"In addition to the teaching building, there must be a dormitory, which is a place specifically for the children to live. It should also be built on three floors, just like an inn, divided into separate rooms. Several children can live in one room and take care of each other.
"The cafeteria, where we eat, can be built on one floor, but it needs to be bigger, otherwise the children might not be able to sit. As for the library, when it's built, I'll have people put all kinds of books here. Both children and teachers can read here for free."
Hearing this, Zhou Ao couldn't help but be moved.
"There is also a bathhouse, a playground, a gymnasium..." Xue Huan listed them one by one.
Zhou Ao listened with a more and more serious expression, and occasionally asked questions when he encountered something he didn't understand.
Finally, Xue Huan finished speaking, and Zhou Ao said, "I've taken note of everything you said. I'll draw a rough sketch when I get back. You can take a look and see if there's anything else you want to add."
"Mr. Zhou, why don't you just live in my house? That way you won't have to travel back and forth. It will be convenient for us to communicate if anything comes up. Besides, my chef is an excellent cook, and I guarantee you'll have good food and drink every day."
Of course, the cook's original skills were only decent, but with the constant guidance of the great chef Xue Huan, the cook's cooking skills naturally improved significantly. The meals she makes now can be said to be very delicious and very much to Xue Huan's taste.
Zhou Ao did not refuse. Originally, when people of high standards hired craftsmen to do work, they would provide food and accommodation. After the work was completed, they would also give some tips in addition to the wages and send the craftsmen off well.
But, “I have to go back and get some stuff.”
There is nothing else to do, but you must not leave behind the tools you need.
Xue Huan: "Then I'll take you back."
After returning to the town to get his things, Zhou Ao followed Xue Huan to the Zhao Mansion and settled down there.
Xue Huan assigned a servant to wait for his orders, and bought all the items on the list Zhou Ao had made for her and brought them to him.
Zhou Ao took a look and saw that everything she bought was of high quality. He nodded with satisfaction. After eating and taking a shower, he entered a retreat mode and concentrated on drawing the design.
I basically never left the room.
The food was brought into his room by the servants.
While Zhou Ao was drawing the design, Xue Huan had already completed all the preliminary work, such as hiring a construction team, clearing out the Ghost Weeping Forest, and contacting various merchants to place orders for bricks, tiles, wood, and stones.
Five days later, Zhou Ao finished the first draft. He took a comfortable bath and had a meal, then asked the servant to call Xue Huan over.
"Take a look." Zhou Ao pointed his chin at the drawing on the table.
Although he was busy for five days and didn't get much sleep, he was in better spirits than before. Firstly, it was because he had returned to the job he loved, and secondly, the tea Xue Huan provided him was a spiritual tea, which was very beneficial to the body.
So his original depressed mood was swept away and he became full of energy.
Xue Huan unfolded the blueprint and was immediately amazed by the design. The painting was done with an extremely fine brush, which clearly outlined the image of each building, with many notes next to it, such as material, size, etc.
The overall look is antique, yet comfortable and grand.
In addition to the bird's-eye view, there are also front views, side views, and interior views of each building, which allow her to fully understand what the college will look like after completion.
In addition to the main building, there are also some small buildings scattered around, and even greening has been taken into consideration.
Xue Huan could already imagine how beautiful this college would be after it was completed.
"Mr. Zhou, your picture is absolutely amazing. I can't wait to see the academy completed!"
Zhou Ao drank the soup slowly and leisurely. Hmm, this chicken soup is really delicious.
He accepted her compliment without hesitation and said, "If there are no problems, I'll take it."
"Let's settle it. I've already hired the craftsmen. When do you think we can start work?"
Zhou Ao took out a lunar calendar from under his pillow and flipped through it. "The eighth day is a good day to start construction."
"Isn't that tomorrow?"
Zhou Ao had been in seclusion for five days and had forgotten the exact date. "Tomorrow is the eighth day of the first lunar month? That's perfect."
The next morning, Xue Huan and Zhou Ao had breakfast and then took a car to the Ghost Forest.
Now this place can no longer be called a forest. The trees have been cut down and piled up in the open space, and the workers are working hard.
At a glance, there were about one hundred and eighty people.
Winter is the slack season for farmers, and young and middle-aged people in the countryside all come to the city to do odd jobs, hoping to take the opportunity to earn some money to supplement their family expenses. They happened to see a recruitment here, so they came to apply.
As long as they were not the kind of people who liked to cheat, Xue Huan would keep them.
Anyway, the more people there are, the faster the work will be done.
Because the treatment here is good, the workers work very hard, fearing that they will be laid off.
There is a special shed to live in, so you don't have to go back and forth. Three meals a day are generous and you can eat meat from time to time. The wages are sufficient and are paid once a month. Where can you find such a good job?
If you do this once, you will definitely have a prosperous year at the end of the year!
What the workers are doing now is building sheds for themselves to live in, and Chen Tian is in charge of supervision.
Because this school was built for orphans and would only enroll orphans in the future, Xue Huan placed this project under the foundation, and all the funds would be paid through the foundation.
After spotting Xue Huan, Chen Tian hurried over to greet her. Xue Huan introduced him, "This is Master Zhou Aozhou. From now on, he will have the final say on all matters concerning the academy's development."
"I'm honored to meet Master Zhou." Chen Tian bowed respectfully to Zhou Ao.
Xue Huan then said to Zhou Ao, "This is Chen Tian, the vice president of our foundation. He's in charge of all the chores on the construction site. If you have anything to say, Mr. Zhou, just tell him."
Zhou Ao nodded at Chen Tian.
Chen Tian led the way, took the two of them around the construction site, and reported on the current preparations and progress.
Xue Huan felt that it was a great decision to buy Chen Tian. His work ability was unquestionable. Whether he was serving as a housekeeper, handling affairs in the foundation, or now being in charge of the college's construction projects, he did a great job.
She felt that such a talent should not be bound by a contract of sale.
So when she left, she made a promise to Chen Tian: "When this academy is built, I will return your indenture to you."
Chen Tian was stunned for a moment, then he was overjoyed, "Thank you, young lady!"
Who wouldn't want to be free? Slaves couldn't take the imperial examinations. In an era where "everything was inferior except for education," not being able to take the examinations was like cutting off one's path to upward mobility.
It didn’t matter to Chen Tian himself because he was now following a good master, but he didn’t want his descendants to become slaves like him.
Xue Huan promised to return his indenture contract to him, which was undoubtedly a great favor to him. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was like a rebirth.
Chen Tian, who has always been calm and composed, couldn't help but feel his eyes getting hot at this moment.
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