On the second day of the new year, they visited Wu Lanshu’s place, spending the whole day there. They also brought a gift to the nearby Aunt Wang’s family, marking the end of Zhou Song’s rounds with his relatives.

Starting from the third day, a few neighbors from Qi Shan Village occasionally stopped by for a quick chat, just to maintain a friendly relationship. Most of them were warm-hearted folks.

Finally, on the fifth day, Zhou Song and Shen Qingzhu decided to visit the village head’s home. This wasn’t just a social call—they wanted to discuss the possibility of opening a school in the village. With the new year celebrations almost over, it wouldn’t be long before the village would get busy with preparations for the spring planting season. They wanted to finalize things while there was still time.

The village head’s wife warmly welcomed them, quickly inviting them inside to sit down. It was quiet at their place, and when Zhou Song asked, he learned that only the old couple was home today; the younger family members had gone to visit distant relatives, and the journey was too far for the elders to join.

In the main room, the village head was sitting by the stove, shelling roasted peanuts. When he saw them, he waved and said, “Come on in, warm yourselves up by the fire.”

Zhou Song, not one for many words but always thoughtful, came to visit the village head every year. By now, they were familiar with each other. Once they sat down, the village head even handed them some peanuts.

The village head’s wife had originally planned to go next door for a casual chat and to work on some sewing together, but she decided to stay to keep her guests company and sat with them again.

“This is Shen Xiaolang’s first time visiting. You must come by often in the future.”

Shen Qingzhu smiled and agreed, taking a peanut Zhou Song had shelled for him, tasting the mix of charred aroma with the raw sweetness of the peanut—a surprisingly good flavor.

The village head shelled another peanut, glanced at Zhou Song, and said, “Every time I brought up marriage to this kid, he’d let it go in one ear and out the other, not wanting to talk about it. Who’d have thought he’d go off and make such a big move on the quiet, directly marrying Shen Xiaolang.”

“Indeed, fate has its way with people,” sighed the village head’s wife with a laugh.

The teasing from the elders made Zhou Song a bit shy. He glanced at Shen Qingzhu, who reached over with a smile and gently patted his hand.

Perhaps Zhou Song had been alone for so long that people thought he might stay that way for the rest of his life. When he suddenly got married—and to someone like Shen Qingzhu—the villagers who knew him couldn’t help but make a few jokes.

After a bit of light conversation, the topic gradually shifted towards having children, with the elders wondering when they planned to start a family.

In an attempt to change the subject and get down to business, Zhou Song quickly brought up the idea of opening a school in the village.

“A school?!” The village head looked shocked, the peanut he was shelling dropping to the ground.

“Yes, I truly wish to do this,” Shen Qingzhu said earnestly, pausing briefly before asking, “But what are your thoughts on it, Village Head?”

The village head recovered from his surprise, though the shock was still apparent on his face.

If asked whether he wanted a school in the village, of course he did. He wanted it so much. A few years ago, when a neighboring village opened a school, he had been extremely envious. Children from the village would have more choices and better opportunities if they could get an education.

If even one or two could take the imperial exams and achieve the title of tongsheng or xiucai, it would be a point of pride for the whole village.

For this reason, some families had sent their children to study in the neighboring village. But the long journey made daily travel inconvenient, and the tuition there was double what it would be locally. On top of that, there was the cost of paper, ink, and books—things that consumed money quickly. By the end of the year, it cost several taels of silver.

One or two years might be manageable, but it was hard to keep up for the long term, especially with mouths to feed at home. Spending all the family’s money on an uncertain education path didn’t seem sustainable.

Over time, fewer families were willing to send their kids. Only a few wealthy families could afford to keep it up. And the children reported that the teacher there seemed more dedicated to the local students and rather dismissive of those from outside villages.

Because of these issues, the village head had considered starting a school in Qi Shan Village. Finding a place wasn’t hard, but finding a suitable teacher was a different story.

No one in their village had the necessary education. As for bringing in someone from outside, there weren’t any good contacts, and even if there were, it was hard to know if they could be trusted. Most educated people outside the village were quite proud and would hardly be willing to settle down in a small village. The teacher in the neighboring village, for example, had only agreed because he was originally from there and had studied for the imperial exams.

So, the idea of a school had been shelved for a long time.

But now, here was someone offering to do it.

The village head found himself scrutinizing Shen Qingzhu carefully. Coming from the capital, he was likely the son of a noble family. Not to mention his knowledge, his bearing alone surpassed that of the teacher in the neighboring village by far. The only drawback was his identity as a Kun Ze.

Noticing the village head’s silence, Shen Qingzhu exchanged a glance with Zhou Song and asked, “Is there something that worries you, Village Head?”

The village head hesitated before replying, “Shen Xiaolang, after all, you are a Kun Ze…”

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingzhu’s brows arched slightly. “Village Head, are you saying you think it’s inappropriate for me to be in such a visible role?”

The village head quickly waved his hands, “No, not at all. I’m not that narrow-minded. Please don’t misunderstand, Shen Xiaolang. It’s just that teaching might seem easy, but it can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. You’re rather delicate, and I worry you might find it too tiring. Also, not everyone in the village is understanding. I worry about any rumors that might upset you.”

Hearing the concern for Shen Qingzhu’s well-being, Zhou Song tightened his hand resting on his knee but quickly relaxed again. He chose not to say anything—this was what Kun Ze wanted to do, and his role was simply to support him.

“Rest assured, Village Head,” Shen Qingzhu replied with a smile and without hesitation. “I’ve considered this thoroughly, and no matter what, I will not back down.”

Sitting with a straight back, his gaze steady despite his gentle demeanor, the village head studied him for a long moment before finally letting go of his reservations. He sat up straight, saying, “Since you’re determined, Shen Xiaolang, I won’t hesitate any longer. Let’s have lunch together, and we’ll discuss the specifics.”

In the end, he clasped his hands in respect. “On behalf of the village, I must thank you, Shen Xiaolang.”

Shen Qingzhu wasn’t from Qi Shan Village; he could have simply lived a peaceful life with Zhou Song. But despite being a Kun Ze, he was willing to bear the societal pressure to start a school and teach the village children, which was a great service to them.

“You’re too kind,” Shen Qingzhu returned the gesture with a bow.

•

Starting a school in the village wasn’t something the village head could decide alone; many details needed addressing.

First, he gathered a few respected elders from the village to discuss the matter. Some supported the idea, seeing the school as beneficial for the children, while others opposed it because Shen Qingzhu was a Kun Ze. Though he was a man, he was still different, and those with more traditional thinking saw it as inappropriate.

Finally, after the village head assured them of his support and repeatedly persuaded them, they reluctantly agreed, and the project could move forward.

The next step was to find a suitable location within the village for the school. Within a couple of days, word spread throughout the village. It wasn’t that the village head intentionally shared the news; it was just that people saw them scouting locations, and they didn’t bother hiding it since they would need people to help build the school soon.

Most villagers were delighted by the idea. No one wanted their children to spend their whole lives farming, and everyone had dreams of their children achieving success. They had already seen Shen Xiaolang’s literary talent; even though his words and writing were often beyond their understanding, they knew he was a genuine scholar.

Only a handful of people remained skeptical. To them, Shen Xiaolang was, after all, a Kun Ze. Could he really have much knowledge? And even if he did, could he handle mischievous kids? Moreover, some people outright disapproved, thinking a married Kun Ze teaching was improper.

One person even went as far as to say this to Zhou Song’s face, offering unsolicited advice about how a spouse should act. Zhou Song’s expression turned cold, and he punched the man, warning that if he insulted his husband again, it wouldn’t end with just one punch.

Afterward, people were either supportive, saying that such comments shouldn’t be made to one’s face, or critical, suggesting Zhou Song had become too bold.

When Shen Qingzhu heard about it, he simply smiled, gave Zhou Song a kiss, and that night rewarded him further, making Zhou Song completely forget any unpleasantness.

Over the next few days, they scouted locations with the village head. Since it wasn’t a residence, they didn’t have too many requirements other than a spacious area.

The village head suggested a spot near the center of the village, as it would be convenient for everyone, whether they lived on the east or west side. Shen Qingzhu agreed with this idea.

Eventually, they settled on an old abandoned house surrounded by a small patch of land, rarely visited and overgrown with weeds. It was the closest open space to the village center, spacious enough despite its neglected state.

With the location decided, it was time to build the school.