Ling Xiang: "Since you know it's an extravagant request, how can I fulfill it?"
He Sheng was unable to refute and kept bowing his head, very firm: "Qian'er is the only wish I have in this life."
It's rare to see such an infatuated person, Ling Xiang was relieved:
"Of course, if Zhang Qian is willing to give up her identity as Zhang Qian and change her appearance like you, then all obstacles will no longer be a problem."
He Sheng firmly believed that Zhang Qian would be willing to do so, just like himself, so he said happily, "Thank you, Master."
Ling Xiang didn't think that someone like Zhang Qian would be willing to give up everything to follow a small-time doctor with no future. She didn't bother to meddle in their affairs and got up to leave.
Ling Xiang brought all the children of school age from the farm to the Marquis Zhenguo Mansion. The teacher had also moved into the mansion. They just had to wait for school to start tomorrow so that the children could go to the newly opened clan school to study.
With so many children going to school, the truth could not be hidden. Ling Xiang did not want to conceal the fact and announced to the public that they were the children of all the families in the Marquis Zhenguo's Mansion.
Making everyone in the family, including the children of slaves, go to school was an unprecedented move in the entire Dajing Empire and soon caused a sensation.
Not to mention the sarcasm from outsiders, even the people in the Ling family had complaints about Ling Xiang's behavior, thinking that Ling Xiang's behavior was extremely inappropriate and brought disgrace to the Marquis of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Therefore, Ling Xiang had just returned and had just settled the children when the people in the Ling family discussed and decided to send several heavyweight representatives to negotiate with Ling Xiang.
When several respected elders of the grandfather generation stood there, it felt very oppressive.
"Xiang'er, the master is the master and the servant is the servant. The children of servants have no right to attend the clan school. You'd better release the children of servants as soon as possible and don't mention the matter of sending them to school anymore!" The leading master Ling Er directly objected.
Ling Xiang sat high in the main seat, looking at these old men with white beards, wondering how to deal with them best.
If it were someone else, I would just fight back, but these people are half buried in the ground. If I really act according to my own ideas and make them angry to the point of death, it will be troublesome:
"Grandpas, you must be exhausted after all this travel. The clan school is a big deal, and it can't be opened or closed at will. For the time being, why don't you eat something and rest first? We can discuss it slowly later."
But the elders of the clan were unmoved. They wanted to nip the matter in the bud before it was actually implemented.
Master Ling Si was almost the most benevolent among the group. He smiled and said, "The clan school is a big deal. Let's discuss the matter thoroughly before discussing other things."
Ling Xiang wasn't good at arguing with the elderly, nor was Lian Cailiang, the boss, nor was Feng Xiaoyun, the most knowledgeable person around...
After thinking about it, she realized that there was no one who could help her share some of the burden.
Ling Xiang was helpless about this, but she showed no intention of compromising when facing them:
"Since the grandfathers have brought it up, I have a few questions for you."
"Xiang'er, go ahead."
"Excuse me, my dear grandfathers, what do you think of the harm it would do to the development of our Zhenguo Hou Mansion if we let our family members study, learn to read, understand things, distinguish right from wrong, and acquire a skill?"
Among the grandfathers of the Ling family, the third master Ling was the most stubborn and conservative.
He slammed the table hard. "Allowing family members to study is naturally beneficial and has no disadvantages. But if servants are required to study at the same time as the master's children, wouldn't that be a mess?"
"Heh..." Ling Xiang didn't take it seriously and smiled.
"Is this Third Grandpa? I'm curious, what could possibly go wrong with just sending a child to school? Please enlighten me, Third Grandpa."
Third Master Ling narrowed his eyes at Ling Xiang, looking at this patriarch who showed no sign of humility in front of them, and was very displeased:
"Xiang'er, you're still young and don't understand. If you want to manage your servants well, you need to use both kindness and authority. Blindly showing kindness will only make them lose their sense of place and sooner or later, they will do something beyond the rules!"
Ling Xiang raised an eyebrow: "Third Grandpa, what you mean is that these are all your conjectures, things that haven't happened yet, and there is no substantial reason to convince me?"
"Xiang'er! You have just become the head of the family. We are doing this all for your sake!" Master Ling Er said, knocking his crutch hard.
Ling Xiang has always disliked being morally kidnapped, especially by those who do it under the pretext of doing it for her own good.
"Second Grandfather also said that I am the head of the family. May I ask, Second Grandfather, have there been any mistakes since I took over the family? Has the Marquis of Zhenguo Mansion improved or regressed compared to when Ling Chengfu was in charge?"
Master Ling Si said pertinently, "Xiang'er, the head of the household, has indeed never made any mistakes, and the Zhenguo Marquisate Mansion is indeed much better now than before. However, Xiang'er, this is no reason for you to be complacent. As the head of the household, you should know that listening to both sides will lead to enlightenment, while only believing one side will lead to ignorance."
Ling Xiang nodded and said, "Fourth Grandfather is absolutely right! May I ask, among five people and five hundred people, who is considered partial in belief? And whose opinion is considered comprehensive in hearing?"
Master Ling Si said seriously, "Of course, trusting five people is partial belief, and listening to five hundred people is listening to both sides."
Ling Xiang smiled. "In that case, I will listen to the opinions of the thousands of people in the Zhenguo Marquisate and send their children to the clan school to learn about literature and etiquette, so that they can better serve the Zhenguo Marquisate. After the children grow up, they can use their strengths to help the Zhenguo Marquisate reach a higher level. Isn't this better than just listening to the advice of a few grandfathers?"
The elderly people really didn't expect that Ling Xiang would compare them with those servants. Not only were they not convinced by Ling Xiang, but they felt insulted.
The most stubborn Master Ling San slammed the table and stood up, almost pointing at Ling Xiang's nose and scolding:
"Xiang'er! We came to you with good intentions to advise you, but not only did you not listen, you even compared us to a bunch of servants. Do you still have any respect for us elders?"
Ling Xiang's face darkened. "Third Uncle, you were the ones who taught me that listening to both sides leads to enlightenment, while only believing one side leads to blindness. So, does that mean that only listening to you counts as listening to both sides, and only listening to others counts as believing one side? So, you're the ones who have the final say on right and wrong, and you're the ones who set the rules for others, without even thinking about following them yourself? Could it be that the Ling family is a one-man show?"
"How dare you!" Master Ling Er's chest heaved with rage. He pointed at Ling Xiang and nearly passed out. "Who taught you to speak to your elders like that?"
"No one taught me, and I'm thankful that my grandfathers never taught me. If I had truly learned your arbitrary, tyrannical, and senior-dominated ways, the Marquisate of Zhenguo would have been doomed!"
"You! You!" Master Ling Er couldn't catch his breath and fainted.
Ling Xiang: ...
Was she really so mad at him that he ended up in trouble?
Sure enough, she is still not good at dealing with the elderly.
Oh, trouble...
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