Chapter 325 - 325: School
Just as Li Yu and Ah Wei returned to the manor, the Tian family came to apologize. Ruyi went to the government office, and Ah Wei, who had a bruised face, came out to receive the Tian family’s steward.
The fair and chubby Manager Tian looked at Ah Wei’s bruised face and smiled awkwardly. He kept apologizing to him, “Little Brother Yang, I’m sorry. My master didn’t know that Tian Zhong’s family actually dared to use his name to cause trouble in the village. He even dared to go to Madam’s farm to steal corn seedlings. Please tell Madam that our master will compensate Madam for all her losses. Also, these are all medicine and tonics for injuries. Please accept them.”
Ah Wei looked at Manager Tian, who was like a white steamed bun, and declined politely. “Manager Tian, you really don’t have to feel so guilty. The arrogant and domineering person isn’t Master Tian, and the person who did those heartless things isn’t Master Tian. How can we let him take the blame?”
Manager Tian thought to himself, “Little brat, why are you speaking with thorns? You’re still too inexperienced to play this trick in front of me.”
Manager Tian bent even lower and looked at Ah Wei with a bitter smile. “Don’t make things difficult for me. Please tell Madam that my master will not shield Tian Zhong’s family.”
Steward Tian and the coachman placed seven or eight boxes on the ground and hurriedly got into the carriage to leave.
Ah Wei looked at the things on the ground and hurriedly shouted, “Hey, hey, bring them back!”
Manager Tian urged the coachman to drive the carriage quickly as if he had been chased away.
Ah Wei could only get someone to move the things into the courtyard. Among the things, there was medicinal wine for treating the injured, medicine to revive the blood, some supplements, and two boxes of white silver. Ah Wei counted that there were a total of 40 silver ingots for five taels each, which was 200 taels of silver.
Ah Wei looked at Li Yu, who was standing at the side. “Madam, what do you think we should do with these things?”
Li Yu looked at the two boxes of silver that were dazzling under the sun and couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed that the Tian family treated her as a country woman who had never seen the world. “Return the silver and medicine. Tell them that the theft by Tian Zhong’s family has been reported to the government office. The government office will decide how much they have to compensate. ”
“Yes, Madam.” Ah Wei led Ma Qiang to Tian Village.
Li Yu returned to the study and changed her mind. She set the criteria for recruiting students to the school. It was simple. The school on the farm only accepted children from poor families. These children could come to the school for free, but they had to prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for writing.
After making the decision, Li Yu went to the front yard and saw Yangyang and
Seven Pounds following Mr. Lu. They were shaking their heads and chanting, “Clouds versus rain, snow versus the wind, evening light versus the clear sky, come and go as birds…” The mellow male voice and crisp and loud children’s voices made the courtyard seem much livelier.
Li Yu listened for a while and smiled as she went to the room in the front courtyard. She saw Auntie Xue, a few old women, and the girl sitting under the eaves. A few of them were teaching the little girl needlework. and a woman was
teaching two older girls to embroider.
When everyone saw Li Yu, they stood up and bowed. “Hello, Madam!”
“Go ahead. I’ll take a look.” Li Yu picked up a pair of shoes and saw a thin layer of cotton on them. “These are cotton shoes for the children, right?”
Auntie Xue smiled and nodded. ‘Yes, Madam. We want to make cotton clothes and shoes for the children while it’s hot. We’ll let Yanzi and the others practice.”
Li Yu looked at the stitches on the soles of the shoes and walked up to the two embroidered girls. She looked at the flower bands at the side that were embroidered with a few peach blossoms and nodded in praise. “Not bad. I can tell that the children have learned diligently. Where did Shui Sheng and Little
Loach go?”
Swallow replied with a shy smile, “Madam, some of them went to cut grass. Some said that they went fishing for snails and clam shells to feed those chickens and ducks.”
Li Yu nodded. “Oh! Get them to come back and take a shower to see their teacher. You girls should learn too. Not to mention learning a lot, you should at least learn some simple calculations.”
Ah Qiu and Yan Zi looked at Li Yu in surprise. “Madam, are you serious? We can also go to school to study?” The other girls also looked at Li Yu in surprise.
Li Yu smiled and nodded at them. “It’s true. Class will start tomorrow. The children who are going will go to the apprenticeship ceremony when Shuisheng and the others come back.”
Auntie Xue happily pushed the children. “Yanzi, you guys are lucky to be able to go to the school. Silly children, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and thank Madam.”
The children stood up. Li Yu waved her hand and said, “You don’t have to thank me. Study well with Sir and learn how to be a good person from the few aunties. Only then will you have the ability to settle down when you go out in the future. ”
The children smiled and replied in unison, “Madam, we’ll remember.”
Li Yu returned to the backyard and saw that Mr. Lu had already finished class and was talking to Mr. Liu under the eaves. Yangyang and Seven Pounds were sweating profusely in the courtyard.
Li Yu smiled and waved at the two children. “It’s so hot. Only the two of you aren’t afraid of the heat.”
“Madam is back.” Seven Pounds pulled Yangyang to Li Yu. “Mother, we’re not afraid of the heat.”
“Greetings, Madam.” Mr. Lu and Mr. Liu also came over to greet Li Yu.
Li Yu smiled and said to them, “The two of you already know each other, so I won’t introduce you much. When those children come back, let them come and meet the two of you. Just like we said in the past, you don’t have to teach them poetry and songs. Just teach them literacy and arithmetic.”
“Yes, Madam,” the two men agreed, cupping their hands.
Li Yu held the two children’s hands and smiled at them. “Sirs, continue chatting. I’ll bring them back to wash up.”
Ah Wei arrived at the Tian family’s manor and returned the things to Manager Tian. After relaying Li Yu’s words, he turned around and left.
Manager Tian looked at the things Ah Wei had returned and was worried. Did the Zhou family think that the gifts were too little? Or did they not plan to let go of this matter? If it was the former, it would be simple. If it was the latter, it would be troublesome. Sigh! It was all that wretched Tian Zhong’s fault for causing trouble. He was still busy cleaning up after him on such a hot day. Manager Tian hurriedly returned to the city and told Master Tian Kun what Li
Yu had said.
Master Tian was a little rich. He had a long face and an aquiline nose and looked very shrewd. He held two round and translucent red jade stones in his hand and sneered. “Isn’t she just a country woman! She was lucky to produce high-yielding food. Just because His Majesty rewarded her with a First-grade Madam status, she really thought that she had become a phoenix.”
Manager Tian bowed and took a step forward with a smile to remind him, “Master, have you forgotten that this countryside woman’s husband is the magistrate of our Yunzhou? It’s better to manage a county official now. You should endure it and think of a way to make her swallow this anger.”
“Fan me harder. Otherwise, watch your skin!” Master Tian glared at the little girl who was fanning him. The little girl was so frightened that she quickened her movements..