Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1695 - 865: Stirred Hearts

After the Kai Ming Academy opened, Liulang would also come here every day to attend school, learn literacy, and arithmetic. The academy even provided a free meal for him and the other students.

When Liulang came to the academy to study, the old house didn’t need to spend even one Wen Money, nor did they need to contribute any labor.

This opening ceremony officially began after the Yangge team warmed up the crowd, lasting about half a Chinese hour. Under the leadership of Lian Shouxin, Wu Lang, and Master Qu, all the students bowed their heads in front of the Imperially Bestowed Archway. Afterwards, Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang each gave a speech in front of everyone, but the main event was left to Master Qu. Master Qu spoke clearly and concisely, citing classics and references, and instantly captivated all the officials and gentry present.

As for the students’ parents and the villagers who came to observe, it was as if they had seen the Wenquxing. Some families with school-aged children, who had not sent them to study and were still hesitant, started considering whether it was too late to send their children to school now.

After the ceremony, the crowd was persuaded to disperse. As for the group of young students, they sat in the classroom and began their first lesson.

Seeing the room full of children and listening to their resounding voices, Lian Manman’s sense of achievement soared.

This was such a meaningful endeavor, something she could hardly imagine happening when she first arrived in this world. Not only did she lead a good life and have the opportunity to study under esteemed teachers, but she also was able to help so many children enter the classroom.

Knowledge is power; it can change everything.

In the past two years, Thirty Mile Camp has greatly benefited from the prosperity of her family, with the living standard ranked among the top in the villages and towns of Jinyang County. Lian Manman hopes that through Kai Ming Academy, nearby villages and towns, including Thirty Mile Camp, can enjoy long-term benefits.

She believes that while it might not be obvious over the two or three-year period of one class, over two classes, three classes... five, six, or even ten years, the difference will become very apparent.

Planting trees and nurturing people both require time; the longer the time, the more evident the results. Saplings grow into flourishing trees, and the world becomes full of peach and plum blossoms.

It is worth looking forward to and worth striving for!

...

Currently, there are two teachers at Kai Ming Academy: Master Qu and Master Liu. Master Qu is responsible for the children’s enlightenment, while Master Liu, also known as Liu the Accountant, teaches them arithmetic. Additionally, Lian Manman’s family has sent a helper to assist with the academy’s chores.

Lian Manman’s family prepared a room in the side courtyard for Master Qu, whereas Master Liu insisted on staying inside the academy. The cleaning, organization, and tasks like firing up the stove during winter were primarily managed by the helper. At the same time, a schedule was implemented among the students, where two students stayed after school each day to assist with chores and maintain the academy’s cleanliness.

Most students at Kai Ming Academy were accustomed to helping out at home and didn’t have to pay much to attend. They were happy to spend a little time doing simple tasks to maintain their learning environment, especially since they received a free meal each day.

There were also students from wealthier families who paid to study. For them, the same rules applied. For example, Old Jin Family’s two grandsons, who had never done any chores at home, had to learn to do them here at school.

A few days into the school opening, everything was going smoothly and on track, which put Lian Manman’s family at ease. They received news from Prefecture City that two estates near the outskirts were going up for sale, something Lian Manman’s family had long planned. After hearing this news, they decided to visit Prefecture City and, if the estates were good and the price reasonable, make a purchase.

Before leaving, they entrusted all matters of the academy to Master Qu.

Having taught a few days’ worth of classes, Master Qu was touched. Many of the students at Kai Ming Academy were children from tenant farmer families who typically couldn’t afford schooling. Compared to those who could study in private schools, these children possessed a natural simplicity developed by their environment.

These students harbored genuine feelings and gratitude towards the teacher imparting them knowledge. Some students, on their birthdays, were seldom given a boiled egg by their families but chose to save it and bring it to school, shyly offering it to the teacher secretly, too embarrassed to give it directly.