Chapter 923 Using back channels is something that happens everywhere.
The opening ceremony of Ping'an Women's Medical College on this day provided a lot of talking about in Chang'an. Whether it was in the streets and alleys or among the noble families, everyone was discussing it.
Especially the youngest daughter in that family who got into the academy, won the envy of others with just a few words.
Everything went just as Li San Niang had predicted. Ping An Women's Medical College made a name for itself, and even people from the Imperial Medical Bureau approached Li San Niang in private, wanting to pull some strings to get their daughters, who knew some medical principles, into the college.
"My senior brother is doing me a favor by coming to me."
Li San Niang gestured to Song Fuling, who was standing to the side, to pour tea for the middle-aged man with a short beard opposite them. Song Fuling naturally went forward to pour the tea.
Li San Niang and Senior Brother Zhou had been exchanging pleasantries in a rambling manner for almost fifteen minutes. Senior Brother Zhou just wouldn't get to the point. His words were nothing more than praising how amazing Li San Niang was and how insightful Doctor Gao was. They were all high-sounding, polite words used to flatter her.
So, who exactly is this Senior Brother Zhou?
The fact that Li San Niang could call him "senior brother" naturally indicates that he has some connection with the old physician Gao.
This Senior Brother Zhou was once a fellow disciple of Manager Gao, who was in charge of the three medicine halls in Yongpingfang. According to Manager Gao, Li San Niang and Senior Brother Zhou could be considered to be related, and it would be appropriate for them to call each other senior brother and junior sister.
As for why Senior Brother Zhou stopped Li San Niang's carriage on her way off duty today and insisted on inviting her to a teahouse, Li San Niang had already guessed it after listening to his rambling for a quarter of an hour.
Anxious to get home, Li Sanniang had no choice but to speak frankly: "Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Zhou, did you come here for your daughter?"
Senior Brother Zhou was silenced by Li San Niang. Hearing her words, he looked at Li San Niang with a slight embarrassment: "My daughter is twelve years old and is very intelligent and quick-witted. If she hadn't gone home with me to pay respects to our ancestors when it was time to register for the Women's Medical College, she would definitely have been able to register in time."
"Junior Sister Li, we're all on the same side. I've swallowed my pride and come here today to beg you, could you please register my daughter for admission to your women's medical school?"
Seeing that Li San Niang looked hesitant, Senior Brother Zhou quickly added, "Don't worry, I have personally taught my daughter since she was a child. She is my only daughter, and she is a good one. If you don't believe me, just take the test questions and put her to the test."
"If you can say that, I believe your daughter must be a good person."
However, "Senior Brother Zhou," Li San Niang looked up at Senior Brother Zhou, whose eyes were full of hope.
"The registration deadline has passed, and the first batch of students have already participated in the opening ceremony and officially started classes at the academy."
If I were to do my senior brother a favor at this time, even if I allowed his daughter to enter the academy, I'm afraid she still wouldn't be able to learn well.
My senior brother is different from me. I was taught by my father from a young age and never had the experience of learning from the same master as others.
"My senior brother has studied medicine under our grandmaster since childhood, alongside Steward Gao. He must understand that simply letting your daughter into the sect won't cure her."
Senior Brother Zhou frowned. He naturally understood Li San Niang's worries, but he also felt a little resentful: "I've come to your door in person, and you won't even give me this face."
Besides, you have to get into the academy first; whether you can learn well later is a matter for the future.
Li San Niang sighed inwardly, "Luckily, I was prepared."
Thinking this through, Li Sanniang once again put on a fake smile for Senior Brother Zhou: "But our Ping'an Women's Medical College also doesn't want to miss out on such a clever young lady as your daughter, so, Senior Brother, please listen to me..."
The method that Li San Niang told her senior brother Zhou was actually something she had already discussed with Mei Ru Ying and Chen Yan Fu.
Actually, it's very simple: extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times.
Before Ping An Women's Medical College had a good reputation, most people above average would observe it from the sidelines. Only a few people were able to be as certain as Dr. Li and the Tang family of Tang Mingyue that it was a promising investment, and those who invested their entire fortune in it were ultimately a minority.
People like Senior Brother Zhou, who have already made a name for themselves at Ping An Women's Medical College and reached a certain level of fame, will then think about joining. Families with connections will naturally follow Senior Brother Zhou's example and try to find a way to get their daughters into the college through back channels.
But is Li San Niang really someone who will agree to help anyone who comes to her door?
But if some people agree and others don't, wouldn't that offend people?
From the initial idea to its actual establishment and opening, many people have contributed to the Ping'an Women's Medical College. Not to mention Li San Niang herself, there are also her own people in the obstetrics and gynecology department like Chen Yan Fu, the officials in the Imperial Medical Bureau, and Princess Qingyang who have provided a great deal of help. Even Zhong Li Wen Lian, the current major financial backer of the college, is indispensable.
As long as a person is alive, how can they not have relatives and friends?
So, how should we deal with these people who want to use connections?
Finally, Li San Niang and the others came up with a solution, which can be summarized as: accept all comers!
Those who come seeking entry must first pay an entrance fee, the advantage of which is that they can enter without having to take an exam.
However, this does not mean that they can simply coast along in the academy forever.
For a period of one year, these people with connections will take the exam along with the next batch of girls applying to Ping An Women's Medical College. If they pass the exam, they can be admitted and given student status, with the same conditions as those girls who are admitted through the regular entrance exam.
However, if you are ignorant and incompetent, and you get in through connections but don't study hard, then I'm sorry, you'll have to pay another sum of money as a tuition fee to continue studying in the academy, but you won't have a student status and will only be considered an auditor.
Otherwise, you should pack your bags and leave the academy right away, instead of making a fool of yourselves here.
This method has two advantages. First, it avoids offending those families. After all, Ping An Women's Medical College is still in its early stages. If it becomes one of the top colleges in Chang'an in the future, it will be able to refuse others at will. Who knows, even royalty and nobles won't be able to come whenever they want.
Secondly, Ping An Women's Medical College still needs money to operate. It's not a bad thing that some people are willing to pay for an opportunity to audit classes, since education should be accessible to all.
Besides, if these people fail the exam, they will ultimately be different from those students with official student status, which will also ensure the reputation of Ping An Women's Medical College.
After hearing what Li San Niang said, Senior Brother Zhou stroked his beard. "Junior Sister Li, what you mean is..."
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