The very next day, someone came to Canghe Village to apply for the job, which excited Li Kaishan so much that he asked the most respected person in the village to accompany him.
However, this matter ultimately needs Yan Qingqing's opinion.
So while Li Kaishan was chatting with the other person, he sent someone to invite Yan Qingqing.
Yan Qingqing took this matter quite seriously. Upon hearing that someone was coming for an interview, she quickly tidied herself up and came over.
The person applying for the job this time is a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations for many years. I heard that he was highly regarded by the teachers in the academy back then, but for various reasons, he was no longer eligible to take the imperial examinations.
When Yan Qingqing arrived, Li Kaishan was having a lively conversation with someone.
Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, Li Kaishan quickly stood up and introduced her, saying, "This is the Imperial Concubine Mingzhao, appointed by the Emperor, and the pride of our Canghe Village."
He then said to Yan Qingqing, "This is Scholar Ji from the county town. He wants to become a teacher at our village school."
Upon hearing this, the scholar quickly bowed and said, "Ji Dongming greets the magistrate of Mingzhao."
Ji Dongming looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. His clothes were a little faded from washing, but they were clean and tidy.
He had striking features and possessed the refined elegance characteristic of a scholar.
Yan Qingqing had a good impression of him and said, "Scholar Ji, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."
Ji Xiucai and Li Kaishan then sat down again.
Yan Qingqing sat at the head of the table and chatted casually with Ji Xiucai.
From the conversation, Yan Qingqing learned that the scholar's parents had been ill for many years and had spent a lot of money, but they had both passed away.
His family had accumulated a lot of debt, and he had made a living by copying books over the years. He had also thought about becoming a teacher at a school in the county town.
However, since no one had the official title of Juren (a degree in the imperial examination system), they would not receive good treatment after going there.
Secondly, no one could recommend or vouch for him, and the college was unwilling to accept him.
But over the years he has never given up reading, and while copying books for others, he would also keep a copy for himself.
After Yan Qingqing understood the situation, she and Li Kaishan exchanged a glance, and they both saw agreement in each other's eyes.
A person who is filial to their parents and strives for self-improvement is at least likely to have good character.
So Yan Qingqing spoke up, "Our village school is newly built, and these children have no foundation. We hope that Master Ji will take good care of them in the future."
Upon hearing this, Ji Dongming was overjoyed. Yan Qingqing's words meant she approved of him and was willing to let him teach at the academy.
So he quickly stood up and said to Yan Qingqing, "Mingzhao is reassuring. I will do my best and never let down Mingzhao's kindness in recognizing my talent."
Ji Dongming not only had debts to repay, but also a wife and children to support. He desperately needed this job.
Moreover, teaching and educating people is much more respectable than copying books for others.
Yan Qingqing also smiled and said, "Master Ji, there's no need to be so polite. It should be the elders and folks of our Canghe Village who should thank you."
You are the first person to come to our school for an interview. The monthly salary is three taels of silver, including room and board. If Master Ji has any other requirements, please feel free to mention them.
I will do my best to satisfy Master Ji as much as I can.
But I also hope that Master Ji can use his true abilities to educate these children.
With such favorable conditions, what could Ji Dongming possibly complain about? He immediately expressed his sincerity once again.
After seeing Ji Dongming off, Li Kaishan sighed, "Although it's not easy for us peasants, scholars also have their own difficulties."
Yan Qingqing looked at Li Kaishan and thought the old man was quite adorable; he had only enjoyed a few days of good life himself and was already pitying others.
However, it's always good to maintain a sincere heart.
Seeing that everything was alright, Yan Qingqing spoke a few more words to Li Kaishan before returning home.
In the following days, many more students and scholars came to apply for the job. Yan Qingqing would meet with them when she had time, and when she didn't, she would let Li Kaishan make the decision himself.
After several days of research, Wang Dagang finally figured out the manual seed threshing machine that Yan Qingqing had drawn.
Then, excitedly, he brought his things to Yan Qingqing's house.
Unlike his mother, Wang Dagang could not freely enter and leave Yan Qingqing's house.
When A-Si saw him carrying something strange, he said he was looking for Yan Qingqing. A-Si didn't dare to delay, so he chatted with him while sending the other servants at the gate to inform Yan Qingqing.
Ah Si asked, "Uncle Da Gang, what rare thing have you made this time?"
Wang Dagang laughed and said, "Isn't this a seed threshing machine that my second sister-in-law drew a few days ago? I don't know what she's going to use it for."
This thing looks simple, but I didn't expect it to be so complicated to make.
I spent several days figuring this out, and I don't know how effective it will be, so I quickly brought it over so my sister-in-law could try it. If it doesn't work, I'll improve it.
When Ah Si heard that this thing was actually designed by their wife, he thought it was probably for the white cotton picked from the mountain. Oh, no, their wife said it was called cotton.
So he said with a smile, "My wife is always very intelligent, so this thing must be very useful."
"Uncle Dagang, please sit here and rest for a while. I've already sent someone to report to Madam."
Wang Dagang nodded upon hearing this. Yan Qingqing's status was no longer what it used to be; she wasn't someone anyone could just see whenever they wanted. He wasn't her mother, who could come and go freely in the Li family just because of her good relationship with Yan Qingqing.
Of course, Wang Dagang didn't have to wait long. Soon, the servant who had gone to deliver the message came over and said, "Madam said to quickly invite Uncle Dagang in. She's waiting in the front yard."
After saying that, he led Wang Dagang into the house.
Sure enough, Yan Qingqing was waiting for Wang Dagang in the courtyard when he arrived.
Wang Dagang became a little nervous when he saw Yan Qingqing. He stammered, "Second Sister-in-law," and then said, "I have made what you asked for. Is it okay? If not, I will improve it."
Yan Qingqing took a look and thought it was pretty good.
He then instructed the maid in the courtyard to bring out the stored cotton.
I started removing the seeds myself.
Yan Qingqing stuffed cotton into the clamp while turning the handle.
Soon the cotton seeds were shed from the cotton.
Yan Qingqing experimented for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, and she became more and more adept at it.
Then he stood up and said, "Not bad, but it still needs some improvement. It gets tiring to shake this guard for a long time. You can make a wooden board underneath and connect it to the shaft above."
This not only frees up your other hand, but also makes it less tiring.
Wang Dagang quickly wrote it down and said, "Don't worry, Second Sister-in-law, I'll improve it when I get back." Then he turned to go home.
Yan Qingqing called out to him, "There's no rush. Da Gang, if you trust your sister-in-law, you can make more when you have time. I'll need some later."
Perhaps before long, you too will be able to make a fortune using this.
Of course, it's also possible that it will all be for nothing.
Although Wang Dagang didn't quite understand, since Yan Qingqing said it could make money, it must be possible.
Even if you don't make a profit, you won't lose anything; it just takes a little more effort.
So Wang Dagang thanked Yan Qingqing and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Second Sister-in-law. I'll make some when I have time when I get back."
After saying that, Wang Dagang went home to discuss the matter with his aunt.
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