The old man had a very stable mindset, but Jiang Chao didn't share that temperament. He said sarcastically, "How can he say such things? To his aunt? To Wang Shi? Or to Da Niu and the others? It's not wrong to live in your own little world, but it's shameless to blame others for your lack of responsibility."
He always thought he earned his living through his own abilities and didn't benefit from his family's influence, but what was the truth?
If it weren't for the yellow label, given all the things he'd done in the past, he'd be lucky not to be beaten to death.
Jiang Chao disliked Boss Huang the most, not because he lacked responsibility, but because he was too selfish.
He seemed to be forced into it, but in reality, everything he did was capricious; he did whatever he wanted, and the whole world combined was not as important as him.
That's not all, this person's face is also exceptionally large.
He's clearly the one who caused the trouble, yet he acts like everyone else has wronged him.
He was glad that his aunt hadn't made the couple divorce; it was better for two selfish people to be tied together than to harm others.
"Why keep talking about him on such a fine day?" Huang Lao Er said impatiently. "Let's talk about something else."
Having served as a general for three years, Huang Lao Er had developed a sharp and imposing presence, but no one in his family paid any attention to it.
The two elderly ladies were quite disgusted with him, fearing that he would corrupt the rest of the family, and specifically told him not to come back unless necessary.
Of course, Huang Lao Er didn't want to come back either. Although the old lady's beating didn't hurt much, it was still embarrassing.
“We’ve said enough, let’s go eat,” Grandma Huang suggested. “Your mother isn’t just staying for a day, we have plenty of time to catch up.”
Jiang Nuan wanted to keep a low profile during her trip to Beijing.
However, neither her family, nor the officials and even the common people would allow her to remain low-key any longer.
The Great Zhou Dynasty is about to enter a golden age, a fact known to everyone. This golden age needs a witness who is unparalleled throughout history, and no one is more suitable than the banished immortal.
Not to mention, the current state of the Great Zhou Dynasty is inseparable from the help of the banished immortal.
In fact, the Imperial Observatory had already chosen the day for the Heaven-worshiping ceremony the moment Jiang Nuan arrived.
May 19th is an auspicious day for weddings and ancestral worship, which is eight days later.
Eight days is neither a short nor a long time. Jiang Nuan's time was fully scheduled, as she traveled to various mansions every day to pray for blessings.
In the past, she could have simply refused. However, in the past three years, the old lady had developed her career in the capital and had accumulated a lot of favors, all of which she had to repay.
Ji Xuan was glad she spoke up early, reserving a spot for her six sons.
Seven days later, Jiang Nuan slumped into a chair.
"Finally finished!"
After speaking, he took a sip of tea and wiped away non-existent fine sweat from his face.
"Are you tired? Let me give you a shoulder massage."
The old lady smiled ingratiatingly.
She felt guilty.
If it weren't for the favors I owe, my maid wouldn't be so busy.
“Mother,” a thought suddenly flashed through Jiang Nuan’s mind, “you’ve been begging me to come, is it because Xiao Si is going to take the imperial examination, or… because he can’t withstand the pressure?”
Just thinking about the way those wealthy women looked at her made Jiang Nuan get goosebumps.
I felt urgent and intense, like a piece of pork belly.
"Cough cough..."
The old lady was a little embarrassed. "I think so!"
"We've troubled them a lot over the years, and this can't go on forever. We should at least repay some of their favors, shouldn't we?"
"It's just an embroidery shop, it shouldn't be that serious, right?"
Every day there are at least three to five families, all of whom are powerful and influential figures in the court. Even if an embroidery shop blocks the way for other businesses, with the reputation of the Lady Protector of the Nation, it wouldn't require so many people to help.
“The embroidery shop is not that bad. I want to run a girls’ school,” the old lady sighed. “The embroidery shop may look glamorous, but only they know what’s going on. It’s just a temporary fix. Many of the female workers are still completely controlled by their husbands’ families. At most, they’re just spared from beatings and hunger.”
Only by establishing girls' schools and enabling them to learn and understand principles can they truly stand on their own two feet.
She had this idea two years ago, but the timing wasn't right, no one supported her, and she was even suppressed by some people for a long time.
Later, as the embroidery shop gained more and more influence, the old lady gradually became close friends with the noble ladies of the capital and found a group of like-minded people.
"How are the preparations going?"
"It's almost done. The academy is already built, located in Langshan in the northern suburbs. The teachers have been mostly found, and we're preparing to start accepting students in July, just after the busy farming season."
"So fast?"
Jiang Nuan didn't show it on her face, but she was extremely shocked by her mother's speed.
When the title of Marquis of Liuxian was given to the old lady, she may have had this idea.
However, in a feudal dynasty where men were superior to women, such a thing would encounter resistance no less than that of reform, so I didn't dare to have too much hope.
Moreover, she roughly estimated that even if it could be accomplished, it would take at least ten years due to various disputes.
"What's the rush?" the old lady said, somewhat dejectedly. "It took more than two years to finish. It almost drove me crazy. Some people are such scoundrels. They benefited from studying themselves, but they forbid women from studying. It's infuriating."
"It's truly remarkable that Mother was able to open the academy."
Jiang Nuan's praise was sincere.
Their eyes were full of admiration as they looked at the old lady.
The matter of opening a girls' academy is absolutely not comparable to the matter of elevating the old lady to a noble rank; it genuinely infringed upon the interests of the entire group.
More precisely, it gave girls the opportunity to compete with men.
Perhaps most students will still get married after graduation and eventually become wives and mothers confined to the home, but it is still a very valuable step forward.
Every era has a small group of people who are amazing, decisive, and lead the entire society. If they persevere, the girls' academy may well be able to wait for these people.
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