The people he asked questions didn't answer him; they went straight home.
Therefore, the performance of these children completely dispelled the villagers' doubts about the teacher's level. He was indeed a genuine scholar.
There's a scholar in the village, and he seems to be exceptionally talented, so why waste money going to the county town?
So that night, groups of people came to the small thatched hut looking for Liu Jing, saying they wanted to send their children to study there, but Liu Jing refused.
"Um... As you can see, I'm all alone here. I can't teach more children, and there's no room for them, no tables or chairs. So please don't come."
But the villagers wouldn't have it.
After a long commotion, it was Yin Lan who finally stepped forward.
As soon as she stepped out, the villagers started talking.
“Mrs. Yin, we were blind before. Actually, we knew before that the village was able to kill wild boars and share the meat because of you. But we talked badly about you behind your back and didn’t dare to admit our mistakes. Now we know that you are truly good for the village and that you have a good heart. Your family is building a house, right? My husband can come over and help you build the house without asking for food or money!”
“I can come too!” Others stepped forward as well.
“It’s all Chen Dafu and his gang who are always talking badly about you. We all know you’re a good person. Even though my child can’t go to school this time, I still have to stand up and say something fair. You used to be a bit of a jerk, but you’ve really helped everyone. We should thank you. As for the schooling, it’s your family’s business anyway, so we won’t make a fuss about it.”
Most families who are willing to send their children to school are reasonable people.
Yin Lan then spoke up, "It's a good thing that everyone is willing to send their children to school. Now that we have a teacher in our village, but there isn't enough space, I absolutely do not mean to only let my own child study."
Actually, if you only let your child study, over time, if someone becomes envious and resentful, it will be very troublesome.
You are in the open, while they are in the shadows; it's impossible to guard against them all.
Therefore, while we are unable to leave this place for the time being, it is best to help everyone live a good life together.
For example, when spring comes, Yin Lan will continue to do business. If she wants to expand her business, more people will definitely know about her. With more business and more things going on, it's impossible not to attract envy.
Moreover, she genuinely didn't have a bad impression of the children in the village, so they all studied together.
Yin Lan spoke eloquently in front of everyone, “My suggestion is that we build a school in the village using public buildings. Then, all the school-age children in the village can go to school. The things needed inside, such as desks, chairs, sandboards, and other things, can be prepared collectively, and the cost will be the same, so no one will lose out.”
Yin Lan turned to Liu Jing and asked, "Master Liu, you've only taught a few children before. If the village asked you to be the teacher at their school, would you be willing?"
Liu Jing was grateful to Yin Lan and this family. As for the others, some of them had actually advocated sending him to the authorities or simply abandoning him.
Although he has read many books, it doesn't stop him from holding grudges, especially now that he's older.
"I don't care, but I'll listen to you. If it were someone else, I wouldn't agree, but if it's you, then this old man, hmph, will reluctantly agree."
Yin Lan was very grateful to the old gentleman.
The other villagers understood even better that the teacher was only showing respect to the Yin family, so he treated Yin Lan even better.
Moreover, after returning home, Gezi warned his family to be more polite to Madam Yin in the future. Didn't you see that even scholars and virtuous gentlemen treat her differently? And originally, Chen Yourun had returned, and it seemed like they were going to get a divorce, but now the whole family has started building a house. There's no sign of a divorce at all. It seems they're going to live a good life together.
Someone else spoke up, "You didn't see it, but Chen Yourun used to come to the village and wander around, sometimes not going back until night. But look at him now, he's never out. He's always inside."
"Yes, with such a beautiful wife by your side, what man would want to go out?"
People have gradually forgotten about the past. Anyway, now, following the Yin family means you can eat meat, and the children in the Yin family can go to school. Only a fool would go against her.
And so, the matter of setting up a school in the village was discussed with the village head, who wholeheartedly agreed.
Besides, aren't there "bandits and laborers" in the village?
There were already vacant houses in the village, the ones that Chen Yourun had helped build for people in the past.
There's a large courtyard inside, and several rooms.
Children who come to study are of different ages, and the amount of knowledge they acquire in the future will also differ. Different rooms can be used to divide them into different classes.
At the same time, Yin Lan suggested to Liu Jing that children shouldn't just study all the time, but should also do some exercise. Liu Jing thought that this woman not only cooked delicious food, but also came up with great ideas. To do well in studies, one needs a good spirit, and it is indeed beneficial to move around more often.
Yin Lan then incorporated the "physical education class" of later generations into the curriculum of the village school.
The bandits were released and taken into the mountains to cut down trees. When they came back, they made the books into tables, chairs, and benches. If anyone didn't know how to do something, the villagers would teach them directly.
With so many people, forty sets of tables and chairs could be completed in a single day.
Furthermore, those who made the promises didn't just talk the talk; the next day, a dozen or so men actually came to Yin Lan's small thatched hut, said nothing, and got straight to work.
As a result, there were many more people involved in each step of transporting soil and refining mud, which greatly increased the speed.
Chen Yourun felt that once the first batch of mud bricks was fired, he could start laying them tomorrow.
The first building to be constructed was the main house, which would be his and Yin Lan's bedroom, as well as Liu Jing's bedroom.
The village had already said that Liu Jing, now the village teacher, could provide a room for them. Even the village head said that they could stay at his house, with food and drink provided, but Liu Jing refused.
Others don't understand; this little thatched hut is so dilapidated, what's so good about it?
Liu Jingcai felt that these people didn't understand. They had never tasted the Yin family's cooking. What would they do if they left and could never taste it again?
He valued Yin Lan not only because of her initial help, but also because of her culinary skills. The food she made was so delicious that even someone like him who had lived in the capital had to admit that many of the foods in the capital could not compare to what Yin Lan made.
If she were to open a restaurant in the capital, I guarantee the business would be booming.
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