Chapter 314 315. Is it Lei Li who will teach bad people?
"My granddaughter doesn't have this blessing..."
The old fisherman kept waving his hands in panic, lowering his head again and again. His wife, son and daughter-in-law did the same. Only the little girl, who was only five or six years old, looked confused.
It’s no wonder they reacted this way. How could it be as easy to become the top scholar as just talking nonsense?
After hearing Lei Li's boastful words, the fat magistrate couldn't help but look down on him a little, thinking, this governor who has come from Beijing really doesn't want to eat meat porridge.
Not to mention the boys and girls from ordinary families like fishermen, even for scholars from poor families, it is not easy to get the top spot in the imperial examination. It is not only about talent and luck, but more importantly, the cost of studying and taking the imperial examination.
The fat magistrate came to this small fishing village from the county town in a horse carriage. Even if the horse did not stop, it would take him more than an hour to get here. If he was not thick-skinned, he would have been shaken to death. If it were an ordinary person's ox cart, it would take a whole morning to get here.
The county examination is held in the county town, and the prefectural examination has to be taken in the prefectural capital. The travel expenses, food and accommodation are a considerable expense. After becoming a student, one has to continue studying and take the academy examination, which also requires going to the prefectural capital.
Becoming a scholar and entering the county school in the county town is a little better with government subsidies, but you can only stay there for a maximum of nine years. If you fail the provincial examinations three times, you have to pack up and leave.
After that, not only did they no longer have subsidies to provide for their own food and lodging, but they also had no teachers to teach them. They could only study on their own or go to private schools with tuition fees.
The monthly salary of a juren was at least a few taels of silver, which was dozens of taels of silver a year. Add to that the cost of pens, ink, paper, inkstone, and books, and it was not something that ordinary people could afford.
It's not that the fat magistrate looks down on others, but the old fisherman's house is penniless. The most valuable thing is probably the big iron pot at home. The salted fish and seafood drying in the yard may not be wanted even if he gives them away for free.
In fact, these things can be seen everywhere in Baihui along the long coastline. Only the freshly caught fish every day can be sold for a few cents at the morning market.
However, these fat county magistrates did not intend to say anything. It was better to have less trouble than more. The governor would just pat his butt and leave after having enough fun. If any mess was made, he would be the one who would be in trouble.
Although he looked down on Miao Yurui in his heart, the fat magistrate remained humble on the surface, praising Lei Li with flattering words and comparing Miao Yurui to the Wenquxing star in the sky.
"Too."
Lei Li said cheerfully, "Not everyone can have the same ancestral graves as my family. Going out to sea fishing and coming back safely is good enough. Learning to read and study is really a long way off."
His pair of rich and beautiful peach blossom eyes were flattered and smiled, and there was some satisfaction in his glance towards the fat magistrate. It was obvious that the fat magistrate was flattering him well.
He, relying on his superior status as governor, hypocritically tried to appease her, saying, "But there's no need to be ashamed of yourself, old man. Your granddaughter simply doesn't have the conditions to go to school. If she went, she might even pass the exam and become a scholar or something."
Just now he said that he could become the top female scholar, but now he has changed his tone and said he could become a student.
The fat magistrate, who felt that he knew everything, secretly rolled his eyes, and his contempt for the governor increased a little, and he felt a little resentful.
This governor is the Marquis of Changning, a top-ranking official, but he is such a naive and innocent person who is out of touch with the world. Some people can even pick up gold while walking. Why is he not so lucky as to be favored by the emperor?
Lei Li seemed to think about it again, and there was a hint of ostentatious pity in his tone, as if he doubted whether the old fisherman's granddaughter could pass the entrance examination to Tongsheng.
"I have ten taels of silver. I'll buy your granddaughter some books so she can study in school. Even if she doesn't pass the exam, it's good to know a few words."
Lei Li said this with a smile, but did not move. As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yi took out a silver ingot weighing ten taels and put it in the old fisherman's hand.
"This is unacceptable, unacceptable..."
The old fisherman and his family were all terrified. The silver in their hands felt like a hot potato. They quickly knelt down and tried to pick up the silver and return it to the adult.
Their family were all honest fishermen, and they did not notice the confrontation between Lei Li and the fat magistrate. They only felt that Lei Li's expression and tone were a little strange, but they could not tell what was strange.
This morning, Lei Li and the other man were very amiable and talkative, and didn't look like officials at all. Now... it seems like they're acting a bit like the county magistrate?
Out of animal instinct, they did not feel that Lei Li's words were looking down on them. On the contrary, the heavy ten taels in their hands made them grateful and uneasy, and they felt that they could not take so much money for nothing.
Their family only managed to save a little over one or two taels a year from fishing, and in bad years it was considered a great success to have the whole family together.
Lei Li seemed to be offended by his loss and was a little surprised. Seeing this, the fat magistrate quickly scolded the old fisherman and his family, "Just take it if I tell you to. Why don't you thank the governor?"
"Thank you, thank you, Governor..."
Now Lei Li's complexion looked good again. He smiled and asked the old fishmonger and his family to get up. Then, at the warm invitation of the fat magistrate, he and Zhou Yi sat in a comfortable carriage back to the county town.
After a few days of being sought after and treated like a star in the county town, Lei Li became bored.
He pretended to be serious and said that he was on a secret tour and didn't want so many people following him. He was here as the governor to do his job, so how could he get his work done with such a large number of people?
Fat County Magistrate: “?!”
He had just told his superior that the governor was nothing to be afraid of, and now the governor was about to get down to business?
He was shocked and tried to keep Lei Li warmly. But when he failed, he prepared the most spacious and luxurious carriage for him and sent him off with a group of officials.
Lei Li said that it was not necessary to send him off, but his expression was very satisfied. He got on the carriage happily and left the county town with Zhou Yi without looking back.
Seeing this, the fat magistrate felt relieved. How could a real man of business be so obsessed with pleasure? He was just talking nonsense. It was a pity that he had been so worried for several days.
As soon as Lei Li got on the carriage and closed the curtain, his smile turned cold.
The driver of the carriage was the fat magistrate's man. He didn't say anything to Zhou Yi, but as they had been husband and wife for many years, he knew what the other was thinking with just one look.
The imperial court has been promoting the establishment of Wanjia Schools for many years. The original intention was to benefit the people and reduce illiteracy. Even in remote and impoverished counties, schools should be established. The teaching level is another matter, but schools are indispensable.
In a wealthy city like Baihui, the city's finances alone are enough to support education, and there is no need to ask the Ministry of Revenue of the imperial court for money. However, Baihui not only asks for money every year, but also asks for a considerable amount.
Lei Li had been on a "secret visit" these days, seemingly eating, drinking and having fun as he pleased, but he had learned a lot of information while chatting with the common people.
For example, the Wanjia School in many places in Baihui was in name only. Only when the court sent people to check the political achievements would they temporarily find a place and some children to serve as a front, or simply bribe the inspecting officials to make them know the truth and make false reports.
The money used for basic education was basically swallowed up. After being exploited layer by layer, even if the local magistrate did not swallow it up, the remaining money would not be enough to support the operation of the Sifang School.
"This is the situation of Wanjia Academy in recent years."
Lei Li found a reason to drive the driver away, and he and Zhou Yi drove the carriage and changed direction according to the map, heading to another county town.
"In the early years, local officials, driven by political achievements or perhaps out of genuine concern for the people, actually opened up Wanjia School, recruited teachers, distributed elementary education textbooks for free, and only charged low tuition to enroll the children of ordinary people."
"With the concerted efforts of all levels of government, many children from ordinary families have indeed been enlightened. The economy of Baihui has also improved, and the scene is full of vitality."
"but--"
"However, the good times didn't last long. Government officials at all levels began to become corrupt. They first swallowed up some of the educational funds intended for Wanjia School, and then increased tuition fees, making it impossible for ordinary people to afford the high tuition fees and forcing them to drop their children out of school."
Zhou Yi continued, "If we continue to suppress the teachers' salaries, delay payment, reduce payment, or even not pay them at all, it will make it difficult for them to make a living and they will have to resign and run away."
"Over time, no one came to study or teach in the school, and the Wanjia School became abandoned or used for other purposes, becoming someone's private property."
"The news in Beijing that boys and girls could take the imperial examinations had not yet spread to the villages and towns."
Lei Li frowned and said, "Yu Rui has already passed the imperial examination and won the top prize, but the fishermen here don't know that the system has changed. Just now, when I mentioned the top prize for a boy and a girl, the fisherman's expression was as if they had heard some kind of fairy tale."
"The fat magistrate looked panicked, afraid I might suddenly ask a question. But when he realized I had no such intention, he immediately relaxed."
Lei Li narrowed his eyes in a vengeful manner as he spoke, "He thought I didn't see the contempt in his eyes. If I wasn't acting, I would have slapped him right away."
He also brought his whip this time, waiting for an opportunity to show off his skills.
Unfortunately, the search mission has not been completed yet. He and Zhou Yi have to go to a few more places to conduct public opinion polls so that they can bring down corrupt officials like Bai Hui as soon as possible.
A hint of restlessness ignited in Lei Li's eyes. He liked this part the most. Sentencing in the morning, searching homes in the afternoon, taking people to the homes of those good-for-nothings and looting all the valuables.
Lei Li once had the nickname of Iron Locust. He would steal even a single copper coin. One person could fight off a group of locusts.
"I think I've collected almost all the information on other people as well. I'll check back in a few days when I get back to the capital."
Zhou Yi paused, then said with a hint of worry, "Just Zhou Zhou's side, I hope everything goes smoothly. The Sihai Division has a lot of collusion between merchants and officials, and it's a very complicated and entangled nut to crack."
"Don't worry."
Lei Li chuckled and said, "Don't you know Zhou Zhou's fighting power? Even if Zhou Zhou can't suppress others, no one can bully him, not to mention that he has Lin Zhong with him."
"Lin Zhong is a very upright kid, but you've been corrupting him these past few months in the Transportation Department. He's got all these tricks up his sleeve. I wonder if Zhou Zhou will be able to control him in the future."
Zhou Yi wasn't worried about that. "Lin Zhong is completely devoted to Zhou Zhou. There's no need to control him. He'll happily follow Zhou Zhou."
It’s better to worry more about Lin Zhong. What if Zhou Zhou becomes lazy like Lei Li in the future, and Lin Zhong has to do all the official work, like he is doing now.
but……
"When did I teach Lin Zhong a bad lesson?"
Zhou Yi glanced at Lei Li secretly. It was obviously Lei Li who would teach bad people, right?
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