Chapter 86: As Long as You Put Your Heart Into It, There’s Nothing You Can’t Learn

Hu Zhaodi looked speechless. “Two elder brothers, both of you are equally important to me, so please stop arguing, alright?”

“Alright,” they both answered in unison.

At the same time, both of them simultaneously served food onto Hu Zhaodi’s plate.

Hu Zhaodi smiled and buried her head in her food.

After the meal, Han Dongsheng packed several meat dishes for Hu Zhaodi before rushing off with the ox-drawn cart and horse cart to fetch the tables and chairs.

The tables and chairs were custom-made according to the ones used in the private school, with a total of fifty sets ordered.

In reality, the classroom in the private school couldn’t fit fifty sets of tables and chairs, but at first, Hu Zhaodi only planned to open one classroom.

Arriving at the location where the tables and chairs were made, Hu Zhaodi paid the remaining balance and began loading the cart.

The fifty sets of tables and chairs, along with books and cloth, were all secured onto the carts. The four of them then said goodbye to Han Dongsheng and Wu Yinghai, before driving the carts out of the county town.

The old scholar and Hu Zhaodi sat side by side on the horse cart. Hu Zhaodi held the reins in one hand and the whip in the other.

Once they left the county town, the old scholar suddenly spoke, “Girl, your two elder brothers really aren’t bad. They’re worth getting to know better.”

Hu Zhaodi nodded slightly. “They are indeed good. Although they both have their own motives, I also have my reasons for working with them. We’re even, I suppose.”

“People with no ulterior motives wouldn’t come together, but your two elder brothers really handle things well.”

“That’s true, or I wouldn’t be dealing with them so often.”

“Mm, girl, your judgment of people is spot on.”

As they chatted along the way, they reached Dawai Village without realizing it.

As soon as they entered the village, the three carts of tables and chairs immediately caught the attention of the villagers.

Someone asked, “Zhaodi! When will your private school start classes?”

Hu Zhaodi smiled and replied, “Uncle, I’ll finish organizing the tables, chairs, and books in the next couple of days, and then we can start classes. But tomorrow, the kids can start signing up. Just have them come to Grandpa Ji to register.”

“Alright, I’ll bring my son to sign up with Uncle Ji tomorrow. Zhaodi, since I helped build the school, you’ve got to give me a discount on the tuition!”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. I always keep my word. Anyone who helped build the school will get a discount on the first year’s tuition. It’s like paying everyone for their work.”

“Good, that’s great! Now our kids can go to school right here in the village!”

Hu Zhaodi nodded, “Of course, Uncle. There’s just one thing I need you to help me with.”

“What is it? Just tell me.”

“Tomorrow when the kids come to register, if you have time, could you help spread the news for me?”

“No problem, Zhaodi. Are we delivering the tables and chairs to the school now?”

Hu Zhaodi nodded, “Yes, we’ll deliver them directly now.”

“Well, I have some free time now. I’ll help you unload the carts.”

Other villagers quickly agreed:

“I’ll go too! After all, this is the private school where our kids will be studying.”

“Exactly. If it weren’t for Zhaodi, our kids would have to go to the county town for school. Not only is it far, but it’s expensive too.”

“Let’s go, let’s all go help!”

Of course, while some were eager for their children to attend school, others were against it.

Those who didn’t want their kids to study believed education was useless, and it would be better for the children to work in the fields with the adults and lighten the family burden.

Especially for families with daughters who could go to school, they never considered sending their girls to the private school.

In their view, girls would eventually be married off, so before that, they might as well help with household chores.

After growing up, the only thing a girl might contribute is a dowry, and beyond that, she had little value.

This is why, from ancient times to the present, there has always been a tendency to favor sons over daughters.

The families who didn’t want their children to attend school lowered their heads and silently left.

Meanwhile, the families who wanted their children to go to school were all excited and followed to help with the private school.

In fact, while the old scholar was overseeing the construction of the private school, he would often talk to the villagers who came to help about the benefits of education.

He even quoted some of the words Hu Zhaodi had used to persuade him when they first started the project.

Children going to school didn’t necessarily have to aim for the imperial exams; there were other paths they could take.

The villagers who had helped build the school listened carefully to this advice.

However, those who still didn’t want their children to attend school stuck to their old beliefs, thinking that schooling was simply a waste of money.

When they reached the private school at the east end of the village, everyone worked together to unload the carts and neatly arranged the tables and chairs in the classroom.

The remaining tables and chairs were placed in another classroom that wasn’t planned to open yet.

On the far right of the school, a room was set aside for the old scholar as his rest area.

After the books were unloaded from the horse cart, they were all moved into the old scholar’s rest area.

Once the door was locked, Hu Zhaodi and the others returned to the Ji family’s house.

Hu Zhaodi had Hu Tieniu send the ox cart back before returning to the Ji family for dinner.

Hu Tieniu had intended to refuse, but when he saw the food boxes Hu Zhaodi had brought down from the cart, he swallowed his words.

The delicious, hearty lunch they had earlier had completely won him over.

As soon as Hu Zhaodi entered the house, Ji Chunhua eagerly pulled her sister Ji Chunlan over to Hu Zhaodi.

“Zhaodi, my sister has agreed to work with me on making clothes.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled with joy. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Her husband and in-laws both support her.”

Hu Zhaodi looked at Ji Chunlan. “Sister Chunlan, congratulations on marrying into a good family.”

Ji Chunlan smiled shyly and spoke, “Thank you, Zhaodi.”

“Thank me for what?”

“Thank you for saving my sister and for giving us the opportunity to make clothes together. My sister has already told me that you’re planning to open a ready-made clothing shop.”

Hu Zhaodi nodded with a smile. “Yes, today I bought more fabric. You two can start making clothes from this, and I’ll continue to draw the designs for you. Once I finish with the private school, I’ll take some time to find a shop in the county town. At that point, the ready-made clothing shop will be yours to run.”

Ji Chunhua shook her head. “Zhaodi, Chunlan and I can make clothes, but I’m afraid we’ll disappoint you when it comes to running a shop.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled and patted Ji Chunhua’s hand. “Sister Chunhua, no one is born knowing how to do things. But we can learn. Just like you making clothes—I don’t believe you were born knowing how to do it.”

“Do you think Chunlan and I can do it?”

Hu Zhaodi raised an eyebrow. “You really have no confidence in yourselves? Sister Chunhua, I believe you and Sister Chunlan can do it. As long as you put your heart into learning, there’s nothing you can’t learn.”

Ji Chunhua’s face became determined. “Mm, I’ll work hard.”

“And Sister Chunlan, you can send your children to our village’s private school.”

Ji Chunlan nodded. “Yes, I know. My sister has already told me. Zhaodi, you’re amazing.”

“I’m just a bit lucky, there’s nothing amazing about me.”

After saying this, Hu Zhaodi handed the two food boxes to Ji Chunhua. “Sister Chunhua, take these to the kitchen and heat them up. We’ll eat soon.”

“Okay.”

Ji Chunhua took the food boxes and went to the kitchen.

Ji Chunlan smiled and said, “Zhaodi, you rest. I’ll help in the kitchen.”