The school in the village has three houses in total, two of which are used as classrooms and one where Master Yu and his family live.
This school was originally built with adobe, with a thatched roof, and it looked very simple. Many children were crowded in the classroom, and the tables and chairs were not neatly arranged. Many children did not have paper and pen, just the simplest sand table. Even so, The learning atmosphere is also very strong.
The school has been established for nearly a year, and there is a term every three months. Some children who are not gifted will not come again if they know a few words in the last term. Some children like to read, so continue reading. If they are talented children, Yu The Confucius Association has specially set up small classrooms for teaching.
However, people in Dahe Village have been farmers for generations, and there are not many talented children. Apart from Si Dan and Yu Zhan, the only person who is lucky enough to join the small class is a grandson of the Xu family.
"In addition to the children from our village, other villagers from Wangjiadun, Guihua Village, Lijiagou and other villages have also sent their children." Master Yu started to talk about the basic situation of the school, "A few days ago, the son of an old scholar from Chengjia Village came to me. I hope Dahe Village can accept students from Chengjia Village, so the number of students may reach 300."
Li Zheng asked curiously: "Old scholar Cheng has been teaching for thirty or forty years, why did he suddenly stop teaching?"
"The old scholar is getting older. The children are too noisy and his health cannot bear it." Master Yu said, "Originally, he planned to pass the school to his son, but recently, many people in Chengjia Village are working in Dashan's mother's workshop. What a job, they can earn nearly one tael of silver a month, much more than the old scholar, so his son doesn’t want to do such a thankless job."
Cheng Wanwan knew that the old scholar was teaching purely for charity. When Cheng Zhao had talent, the old scholar would take Cheng Zhao with him every day and teach him how to read and write for free.
When other children in Chengjia Village used to study, they were not given money, but a pound of meat, ten eggs, a piece of cloth, etc. It is completely understandable that the son of an old scholar does not want to inherit the school.
A year ago, Chengjia Village was the only village in Ping'an County that had a formal school.
One year later this year, among these ten miles and eight villages, only Dahe Village has a school, and it is a university school.
"It is currently estimated that there are 300 students. The school needs to be expanded. If there are 60 students in a classroom, it will need at least five rooms. In addition, there will be people from the city who will send their children, so that will be six rooms, and there will be room for new students. Master Yu is building a residence." Master Yu wrote and drew on paper, "It is enough for the children in the village to arrange half-day classes. They will take turns attending classes in the morning and afternoon, and just invite two masters."
"The Qian family has taken care of the matter of inviting Master." Li Zheng said with a smile, "They will invite at least three scholars to come and be tutors for the children. Master Yu, you are specially here to teach those students who are about to take the exam. As for the new school, Mr. Qian organized the businessmen to collect nearly a thousand taels of silver and will build a school with a blue brick building so that when there is a heavy rain, the house will not leak and the children can attend class with peace of mind."
The businessmen were not stingy with their money. After some casual shouting, they collected more than nine hundred taels, which was enough to build a university hall, a residence for the master, and even provide dormitories for the children who lived far away. Build a student canteen...
"Reading and literacy is not a way to make money. I think we can continue to pay 20 per month for literary repair." Cheng Wanwan said, "The village has the ability to provide children with an environment to study. In the future, the children will be successful." It will give back to the village. If you can’t afford to study because the tuition fee is too high, then the gain outweighs the loss.”
Li Zheng nodded: "I agree."
Master Yu naturally nodded in agreement, and he sighed: "I used to teach in Huzhou, and I taught diligently for four or five years. One day, after my students knew everything I had gone through, they humiliated me. I thought that this It will never be possible to teach and educate people again in my life..."
After he came to Dahe Village, he did not hide his past. These people were willing to send their children here, which surprised him.
Although he knew the reason for being a Sui'an person, no one would take risks with his own children. He experienced the feeling of being respected by others as a teacher and role model.
"In the future, more and more children will come to Dahe Village to study." Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, "Master Yu will one day have peaches and plums all over the world, and spring sunshine everywhere."
The three of them chatted and discussed with each other to draw a sketch of the new school. It was still built next to the ancestral hall. It was quiet and suitable for studying.
Just as he finalized the sketch, Zhao Tiezhu suddenly ran in out of breath: "Ah, Grandpa, someone is coming from the provincial capital!"
Cheng Wanwan stood up suddenly.
When someone comes from the provincial capital, it’s a sign of good news. However, shouldn’t it be time to go to Chengjia Village to announce the good news?
She walked out quickly.
Four official servants from the provincial capital were being led by shopkeeper Yan towards the mansion, when the two groups of people happened to bump into each other.
As soon as he saw Cheng Wanwan, shopkeeper Yan said excitedly: "I passed the exam, I really did!"
Four officials immediately beat the gongs and drums, and then said: "Congratulations to the people of Sui'an. Cheng Zhao from Ping'an County, Huzhou ranked first in the provincial examination and became the Jieyuan this year. This is great news!"
A red copybook was handed over.
Cheng Wanwan quickly took it, opened it, and immediately smiled.
Zhao'er really passed the exam and was ranked first. She will be the first to be awarded the title this year. Her future prospects are limitless.
She hurriedly asked: "What about Shen Zheng, who is also from Ping'an County? Did he pass the exam?"
"County Magistrate Shen's son has also passed the exam. We just went to the Shen family to report the good news before coming here." The official paused and said, "But Mr. Shen's ranking is not very good."
"Oh, Amitabha, they all passed the exam!" Li Zheng was excited, "This is all the result of Master Yu."
Master Yu touched his beard and said, "I have read the test questions for this year's provincial examination. I have covered most of them. Zijue is quite lucky."
Cheng Wanwan's smiling eyes narrowed into slits. She was so happy that she quickly asked Mrs. Qi to reward her with five taels of silver per person.
After the officials received the reward, she said: "Although Cheng Zhao is my nephew, he is not from Dahe Village. You should go to Chengjia Village to report the good news. Dashan, please lead the way for the officials."
Only then did several officials realize that something had happened.
When they asked for directions in Ping'an County, when they mentioned Cheng Zhao, everyone started talking about the Sui'an people, and then asked them to come to Dahe Village, and they came.
The official quickly returned the reward.
Cheng Wanwan naturally wouldn't accept it: "This is also a great event for me. You must take the reward. You're welcome."
Zhao Dashan tied up the carriage and took four official servants to Chengjia Village.
When the people in the village heard about this, they all came to congratulate him.
"I knew this kid Cheng Zhao had great potential."
"Now that I am the master of civil servants, I can become an official. It is not easy."
"Is there an exam coming up? It is said that I can go to the capital to see the emperor. Oh my, the Cheng family has a Suian and a high official. I am so envious!"
Cheng Wanwan accepted all the congratulations from the villagers.
She was not Cheng Zhao's parents, so she naturally didn't need to hold a banquet. However, she still had to invite the people from the old Zhao family to come over and make the party lively and happy.
