Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2729 Still Vigorous in Old Age 113.0
"It sounds plausible, but can they really do it? Or are they just making empty promises?" Xia Chen looked at Chu Han, then at Xiao Fengqi, and said, "Is it just to fool people?"

“They still have the strength. Although their foundation is not as strong as that of families like the Wang and Xie, it is much more solid than you think. Besides,” Chu Han sneered, “the Inner Court and the Music Bureau of the previous dynasty were always controlled by the Shi family. After the fall of the previous dynasty, those people were afraid of being purged by the Great Xia, so they followed them away.”

"So many years have passed, yet they still have so many talented people in this field?"

“Of course.” Chu Han raised an eyebrow. “The more upscale music and dance halls in the Jiangnan region have all received genuine instruction. Strictly speaking, they are all inextricably linked to their family. In fact, when the Great Xia Dynasty was first established, the Jiaofangsi and Neitingsi even had to send people to learn from them.” He sighed softly. “Therefore, they have a lot of confidence in this regard. Moreover, those trained by their instructors each have their own unique characteristics, charming without being vulgar, and a diverse array of styles.”

"Is that so?" Jin Miaomiao asked with longing, tugging at Shen Cha with eyes full of anticipation.

"Want to go see it?" Seeing her nod repeatedly, Shen Cha smiled and said, "Next time we go back to the capital, we can go and take a look. I'd like to see it for myself too."

“You’ll never get to see it. You probably won’t have the chance.” Chu Han looked at Shen Cha and Jin Miaomiao with regret. “After the Tanuki Plan failed, those powerful families declined. All their shops were divided up. After so many years of change, they’re not the same as they used to be. And those people from back then…” He sighed softly and said, “They’ve all left this world long ago.”

"Ah, that's really a pity." Jin Miaomiao pouted. "It seems we were born at the wrong time."

“Miao Miao’s greatest hobby in life is looking at handsome boys and pretty girls. Grand Uncle, what you just said will hurt her deeply.” Shen Cha couldn’t help but laugh. “However, the dance halls and music halls in Jiangnan are quite good now, especially those under the Inner Court and the Music Hall. The quality is very high, really quite good.” She patted Jin Miao Miao. “Just look at those.”

Jin Miaomiao sighed softly and said, "That's all we can do." She looked at Chu Han, "He doesn't seem like he can make empty promises, right?"

"Yes, not only the girls' academy, but the boys' academy is also arranged perfectly."

"Aren't they the same classes?"

“Of course, but there are some overlapping classes.” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “I heard that the boys also learn music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs, while the girls also learn archery, horseback riding, and martial arts, right?” He looked at Chu Han. “That’s what my great-aunt said. She said that their curriculum was well-arranged. Later, our family’s school also adopted a lot of their curriculum, and it is indeed very good.”

"Yes." Chu Han nodded, then looked at Shen Haolin, Song Yaojia, and Xia Chen. "The courses you took at the East Palace were arranged the same way. Doesn't that sound good?"

“That’s true.” Song Yaojia nodded. “Whether it’s a pie or not, probably everyone who hears about the setup of this academy will want to send their child here.”

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “My uncles were also tempted, but when they heard the conditions, their burning hearts were like a bucket of cold water being poured on them, turning them completely cold.”

"What are the next requirements?" "The most basic requirements are that the child is three or four years old, has a good appearance, a slender figure, and can endure hardship."

"Can you endure hardship?" Shen Cha was taken aback, but immediately realized, "Does their academy have some kind of elimination system?"

"That's right!" Xiao Fengqi clapped his hands at Shen Cha and said, "Their academy conducts an assessment before admission. The bottom two boys and girls in the assessment are put on hold. If, after a month of study, they are still in the bottom two in the assessment, sorry, they have to ask their families to take them home. In addition, there are one or two assessments every season. The bottom two in each assessment are punished. If they are in the bottom two three times in a row, sorry, they also have to ask their families to take them home. Even if they are taken home, there must be an explanation, and all expenses incurred here must be settled. Of course, they can also choose not to be taken home, but their treatment will not be as good. Before being eliminated, they may enjoy the treatment of young masters and ladies, but after being eliminated and not going back, they will be demoted to pageboys. If they study well, they can be promoted back."

“This is internal competition, survival of the fittest, right?” Xia Chen took a sip of tea. “It’s relatively mild for adults, but a bit too harsh for children.”

"Because they wanted to train the people they needed quickly, they were a bit impatient."

“That’s true.” Chu Han nodded. “Just like Xiao Xiao said, their initially warm hearts turned cold when they heard the conditions that followed. And with the next condition, they had even less intention of sending their precious child over.”

"What conditions?"

"After these children complete their studies, they will become completely Xia people. Their original identities and household registrations will be destroyed. They will have a new identity, a new name, and a new family. This means that they will have absolutely no connection with their original families or with the Liao and Jin dynasties."

"That certainly requires caution. No wonder the ones sent are all from collateral branches, or even from relatives and friends."

"Yes, in other words, whether or not this child can achieve great things, it is these powerful families who will benefit, and it will have nothing to do with their original families. They will not call their original father and mother 'father and mother' anymore."

"So, didn't you just say this was a good thing for them? What's the good thing about it?" Shen Cha spread her hands, saying helplessly, "I don't see anything good about it, do I?"

"Don't rush me, I'm about to get to the point." Xiao Fengqi smiled. "Although they will have no connection with these children in the future, if these children do well and earn a lot of money, and if they want to be filial to their original families, the Shi family will not stop them and will even help with transportation."

"Just for the money?" Shen Cha still didn't quite understand. "They're not from any particularly poor families. It's not like they'd go to such lengths for a little bit of money, is it?"

"It's not about the money. Even though they've severed ties with their original families, they're still relatives, so," Chu Han shrugged, "finding out some secrets of the Great Xia isn't difficult. If we actually find out something, wouldn't that be a great achievement?"