Chapter 65: Introductory Class
"Monkey, run! Show Erniu that running alone can kill him."
"Erniu, trip his legs! See how the monkey can escape."
…
The two people fighting were fighting fiercely, and the people who were cheering on the side were no less aggressive. The scene was in chaos for a while.
Before the matter was even settled, internal strife had already begun. The village chief was furious: "Stop it! If you continue fighting, I'll make sure all your efforts are in vain!"
No one wanted to bear such a consequence. Even if they were angry, Erniu and Houzi had to stop, and those who were making the most noise also began to retreat.
However, even a fool could see the unconcealable dissatisfaction on his face.
The village chief looked at the situation helplessly, coughed lightly, and said, "What good is it to quarrel with me even if you quarrel to the heavens? The young lady of the Fan family hasn't come up with a plan yet."
"Ah, village chief. Catching wild boars is not your business!" The tone was so annoying.
The village chief turned around and saw Wang Po, the village's famous loudmouth. It was this person who spread the news about the Fan family's seedling cultivation to other villages. The village chief was even more angry.
"How about you go to the Fan family and ask them. Can I, as the head of the village, take care of it?"
The angry village chief forgot that Wang Po was just a young and inexperienced person. Others might have been concerned about the village chief's status, but Wang Po replied directly: "Ask if you want."
After saying that, she turned around and ran towards the Fan family.
Seeing this, the village chief wanted to slap himself twice. Why was he so rude? But he had to stop her and said, "Stop her quickly——"
Unfortunately, the villagers thought that Chu Ci would make the final decision, so they pretended to be deaf and dumb.
Some people even tried to stop the village chief and his family from catching up with Wang Po by deliberately pulling the wrong person, nearly pulling the village chief down.
There was also a person who was running well, but his legs suddenly tripped together, and this person happened to stand in front of the village chief.
When the village chief arrived at the gate of the Fan family after many twists and turns, he learned that Chu Ci was transplanting rice in the field and Wang Po had already rushed over.
What else can the village chief do? He can only keep running!
The village chief thought that when he rushed over, he would see the villagers making unreasonable demands on Chu Ci for their own interests. However, what he saw was Wang Po learning how to transplant rice seedlings from Chu Ci with a meek look on her face.
He rubbed his eyes, and rubbed them again. "What on earth is going on?"
The village chief felt that since the young lady of the Fan family came to Jingtian Village, the people in the village had become somewhat unfamiliar to him.
Cao Kuan, who had been following Chu Ci, could no longer bear it and walked over to the village chief to explain, "The young lady told Wang Po that according to her method, one acre of land can produce at least 300 kilograms of rice."
"Three hundred catties?" the village chief thought subconsciously. If an acre of land could produce three hundred catties, who would be willing to risk their lives in the mountains?
Isn't the young lady of the Fan family contradicting herself? Why is that?
The village chief was confused, but Cao Kuan understood a little: "Village chief, the young lady is a truly kind and benevolent person. Whether it's rice planting or taming wild boars, it's all for the betterment of Jingtian Village."
The village chief didn't believe it, but that didn't stop him from admiring Chu Ci. He seized the opportunity, rushed to Chu Ci's side and said, "Young Madam, the villagers are divided on the matter of going up the mountain. I'm afraid you have to make the final decision."
Chu Ci stood up and said, "Mo Yan, go back and bring the plan and selection criteria that the young master made last night to the village chief."
Mo Yan's face flushed instantly, "Madam, the eldest young master went to the county town. I, I can't read."
Chu Ci was stunned when he heard this, and he secretly blamed himself. Why did he always forcibly apply the standards of his past life to this world?
She sighed softly and said, "I'm sorry, I was negligent. Let's set up an enlightenment class starting tonight. As for the teacher, for now... I'll see who's free. Do you think this is okay?"
"Establish an enlightenment class specifically for us?" Mo Yan didn't expect that he would have the opportunity to learn to read, and he was so excited that he almost cried out.
Chu Ci realized that Mo Yan had misunderstood her. She wasn't as great as he imagined. So she explained, "Not really. Grandpa wants to open a private school. I'll just consider it as a way to increase its popularity. Besides, if you learn to read, I'll be the one who benefits in the end, won't I?"
Chu Ci spoke lightly and calmly, but Mo Yan was deeply moved.
All the village chief was thinking about was that the Fan family was going to open a private school, and their Jingtian Village would also have a private school in the future!
Thinking of what Cao Kuan said, the village chief plucked up the courage to ask tentatively: "Young Madam, can the children in the village go to this enlightenment class?"
Chu Ci thought for a moment and said, "If you don't mind, you can come. After all, it's at night, and if the child wants to come, at least someone will be accompanying him. Also, there's one thing I need to make clear in advance: the introductory class only teaches people how to read. Books for the imperial examinations will not be taught."
"Then how much is the tuition?" Although the village chief felt that Chu Ci was truly kind and righteous, it was better to ask some things in advance.
"It's free. Just let our children play with it." Chu Ci didn't know that even teaching simple reading and writing would be very expensive in this era.
"Really, really?" The village chief's voice trembled as he asked.
Chu Ci really didn't get the village chief's excitement, so he could only emphasize again, "In the introductory class, we only teach you how to recognize characters. Writing is just a few strokes on the sand table, without even using paper and pen."
Unexpectedly, the village chief became even more excited: "Knowing how to read is good, that's enough. I'll go and inform everyone right away."
The village chief had cunningly changed the subject, and Mo Yan frowned upon hearing this. "Young Madam, is this really okay?"
Chu Ci had not yet realized the seriousness of the matter. "It doesn't matter. At worst, Madam, I can go into battle myself."
Mo Yan had no choice but to shut his mouth. He secretly decided in his heart that he would explain the village chief's little plan to the young master when he returned.
So, just as Fan Jingrui returned from the county town with the Fifth Prince, he heard shocking news: "Madam, are you going to run an enlightenment class? Are you going to be a teacher?"
"Isn't it possible?" Chu Ci believed that popularizing culture was the most basic thing. He couldn't understand why someone would keep asking about such a trivial matter.
Fan Jingrui looked at his wife with clear eyes, and he couldn't say the three words "no".
After a long time, Fan Jingrui finally came up with a compromise: "If you want to do it, then go to the private school. I'll let Grandpa know. As for Jing Xian and the others, you can rest assured, Madam."
Chu Ci realized belatedly that she seemed to have misunderstood something again, but she wanted to know Fan Jingrui's attitude even more: "Husband, what if I really want to be a master? Is that not allowed?"
Chu Ci emphasized the three words "no".
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