Otherworldly Days

Chapter 438

As soon as you step into the academy, you can see a wall with names engraved on it. The people who donated silver taels for the construction of the academy are engraved on the wall. Behind the names are the donated silver taels. Everyone has their names engraved on them.

As for engraving the names of those who donated rice here, this is Cao Xiangnan's insistence. Whether it is for those who leave their names on the wall of the academy, or for those who sincerely build houses for the academy, he feels that they should Leave their names here, so that future generations can see the history of the Academy through this wall.

County magistrate Zhao noticed this wall as soon as he entered the academy. Cao Xiangnan followed the county magistrate to this wall, and introduced this wall to the county magistrate. Thanks to everyone who donated a few buckets of rice, this academy can be built.

Prophet Zhao stood here, saw the names all over the wall, and knew that many people gave money to build this academy.The meaning of this wall has given him a lot of inspiration, and it has also laid a solid foundation for the officials who will pit him in the future.

"My lord, let's go this way." Cao Xiangnan gestured and led Magistrate Zhao inside.

As soon as I walked in, I heard the sound of children reading aloud. At this time, the academy had already started classes.Prophet Zhao has not heard the sound of a child reading for a long time. He recalled that when he was still a teenager, he was studying in a school, and his ears were filled with the sound of reading every day. So many years have passed in a blink of an eye.

"My lord, why don't we go over there and take a look." Seeing that Magistrate Zhao stopped here and didn't leave, Cao Xiangnan understood and led Magistrate Zhao over there.

They stood outside the window and looked in. Inside the clean classroom, there were rows of desks and chairs neatly arranged. The teacher standing on the podium was standing and giving lectures, and the children were sitting there shaking their heads and reading.

The wall was painted black with white writing on it. Prophet Zhao asked, "What is that?"

"Oh, sir, that's a blackboard, and you can write with chalk on it." Cao Xiangnan just remembered that there was no such thing as a blackboard in this era, and every classroom here has a blackboard, which is convenient for teaching.

The academy is only this big, and the unfinished areas are still under construction, and they quickly walked all over the academy.Along the way, Cao Xiangnan introduced the academy to Magistrate Zhao, and sometimes they stopped to take a look.

The bell of the academy is ringing, it is the time for children to come out for activities.

The children who ran out stood in the corridor and stared at the adults curiously, and they didn't come close. They leaned together in twos and threes, whispering and laughing.Prophet Zhao saw the playful appearance of these children, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

A brave child ran over, Cao Xiangnan patted the child's head and let them play.

"I see that the children are very familiar with you, and they like you very much," Prophet Zhao said.

"Caomin often come here and walk around, and children will know Caomin. If you come here often when you are free, Sir, Caomin thinks that children will like you." Cao Xiangnan laughed and said, "If you come here when you are free, my lord Give the children a lesson here, and be their teacher, what do you think, my lord?"

"Well, it can be considered." Prophet Zhao also smiled and said.

This was the first time he entered Lutong Academy, and it gave him a strange feeling. He had entered the best Imperial College in Fengchao, and there were all well-behaved scholars there.The place has a casual vibe and the kids are so innocent and happy.

During the conversation with Cao Xiangnan, he realized something that he did not understand before.

Reading is not just for the purpose of being an official, but for a better life. The academies here are given to the children first to teach them the skills to live better in the future, and then to cultivate people who read , Embark on official career.The purpose of being an official is to let the people live a better life and live and work in peace and contentment.

May I ask if he has been an official for so many years, has he achieved this?I'm afraid it didn't work out either.

"It's a pity that you don't become an official." Prophet Zhao said suddenly. He suspected that Cao Xiangnan was really just a businessman, so it was no wonder that their master asked him to come to this place and approach this person named Cao Xiangnan.

"I'm afraid that the adults are flattering me, and the grassroots are just talking on paper, but they don't have the ability to be an official." Cao Xiangnan never thought about being an official. An official has a little salary from the imperial court and has to work for the imperial court. Be careful if you make a mistake, it will be a serious crime of copying and beheading.It's better for him to make a small fuss by himself, so that he can earn enough food and clothing, so that his wife and children can live a good life.

He didn't dare to think about being an official, and he never thought about it. He didn't have that ability.

It was almost noon at this time, and the smell of rice came from the cafeteria.

When they passed the canteen, Cao Xiangnan told magistrate Zhao that this was the canteen of the academy, and they went inside.

Today's cafeteria provides steamed stuffed buns and porridge with whole grains at noon, and also fried two side dishes for the porridge. They are all simple meals, which can fill the children's stomachs and study.Cao Xiangnan led the county magistrate inside, Ah Mo, who was working in the cafeteria, recognized him and called them over to eat.

"Let's come in and take a look, and we won't keep food here." The meals in the cafeteria are prepared according to a certain amount every day, and it is not good for them to stay here for a group of several people, for fear that the children will not have enough food later , Cao Xiangnan hurriedly refused.

Just when the steamed buns in the cage were steamed and brought out, Ah Mo lifted the lid and took out two steamed buns and passed them over.

There were still two coarse-grain steamed buns stuffed into his hand, Cao Xiangnan reluctantly took one, broke open half and gave it to County Magistrate Zhao, and said, "My lord, try it, these are steamed buns made of coarse grains, children usually eat this .”

The remaining half was passed to the other people to taste the meals in the cafeteria. These are the meals for the children. He will come and have a look when he is free, so he is clearly good about the meals in the academy.

Prophet Zhao took it. The steamed buns were still steaming. He lowered his head and took a sip. The taste was sweeter than any steamed buns he had eaten before. He said, "Mmm, it's delicious."

"It's just food for the children, as long as adults like it. My lord, it's almost noon, and this place is not far from Caomin's house. Why don't you go to Caomin's house for a light meal? What do you think, my lord?" Cao Xiangnan After thinking about it, it's not easy to bring people to Yipinzhai for dinner at this time. Isn't this clearly a sign of corruption?So the best thing is to take it to his home for lunch.

"Well, it happens that I haven't been to Cao's Village yet, why don't I take a look today, and then I will go to your house to bother you." Prophet Zhao originally wanted to refuse, but after thinking about it, he agreed.

Just take a trip to Caojia Village, maybe you can meet General Cao.

A group of people came out of the academy and walked into Caojia Village along the road that had been built. Lizheng was familiar with Caojia Village for a few years. Cao Xiangnan didn't take this job, but asked Lizheng to introduce Caojia Village to Mr. Zhao.

At this time, someone is plowing the field, and the spring sowing will be ready soon.

Wang Dahu, who was leading a group of men to work in the field, saw Cao Xiangnan and his party from a distance, walked over from the other end of the field with big strides, and jumped up from a low place.Seeing the county magistrate Zhao who was with Cao Xiangnan, he saluted Prophet Zhao and called out "Lord magistrate."

Prophet Zhao nodded to Vice General Wang as a response.

"How's the working land in the field?" Cao Xiangnan threw the dozens of mu of land he bought to Wang Dahu to lead the team to plant it. He grinned brightly. He could plant such a large piece of land by himself. He was so bent that he couldn't finish planting, but it would be different if Wang Dahu led others to plant.

Anyway, it's not his species, he doesn't care about other people's life or death.

The two greeted each other, stood here and said a few words. When Cao Xiangnan saw Liu Baishu who was still standing there, he told Wang Dahu that he would bring the county magistrate to his house as a guest, and asked Wang Dahu if he wanted to go with Liu Baishu. Go over to eat.

Fortunately, the sun wasn't too hot at this time, and they were still working in the fields, and they still had work to do, so Wang Dahu waved his hand and refused to go with them.

He glanced at Prophet Zhao, and Prophet Zhao also looked at him. Both of them worked for the same master, but they were in different positions.Wang Dahu didn't know why Prophet Zhao came to Fenshui Town to be a small county magistrate, but needless to say, it must have been ordered by their fourth master, but it was all his own, and it was much more convenient to do things.

When they returned to the village, the group dispersed, and Cao Xiangnan took the county magistrate to the end of the village and headed for his home.Prophet Zhao saw two similar courtyards from a distance, and he followed Cao Xiangnan to one of them, and asked whose house was opposite.

"Oh, that's the house of our village chief Cao Gang." Cao Xiangnan said.

Only then did Prophet Zhao realize that it was General Cao's house. He glanced over there, only to see that the courtyard was closed, and he couldn't see the inside.

Qi Wanfeng, who was in the house, heard the sound and walked out of the house.

"Fu Lang 0" saw Fu Lang coming to their home with a brother, Qi Wanfeng looked curiously at the person Fu Lang brought back.As soon as Fu Lang said that he was the magistrate, he made a gesture to kneel down and salute.

"Madam, you don't need to be too polite." Upon seeing this, Prophet Zhao hastily stretched out his hand to help him up, and said, "I'm here to bother you today, I hope you don't dislike me."

"Ma'am, just treat me as Xiangnan's friend. You don't need to be too polite." He glanced at Cao Xiangnan and said.

"No, no, it's too late for us to welcome you, sir, please come inside." The first time an adult came to his house, Qi Wanfeng was naturally very nervous.It was the first time he saw that it was his elder brother who was an official. It's not that Feng Chao couldn't have an elder brother as an official, but if an elder brother was an official, he couldn't marry and have children. I'm afraid that the county magistrate is not married yet.

Cao Xiangnan held his daughter-in-law's hand and squeezed it, telling him not to be nervous.

Qi Wanfeng glanced at Fu Lang, can I not be nervous?They led the county magistrate inside.