Chapter 295 Qin Yanlan
When they arrived at Qin Niangzi's house, Chunlan went up and knocked on the door. After knocking twice, someone inside answered, and after confirming that it was Chunlan, the door was opened.
At first glance, Li's mother saw a young woman opposite her wearing a green and red cross-collar ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a carved silver hairpin in her hair and a serene smile on her face.
"Madam Qin, I apologize for disturbing you."
"Are you midwife Li? Please come in."
Li's mother and her two companions, along with Granny Sun and her two companions, followed Qin Niangzi, who was walking ahead, into the main hall.
On her way to the main hall, Li's mother saw that the small courtyard was clean and orderly, without a single weed.
Qin Niangzi must be a clean, tidy, and well-mannered person.
After everyone was seated, Madam Qin brought out a tea tray, which contained not ordinary tea leaves, but barley tea.
Qin Niangzi was very perceptive. Seeing the doubt on Li's mother's face, she smiled and said, "It's barley tea."
It's not that I don't want to drink tea, it's just that a warm cup of tea with the aroma of wheat is truly delightful at this time of year.
"Midwife Li, please try this, it's delicious!"
Mother Li knew about this barley tea, because Li San Niang had mentioned it at home. It was the barley tea that the family had eaten at the restaurant when they went to the West Market last time.
Before coming, Li's mother had learned some information about Qin Niangzi from midwife Sun and Chunlan.
Qin Niangzi was a young lady from a scholarly family in Lu. Because her father had some wealth, Qin Niangzi studied and learned to read and write with her brothers and their tutors from a young age.
Later, when Qin Niangzi reached a certain age, her father arranged for her to marry into a family she knew well.
That in-law family was even more influential than the Qin family, and they managed to send their son to study at the Imperial Academy in Chang'an.
As a woman who follows her husband after marriage, Lady Qin followed Lang Xu to Chang'an, where she gave birth to her eldest daughter.
But fate had other plans. Everything was fine until Qin Niangzi's husband got caught in the rain while hiking with friends in the suburbs of Beijing and caught a cold.
Although he took medicine after coming home and received meticulous care from Madam Qin, his illness only worsened, and he passed away within a month.
Only the young girl, who was no more than six or seven years old, and Qin Niangzi remained.
Originally, Qin Niangzi planned to take her daughter home, but then her brother was appointed as an official and became a county magistrate in Wannian County, Chang'an City.
Therefore, Lady Qin stayed in Chang'an.
After her daughter played with the young girls of the neighborhood and showed that she could read and write, some families came to her door, wanting to pay some tuition and ask Madam Qin to help teach their young girls some manners and principles. It would be even better if they could write a few words.
Although there were assets left by Lang Xu, and because Lang Xu's family gave some money every year to support the young girl, and Qin Niangzi's brother would also help out, life was still tight.
Therefore, Madam Qin agreed and vacated a room in her own home to serve as a school.
One family came, and then another came; eventually, even a family with a boy came to their door.
Qin Niangzi declined, citing that she only taught young girls.
For more than ten years, it can be said that almost all the literate girls in the neighborhood were taught by Qin Niangzi, and everyone had to call her "Teacher".
After her only daughter was married into a respectable family in the eastern part of Chang'an City, arranged by her brother and sister-in-law, Qin Niangzi stopped attending the small school.
"Lady Qin, I won't talk to you about those empty words."
The alliance my family has established, and my third aunt even runs a midwifery school within it. It's a time when female teachers are needed to help teach the young women to read. I'm sure Chunlan has told you all this?
Although Qin Niangzi was somewhat surprised by Li's mother's straightforwardness, she still smiled and nodded.
“Chunlan and Midwife Sun came to my door yesterday to tell me. I really didn’t expect that after I left this primary school for several years, there would still be people who remember it.”
"That's all thanks to Qin Niangzi's excellent teaching. A teacher like you, who can read and write, reason, and has the patience to teach children, is extremely rare."
"Madam Qin, my family would like to invite you to serve as a long-term mentor in our Women's Assistance Association. Would you be willing?"
As soon as Li's mother spoke, everyone in the room turned their attention to Qin Niangzi.
Qin Niangzi did not answer directly, but instead remained silent.
"Does Madam Qin have any concerns?"
"Don't worry, my lady, all the students are young women, just varying in age. Some are fifteen or sixteen, some are in their twenties, and there's also Midwife Sun."
Madam Qin shook her head, a gentle smile on her face, and said, "It's not that. I just wonder how many students there are? Are they being taught here, or at your alliance?"
"Does this mean that Madam Qin has agreed to become a teacher in our alliance?"
Sister-in-law Li asked happily.
Upon hearing this, Li Ersao quickly took out the employment contract that she had discussed with her mother, Li Dasao, and Li Sanniang the night before, which Li Dalang had written.
Mother Li took the employment letter from Second Sister Li, stood up, and solemnly handed it to Madam Qin with both hands: "Madam Qin, this is my family's employment letter. It details the location, time, number of students, the required level of instruction, and the tuition fee."
Madam Qin quickly stood up and took the nailed booklet with both hands. Madam Qin really didn't expect the Li family to have gone to such lengths.
"Don't worry, Madam Qin. If you have any complaints, just let us know, and we will make sure you are satisfied."
Afterwards, we can hire a middleman to write the contract. If you'd like, we've already brought the deposit.
Sister-in-law Li reached into her sleeve and took out a purse that looked quite full.
Seeing the Li family's sincerity, Qin Niangzi was greatly moved, and her already somewhat inclined to go became even stronger.
When Madam Qin carefully read the employment contract, she saw that it stated that there would be a special carriage to pick her up and drop her off every day while she was on duty, and if she wished, she could also live directly in the small courtyard in the backyard of the Li family's Women's Association.
They get two days off every ten days, and if it happens to be a holiday, they not only get a day off, but also receive a gift.
At the beginning of each month, the previous month's tuition fee will be paid. If you are sick, the Li Family Medical Hall will take care of it without charging for consultation or medicine.
There were only ten students at first, but the tuition fees were increased as the number of students grew.
...
The list of points written down surprised Qin Niangzi. If she had such good conditions, she could easily hire a teacher from the academy.
However, Madam Qin realized that they were going to teach a young woman, and unless they hired an elderly gentleman who was past the age where they needed to avoid suspicion, it would be most appropriate to hire a female teacher like herself.
"Midwife Li, these conditions are too good. I feel unworthy of them."
"Madam Qin, what do you mean by this?"
You deserve our treatment because you raised such a wonderful child as Chunlan.
"Mrs. Qin, do you agree?" Li Ersao asked happily.
"Mm." Madam Qin nodded in agreement, which relieved everyone present.
"Good, good, good! With Lady Qin around, our alliance is like a tiger with wings!"
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