Chapter 129 Exchange
In ancient times, people often said "the time of a stick of incense", but for us living in modern society, this concept is full of doubts.
There are many kinds of incense in the world. Different incenses have different materials, thicknesses, lengths, and burning speeds. So how did the ancients reach a unified understanding of "the time of one stick of incense"?
It turned out that in that bustling city, bookstores specialized in selling a kind of incense called Keshixiang.
This incense is specially supplied to the school for timekeeping.
In ancient times, incense was a very common timekeeping tool.
Normally, it takes about ten minutes for an ordinary stick of incense to burn out, so everyone assumes that the burning time of an incense stick is ten minutes.
The wisdom of the ancients is truly admirable.
Since different scenes and activities have different time requirements, those skillful craftsmen have used their ingenuity to distinguish different lengths of time by adding different ingredients during the incense making process or cleverly adjusting the size of the incense.
In the Dagan region, class incense comes in two main types. One is thicker, burning for half an hour, or one hour in modern time, and is often used during longer lectures. The other is thinner, burning for just ten minutes, perfect for use during breaks between classes, offering a moment of relaxation for both teachers and students.
Gu Jiayue looked at the energetic children in front of her, a satisfied smile on her face. Her eyes were filled with love and expectation, and she said gently, "Okay, today is our first day of school. I won't teach you those serious and boring knowledge. Let's play some fun games to relax, how about it?"
When the children heard that they were going to play games, their originally reserved little faces instantly lit up with excitement. They were all full of energy, as if they were injected with endless vitality.
Seeing this, Gu Jiayue waved her hand gently and led the children towards the Cuju field behind the school.
Arriving at the Cuju field, she pulled a small, exquisite drum from her sleeve. Though small, the drum was meticulously crafted, gleaming with a faint sheen, a mark left behind by the passage of time.
Gu Jiayue found this thing from the original body's box. Aunt Cai said it was the original body's favorite toy when she was a child.
I don’t know if the little girl has been reincarnated. I hope she can live a safe and smooth life this time.
"Next, I will beat the drums. While I'm beating the drums, you should hold hands and circle around me happily. Then, I will suddenly call out a number. For example, if I call out 'three', you should quickly hug each other tightly. If I call out 'five', you should hug each other tightly. Do you understand?"
"I understand!" the children shouted in unison.
Everyone is rubbing their hands, eager to try, with anticipation glittering in their eyes.
"Okay, let the game begin!" After saying that, Gu Jiayue began to beat the drum rhythmically.
The drum beats were clear and melodious, like lively notes dancing in the air. Following the beats, the children joined hands, formed a big circle, and began to spin happily.
Some of the lively and active children were spinning in circles and twisting their little butts. Their funny and cute appearance made the children around them laugh.
Other children followed suit, and soon the Cuju field was filled with little figures shaking their butts, and laughter echoed throughout the venue.
"Three!" Suddenly, the drumbeat stopped, and Gu Jiayue used all her strength to shout out the word "three".
The children were stunned for a second, then they reacted and burst into excited shouts, looking for people around them and hugging each other.
"Three, three, three, we need three people." A little boy shouted anxiously, his eyes constantly searching for his companions in the crowd.
"Ah, there are only two of us. Niu Dan, come here quickly." Some groups did not have enough people and were anxiously looking for people.
"Sandan, get out, there are too many people here!" Some groups had more than the required number of children, so the extra children were pushed out by the anxious children.
This was the first game, and Gu Jiayue didn't want to embarrass these cute kids, so she called out the number "three." Coincidentally, everyone was able to form ten groups, and no one was eliminated.
"Very good, this is how we play it. Have you all learned it?" Gu Jiayue asked with a smile, her eyes full of encouragement.
"I got it," the children replied excitedly. After this round of running and spinning, their little faces became rosy, like ripe apples, making them look even cuter. Their interest grew stronger, and they showed no sign of fatigue.
Indeed, these children were like little monkeys, jumping around in the village all day, playing mischief, unlike the pampered flowers in modern society who are locked up in their rooms. They were very tough, and it was common for them to just fight, not to mention running around.
"Okay, let's continue the game!" Gu Jiayue struck the drum again. This time, she struck the drum a few points faster than last time.
The children were not to be outdone and sped up their spinning.
Their cheerful voices, as clear as silver bells, echoed far and wide, drifting lingeringly over Taohua Village, even causing villagers working in the fields around the school to stop what they were doing and listen.
Then, the villagers showed simple smiles on their faces, as if they were infected by the children's happiness.
The group from Wutong Academy had already been observing all this quietly. Having never encountered such a novel and unique teaching method, they stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with surprise and curiosity, intently watching these energetic children.
How could they have such conditions when they were young? They just sat in the classroom and memorized things by rote.
"Four!" Gu Jiayue shouted the number again.
"Ahhh! Four, four, four, hurry up. We don't have enough people here, who will come over here?" The children once again fell into the tense and joyful process of forming teams.
"Wow, wow, why am I left out?" A little girl who was eliminated cried aggrievedly.
After a period of chaos, two children were left alone and had to quit the game.
"Children who quit the game need to introduce themselves." Gu Jiayue said gently.
The two children stood up shyly with red faces. One of the little boys stammered, "Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Niudan."
"My name is Li Genghe." The other little boy was a little calmer and said in a clear voice.
"Okay. Everyone, give Zhang Niudan and Li Genghe a round of applause." Gu Jiayue led the clapping, and the other children followed suit. The thunderous applause gave the two children great encouragement. While Gu Jiayue led the children in playing games, she carefully observed each child, trying to familiarize herself with their faces and personalities.
In the cool, shady area of the school, hot water was already boiling. Children who had quit playing could go under the eaves to drink water, rest, and enjoy a moment of peace.
At the end of the number hug game, three children emerged victorious. Gu Jiayue pulled out three bright red flowers from her sleeve, handed them to them with a smile, and said, "You must keep these little red flowers well. When you have ten, you can come to the teacher to exchange them for gifts."
"Wow!" The other children who didn't get the little red flowers were full of envy and looked at the three lucky children with longing.
"Xiao Hai, can I touch it?" a little girl asked cautiously.
Sun Hai's face was filled with pride. He carefully took out the little red flower and said, "Okay, but you have to be careful. I have to save up ten of them to exchange for books from the teacher."
The children took the flowers cut out of red paper and couldn't let them go, caressing them gently as if they were the most precious treasures in the world. "I want to work hard too, so I can exchange books with the teacher."
Niu Dan, who was eliminated first, didn't care at all. He curled his lips and said, "What's so good about books? You can't eat them. But candy is different. It's not only beautiful but also delicious."
Sun Hai listened but didn't argue. Everyone has different preferences, and he just had a special liking for books.
The children rested in the shade under the eaves for about ten minutes. Gu Jiayue saw that they had all drunk some water, and then took the children back to the classroom.
Then she taught the children a cheerful nursery rhyme. In this way, this first class full of joy and fun passed by unnoticed.
Gu Jiayue was a little worried about Enlightenment Class 2. After all, no matter how capable Zhang Chuyan was, he was only a seven-year-old. After class, she rushed to Enlightenment Class 2 on the second floor without stopping.
To her surprise, more than fifty students were sitting obediently on the stools, listening to Zhang Chuyan's story with serious expressions.
That story was one that Gu Jiayue had told in class before. It not only attracted the children's attention but also allowed them to learn knowledge from it.
Zhang Chuyan was not just reading from the script, he was just repeating what Gu Jiayue had said before, but he added his own unique understanding.
He was a child himself, and the content he added was even more childlike. The children listened more attentively, their eyes wide open, afraid of missing any exciting plot.
"You are a good student." Jiang Luli appeared quietly at some point and made a rare comment.
"That's right." Gu Jiayue's face was full of pride. Her students were so outstanding, and as a teacher, she was naturally honored.
Jiang Luli chuckled twice and said, "Haha, but no matter how capable he is, he's just a child. You can't let him help you with your lessons all the time and delay his studies, right?"
When this matter was mentioned, Gu Jiayue felt tired.
Since the construction of the school began, she had asked Huzi and Kangzi to search the county and the provincial capital for a suitable teacher. However, in the entire Annan County, there was not a single worthwhile scholar.
Either they were extremely old-fashioned and were totally unwilling to accept her new way of education; or they were good-for-nothings with nothing in their heads. How could she dare to let such people teach these innocent children?
However, after yesterday, these problems were no longer unsolvable. Not to mention Master Du, who was already 80% confirmed, wasn't the person in front of us a ready-made one?
He took the initiative to participate in the competition yesterday. Since he lost, he has to accept the punishment.
"Principal Jiang, didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to learn charcoal drawing? I can teach you, but in return, you have to teach at my Qiushi Academy for two years, and I have to decide your teaching methods. Are you willing?" Gu Jiayue blinked, her dark eyes rolling around as she looked at Jiang Luli with a cunning look on her face.
Jiang Luli found her expression a little funny and asked, "Two years?"
"Yes, one year is the punishment for your loss yesterday, and one year is my tuition. What? You want to gamble but don't want to admit defeat?" Gu Jiayue deliberately provoked him.
Jiang Luli shook his head helplessly and said, "Am I that kind of person? Just do as you say."
Gu Jiayue didn't expect things to go so smoothly, and she was secretly delighted.
"But I have a condition. This time I brought a lot of students from Kyoto to study here. Since I have sold myself to you for two years, I also want these students to study in this Qiushi Academy." Jiang Luli continued.
"Sure, no problem. Welcome, welcome." Gu Jiayue automatically ignored the teasing remarks about "selling yourself or not", and instead focused on the phrase "many students".
The students of Huaqing Academy are all top-tier scholars. Any one of them could become a pillar of the imperial court in the future. If such outstanding students were to study at Qiushi Academy, it would surely boost the learning atmosphere of the entire academy and raise everyone's level of learning. The future of Qiushi Academy...
Thinking of this, Gu Jiayue couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Gu Jiayue quickly said, "As long as your students are willing to come, they can come. The small courtyards next to the library were originally reserved for students to live in. Once they come, they will have a place to stay and don't have to worry about anything."
Jiang Luli nodded and said, "Okay, then it's settled. Then, may I ask, Principal Gu, when can I start my classes?"
"Why not start now?" Gu Jiayue suggested, her eyes lighting up.
Just now, the third ancestor rang the bell for the second class.
"Okay." Jiang Luli's lips curled up slightly, and he thought to himself, "He's the headmaster of Huaqing Academy, but he never thought that one day he would have to teach those little kids?" How interesting.
With Jiang Luli joining the group, the second class schedule became more organized. He taught liberal arts to the first class, Hu Zi took the second class to the Cuju field for physical education, and Gu Jiayue taught math to Zhang Chuyan and Gu Yuhe in the Imperial Examination class.
Even so, Gu Jiayue couldn't help but sigh in her heart, alas, there are still not enough teachers, the development of this school still needs more talents.
Talent, God, please give me talent.
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