Seeing Shen Min's serious expression, Shen Jia directly invited her face to face, "Then I wonder if you would be willing to join our Hongmeng Academy and serve as a lecturer."
"Why not?"
The joyful voices of the three people echoed over the workshop, and then they went home together. At night, they began to list out the things that the academy might need in the future, and then thought of ways to solve them.
Perhaps because of the special nature of this matter, the three of them gathered together and chatted until late at night without feeling a bit tired. In the end, it was only after Shen's mother reminded them that the three of them went back to their rooms to rest.
After this day, the three of them were most nervous about the issue of teaching materials and teachers. If they looked closely, they would find that some traditional teaching materials were not favorable to women. This time, the three of them decided to replace them all.
Of course, they will not reject some excellent courses that have been passed down to this day, and at the same time, they will add some thinking-provoking parts to the course learning.
With the careful research of Shen Yue and her aunt, this matter was not difficult. Instead, it was finding some female teachers who were not bound by worldly affairs that gave Shen Jia a headache.
However, in order to achieve her own goals, when the construction of Hongmeng Academy was more than halfway completed, she still used her unique advantages to promote her newly opened women's academy in various places.
The nature of the academy can be said to be an upgraded version of a workshop school. It is not restricted by the age, identity, or region of women. As long as you are willing to sign up, you can come to Hongmeng Academy to study.
No fees are charged, and students can take part in Shen's recruitment exam after completing their studies. However, the rules and regulations must be strictly followed, otherwise they will be expelled from the sect.
There is also a message written below that says that everyone is now recruiting tutors. Except for the restriction on gender being female, there are no other restrictions.
However, one must pass the assessment to become a teacher at Hongmeng Academy. Food and accommodation are provided, and the tuition fee is higher than the average level in Linyuan County. The annual leave benefits are comparable to those of the Shen family.
As soon as the news came out, it immediately caused discussion throughout Hezhou, especially in Linyuan County, which was the center of the topic.
The people dining in the lobby of Shuntian Restaurant in Linyuan County were listening to the storyteller explaining Shen Jia's Shen's Workshop in detail. Of course, they couldn't miss the big event happening at the girls' academy.
"Speaking of Shen Jiashen, the owner of the Shen Workshop, he pioneered the idea of having a school in the workshop. Now he's going to open the first women's academy in Linyuan County, perhaps the first women's academy in the Great Sheng Dynasty..."
Chen Xin drank a mouthful of wine and sneered at his friend beside him, "This woman must have thought that she had some business acumen, so she started to think about poetry and books.
How could these women understand what the Four Books and Five Classics, economics, poetry and prose are?
Staying home and raising children is the right path in life. Going out and showing off is already heresy. Now setting up a girls' academy is simply immoral. I...I have to report this to Magistrate Wu...Wu.
The man drinking next to him had a sinister look in his eyes for a second, and said flatteringly: "Chen Tongsheng is really a kind and righteous man, speaking frankly. This little girl should be taught a lesson."
"You...don't worry, I will definitely report this matter. I have the highest probability of passing the imperial examination this year. For the sake of his own political achievements, County Magistrate Wu will definitely listen to me. Even if he doesn't give me face, he will definitely give my father-in-law face."
"Then wait for good news from Brother Chen."
"Come on, keep drinking."
The discussion about Shen Jia here has not stopped yet, but the two people upstairs are furious. If Shen Jia had not stopped them from taking action, Xu Zhao really wanted to rush down and fight with those people who only know how to gossip.
Their bosses who are so kind and think of ways out for the people are still being speculated with the most vicious thoughts. These people look well-dressed and well-mannered, but they actually look down on their bosses who do practical things for the people. It is really hateful.
Xu Zhao looked at the boss who still looked calm and said, "Boss, they are blind. You are the best man in the world. This academy was built for the common people. We all remember your kindness."
Shen Jia continued what he was doing, moved a pot of tea in front of Xu Zhao, and comforted him:
"I know everything. No one can stop me from doing what I decide. I don't care what they say. A tiger doesn't care about the barking of a dog. You should also have a cup of tea to calm down. I think Madam Li will be here soon."
Today is the tenth day since Shen Jia posted the notice to recruit teachers, and this is the first letter they have received regarding female teachers.
The other party said that they wanted to discuss the matter in the private room of Shuntian Restaurant and then decide whether to join Hongmeng Academy, so the two of them appeared here and listened to some gossip about themselves.
“Knock knock knock!”
Hearing the knock on the door, Xu Zhao immediately stood up. Shen Jia also stood up slowly and said to the door, "Come in!"
As soon as the waiter opened the door, he said to Shen Jia, "Sir, this is a guest who is looking for you."
Outside the door stood a pretty lady with a figure like that of a weak willow lady, holding the hand of a little girl who was about two or three years old. It seemed that this was Madam Li, the one he had made an appointment with.
She smiled and said, "He's my guest. Go get a pot of tea and two plates of cakes, and they'll be brought up shortly.
"Mrs. Li, please come in." Then he looked at the two guests at the door and extended his hand to invite them in.
"Okay!"
The waiter escorted the person into the private room, closed the door and left as usual.
Shen Jia looked at Madam Li, whose frail form but eyes gleamed with determination, and said, "Please take a seat, both of you. I am the headmaster of Hongmeng Academy, and this is my bodyguard, Xu Zhao. He is not an outsider."
Li Qingyu first wiped her own and the child's chairs clean with a handkerchief, and then sat upright opposite the two of them, like a standard ancient painting of a lady, causing Shen Jia and Xu Zhao to unconsciously restrain their movements.
Then a cool and pleasant voice rang out beside my ears, "I am Li Qingyu, and this is my daughter, Sun Huanyue. We are from Guanghe County, Hezhou. I happened to see the headmaster's job posting, and since I am the daughter of a scholar and have read a lot of poetry and books, I took the liberty to come and visit you."
From this explanation, it can be seen that she has a family background in learning, and she must have a deep understanding of poetry and literature. However, seeing that she came alone and brought her daughter with her, Shen Jia couldn't help but be curious about what happened to her.
However, it is not a good habit to pry into other people's privacy rashly, so Shen Jia expressed his doubts. After all, not everyone can accept the situation in their academy.
"Because of the special nature of our academy, the teacher needs to stay in the academy for a long time. He takes two days off every ten days. I wonder if Madam Li's family can accept this?"
"I have carefully read the basic requirements in the notice. I heard that the academy provides food and accommodation, which is why I just came here. I wonder if I can bring my daughter to live with me?
I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the headmaster, but I've just been divorced by my husband, and my parents are unwilling to take me home because they think I'm a disgrace. I can only live in an inn with my daughter. I wonder if the headmaster would mind our status."
As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Jia and Xu Zhao quickly understood why the other party was here.
If it weren't for her own livelihood, a lady who looks like a lady from a noble family would rarely be willing to show herself in public?
Now that the reason was given, the two of them didn't find it so strange. Bringing a child with them was not a problem. They just had to take care of the child themselves. After all, the academy dormitory did not have any special service staff.
Although Shen Jia did not want to test the teacher who came to ask questions in advance, the other party took the initiative to come to him, obviously wanting to understand some of the situation first.
So she asked, "It's okay to bring the child, but you need to take care of it yourself. Our academy does not provide slavery. Our notice also states that it doesn't matter who you are, as long as you are willing.
May I ask what kind of teaching is Madam Li good at? What books have you studied?"
"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the headmaster, because my father was a scholar and he also opened a private school. I have dabbled in the Four Books and Five Classics, and I can barely read the zither and chess. I can also read "Female Rules" and "Female Training."
The main reason was that Li Qingyu didn't look like a boastful person, so Shen Jia naturally believed what she said and felt that her attainments should be enough for some basic courses.
But the assessment still needs to be passed, and today it’s just a matter of giving her a word.
"In that case, Madam Li, please stay and take the assessment for our Hongmeng Academy. You can take up your position immediately after passing. As for 'Rules for Women' and 'Trainings for Women', our academy probably won't need them. You can review other areas of knowledge."
After hearing Shen Jia's words, Li Qingyu, who was originally worried that there would be problems in the qualification review, almost couldn't maintain his cold expression, and his cold voice also carried a hint of joy.
"Thank you for your answers, Headmaster. See you during the assessment."
Shen Jia, who knew Li Qingyu's situation, couldn't help but feel a little sympathy and couldn't help asking:
"I wonder if Madam Li will have any trouble staying in Linyuan County. If you don't mind, you can stay at our Shen's workshop for the time being. We can discuss other matters after tomorrow's assessment is over."
Li Qingyu naturally refused. She had her own insistence and reasoning. "Don't bother the headmaster. We have our own place to go."
In the next few days, Shen Jia met several female teachers who came to visit him. Even those with embroidery skills came to try their luck, but unfortunately their teaching path did not quite match Shen Jia's.
What she didn't expect was that after staying in the county town for a few days, she actually received a letter of denunciation. She originally thought it was a request for a meeting, but after reading the content, she couldn't help laughing.
Just when she thought it was just a joke, she received an invitation from County Magistrate Wu, which made her think of the contents of the letter again.
Seeing Magistrate Wu sitting upright in his study, staring at him, Shen Jia smiled as usual and asked:
"I wonder if Uncle Shi invited me to discuss something important?"
"Please sit down first. We'll talk after you sit down."
Seeing that the other party didn't look like he was going to accuse him, Shen Jia was really curious about why County Magistrate Wu was looking for him.
After waiting for Shen Jia to sit down, Magistrate Wu said admiringly as before:
"Niece, the great event you have done this time has really shaken up the entire Hezhou. Many people have been asking me about you these days.
How is your academy going now? Is there anything you need help from your uncle? Just tell me."
"It's just a small matter in our Linyuan County. Why do we need your help, uncle? The academy will be completed soon, so there's no need to worry about students. Many teachers have come recently, but I don't know how many are suitable."
Hearing Shen Jia's words, Wu Wei subconsciously touched the ring on his thumb, thought for a while and then continued speaking.
"In that case, what do you think of my daughter Rong Niang? It would be her greatest honor to be able to go there and help out and learn some of your skills."
The main reason was that Wu Zhenrong had reached the age where she could be betrothed, and since he did not interfere in matters of the inner house, he now discovered that his daughter seemed to have been brought up to be too timid and rigid.
He was very worried that his daughter would be bullied after she got married. Although Linyuan County is still in charge now, the world is ever-changing and you never know if there will be a day when you will be powerless.
He wanted to find a guarantee for his daughter. In this world, only one can protect himself. This is what he discovered after communicating with Shen Jia for such a long time.
When Shen Jia heard this, he began to recall Wu Zhenrong, whom he had only met once. She looked exactly like the lady from a noble family he had imagined, and her every move was in line with the current aesthetic. Therefore, he was still quite confused about what Magistrate Wu said.
Although the cooperation with County Magistrate Wu was pleasant, it was all about business. There was nothing about Shen Jia that today's scholars liked. Isn't it a joke to let his daughter learn from him?
My teaching is not about taking care of the husband and children. It is about learning some real skills. In addition to poetry and books, some practical skills are the most important thing.
Magistrate Wu opened his mouth, and she didn't want to refuse too obviously, so she replied:
"Mrs. Rong is naturally gentle and charming, and I like her very much, but our academy mainly serves the workshop, and the mixed crowd is not suitable for a young lady like Rong.
Furthermore, our academy has no restrictions on the number of people we recruit. You only need to pass the assessment. If Rong Niang is willing, you can join us. We will definitely welcome you."
Wu Wei also knew that it was presumptuous of him to propose this idea rashly, but for the sake of his daughter, he still wanted to give it a try.
In just three years, Shen Jia cultivated batches of talents through the school he established in the workshop and expanded his workshop team.
The achievements made in the entire northern border today are definitely inseparable from this. He hopes that Rong Niang can also learn some real skills.
To be honest, he also knew something about the teacher's daughter. She had married into a wealthy family in Hengzhou before, or perhaps it could be said that she married down. She knew the situation now.
In the past, if I went directly to the workshop, my wife might have complained, but the academy is different. It is an academy only for women. As long as I put in a little effort, I will definitely succeed.
He was also willing to lose face and continued:
"Then we have a deal. Rong Niang will come to participate in your recruitment assessment."
Looking at the excited County Magistrate Wu, Shen Jia didn't know what to say.
Then he changed his mind and thought, if Wu Zhenrong really has the ability, then their academy will have one more teacher. If she fails the assessment, it has nothing to do with him.
So in the end she smiled and said, "Since it's now, I will be waiting for Rong Niang's arrival at the academy."
Originally, Shen Jia thought that County Magistrate Wu was looking for him because he had some secret information to share, but now it seems that he had misunderstood.
At the same time, he was somewhat confused about the fact that County Magistrate Wu tacitly allowed him to run a girls' academy and wanted his daughter to be a teacher.
Forget it, the situation is in her favor now, so let's not worry about it for now.
Magistrate Wu had indeed listened carefully to Chen Xin's report and looked at the other party's arrogant attitude. If it weren't for the weak atmosphere among scholars in the northern region, how could a mere student speak so arrogantly in front of him?
Doesn't he know that there is no provision in the laws of the Great Sheng prohibiting the establishment of girls' academies?
Moreover, this incident might even spark a trend of learning among scholars, making the academic atmosphere in Linyuan County even better. He would be so happy that he couldn't contain himself. How could he possibly stop it?
After patiently listening to the other party's sour words, Wu Wei began to think about the possibility of letting his daughter join in.
He admired Shen Jia's character and knowledge, and thought it would be great if his daughter could learn a little bit from him. Therefore, for the first time in his life, he wanted to change his wife's way of raising their daughter.
After the two chatted, Shen Jia stayed at the Wu Mansion for dinner after repeated invitations from Magistrate Wu before leaving.
Time flies, and it is late autumn.
Shen Jia, Shen Yue and Shen Min stood together in front of the academy's gate, waiting for the students and future teachers from the foot of the mountain to come up the mountain.
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