Chapter 114: A Well-Played Plan

Master Xie continued, “In a moment, I will assess the children’s current levels. Afterward, they will be divided into two groups: Group A will study the Four Books and Five Classics with me, while Group B will start with basic literacy.”

This arrangement was met with unanimous approval from the villagers.

In the past, children from Yun Bian Village who wished to study had to travel to Dong Gou Village.

However, Yun Bian Village was impoverished, and Dong Gou Village charged high tuition fees. Over time, fewer families could afford to send their children there.

Now, with this rare opportunity, even though most families didn’t have much surplus grain, they were willing to let their children learn to read and write.

If their children could write their names and understand contracts or legal documents, it would come in handy in times of need, sparing them the trouble of constantly relying on Li Zheng for help.

However, they wondered how much Master Xie would charge for tuition.

If it was too expensive, they wouldn’t be able to afford it. But if it was too cheap, they feared Master Xie might leave for a better opportunity.

Li Zheng voiced the villagers’ concerns.

“Didn’t Dean Wei explain it to you?” Master Xie asked, surprised at the question. “For us traveling teachers, the tuition fee is only one tael of silver per month.”

“How much?”

One tael of silver!

When divided among all the children, the cost per child would only be about ten wen per month.

For an entire year, that would amount to just a couple of hundred wen.

This price was far cheaper than sending their children to study elsewhere.

“The academy provides a stipend to support us when we teach in remote areas,” Master Xie explained.

In reality, the salary for teaching outside was the same as teaching at the academy.

But by traveling to rural areas, teachers could earn an additional tael of silver.

This small incentive was enough to attract scholars to teach in impoverished villages.

If a teacher discovered promising students and recommended them to the academy, they would receive extra rewards.

“Dean Wei is truly a kindhearted person!” Li Zheng exclaimed in admiration.

“The Dean has a generous heart. Returning to his hometown, he hopes to contribute to the education of local children,” Master Xie replied.

“Since you don’t mind our humble village, we won’t take up more of your time. Please, begin teaching the children,” Li Zheng said as he led the villagers out.

The classroom fell silent, leaving Master Xie and the children alone.

The teacher looked at the children before him and asked, “Who among you has studied before?”

Chang Sheng, Er Dan, and another child named Lin Qi stood up.

“Since you’ve attended school, let me test you,” the teacher said, looking at the three children.

“Confucius said: ‘While a father is alive, observe his will. After a father’s death, observe his actions. If for three years he does not deviate from his father’s path, he may be called filial.’ Who among you can explain the meaning of this?”

“I know, teacher!” Lin Qi raised his hand first.

“Very well, you may explain,” the teacher nodded.

Lin Qi, with an air of confidence, said, “While a father is alive, observe his will means… uh, observe a person’s aspirations while their father is alive. After a father’s death, observe his actions means… observe his behavior after his father passes away. As for the three years of not deviating from his father’s path, it means, uh, it means…”

He trailed off, unable to continue.

The teacher turned to Chang Sheng and Er Dan. “Can either of you complete his explanation?”

Er Dan quickly shook his head.

Chang Sheng calmly answered, “The phrase ‘three years without deviating from his father’s path may be called filial’ means that if a person continues to uphold the correct principles his father followed for a long time, he can be considered filial.”

“Good!” the teacher praised. “Do you think you could do that?”

Chang Sheng shook his head.

“As a child, while we should respect our parents, I don’t think it’s necessary to follow their principles in every matter. Filial piety is reflected in many ways and does not necessarily mean adhering strictly to our parents’ legacy. Furthermore, Confucius also said, ‘When three people walk together, one of them is my teacher.’ In addition to learning from our fathers, we should humbly seek guidance from others and aim for greater aspirations.”

Master Xie listened with keen interest.

When Chang Sheng finished, he did not criticize his viewpoint but instead said, “Good, good! Not only do you remember the content well, but you also have your own understanding. After school, stay behind. I want to test you individually.”

With that, Master Xie posed other questions, testing Er Dan and Lin Qi.

Outside, Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an listened for a while. When they heard Master Xie start teaching the children the “Thousand-Character Classic”, they left the school.

“This Master Xie seems skilled and dedicated. The village children are fortunate,” Ye Xin Ran remarked.

Xiao Huai’an nodded.

“If he stays to teach for three years, the children could learn a great deal.”

“That depends on Dean Wei’s arrangements and Master Xie’s own aspirations,” Ye Xin Ran replied.

The two left the school, intending to head toward the mountain.

From a distance, they spotted a carriage speeding toward them.

The decorations on the carriage seemed somewhat familiar. Ye Xin Ran took a closer look, but Xiao Huai’an had already recognized it.

“It’s Yong Le Hall’s carriage,” he said.

“Yong Le Hall?”

Could it be Li Mo? What urgent matter could have prompted him to drive the carriage so fast?

In no time, the carriage reached them. Recognizing Ye Xin Ran standing by the roadside, the driver quickly reined in the horses.

“Whoa!”

Before the carriage even came to a complete stop, the driver jumped down.

“Miss Ye, my master requests your immediate presence at the clinic. It’s an urgent matter, you must leave at once.”

“Urgent?” Ye Xin Ran’s heart tightened. “What happened?”

The driver shook his head. “Please get in, miss. I’ll explain on the way.”

Without hesitation, Ye Xin Ran boarded the carriage. Xiao Huai’an, worried, followed her.

The driver turned the carriage around and sped off toward the county. Once the horses were galloping again, he began to explain the situation to Ye Xin Ran.

“Miss Ye, my master says that the ointment has been selling very quickly these past two days. Yesterday alone, someone bought 20 bottles at once. He had planned to inform you and ask for more to be made.

But this morning, we learned that Shun Medical Hall has launched a new ointment of their own.

Their ointment sells for 300 taels of silver per bottle, and many wealthy families are scrambling to buy it.

Even the two young ladies who had placed orders with us canceled their reservations to buy Shun Medical Hall’s “Jade Complexion Ointment”.

My master found it suspicious and sent someone to purchase a bottle for examination. He said the scent is identical to ours.

He’s already removed all our ointments from the shelves and wants you to confirm if it’s the same.

He also hopes you can decide what we should do next if it turns out they’re using our product.”

Though the driver spoke in a rushed and stammering manner, Ye Xin Ran understood the gist of the situation.

Shun Medical Hall had likely purchased their ointment and resold it under their name.

Not only that, but they were selling it at an inflated price, an instant increase of 200 taels per bottle.

“If Master Li says it’s identical to ours, then it’s probably a match,” Ye Xin Ran said.

“Shun Medical Hall truly knows how to play their cards,” she added with a smirk.