This deal has a very promising future!
Not to mention private schools and wealthy merchants' homes, even the numerous county schools and clan schools, each buying a few coins, would amount to a considerable sum.
The cost is not high, and the wood can be sourced locally. Considering the cost, the workshop can be set up near gypsum mines. Compared to the preciousness of lacquer tree sap, blackboard workshops have fewer restrictions.
He Cong asked Ruan Meng why the blackboard was called a "blackboard" when it wasn't actually "black." Ruan Meng replied that she had seen other people's "blackboards" with black surfaces, so she called it that.
Her expression showed no sign of abnormality, so He Cong and the craftsmen had no suspicions, assuming that there was another variety of lacquer tree whose sap turned the wood black after being applied.
Fengjia Village has no gypsum mines, and its greater potential lies on the other side of the strait. Therefore, there is no need to limit production workshops to Fengjia Village or the South Island.
He Cong promised to give Ruan Meng 20% of the profits, but Ruan Meng only accepted 10%. However, no matter how far her elder brother developed the school in the future, the He family would provide paper, pens, blackboards, and chalk free of charge.
He Cong did not hesitate at all. He did not look down on the two schools at present, and even if Ruan Qian opened schools all over the South Island in the future, his He family could afford to support them.
Moreover, it's a good thing for the people and children. He's confident that the prescription Ruan Meng gave him will create a hundredfold or a thousandfold value, so he won't care about these small gains.
Feng Yun and Feng Xi were very excited when they heard this. With the He family's sponsorship, the canteen was secured, and the school could be better maintained in the future.
Moreover, with Ruan Qian and Song Shiyuan personally teaching him—one being the eldest son of the former Imperial Censor and the other the youngest son of the former Vice Minister of Revenue—these are teachers that are priceless!
Feng Yun and Feng Xi immediately went back and told their father about the situation. The village chief's family visited each household, reminding them to cherish the opportunity to study and to send their children to school on time.
Since He Cong had come all this way, Ruan Meng showed him the function of the meat grinder.
The third son cleaned the fish meat from the several fish he kept at home and threw it in. The craftsman slowly stomped on it a few times, and the fish meat was minced into granules.
After stomping on it several times, the fish meat will turn into a paste.
Ruan Meng explained, "The fish ball stall, fish noodle stall, wonton stall, and dumpling stall that Young Master Sun is about to open can all use minced meat, chopped green onions, ginger, and garlic, as long as they are needed."
He Cong immediately agreed. He agreed on the spot to Ruan Meng's suggestion to set up the production workshop in Fengjia Village. He said he would come back to discuss the land use and start construction after he had made a plan.
Ruan Meng told her second brother about the situation, and he went up the mountain to tell the village chief. The village chief came down to see her off.
-
The next morning, Ruan Meng was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.
It turned out that the villagers had spontaneously gone to town in advance to buy firecrackers to celebrate the establishment of the school.
This is a joyous occasion that Fengjia Village has never experienced in hundreds of years since its establishment. Unexpectedly, under the leadership of Village Chief Feng, not only was a clinic established, but a school was also opened in less than two months.
The villagers brought their children over, and the scene was filled with joy. Ruan Qian and Song Shiyuan led the children into their respective schools according to their ages.
Children aged three to eight attend Song Shiyuan's class, while children over eight years old attend Ruan Qian's class.
As the children entered, Ruan Qian, Ruan Meng, Song Shiyuan, and others noticed something amiss.
The girl at the scene was being led by her parents, but they showed no intention of letting go.
Some girls had longing in their eyes, while others had blank expressions.
Carrying a small schoolbag made of coarse cloth by her mother, Feng Jia held her cousin's hand and happily prepared to enter the school.
But seeing that the school was full of little boys, he couldn't help but turn his head and look at the other girls outside the door.
Ruan Meng squatted down and asked a girl next to her:
Don't you want to go to school?
The little girl lowered her head, and her mother, feeling a little embarrassed, pushed her daughter behind her.
Ruan Meng walked over to the girl next to her and asked her the same question.
Before the girl could answer, her mother preemptively replied:
"She doesn't like studying..."
Ruan Meng asked her, "Didn't anyone tell you that studying provides lunch, you get to eat something delicious at noon, and if you study hard, you even get snacks?"
The girl's mother was too embarrassed to speak up:
"She's too busy, but her younger brother can go to school. He can bring food home; it's the same thing."
Ruan Meng stood up, her eyes somewhat stern.
"While her younger brother is at school, she stays home doing housework. Does that mean she deserves to cook and do laundry for you?"
The village woman lowered her head in shame, but she didn't think she had done anything wrong.
“My husband went to work on the boat and died. I’m raising two kids on my own. Now I have to herd ducks, and there are other workers in the village soon. I really don’t have time to do any work at home.”
“Ah Niu is not young anymore, she can help out. When the village workshop opens, she can earn an extra income. And when her younger brother gets married, she can also help earn more for the dowry…”
Ruan Meng gasped. The village woman, seeing Ruan Meng's pale face, finally stopped daydreaming.
Ruan Meng laughed in anger, "You're planning to make your daughter do child labor?"
Ruan Meng looked up and scanned the others. "So, when you asked for help, saying there was no one at home to take care of the children, you were all talking about boys, not girls?"
"Boys should be pampered and treated like children, but girls aren't important; they still have to earn money to support the family!"
The village chief stepped forward, also quite angry:
"Is that what you all think? You didn't say that when we went door-to-door!"
Behind him, a little boy walked out of the school, his voice teasing:
"Grandpa Village Chief, don't waste your energy! My mother said that they won't be able to support their families for many years. Literacy can't put food on the table, and it will only interfere with their work!"
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