White Deer Academy.
Zhou Qiang is here.
It was Mr. Zhu who asked Zhou Qiang to come.
"Come on, Xiaoqiang, let me introduce to you. This is my classmate, Xu." Mr. Zhu introduced Xu Xiucai to Zhou Qiang.
A few people exchanged pleasantries.
"Xiaoqiang, isn't your new primary school looking for teachers? Do you think Brother Xu can do it?" Mr. Zhu asked directly.
"Here," Zhou Qiang hesitated, "Mr. Xu, your knowledge is certainly good. However, I still want to ask, what do you think of binding women's feet?"
"Women's feet have been bound since ancient times. This is the ancestral law and it is perfectly justified!" Xu Xiucai said confidently. He is a sour scholar.
After reading the Four Books and Five Classics, I wanted to be an official, but I didn’t have the level or background to become an official.
Xu Xiucai felt that his talent was not appreciated, he was born at the wrong time, and he was dissatisfied with many powerful people.
He often complains and criticizes current affairs.
Doing so is nothing more than scholarly talk, talking on paper, and saying some false and empty words.
If Xu Xiucai was really asked to handle the actual matters, it would probably be a complete mess.
Perhaps when Xu Xiucai reaches that position, he will be even more greedy and demanding.
"Mr. Xu, I disagree with this statement." Zhou Qiang shook his head, "Foot binding is not something that has existed since ancient times. It is said that foot binding originated from the Song Dynasty.
Before the Song Dynasty, foot binding was rare.
Therefore, foot binding does not exist from ancient times.
So why foot binding?
Foot binding is a means of confining women. Foot binding is actually a bad habit.
Nowadays, the bad custom of foot binding has been abolished in most places. "
"Nonsense!" Xu Xiucai liked to debate and find fault with others, but he didn't like to listen patiently to what others had to say.
In fact, the more ignorant a person is, the less likely he is to listen to what others say.
A leaf obscures the eyes, and Mount Tai cannot be seen.
"Foot binding is an ancestral method." Xu Xiucai started his pedantic and sour theory again.
Zhou Qiang didn't argue with Xu Xiucai, there was no need.
"Mr. Xu, I admire your knowledge.
It’s just that my new primary school needs to teach new concepts and some Western ideas.
It goes against many of your ideas.
I'm afraid I won't be able to hire you as a new-style primary school teacher. "
Mr. Zhu recommended Xu Xiucai to Zhou Qiang.
Zhou Qiang chatted with Xu Xiucai and found that Xu Xiucai was too pedantic and his ideas were too old, so he declined.
It's not because Xu Xiucai is not good at learning.
It's because Xu Xiucai had some concepts and ideas that were outdated.
Xu Xiucai also insisted that women should have their feet bound.
Zhou Qiang disagreed with this view and could only refuse Xu Xiucai to become a teacher.
In addition, Zhou Qiang dared to refuse because Zhou Qiang had more choices.
Many college students in Chang'an were deceived into coming here.
Zhou Qiang is no longer worried about not having a suitable teacher.
A few people chatted for a while.
Zhou Qiang left first.
A few days passed.
Mr. Xu leaves.
Zhou Qiang went to Bailu Academy again and formally invited Mr. Zhu to be a Chinese studies teacher.
In terms of Chinese studies, Mr. Zhu is a person who really reads and understands the true meaning.
With Mr. Zhu teaching, the children can learn thoroughly and understand things.
It's a pity that "I might not be able to obey my order." Mr. Zhu clearly rejected Zhou Qiang.
I don’t know why, but Mr. Zhu is unwilling to teach in a new primary school.
Seeing this, Zhou Qiang couldn't force it.
All I can say is that it’s no luck.
Leave Bailu Academy.
Zhou Qiang continues to prepare for a new primary school.
Another period of time passed.
All aspects of the new primary school are well prepared.
Classrooms, teachers, teaching materials, various teaching tools, etc. are all ready.
Zhou Qiang takes good care of the college students who are tricked and treats them very well. He does not treat those passionate college students badly.
There is no irony that the college student is Kong Yiji.
For a real college student, Zhou Qiang should have no less respect, and he should receive double the treatment he deserves.
What is the most expensive thing in the 20th century? Also talented!
What happens if you don’t respect talents?
There is a massive brain drain.
In this era, most students studying abroad have come back.
They gave up their 'noble' life overseas and came to this devastated country to shed their lives and blood!
Bailu Town.
A row of newly built classrooms.
main entrance.
The sound of firecrackers rang first.
There were many people around.
Not just from Bailu Village.
Many people also came from other villages on Bailuyuan.
Zhou Qiang, Bai Jiaxuan, Lu Zilin, etc., many squires and common people from various villages came.
Of course the county also sent people.
"congratulations!"
“Boss Zhou’s generous donation is a great story!”
“It’s all thanks to Boss Zhou that we can build a new primary school on the site!”
"Boss Zhou is a role model for our generation!"
"Boss Zhou is so benevolent and righteous!"
Zhou Qiang was surrounded by people.
Facing the compliment, Zhou Qiang felt a little relieved and proud.
Bai Jiaxuan, Lu Zilin and others all looked at Zhou Qiang with admiration.
What Zhou Qiang did deserves everyone's respect.
When a new primary school is built, some ceremonies are still held.
Speeches from some people are also necessary.
"I represent"
"I hope this primary school can open up people's wisdom."
“Greetings to everyone”
Some high-sounding things are always inevitable.
A busy day passed.
All kinds of things have been dealt with.
It is inevitable to celebrate by eating and drinking.
Eating good wine and good food, my mouth is full of oil.
Outside, ordinary people with sallow faces and thin muscles went home.
School starts the next day.
Bai Xiaowen, Bai Xiaowu, Lu Zhaopeng, Lu Zhaohai, Hei Wa, etc., almost all the children in Bailu Village come to school.
There are tuition fees.
However, because Zhou Qiang is from Bailu Village, the tuition fees for the villagers in Bailu Village are halved.
There are not many children from other villages. Many of them are still in private schools.
Because it was a new primary school established by Zhou Qiang, the county gave Zhou Qiang the position of honorary principal.
Zhou Qiang can take care of some things.
The first thing Zhou Qiang did was to give each child an egg every day.
This is an era when people generally don’t have enough to eat.
This was an era when starvation was common.
Zhou Qiang gives each of the children at school an egg every day.
This approach caused a sensation.
In this day and age, this is considered a big deal.
This cost is not small.
This kind of move not only touched the students and parents, but also touched the hearts of the college students who came to teach.
Qualified college students donated money to support Zhou Qiang’s approach.
Some college students even spread the news back to Chang'an.
College students over there also raised funds and donated money.
In a short period of time, Zhou Qiang received a lot of donations.
However, Zhou Qiang is not a money-grubbing person.
He disclosed the whereabouts of the donated money and used it to buy books.
Not long after, a library was built and named Bailu Library.
The books inside were all purchased with donations.
They are all contemporary classics, including many original Western works.
There was no one in Bailuyuan who didn’t give a thumbs up to Zhou Qiang’s actions.
"Boss Zhou, this is a great kindness!"
“Boss Zhou is very knowledgeable!”
"Boss Zhou, what's the use of these foreign books? Can you understand them?"
"Boss Zhou, look far ahead!"
"Boss Zhou, you are worth learning from!"
Zhou Qiang also met foreigners through college students and invited foreign devils to Bailu Town.
Let the foreign devils teach foreign languages.
The arrival of foreign devils became the next hot topic.
Zhou Qiang's every move attracted everyone's attention in Bailuyuan.
The villagers regarded the foreign devils as a curiosity and would always pass by the new primary school to see what the foreign devils looked like.
After seeing it, everyone said that the foreign devils were not human beings.
The new primary school is busy.
The days have returned to normal.
In life, plainness is the theme.
Only if you can live an ordinary life in a meaningful way can you be considered capable.
The days passed.
Matchmakers came to Zhou Qiang one after another to introduce partners to Zhou Qiang.
After Zhou Qiang saw the portrait, he was not satisfied.
"This appearance is a bit unspectacular."
"This appearance is slightly lacking, a little bit off."
"I don't really like this one, I don't feel anything about it."
The reason why Zhou Qiang refused was because he was not pretty enough.
Now the matchmakers are in trouble.
There are not so many beauties.
Real beauties generally cannot marry Yuan Shang, and they come from a scholarly family.
After searching for so long, he found many women from scholarly families, but Zhou Qiang was not satisfied.
It was so difficult to find a partner for Zhou Qiang that the matchmakers were a little discouraged and wanted to give up.
Seeing this, Zhou Qiang waved his hand and said, "If the marriage is successful, I will give you twenty yuan as a wedding gift."
After hearing Zhou Qiang's words, the matchmakers became motivated again.
Twenty dollars!
This is no small amount.
The matchmakers began to ask around again to find out which family had a scholar or a successful candidate, whether there was a daughter to be married, and whether she was good-looking.
Time passed little by little.
The matchmakers inquired about the scholarly families in the pass, but Zhou Qiang was not satisfied with any of them.
this day.
Tianjia Village outside the pass.
A matchmaker named Li from Guan Nei came.
Matchmaker Li found out that there was a poor scholar named Tian in Tianjia Village outside the pass.
Tian Xiucai had a good-looking daughter who was under sixteen years old.
Matchmaker Li came over to see if it met Boss Zhou's requirements.
A farmyard.
The wall is an earthen wall.
There are several brick kilns.
Tian Xiucai's family background is not that good.
Matchmaker Li knocked on the door and came in, explaining her purpose, "In Guan Nei, on Bailuyuan, there is the Zhou family, the richest family. Boss Zhou is looking for a wife. He is very demanding, but the gift is hundreds of thousands of dollars!"
Tian Xiucai was excited after hearing this.
If you marry a daughter, you can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a very good deal.
Tian Xiucai hurriedly called Tian Xiaoe over.
"My daughter is very pretty. I am a scholar, and my family is also from a scholarly family. My daughter must be a lady of everyone, virtuous, virtuous, well-educated, and good in appearance and character," Tian Xiucai kept boasting.
Tian Xiao'e took small steps and shyly came to see Matchmaker Li.
When she saw Tian Xiao'e's figure, "Hey," Matchmaker Li's eyes lit up, "Little girl, raise your head."
Tian Xiao'e slowly raised her head.
"Yes, yes, she is indeed very pretty." Matchmaker Li smiled. She felt that the appearance of the little girl in front of her must meet Boss Zhou's requirements, and began to ask other questions, "Little girl, can you read?"
"I" Tian Xiao'e just wanted to reply.
"My Xiao'e has been studying with me since she was a child. She is not only literate, but also knows some arithmetic. It is the so-called six arts of a gentleman." Tian Xiucai hurriedly said a lot of good things.
Of course Tian Xiucai lied.
Tian Xiao'e doesn't know much about literacy and has never studied systematically.
It is virtue for a woman to have no talent.
Tian Xiucai is a sour scholar and believes in this sentence.
Tian Xiucai will not let Tian Xiaoe study.
However, now someone is looking for a lady, and obviously they want to be literate.
In this regard, Tian Xiaoe did not meet the requirements.
But it doesn't matter.
Tian Xiucai can ask Tian Xiao'e to read and write now, and when she gets married, it will be almost the same.
"It's good to be literate." Matchmaker Li smiled. She probably saw that Tian Xiucai had lied, but it didn't matter, as long as the woman was beautiful, everything else was easy to say.
When Zhou Qiang found fault with him before, it was always his appearance.
The matchmakers probably have an idea.
As long as she is a beautiful woman, Boss Zhou may not mind too much otherwise.
"That needlework?" Matchmaker Li then asked other questions.
"Everything is fine, Xiao'e, let me show you Aunt Li a lesson." Although Tian Xiao'e has never read a book, she can do other jobs.
Moreover, Tian Xiaoe is very clever and can do many tasks at a glance.
In front of Matchmaker Li, he performed well.
"Yes, she is a virtuous and virtuous woman." Matchmaker Li nodded, "Tian Xiucai, I think Xiao'e is good. However, Boss Zhou is quite picky.
People want to draw a portrait and take it home to see. "
"You want a portrait?" Tian Xiucai felt a little troubled.
"Yes, the painter is easy to talk to, I will bring him over in a few days.
Don't bother yourself.
If this marriage can happen.
There are a lot of betrothal gifts.
Boss Zhou recently built a new primary school in Bailuyuan. "
"What? Build a new primary school? Who will pay for it?"
"Of course it's from Boss Zhou."
"How much does that cost?" Tian Xiucai's eyes widened.
"I don't know about that. It's probably a few hundred dollars."
"Yes, it must be a few hundred dollars." Tian Xiucai was so surprised that he couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear. He was very anxious and wanted Tian Xiao'e to marry Boss Zhou.
"Aunt Li, I wonder what the boss is doing this week?" Tian Xiao'e asked gently.
"Boss Zhou. Let me tell you what's going on with Boss Zhou.
Boss Zhou is nineteen years old this year, more than five feet tall, handsome and talented. He is alone at home because his parents are not around.
Boss Zhou, in Bailuyuan, makes wine and grinds tofu at home
I covered several hills and planted potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes.
I don’t know if you have heard of it, but the potato sticks sold in the provincial capital are made by Boss Zhou.” Matchmaker Li introduced Zhou Qiang in detail.
Tian Xiucai and Tian Xiao'e were stunned when they heard this.
They only had one thought: Boss Zhou is so awesome!
"Well, my Xiao'e is fine too." Tian Xiucai praised Tian Xiao'e again.
After hearing about Zhou Qiang, Tian Xiucai wanted to sell Tian Xiaoe to Zhou Qiang immediately.
Tian Xiao'e also got to know Zhou Qiang a little bit. He was not a bad old man. He was just the right age and so capable. He could earn a family fortune by himself. He was a man who could be entrusted to him for the rest of his life.
Tian Xiaoe recognized Boss Zhou in her heart.
Within a few days.
Matchmaker Li led a painter to draw a portrait of Tian Xiao'e.
Rushed to Zhou Zhai.
"I'm so happy, Boss Zhou, I'm so happy!" Matchmaker Li twisted her waist and came happily. She started shouting before entering the main room.
"Hey, his aunt, are you here too?" Matchmaker Zhang was also at Zhou's house, and she also brought a portrait to introduce Zhou Qiang to her partner.
Matchmaker Zhang came first.
Zhou Qiang was looking at the portrait she brought with her.
"Why are you here?" Seeing Matchmaker Zhang, Matchmaker Li was a little unhappy.
"Hmph." Matchmaker Zhang didn't give Matchmaker Li a good look, "What else can I do? I'll find a good woman for Boss Zhou."
Matchmaker Zhang and Matchmaker Li are love rivals. The two of them also have a story.
"What good woman can you find?" Matchmaker Li was a little disdainful.
"It's definitely better than yours. I am the daughter of someone else's family. I am a lady, well-educated, and very beautiful."
"Jiu Ren?" Matchmaker Li was a little surprised. Generally, women who get a job would not marry a weakling, but would only marry a powerful person.
Although Zhou Qiang has money, he has no power.
Families with really good conditions cannot look down upon Zhou Qiang.
"Yes, Wang Juren from Wangzhuang near Zishui County." Matchmaker Zhang was a little proud.
"Wang Juren? Did he agree?" Matchmaker Li knew about Wang Juren. A matchmaker had inquired about Wang Juren's daughter before. But as soon as Wang Juren heard that it was the Zhou family in Bailuyuan, he refused. Unexpectedly, I agreed now.
"of course."
"Did you lie?"
"Hmph, how dare you lie about this?" Matchmaker Zhang looked at Matchmaker Li with contempt and ignored her.
Matchmaker Li's face became extremely ugly.
She knew that Wang Ju's daughter was definitely better than Tian Xiao'e from Tian Xiucai's family.
Seeing twenty yuan lost, Matchmaker Li was itching with hatred, but there was nothing she could do.
Zhou Qiang looked at the portrait of Wang Ju's daughter.
"She has good looks and a poetic temperament. She is a good woman."
Zhou Qiang was a little moved.
Although Zhou Qiang wanted to find Tian Xiao'e, he didn't have to find Tian Xiao'e.
The daughter of Wang Juren in front of her met Zhou Qiang's requirements very well.
Matchmaker Li watched Zhou Qiang's thoughts carefully.
Matchmaker Li hurriedly said: "Boss Zhou, I have found a suitable woman for you in Tianjia Village outside the Pass. This is a portrait. Can you take a look?"
"What? Tianjia Village outside the pass?" Zhou Qiang's eyes lit up.
"Yes, she is the daughter of Tian Xiucai's family in Tianjia Village. Her name is Tian Xiao'e." Matchmaker Li handed the portrait to Zhou Qiang.
Zhou Qiang opened it and thought to himself: "It is indeed Tian Xiao'e!"
(End of chapter)
