Classes Begin
Zhao Ruxi then gave the rules she had written to Zhou Chun, "When the craftsmen arrive tomorrow, read these rules and regulations to them, and it's best if they memorize them. Have the workshop foreman make four copies, and post one in each workshop and in the foreman's office. If any craftsman violates the rules, they will be punished according to the regulations above."
"Yes."
Zhou Chun glanced through the list and found that the rules and regulations were very detailed, and the penalties were also extremely comprehensive.
"Your actions are thoughtful and meticulous; Zhou Chun admires you." He, who never liked flattery, couldn't help but offer a compliment.
"I'll be teaching a training course over there tomorrow, so I'll be very busy for a while. Please take good care of the workshop. Report to me about the workshop's progress every morning and evening. If there's anything urgent, have Zhou Fan send a message to Uncle Ma and Qingfeng. I'll get back to you when I have time."
Zhou Fan Zhou Chun's son. Zhao Ruxi arranged for him to be Zhou Chun's assistant, doing errands and relaying messages. This also allowed Zhou Chun to teach his son more easily. Zhou Chun was very grateful for this.
Zhou Chun wanted to remind Zhao Ruxi to purchase jewelry and jade raw materials, but seeing that Zhao Ruxi had arranged everything properly and was confident in everything, he figured she must have already made arrangements for this matter. Considering the young lady's packed schedule every day, he didn't say anything more.
After arranging everything in the workshop, Zhao Ruxi left. As she passed by Wu Zong's courtyard next door, she saw many people carrying luggage in.
These are the trainees from the Anzhou Province training course.
Anzhou Province is the province where the capital is located. Because it is closest to the capital, received the notice to start the training early, and is related to the security of the area surrounding the capital, Zhang Changshen put this province first.
There were fifteen students from this province. They lived and studied at Wu Zong's house, and all their affairs were arranged by Wu Zong and his subordinates.
Zhao Ruxi did not meet with the trainees until the next day at 9:00 AM, after Zhang Changshen, Wu Zong and others had finished their court session, she went to the training institute with them.
"Don't be nervous, your senior brother will take care of anything." Wu Zong was worried that Zhao Ruxi was too nervous and wouldn't be able to control the situation, so he gently comforted her.
Zhao Ruxi smiled at him, "Don't worry, senior brother, I'm not nervous."
The group entered the courtyard, where fifteen people had already been summoned by officials from the Court of Judicial Review and were waiting.
After delivering a speech, Zhang Changshen introduced Zhao Ruxi: "... This is Layperson Zhiwei, who teaches you painting."
Wu Zong looked at Zhao Ruxi with a heavy heart.
Because Anzhou Province was under the jurisdiction of the capital, many scions of prominent families who were unwilling to take up jobs far away would choose to serve in the prefectures and counties under Anzhou Province. Therefore, although this group of people who came to learn painting had been screened, they still came from different backgrounds and had complicated identities.
Some were truly talented painters or officials, while others were scions of well-connected families.
Even if scions of noble families follow the right path, they still retain some air of arrogance. Zhao Ruxi is young and beautiful, but her family background is not strong. Even though she has the identity of being Mister Kumu's apprentice, in the eyes of those who do not understand Mister Kumu's true status, this identity is of little use.
Zhao Ruxi might be bullied and humiliated, and end up crying.
Therefore, even though Wu Zong had already recognized Zhao Ruxi's abilities and interpersonal skills, he was still somewhat uneasy.
Zhao Ruxi smiled slightly and nodded to the students, "Hello everyone."
Those people already knew that the person teaching them to draw was a young girl, but when they saw the beautiful Zhao Ruxi, they still paused and stood there motionless.
Seeing this, Zhao Ruxi turned to look at Zhang Changshen, still with that faint smile on her face, "Lord Zhang, the teachers at the Imperial Academy are giving lessons to the students. Should the students bow to the teachers?"
Zhang Changshen's face darkened as he looked at these people. "Why aren't you bowing to Layperson Zhiwei yet?"
Only then did those people seem to realize what was happening, and they bowed to Zhao Ruxi in varying degrees of disarray. "Layperson Zhiwei."
Zhao Ruxi did not return the greeting, but simply nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Although I am young, Confucius said, 'Among three people walking together, there must be one I can learn from;' and also, 'The accomplished are my teachers.' Perhaps you are more capable than me in other aspects, but you still come to learn painting from me, which shows that I am better than you in this area. This place is like a private school; once you have paid your tuition, you are my students, and it is not an exaggeration for you to call me 'Master.' From now on, please call me Teacher Zhao."
These words not only made Wu Zong worry about Kang Shilin, who had come to observe the ceremony with him, but also made Zhang Changshen glance at her.
When Zhao Ruxi taught painting at the academy, she never considered herself a master, but only asked everyone to call her "Layperson Zhiwei". She was also extremely respectful to everyone, and always put herself in the position of a junior in front of seniors like Zhou Wenbai.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ruxi immediately established the identities of "teacher" and "student" when facing this class, and even defined the nature of this training class as a private school.
Although the relationship between teachers and students in private schools was not as close as that between Kang Shilin and Zhao Ruxi, who were like father and daughter, students still had to show respect to their teachers. Students dared not disrespect their teachers, otherwise they would be scorned by the world.
Zhao Ruxi was young, just a girl. Once she established their relationship, no matter how old the students were, they dared not disrespect her.
This method is really good.
Zhang Changshen and Wu Zong couldn't help but applaud her words in their hearts, and Kang Shilin was also greatly relieved.
But some people disagree.
Among the trainees, a young man in brocade robes spoke up, "Didn't you say that we only needed to pay money, without any master-disciple relationship or needing to perform the proper teacher-disciple etiquette? How come this is different from what the officials from the Dali Court of Judicial Review said back then?"
Zhao Ruxi glanced at him and saw that he was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with fairly handsome features. However, despite the chilly autumn wind, he was still holding a fan and waving it around, trying to look dashing, which left Zhao Ruxi speechless.
Zhao Ruxi had been staying at the painting academy for some time, where everyone came from wealthy and noble families, and the brocade robes they wore were made of precious fabrics. Under such influence, Zhao Ruxi could now determine a person's background by their clothing.
Seeing that the man's brocade robe was made of precious material and that the jade pendant hanging from his waist was crystal clear and of excellent quality, she knew that this man was someone of importance.
Recalling how Wu Zong, who was usually so confident, had shown concern for her a few days ago, she knew perfectly well that this person was someone sent by some powerful family who disliked her and was deliberately trying to cause trouble.
You should know that she only told these words to Kang Shilin, and Kang Shilin only told those people in the painting academy across the street. Even if the people in the painting academy spread the word, it would only be within the circle of aristocratic scions, and would never reach the ears of lower-level officials outside the academy.