Hu Liena: Why Has My Pocket Money Increased Today?
Li Fengheng surprised.
In his heart.
The Pope should be a figure similar to the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.
It's astonishing that such a powerful figure would have any dealings with someone as insignificant as him.
And.
The other party's attitude wasn't domineering at all, which was something I never even dared to imagine.
If this were in the Heaven Dou Empire, his status as a merchant would probably be worthless, let alone having the chance to meet His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire. The difference between the two is like heaven and earth, completely unrelated.
"Your Pope, the reason I summoned Mr. Li this time is to discuss education issues."
"The planning for the new urban area still has several important aspects that haven't been finalized. One of them is the planning for the education zone."
Li Mubai got straight to the point.
"Education area? Doesn't the Spirit Hall offer free Martial Soul awakening? Can't these talented young men and women join the Spirit Hall and learn for free?"
Bibi Dong was somewhat surprised.
Since learning at the Spirit Hall is free, why is it necessary to build a separate academy?
Li Mubai shook his head, his tone full of regret:
"The Spirit Hall's free education is only for children with Martial Soul talent. What about those children without talent?"
Bibi Dong's expression shifted slightly as she looked at Li Mubai and asked, "You mean... that children without Martial Soul talent can also receive instruction?"
"Yes."
Li Mubai nodded.
Li Fengheng, who was standing to the side, was also greatly shocked by Li Mubai's remarks.
Although he already knew about Li Mubai's plan, it did not prevent him from feeling admiration for him.
Over the years, traveling all over the country, his mindset has undergone tremendous changes.
His true identity may still be that of a noble member of the Heaven Dou Empire, but in his heart, he has long since forgotten his noble status.
All of this stemmed from a woman he loved.
Li Xiaoxiao.
That's right.
It's such an ordinary name.
She came from humble beginnings, was illiterate, and had no talent as Soul Master; she was just a weak woman.
Yet this seemingly frail woman harbored grand ambitions.
Read.
Why?
She said, "If I study and learn to read, I can pass the exams to obtain the lowest rank of nobility. Then I won't be a commoner anymore, and your father won't stop us from being together because I'm a commoner."
Heaven Dou Empire
The lowest rank of nobility can be obtained through examination.
This is her purpose in reading.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
The two ultimately could not be together, and were separated by death.
That is why.
Li Fengheng resolutely disregarded his father's objections and entered the lowly profession of merchant, determined to make a name for himself in this world.
He wanted to prove to his father that even ordinary people could become famous in this world dominated by the powerful and wealthy.
Then.
A few days ago, when Li Mubai told him about the plan, he agreed without hesitation.
He also wanted to see ordinary children go to school and study.
If it were in another empire...
He may still have some concerns.
After all, books were treasures cherished by the nobility; how could they possibly tolerate passing on such precious things to the poor, who were second only to slaves?
The lowest rank of nobility in both empires could be obtained through examinations.
If we award knowledge to the poor, aren't we cutting off our own future?
Therefore, knowledge has always been a product of monopoly, circulating only among the nobility.
Certainly.
Besides this method that allows the poor to transcend social classes, there are other ways.
One way is to join the army, and the other is to rely on one's own Martial Soul talent.
However, both of these are out of reach for ordinary people.
Ordinary children, even if they join the army, will only be cannon fodder in war.
Want to gain merit and promotion?
You're overthinking it.
All the credit goes to the superiors; what does it have to do with ordinary people?
As for the second type of Martial Soul talent, there's even less hope for that.
The fact that Martial Soul are hereditary is common knowledge throughout the continent.
If a child is exceptionally talented, then his mother or father will not be poor.
Of course, this is not absolute. The world is vast and full of wonders; there are always one or two exceptions.
However, aside from this exception, most still lack Martial Soul talent.
The vast majority of children, when awakening their Martial Soul, awaken useless and worthless Martial Soul such as scythes, hammers, hoes, scissors, or Blue Silver Grass.
Even if they manage to awaken a better Martial Soul, their Innate Soul Power tests will mostly be unsatisfactory, and their future achievements will be predetermined from the start.
Wanting to be ennobled or become a superior Soul Master is just a dream; anything is possible in dreams.
"Ordinary people also need education, but what's the use? It's better to learn a skill, specialize in it, and innovate on that basis."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly.
In her view, even if ordinary people receive an education and can read and write, it's of little use.
Spirit City is not like the two great empires where one can obtain a noble title.
The Spirit Hall operates on strength; there is no concept of titles or ranks.
But.
Even so.
This is also a beautiful city in the eyes of many ordinary people.
Why?
The fact that Spirit City doesn't have so many exorbitant taxes is enough.
The nobles of the two great empires held power.
To support this group of people, ordinary people have to face a variety of deed taxes, and the amount of tax payable for each one is quite high.
Except for a few areas where life is relatively good, most villages are in dire straits, and it is common for people to not know where their next meal will come from.
Li Mubai smiled calmly and slowly took two steps forward.
Just as Li Fengheng and Bibi Dong were gazing at his retreating figure, he then spoke eloquently:
"So-called education."
A social activity that involves the purposeful, organized, planned, and systematic transmission of knowledge and technical specifications.
The fundamental value of education is to provide the Spirit Hall with talents who possess lofty beliefs, high moral character, honesty and law-abidingness, superb skills, broad knowledge, and multiple expertise and abilities.
To cultivate and nurture the workforce needed for economic and social development.
To cultivate qualified citizens and create scientific knowledge and material wealth for the Spirit Hall, for our families, and for society.
To promote economic growth, national prosperity, human development, world peace, and human progress.
Education is the cornerstone of the Spirit Hall's development. It concerns the Spirit Hall's prosperity, the people's well-being, and the Spirit Hall's future. The cause of education involves Qian Family.
Ultimately...
For the Spirit Hall to achieve long-term stability and development, promoting educational reform has become a fait accompli.
Bibi Dong frowned deeply, her brows furrowing into a deep frown.
Li Mubai used a whole bunch of terms, which she couldn't understand at all.
But.
She understood the last sentence of that passage; to put it bluntly, Li Mubai's purpose in doing this was for the good of the Spirit Hall.
Although she didn't understand many parts, it didn't stop her from agreeing with what he said.
She pondered Li Mubai's words carefully, and after thinking for a while, she frowned and raised her doubts.
"Promoting education is indeed feasible, and perhaps it can indeed help Spirit City grow and prosper. However..."
Looking at Li Mubai who had turned around, Bibi Dong continued:
"But have you ever considered that if you want to make education universal, then education must be free?"
Because many poor people simply cannot afford to send their children to school.
The fact that it was free to Martial Soul Awakening already put considerable pressure on the Spirit Hall.
If free education were to be extended to all schools, it would greatly increase the burden on the Spirit Hall.
How can the Spirit Hall currently afford this expense?
Besides, even if I agreed to this, the Spirit Hall could provide financial support, but how would you seduce him?
Bibi Dong's words were simple. "If you want to popularize education, sure!"
But who will pay for it?
Li Mubai had anticipated this problem.
He smiled faintly and then turned his gaze to Li Fengheng. This question should be answered by this wealthy businessman.
Seeing Li Mubai looking over, Li Fengheng immediately understood, then rolled up his sleeves and bowed to Bibi Dong: "Pope Holiness, I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty."
"You?"
Bibi Dong looked at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
She already knew Li Fengheng's identity.
The youngest son of the Li Clan in the Heaven Dou Empire, he left home for ten years and struggled his way to his current success.
Bibi Dong disdained to understand businessmen.
But no matter what, Li Fengheng was a relatively big businessman in Spirit City, so his identity information would naturally appear on her workbench, and she naturally learned about it.
To Bibi Dong's surprise, since the other party was from the Heaven Dou Empire, why would they help the Spirit Hall?
In her memory.
Even though the Spirit Hall has some cooperation with the two great empires, the two great empires' vigilance towards the Spirit Hall has not diminished at all. On the contrary, as the Spirit Hall expands, their vigilance deepens day by day.
Especially this past month.
After the Double Seal Battle, Li Mubai's fame spread throughout the Soul Master World, and the two great empires became even more wary of the Spirit Hall.
It is precisely during such a sensitive period.
Li Fengheng actually dared to help the Spirit Hall carry out beneficial reforms; wasn't he just asking for trouble?
Aren't they afraid of giving others cause for gossip, and that the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family might use this as leverage to target their entire family?
Li Fengheng said respectfully, "Pope Holiness, you need not worry about the burden of setting up a school. Sili Trading Company will do its utmost to support you in this matter."
Bibi Dong scrutinized Li Fengheng: "You can't accept rewards without merit. Why are you helping the Spirit Hall? Aren't you afraid that the Heaven Dou Empire will make things difficult for your family?"
Li Fengheng shook his head. "Pope Holiness, to be honest, I received a letter from my brother just last year. The Heaven Dou Imperial Family has already been secretly targeting the Li Clan."
"Your Li Clan are the inheritors of the Arbitrators of the Heaven Dou Empire, renowned for their impartiality and incorruptibility. Their power is astonishing. Countless generations have dedicated themselves to the Heaven Dou Empire; how could the Heaven Dou Imperial Family possibly harm you?"
Bibi Dong became interested.
She was, of course, aware of the situation in the Heaven Dou Empire.
However, she had no way of knowing the specific power struggles involved.
Certainly.
If she wanted to know, she certainly had the ability to find out, but she had no interest in such matters.
Only after Li Fengheng recounted the story did they begin to show a sliver of interest.
Li Fengheng smiled wryly, "Pope Holiness is too kind. It is precisely because of this excessive power that the royal family is wary of us!"
So what you mean is...?
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong realized that Li Fengheng wanted to say something more.
"Your Pope man of exceptional talent and wisdom; you must have already guessed my purpose." Li Fengheng didn't want to hide anything and simply stated directly:
"That's right, I'm paving the way for the Li Clan's future. If the Li Clan is truly forced into a corner by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, I hope His Holiness the Pope will allow us to stay in Spirit City."
"If you can relieve the Spirit Hall's worries, then this matter is certainly not impossible."
Bibi Dong agreed without the slightest hesitation.
What if the Li Clan's surrender was merely a ruse, and they wanted to spy on the Spirit Hall?
With sufficient strength, one is naturally not afraid of any storms. This is the source of the Spirit Hall's confidence!
Once the enemy enters Spirit City, they will be completely under her control.
What is there to worry about for a group of ordinary people?
"On behalf of the Li Clan, I once again thank Your Holiness the Pope."
Li Fengheng respectfully declined the bow.
After the matter was settled, Bibi Dong ordered all the money to be deposited into the Spirit Hall's treasury.
Li Mubai also took his leave with Li Fengheng.
After leaving the Spirit Hall, Li Mubai took Li Fengheng directly to the wasteland planned for the new district.
No.
It can no longer be called wasteland.
Upon arriving, Li Mubai saw a group of people wielding shovels, hammers, and other tools, boldly transforming the wasteland.
The weeds that used to cover the ground have now disappeared, leaving only bare, strange rocks.
And these strange rocks are slowly disappearing under the hammers of the workers.
Construction of the new district is progressing rapidly!
Li Mubai went directly to the small hill that rose from the wasteland; this place was the planned site for the academy.
He plans to transform this small, protruding hill, along with the surrounding thousands of acres of land, into the largest university in the world.
The teachers at this academy will not be Soul Master, nor will they teach Soul Master combat techniques, nor will they teach courses on how to accelerate cultivation.
This college only teaches mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Or something like one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal.
In particular, the combination of one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal is an important course in this academy!
He wants to let brilliant sparks bloom in this world.
Once gunpowder appears in this world, the structure of this world will definitely change dramatically.
This is the most direct way to enhance the overall strength of the Spirit Hall!
After explaining the detailed plans to Li Fengheng, Li Mubai left directly.
The rest was all left to Li Fengheng.
All Li Mubai had to do was come and check on the progress of the project periodically.
In the blink of an eye.
Several more days passed.
There are three days left until the Spirit Hall's monthly grand meeting.
And today.
It was the day the Spirit Hall distributed salaries.
A woman's boudoir.
Hu Liena looked at the things the person had brought, her face full of confusion. "What's going on? Why is my allowance several times more today?"
Splash...
The gold coins in the bag made a crisp sound as Hu Liena weighed them in her hand.
Hu Liena was completely puzzled at that moment.
Why did my allowance suddenly increase today?
Wasn't it always just a little bit?
Could it be that her teacher suddenly felt she hadn't given her enough money before, or perhaps she saw how hard she'd been working lately and gave her more as a reward?
These ideas were quickly rejected by Hu Liena.
My monthly allowance is almost always a fixed amount; it's impossible for it to suddenly increase significantly.
She knew her teacher very well.
Suddenly.
An idea popped into Hu Lina's mind.
"Could it be that the Tenth Elder's so-called 'random project' actually made money?"