The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Ma Wenyuan did not stop.

"I'm not trying to pressure you with those children. I just feel that your knowledge shouldn't be wasted on Shimen Mountain."

"The radishes grown on the mountain can be sold down the mountain. But the knowledge you possess is far more valuable than radishes. If you don't go down the mountain, who will deliver them for you?"

Liang Yin closed his eyes.

The mountain breeze stopped, and the bamboo forest became quiet.

The last rays of the setting sun fell on his gray eyebrows and hair, as if they were plated with a thin layer of gold.

After a long while, Liang Yin opened his eyes, his lips twitching slightly, as if he was enduring something.

Ma Wenyuan did not continue speaking.

Liang Yin frowned, stood up, walked to the eaves, picked up the bowl of tea that had gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp.

Finally, he placed the bowl on the windowsill.

His brows were furrowed the entire time, as if he was considering something.

Suddenly, Liang Yin turned around and looked at Ma Wenyuan.

"I'll go with you."

This time, there was no hesitation.

"However, I have conditions."

"Of course, I will do my best to help." Ma Wenyuan immediately agreed.

Liang Yin held up two fingers.

"First, I only teach classical studies. I don't understand things like the investigation of things, and I don't intend to learn them. You should find someone more capable."

"That's natural."

"Secondly, I will not teach you for nothing."

"You can give me whatever you think is appropriate for the tuition, but it can't be too little. I'm not greedy for money; I just want to see if you truly value classical studies."

"If you're going to try and get rid of me with a few taels of silver, it means your understanding of the classics is worthless, and there's no point in me going."

Ma Wenyuan took out a pre-prepared gift list from his sleeve, and Lin Ye and the others who were waiting outside immediately brought over the prepared tuition fees.

Liang Yin took it and looked at it; it said—

The monthly salary is ten taels of silver, plus all the necessary writing materials, such as writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, firewood, rice, oil, and salt...

The gift list ended with the sentence: "The teacher's tuition fee is the same as that of the school's instructors, without distinction of rank, treating everyone equally."

Liang Yin read it several times, and suddenly laughed.

"So you've been preparing all along, just waiting for me to give in?"

Ma Wenyuan honestly replied, "I have already prepared the gift list. I believe you will agree, sir."

Liang Yin folded the gift list, tucked it into his sleeve, and chuckled softly.

"You're quite confident."

"It's not about confidence, it's that you shouldn't be buried in obscurity."

Liang Yin didn't say anything more.

He turned and went inside to start packing his things.

He stood in front of the bookshelf for a long time, pulling out a book, looking at it, putting it down, then pulling out another book and putting it down again.

In the end, I only picked out a dozen or so of the most important books, wrapped them in an old cloth, and tied a tight knot.

Ma Wenyuan stood at the door, watching the thin figure slowly move in the dim light, without saying a word.

After Liang Yin finished tidying up, he turned around and saw Ma Wenyuan still standing at the door. He frowned.

"What are you still standing there for? Come help me pack up. Let's go down the mountain before it gets dark. We have to keep on our way early tomorrow morning."

Ma Wenyuan immediately stepped forward and began packing his luggage.

"We can set off tomorrow morning; the younger generation can prepare the carriage tonight."

Ma Wenyuan said this while cleaning.

He came on horseback; there was no carriage available, so he would need to go back and buy one.

Liang Yin remained noncommittal; it wouldn't be right to let this old man ride a horse, would it?

Is it seeking a savior, or harming someone?

"Uncle, what's the name of your school again?"

"Gewu Academy"

"Investigate things...investigate things..."

Liang Yin read it twice, then nodded.

"The Great Learning says, 'Investigate things, and then you will attain knowledge.' You certainly know how to choose a name."

"However, I must also tell you something today. There is another saying in the Great Learning: 'Only when knowledge is perfected can the will be sincere.' Your students cannot simply learn to investigate things; they must also know what sincerity means. I will teach them the four words: 'rectify the mind and cultivate sincerity.'"

……

That evening, Fang Xiaoru stayed on the mountain to chat with the old man and keep him company.

Ma Wenyuan then led the rest of the group down the mountain to prepare the carriages.

There were hardly any carriages on the market that were worthy of attention.

Nowadays, horse-drawn carriages are all two-wheeled.

It's better than a tricycle, but its disadvantages are also obvious.

After thinking it over, Ma Wenyuan finally decided to buy a ready-made car and modify it.

Otherwise, the old man would be driven crazy.

As for the renovation, Ma Wenyuan did not decide to make drastic changes.

First, the tires were modified, made much larger than those of a regular carriage, so that they would be much more stable when going over potholes.

Secondly, we need to increase shock absorption.

Now that the conditions of later generations are not available, Ma Wenyuan can only prevent the carriages from being close to the axle and instead use cowhide ropes to suspend the carriages.

It certainly can't match the shock absorption of later generations, but it's already quite good for short-term use.

Of course, Ma Wenyuan also thoughtfully made a special chair for Old Deng to make him more comfortable.

Only then was the carriage problem completely resolved.

The next day, Fang Xiaoru led the old man ahead to Yingtian Prefecture.

Ma Wenyuan, along with Lin Ye and several other guards, went to another location.

Now we have a dean of students.

But we're still missing a director for moral education.

……

It didn't go very smoothly.

Or perhaps Ma Wenyuan arrived a little late.

When they arrived at Wang Kekuan's residence, the old man was already bedridden and had difficulty speaking.

Under such circumstances, Ma Wenyuan had no reason to force Wang Kekuan to go to Yingtian Prefecture.

Ma Wenyuan didn't even reveal his true purpose; he was just passing by and visiting.

The Wang family was overjoyed and treated them with great hospitality.

In the end, Ma Wenyuan only managed to get one head of teaching to return.

Originally, the idea was for the two old men to help each other, but now it seems that only Liang Yin, the old man, will have to put in more effort.

It's not that Ma Wenyuan is incompetent; he's genuinely out of options.

Nowadays, most intellectuals have followed suit and gone to the north.

The Ming Dynasty was in dire need of rebuilding, so there were no great scholars available to serve as instructors.

However, as soon as he returned to Yingtian Prefecture, Ma Wenyuan suddenly had a flash of inspiration—he could also cause trouble for Song Lian.

Anyway, Song Lian is only a seventh-rank official now. Even if he were to return to the capital, he would at most become a Hanlin scholar.

What's so great about being an official like that?

Why not help the prospective son-in-law out?

If all else fails, bring your brother-in-law to the school too.

My brother-in-law has read a lot over the years, and he is qualified in terms of both prestige and knowledge.

Moreover, with Li Zhen around, it's unlikely that any son of a powerful or wealthy family would dare to break free.

Who dares to displease Duke Cao?

Even princes wouldn't dare, let alone these sons of powerful nobles.

Since Li Zhen is currently unemployed and has nothing to do, she might as well find a new job.

Sixty is the perfect age to take risks and explore.

What will Li Jinglong do if Li Zhen is not around?

That's simple, just send Li Jinglong to the school.

The children in the elementary school class were all about the same age anyway, so one more Li Jinglong wouldn't make a difference.

If all else fails, bring Liu Bowen along too.

Anyway, Liu Bowen doesn't hold any official position now, so I don't think anyone would say anything if he were brought over for a new job.

Old Zhu would never admit that he secretly hoped his officials could work 007.

Old Zhu wished his subordinates would die from exhaustion.

Of course, this might displease the civil officials of the Huaixi faction.