“If you have no objections, we’ll start determining the personnel and responsibilities for each department right now. Let me tell you, don’t push any of your random nephews or nieces up here. If any of the people you put forward are wrong, you’ll all be publicly criticized in the village. Don’t lose face in front of the younger generation in the village when you’re old.”
Upon hearing this, the clan leaders no longer dared to harbor any selfish motives and racked their brains to think of who in the clan was reliable.
And so the workshop's organizational structure was set up, and the people were selected. They were all honest and hardworking people from the village. The thirty female workers remained the same, except that a few of the talkative ones were removed.
Although Lin Lizheng's son, Lin Ermu, was only twelve years old, he was selected for the propaganda department because he was good at studying and could write many characters. Several other fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boys from the school were also selected because they were good at arithmetic. Of course, the wages in the persimmon cake workshop were not high, and some departments did not have to stay in the workshop every day because of their functions.
For the first time, the villagers witnessed the benefits of education, and they all began to encourage their children to participate in the village's next recruitment drive. As a result, several more children came to study in the temporary school in the village's ancestral hall.
Song Anxin got up early this morning, practiced her martial arts in her room until she worked up a light sweat, then wiped herself down with hot water, feeling incredibly refreshed. Without Lin Fengyao sharing a room with her, she no longer had to get up early and sneak off to the backyard to practice. It really is better to have your own private space.
However, she still missed her two sons very much, and she would be able to see them today. At the academy, there was a two-day break every two weeks.
Lin Fengshou had driven his carriage to pick them up early in the morning. His ceramics business was doing increasingly well in Heyang County. He had set up a fixed stall and even made connections with some of the county's dignitaries, who would supply them with goods when needed. Today was a day for family reunion, so Lin Fengshou naturally didn't go to Heyang County. He would wait until the family had a reunion lunch before going.
As soon as Song Anxin stepped out of the room, she heard Lin Fengyao's excited shout from the courtyard gate: "Mom! We're back!"
Immediately afterwards, a small cannonball rushed into her arms, but fortunately Song Anxin had some martial arts skills and was able to stand firmly on her ground and was not knocked down by him.
Lin Fengnian was very happy to see his fourth brother return. He said from the side, "Fourth brother, be careful, don't hurt Mother."
Lin Fengyao chuckled and said, "I just miss Mother too much. Mother, do you miss us? It's so boring at the academy, not as fun as Lin Family Village."
Song Anxin smiled and patted his head, saying, "Of course I missed you all at home too. The academy is a place for learning, why are you always thinking about playing? But Fengyao, it's only been half a month since I last saw you, and I feel like you've grown quite a bit taller."
Song Mei teased, "Fourth brother only misses his mother. Don't we, the eldest brothers and sisters-in-law, and the second brother and uncle, miss her too? Mother, you're right, Fengyao has grown quite a bit taller."
Lin Fengyao jumped up and said, "Really? I've grown taller! Hahaha~ Sister-in-law, of course I missed you all too. I miss your cooking the most."
"You little rascal, are you implying that Grandma's cooking isn't good?" Grandma Song, Song Anbang, and Lin Fenghe followed behind, carrying boxes and baskets into the courtyard, their faces beaming with smiles. Lin Fengyao had run so fast that he had left them behind.
Renshan Academy in the county requires students to be thirteen years or older to live on campus. Therefore, Lin Fengyao is a day student and lives with Old Mrs. Song. Song Anxin can then legitimately give money to the old lady, ostensibly for boarding and meals. Of course, her mother initially refused to accept it, but in the end, she only agreed after Song Anxin threatened that if Lin Fengyao didn't accept it, she wouldn't be allowed to stay with her.
"So you ran so fast just to talk bad about your grandmother to your mother?" Old Mrs. Song said, feigning anger.
Lin Fengyao quickly shook his head and denied it: "No, no, I meant that the food we ate at the academy at noon was not good. Grandma's cooking is delicious. It's just that my third brother and uncle have to eat and live at the academy. I would go crazy if I had to do that. Luckily, I have my good grandma. Grandma is the best."
Grandma Song was immediately amused by him and burst into laughter.
Lin Fenghe and Song Anbang could only laugh helplessly. How could a book be boring when it contains a vast world? And how could the desire for food and drink be more important than that? Fengyao was still a young man with an unsettled mind.
"Oh my, I heard your voices from the yard. Feng He, Feng Yao, and Grandma Song from Anbang, you're finally back. I haven't been used to you being gone."
Sister-in-law Lin and Da Xi, along with Da Xiao Cao, Er Xi, and Dong Zi, also came over. Lin Fengyao and Lin Er Xi Dong Zi screamed like madmen as soon as they saw each other.
"Ah...! Sister Erxi, Dongzi! I miss you so much!"
"Ah...! You've grown taller, you stinky Fengyao."
"Ah.....! Brother Fengyao, you're finally back. It's been so awful without you."
The three of them huddled together and circled around each other, and the little grass and the big grass immediately followed suit.
The courtyard was filled with laughter and joy once again, and Song Anxin felt that this was probably the meaning of her coming here.
Lin Fenghe walked up to his mother and said, "Mother, I'm back." But there was some hesitation on his handsome face.
Song Anxin knew perfectly well that this boy also wanted to hug her like Feng Yao, but he was too shy. Song Anxin gave him a big hug: "Feng He, your mother misses you too. Look how thin you've become. Studying at the academy must be very hard. You should also make sure to balance work and rest. Don't overwork yourself."
Sigh, if only her two sons could be a better match. One only thinks about eating and having fun, and the other only thinks about studying.
Lin Fenghe felt truly at home when he smelled his mother's familiar scent. He raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Yes, Mother, I know."
Looking at him, Song Anxin felt that the third son had actually changed the most. He had lost weight and his temperament had changed. His eyebrows and eyes had also matured a lot. In short, having a handsome son was quite pleasing to the eye.
The handsome son spoke up, "Mother, I have some questions about the books I have to ask you."
Song Anbang leaned closer and said, "Sister, I also have some questions I'd like to discuss with you."
Song Anxin: "......." You two handsome guys, you know you're really ruining the atmosphere? I'll tolerate it because you're both good-looking.
So Lin Fengshou and Song Anbang spent the whole morning discussing academic matters with her, which made Song Anxin really miserable. However, she did hear some news, such as the war situation in the north worsening again, and that handsome magistrate of Yan County spending all his free time running to the academy to teach these weaklings martial arts, saying that the northern frontier needed intelligent scholars like them to serve the country. Also, it seemed that some kind of water conservancy tool was being tested in the capital...
Song Anxin jolted awake. Her waterwheel had succeeded? Logically, news from the capital should have reached here some time ago. Why hadn't her Lady of the Imperial Decree arrived yet? Was Magistrate Yan really that unreliable?!
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