nudged the little boy beside her and said tentatively, "County Magistrate Ye, look at my son. He's only seven or eight years old, but he can already help with the abacus at home."
As soon as these words were spoken, the people behind the woman marveled at her talent. Ye Yunzhao guessed that the woman had seen many such scenes, and she still stood there very confidently.
In Lingnan County, a seven or eight-year-old child who can use an abacus is already a good talent. However, Ye Yunzhao has received nine years of compulsory education and started learning abacus mental arithmetic in the last year of kindergarten. Naturally, she does not find it surprising.
More importantly, she had already decided that the county school would only accept girls.
Seeing Ye Yunzhao sitting calmly, the woman became anxious and asked, "County Magistrate Ye, please take a closer look."
After the crowd quieted down a bit, Ye Yunzhao spoke: "Sure enough, smart."
The woman's anxiety turned into a sense of relief. She knew that her son was so smart that he would definitely be admitted to the county school. With a proud look on her face, she smiled and said, "County Magistrate Ye, I will prepare the gift of apprenticeship tomorrow."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Ye Yunzhao raised his hand to stop her: "Don't worry, my lady, the county school does not accept men for the time being."
"County Magistrate Ye, you... what!?" The woman's smile froze, and she asked in disbelief, "What did you just say?"
Ye Yunzhao smiled and said in a deep voice, "The county school is not accepting men for the time being."
"What do you mean, County Magistrate Ye?" The woman's face darkened.
The crowd on the side also whispered:
"When did the county school only admit girls?! Nonsense!"
"Why not? I think it's great."
"Could it be that County Magistrate Ye despises me and is deliberately looking for an excuse?"
…
Ye Yunzhao turned a deaf ear to him. Not wanting to escalate matters, she replied sincerely, "There's no teacher in the county school right now. With such a brilliant child, aren't you worried about delaying his education? I think it would be better to send him to a private school in Yuezhou City. Although it's more expensive, it would be very good for the child."
This was said tactfully, leaving the woman with no trace of dissatisfaction. The whispers of the people around her had upset her, and now she had no interest in asking why there was no teacher in the county school. Ye Yunzhao gave her face, so she naturally answered:
"County Magistrate Ye is right."
After saying that, he pulled the little boy beside him and squeezed out of the crowd.
After she left, someone else came up and said, "County Magistrate Ye, how come there is no teacher in the county school?"
Ye Yunzhao smiled and said, "Since everyone wants to know, I'll be frank. The county school is currently only accepting girls who have reached the age of marriage. Since there are no teachers, I will be the one teaching everyone skills for the time being."
Someone in the crowd curiously asked, "Skills? Could it be music, chess, calligraphy, or painting?"
"What's the use of music, chess, calligraphy and painting..."
Many people in Lingnan County still don't have enough food to eat, and they look down on such entertainment activities of the aristocratic families, so they are about to leave.
Ye Yunzhao said, "Of course not. The county school teaches the skills of making money. If you want to know what it is, why don't you come to the county school in a couple of days?"
A skill to make money?
Ye Yunzhao had said so much before, but none of them was as attractive as these five words. Many people kept asking more questions, but Ye Yunzhao winked at Liu Mazi who was not far away, and then walked into the county school without saying a word, locking everyone outside the county school.
Liu Mazi couldn't understand her thoughts and asked stupidly, "County Magistrate Ye, why don't you just explain it clearly? You're being so vague. What if no one comes in two days?"
Ye Yunzhao chuckled: "Sometimes it's not good to be too clear."
She believed that within an hour, the news that the county school would teach money-making skills would spread throughout Lingnan County, and curiosity about this matter would surely attract people.
"Just wait and see in a few days."
Seeing that she looked normal and spoke with certainty, Liu Mazi seemed to be influenced by Ye Yunzhao and was convinced in his heart that someone would come in two days.
"If County Magistrate Han asks, how should I answer?"
Liu Mazi spoke with his head down. He knew in his heart that although his words were simple, they carried the implication of taking sides.
Although Lingnan County is poor, there are many people who form cliques in such a small county government. Previously, County Magistrate Han and the previous county magistrate each had their own confidants. At that time, Liu Mazi was well-behaved and honest. He did not stand for one or support that, so he was naturally the lowest-level bailiff in the county government.
Later, when Ye Yunzhao took office, he wanted to play it safe, but seeing her designing the plow cart or taking in refugees, or even knowing what Han County Magistrate had done...
In short, at some point, Liu Mazi began to think about joining Ye Yunzhao.
Ye Yunzhao could guess what he meant. Although he didn't know why, he still smiled and said:
"Tell him everything."
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