"Farmers have it even harder. Out of the 365 days a year, except for the freezing winter months when everyone stays at home, they spend at least 300 days a year working hard on farm work."
"Facing the loess soil with their backs to the sky, the wind and frost have turned their hands and faces into the bark of old trees. Many of them are only in their thirties or forties, but they look like they are in their sixties or seventies... In this way, apart from the few days of rushing to plant and harvest during the busy farming season, when they can afford to eat some dry food and some oil and meat, most of the year they eat bran and wild vegetables and go hungry..."
"Life is so hard, who, apart from those who are extremely knowledgeable and farsighted, would be willing to spend the energy and time learning to read?"
"It can't be eaten, and it can't be drunk..."
His Majesty the King's expression was somewhat displeased. He no longer wanted to discuss Li Bingchen and Yun Duo, and simply frowned as he looked at Gu Shaoyong: "So, this matter isn't worth promoting?"
“No, Your Majesty.” Gu Shaoyong shook his head and looked at the king, saying, “This is worth promoting, and should be promoted. Learning knowledge is itself a way to open up one’s mind. Not to mention that one’s mind will become more open and one can see more things as a result, just the fact that workers can understand simple instruction manuals and operating guides can greatly reduce the factory’s costs in terms of manpower, training, and even raw materials and wear and tear on machine parts.”
"Farmers can understand the ratios and usage methods of pesticides and fertilizers, and can comprehend simple agricultural technical guidance. This allows them to learn and apply these techniques effectively, enabling them to harvest more crops and increase their income."
"This is a good thing that benefits the country and its people."
“But… people at the bottom of society don’t think about these things. If we want them to learn, we can only give them subsidies so they can see real benefits. Even if it’s just a subsidy of one or two pounds of millet a month, I believe that for that one bite to eat, many people will participate in literacy training.”
His Majesty the King's expression darkened further.
How many people are there in the country? If each person receives a subsidy of one pound of millet per month, how much grain would be needed to make up for it?
It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with the food; the main problem was... the country was poor, and the budget was already insufficient. Promoting free literacy programs already required funding, let alone subsidies...
Even the most skillful housewife can't cook without rice!
His Majesty the King sighed deeply: "Forget it, let's put it aside for now and deal with it after our finances improve. Anyway, the Co-governance Council might not approve it. We can already see the benefits of our people becoming literate."
"Your Majesty, how about... we start with a pilot program, just like the silkworm planting that the Fifth Prince suggested before?"
"A smaller scope means fewer subsidies needed, and there will be much less resistance in co-governance. It also allows us to accumulate and summarize experience, laying the foundation for our next step of nationwide promotion."
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
That makes sense.
only……
His Majesty the King nodded slightly, but his expression was somewhat grave: "Too slow, Shaoyong. The nation urgently needs development; time waits for no one!"
Gu Shaoyong empathized with the situation, but could only offer words of comfort: "Your Majesty, one must take things one step at a time. That's why starting a business is so difficult."
“I know.” His Majesty the King nodded, and continued, “But I really don’t want this country to be a poor and weak mess when I hand over this huge burden to my son, still constantly threatened by the military might of those great powers. It will be like we are now, living in fear and trembling, trying to survive in the cracks between the major powers.”
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