Chapter 222 Martial Arts School
In the tenth year of Zhaoqing, ten-year-old Su Zhizhi became a wealthy child.
On the night of the Lantern Festival, he won a lantern and seven hundred taels of silver by guessing riddles.
Including the New Year's money, Su Zhizhi had nearly eight hundred taels of silver in her piggy bank.
After Su Zhizhi's wallet was full, she was very considerate and gave Hao Ren and Wu Yingniang a small red envelope:
"This is a dividend for my parents!"
"Okay, thank you very much, Zhizhi."
Hao Ren held the red envelope given by his daughter in his hand and touched it again and again. He didn't say much, but the corners of his lips were raised all day long. He was happier than when he got a rare copy.
Wu Yingniang took the small red envelope, smiled, hugged her daughter in her arms and gave her a small kiss:
"How can there be dividends if my parents didn't guess?"
Su Zhizhi explained, "Because if my parents didn't pay me ten taels of silver, I wouldn't be able to guess. There are a lot of kids on the street who might all know how to guess the riddle, but they just can't afford such a high price."
After Su Zhizhi and Murong Wan each took away a lantern that day, many children in the crowd also wanted to try it.
Some wealthy families were willing to pay ten taels of silver for their children to play with, but many people gave up after hearing that they had to pay money to guess the riddles.
Su Zhizhi was very grateful that her parents were generous enough to give her money, even though they had initially given her money to let her father guess a riddle.
Su Zhizhi, who made a small fortune, not only gave out red envelopes, but also invited everyone in the house to dinner.
Qiu Jinyu said: "Eating out is expensive and scarce, and the taste is not as good as what we cook at home. Zhizhi can pay for the vegetables, and we bought the ingredients to make Gugutang at home."
Su Zhizhi also thought this was a good idea.
When I lived in Lingnan, the winters were warm and I rarely wanted to eat ancient soup. But after coming to the north, it was very cold from winter to early spring, and I wanted to cook soup and eat meat slices every day.
Qiu Jinyu, Ni Tianji and Su Zhizhi went out to buy groceries.
Qiu Jinyu was responsible for selecting dishes and bargaining, while Su Zhizhi paid.
Ni Tianji was responsible for carrying the vegetables. He carried dozens of kilograms of vegetables in his hands without even taking a breath.
After buying the ingredients for the old-style soup, they also went to a pickle shop in the East Market to buy some pickles to go with the meal.
Qiu Jinyu held Su Zhizhi's hand and said, "In two days, the first month of the lunar year will be over, and Zhizhi will have to choose a college to go to."
Su Zhizhi was no longer excited when she heard this, but she still had a glimmer of hope:
"I heard that entrance to the academy in Chang'an requires an exam. I don't know if I can pass."
Ni Tianji looked relaxed as he carried the dishes. "Zhizhi will be able to pass the exam. I've already checked out all the academies in Chang'an. With Zhizhi's level, admission won't be a problem."
By the time we finished buying everything, it was almost noon.
The East Market is one of the most crowded places in Chang'an City.
There are often many notices posted on the walls of the East Market. People passing by will take a look at the new things and then spread the news by word of mouth.
"There are so many people here, what are they looking at?" Su Zhizhi saw a crowd of people around a notice board.
When Su Zhizhi goes out and sees the excitement, she will definitely join in.
Ni Tianji was waiting by the side with the vegetables in his hand, while Qiu Jinyu and Su Zhizhi squeezed into the crowd and moved to the front.
There was a large notice on the wall, which had obviously been put up not long ago, and the paste had not even dried yet.
Qiu Jinyu and Su Zhizhi took a closer look and saw it clearly written:
【Admission Notice
The Chang'an Martial Arts Academy is open to talented individuals. Any young man from a common background who is determined to cultivate himself, manage his family, and strengthen his muscles and bones can enter our school, learn the ways of civil and martial arts, and become a pillar of society.
Regardless of whether one is a commoner or a farmer or scholar, anyone with a sincere heart and no criminal record can take the exam.
Age limit: 10 to 18 years old.
From the first to the fifteenth day of February, a competition is held in the main hall of the Chang'an Martial Arts Academy. Anyone who wins will be exempted from three years of tuition.
Chang'an Martial Arts Academy
The first month of the tenth year of Zhaoqing
People around were talking about it:
"Doesn't the Chang'an Martial Arts School always only recruit talents over the age of fifteen?"
"This year we've changed it, starting from a young age."
"That requires you to be selected. Recruitment is only held every three years, and the threshold is high. How many people can be selected?"
"Those with thick skin can give it a try. Just think of it as getting beaten up..."
Su Zhizhi glanced back and forth at the notice twice, her eyes gleaming.
Her heart pounding in her chest, she pointed at the notice:
"I'm not going to that Lu Academy anymore. I'm going to the Martial Arts Academy."
The three of them returned home with mutton, wine, food, and the news that Chang'an Martial Arts School was recruiting students.
Everyone was busy with the wiring of Black Mountain Industry in Beijing today, and they only gathered together for dinner.
Su Zhizhi talked about seeing the martial arts school recruitment notice on the street today.
Wu Yingniang was surprised: "Are you the one who wants to be accepted by a martial arts school at your age?"
In fact, everyone present had heard of the Chang'an Martial Arts School.
The official schools in Dayu Chang'an included the Imperial College for literature and the Martial Arts Academy for martial arts.
The founding emperor Dayu won the world on horseback and attached great importance to both civil and military education. However, in later generations, civil education was gradually emphasized over military education, and there were far fewer military men than literati.
The Imperial College had a large number of students, and was divided into six schools according to their family background and study content, including the Imperial College, the Imperial University, and the Four-Door Academy. The total number of students was as many as two thousand.
There is only one martial arts school, and the number of teachers and students does not exceed a hundred.
Children of noble families of the fifth rank and above could enter the martial arts academy directly without taking the entrance exam, so most of the students in the martial arts academy were from noble families. They were not good at studying, but they were in good health, so they came here to learn martial arts and hope to get a military career in the future.
There are also sons of common people, but they are few and need to go through strict screening before they can enter.
After enrolling, students will learn military skills such as military tactics and martial arts.
After passing the examination at the martial arts academy, he was appointed to a military position.
When everyone was discussing the academy before, no one thought of taking the martial arts school into consideration.
One reason is that the martial arts school has always only recruited students over the age of fifteen, and the other reason is that I have never heard of there being female students in a martial arts school!
Ni Tianji said, "I'm quite quick and have already checked out the martial arts academy. They've indeed lowered the age limit for recruiting students this year."
Su Zhizhi put the mutton slices in her bowl and said confidently:
"This is God's will. I'm ten years old, and they just happen to recruit ten-year-old students."
Hao Ren blanched two slices of greens for Su Zhizhi:
"Zhizhi, there are no female students in the martial arts school, only male students."
Su Zhizhi: "But the notice didn't say that only male students were admitted. Aunt Qiu, right? We all read the notice."
"Yes, I didn't write it, but..." Qiu Jinyu looked at Zhizhi, who still had a childish look on her face, and hesitated about the second half of the sentence.
Hao Ren pointed out the problem:
"Even if they recruit female students, the entire martial arts school is full of male students, and you are the only female student. How can this be possible?"
Xuan'er had mentioned that she wanted to apply to a martial arts school, but her father and elder brother rejected her idea.
How could they bear to see Pei's daughter hanging out with a group of male students all day?
At the moment, Hao Ren did not object to Su Zhizhi's martial arts training, nor did he force his daughter to excel in her studies. However, when he thought of the scene where Su Zhizhi was the only female student in the martial arts hall, surrounded by a circle of male students wielding swords and sticks, he shook his head repeatedly.
No, no.
Su Zhizhi's stubborn temper also came up:
"Why not? What does my going to the martial arts school have to do with other students?
The father and daughter had a disagreement.
The antique soup was bubbling, and the aroma of the broth filled the quiet room.
Everyone looked at Wu Yingniang at this time.
Wu Yingniang sat on the stool with a straight face, took a sip of soup from the bowl, and then decisively said:
"If Zhizhi wants to try, let her try first. If she can pass, maybe other female students will be admitted this year."
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