The Schoolhouse

This style of house was very common in ancient times, but they were all built with wood. In the 1980s, many rural areas in the south built houses like this, but since the country no longer allowed indiscriminate logging, people used mud bricks instead of wood.

Mud bricks are made by mixing the excess mud from digging fishponds with dry straw, pressing it into a mold, and then drying it. It only requires some effort and costs nothing.

Zhao Ruxi had seen this house in a rural area in the south in her previous life. She told Qian Duoduo about the style of the house and obtained their consent. Then she invited people who built houses in Beining County to come and communicate with them. The people who built houses in the county were delighted with the style. They not only promised to teach the servants to build the house for free, but also paid Zhao Ruxi a certain amount of money, which can be regarded as buying this style of house.

And so such houses appeared on the estate.

The reason why people in the village who originally didn't plan to build houses changed their minds was not only because they were envious of others living in new houses, but also because these houses were very inexpensive to build, yet tall, comfortable, sturdy, and durable, and could easily last for a hundred years. If they didn't build them now, they would miss this opportunity.

"Dad, you're back?" Qian Bushao's eight-year-old son suddenly rushed in like a little cannonball and buried himself in Qian Bushao's arms.

Qian Bushao time cuddling with his son, then noticed the schoolbag on his back and asked in surprise, "Where have you been?"

"I'm going to school!" Qian Baolai proudly puffed out his little chest. "Dad, I can learn to read really fast!"

Qian Duoduo chimed in, "Before the houses were built, the village had already built a school over by the big banyan tree. The girl said that the place was flat, and they wanted to create an open space so the children could play there. Now, not only boys but also girls can go to school in the village. As long as they're willing to go, no matter how old they are, they can go, as long as they're at least six."

"Who will be the teacher?" Qian Buque asked.

"That kid Cao Shu."

Cao Shu was the one who hesitated to sign up when Zhao Ruxi was selecting people, but was later urged forward by his wife.

His father died early, and his mother's family also passed away shortly after his marriage. Only he and his wife remained at home.

The reason he hesitated to register that day was because he was worried about his pregnant wife being home alone; he was afraid that something might happen to her and no one would know. Later, his wife got angry about this, and his neighbor offered to stay with his wife that evening, so he finally registered. As a result, he was selected by Zhao Ruxi.

Zhao Ruxi had long planned to set up a school on the estate.

Because of their impoverished lives and lack of prospects, and because they lived in the almost isolated manor with little contact with outsiders, the servants were less cunning and scheming. If treated well, they would be grateful and more loyal and hardworking than slaves bought from outside.

The estate has a large and ever-growing population. As long as she opens a school on the estate, it can continuously supply her with a pool of talent.

Therefore, during military training, she kept an eye out, hoping to select a suitable teacher from among Zhuangzi's group.

Cao Shu wasn't the smartest or the fastest learner of characters among Zhuangzi's group. But he had a good temper, a soft heart, patience, and a great love for children. Such a person would be very suitable to be a teacher.

Therefore, after the military training ended, with his consent and after giving him time to properly arrange things for his wife who had given birth, Zhao Ruxi sent him to a private school in the city to continue his studies until the Zhuangzi Academy was built. Only then did he return and become a teacher at the Zhuangzi Academy.

Because she is short-staffed, Cao Shu is the only teacher currently assigned to the school. Another teacher will be added once she has trained more students.

Upon hearing that Cao Shu had become the teacher, Qian Buque laughed and said, "That lad is quite suitable."

To avoid trouble, Zhao Ruxi always made her employees sign a confidentiality agreement before they did anything, with a relatively high penalty for breach of contract, in order to restrain them and prevent them from talking about it indiscriminately.

The craftsmen in the workshop were like this, and so were the people who went to buy Feicui rough.

Qian Duoduo knew that his two sons had put their fingerprints on that contract, so he only asked them briefly about their experiences during the two months they were away.

After a lively family dinner, the two brothers, Qian Buque and Qian Bushao, each took their wives and children back to their own homes.

Ma Sheng then recounted the events of the journey to Zhao Ruxi Zhao Ruxi in detail.

Finally, he said, "There were many of us, all strong and healthy men, and no one dared to mess with us along the way, so we hardly encountered any trouble. On the way there, apart from someone getting sick and taking the wrong turn once, missing villages and spending the night in the wilderness twice, and encountering a storm on the boat on the way back, we hardly encountered any difficulties or dangers."

Zhao Ruxi said, "The fact that this trip went so smoothly is all thanks to Uncle Ma's excellent planning. Uncle Ma, you've really worked hard."

She raised her hand to Qingfeng, Qingfeng then handed a purse to Ma Sheng.

Modern people respect life, and she couldn't be like those masters of ancient times who didn't value the lives of their servants. So, during the time Ma Sheng and his group were away, she was constantly on edge.

Now that she saw that all the people she sent out had returned unharmed, and had even brought back so many raw stones, she was extremely satisfied with their trip.

"This fifty taels of silver is a special reward for you. Take good rest and recuperate during this time. Mama Luo and Wushi are waiting for you outside; you should go back with them quickly."

"They are the young lady's guards, how can they abandon their posts? I'm not in a hurry, let's go back together when the young lady returns to her residence," Ma Sheng said.

"Alright."

Zhao Ruxi got up and went to the training institute next door.

Lady Luo, being Zhao Ruxi's personal bodyguard, naturally went along. Ma Wushi, on the other hand, stayed in the Green Plantain Courtyard to chat with his father.

The whole family knew about the safe, and since this was their own yard, they didn't need to be discreet about what they said.

However, Ma Wushi lowered his voice and whispered excitedly, "Dad, you don't know, our safes are selling like hotcakes. They've been on sale for almost a month, and people are still lining up to buy them every day. Merchants from other places are shipping them out by the tens."

"Did the Emperor also invest?" Ma Sheng asked in a low voice.

Ma Wushi looked at his father in surprise. "Father, how did you know?"

"The safe's reputation is so great that I've heard about it even when I'm out of town. Everyone says it's a business the Emperor himself made, and that if it were placed in front of the Court of Judicial Review and everyone tried to unlock it, not a single person could open it. Nobles and princes throughout the capital are vying to buy it."

"That's right." Ma Wushi's smug expression made it seem as if he had made the safe himself. "You didn't see the scene; so many people went to see it. The safe's reputation spread instantly. The girl is truly brilliant."