Chapter 35
In the blink of an eye, the Chinese New Year has passed. Lin Shuge has been living a very comfortable life recently. He eats with his brother and sister-in-law every day. After dinner, he either writes or reads a book, or takes time to go to the hot spring with Zhou Du to let the warm water take away his fatigue.
Leisurely days always pass quickly. There are only a few days left before going to work. Compared with the pleasant and leisurely rest time, Lin Shuge does not want to go to work.
However, before going to work, I have to send Ayuan and Axuan to school.
I had already contacted the principals of Bitong Academy and Duheng Academy years ago, but admission still requires some examination.
Lin Shuge and Lin Xuan took Lin Qingyuan to the academy. Lin Qingyuan was very nervous along the way, fearing that he would fail the entrance examination and could not enter Bitong Academy. Lin Xuan comforted him all the way.
The academy is not too far from the courtyard they are renting now, but it still takes a while to walk there.
When we arrived at the gate of the academy, there were quite a lot of parents sending their children to school today. Bitong Academy accepts both adults like Lin Qingyuan and younger children.
Therefore, as soon as I arrived at the gate of the academy, I heard loud crying. The adults had so much fun during the New Year that they didn't want to go to work, let alone let the children go to school.
It is the same whether in ancient times or modern times.
A monk was outside welcoming new students. When he saw Lin Shuge and his party, he trotted over and said, "Meet County Magistrate Lin."
"No need to be so polite. I am sending Ayuan to school today. From now on, the school will take care of Ayuan's studies."
Zhaifu nodded and said to Lin Qingyuan, "Let's go, Mr. Lin, the teacher in charge of the examination is waiting."
Lin Qingyuan looked at Lin Shuge eagerly. This was the first time he was away from his family. Facing a strange environment and strangers, he inevitably felt a little uneasy, not to mention that he had just arrived to take an exam.
"Don't worry, brother, I believe Ayuan will pass." Lin Shuge comforted him in a gentle voice.
Lin Qingyuan took a deep breath and said firmly, "I'm leaving." Then he followed Zhaifu into the academy, looking back every few steps.
Watching his back gradually disappear into the distance, Lin Shuge said, "Ah Xuan, let's go. I'll take you to Du Heng Academy."
Lin Xuan was calm and nodded without saying anything, but Lin Shuge could still tell that she was probably nervous too.
"When I was in school, I was always worried about the exams. I was afraid that I would fall behind, so I always blamed myself. As a result, I did worse on the exams. Later, I changed my mindset. Knowledge is learned for myself, not for others to see. It doesn't matter if I do poorly on the exams. One exam is nothing. Xuan, do you understand?"
"What if I fail the test, big brother?" Lin Xuan rubbed her cuffs unconsciously.
"If you fail the test, I will find you another one. It is guaranteed to be better than this one. It will be a loss for the academy if it doesn't want us, Xuan."
"Well, it's its loss if I'm not wanted. I get it, brother."
Seeing her expression, she was no longer as nervous as before. Lin Shuge felt relieved and took her to Du Heng Academy.
Unlike the grand Bitong Academy, Duheng Academy only caters to women and recruits fewer students, so the academy occupies a small area. Lin Shuge estimated that it only had the space of a few residential houses.
Today, the academy was open, and the door was wide open. A woman was waiting outside. When she saw Lin Shuge and Lin Xuan coming over, she saluted and asked, "Excuse me, are you County Magistrate Lin?"
She had a stern expression and was serious.
"Are you Master Zheng?"
"It's me. The headmaster has been waiting inside for a long time. County Magistrate Lin and Madam Lin, please come this way."
Lin Shuge followed her into the academy, with Lin Xuan following closely behind.
Although the academy looks small from the outside, it is very exquisitely decorated when you get inside. There are not only classrooms, but also activity areas for flower arranging, tea tasting, archery and target shooting.
There were female students in the library, either reading or practicing shooting. Some of them were uneasy and looked around when they saw them come in, and then they were scolded by the teacher.
Lin Shuge didn't notice the actions of these people. He only saw the overall layout of the library. It seemed that the female owner had a broad vision. She not only taught poetry and books, but also the six arts of a gentleman.
He couldn't help but feel relieved.
I walked through the corridor and came to a classroom. A woman wearing a navy blue straight dress and a bun was seen, with a noble temperament.
"Mr. Lin, I have long heard of your great name." She bowed and saluted.
"Mr. Le, I am sorry to bother you today. Ah Xuan, please come and pay your respects to the Mr. Le."
"Student Lin Xuan greets the dean." Lin Xuan said with disciple etiquette.
Le Yun glanced at Lin Xuan, who was calm and composed, and nodded with satisfaction, "Madam Lin, please follow Master Zheng to take the test."
Master Zheng bowed and walked out with Lin Xuan.
Before leaving, Lin Shuge gave Lin Xuan an encouraging look, and Lin Xuan nodded at him.
"Mr. Lin has a very good relationship with your sister." Le Yun said with a smile.
"My brother and sister-in-law and I depend on each other for survival. Xuan is sensible and polite, so our relationship is naturally different from that of ordinary people."
When Lin Shuge first came here, he had been ill for a long time and was in poor health. During that period, almost all the housework was done by his younger brother and sister-in-law.
Later, he became a clerk. Sometimes he was busy with official duties and often came home late. Lin Xuan and Lin Qingyuan were responsible for many household affairs. Although they were very young, they never complained.
I will also understand that he works hard and be grateful that my family is getting better and better because of him.
How could he not know?
Le Yun continued, "I heard that the women working in the papermaking and cashmere workshops in the county were recruited by the adults from the wealthy families?"
"The people in the county are poor, and there is no harvest in winter. They can help supplement their family income by working."
Le Yun didn't get the answer she wanted, so she asked again, "What do you think of me running this academy that only recruits girls?"
"The headmaster's righteous act of educating the local people is indeed a great achievement." Lin Shuge said sincerely.
"Don't you think that this is a hen crowing at dawn, which is against moral ethics?"
Ordinary people cannot imagine the hardships that Le Yun went through in running this academy. Just the gossips of that group of Confucian scholars often put her at the center of controversy.
Scolding her for being a hen that crows at dawn and violating the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues was already considered lenient.
Otherwise, with her talent, why does she have a bad reputation in the county? Many people even say that she has a weird personality and is unorthodox.
Lin Shuge knew her concerns and said, "If I had such thoughts, why would I send my sister here to study?"
Moreover, when Empress Dowager Deng was in power in the previous dynasty, she allowed boys and girls to study in the same school, but it was unfortunately only a short-lived phenomenon.
Le Yunxi said happily: "My purpose in setting up this academy is to let the world know that women are not necessarily inferior to men. We can also learn the six arts of a gentleman."
Her voice was loud and clear, expressing her dissatisfaction with the injustice of this era.
"The headmaster's move is admirable," Lin Shuge praised.
"Mr. Lin, you are too kind. Compared to you, I am just a small-timer. To be honest with you, Mr. Lin, we have admitted many students since the establishment of the academy, but they will be taken back to marry after a short period of study."
"Even me, if my mother had not left all her dowry to me, I would have been established as a female household and would have had no choice but to return home to get married and raise children."
She spoke slowly and there was a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Then, Headmaster, have you ever thought about why they all follow their parents back home, but you can still run the academy?" Lin Shuge asked softly, looking at the ladies who were laughing and holding books in the distance.
"Of course it's because of the way things are in this world. Women are not allowed to study and become officials."
"This is part of the reason. There is also another part of the reason that you just mentioned." Lin Shuge persuaded.
"I said that?" A hint of surprise flashed across Le Yun's face, and he thought carefully about what he had just said.
"I have my mother's dowry... County Magistrate Lin, do you mean... money?" she said excitedly.
Lin Shuge smiled but said nothing.
"That's why you let women work in the workshop to earn money. First, they can help supplement the family income. Second, if they have money, they can have a say in the family and don't have to rely on their husbands."
The economic base determines the superstructure. This is the important reason why Lin Shuge allowed those women to enter the workshop.
"But this can only solve the urgent problem temporarily, and it can't..."
Lin Shuge interrupted her in time, "Master, please be careful with your words."
Le Yun looked around and smiled awkwardly.
Lin Shuge sighed, "I wonder if the headmaster has ever heard of this saying?"
Le Yun asked, "What?"
"A single spark can start a prairie fire." Lin Shuge said with a smile on his face and a clear voice.
But Le Yun was deafening. She murmured: "A single spark can start a prairie fire."
"Teaching girls to read like the headmaster is a spark of hope. I let girls work in the workshop. Headmaster, why do you have to force it? Change can be achieved little by little. If my generation cannot change it, there will be others who can come after us."
Lin Shuge believed that he did not have the ability to change the world, so he could only do his best and hope that he could improve the woman's situation a little.
Le Yun was very shocked. With a determined look on her face, she bowed deeply to Lin Shuge and said, "Mr. Lin's words today are like a revelation to me. I am suddenly enlightened. Thank you, Mr. Lin."
In this era, people did not often perform kneeling and kowtow as they did later on. Seeing Le Yun like this, Lin Shuge was shocked.
She quickly helped her up and said, "How can you, Shanzhang, do such a great honor?"
Le Yun refused to stand up, "In ancient times, there was a teacher who taught me one word. County Magistrate Lin's teaching today is enough to deserve this courtesy from me."
Seeing that she was determined to do so, Lin Shuge sighed and helped her up. "Shanzhang, I am just talking nonsense and repeating what others have said. I have heard about your righteous deeds in the past. You have a pure character, are upright and selfless, and are a role model for our generation."
Le Yun felt a little embarrassed when he praised her. She was mature beyond her years, and her temperament was like the breeze under the forest. The shock she just had was indeed rare.
At this moment, Lin Xuan came out and looked at Le Yun and Lin Shuge strangely.
"Brother, I have finished the test."
Lin Shuge hurried over, like the thousands of parents who sent their children to the college entrance examination in later generations, "Are you tired? Big brother, go back and make some stewed pork ribs for me. They are your favorite."
Lin Xuan was so concerned about him that she said speechlessly, "Brother, I'll only be in for an hour."
That took two hours, Lin Shuge thought.
Master Zheng also came out and said, "Principal, Madam Lin has finished the examination." She nodded to Le Yun.
Le Yun understood: "Ah Xuan, remember to come to school on time tomorrow. Du Heng Academy doesn't like students who are late."
Lin Xuan didn't react and looked towards Lin Shuge.
Lin Shuge said with a smile: "Ah Xuan, you passed. Are you so happy that you are silly? Why don't you thank the headmaster and Master Zheng?"
Lin Xuan seemed to have just woken up from a dream, and said with a smile: "Thank you, Shanzhang, and thank you, Master Zheng."
"Brother, I passed." She said happily, with a look of delight on her face.
"Let's go, Axuan, let's go see Ayuan's results." Lin Shuge thought that there was still one candidate who must be writing furiously, so he said goodbye to Le Yun and Master Zheng and took Lin Xuan to see Lin Qingyuan.
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