MTLNOVEL Chapter 721 - 721: The Academy Starts School
Chapter 721: Chapter 721: The Academy Starts School
For some time afterwards, Nan Tianzong was often nowhere to be found, and Di Yelei was also incredibly busy.
It was now the end of Golden August of autumn, also the month when the imperial court collected grain and salary taxes. The Di Family had quite a lot of farmland, but it was all rented out, and Di Yelei sent Old Cheng to collect the rent.
After the last drinking session, Di Yelei was always worried about Old Tang. He took the time to visit the armory and Old Tang’s residence, only to find a thick layer of dust covering the latter, indicating that no one had visited for quite some time.
Entering September, the academy officially started.
Due to the arrival of the three Hanlin Academy scholars assigned by His Majesty, and the inevitable differences that arose with several Liu Family teachers, things got very heated and even brought to Liu Sisi’s attention.
“Uncle, it’s not that Sisi refuses to help, but these three Hanlin Academy scholars are here by the Imperial Decree. Even daring enough to defy heaven, Sisi wouldn’t dare to refute them, would she?” Before this Uncle could speak, Liu Sisi directly quashed his unrealistic thoughts.
It would be foolish to push away the three great Buddhist monks who were living in the academy!
The exasperated Liu’s uncle rolled his eyes, “Niece, even though these three scholars are sent by His Majesty, they are in the end strangers in a foreign land. Regardless of whether it’s about recruiting students or procurement, everything still needs our own Family members, don’t they?”
So, the Liu Family has an eye on the academy’s procurement!
Thinking about it, logistics are always lucrative no matter what time it is, so it’s no wonder the Liu Family took notice.
“Uncle, it’s not that Sisi refuses to hand over the procurement to you, it’s just that the procurement has already been negotiated with the other party when the academy’s land was purchased. Sisi really can’t help!” Liu Sisi looked apologetically.
The Liu’s uncle could no longer sit still and suddenly stood up from the chair, “Are you saying that our Liu Family gets nothing out of this deal?”
“How could that be? Uncle you can rest assured, Sisi was born into the Liu Family. Even if she short changes anyone, it wouldn’t be the Liu Family, right?”
This statement from Liu Sisi improved her uncle’s demeanor significantly.
“Since my niece has such assurances, what arrangements does the niece have for the Liu Family?”
Liu Sisi was smiling, “Uncle, you just wait and see. Your niece will definitely make you satisfied!”
Just before school started, the academy suddenly filled with a group of new students, as many as one hundred and fifty people. This made Liu Sisi extremely pleased. In addition, there were some younger generations from the Di and Liu families, as well as some students from the upper village who were her fellow villagers. After considering for a moment, Sisi decided to accept them for half the education gift.
This move displeased both the three Hanlin Academy scholars and several Liu Family teachers. Especially the people from the Liu Family, who had previously had a good discussion with Liu Sisi, were suddenly pushed around by the three scholars arranged by His Majesty. They didn’t dare to complain.
“Since it is a academy, it should look like a academy. By placing your relatives in the academy and making it a mess, how can we teach? How can we instruct?” Xia Hongzhi was furious, glaring, obviously extremely displeased with Liu Sisi’s decision.
But Liu Sisi just smiled casually, “Since ancient times, law has not been humanely implemented. Isn’t even the whole Hanlin Academy serving His Majesty? They even serve the dragon son and phoenix grandson. Since this is so, I, Liu Sisi, have personally built this college, and what is wrong with promoting my husband’s and mother’s families?”
Xia Hongzhi was dumbstruck, it took quite awhile before he retorted, “If this is really the case, how can these ordinary students find their place in the academy? Instead of starting an academy, you might as well start a family school!”
“I have plans! His Majesty sent you here to assist me, the Prefecture Princess, not for me to assist you. Elder Xia, I believe you understand!” Liu Sisi squinted her eyes, and cornered Elder Xia.
Elder Xia indeed understood the implications.
“Your cooperation is also needed.” Liu Sisi showed a mysterious smile.
“Oh, how to cooperate?” Xia Hongyuan widened his eyes at this.
“I plan to teach students in accordance with their aptitude!”
She planned to imitate the modern teaching method, splitting up the students and utilizing the “teaching students according to their aptitude” method.
“Didn’t you assess the students before they entered the school? We will divide the students with good foundations and development prospects into the elite class, and you, Elder Xia, will personally be responsible for teaching this class. Ordinary students will be divided into ordinary classes, and the ordinary classes will be taught by the teachers together. Students without a basis will be split into the backup class, the backup class will be taught by dedicated teachers.”
This brought a better look to the faces of Xia Hongyuan and the other two.
“That could work. As long as we get our hands on these promising seeds, the other problems won’t be significant.”
Xia Hongyuan also thought it clear, having already come to this poor and remote place, there was no turning back, but to keep moving forward.
Liu Sisi nodded, “Finally, I plan to divide the specially recruited students into special education classes. In addition to studying, these students also need to work on the mountain to pay for their education. Therefore, in addition to studying literature, these students will also have a dedicated martial arts master teaching them. As for the younger generations of the Liu and Di Families, they will be personally taught by the Liu Family’s teacher.”
Learning martial arts? This made Xia Hongyuan surprised, but then he quickly understood.
Many people in large families make arrangements to send their confidants to school, and even hire special martial arts teachers to instruct them. This practice is extremely appealing and could potentially secure their loyalty.
“Since the Prefecture Princess has already made arrangements, we will follow them.”
Xia Hongyuan spoke up.
“Elder Xia, please don’t worry. Once the school has officially opened, the Prefecture Princess will have to make a trip to the capital, and Elder Xia will be fully in charge here. Please bear with me, Elder Xia.” Liu Sisi spoke as she rose from her seat and bowed slightly to Xia Hongyuan.
This startled Xia Hongyuan, who quickly stepped aside to avoid the badge and returned a bow to Liu Sisi, “The Prefecture Princess truly trusts this old man, it’s indeed my fortune. I promise to glorify the academy, and I will not fail to fulfill my duty to His Majesty and the Prefecture Princess!”
Liu Sisi laughed!
“Elder Xia said well, I, the Prefecture Princess, keeps my word! If you all still wish to return to the capital after three years, I, the Prefecture Princess, will personally beg His Majesty, to pave the way for you. What I fear, is that by that time, you three might actually have fallen in love with the academy and refuse to leave!”
The three hurriedly thanked her and exclaimed that they would never do so.
All three of them quietly breathed a sigh of relief, so the Prefecture Princess still remembered the promise of that day.
The three of them were eager to return back. What they didn’t expect was that three years later, Liu Sisi’s remark would actually come true.
After three years, none of them truly wanted to leave the academy, and the outside students broke their heads just for a chance to attend the academy.